CoasterBuzz Podcast #101 - January 14, 2008

Jeff, Mike and Pat review this week's news in the amusement industry.

• The kids look back at the highs and lows of the show, and Gonch pitches some stats at us. He liked interviewing Dick Kinzel.
• Check out the construction pictures on CoasterBuzz.com under the Nickelodeon Universe park page. The Mall of America is a pretty sweet thing to see.
• Dolly's Dixie Stampede has a price in Orlando, and we're dying to know who put up the cash to buy a successful Orlando business. The Stampede will eventually relocate.
• Disney Hollywood Studios is kind of a stupid name seeing as how the park is in Orlando. Back in the day, Disney didn't have the studio brand to put behind a park, thus the Disney-MGM tie in.
• Six Flags says the quarter ended stronger than expected, as will the year, but the announcement lacks context without knowing what they spent.
• Cedar Fair plugs their total year attendance, but it lacks context not only because it's absent of financials, but they're not counting the new parks in last year's number prior to the acquisition. The analysts better ask some really hard questions in the conference call this year.
• That dark ride at Legoland California is shaping up to look very cool.
• Cedar Point announces Planet Snoopy. A lot of new rides are duplicates from other areas of the park (imported from Geauga Lake), and people are critical of that. Duh, most kids like every one of those rides that go in circles.
• Six Flags aligns with cosmetic brands for live event sponsorship.
• "Flight Deck" is the single worst name for a roller coaster ever conceived. Gonch asks they Carowinds didn't just drop the "Top Gun" off of "Jet Coaster."