CoasterBuzz Podcast #188 - August 23, 2010

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

• We've been doing the podcast now for almost five years. We're trying hard to hit episode 200 before the end of the year.
• Accident in the Dells keeps getting more strange, with criminal charges against the operator, clandestine ride repairs and the operator returning to work. As horrible as it was, we mostly agree that criminal charges against the individual operator sets a dangerous precedent.
• Turning the cars around on first generation launched Intamin towers. Ok.
• Universal Orlando posts its first attendance gains in two years, probably because of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Jeff retells the story of his first visit to Islands of Adventure after Carrie admits to never having been to any of the Orlando parks.
• Holiday World attendance is up 10%. No surprises there with Kentucky Kingdom closed and a new water ride.
• Lebron James shoot basketballs at Cedar Point, and mostly misses.
• Happy Magic Water Cube, now with more magic and happy, but less Olympic swimming.
• Woman suffers emotional distress after being allegedly molested by someone in a Donald Duck suit at Walt Disney World.
• The Six Flags transition continues with a new CEO, and it looks like the company is set up for long-term success.
• Disney reports good results, but the resorts and cruise ships are slower to recover. Gonch finds they're still advertising deep discounts.
• Speaking of Disney World, the princess stuff plans are revised, probably to be less girly.
• Way off topic: Star Wars nonsense and introducing it to your kids.
• Viral video shows these guys hitting a basketball from high atop Alabama Adventure's Space Shot.
• Funtime says they're going to sue Cedar Point for buying a similar ride from Mondial that allegedly infringes on their patent. How is any of this good for Funtime?
• Ocean Motion is up for sale. The Gonch household is full of swinging ship fans.
• Register today for The Fall Affair at Holiday World! Join us Saturday, September 18.
• BooBuzz returns to Cedar Point on Friday, October 15.
• Check out the event list on the CoasterBuzz Club page. Got a ticket for Holiday World? Come to the Fall Affair for a couple of bucks extra!
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