Side Friction: Roller Coasters and the Parks They Live In – Details, episodes & analysis

Side Friction - Episode 124 - "Show Some Restraint"

April 11th, 2026

Bob, Greg and CoasterBro (from Coaster Cuzzies) talk about enchantment, monsters, wolves, and some roller coaster stuff too recapping the news of the week.

• How $65 can get you into eight theme parks -Enchanted Parks pass details
• Six Flags Cedar Point removes classic 'Monster' ride
• Kings Island: Perks & Play Season Passholder Preview
• Maryland-native Kevin Durant's investment group buys former Six Flags property 
  • What Prince George's Co. doesn't want at the Six Flags site 
• Parents charged with child endangerment after incident at ZooAmerica
• How a costume maker convinced Hersheypark to 'chocolatize' their old‑timey theme park
• A surprise new Superman game hopes to break a gaming curse, but it's also locked in one location
• Knoebels releasing "Images of America" book for 100th season 
• Disney World's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopening date set 
• New ride coming to Arnolds Park Amusement Park 
  • https://www.verticalreality.com/ 

Mastodon: https://worldkey.io/@sidefriction

Web: https://sidefriction.com

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Side Friction - Episode 123 - "Hungry for More"

April 4th, 2026

Bob, Greg and Ryan the Ride Mechanic talk about tech frustrations in and out of the industry, Disney mishaps, Universal, various other stories.... and a lot of food for some reason. A slightly shorter episode than normal but just as entertaining.

• Is Disney building a new theme park in Cincinnati, Ohio? Fact check
• Disney park visitors traumatized as crows attack Rapunzel in distressing video: 'Definitely tangled now' 
• 'Olaf just melted': Video shows brand new 'Frozen' robot freeze, topple over at Disney park 
• Disney World selling park tickets for entry after 2 p.m. 
• Demolition Work Starting in Lost Continent at Islands of Adventure
• World's Largest Rubber Duck to nest at Holiday World before summer kicks off
• RollerCoaster Tycoon YouTuber builds ride lasting 194 quattorseptuagintillion years
• Knott's Berry Farm to open reimagined Montezooma coaster this summer
• An iconic Jersey Shore amusement park wheel is being restored and reconstructed in Phoenixville
• Phantom Theater Photos 

Mastodon: https://worldkey.io/@sidefriction

Web: https://sidefriction.com

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Side Friction - Episode 114 - "Blizzard Beach IRL"

January 31st, 2026

Bob, Greg and Ryan the Ride Mechanic have another slower news week but we get to hear about the Netherlands from Ryan as well as everything freezing over.

• Rare Extreme Cold Watch Issued for Walt Disney World: Wind Chills Could Drop to 7F Degrees
• Canada gives conditional approval for Marineland to export remaining belugas to the US
• Dreamland to put historic Scenic Railway into 'retirement'
• Six Flags Great Adventure - 450 ft. tall Crane for Roller Coaster Construction
• POV Antique Autos at Indiana Beach 
• Swedish amusement park fined over fatal roller coaster derailment
• Who can pronounce death in FL 
• Arnolds park receives $100K investment
• Legend - Arnolds Park (Image 22) 

Mastodon: https://worldkey.io/@sidefriction

Web: https://sidefriction.com

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Side Friction - Episode 24 - "Big Dam Disappointment"

March 2nd, 2024

The day Bob has waited for has finally arrived - Steph is upset with Cedar Point.  Not that anything else really matters but then Steph and Bob both talk about the latest news stories of the industry.

• Alabama Adventure Loses a Woodie
• Bye i232...hello... Thunder Striker?
  • Bye i305 while we're at it
• Keansburg Drama
• Playland Park Capital Program
• Big Dam Waterpark
• Care Bear Stare
• Disney World Price Increases
  • WDW Free Water Park Tickets  
• Top Spin at Indiana Beach
• Little Amerricka 
  • House on the Rock
  • Lake Express Ferry  
• Canton Football Hall of Fame Three-Day Carnival
  • Fate of IX Center Ferris Wheel
  • Play Action Plaza at Hall of Fame Village
• Pittsburgh North Side Esplanade project breaking ground Fall 2024 

Mastodon: https://worldkey.io/@sidefriction

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidefrictionpodcast/

Web: https://sidefriction.com 

Side Friction - Episode 23 - "Rename My Cream"

February 24th, 2024

In the weird recent trend of Steph and Bob going off topic while still somehow staying on topic they'll revisit that behavior..... right after they have a random conversation about cell phones.

• Hurler get..... RMC?
  • or probably wood 
• Top Thrill 2 Passholder Preview
• New Look for Sky Ride
• Something BIG?
  • Besides a terrible name? 
• Why is the DOJ talking to CT officials about amusement parks? 
• Six Flags Over Texas Announces 2024 Park Improvements
• Liseberg to rebuild Oceana water park after devastating fire
• Merlin Entertainments failed to pay minimum wage
• New Ice Cream Flavor Inspired by Silver Dollar City's Fire in The Hole

Mastodon: https://worldkey.io/@sidefriction

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidefrictionpodcast/

Web: https://sidefriction.com 

Side Friction - Episode 22 - "Ready to Go... Hubless"

February 17th, 2024

It's a long one but there was a ton of news that Steph and Bob had to cover but they keep it entertaining.  Watch out for a rant or two from Bob though.

• Soma on Steam 
• Horrible news from Liseberg 
• Lakemont announces new general manager 
• Intamin presents to Hershey 
• T Express gets RMC'd 
• Cedar Fair 2023 Results 
• Legoland NY solves a problem with a new ride 
• Something is coming to Alton Towers 
• We're off to see the Wizard 
• Land Of Oz 
• Ghost Town in the Sky 
• Ghostbusters to Return to Universal Studios Florida?
• Ready to Go 
• Kennywood and Idlewild Remove some Beloved Kiddie Rides

Mastodon: https://worldkey.io/@sidefriction

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidefrictionpodcast/

Web: https://sidefriction.com 

Side Friction - Episode 21 - "People for the Ethical Treatment of Lakemont"

February 10th, 2024

From the funny infuriating to the just plain infuriating followed by interesting topics and even a little bit of "what are they thinking" explains the range of news that Bob and Steph cover in this show.

• PETA targets Chance Rides 
• Angry Voicemail We Got From an Alamo Drafthouse Customer
• Lakemont Park closes rides for 2024
• Tax breaks aimed at growing Lake Compounce, Mount Southington 
• Vekoma Switchback Coaster - Jungle Rush
  • Inclined Turntable Testing
  • News coverage of Jungle Rush
• Top Thrill Dragster lawsuit 
• Montezooma's Gone?
• No, Cedar Point has not limited season pass Fast Lane Plus access to Top Thrill 2 
• Total Eclipse of The Point 
• Carowinds Reveals 2024 Event Lineup 
• How Intamin helped build 49ers stadium

Mastodon: https://worldkey.io/@sidefriction

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidefrictionpodcast/

Web: https://sidefriction.com 

Side Friction - Episode 20 - "EPIC PRKS"

February 3rd, 2024

An oddly on-topic show but a fair amount of anger as Bob and Steph talk about.... just an odd collection of news this week.

• Man used $8 ticket to get into Disney World 
• Judge dismisses Disney lawsuit 
  • Disney appeals federal judge's dismissal of its lawsuit against DeSantis 
  • Oversight District History 
• WDW land suitability changes 
• Introducing EPIC Universe 
  • Discover Universal: Epic Universe 
• $5 Skyrides
• PRKS 
• Keansburg Amusement Park Parking Lot Battle
• Rampage closed for 2024 
• Waldameer gives residents of Village Mobile Home Park 9 months 
• Vekoma gives us a look at Circuit Breaker Trains 

Mastodon: https://worldkey.io/@sidefriction

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidefrictionpodcast/

Web: https://sidefriction.com 

Side Friction - Episode 19 - "This Changes Everything"

January 27th, 2024

While the show starts by Steph saying they're going to stay on topic it only takes a short time before the rabbit trails are spawning their own rabbit trails but both Steph and Bob do manage to talk a lot about the news which, it's self, isn't exactly stable this week.

• DOJ seeks additional info from Six Flags, Cedar Fair on $8 bln merger
• Let's Remember Dan Snyder's Six Flags Disaster 
• United SEAS 
• Three rides at KI changing names 
• Cedar Point rolls out new app 
• Updated Harry Potter Wand Experience  
• Zelda incoming? 
• This Changes Everything 
• Lake Compounce removes attractions 
  • The Shore Line Trolley Museum: Articles: Lake Compounce 
• Knott's Berry Farm Foods are gone 
• Brought to you by RollerCoaster Cuts 

Mastodon: https://worldkey.io/@sidefriction

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidefrictionpodcast/

Web: https://sidefriction.com 

Side Friction - Episode 18 - "The Evil Alliance"

January 20th, 2024

All kinds of evil on this episode.  Steph and Bob discuss a major alliance to harvest your data followed by some ups and downs of the industry this week.

• Six Flags Launches Largest Digital Alliance in Theme Park Industry 
• Large Areas of Universal Studios Florida Now Opening Late to Cut Costs 
• Walt Disney World drops most park reservations and welcomes back all-day park hopping 
• The Great Hack - Trailer 
• New Projectors and Fountains Installed for Upcoming Nighttime Lagoon Show at Universal Studios Florida - WDW News Today 
• https://twitter.com/Park_Journey/status/1746949271545627133 
• New Hotel at Discovery Cove
• Knoebels will debut new ride, update aging PowerSurge | News | dailyitem.com 
• Universal Studios New Coaster Updates
• The Strange Story of 'Killdozer' and the Man Behind It | HowStuffWorks 
• Legoland California 2025 Project 
• Great America Updates 

Mastodon: https://worldkey.io/@sidefriction

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidefrictionpodcast/

Web: https://sidefriction.com