A few episodes ago, we talked about our wishlist for the new Enchanted Parks - a good listen if you haven't listened yet! - and we jokingly said on the episode that we'd love someone from Enchanted Parks to come on the podcast to talk about their own wishlist. 

Funny how things happen, because just two weeks later, Andrew was able to grab a few minutes with Enchanted Parks' CEO, James Harhi - a longtime industry veteran who is working with the rest of the Enchanted Parks team to breathe some new life and excitement into the six properties that the company will manage. 

The interview has a little bit of everything - James' background in the industry, why those parks, the vision for the future, and if you listen all the way to the end, the "Dining Plan" discourse from the original announcement is addressed. 

You can connect with the show by hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Find the latest and greatest Coaster101 and theme park-inspired merch at coaster101.com/merch

Thanks to JM Entertainment for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmentgrp.com

You've obviously heard about Disney adults. But what about LEGOLAND Adults? With a brand new coaster now open in Florida (and also in California), LEGOLAND continues to build something amazing in Central Florida - brick by brick. 

Andrew is joined by three LEGOLAND Florida first timers and members of the Coaster101 team on this week's episode - John & Eric visited the park during a recent Florida trip that overlapped with the media day for Galacticoaster - and despite living in Florida for four years, Shane had not visited the park until the following week. 

We talk all things LEGOLAND Florida - Galacticoaster, Crazy Dark Rides, Building Experiences, Chicken Sandwiches with Purple and Blue sauces, Minilands, and basically everything else - except Apple Fries, which none of them ate on their visit, and Andrew is still slightly annoyed. 

You can connect with the show by hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Find the latest and greatest Coaster101 and theme park-inspired merch at coaster101.com/merch

Thanks to JM Entertainment for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmentgrp.com

It's Thanksgiving Week, so what better time to talk about Food? As part of the Six Flags & Cedar Fair merger, a trend typically reserved for the Cedar Fair side of the aisle is making its way to Six Flags parks - the addition of an executive chef - including Chef Priscilla Hamilton, who joined Six Flags Over Georgia earlier this year.

This week on the podcast, not only are we joined by Chef Priscilla, but we're also joined by Angel Salgado, the park's Food & Beverage manager, to talk about the culinary transformation that has taken place this season at Six Flags Over Georgia. 

With food becoming a more integral part of the theme park experience, we talk menu favorites, restaurant re-designs, and what it's like managing 39 dining outlets and more than 400 associates - all in the name of bettering Six Flags Over Georgia's culinary reputation! 

You can connect with the show by hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Find the latest and greatest Coaster101 and theme park-inspired merch at coaster101.com/merch

Thanks to JMMD Entertainment for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

Last week, Shane and Mike from the Coaster101 team had the chance to ride Iron Gwazi, the world's tallest and steepest hybrid coaster. Spoiler Alert: It lives up to the hype.

This week on the podcast, Shane joins Andrew to talk all things Iron Gwazi, from ride experience, to merch, to favorite elements, to theming and more. If you're looking for the most in-depth podcast on Iron Gwazi, we humbly present this episode. (Busch Gardens, if you're listening, Shane is pretty good at this coaster marketing hype train thing.)

For Shane and Mike's Review of Iron Gwazi, visit: https://www.coaster101.com/2022/02/11/iron-gwazi-our-review-and-reactions/

Head to our Youtube Channel for some POV's, or click these links.
Reverse/Multi-Cam POV (Front Row): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwog103X3uk
Reverse/Side-by-Side POV (Back Row): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFFuTK6Y1J8

Iron Gwazi opens to the public at Busch Gardens Tampa on Friday, March 11. Passholder previews are currently on-going.

You can connect with the show by hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us! If you review the show this week, you're entered in to a chance to win an Iron Gwazi fanny pack!

Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

Later this week, SeaWorld Orlando will officially open their sixth roller coaster, Ice Breaker. This multi-launch coaster from Premier Rides is the new centerpiece of an area previously headlined by Wild Arctic. With a height requirement of less than 54" - it gives SeaWorld Orlando it's first "tweener" roller coaster, slightly more intense than Super Grover's Box Car Derby, but not quite the level of high-octane intensity of the park's "Big Three" of Kraken, Mako, and Manta.

We're excited to be joined this week on the podcast by Rob McNicholas, a 22-year veteran of SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, to talk all things Ice Breaker. We talk about SeaWorld's commitment to families, what it was like seeing a roller coaster complete, but not operating for nearly two years, and how Ice Breaker may actually have more air time than Mako. (Yes, it's true!)

Ice Breaker opens to the public at SeaWorld Orlando on Friday, February 18. Passholder previews are currently on-going.

You can connect with the show by hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

When your podcast drops on a Monday, there's often news that is certain to drop on a Tuesday. That was of course the case this week, as SeaWorld offered to buy Cedar Fair for a lot of money. In other SeaWorld Investment news, we talk Iron Gwazi's media day this week, and how a roller coaster may have crossed the northern border, never to be heard from again, we think?

Andrew is joined by an entire cast of characters from the Coaster101 team to talk this week in theme park news! 

You can connect with the show by hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

We're proud to present to you the crossover content that literally no one asked for. There are a lot of really good roller coaster podcasts out there, so we decided to combine two of the more average podcasts in an effort to create a decent episode. 

We're joined by Marcus, Marc, and Mike of The Drunk Riders podcast to learn more about their show, their Coaster Club "Buzzed Bars" and its upcoming trips, as well as some general hilarity by way of listener questions. TDR has carved its own unique niche in theme park podcasting, and if nothing else, we're hoping their listeners tune in to us!

You can find The Drunk Riders anywhere podcasts are found, and on social media at @TheDrunkRiders

You can connect with the show by hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

A picture is worth a thousand words, and this podcast...well has a lot more than that. We're joined on the podcast this week by Scott Schaffer of Upstop Media, and past Coaster101 Photo Contest winner Jack Lathrop, maybe better known for his instagram handle @ThrillingMoment. 

We talk the finer points of theme park photography, the recent partnership between Upstop Media and Thrilling Moments Photography, and some of the talented photogs' best and favorite work of their own and others. It's a fun episode, check it out! 

You can connect with the show by hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

Happy New Year! For our first show of 2022, we cover a bit of everything, from Disney's Magic Express, Figment Popcorn Buckets, and the new-for-2022 coasters we're most excited to ride. It's a wild ride. Strap in! 

Nick, Eric and Shane join Andrew to talk about the end of travel convenience from Orlando International Airport to Walt Disney World, the end of sanity when it comes to dragon-shaped popcorn buckets, One Little Spork, Pantheon, Tumbili, Ice Breaker, Fireball, Lost Island, Wonder Woman and more! 

You can connect with the show by hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

Welcome back my friends to the podcast that never ends!

For our last podcast of 2021, we're reminiscing about a park that's no longer with us, and has a bit of a cult status in the enthusiast community - Hard Rock Park. We're joined by Attraction Pros' Podcast Co-Host Josh Liebman, who worked as an Operations Supervisor at the "Park That Rock Built" during its lone operating system in 2008.

We talk a bit about what it was like working at Hard Rock Park, attractions like Led Zeppelin: The Ride and Nights in White Satin: The Trip, the transformation to Freestyle Music Park, Rock Stars trashing trailers, kitchen island-sized banners, and how many energy drinks it took to cycle a roller coaster!

Theme Park University wrote a great multi-part article about the rise and fall of Hard Rock Park. Check out Part 1 here, and click through for the other parts!

You can connect with the show by hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

Last week, Kennywood made some big announcements relating to the park's 125th Anniversary, which takes place in 2023, in addition to some things we already knew. The Kangaroo is coming back! Phantom's Revenge is being painted "Petrifying Purple!" (but is it really more of an "aubergine?")

We're joined on the podcast this week by Palace Entertainment Director of Corporate Communications Nick Paradise to talk all things Kennywood, including a new queue mural at Jack Rabbit, a new beer garden, the expansion of Kennywood's operating season, and more! If you listen close enough, you'll even learn about Nick's favorite potato patch order!

For more information about Kennywood's upcoming improvements, click here! 

You can connect with the show by hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

The time has come. After multiple postponements for COVID, Shane finally made it to Star Wars Galaxy's Edge. Of course, for a Star Wars nerd, it was like nirvana, and he wanted to talk about it!

We're joined on the podcast this week by fellow Star Wars aficionado Hunter Hernandez from Theme Park Hunting and the On The Hunt Podcast to discuss ALL things Star Wars and Galaxy's Edge. You have been warned. There are spoilers! 

You can connect with the show by emailing us at podcast@coaster101.com or hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

We're selling 2022 Calendars to benefit Give Kids The World! Head to https://www.coaster101.com/product/roller-coasters-2022-calendar/ to learn more! 

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

You never know where you'll find a true theme park enthusiast in the wild.  While many people claim to be a "theme park nerd," rarely are they able to back up that claim with actual in-depth knowledge. Not the case with Broadway Actor Nik Walker (Hamilton, Ain't Too Proud). He. Knows. His. Stuff.

Nik, who had it written into his contract for Ain't Too Proud that he would miss rehearsal for the opening of Rise of the Resistance, joins Andrew and Shane this week to talk all things theme park, and being a theme park nerd. There's great discussions on Marvel, Jurassic Park, Star Wars, Disneyland Food, Canobie Lake Park, Touring Production travel and even a great Captain E.O. impression. Don't say we didn't warn you!  

Nik is currently starting on Broadway as Otis Williams in Ain't Too Proud: The Life & Times of The Temptations. You can follow him on Twitter and Instagram at @Nikkywalks

Nik also hosts the Little Justice: Movies & Mayhem podcast on the Broadway Podcast Network. 

You can connect with the show by emailing us at podcast@coaster101.com or hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

We're selling 2022 Calendars to benefit Give Kids The World! Head to https://www.coaster101.com/product/roller-coasters-2022-calendar/ to learn more! 

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

Recently, the National Roller Coaster Museum was a topic of conversation in theme park internet circles - specifically when they held a fundraising campaign to raise money to bring four iconic coaster trains to the museum in Plainview, Texas. However, the sentiment was not "Wow, it's awesome that the organization is working to preserve roller coaster history." but rather "Wow. I can't believe this private collection (wrong) is hoarding coasters and will never open to the public (wrong) and it's 100% a scam organization." - (Again, wrong.)

Newsflash to the coaster enthusiasts who are somehow also well versed in traditional museum opening timelines and operations. These things take time. They take money. It's not as cut and dry as you might think of "well they have coasters I want to see so let me reenact the Eric Andre fence shaking meme in real life so they'll let me in."

This week on the podcast, we're joined by National Roller Coaster Museum & Archives Members Kris Rowberry (Ride Entertainment) & Mark Rosenzweig (3DX Scenic) to talk all things Roller Coaster Museum. History. Donations. Processes. Inspirations. The ideal experience. Teal Team Six. Did we get an opening date? No. Did we get a reason why? Yes. You'll have to listen to find out more. 

This podcast is brought to you by the one person who fundraised to bring Time Warp to the National Roller Coaster Museum (not really - but if you're out there, we'd love to hear from you.)

You can connect with the show by hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Find the latest and greatest Coaster101 and theme park-inspired merch at coaster101.com/merch

Thanks to JMMD Entertainment for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

Happy IAAPA Week! You've made it to our final IAAPA interview, where we're joined by Daryl White of Falcon's Beyond Global.

Falcon's is always on the forefront of technological innovation in the industry, and with new creations like the Spectraverse and On!x Theater, they continue to pave the way for new technological progress in the amusement industry.

We also talk about the creation of Falcon's Beyond Global, and how it grew from a manufacturer relationship that was solidified on the IAAPA Show Floor!

For more information on Falcon's, visit their website at www.falconscreativegroup.com

You can connect with the show by emailing us at podcast@coaster101.com or hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

We're selling 2022 Calendars to benefit Give Kids The World! Head to https://www.coaster101.com/product/roller-coasters-2022-calendar/ to learn more! 

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

Happy IAAPA Week! You've made it to our third of four interviews with companies exhibiting at IAAPA, and today, we're joined by Adam Sandy of Zamperla's Roller Coaster Division.

It's been a busy year for Zamperla with the announcement of the Double Heart Coaster, new roller coasters in the United States and in Asia, and they're not done! In 2022, they will debut a "Lift & Launch" family coaster at a park in North America, and on the show floor today, are announcing a never-before-released coaster concept! (This episode is coming out a little bit before the announcement, so if you want to be the first, we have a bit of an exclusive!)

You won't want to miss this!

For more information about Zamperla Coasters, be sure to follow them on Facebook & Instagram. 

You can connect with the show by emailing us at podcast@coaster101.com or hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

We're selling 2022 Calendars to benefit Give Kids The World! Head to https://www.coaster101.com/product/roller-coasters-2022-calendar/ to learn more! 

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

Happy IAAPA Week! This is our second in a series of four interviews with companies exhibiting at IAAPA, and today, we're focused on a company with a booth at the expo, but they're not selling anything -- they're there to say "Thank You" to their industry partners: Give Kids The World

There are multiple charitable initiatives going on around the IAAPA Expo this week, including a 5K race and golf tournament. Not to mention, the President of Ripley's Believe it or Not is shaving his beard to add to the world's largest hairball, "Hoss," which will be located at Give Kids The World's IAAPA Booth. Ripley's will match $10,000 in donations made to GKTW at the Expo.

We also talk a little bit about Give Kids The World's holiday event - Night of a Million Lights - which made its debut in 2020, and is back for even more lights and excitement this year!

Stay Tuned for future interviews with Adam Sandy of Zamperla (Wednesday), and Falcon's Creative Group (Thursday!)

For more information on Give Kids The World, visit their website: www.gktw.org

You can connect with the show by emailing us at podcast@coaster101.com or hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

We're selling 2022 Calendars to benefit Give Kids The World! Head to https://www.coaster101.com/product/roller-coasters-2022-calendar/ to learn more! 

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

Happy IAAPA Week! This is our first in a series of four interviews with companies exhibiting at IAAPA, and we're starting with Extreme Engineering, who are debuting four new concepts at the 2021 IAAPA Expo.

We learn more about Extreme Engineering's recent Cloud Coasters in Vietnam and Qatar, and learn more about their projects on the horizon, before diving into the Cloud Coaster Storm, Surfin' Tsunami, SkyTag, and the Parkour Around adventure attraction. 

Stay Tuned for future interviews with Give Kids The World (Tuesday), Zamperla (Wednesday), and Falcon's Creative Group (Thursday!)

For more information on Extreme Engineering, visit their website at www.extremeengineering.com

You can connect with the show by emailing us at podcast@coaster101.com or hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

We're selling 2022 Calendars to benefit Give Kids The World! Head to https://www.coaster101.com/product/roller-coasters-2022-calendar/ to learn more! 

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

Happy IAAPA Week! We've got a shorter "regular" show this week, because the week is chock full of content coming to Coaster101.com, our social media feeds, and most importantly, your podcast feed! While we won't be on the show floor during the majority of the week of the Expo, C101 writer Shane is attending his first ever IAAPA expo, and had questions for Andrew, who attended the show in 2017 and 2019.

What should Shane expect? How's he going to feel? What can he do to prepare? Is he going to survive solely on BeaverTails and Dippin' Dots for a day? All this and more!

This is the first of five episodes that will drop in your feed this week surrounding the IAAPA Expo. Stay tuned for interviews with Extreme Engineering (Monday), Give Kids The World (Tuesday), Zamperla (Wednesday), and Falcon's Creative Group (Thursday!)

For an IAAPA Survival Guide, check out this article on Attraction Pros! http://attractionpros.com/iaapaguide/

You can connect with the show by emailing us at podcast@coaster101.com or hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

We're selling 2022 Calendars to benefit Give Kids The World! Head to https://www.coaster101.com/product/roller-coasters-2022-calendar/ to learn more! 

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

It's the second week of November. The first chill is in the air, so what better time to think warm thoughts of water parks than with a podcast devoted to Schlitterbahn Water Parks, arguably the water park mecca of the United States.

We're joined on the podcast this week by Aaron Martinez, Director of Marketing for Schlitterbahn Waterparks to talk all things Schlitterbahn, from the family-owned history, to how they haven't had a true "Cedar Fair" season yet, to improvements coming to the parks in 2022, to brisket-stuffed turkey legs and more!

For more information on Schlitterbahn, visit www.schlitterbahn.com!

You can connect with the show by emailing us at podcast@coaster101.com or hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

We're selling 2022 Calendars to benefit Give Kids The World! Head to https://www.coaster101.com/product/roller-coasters-2022-calendar/ to learn more! 

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

America's newest theme park, LEGOLAND New York, opened earlier this year, just north of New York City. With 25 attractions "Built for Kids," we thought of no better reviewer of North America's third LEGOLAND park than a pair of kids.

Andrew is joined on the podcast this week by Nick and Nick's two children, 7-year-old Henry and 4-year-old Nora. We talk about the details of LEGOLAND New York, and as could probably be expected when getting children involved...it goes off the rails in a hurry!

Be sure to check out Nick's reviews of LEGOLAND New York on Coaster101.com!
LEGO Factory Adventure: https://www.coaster101.com/2021/10/19/lego-factory-adventure-ride-complete-analysis/
LEGOLAND Hotel: https://www.coaster101.com/2021/10/21/why-the-legoland-new-york-hotel-is-my-familys-new-favorite-hotel/

You can connect with the show by emailing us at podcast@coaster101.com or hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

We also have our own line of Coaster101 and coaster-inspired merchandise at http://c101.co/shirts! We've recently announced that 25% of the proceeds from all Teepublic shop purchases will go to Give Kids The World! 

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

It's the most wonderful time of the year at Carowinds, right in the middle of SCarowinds, WinterFest around the corner, with a full season of live entertainment coming up in 2022. The man behind a lot of that entertainment is Carowinds' Live Entertainment Manager Ryan Allen.

This week, Ryan joins Andrew in an on-site interview at Carowinds where they talk behind-the-scenes and the inspirations for SCarowinds' newest mazes, what to expect at WinterFest, and how live shows are created! You definitely don't want to miss this!

Read Andrew's review of SCarowinds here: https://www.coaster101.com/2021/10/11/sunday-scaries-scarowinds-2021-reviewed/ 

You can connect with the show by emailing us at podcast@coaster101.com or hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

We also have our own line of Coaster101 and coaster-inspired merchandise at http://c101.co/shirts! We've recently announced that 25% of the proceeds from all Teepublic shop purchases will go to Give Kids The World! 

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

Primeval Whirl is in pieces. Shrek 4D is closing. There's scrim around Rock N Roller Coaster -- or at least there was. That's what tiktok says, anyway. Eventually, Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando are going to have to announce replacements for these rides. 

This week on the podcast, Andrew, Shane and John speculate and provide some wishful thinking as to what these three attractions and areas could become. Will Disney retheme Dinosaur to Indiana Jones or Rock N Roller Coaster to A Goofy Movie Powerline? Will Universal finally build the roller coaster from Super Silly Fun Land? Tune in for more ideas! 

You can connect with the show by emailing us at podcast@coaster101.com or hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

We also have our own line of Coaster101 and coaster-inspired merchandise at http://c101.co/shirts! We've recently announced that 25% of the proceeds from all Teepublic shop purchases will go to Give Kids The World! 

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

Ohio's newest Halloween Event takes place at an interesting location -- a water park, attached to a zoo! Zombezi Bay takes over the Zoombiezi Bay Water Park at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium this October.

On the podcast this week, Andrew and Nick are joined by Anthony Sabo, Vice President, Waterpark Operations and Guest Services for the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium to learn more about Zombiezi Bay, what went into its creation and inception, his favorite haunts, and also more about their Brews and Bites event!

Check out more on Zombezi Bay by clicking here! and be sure to read Nick's Haunted House rankings!

You can connect with the show by emailing us at podcast@coaster101.com or hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

We also have our own line of Coaster101 and coaster-inspired merchandise at http://c101.co/shirts! We've recently announced that 25% of the proceeds from all Teepublic shop purchases will go to Give Kids The World! 

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

After several weeks of (fantastic) interviews with people in the industry - Andrew is once again joined by one of his Coaster101 co-writers, Evan, who recently made his first ever visit to Knoebels. (Evan did not invite Andrew, Andrew is only slightly offended as he writes this episode description.)

Celebrating 100 Years in 2026, Knoebels has 60 rides and attractions, including six roller coasters - several of which were built entirely in-house by the Knoebels maintenance team. They've also got some serious hardware from the Golden Ticket Awards - Phoenix has been named the best wooden coaster in the country for the seventh straight year, and the awards had to retire the "Best Food" category because Knoebels won it so often. 

Come hang out and learn about why Knoebels is the perfect fall park to visit - $8 brisket sandwiches and all! 

You can connect with the show by hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Find the latest and greatest Coaster101 and theme park-inspired merch at coaster101.com/merch

Thanks to JMMD Entertainment for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

You can connect with the show by emailing us at podcast@coaster101.com or hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

We also have our own line of Coaster101 and coaster-inspired merchandise at http://c101.co/shirts! We've recently announced that 25% of the proceeds from all Teepublic shop purchases will go to Give Kids The World! 

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

Skyline Attractions has it written into their business charter that they will create at least one new concept each year, and after seven years, they have no signs of slowing down. We're joined on the podcast this week by Jeff Pike, President & Co-Founder of Skyline Attractions, as well as Tyler Mullins, a design engineer for the company. 

From their work with Great Coasters International on Titan Track and the new Infinity Flyer trains, to their impressive ride catalog with rides like Crazy Couch and SkyWarp, to their new concepts like the P'Sghetti Bowl, we cover it all with Jeff and Tyler. It might be the only podcast in the world that talks Bollywood Express in Dubai, Spy Kids 2, and Skyline Chili in the same episode! 

You can connect with the show by emailing us at podcast@coaster101.com or hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

We also have our own line of Coaster101 and coaster-inspired merchandise at http://c101.co/shirts! We've recently announced that 25% of the proceeds from all Teepublic shop purchases will go to Give Kids The World! 

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

The history of Rocky  Mountain Construction is one that many coaster enthuasists think that they know. But do you know the whole story? We're joined on the podcast this week by Taylor and Sarah from Coaster Studios and Scott from Upstop Media, to learn more about their new documentary project: This is How We Roll.

Ahead of the big Texas premiere at the end of the week, Taylor, Sarah and Scott talk about the origins of the documentary, the history of RMC from Fred Grubb's garage to Stunt Pilot at Silverwood, and oddly enough, riding dirt bikes with Alan Schilke. 

Watch the trailer for This Is How We Roll here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAiMu58ys74

Preorder the Documentary here: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/thisishowwerollmovie

You can connect with the show by emailing us at podcast@coaster101.com or hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

We also have our own line of Coaster101 and coaster-inspired merchandise at http://c101.co/shirts! We've recently announced that 25% of the proceeds from all Teepublic shop purchases will go to Give Kids The World! 

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

If you've been listening to the podcast for awhile, you'll remember the saga of John's inability to get a boarding pass during his Walt Disney World trip last fall. Well, during his recent trip to Disneyland, he got to ride Rise of the Resistance not once, but twice!

John and Andrew return to talk Rise of the Resistance, Spider-Man Webslingers, the coaster credits at Disneyland, and their thoughts on active vs. passive dark ride experiences!

You can connect with the show by emailing us at podcast@coaster101.com or hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

We also have our own line of Coaster101 and coaster-inspired merchandise at http://c101.co/shirts! We've recently announced that 25% of the proceeds from all Teepublic shop purchases will go to Give Kids The World! 

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

When many people think of Universal theme parks, Orlando comes to mind. But Universal Studios Hollywood is able to hold its own, evolving over the years from a tram tour into a full blown theme park. 

This week on the podcast, Andrew is joined by Shane, John, and Eric, who talk the highlights of the California theme park, including Secret Life of Pets, Jurassic World: The Ride, and everyone's favorite Seawar Spectacular: Waterworld! 

You can connect with the show by emailing us at podcast@coaster101.com or hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

We also have our own line of Coaster101 and coaster-inspired merchandise at http://c101.co/shirts! We've recently announced that 25% of the proceeds from all Teepublic shop purchases will go to Give Kids The World! 

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

Happy National Roller Coaster Day! 

This week on the podcast, we're joined by Valleyfair Vice President/General Manger Raul Rehnborg. Raul is a 35-year theme park veteran, whose career has included stops at Knott's Berry Farm, Knott's Soak City (in Buena Park & San Diego), and California's Great America, before joining Valleyfair as VP/GM in 2018. 

We talk about Raul's history in the industry, his Valleyfair favorites, the upcoming fall season and everything that makes Valleyfair one of the hidden gems in the Cedar Fair family. 

You can connect with the show by emailing us at podcast@coaster101.com or hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

For more information about Valleyfair, be sure to visit their website, and follow them on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram! 

We also have our own line of Coaster101 and coaster-inspired merchandise at http://c101.co/shirts! We've recently announced that 25% of the proceeds from all Teepublic shop purchases will go to Give Kids The World! 

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

Last week, we found out where Gerstlauer's "Mystery Coaster" for 2022 was going to be built -- Glenwood Caverns in Colorado, going by the name "Defiance." This week on the podcast, we're joined by Glenwood Caverns' General Manager Nancy Heard to learn, not only about Defiance, but a little more about America's only Mountaintop Amusement Park. 

Did you know that Glenwood Caverns dates all the way back to 1895, or that they opened the first-ever Alpine Coaster in North America in 2005? Or that when you order at their new "Smokehouse" restaurant, they will quite literally pull the meat off the grill and put it on your plate? Curious about how the new roller coaster got its name? We've got you covered! If you listen close enough, you might even hear what's coming next for Glenwood Caverns after Defiance opens next spring! 

You can connect with the show by emailing us at podcast@coaster101.com or hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

For more information about Glenwood Caverns, be sure to visit their website, and follow them on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Be sure to read Arthur Levine's article from last week announcing the coaster! 

We also have our own line of Coaster101 and coaster-inspired merchandise at http://c101.co/shirts! We've recently announced that 25% of the proceeds from all Teepublic shop purchases will go to Give Kids The World! 

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

For a random week in July, there was A LOT of theme park news. While we're not typically a news-y show, we wanted to recap some of the biggest theme park stories of the week.

There were a pair of World's First Roller Coasters announced last week, one in Texas, and one in Central Florida. We talk about Kings Dominion's Map Coordinates. We talk the first roller coaster at Sea. It's a quick show, but it's a fun one this week! 

We're also looking for writers and others to join the C101 team. Head to Coaster101.com/join for more information!

You can connect with the show by emailing us at podcast@coaster101.com or hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

We also have our own line of Coaster101 and coaster-inspired merchandise at http://c101.co/shirts! We've recently announced that 25% of the proceeds from all Teepublic shop purchases will go to Give Kids The World! 

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

We talk about Carowinds a lot, but when one of our podcast co-hosts visits the park for the first time, you know we've gotta hit the highlights! Shane was vacationing in Charlotte with his family, and not only did he meet Andrew at Carowinds, he also managed to snag a few hours at Kings Dominion on his way home. He hit the highlights! Fury 325, Copperhead Strike, Intimidator 305, Twisted Timbers, and Carowinds' Woodstock Express! 

This week on the podcast, we're talking about the two park trips, how Shane's "Top 5" coaster list was deeply impacted during this trip, as well as other coaster highlights. We also talk Grand Carnivale at both parks. After debuting at Kings Dominion (along with three other parks) in 2019, Grand Carnivale has come to Carowinds, and we discuss the eats, the entertainment, and why consumption of bread cones doesn't necessarily lead to athletic endeavors. 

You can connect with the show by emailing us at podcast@coaster101.com or hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

Be sure to follow Don on twitter at @DonHelbig and all of Kings Island's social channels: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

We also have our own line of Coaster101 and coaster-inspired merchandise at http://c101.co/shirts! We've recently announced that 25% of the proceeds from all Teepublic shop purchases will go to Give Kids The World! 

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

Believe us when we say "Not All Coaster Enthusiast Events Are Created Equal." Half of the Coaster101 team got a taste of one of the best enthusiast events in the country at Kings Island's Coasterstock on July 9-10. The weekend was filled with ERT, amazing Food, and incredible behind the scenes opportunities. 

Andrew, Kyle and Nick are joined by Don Helbig, Digital Marketing Manager at Kings Island, who remains one of the driving forces behind the event, to talk the sixth edition of Coasterstock. Not only do they discuss that sweet, sweet, ERT and behind-the-scenes photo walkbacks, but they also discuss what makes Coasterstock special. (Hint: It's not either of those two things.)

You can connect with the show by emailing us at podcast@coaster101.com or hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

Be sure to follow Don on twitter at @DonHelbig and all of Kings Island's social channels: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

We also have our own line of Coaster101 and coaster-inspired merchandise at http://c101.co/shirts! We've recently announced that 25% of the proceeds from all Teepublic shop purchases will go to Give Kids The World! 

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

Unless you've been living under a rock, you might notice that Zamperla's Roller Coaster department is on a bit of a hot streak in the recent past. This week on the podcast, we got to talk to one of the people who gets to sell these attractions - Adam Sandy, Roller Coaster Sales & Marketing Director for Zamperla. 

Adam joins Andrew to talk all things Zamperla, including Top Thrill 2, the new Naruto-themed Family Thrill Launch coaster coming to France in 2026, the Double Heart Model's impending Asian debut, and just what we might see from Zamperla at next month's IAAPA Expo. 

We also dive a little into flat rides - including Zamperla's newest "instagram superstar" - WingZ, which will make its debut on the show floor! 

You can connect with the show by hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Find the latest and greatest Coaster101 and theme park-inspired merch at coaster101.com/merch

Thanks to JMMD Entertainment for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

We're all theme park fans, but there's a fine line between fan and theme park creative. Sometimes, as a fan, it's difficult to see why things are done the way they're done, but everything happens for a purpose.

This week, we're joined by Theme Park Creative Leader Patrick Kling, who inspired us with a recent LinkedIn post about what it took to think like a theme park designer when experiencing an attraction. Patrick approaches theme parks from multiple perspectives, including design, operations, and as a fan. His thoughts may surprise you!

You can connect with the show by emailing us at podcast@coaster101.com or hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

Follow Patrick on Twitter @PatrickSKling.

We also have our own line of Coaster101 and coaster-inspired merchandise at http://c101.co/shirts! We've recently announced that 25% of the proceeds from all Teepublic shop purchases will go to Give Kids The World! 

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

Cedar Point is celebrating their 150th Anniversary this season, and part of that major celebration is the addition of the Snake River Expedition, a spiritual successor to the park's former Paddleboat Excursion. This week on the podcast, we talk with two team members of The Weber Group, who helped bring the attraction to life. 

We talk inspiration, creative processes, production animatronic animals and exploding buildings, and everything in between. 

You can connect with the show by emailing us at podcast@coaster101.com or hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

Be sure to read our interview with the Weber Group's Adam McIntyre about Creating Byrd Farm at Carowinds for Copperhead Strike!

We also have our own line of Coaster101 and coaster-inspired merchandise at http://c101.co/shirts! We've recently announced that 25% of the proceeds from all Teepublic shop purchases will go to Give Kids The World! 

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

This week on the podcast, Shane joins Andrew to discuss his recent trip to Orlando, celebrating his 21st birthday. During the trip, he visited Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando, and arguably the best park in Orlando for someone turning 21, EPCOT. 

Listen for Shane's thoughts on Velocicoaster, his recounting of his 5-Hour wait for Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventures, Day at SeaWorld, and why he thinks Mission: Space is Walt Disney World's most underrated E-Ticket attraction. (Yes, actual words that were said.)

You can connect with the show by emailing us at podcast@coaster101.com or hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

We also have our own line of Coaster101 and coaster-inspired merchandise at http://c101.co/shirts! We've recently announced that 25% of the proceeds from all Teepublic shop purchases will go to Give Kids The World! 

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

It was a big week for roller coasters last week. Velocicoaster and Jersey Devil opened to rave reviews, so obviously, we're talking about Holiwood Nights.

This week on the podcast, join Andrew and John as they talk about John's recent trip to Holiwood Nights, one of the premier coaster enthusiast events in the United States. We talk Holiday World's coasters, and coaster enthusiast events in general! 

You can connect with the show by emailing us at podcast@coaster101.com or hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

We also have our own line of Coaster101 and coaster-inspired merchandise at http://c101.co/shirts! We've recently announced that 25% of the proceeds from all Teepublic shop purchases will go to Give Kids The World! 

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

Coaster101 went down to Georgia, they were looking for wood and steel. They were in a bind, credit counts way behind, and they were willin' to make a deal...or something like that.

This week on the podcast, Andrew chats with fellow C101 team members John, Kyle and Nick about their recent trip to the Peach state, visiting Lake Winnie, Six Flags Over Georgia, and Fun Spot Atlanta (as well as the Georgia Aquarium and at least one Waffle House.) Why is Twisted Cyclone great? Why is the Great American Scream Machine not so great? This and more, this week on the Coaster101 podcast!

You can connect with the show by emailing us at podcast@coaster101.com or hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

We also have our own line of Coaster101 and coaster-inspired merchandise at http://c101.co/shirts! We've recently announced that 25% of the proceeds from all Teepublic shop purchases will go to Give Kids The World! 

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

Recently, Eric had the opportunity to visit Knott's Berry Farm for a preview of their 100th anniversary celebration. With the food, fun, pomp and circumstance that comes with an anniversary, there's also a new ride opening at the park this season: Knott's Bearry Tales: Return to the Fair.

We recount Eric's visit to the park, and go in-depth on Knott's Bear-y Tales: Return to the Fair, and why we feel it could end up being far superior to its predecessor, Voyage to the Iron Reef.

Read more about Eric's trip to Knott's here!

You can connect with the show by emailing us at podcast@coaster101.com or hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

We also have our own line of Coaster101 and coaster-inspired merchandise at http://c101.co/shirts! We've recently announced that 25% of the proceeds from all Teepublic shop purchases will go to Give Kids The World! 

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

This week on the podcast, Shane recounts his recent trip to Lake Compounce, a park considered a hidden gem by many enthusiasts. Shane and Andrew then get into a discussion about several other "hidden gem" parks, including Conneaut Lake Park, Waldameer, The Great Escape, and Family Kingdom! If you like small parks, this week's episode is for you!

We also talk Kentucky Kingdom's new chaperone rule, because it seemed newsworthy. Are the teens going to cancel Kentucky Kingdom again? Are they going to cancel us? Listen and find out which side of the rules we sit on!

Read more about Shane's visit to Lake Compounce here!

Be sure to check out our Small Park Showcase articles on Family Kingdom, Conneaut Lake, and Waldameer! 

You can connect with the show by emailing us at podcast@coaster101.com or hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

We also have our own line of Coaster101 and coaster-inspired merchandise at http://c101.co/shirts! We've recently announced that 25% of the proceeds from all Teepublic shop purchases will go to Give Kids The World! 

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

Last year, while everyone was at home, the TPEG Alumni Community, led by a group of recent Ohio State alumni, held their first ever competition. While the world is getting back closer to normal, the TPEG Alumni Community is once again hosting a theme park design competition for college students and recent graduates. 

This week on the podcast, we're joined by Tiffani DuScheid, Carissa Vance, and Kirsten Szydlowski of the TPEG Alumni Community to discuss their history with TPEG, this year's competition, and more! 

You can connect with the show by emailing us at podcast@coaster101.com or hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram

For more information on the TPEG Alumni Community Competition, visit tpegalumnicommunity.weebly.com!

Be sure to read our interview with last year's competition winners, Team 31! The attention to detail in these projects is incredible!

We also have our own line of Coaster101 and coaster-inspired merchandise at http://c101.co/shirts!

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

Earlier this year, Carowinds was the Champion of our 5th Annual "Park Mania Bracket Contest." When someone wins a title, they get a virtual victory parade! (Now that we've got a podcast, anyway.)

We're joined on this week's podcast by Carowinds' Digital Marketing Manager Patrick Wisniewski, who actually grew up as a fan of the park, to talk Park Mania, Carowinds 2021 Season, and his favorites at Carowinds! We also talk about the tweet that inspired the #GentleBreezeSquad hashtag!

You can connect with the show by emailing us at podcast@coaster101.com or hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram

You should also follow Carowinds social media accounts and visit the park's newly re-designed website! Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Website

Click here to check out all of the Carowinds content on Coaster101.com!

We also have our own line of Coaster101 and coaster-inspired merchandise at http://c101.co/shirts!

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

Stop us if you've heard this before. 2020 was a roller coaster of a year. The good news is, it's now 2021, and theme parks are getting ready to open again. All of Cedar Fair parks open later this month, and we're joined on the podcast this week by Valleyfair's Public Relations and Communications Manager, Kelsey Megard, Kings Dominion Public Relations Manager Maggie Sellers and Schlitterbahn's Director of Sales and Marketing, Aaron Martinez, to talk 2021!

We go in depth on a variety of topics, from the continued postponed reopenings of 2020, to how the Cedar Fair PR family grew as an individuals but also as a team, to how it feels to be reopening for a FUN 2021. (We also get into a discussion about Texas barbecue, oddly enough.)

You can connect with the show by emailing us at podcast@coaster101.com or hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram

You should also follow the social media accounts and visit the websites of the parks on this week's episode!
Valleyfair: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram | Website
Kings Dominion: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram | Website
Schlitterbahn: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram | Website

Check out this link for updated Safety Policies and Protocols for Cedar Fair Parks for all of 2021!

We also have our own line of Coaster101 and coaster-inspired merchandise at http://c101.co/shirts!

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

As they say, everything is bigger in Texas - and in this instance, that includes our podcast guest this week. Six Flags Regional General Manager for the state of Texas, Jeffrey Siebert, joins the show this week! 

With a nearly 30-year career in the industry, Jeffrey tells us about his career, what exactly a Regional Park manager does, and oddly enough, the promotional schedule for a minor league hockey team. 

We also have a healthy dose of what's happening at the Texas Six Flags parks, including Six Flags Over Texas' new-for-2026 giga dive coaster, Tormenta: Rampaging Run, and a tease for the future at both Six Flags Fiesta Texas and Schlitterbahn New Braunfels. 

You can connect with the show by hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.com

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Find the latest and greatest Coaster101 and theme park-inspired merch at coaster101.com/merch

Thanks to JMMD Entertainment for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

Last week on social media, we asked our audience the question "What is your most unpopular controversial theme park hot take?" Spoiler alert: The responses didn't disappoint. While there were too many to cover in one episode (or even multiple episodes), we decided to discuss a few of these hot takes on the Coaster101 Podcast. The takes were so hot that we had to break it up into two episodes!

This week on the podcast, join Andrew, Shane and John for Part 2 of our "Theme Park & Roller Coaster Hot Takes." We're going after some more topics, including Cedar Point roller coasters, B&M, Launch Coasters, Carowinds, Flight of Fear, and whether or not it's important to have more hobbies outside of roller coasters!

You can connect with the show by emailing us at podcast@coaster101.com or hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram

We also have our own line of Coaster101 and coaster-inspired merchandise at http://c101.co/shirts!

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

Last week on social media, we asked our audience the question "What is your most unpopular controversial theme park hot take?" Spoiler alert: The responses didn't disappoint. While there were too many to cover in one episode (or even multiple episodes), we decided to discuss a few of these hot takes on the Coaster101 Podcast. The takes were so hot that we had to break it up into two episodes!

This week on the podcast, join Andrew, Shane and John for Part 1 of our "Theme Park & Roller Coaster Hot Takes." We talk takes from Disney, several why [A] is better than [B], RMC, Lightning Rod, and more!

You can connect with the show by emailing us at podcast@coaster101.com or hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram

We also have our own line of Coaster101 and coaster-inspired merchandise at http://c101.co/shirts!

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

The 2021 Offseason was an interesting one at Dollywood. Not only did Lightning Rod become the first RMC coaster to get "RMC'd," but Mystery Mine received some track work as well. And what about that new Mountain Coaster Go-Kart contraption at Rowdy Bear Ridge? We cover it all on this week's episode of the Coaster101 Podcast.

Andrew is joined by C101 team members John, Kyle and Nick, who all visited Dollywood and the surrounding area attractions at different times over the past month. We talk about the changes to the park, the new attractions at Rowdy Bear, and we give some of our personal tips for Dollywood and Pigeon Forge!

You can connect with the show by emailing us at podcast@coaster101.com or hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram

Relevant Links:
5 Reasons Why Kyle Thinks Thunderhead is Better than Lightning Rod
Mystery Mine 2021 Review
Lightning Rod New Track Review
Comprehensive Guide to the Mountain Coasters of the Smoky Mountains
Rowdy Bear Powered Coaster POV
Rowdy Bear Laser Gun Coaster POV

We also have our own line of Coaster101 and coaster-inspired merchandise at http://c101.co/shirts!

Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!

Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.