The Coaster101 Podcast

Kyle and John recently made a visit to one of the United States' few remaining trolley parks, Dorney Park in Allentown, PA. The two-first time visitors join Andrew to talk about their experience.

The trio talk the park's coaster lineup, Demon Drop, the Zephyr, our thoughts on what the park's next roller coaster should be and how the Coaster101 team ended up in one of Dorney Park's TikToks.

Visit Dorney Park's website, and follow them on social media at @dorneyparkpr.

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 c101.co/teepublic!

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

In this day and age, it's rare that we see a full-scale ground-up theme park being built, and especially a ground-up theme park in Iowa. Fortunately, The Lost Island is up for the task. On this week's podcast, we talk with The Weber Group's Chief Theming Officer (what an incredible title!) Jim Doiron about what went into the theming for The Lost Island, which is scheduled to open next month. 

We learn more about theming the park's three roller coasters, five themed realms, working with Sally Dark Rides on Volkanu: Quest for the Golden Idol and so much 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!

Find the latest and greatest Coaster101 and theme park-inspired merch at c101.co/teepublic!

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

When starting a podcast, like we did in 2020, you have a list of guests you really want to try to get on the show. It took almost two years, but we got one of our "big fish," Theme Park Journalist Arthur Levine.

Known mostly for his work in USA Today, TripSavvy (fka About.com), and frequent appearances on the CoasterRadio podcast, Arthur has recently started a new journalism venture with the creation of his Substack newsletter, which you can find at www.aboutthemeparks.fun

On this week's episode, Arthur joins Andrew to talk all things theme park journalism, including how he got his start in his 30-year journalism career writing about theme parks, his new Substack newsletter, and more. There's a great discussion about Guardians of the Galaxy and of all things, Professional Wrestling. You don't want to miss it!

You can find Arthur on Twitter at @aboutthemeparks.

For the story of Arthur operating Phoenix at Deno's Wonder Wheel, Click Here.
For Arthur's Rankings of Busch Gardens Coasters, 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!

Find the latest and greatest Coaster101 and theme park-inspired merch at c101.co/teepublic!

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

It's that time of year again -- another listener questions show! Join Andrew and John as they take on questions that make them think, from overrated roller coasters, to launch vs. lift, to why parks don't advertise their rides for season-long farewell tours.

John and Andrew are even tasked with the question from former podcast guest Henry (Nick's 8-year-old son) on why roller coasters exist in the first place. You want deep questions? Look no further than those from an 8 year old. 

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 c101.co/teepublic!

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

They say Virginia is for Lovers...Coaster Lovers. Recently, Andrew and Eric both had the (separate) opportunities to experience the new-for-2022 Pantheon at Busch Gardens Williamsburg while Andrew was able to extend his commonwealth trip and experience Tumbili (and Jungle X-Pedition) at Kings Dominion as well!

If you're looking for coaster nerd talk on the latest and greatest roller coasters in the "Mother of States" (weird nickname, but okay) -- look no further than this episode of the Coaster101 podcast! 

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 c101.co/teepublic!

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

On this week's episode of the Coaster101 podcast we're joined by Matt Schmotzer of Print My Ride Detroit. We first noticed Matt five years ago when he unveiled he was working on a working 3D printed roller coaster model recreation of Invertigo shuttle coaster found at Kings Island. We caught up with Matt to hear about the incredible projects he's been working on since then, including:

• The challenges of building the Steel Vengance model at Cedar Point and trying to get it to work
• His relationship with CoasterDynamix
• The most challenging nanocoasters to design were
• The origin story of Coaster Cutouts
• Why he made a 12 foot tall 3D printed model of Raptor's loop
• Which does he like better: Velocicoaster or Iron Gwazi
• And much more!

https://www.coaster101.com/

Viva Las Podcast. Andrew recently visited Las Vegas, and got to experience a lot of "America's Playground's" offerings during his 72 hours, from roller coasters, to live entertainment, to immersive experiences and more. Fortunately for us, he wasn't the only person with the first name Andrew to have a similar experience recently.

We're joined on the podcast this week by In The Loop's Andrew Hyde to talk all things Vegas. From Big Apple Coaster, to Circus Circus, to Speed: The Ride, to Lost Spirits Distillery at Area 15, The Neon Museum, the Beatles Cirque du Soleil show at the Mirage and more, everything is covered in this week's show!

Follow Hyde on Twitter at @OnlineHyde, and listen to In The Loop anywhere you can find our podcast! 

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 c101.co/teepublic!

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

One of the most ambitious immersive experiences in theme park adjacent history - The Star Wars Galactic Star Cruiser -- recently opened at Walt Disney World Resort. While we are still attempting to find our way to Florida to experience it ourselves (Starcruiser Dreams with a Pop Century Budget...can anyone else relate?) We fortunately were able to track down a guest from one of the preview voyages, who is able to recount his experience for us.

"Friend of the Pod," Vice President for Advancement for Give Kids The World, Steven Amos had the opportunity to take a voyage aboard the Galactic Star Cruiser with a number of "Wish" Children and their families prior to the Star Cruiser's opening. Steven visited the Halcyon with his wife, and two young children. We talk a bit of everything, from the level of immersion, to the disembarking into Disney's Hollywood Studios, to if you can watch Disney Channel in your Star Cruiser Cabin.

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 c101.co/teepublic!

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

It's a big week for Kings Dominion, opening for the season on March 12. In celebration of that big week, we've got a BIG episode centered around the all-new Tumbili 4-D Free-Spin and re-themed Safari Village, which is now known as Jungle X-Pedition.

We're joined on the podcast this week by Bridgette Bywater, Vice President and General Manager for Kings Dominion, Tony Turner, Head of Creative Services for Live Entertainment, and Executive Chef Denis Callinan, to learn more about everything going on with Tumbili and Jungle X, from rides, to theming, to story, and more.

If you listen closely, you might even notice that we get to break a little bit of exclusive news about the restaurant formerly known as Outer Hanks!

For more information about Kings Dominion, be sure to visit their website, and follow the park on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

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 c101.co/teepublic!

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

Recently, Nick returned from a long weekend at Universal Orlando with his family. While we all love roller coasters (yes, he rode VelociCoaster), when your 8-year-old and 4-year-daughter are in tow, we all know that family comes first.

This week on the podcast, Nick talks about the ins and outs of taking a family to Universal Orlando. From attractions, to accommodations, to just how many beads its possible to catch during a few viewings of Universal Orlando Mardi Gras parade, it's all covered in this episode of the Coaster101 podcast.

Also, if you stick around to the end, you might get to hear Nick's kids' thoughts on their recent trip in a very special mini-mini-episode of the Coaster101 podcast!

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 a Coaster101 Prize Pack!

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