Coasterdom

Jake Slides – The Inaugural Year Of A Halloween Tradition

Jake — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:30:21 +0000

This year I decided to embark on the greatest of theme park halloween scare tactics, sliding. Sliding, for those of you that are unaware is done by wearing a pair of gloves that have various metal pieces glued on to them and kneepads. The idea is that you slide towards the park guest and scare them out of their mind, which, when it is dark and people are already jumpy, is a fairly easy task to accomplish. I successfully created a pair of gloves for the first time this year due ...

China Wants More of the Mouse

Jake — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:18:51 +0000

Reuters has reported that Shanghai is interested in building another Disney theme park in China. This surprises me a little seeing as the Hong Kong park has not been a stunning success by any means. However, Disney is clearly interested in the massive Shanghai market which includes Suzhou, Nanjing and Hnagzhou which are all accessible via car. Preliminary plans were submitted to Beijing for approval and are expected to be approved. I will keep an eye on this story and post a follow up story when more information is given. Here is ...

Legoland 2 Coming To… Illinois?

Jake — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:27:50 +0000

According to a story that was run on Theme Park Insider earlier today, a news article was posted on St. Louis Today’s website today about Legoland looking for some sweet tax breaks in the Glen Carbon area. Now I’m sure you’re wondering where in the world Glen Carbon, Illinois is. I know I was, so I looked it up on Google Maps and found… this: So as you can see, Carbondale is a suburb outside of St. Louis, much like Carlsbad (The location of the first U.S. Legoland park) is ...

Disney’s Brand New Haunted Holiday Website & Contest

Jake — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:41:03 +0000

Disney has released what is one of, if not the most impressive website they have ever unveiled. Alright, so perhaps that isn’t saying a whole lot, given their previous track record of slow loading and cumbersome websites, something I have maligned rather consistently given my fairly frequent use of Disneyland’s website. However, I am quite happy to announce that they have created a website that is very interactive, quick and very theatrical. But don’t take my word for it, check out your favorite Haunted attractions spotlighted here: http://www.disney.com/HauntedHolidays Various videos documenting ...

Ask The Creative Director of Halloween Horror Nights Your Burning Questions!

Jake — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 21:05:09 +0000

I’ll be trying to get home from school in time to participate, but I would highly reccomend this opportunity to all of you. Check out the press release below: He’s taken you “Behind-the-Screams,” now Halloween Horror Nights’ Creative Director & “Mastermind” John Murdy will answer YOUR questions LIVE on Stickam this Thursday at 5:30pm PT! Log in and chat about the mazes, gore, freaks and more. To check out the chat and sign up, please go to http://www.stickam.com/horrornights09 In the meantime, please check out the videos in John Murdy’s “Behind-the-Screams” Series: Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CO4gWjoH5hU Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l19QLsb54wk Part ...

Shamu Is Going Once… Going Twice… SOLD!

Jake — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:22:04 +0000

Busch Entertainment has been sold to the Blackstone Group, details of which can be found in the link below. My thoughts on the deal? Sounds pretty fantastic – I look forward to see what Blackstone does with the parks as I have a LOT of confidence in their managerial skills (I believe they own or manage at least some of the Hilton Hotels). So what do you guys think? Apprehensive? Or excited? Link to a more detailed story: http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/2568146/

Halloween Horror Nights 2009 Review

Jake — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 17:04:24 +0000

October 2nd, 2009. The Sun sets on Universal Studios Hollywood, and fog begins to pour inside the park. The actors creep outside of the backstage area and wait for the guests to start trickling through their area. Soon screams and shrieks fill the air – Halloween Horror Nights 2009 has begun. This year an eviction notice was slipped to Freddy, Jason and Leatherface and they have been replaced with Michael Myers, Jigsaw, Chucky and Harry Warden. Ushering in a new wave of terror with four new mazes, an all new Terror ...

Rocking On A Roller Coaster

Jake — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 05:04:59 +0000

These days it is becoming increasingly prevalent on large roller coasters to include an on board audio system, ala California Screamin’, Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride, The Time Machine (Led Zeppelin) and Hollywood: Rip, Rockit and Ride. Such a feature is a fantastic advertising point, as seen on H:RRR. By selling the different genres available to listen to while experiencing an already intense looking roller coaster merely raises the value and sell factor of any thrill ride. However, I have bumped into a few people over the years that are ...

Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?

Jake — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 05:27:30 +0000

The Big Bad Wolf, a classic Arrow suspended coaster currently located at Busch Gardens Williamsburg permanently closes tomorrow. Always hailed as one of the best of its kind, The Big Bad Wolf features fantastic terrain interaction with close calls near both scenery and the famous Rhine river. We here at Coasterdom wish to pay tribute to this classic coaster, one that has been familiar to me since I was ten years old. I am very sad I never got a chance to ride this coaster, and truly envy those that ...

How Was Your Summer?

Jake — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 16:34:08 +0000

School is back in session for many, (although I still have a couple weeks – gotta love/hate the quarter system) and that means that their coaster season is drawing to a close. Parks are switching to weekend only operation, and soon will be done for the year. So, how was your 2009 coaster season? Did you get on many new rides? Hang out at your home park? Check out that park you’d been dying to get to? Let us know in the comments below!