seasonpass_Doug

Thank you so much for all your help Robb! If you guys want to hear the entire story behind this project with special guest Steven Clark (Founder of D23), go to The Season Pass Podcast Website and click on the Top Feature - TSPP #254. Again, thanks for all your support guys! -Doug

Great Report Divv!!! Hope your experience in my home state was exciting. Take Care My Friend!

At a Cedar Fair park!!! I seriously sometimes wonder if they should split CP off to another company. I really feel like that park holds back the other parks in the chain sometimes! Amen! My thoughts exactly!

Sounds like a plan! Hopefully I can meet up with you guys.

That dude who does the intro for the Season Pass Podcast is AWESOME!!

Thanks Again Robb! It's always fun to have you on the podcast.

Yup. I love the ride, but both my wife and I struggled with entering and exiting the log. It also makes loading time in general a nightmare.

We had a blast during the Bay Area Bash. Thanks again to Robb and the SFDK staff (especially Eric) for allowing us to have the privilege to podcast for the event! Here's to 2010!!

Hey Everyone! We attended the HoliWood Nights event in Holiday World and we recorded a fun podcast with Will Koch. Check out below: Episode 82 is Live in Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari! Will Koch (President of Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari) joins Doug Barnes (Season Pass Podcast), Robert Coker (ThrillRide.com) and Chris Godsey (RideWorld.com) beside the park’s newest attraction Pilgrims Plunge! We discuss the amazing new water ride as well the park and of course the three coasters in this tremendous Theme Park. All this plus the HoliWood Nights event – Enjoy! Listen Here - Click on the "POD" icon or listen through iTunes. Thanks and take care!

^Robb it was great to meet you as well as others in the TPR community - West Coast Bash Rocked!! Can't wait for more great events! Until next time my friend.

Robb was an awesome guest and we had a blast recording this episode! Thanx again Robb for giving us a moment of your time; TPR is an amazing achievement!!! I'm also really pumped about West Coast Bash 2009!

Exactly! You're spot-on. It's unfortunate because there is such beauty that is displayed within the Busch Parks and it's not just the scenery and layout, but the special care that each guest receives once admitted.

Unfortunately, this looks to be the first of many moves that AB-InBev will enact. We interviewed Alan Stein (Corporate Director of Entertainment for Busch Entertainment Corporation until late 2008) and he stated that InBev incurred a lot of debt and they have no interest in keeping these parks; meaning the only option for the Theme Parks is a diluted operation until a whole-sale is accepted to diminish the financial damage. My personal observation is that AB-InBev will continue to eliminate any gifts, perks, and quality experiences that separate these parks from your "Basic Operation Amusement Park." Hopefully within the next couple of months we'll hear good news (Please.... God....) about a "savior" corporation investing in all 10 parks.

Interesting conversation on the removal of Vortex. My only question is with the foot print for Vortex being miniscule, would it be worth the cost to dismantle and replace it with something new? The new coaster replacing it would still be on the "smaller" side (which is the main complaint of all the coasters there)... would Cedar Fair see potential profit after all the work?

Ghostrider could use an entire re-track and a maintenance crew that really cares for the ride. Don't be always fooled into thinking that new trains will suddenly make a ride better. There is a lot that would need to be done to ANY coaster to make it go from "crap" to "awesome" again. Just remember how amazing everyone thought Manhattan Express would be when it got it's new set of trains...yeah.... I think the trains will be a welcome addition to a ride they are designed for, and maybe could offer some improvements on a currently operating coaster, but don't just assume that throwing a new style train onto the track is going to radically change a ride's performance if that is the *only* thing done to it. --Robb Great point Robb. I agree that new trains on the same mangled track will not hide the despondency of Ghostrider nor will it create a more cordial experience (Manhattan Express = Perfect Example). I guess I was contemplating the consideration of a full-blown refurbishment; with the recognition that the new train has the ability to smoothly navigate the track for decreased train & track maintenance. This (to me) would be a motive that might fiscally make sense if they want to operate the coaster for years to come... but that's most likely me daydreaming about the resurrection of Ghostrider's Glory Days.