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The Coaster Critic’s Blog 4.0 Now Live!
Welcome to The Coaster Critic’s Blog 4.0 As the blog enters it’s fourth year, I figured I’d give it a facelift. Welcome to The Coaster Critic’s Blog 4.0! I spend my winters (the theme park off-season) launching new projects like Theme Park Syndicate and on redesigns like this one. The changes to the site aren’t as big as the last redesign a year ago, but there are a ... -
Santas on Manta & A Christmas Gift to My Readers
Santa’s New Sleigh Thirty-two Santas boarded SeaWorld Orlando’s new flying coaster, Manta last week. SeaWorld Orlando sent me a pic and a link to the video below. I got to give them credit. With the recent Google Street View feature and the company name change, they know how to stay in the news. A Gift to My Readers Also, since it’s Christmas, I thought I’d give my readers ... -
Theme Park Travel Odyssey 2009 Edition
2009 Theme Park Travel Odyssey Time to recap my 2009 theme park trips. This was a busy year with a number of interviews, media days, and fun theme park trips. I’m even going to include a lost trip that I don’t think I’ve referenced on the blog. From the warm tropic atmosphere of Orlando to the mean streets of Manhattan, my travels took me to 10 theme parks. But, it all started ba... -
New Look & New Video Feature on the Way
So I’ve had to leave the theme park world for a bit. I was busy working on my wife’s web site for the last few weeks. Now, that I’m finished with that I can get back to the blog and Theme Park Syndicate. So, expect to see more posts on a regular basis. I know that I have some coaster news to catch up on as well as my review queue with some coaster reviews that are on the way. I&... -
General Site & Web Updates
It’s been a while since I’ve done a post about some general site and Web updates. On In the Loop Podcast for Intimidator Talk After Carowinds announced Intimidator for 2010, I was invited to join the In the Loop Podcast to discuss the new ride with the hosts and Danielle Swords, Public Relations Manager from Carowinds. I had fun doing it even though it was hard to know when to talk bec... -
Busch Gardens Trip: Farewell Big Bad Wolf & Roller Coaster Tour
Busch Gardens Trip: Farewell Big Bad Wolf & the Roller Coaster Tour For my final trip of the season I’ll be returning to one of my favorite theme parks on the planet: Busch Gardens Williamsburg. I’ll get to take Big Bad Wolf for one more spin in its last days. If you want to ride it before it closes, you have until Monday night (Labor Day) to say goodbye. I’m sad to see it go... -
Elvis, Madonna, & Roller Coasters?
Happy National Roller Coaster Day Every year on August 16th, Elvis Presley is remembered, Madonna is mentioned for becoming another year older, and I celebrate my birthday. A few years ago I found out that this day is also National Roller Coaster Day. Now, I can blame fate when my friends and family ask me why I have such a strange hobby. On August 16th, 1898 the first patent for a roller coaster ... -
The Coaster Critic Meets The Cyclone – NYC Trip
This year for my birthday trip, I’m headed to New York City to ride the legendary Coney Island Cyclone. While I’m in the area I’m also checking out Rye Playland. In true Coaster Critic fashion I’m going to cram it all into one day. Hopefully my subway, train, and city bus research pays off. This trip is really more about the experience than the number of new coasters. Fo... -
The Coaster Critic Returns to Space
I finally got around to refreshing my other site, Coaster Portal. It’s a new take on the old school link directory that includes web site profiles, user ratings and reviews, general theme park web site news, all in a space themed package. I really want the site to be more Web 2.0 and interactive than link sites of the past. There are several places for people to submit sites, submit news ... -
FOX Charlotte News Interview
I’m going to be interviewed on FOX Charlotte News tomorrow. I’ll be talking about the best roller coasters within driving distance of Charlotte. It’s going to be taped at Carowinds so there may be some great background shots of Carolina Cobra, Flight Deck (formerly Top Gun), or Nighthawk (formerly BORG Assimilator). If you live in the area, check it out. It will be airing on the ... -
10 Days of New Posts
So you may have noticed that I’ve been posting less frequently lately. I wouldn’t call it writers block, just computer issues (laptop died) and the general demands of a busy life when you’re married with child. Well, to get back on track, I’m starting another blogstreak. This time it’ll be ten days in a row of new, exclusive, and original content. Starting tomorrow, ... -
Welcome to the New Coaster Critic’s Blog
Happy New Year! Welcome to The Coaster Critic’s Blog v3.0 It’s been a pretty large undertaking, but today I’m unveiling the new site. Importing the posts from Blogger to WordPress was easy, but many of my posts still need to be reformatted. The site will be in beta for a few weeks as I update, reformat, and link check the over 400 posts. The latest version has a ton of new c... -
Now on Facebook
Now on Facebook | Become a Fan!I now have a “Coaster Critic” Facebook page. I tried this well over a year ago, but I couldn’t figure out how to make a page versus a profile. For some reason Facebook just didn’t believe that “The Coaster Critic” was my real name. So finally, I took the time to figure it out and set up a page. It wasn’t hard, just not very h... -
Coaster Critic’s Blog to be Redesigned for ‘09
Coming Soon: CCB Version 3.0While the current design is only 9 months old, I’m going to completely overhaul the blog over the next month. The redesign will include a migration from Blogger to Wordpress. Blogger’s been good to me, but I need some of the advantages of a full-fledged web site while still having the ability to do blog posts. I hope to launch the new site on New Year’... -
Announcing Coaster Portal
Coaster Portal – Your Guide to the Theme Park WebiverseSo my announcement was delayed about a week, but today I unveil Coaster Portal. It has been a long-standing side project I’ve had on the back burner for years. The blog had taken up the majority of my time, until finally, I pushed myself to complete the site. I wanted to create a different type of theme park web site. One that link... -
400th Post & a Big Announcement
Milestone & A New Site Coming Real Soon Two and a half years ago I began this blog as an outlet for my love of roller coasters and writing. This post is my 400th post and it’s been a fun ride especially when my readers drop in and post comments. Some agree, some disagree, and others just share their experiences. Either way, The Coaster Critic’s Blog is at its best when the communit... -
Happy Roller Coaster Day
August 16th is National Roller Coaster DayOn this day 110 years ago, the first roller coaster patent was submitted. I hope you celebrated the day at a theme park riding your favorite roller coaster. I’m still recuperating from my tiring, but fun trip to California. I’ll be spending the day relaxing with family and celebrating my birthday. I found out a few years ago that I was born on ... -
The Coaster Critic Heads West
The Most Extreme Theme Park on the PlanetI’m taking my first coaster trip to the left coast. California’s known for Disneyland, but it’s also home to what’s possibly the most extreme theme park anywhere, Six Flags Magic Mountain. Magic Mountain boasts 15 roller coasters with an another one, Terminator, coming in 2009. Just a few years ago, the SoCal park had more coasters t... -
Darien Lake & Waldameer Park Trip
Darien Lake & Waldameer Park Trip I'll be visiting Darien Lake this Thursday and Waldameer Park on Sunday. I'm looking forward to re-visiting Darien Lake now that PARC Management runs the park. I've heard good things and I'm anxious to see how different it is post-Six Flags. I'll also get to ride the coasters that I missed last time as well as the new Orange County Choppers... -
New York Times Quotes The Coaster Critic
NY Times Article Reviews Pennsylvania Woodies, Quotes The Coaster CriticThe New York Times Travel section featured an article last Friday on the wooden roller coasters of Pennsylvania. Writer Cindy Price made a trek acroos Pennsylvania riding the Keystone State's notable wooden coasters. Her account includes rides (or mentions) of the Phoenix and Twister at Knoebels, Thunderbolt at Kennyw...
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