Podcasts about Kings Island

This is not a Christmas story.This is a story about perspective.About how the same moment can mean everything to one person—and almost nothing to another.Over the next twelve episodes on Together 4 Good, we're sharing real stories that remind us we don't all experience joy, meaning, or even God in the same way.This is not a Christmas story.But it is a real one.In this episode of Together for Good, Pastor Gary shares a formative story from his teenage years—one that begins with a brand-new Schwinn bike, a scorching summer day, and a long ride toward Kings Island that didn't exactly go as planned.What started as a straightforward journey quickly turned into a series of wrong turns, repeated hills, and decisions made without a map. And somewhere along those winding country roads, a deeper truth emerged: faith often works the same way.Many of us know where we hope our faith will lead—a deeper relationship with God, a sense of peace, meaning, or trust. But getting there isn't always clear. Do we pray more? Read Scripture differently? Join a group? Try something new? Sometimes we choose a path that feels right… only to find ourselves back where we started, facing the same challenges again.In this reflection, Pastor Gary reminds us that those moments aren't failures. They're part of the journey. Sometimes the road that feels like a setback is actually teaching us something essential. And sometimes we have to climb the same hill more than once before we discover what truly bears fruit.The good news? God doesn't disappear at the fork in the road. God stays—inviting us to choose again, to keep moving, and to trust that even the wrong turns can lead us closer to love.Learn more: https://bethany-denver.orgfaith stories, Christian storytelling, everyday faith, modern Christianity, spiritual reflections, faith and life, lived faith stories, faith beyond certainty

watch the video below: listen to the podcast below: It's time to close out yet another year of the Dandy Fun House. While all those “other shows” are slacking off and giving you retrospectives of everything they've already done in the past year, it is instead our tradition here at the Dandy Fun House to leave the past exactly there… in the past and instead look ahead to the brand spankin' new year coming at us like Frehley's Comet and take a glimpse at the coolest stuff we've been able to find that's waiting for us in 2026! We're going to look at theme parks, movies, pinball and of course the TOTY AWARD NOMINATION picks for the upcoming 2026 Toy of the Year Awards! Are you ready to get your kicks in 26? Then LET'S step into the FUN HOUSE! Hello and welcome to the Dandy Fun House 2025 year-end extravaganza where we wear the hats and blow our hooters about the very best in retro pop culture, toys and games and all the fun stuff! I’m your host Neil Dandy and in this episode we're going to look ahead at WHAT’S HOT ON THE HORIZON FOR 2026 in the worlds of theme parks, movies, pinball and my personal picks for the 2026 TOTY AWARDS (Toy of the Year). BUT FIRST! I have to show you these amazing DANDY FUN HOUSE T-Shirts before time runs out! Perfect for swaddling the baby new year, They have a front and a back so you don’t get cold and we even cut 4 holes in them! One to crawl your body into, one to stick your head out of and two to poke your arms through! Find them in the Dandy Fun Shop at the Dandy Fun House website at dandyfunhouse.com before the Dandy Ball Drops! Alrighty, hold on tighty and let’s get right into what's hot on the horizon for 2026 starting with… THEME PARKS! And up first is going to be UNIVERSAL STUDIOS, HOLLYWOOD (which isn't actually in Hollywood, it's in Studio City kind of like the LA Angels baseball team is actually in Anaheim and how they call the Embassy Suites here in Murfreesboro, Tennessee “Nashville South” which we absolutely are not. But anyway that's a rabbit hole rant for another day.) Anyway, UNIVERSAL STUDIOS in the greater Los Angeles, California area is breaking ground on a new roller coaster where each individual car experiences its very own 360 degrees of rotation. The coaster is called FAST AND FURIOUS HOLLYWOOD DRIFT themed after the Fast and Furious movies obviously. This one is expected to peel out in 2026! And Legoland California is busy building the Lego Galaxy space-themed land including an indoor roller coaster. Over at Kings Island in Ohio they're opening what they are calling a new “dark ride” in 2026 called “PHANTOM THEATER: Opening Nightmare.” It's in the location that has most recently held an attraction called Boo Blasters but is apparently the site of a previous attraction also called PHANTOM THEATER and this is apparently the return of that attraction with some various upgrades. I went to the Kings Island website to get more information and there's just a teaser video showing two girls walking into Boo Blasters and ending up in the Phantom Theater which appears to be a very loose sendup on the Phantom of the Opera. The cartoon phantom character they show in the teaser graphic is obviously based on the classic Lon Chaney silent film character, and visitors ride inside cars that resemble opera boxes. So… yeah. Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee (my neck of the woods kinda sorta) will be undertaking a $50 million expansion and also opening the world's first ever hybrid indoor family coaster and whitewater river raft ride called the “Night Flight Expedition.” Then under at Sea World, Orlando Florida they're diving into a new dark ride called SEAQuest: Legends of the Deep. If you don't know what a dark ride is, it basically means it's indoors and you get moved from scene to scene. It doesn't necessarily mean it's actually dark. Anyway, this new dark ride at Sea World Orlando will be what they are calling a suspended dark ride. The only information about this ride currently is that the rider will “discover dazzling ecosystems, legendary sea life, and breathtaking stories of resilience and wonder.” NEW MOBILITY DEVICE POLICY AT SEA WORLD! And speaking of Sea World, they have a controversial new policy which has been making the news lately that has just rolled out regarding mobility devices for the disabled. It appears that rollator walkers with seats are no longer permitted. The official updated policy from the Sea World website is as follows: “For the safety of our guests and employees, rollator walkers with seats on them are not permitted at SeaWorld Orlando. Alternative personal transportation options, including standard wheelchairs and Electric Convenience Vehicles (ECVs), are available. Walkers without a seat are permitted.” I'm guessing that more than a few guests were using their rollators like wheelchairs and it was causing some sort of safety concern in the parks. As someone who transports disabled people as my profession and handles mobility devices all day long, I can tell you from personal experience that a wheelchair itself is something you need to exercise caution with while pushing someone around. A rollator walker would be very, very easy to tip over if someone were attempting to use it as a wheelchair. So while I am disappointed at the inconvenience some disabled guests are going to face with this new policy, I want to be very careful not to demonize Sea World too quickly on this new policy. Guests can still borrow suitable mobility devices from guest services. Ok, time to work our flippers over to the world of PINBALL! Here are the rumored pinball releases expected in 2026 that caught my eye during the research for this episode. Please keep in mind these are only rumors… AMERICAN PINBALL is rumored to be releasing a CUPHEAD pinball machine in 2026 based on the wildly popular video game featuring some amazing vintage animation styles. I'll admit I'm not familiar with the character or the video game but I do love this vintage cartoon style! SPOOKY PINBALL is said to be working on a MOTORHEAD pinball machine for 2026. NO offense to guitarist Wurzel or drummer Mickey Dee (now playing with the Scorpions) who were crucial to keeping the band going in its later years, but I'm really hoping it honors the original lineup of Lemmy, Philthy Phil and Fast Eddie! BARRELS OF FUN PINBALL appears to be cooking up some GOONIES pinball for the new year! RAMPS PINBALL will be coming out with LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS! Oh please let the carnivorous plant eat the ball! And last but not least in our pinball 2026 rumours we have PINBALL ADVENTURES bringing us SUSHI MADNESS! Ni Ohashi Kudasai ! And if you're REALLY a pinball nut as we know you are, you'll want to put March 20th through the 22nd on your calendar because that's when Frisco, Texas braces itself for the annual TEXAS PINBALL FESTIVAL! Over 440 games. One incredible weekend! The website says tickets go on sale October 4th 2026. I have to imagine that's a typo and they really mean 2025 otherwise only those with the ability for reverse time travel will be able to attend. There will be tournaments and challenges, special guests and panels, exhibitors, parts, memorabilia, new games and there will be a special tech day for those trying to upgrade and/or fix their own machines. That's the TEXAS PINBALL FESTIVAL 2026! Rope you a ticket today! Yeehaw! Alright, I think we're ready to “steer” away from pinball and “drive” this herd into… MOVIES! First I'll start with letting you know a few of my favorite movies of 2025 before we get into what's ahead for 2026: JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH: Ok, it was pretty much par for the course but it had Scarlett Johansson carrying the entire movie on her shoulders alone and she pulled it off amazingly! MICKEY 17: This is a movie about a guy who signs on to do very dangerous grunt work in space for a corporation and every time he gets killed, the company just prints out a new copy of him with all his same memories. The crux is that the new copy never knows if he's actually the person being reborn every time or if he really dies and the new copy just has his memories and merely thinks he's the same person. Weird stuff. THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS – After many fantastic fails at trying to make this work on the big screen, they finally got the Fantastic Four right! The retro future vibe was spot on and all the actors were perfect! SUPERMAN: I was really upset about losing Henry Cavill as Superman, but James Gunn came back with a fresh new fun feel on this one starring David Corenswet, even bringing in Supe's dog Krypto! This movie was just a great time! More please! THE SMASHING MACHINE: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in a dramatic role co-starring Emily Blunt. It's the story of Mixed Martial arts and UFC Champion Mark Kerr and how he conquered his biggest opponent: addiction. And finally in my roundup of my favorite movies of 2025 I bring you… BUGONIA! This movie was a crazy trip with some really wild twists and many moments of pure cringe and I loved it! Starring Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons who seems to be showing up in everything lately! It's a story about two conspiracy nuts who kidnap a corporate CEO thinking she's a space alien trying to destroy the Earth. This was easily my biggest delightful surprise of 2025. But before we get to 2026, I'd like to give a special nod to TRON: ARES because I always expect anything starring Jared Leto to suck eggs and this did not! And SPINAL TAP II: The End Continues… Rest in peace Marty DiBergi. MOVIES I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2026! THE ODYSSEY Expected Jul 17, 2026: After the Trojan War, Odysseus faces a dangerous voyage back to Ithaca, meeting creatures like the Cyclops Polyphemus, Sirens, and Circe along the way. starring Matt Damon, Mia Goth, and Anne Hathaway. This could be really good or it could be really stupid. I'm betting this is going to be good and double or nothing that Mia Goth will be a siren or maybe Medusa. I think she'd make a good Medusa! EVIL DEAD BURN Expected Jul 24, 2026 – I'm a sucker for the Evil Dead movies. This one is not likely to have any Bruce Campbell, but they're keeping the details under tight wraps for now so who knows? COYOTE VS. ACME Expected Aug 28, 2026 PG A story set in the ACME warehouse, the manufacturer of anything and everything used by the Looney Tunes characters. And apparently John Cena is voicing one of the characters! Oh please oh please oh please get this right! If 2025's “The Day The Earth Blew Up” starring Daffy Duck and Porky Pig is any indication, I think we can have high hopes here! Ooh, that’s another one of my favorites from 2025 I left off the list! INSPECTOR GADGET – No details are available but I think we're long overdue for some Go Go Gadget action! DUNE Part Three Expected Dec 18, 2026 It follows Muad’dib, heir to unimaginable power, as he brings to fruition the ancient scheme to create a superbeing ruler among men, not in the heavens. And according to imdb it’s starring Starring Rebecca Ferguson, Timothée Chalamet and Anya Taylor-Joy. Did you pick up what I just picked up? Zendaya is not listed as a cast member on IMDB! How can this IMD Be!? You tell me! PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN (untitled) – That's all we know folks. Hopefully they got things squared away with Johnny Depp. That is if they want to sell tickets. I AM LEGEND 2 – Military scientist Robert Neville seems the sole survivor in virus-ravaged New York. He’s waging a fight against “Darkseekers”, mutants resembling vampires trying to capture him as he searches for a cure. Starring Will Smith and Michael B. Jordan Alright! I could go for a sequel to I AM LEGEND! Especially when you add Michael B into the mix! I'd really like a sequel to iRobot but this'll do me for now! BLADE – That's right they are teasing a new Blade movie for 2026 with Mia Goth listed in the cast but of course the burning question is DO THEY HAVE WESLEY SNIPES??? They gave him a cameo as Blade in the Deadpool vs. Wolverine movie last year. But Snipes is NOT listed in the cast on IMDB as of yet! There is also an Untitled Denzel Washington Project Based on the historical figure of Hannibal, considered one of the greatest military commanders of all time. The film covers the crucial battles he led against the Roman Republic during the Second Punic War. You had me at Denzel, not to mention I love historical action movies. Bring it on! THE BRIDE Expected Mar 6, 2026 In 1930s Chicago, Dr. Frankenstein asks Dr. Euphronius to help create a companion. They give life to a murdered woman as the Bride, sparking romance, police interest, and radical social change. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Christian Bale THIS IS THE ONE I'M WAITING FOR! Love Christian Bale and love the concept of setting the story of The Bride of Frankenstein in 1930's Chicago! Let's go! SCANDALOUS! This will be the story behind the Hollywood romance of Sammy Davis Jr. and actress Kim Novak. I love anything related to Sammy Davis Jr. “It's gonna be fantastic baby!” CLAYFACE – Expected Sep 11, 2026 A shape-shifting creature made of magical clay haunts Gotham City, alternating between villain and ally of Batman. Ok, it's a Batman villain and not a super obvious one! Looks interesting! EVEL KNIEVEL ON TOUR – This one is going to be about Legendary motorcycle daredevil Evel Knievel and apparently the drama that surrounded the run-up to his 1974 attempt at jumping the Snake River Canyon in Idaho.Starring Leonardo DiCaprio Ok, first of all, Evel was planning to jump the Grand Canyon but couldn't get the ok from the US Government so he made a deal with an Indian tribe to jump the Snake River Canyon seeing how it was located on sovereign tribal land. Anyway, a new movie about Evel Knievel? Heck yeah! THE HUNGER GAMES: SUNRISE ON THE REAPING – Expected Nov 20, 2026 This new installment of the Hunger Games will explore Panem 24 years before Katniss’ saga, starting on the morning of the reaping for the 50th Hunger Games, where a young Haymitch Abernathy participates. Ok, this could be alright. I'm not super excited about it but I could be swayed since it won't have Jennifer Lawrence in it. And that's it for THE MOVIES I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2026! Now for TOYS! What I like to do this time of year is see what toys from 2025 have been nominated in various categories for a coveted TOY OF THE YEAR award otherwise known as a TOTY and let you know my personal picks, not that anyone in the industry is giving me a vote. Maybe someday. BUT TODAY I bring you MY PERSONAL 2026 TOTY AWARD NOMINEE PICKS! ACTION FIGURE OF THE YEAR: I like Avatar Interactive Shoulder Banshee by Disney Consumer Products – This thing looks pretty cool. It's basically a small, colorful looking dragon that sits on your shoulder and attaches via a magnetic base you wear under your clothing. A handheld controller allows you to control head and wing movements as well as its voice. This thing is pretty darn awesome! In the COLLECTIBLES category: There are two different nominees that caught my eye. One is Sticki Rolls Series 2 by Sky Castle Toys which is basically charm bracelets marketed to girls with rolls of small stickers on them with different fun graphics. The other nominee I like is Wigglitz by ZB Designs. These are tiny toy figurines of almost every type of fun character you can imagine that have some sort of wiggly aspect to them, or better put: something that moves when you wiggle them. If I had to choose between these two, I'd probably go with Wigglitz because it's something you'll get continual enjoyment from whereas the Sticki Rolls are only fun until you run out of stickers. CONSTRUCTION PLAYSET OF THE YEAR: I have to give it to GeckoBot 2.0 by Thames & Kosmos, This is a kit where you build your very own robotic gecko that actually climbs up your windows. Thames & Kosmos just keeps knocking it out of the park! CREATIVE TOY OF THE YEAR: Crayola Marker Airbrush has got my vote (that is if I HAD A VOTE which I don't!). If you've ever dreamed of someday making awful-looking t-shirts and hats on the boardwalk, then THIS could be your starter kit! It's an actual working airbrush sprayer courtesy of everyone's favorite crayon company, Crayola! It even comes with various spray color cartridges so you start saying it by spraying it! DOLL OF THE YEAR: Admittedly, I as a 57 year old man should absolutely NOT be voicing my opinion on the Doll of the Year Award (DOTY award?) but if I had to choose from the list of 2026 nominees I would hands-down pick Woof & Co by Sunny Days Entertainment. It's a collection of fashionable dogs of various breeds who all dress FABULOUS! Yeah, this is the one I'd go for. EDUCATIONAL TOY OF THE YEAR: In this category I am really liking the SNAP CIRCUITS SPY KIT by Elenco Electronics. This has a bunch of components that you just snap together to make all sorts of cool stuff like a vibration sensor, motion detector, trip wire, voice changer and a whole lot more. Oh the trouble I would have gotten myself into if I had something like this when I was a kid! GAME OF THE YEAR: I've gotta tell you, there's not a bad one in the bunch of nominees this year for Game of the Year! They've got an EXPLODING KITTENS BOARD GAME where you actually flip the entire board and all the pieces stay in place! There's a Simon game (you know, the memory game Simon?) where they took it and incorporated it into a dance mat called SIMON JUMP. So you stomp out your moves on the dance mat! Then there's COWS IN SPACE where magnetic flying saucers dangle from your forehead via a sproingy headstrap and the object is to abduct cows from a field with your flying saucer! But the game that caught my attention the most was TETRIS TUMBLE XL! It's sort of like Giant Jenga except there is a base that rocks side to side and you roll a die to see what tetris pieces you have to stack on top of it and of course whoever makes the stack fall to the ground is the LOSER! I like this. It's like a great big fun yard game you could also play in your living room. TETRIS TUMBLE XL for Game of the Year is my choice! INFANT / TODDLER TOY OF THE YEAR: Ok, maybe another category I might not be the best judge for but I'm who you've got pal! And in this category I choose Pour ‘N’ Grow Pop-Up Garden by Yookidoo. This appears to be mainly a bath time toy kit but you could play with it really anywhere as long as you have some water onhand. It's pretty simple: you've got three different toys, The fill and water flower, Peek A Bee and Pop Up Worm. You pour water into them or onto them and the water turns some internal mechanisms to make the flower open, the worm come out and wiggle or gets the bee to play peek a bee with you! Very unique and inventive and in my opinion, the absolute best of this year's bunch! KIDULT TOY OF THE YEAR: Kidult? That means it's made for ages 14 and up. And I'm really torn down the middle between two nominees on this one. I like the Miniverse Make it Mini Food Diner Series 4 by MGA Entertainment which is an art kit for making your own food minis that you control the designs and colors of. Have you ever walked past a restaurant that had fake food on display showing examples of their most popular dishes? Well that's what you'll be making with this kit only really, really small. The name is way too long though. Or if you just want something cool to play with that doesn't really take any time and effort, I offer you the ZipString Aracna, which is a newer version of the ZipString string loop toy, but it attaches to your wrist so you can shoot it out like Spiderman! (although they obviously aren't allowed to actually invoke Spiderman but they sure are bending over backwards suggesting it as extremely as they legally can!) The really cool feature of this Kidult toy of the year nominee is the glow feature! Flip a switch on the ZipString wrist launcher, turn off the lights and do all sorts of awesome tricks and shapes in the dark with a glowing string loop. So… Miniverse Make it Mini Food Diner Series 4 or the the ZipString Aracna! The Miniverse Make it Mini Food Diner Series 4 triggers me relentlessly with that obnoxiously long name, so on that basis alone I am giving the nod to the ZipString Aracna! OUTDOOR TOY OF THE YEAR: I think there should really be two sub categories here. One for younger kids and one for older. For the older kids, I was really blown away by the Crazy Cart Shuffle by Razor USA. This thing is like a Big Wheel or a Green Machine on steroids. Not only can you pedal around in this thing but you can spin and also drift. It's really neat. And speaking of neat, for the little ones I absolutely love the Outdoor Kitchen by Hape. It's not a real kitchen of course but it's a really cool miniature toy version of an outdoor kitchen setup! Come on TOTY Awards, let's break this one up by age groups! PRESCHOOL TOY OF THE YEAR: Ok, there were some good ones in here and maybe I'm judging on my own male bias from a bygone era but my favorite here was the Little Tikes Creative Construction Power Cuts Set by MGA Entertainment. It's a woodworking shop playset with an actual working , low-powered plastic chop saw which cuts through foam 2x4s and also comes with a play hammer, nails, measuring tape and carpenter pencil which is actually a marker. In the video demonstration I watched, the chop saw did struggle getting through the foam wood, but when you're talking about preschoolers, that's probably about the best you can hope for. We desperately need more encouragement and inspiring of our youth towards the skilled trades in my humble opinion and this is a refreshing step in that direction. Nicely done! SPECIALTY TOY OF THE YEAR: I was truly taken by the Yes & Know Original Invisible Ink Trivia Game Books by Tree Town Toys. These are basically activity books where different things are revealed with the use of a special invisible ink pen. This looks fantastic for keeping the younguns busy on a road trip or maybe in a waiting room or anywhere you want to keep them distracted. That is until you run out of invisible ink and invisible ink activity books! And those are my picks for the 2026 TOTY AWARDS and THAT'S our look ahead at what's hot on the horizon for 2026! What are YOU looking forward to? Let me know! If you’re enjoying this episode on one of the socials, leave a comment. Otherwise you can email me at neil @ dandyfunhouse . com And even though I said I wasn't going to do a retrospective of this past year, I will tell you my favorite Dandy Fun House episode from this past year of 2025: Oh, who am I kidding? It's always the Halloween episode where the Dandy Fun House becomes the Dandy Spook Shack and I get to dress up like a ghoul. But my second favorite might have to be the deep dive into the iconic toy company WHAM-O! I learned so much doing that one! You might think I just come on here and already know all this stuff I talk about but on the contrary, I do a great deal of research in the weeks leading up to producing an episode and I'm constantly learning amazing new things which is why I really love doing this! DANDY FUN HOUSE Plans for 2026? More of the same of course! We're getting really close to monetization on YouTube. Technically we're already supposed to be there but YouTube gives conflicting information on this and is notorious for constantly moving the goalposts. So while we love publishing to YouTube, we certainly don't put all our Dandy Eggs in that basket. We also publish to Instagram, Facebook, X, Tik Tok and Rumble as well as our very own DANDY FUN HOUSE WEBSITE AT dandyfunhouse.com where you can watch the video, listen and subscribe to the podcast or read the entire episode in written form along with pictures! Who does that!? WE DO! THAT'S WHO! And we do it by hand. No AI stuff. Okay, full disclosure, we DO use AI to help transcribe the episodes into written form and also the captions for the short form videos, but it always gets things wrong so we always go over it personally and make the needed corrections. But while you're on our website checking out all the episodes and buying stuff from the Dandy Fun Shop, be sure to visit our PATRONAGE PAGE where you can support future productions with your modest financial gifts! SUPPORTERS gain access exclusive bonus content AND SUPER SUPPORTERS gain that same access plus I’ll personally send you something amazing from right here at the Dandy Fun House Studios if you include your mailing address! Podcast Listeners may often support through a donation link in your listening app of choice of the app offers it, I understand not all do. And your 5 star reviews wherever you can leave them are always highly appreciated! And THAT ladies and gentlemen sticks a fork in 2025. Please don't forget the reason for the season, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and come on back next year for some amazing new frivolities in 2026! You never know what kind of crazy trouble we could get into, right here at the Dandy Fun House where everything is always FUN AND DANDY! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everybody! Neil Dandy is the creator of The Dandy Fun House and the alter-ego of Neil Smith, the Big Cheese at Neil Smith Entertainment, follower of Jesus, musician, Emcee, Paratransit Driver and Author. Aren't you impressed?

IAAPA Expo 2025 underscored a clear trend: seasonal events continue to grow, even as IAAPA's Haunting Grounds remains a modest pavilion compared to dedicated Halloween shows like TransWorld. This year's exhibitors highlighted how operators are expanding fall and holiday offerings with modular scenic design, interactive environments, AR overlays, and family-friendly installations. In this episode, you'll hear the full interviews with IAAPA's Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President, Michael Shelton, and Sally Dark Rides, offering deeper insight into IAAPA's strategic shift toward curated show-floor zones, the rising importance of food and beverage, and new dark-ride innovations coming to Kings Island and Doha Quest. You'll also hear from all the exhibitors featured in the Haunting Grounds pavilion, including:Plague Productions, Nethercraft, IWG, Dogwood Entertainment, and Verse Immersive, each showcasing products designed to enhance seasonal and Halloween experiences. This episode is adapted from our on-site coverage at IAAPA Expo 2025. The full video tour of the Haunting Grounds is here.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Attorneys for a suspect in the Cincinnati brawl back in July want him out of jail and in the hospital; more than a dozen men were arrested and two missing children were recovered in a northeast Ohio human trafficking sting; state leaders still don't have a bipartisan agreement on a congressional district map; Travis Kelce announces he's investing in the company that owns Cedar Point and Kings Island.

Attorneys for a suspect in the Cincinnati brawl back in July want him out of jail and in the hospital; more than a dozen men were arrested and two missing children were recovered in a northeast Ohio human trafficking sting; state leaders still don't have a bipartisan agreement on a congressional district map; Travis Kelce announces he's investing in the company that owns Cedar Point and Kings Island.

With Six Flags putting out surveys to its passholders, a lot of POSSIBLE things coming in the future, including Kings Island with that enormous plot of land finally used. That, every other parks possibilities, Circuit Breaker being.. amazing? Universal kids, fan questions and much more in this episode.

This week, Mike and EB discuss the latest news from around the theme park industry, including the announcement of a new giga dive coaster at Six Flags Over Texas, trip reports from Kings Island, and tragic incidents at Glenwood Caverns and Universal's Epic Universe. They also explore the future of Islands of Adventure, new theme park developments, and the potential for a Mr. Beast-themed amusement park.

Join Attractions Magazine contributing writers and correspondents as they bring you news and discussion about all things themed entertainment and parks, including Disney, Universal Studios and beyond on The Attractions Podcast. Topics of conversation on this week's episode of The Attractions Podcast: Disney Adventure cruise ship delayed | See 86 concept images inside ‘Zootopia' stage musical in development from Disney Theatrical Productions Avengers ‘Tower of Terror' drop ride with Spider-Man, Doc Ock coming to Hong Kong Disneyland Haunted houses ranked | Halloween Horror Nights 2025 at Universal Studios Hollywood (California) ‘The Conjuring: Beyond Fear' new 20-minute attraction | Review | Carowinds, Cedar Point, Kings Island, Canada's Wonderland Bluey roller coaster opening in 2026 at Alton Towers ‘Run Dollywood' to debut in 2026 as inaugural race weekend Nate Bargatze theme park coming to Nashville, other future locations The Attractions Podcast is brought to you by MEI-Travel and Mouse Fan Travel. They provide premium service and expert advice to get the most for your vacation time and dollars. Visit them at mei-travel.com. We welcome your suggestions and want you to be a part of the discussion. Please send your comments to info@attractionsmagazine.com with the subject line “The Attractions Podcast.” Statements or opinions herein are those of the hosts and advertisers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the producers, Dream Together Media LLC, or staff.

In this jampacked episode, we spotlight three important dates: 10/4, 10/6, and 8/15. October 4, 2025, is OEA's Public Education Matters Day celebration at Kings Island and Cedar Point - We have what you need to know to join. October 6th is the voter registration deadline in Ohio this year - We have more on resources and programs to bring everything from voter registration drives to mock elections to your school, thanks to Kids Voting Ohio. And, August 15th was a pay date for Dayton Education Association members, as it should have been - We hear from the Dayton EA president about why it took a court order to get that done and why the ordeal has strengthened that local association.LEARN MORE AND SIGN UP | Click here to visit the Kids Voting Ohio website to see more information about the programs available for Ohio students and educators and to check out all of the Kids Voting Ohio resources you can use in your classroom. Please note: Mock elections can be held in the weeks before Election Day or any other time of the year! CELEBRATE PUBLIC EDUCATION MATTERS DAY | All OEA members are invited to enjoy a day of fun with their family, friends, and fellow educators at Kings Island and Cedar Point on Saturday, October 4, 2025. OEA is giving each OEA member up to four free admission tickets (including access to the Halloween Haunted Attractions) on a first come first served basis at the park gates, while supplies last. Discounted parking and additional discounted admission tickets and haunted attractions passes will be available for purchase through the end of the day of the event. Keep an eye on this webpage for the links and latest updates.   SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK | If you'd like to share your thoughts on the Public Education Matters podcast, including your ideas for what you'd like to hear on future episodes, please email educationmatters@ohea.org.Featured Public Education Matters guests: Andrea Kruse, Kids Voting OhioNeil Mahoney, Dayton Education Association PresidentConnect with OEA:Email educationmatters@ohea.org with your feedback or ideas for future Public Education Matters topicsLike OEA on FacebookFollow OEA on TwitterFollow OEA on InstagramGet the latest news and statements from OEA hereLearn more about where OEA stands on the issues Keep up to date on the legislation affecting Ohio public schools and educators with OEA's Legislative WatchAbout us:The Ohio Education Association represents nearly 120,000 teachers, faculty members and support professionals who work in Ohio's schools, colleges, and universities to help improve public education and the lives of Ohio's children. OEA members provide professional services to benefit students, schools, and the public in virtually every position needed to run Ohio's schools.Public Education Matters host Katie Olmsted serves as Media Relations Consultant for the Ohio Education Association. She joined OEA in May 2020, after a ten-year career as an Emmy Award-winning television reporter, anchor, and producer. Katie comes from a family of educators and is passionate about telling educators' stories and advocating for Ohio's students. She lives in Central Ohio with her husband and two young children. Interviews for this episode were recorded on August 29 and September 2, 2025.

This week, Mike and EB have theme park news and rumors from around the world. They discuss a close call at an east coast park, the return of Phantom Theater at Kings Island, and the upcomingf closure of "Dinosaur" at Disney's Animal Kingdom. They also have details about two new roller coasters and introduce a fun segment called "Trip Report Roulette," where listeners call in rapid-fire from parks across the country. We also have news about our next meetup!

Join Attractions Magazine contributing writers and correspondents as they bring you news and discussion about all things themed entertainment and parks, including Disney, Universal Studios and beyond on The Attractions Podcast. Topics of conversation on this week's episode of The Attractions Podcast: Haunted houses ranked | Halloween Horror Nights 2025 at Universal Orlando New ‘Deathly Afraid' necklace for less-scary Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando Typhoon Lagoon transformed into Kuzcotopia for one night only | Report & review New ride at Kings Island in 2026 — Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare Destination D23 | All theme park news from Disney convention, updated all weekend The Attractions Podcast is brought to you by MEI-Travel and Mouse Fan Travel. They provide premium service and expert advice to get the most for your vacation time and dollars. Visit them at mei-travel.com. We welcome your suggestions and want you to be a part of the discussion. Please send your comments to info@attractionsmagazine.com with the subject line “The Attractions Podcast.” Statements or opinions herein are those of the hosts and advertisers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the producers, Dream Together Media LLC, or staff.

We're back for a special bonus episode of the Tomorrow Society Podcast. I've spent a lot of time visiting parks this year, especially from the massive Six Flags chain. So I thought it would be fun to catch up about what we've been doing and give some thoughts on those parks.… Read more... The post My Six Flags Summer and Disney in 2025 appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

And as HHN leans on accessible IP like WWE, Fallout, and FNAF, builds in food-forward offerings, and pilots no-scare options, the question arises: is Universal future-proofing the brand—or diluting its horror core? Also this week: Kennywood's Phantom Fall Fest Debuts New Haunted House; Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare Comes to Kings Island in 2026; Netflix House to Open in Philadelphia & Dallas; The Haunted Carwash Returns to SoCal with Three Locations; Coffin Creek Moves; Mr. Floats & The CarnEvil of Souls Tours U.S. to Promote Kickstarter Campaign; Walibi Holland Revises Ad Campaign Following Public Outcry; Spirit Christmas Stores will Return for 2025. Read the stories here.

This week we talk about the return of Phantom Theater at Kings Island. The return of Happy Friar's Fresh-Cut Fries Fest to Cedar Point. And to wrap up the show we give our Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights hype list. 

On this week's show, Stan watches the newest kids movie sweeping the nation, Dave plays the newest robot card game sweeping the world, and Shane visits another amusement park sweeping Ohio. We chat about Weapons (sort of a kids movie), the Gundam Card Game, and Kings Island. Then we find some time to dust off an original iPod video and Mario Bros. Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN2025 for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/ Timestamps: 3:05 - This week's episode 6:18 - Weapons, and horror 24:55 - The new Gundam TCG 47:50 - Kings Island 53:10 - Revisiting Super Mario Bros 1 and Metal Gear Solid 57:16 - The iPod video, and internet reminiscing 1:09:41 - Wrapping up Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name? email us: thedivedown@gmail.com (mailto:thedivedown@gmail.com)

Mike and EB discuss the transition from summer to haunt season, touching on the controversial decision by Six Flags to charge for haunted attractions. They reflect on the closure of Kings Island's Boo Blasters, the demolition of Hollywood Rip Ride Rocket, and the introduction of new legislation for ride status notifications. The episode also features a trip report from Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas and an in-depth look at Trimper's Haunted House, highlighting the nostalgia and charm of classic dark rides.

Yes, we know. It's been a while. (You try having any free time with a 3 month old puppy.) But we are back with a vengeance with an INCREDIBLE guest - the perfect person to bring us out of our hiatus. If you've been following Coaster101.com's website, you'll know that we just celebrated our 20th birthday, and have been chronicling a number of notable coasters that opened in 2005, and like Coaster101, are also celebrating two decades. One of - well, two of those coasters are the former Italian Job Stunt Tracks, now known as Backlot Stunt Coaster at Canada's Wonderland or Queen City Stunt Coaster at Kings Island. The Kings Dominion version opened the following year. One of the creative minds behind the ideation of this attraction was industry veteran and past Coaster101 podcast guest, Dave Cobb. Dave joins Andrew to talk all things Italian Job, from budget constraints, to the original ride concept (it's not what you think it is!), to what it felt like to bring a little bit of "movie magic" to the regional park level. Buckle up folks, because this is going to be a fun one. 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.comYou can head to Dave's website at www.davecobb.com, and check out his YouTube channel for more great theme park content. Videos Referenced: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmXYjBmBI78&list=PLp9PErz-ReBhumyu-4WQADmsDPp1OyEyo&index=1&pp=iAQBhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4Gq9Rcv76M&list=PLp9PErz-ReBhumyu-4WQADmsDPp1OyEyo&index=7&pp=iAQB0gcJCc0JAYcqIYzvhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_i1F0zb5a4&list=PLp9PErz-ReBhumyu-4WQADmsDPp1OyEyo&index=8&pp=iAQBhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiGLs_30pfo&list=PLp9PErz-ReBhumyu-4WQADmsDPp1OyEyo&index=18&pp=iAQB0gcJCc0JAYcqIYzvAlso, 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/merchThanks to JMMD Entertainment for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

A year ago, Cedar Fair, the owner of Cedar Point and Kings Island, and many other amusement parks across North America, was merged with Six Flags as the parent company.

A year ago, Cedar Fair, the owner of Cedar Point and Kings Island, and many other amusement parks across North America, was merged with Six Flags as the parent company.

Happy Tuesday! It's Timmy & Dave Biddle in today, the great Columbus Icon Angela Pace stops by, we chat about Kings Island funtime, we say Happy Birthday to Carl Lewis uh oh, today is Bobby Bonilla Day, only one Buckeye may be a 1st round pick next season, Steelers may trade TJ Watt, we chat about sleeping in separate bedrooms, best Big Ten QBs & we do Rapid Fire.

Former Taft CEO CHARLIE MECHEM shares a rare firsthand account of how his company acquired and partnered with Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera, how it affected their business, the creation of Kings Island and other parks—and his fateful meeting with Roy Disney.

State lawmakers are expected to introduce a bill that would make it a crime to get an abortion; southwest Ohio couple accused of forging documents to steal a house from a man with dementia; Toledo police officer fired after attempting to buy marijuana illegally while on duty; an emergence of cicadas at Kings Island has an expert warning park visitors to keep their mouths closed while on rides.

On today's MJ Morning Show: MJ's suspended license revisited Morons in the news MJ's dishwasher problems How many times can you call 911 before you get in trouble? Mouth taping... we took calls When you go on vacation, take a photo of THIS. MJ IG... pounding his conch A man got used pants from Amazon Cereal recall for metal pieces Ridiculous graduation rule 10 most dangerous beaches in the USA New water fountain added in Tampa Underwear index Man fired gunshots at police substation, then turned himself in Pasco road rage A doctor involved in the case of the death of Matthew Perry will plead guilty Diddy trial update MJ underwear giveaway Good news: A Texas high school principal did something for each student United Airlines flight had funny message on seat-back video screens Gen Z's are angering bartenders Joey Chestnut returns to July 4th Nathan's Hot Dog competition Kings Island theme park warning riders to keep their mouths closed Jamie Lee Curtis on why she did ads for Activia News reporter under the microscope because of his salary MJ takes shirt off a home... even when he's cooking

We cover the Father's Day with Rizz experience at the big Bommarito 500 Indy race. Pilot covering "No Kings" protest goes viral with accidental admission.What Dads Don't Say: The Silent Struggle Behind Fatherhood.Cicadas swarm Kings Island visitors in viral TikTok videos.Billionaire dies after reportedly swallowing bee and getting stung in the mouth.Vance Boelter charged in shootings of Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses. Here are details from the criminal complaint.Sexy Time Fun Facts!Gen Z finally wants to have more sex — at the office, study says.50% Of Men Admit This Common Beauty Trend Actually Repels Them, According To Research.Having a low sex drive in summer is normal.How To Build The Relationship Of Your Dreams In 5 Easy, Research-Backed Steps.Match and The Kinsey Institute Unveil 14th Annual Singles in America Study.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A brood of cicadas has taken over the amusement park so badly that  guests are being told to keep their mouths shut when riding rides. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Visitors to Kings Island amusement park in Ohio are warned to keep mouths closed on rides because of cicadas, School fight: A 4th grade punch is avenged at age 62 and results in lost teeth, Insane Clown Posse accidentally headlines Bonnaroo after rain forces remainder of festival to be canceled

Joey and Nancy’s husband had great weekends celebrating Father’s Day. Joey went to Aspire Park in Clinton with his family and they loved it! Nancy had an extremely rude waitress last night and wonder if she should’ve told the manager. Karly found out the hard way that parking downtown is no longer free on the weekends. She got a ticket for $104. Hot Tea: Bonnaroo had to be cancelled after the first day due to weather. Ella Langley threw shade at Riley Green on stage. If you go to Kings Island anytime soon, keep your mouth closed on roller coasters or you may get a cicada in your mouth. Our friend Penny called to tell us a story. Joey saw the new How to Train Your Dragon movie and Nancy and Karly saw the new Karate Kid Legends movie. Both were great! Lucky 7 Nancy almost got scammed out of $5,700 on Facebook. Others have had the same thing happen to them. Watch out! An Air India plane with about 270 people on board crashed right after takeoff. There was only one survivor. We should find out the reason for the crash soon. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joey and Nancy’s husband had great weekends celebrating Father’s Day. Joey went to Aspire Park in Clinton with his family and they loved it! Nancy had an extremely rude waitress last night and wonder if she should’ve told the manager. Karly found out the hard way that parking downtown is no longer free on the weekends. She got a ticket for $104. Hot Tea: Bonnaroo had to be cancelled after the first day due to weather. Ella Langley threw shade at Riley Green on stage. If you go to Kings Island anytime soon, keep your mouth closed on roller coasters or you may get a cicada in your mouth. Our friend Penny called to tell us a story. Joey saw the new How to Train Your Dragon movie and Nancy and Karly saw the new Karate Kid Legends movie. Both were great! Lucky 7 Nancy almost got scammed out of $5,700 on Facebook. Others have had the same thing happen to them. Watch out! An Air India plane with about 270 people on board crashed right after takeoff. There was only one survivor. We should find out the reason for the crash soon. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cicada Invasion Continues: They're still here, causing chaos, and even responsible for a wild car crash that flipped a car in Blue Ash. Expect them for about three more weeks and hear about the mayhem they're causing at Kings Island, including being so loud you can't hear music over them.New Fear Unlocked: Asian Needle Ants: Just when you thought cicadas were bad, a new invasive species, the Asian needle ants, are arriving in Kentucky and parts of Ohio. Their bites are severe, requiring an EpiPen, and they're described as "pretty bad" and an "invasive species".We got some great Talkbacks from people breaking KiddChris' balls! Father's Day Fun & Real Talk: KiddChris and Sara dive into the often-overlooked holiday for dads, highlighting how fathers are typically "forgotten" and often just want to "hang out with [their] children" rather than expensive celebrations LIKE MOMS. Plus, there's a look back at favorite TV dads from shows like Modern Family and Home Improvement.

John Matarese talks about June is as a month for buying "guy stuff" like golf clubs, grills, and power tools. For patio sets, you can find cheap options on Marketplace or by "dumpster diving" the night before garbage day, or wait for big sales around the 4th of July.A new scam involves text messages about unpaid traffic tickets, threatening license suspension if not paid immediately, designed to get credit card information.Sara brings up the floating Hooters in Newport, Kentucky, has permanently closed after filing for bankruptcy, with speculation about Hulk Hogan potentially buying the chain. The closure is attributed to a lack of evolution and updates since 1992. The Beer Seller next door is also permanently closed.We have some listener "talkbacks" and a game called "Five and Ten," where callers name five items in ten seconds for tickets to see comedian Tom Papa. Topics from listeners included the Jerky Boys, Chris's personal calls to fans, and a humorous debate about wiping hygiene.A caller, with a background in organizational psychology, explained foot fetishes as a paraphilic attraction or obsession, which is similar to other fetishes like those involving diapers or cars, and is not as unique as some might think.Procter & Gamble is cutting over 7,000 jobs globally over the next two years as part of a "growth and productivity strategy," with KiddChris saying that remote work contributed to these cuts.KiddChris shares his experience of working from Kings Island while his daughters enjoyed the park, emphasizing the value of the season pass and the enjoyment of the amusement park.

This week, we talk about the opening announcement of Sirens Curse at Cedar Point. Then, Carsten talks about Wrath of Rakshasa media day. Next we go over the CoasterMania! Itinerary, and finally, Evan and Carsten give a trip report from CoasterStock at Kings Island.  

Paul and Mark kick off the weekend on a wide range of Cincinnati Bengals topics.00:00 Theme Song00:25 Intro: Cicadas at Kings Island and flag status04:34 BetMGM and baseball bets7:00 Joe Burrow's Batmobile12:19 Bengals' Ring of Honor changes16:57 Which Bengals' past player to join today's team?21:17 Contact us if you want to partner for the season24:00 Bengals' scouting department changes27:22 Is this Bengals roster better than last year's?33:15 The Jackson Carman award35:01 Bengals players as cartoons40:05 Favorite Athens bars42:17 Ambush Light: Parents at kids' practices48:01 Growl Pal spotlight51:04 Weird news story of the week55:00 Dad LifeEnjoy up to a $1500 bonus bet at BetMGM courtesy of The Growler. Use code GROWLER.Sibling rivalry fundraiser in the Growl Pal spotlight. Support Ainsley's Angels: https://donate.ainsleysangels.org/fundraiser/6073521Email for sponsorships and Q&As: thegrowlerpodcast@gmail.comWatch and subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGrowlerPodcastThe Growler on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-growler/id1733476604The Growler on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/70iJjqgPQrVzQ2pdOwVvDYLinks to all socials, podcast platforms, merchandise from Cincy Shirts and more: https://linktr.ee/thegrowlerpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

KiddChris discussed a weekend visit to Kings Island, dealing with parking and entry costs, and using AirTags to track his kids.⁣⁣Sara talks about the largest jailbreak in Louisiana history from a New Orleans jail, where 10 men escaped through a hole behind a toilet, with three jail staff suspended amid an investigation into possible inside help.⁣⁣Listener talkback messages were played, including comments about Slick Rick, a comparison of Chris's dad to a cartoon character, and a call from a man claiming to be a victim of secret mind control and implants.⁣⁣We play "KiddChris's Massive Organ" for VOLBEAT tickets!⁣⁣Sara has a story about a high school teacher in Mississippi caught making out with a student.⁣⁣Chris mentioned receiving an invitation to speak at a school in Michigan about a radio career, which he couldn't accept.⁣⁣KiddChris.com has a video of a man exposing his wife's infidelity at a party! It is INSANELY AWESOME!⁣

In today's episode, we discuss Backlot Stunt Coaster at Kings Island, Kings Dominion, and Canada's Wonderland. This Premier Rides LIM coaster was originally themed to The Italian Job and opened in 2005/2006, but does it still hold up? Join us as we discuss Premier's Hollywood aspirations, Cedar Fair's abrupt retheme, and…can headlights be classified as Intellectual Property?Our socials: linktr.ee/airtimetraveler

Kyle is off this week, but join Evan and Carsten as they talk about the opening of Top Thrill 2 at the park, along with other updates they've noticed at Cedar Point! Also, Evan shares details about his trip to Kings Island and discusses the sad news coming from Six Flags America. Finally, the guys offer tips on how to have the best day at Cedar Point!

Paul, Jay, Charlie and Mo hop into the livestream and let the draft takes fly. Come down to our live show on Tuesday at 5pm at BetMGM/Nation Kitchen & Bar at The Banks. Bengals director of college scouting Mike Potts will be with us in Nation taking draft questions. Plus, free Graeters, $3 Busch Lights and giving away preseason tickets. Why Mo is buying the Shemar Stewart pick.The most concerning element of the offseason build?What you won't do when taking kids to Kings Island. UDFA impact? Growler Bet winner! Watch and subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGrowlerPodcastThe Growler on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-growler/id1733476604The Growler on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/70iJjqgPQrVzQ2pdOwVvDYLinks to all socials, podcast platforms, merchandise from Cincy Shirts and more: https://linktr.ee/thegrowlerpodcastSubscribe to Charlie's Chalkboard on Substack: https://charlieschalkboard.substack.com/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, Carsten and Kyle go through the itinerary of CoasterMania! at Cedar Point. Then Carsten talks about his Kings Island opening day trip. To end the episode, Kyle gives us his SPOILER FREE review of Universal Epic Universe! 

Mike and EB are back with news about Epic Universe, Kings Island, Las Vegas and much more! Plus, Mike is back from his trip to California where he visited Disneyland and other immersive attractions. He'll tell you stories from his travels and give reviews of "new-to-him" rides and attractions!

With Hershend buying Palace, its going to mean a lot for the American park scene. The boys discuss all of that as well as legal battles at Universal and SFMM, retracking at Kings Island, ride closures, your fan questions of course and much more in this episode.

Looking for daily inspiration?  Get a quote from the top leaders in the industry in your inbox every morning.   Where will the attractions industry go next? Find out at IAAPA North America Summit, March 30 – April 1, 2025, at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel. Join executives, innovators, and thought leaders to build connections, explore trends through exclusive EDUTours, and gain strategic insights to put into action tomorrow. This Summit offers a unique opportunity to learn and grow alongside the industry's best. Don't miss the chance to shape the future of the attractions industry. Register Today! Allen Greene is the Senior Design Director at Ark Encounter and the Creation Museum. With a background in theme park design and experience working at Kings Island and with firms like Jack Rouse Associates, Allen brings a wealth of expertise in immersive storytelling and attraction development. The Ark Encounter, a life-size recreation of Noah's Ark in Williamstown, Kentucky, and the Creation Museum, located 45 minutes away, are part of Answers in Genesis, an organization dedicated to faith-based educational experiences. In this interview, Allen talks about building the ark, designing through the lens of the guest, and faith-based attractions. Building the Ark “It was a unique goal for our team to try to recreate as real as possible Noah's Ark, but also in such a way that it's a themed experience that anybody can walk into.” Constructing the Ark Encounter was a massive undertaking that combined biblical history with modern building techniques. The Ark itself is the largest timber-frame structure in the world, standing at 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, and 51 feet tall. Allen describes the meticulous planning process, including consulting with shipbuilding experts and using standing-dead Engelmann spruce harvested from Utah. The project required a balance between authenticity and modern guest expectations, incorporating accessibility features such as elevators and ramps while maintaining the look and feel of an ancient ship. The design team worked in parallel with fabricators to build immersive exhibits inside the Ark, ensuring that guests could engage with the story of Noah in a meaningful way. Designing Through the Lens of the Guest “Having a frontline exposure, and seeing what guests naturally do, the questions they ask, the desires they have, that comes into the designs that we think about every day.” Allen's early career in ride operations at Kings Island helped shape his approach to attraction design, giving him first hand insight into guest behavior and operational challenges. This experience influences his design philosophy at Ark Encounter, where guest flow and storytelling are seamlessly integrated. The Ark's three decks follow a structured narrative—preparing for the flood, life on the Ark, and life after the flood—providing a mix of immersive sets, historical exhibits, and interactive displays. Balancing thematic integrity with practical functionality, the team ensures that guests not only experience the story but also navigate the attraction comfortably. By continuously evaluating guest feedback and operational pain points, the team refines exhibits and pathways to enhance the visitor experience. Faith-Based Attractions “What we're trying to create is more than just a fun day at a park. It's more than just escapism. We want people to experience an encounter, not just with the Ark, but with God.” Faith-based attractions like Ark Encounter differ from traditional theme parks in that they strive to provide a deeper, more meaningful experience for visitors. Allen explains how their mission extends beyond a single visit, offering resources such as books, educational programs, and Vacation Bible School materials to help guests continue their journey at home. He also acknowledges the challenges of catering to a specific audience while maintaining an inclusive environment where all visitors, regardless of faith, feel welcome. The team aims to balance entertainment and education, using modern tools like virtual reality to bring biblical stories to life in new and engaging ways. The demand for wholesome, family-friendly attractions continues to grow, and Ark Encounter seeks to meet that need by providing a space where guests can both enjoy and reflect.   For more information about the Ark Encounter, the Creation Museum, and upcoming events like Spark at the Ark, visit arkencounter.com, creationmuseum.org, or answersingenesis.org. You can also connect with Allen on LinkedIn. This podcast wouldn't be possible without the incredible work of our faaaaaantastic team:   Scheduling and correspondence by Kristen Karaliunas Audio and Video editing by Abby Giganan   To connect with AttractionPros: AttractionPros.com AttractionPros@gmail.com AttractionPros on Facebook AttractionPros on LinkedIn AttractionPros on Instagram AttractionPros on Twitter (X)

Hull was born and raised in Ohio just outside of Cincinnati. When he was younger he was interested in politics and was a member of the Junior Statesmen of America. At the age of sixteen, he discovered his love of music when he performed pop and country revues at local theme park Kings Island. He later attended the University of Michigan.Hull had a number of Broadway credits before being cast in recurring role as White Josh on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend in 2015. In April 2017, it was announced that Hull had been promoted to series regular. He also had a recurring role as Travis Moore in the HBO comedy series Insecure. He played Logan on The Middle.Hull appeared in the 2017 film The Dark Tapes.[4] He also appeared in the 2018 film Benjamin directed by Bob Saget.In 2022, Hull was announced as part of the cast of a film adaptation of several Chekhov plays to be directed by Martin McDonagh. The film will take elements of several of Chekhov's famous works, including The Cherry Orchard.Discussing the wildfires and air quality @ 0:02Emily and David discuss the wildfires in their area and the poor air quality, with Emily noting that her young daughter has never had to wear a mask before. They commiserate about the challenges of parenting during difficult environmental conditions.Sharing personal backgrounds @ 8:19dh shares details about his background, including being a political science major in college who became disillusioned with politics, his experience taking the LSAT, and his shift in political views over time from being a staunch Republican to supporting Obama.Challenges of parenthood and work-life balance @ 40:30dh discusses the significant challenges of balancing his acting career with being a parent, including the high costs of childcare, the difficulty of taking on projects that require travel or long hours, and the need to constantly make sacrifices. He expresses frustration with the lack of support and understanding for working parents, especially fathers.Coping mechanisms and self-care @ 1:11:42dh shares that his main coping mechanism is "turning his brain off" and avoiding social media and news, as he finds it helps him manage his anxiety and vertigo issues. He emphasizes the importance of prioritizing his own mental health and being present for his children.Recap and farewell @ 1:19:30Emily and dh wrap up the conversation, expressing gratitude for the discussion and exchanging well-wishes.

Looking for daily inspiration?  Get a quote from the top leaders in the industry in your inbox every morning.   This episode is brought to you by New Vue. New Vue is a team of attractions experts providing an ‘all-in-one' reporting suite for attractions businesses. Their reporting solution empowers attraction leaders to make well-informed decisions, based on real-time data. New Vue also build slick websites that elevate your digital guest experience and provide strategic support to help you with booking systems and all of your IT needs. Jim Futrell is the Historian for the National Amusement Park Historical Association and IAAPA. With over 40 years of experience researching and preserving amusement park history, Jim has authored multiple books and articles on the subject and is recognized as a leading voice in the field. In this interview, Jim talks about amusement park history, putting context on history, and shared experiences across generations. Amusement Park History “One of the first watershed moments in amusement park history was the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. It gave birth to the modern amusement park industry.” Jim discussed how the exposition introduced the Midway Plaisance, which became a blueprint for amusement parks worldwide. Attractions like the Ferris wheel captivated visitors, and the fair's profitability from entertainment inspired park developers to embrace thrilling rides and immersive environments. Jim highlights key moments, such as the development of John Miller's under-friction wheel in 1919, which revolutionized roller coaster safety and design. This innovation allowed coasters to evolve from scenic rides to thrilling centerpieces of amusement parks. According to Jim, these milestones laid the foundation for the resilient and ever-evolving amusement park industry we know today. Putting Context on History “Being a true historian isn't just memorizing facts—it's about contextualizing them within a broader framework.” Jim emphasized how understanding historical context deepens our appreciation of amusement parks. For instance, he explored how global events like World War I and II transformed the industry. After World War II, the rise of suburbanization and interstate highways shifted parks from urban centers to sprawling suburban attractions, such as Disneyland. He also shared examples of how past myths about the industry, such as Disney's alleged detachment from IAAPA or the history of Blackpool Pleasure Beach's membership, were debunked through diligent research. For Jim, the essence of amusement park history lies in connecting these moments to broader societal changes. Shared Experiences Across Generations “Amusement parks are one of the few places where you can share the same experience across generations.” Jim passionately described how amusement parks enable families to create multi-generational memories. He shared a personal story about how his family has ridden Kings Island's carousel for six generations, underscoring the industry's ability to preserve nostalgia while remaining relevant to new audiences. Jim noted that balancing tradition with innovation is critical for parks. They must honor iconic attractions while introducing new experiences that resonate with modern guests. For example, parks like Knoebels and Kennywood have thrived by preserving their history and making forward-thinking investments.   Jim Futrell's dedication to preserving amusement park history offers valuable insights into how the industry's past shapes its future. To connect with Jim directly, you can reach him on LinkedIn or Facebook. To learn more about the National Amusement Park Historical Association and IAAPA, visit their websites.   This podcast wouldn't be possible without the incredible work of our faaaaaantastic team:   Scheduling and correspondence by Kristen Karaliunas Audio and Video editing by Abby Giganan   To connect with AttractionPros: AttractionPros.com AttractionPros@gmail.com AttractionPros on Facebook AttractionPros on LinkedIn AttractionPros on Instagram AttractionPros on Twitter (X)

Monkey siege of police station; Breaking IN to jail in Texas; Pizza Hut Wine; WING IT WEDNESDAY with Brett Bogan from Waste-Free Dayton. PLUS, a 4-pack of tickets to Kings Island's WinterFest.

Was I really being creepy?; National Play Monopoly Day and the arguments that follow; Weasel thief; Irrational fears about fruit; Tasty Tuesday and Ohio's most GOOGLE pie; Mail Call and explaining the URBANA PARODY; And a 4-pack of tickets to Winterfest at Kings Island.

Welcome back to Cancelled Cuzzies! On this week's episode Lance (Lunarus) from "Sinngle Rider Line Podcast" joins the show to discuss a plethora of topics from EDM, video games, podcasting, to leaving religion and the role Kings Island had in escaping dark times. Due to the sensitive nature of our stories shared from leaving religion and the lows associated with that listen to this one at your own discretion if those are sensitive topics. Link to Single Rider Line Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ZyuoYVr0dDH70hfKjmpAz?si=f0f506fecab64413 Chat with us on Discord: https://discord.gg/abTDb3eVav Support the Cuzzies on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/user?u=38631549⁠ Links to all things Coaster Cuzzies: solo.to/coastercuzzies%E2%81%A0 See y'all next Friday! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coastercuzzies/support

A fatality is such a rare event at a theme park or fair, we could only find 17 deaths in Ohio over the course of 150 years. But when tragedy strikes, it is often made all the more chilling because it always comes when people are in the midst of having carefree fun. In this episode, we revisit the worst days at Kings Island, Cedar Point, the Ohio State Fair and local county fairs. www.ohiomysteries.com feedback@ohiomysteries.com www.patreon.com/ohiomysteries www.twitter.com/mysteriesohio www.facebook.com/ohiomysteries Additional music: New Horizon - Aderin; Audionautix- The Great Unknown; The Great Phospher- Daniel Birch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"The Beast" at Kings Island is an iconic roller coaster. Even members of the general public from around the world have heard of it. So would it be a crazy idea if the park essentially built a second roller coaster and then just connected it to the original Beast? We'll talk about that along with a bunch of other news and rumors. PLUS, we'll take your listener questions!

Known by his peers for his infectious creativity and enthusiasm, Geoff Thatcher is an experienced creative leader who knows how to take a project from concept to reality. For most of his career, these projects have involved creating world-class experiences in theme parks, museums, visitor centers, brand experiences, and live events. Geoff's eclectic background always delivers a fresh perspective. His experience includes everything from helping the General Entertainment Authority declare Saudi Arabia open for business to Hollywood in 2018 to envisioning new concepts for Miral on Abu Dhabi's Yas Island. Geoff's work transcends borders, whether it's the world's largest video dome on a beach in Dubai or the opening ceremonies of the Rio 2007 Pan American Games in Maracanā Stadium. Recent and current projects include the Delta Flight Museum, Abu Dhabi's Playtopia, College Football Hall of Fame, Jacksonville's H2.O Purification Center, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, the FM Global Visitor Center outside Boston, and the Speed Experience Center in Saudi Arabia's Qiddiya giga project. His work can be seen in attractions such as the Ozark Mill at Finley Farms outside Branson, Missouri, the Quest theme park in Doha, and Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi. Geoff is a student of the themed entertainment industry who got his start working as a teenage clean-up boy, lifeguard, train engineer, and stuntman at Lagoon Amusement Park & Pioneer Village in Utah. Before founding Creative Principals in 2017, Geoff was a creative writer, producer, and creative director for JRA, FiveCurrents, and The Brand Experience. He worked on various world-class projects in these roles, including brand experiences like the Lockheed Martin Space Experience Center, museums like Enguinity in the United Kingdom, and theme parks like the Polynesian Cultural Center in Hawaii. Clients included Fortune 500 icons such as Honeywell and Procter & Gamble and institutions and non-profits such as Kaiser Permanente. He is an author, writer, and speaker who has ghostwritten books, published articles, and speaks regularly at TEA and IAAPA events. His first book, The CEO's Time Machine, was published in April 2020. TD Magazine said the book is “a great way to prepare your mindset going into conversations about how your business can navigate our new, uncertain world.” He was featured on Science Channel's show If We Built It Today, discussing how “The Lost City of Atlantis” could be transformed into an attraction. Finally, he launched and owned Ask Buzz, a website and attraction calculator honoring the late Harrison “Buzz” Price. Instagram: @geoffthatcher X: @geoffthatcher LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffthatcher/ www.creativeprincipals.com Geoff's Work and Book Discussion Theme Park Experiences and Career Paths Geoff, a veteran of the theme park industry, shared his passion for creating memorable experiences and telling powerful stories with Michael, who agreed on the importance of experiences over possessions. They reminisced about their favorite parks, with Michael mentioning Kings Island and Geoff discussing the global impact of Kings Island's success. Geoff highlighted the benefits of hands-on experience in the amusement industry and the variety of career paths available, including engineering, hospitality, and space travel. Geoff's work as a writer was also discussed, with Michael showing interest in his motivation for writing a book. Geoff's Time Travel Book Journey Geoff shared the story of how he wrote "The CEO's Time Machine" while travelling to Saudi Arabia for work. The book explores the idea of time travel and the challenges of making decisions in the present. Geoff had initially intended to publish the book himself, but due to the pandemic, he collaborated with his daughter Zoe, who designed and illustrated the book. The book was eventually published in April 2020, and although it wasn't a bestseller, Geoff expressed pride in its positive reviews. Debating Time Machine and Future-Thinking Geoff and Michael debated the pros and cons of a time machine, particularly focusing on its impact on decision-making and future-thinking. Michael highlighted the potential benefits of learning from past events and historical figures, but also noted the potential drawbacks of knowing tragic events in advance. Geoff, drawing from his experience with a history exhibit, underscored the value of a forward-looking perspective, using the example of an invisible airplane, and argued that envisioning and living in the future could offer insights that are currently unavailable. AI Enhancing Immersive Experiences in Concerts Geoff and Michael discussed the future of immersive experiences in the experience industry, with a focus on the integration of AI. They agreed that AI has the potential to transform the industry, much like animatronics and other techniques have in the past. They also discussed the evolution of music concert experiences, particularly the use of holographic technology. They highlighted how current technology, such as the new stadium in Vegas and the YouTube concert sphere, offers a more immersive experience compared to traditional concerts, and how AI enhances these experiences by enabling virtual participation and on-stage performances.