Parkcast: Recent Episodes
Parkcast
The UK’s Original Theme Park Podcast
Reviews. News. Tips. Opinions.
Rollercoasters - Parks - Rides
Parkcast is a brand new UK based theme park podcast bringing you all the latest news from theme parks across the globe along with money saving tips, tricks and suggestions to enhance your day out. Join us, it'll be quite a ride!
Phantasialand is a theme park I've loved since my first visit. It has some absolutely world class theming and attractions and I've enjoyed all my visits there. So much so, I insisted on taking my best mate Glenn with me on my most recent trip as even though he lives in Germany, he's never been! There are still so many things I love about the park, but this trip also flagged up a few issues that I'll definitely think about before visiting again. We talk through the good and the bad in this episode!
As an aside, voting for the UK Theme Park awards is open until 28th August. If you enjoyed this episode or my content generally, I'd obviously love your support in the content creator category. The website you need is ukthemeparkawards.com
Voting for the UK Theme Park awards is now open! Lawrence Roots who founded the awards joins me this week to talk about why he thought we needed them, how they've grown and what they mean to the UK theme park industry.
You can vote now and you don't to vote in every category if you dont want to. I should also say I'm nominated in the content creator category - very unexpected but appreciated. You don't need to vote for me - but please make your vote count!
Paultons Park is rapidly becoming an enthusiast favourite park. A string of exciting but well thought through ride installations, combined with excellent operations, attention to detail and owners who really embrace the theme park community means it's been a park we've raved about for ages. Lawrence from the park is back on Parkcast to chat about how the launch of their new area Valgard has gone, including the opening of their new Eurofighter Drakon, and the exciting plans for 2027 which will see the park open the UK's first water coaster.
We were all a little bit worried last year that we were about to lose another theme park for good. So we were delighted to hear Lightwater Valley had been saved and bought by the Mellors Group - highly regarded showmen and owners of Fantasy Island in Ingoldmells. In this episode I'm joined by James Mellors to talk about his route to owning parks, and his big plans for the future.
If there's one thing every theme park enthusiast has, it's opinions....
This week I'm joined again by Glenn and Alex, as we discuss some of your unpopular ones, and they share some of their own. So, do all rollercoasters have a shelf life? Is Swarm really the best coaster at Thorpe Park? And are Mad Houses actually pointless? We'll cover these and a lot more! Let me know if you agree or not....
Blackgang Chine is the UK's oldest theme park - but how does a park on an island just off the south coast of England stay relevant and still delight guests over 180 years after opening? Laura Baxter - Head of Marketing and Dan White - General Manager join us on Parkcast this week to share some of their secrets!
Last week I got sent an anonymous message containing details of plans for a new rollercoaster at Alton Towers. Project Horizon has been on the minds of enthusiasts for years, with rumours constantly swirling about what it was going to involve and if it would even happen at all. One thing I've been told is that the planned attraction I was sent the info on is definitely on the cutting room floor. In this episode I talk through what I was sent and ask you, are you sad it's not happening in this form?
Most theme park fans think they could run a theme park. Josh Heywood does exactly that at Crealy Theme Park in Devon. In this episode he talks us through how he got there, some regrets and his big plans for the future. It's incredibly eye opening and Josh is an infectious breath of fresh air - so full of passion for the park and the industry as a whole.
The UK's newest, and in my opinion best, flat ride opened at Blackpool Pleasure Beach on May 21st. Aviktas - the huge Intamin gyroswing - has been eagerly anticipated since the ride was announced early last year.
I was lucky enough to be invited to the media launch and in this episode I'm joined by my two companions at the event - Glenn Robertson aka The Notable Stranger who did the ride soundtrack and Alex Brindley who was the MC on the day. But did it live up to our expectations and what's it really like to attend a media day? This episode also features interviews with Amanda Thompson OBE and Peter van der Schans - Vice President and Executive Director IAAPA EMMEA.
The last time Mark Rosenzweig was on Parkcast he caused uproar when he said he thought Nemesis at Alton Towers was overrated and that Inferno at Thorpe Park was the best inverted coaster in the UK.
So this week we've got him back to talk us through his top rated inverted coasters and its a subject he knows a lot about, as he's ridden every single inverted coaster in the USA. I think his No.1 might surprise you!
It might be a pipe dream for most theme park enthusiasts, but Matt Conridge has just bought his own park - Trago Family Fun Park in Devon. In this episode we find out why he decided now was the right time to take the leap into the attractions world, how he's finding it and what his plans for the future are.
You'll find Trago Family Fun Park near Newton Abbot in Devon and as Matt tells us, it's free to enter and pay to play once you're there. It would be great to show Matt some support for this new venture and hopefully we can watch the park continue to develop over time!
May 2026 is a huge month for UK theme parks. With Valgard at Paultons, Aviktas at Blackpool Pleasure Beach and World of Paw Patrol at Chessington all opening, we're looking at the positive things happening in our parks, and why they're so important....
We've spoken about Alton Towers a lot on Parkcast. And through all of it Kev has always remained a loyal fan, willing to forgive any minor inconveniences because of his love of his home park, his happy place, and the park that made him love theme parks. But in 2026 something has changed for him. With staggered openings, closures and questionable decisions, have Alton Towers finally pushed him too far? Lets chat about it in this episode!
It's no secret that theme park enthusiasts LOVE Europa Park. We love the slick operations, the ride line up, the iood, the innovation....it's a park that really cares about guest experience. But do regular guests feel the same as we do? I sent my non-enthusiast best mate Glenn, who happens to have Europa Park as his local park, to see what he makes of it and if it lives up to my expectations.
Whilst he's not a thoosie, he does write music for theme parks and you'll know him by his incredible soundtracks for rides and Hot Ice at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. You can stream all his scores on Spotify whenever you want a BPB fix at home.
Our friend from the US Mark Rosenzweig is back on Parkcast this week. After his mini series on achievable US Theme Park road trips in our last series, we were asked by a listener "how does Mark think UK parks compare?". In this episode we set about answering that as Mark talks us through his experiences of visiting large UK attractions like Alton Towers and Blackpool Pleasure Beach, as well as smaller parks such as Lightwater Valley and Adventure Island.
This week we're joined by Robbie Jones, Insight Director at Katapult who are themed attraction designers based in Derby. We all know theme park fans are full of opinions and ideas, and sometimes it feels like nobody is listening! Last year Katapult commissioned a survey of Theme Park super fans, to find out what we really think, and what theme parks and attractions might be able to take away from our experiences. We discuss the results of that survey in this episode, including some of our surprising priorities!
We also talk about Katapult's newest research project - where alongside Drayton Manor and the University of Birmingham, they'll be looking at how attractions can improve experiences for Neurodivergent guests.
You can find out more about Katapult on their website - www.katapult.co.uk
And if you're a neurodivergent theme park fan who'd be interested in taking part in their paid research - here's the link: https://www.katapult.co.uk/paid-opportunity-to-join-a-neurodivergent-consultation-group-for-the-phd-project-neuroinclusion-in
We've just come back from another family trip to Efteling and honestly I feel like it deserved its own epiosde. Efteling is a beautifully themed park in the Netherlands and it really has something for everyone. In this episode we cover how we got there, our thoughts on our stay in the NEW Efteling Grand Hotel and how it compares to our other experiences, food, attractions and just the overall vibes.
If you haven't been yet, you really need to put it on your list. And if you have, what are your favourite things about Efteling?!
The Merlin Ride Access Pass system has been under the microscope this year. After a shock announcement about eligibility and a swift backtrack, we've all been left wondering where the parks take it from here. Ride Access isn't just an issue that affects Merlin parks but it is an issue that crops up again and again. This week I'm joined by Hayley Field, mum to a little boy with autism who loves theme parks, to share her experiences, and what she thinks could be be done to help everyone...
This week we're discussing something which is always going to divide opinion - are Merlin annual passes too cheap? Hear me out, there have been ongoing complaints about long queues and lack of investment, is this because too many guests rely on using super cheap Merlin Essential Passes? Have a listen and let me know your thoughts!
The UK theme park season hasn't even begun and we've already had drama! In this episode I'm joined by Chris Milne aka Coaster Dad. We talk about his half term experiences at Alton Towers and Blackpool Pleasure Beach, and why he's on a mission in 2026 to support and visit as many UK parks as possible.
You can follow Chris on YT @coaster_dad and you'll also find him on all the social platforms.
If you're into theme parks you're bound to know Adam Hattan - he's spent years vlogging his Disney trips and sharing his life. This week he joins me on Parkcast to talk about how he went from regular guest to full-time content creator, and how he's now using that knowledge to work with parks to improve guest experiences for everyone. The good news is, you can be part of it too! He's working with Enterpex which is essentially a mystery shopper programme for theme parks - you get days out for free in return for your feedback, which hopefully helps the parks improve - win win!
The link you need if you fancy signing up to take part is www.Enterpex.com
I've talked about Six Flags Qiddiya City quite a lot - mainly because as a recent Saudi resident, I've been so excited to see this park develop and open. This week I'm joined by my husband on the podcast for the first time ever, and we're sharing our honest takes of how we found the reality of visiting the park, and of course, riding those headline attractions.
Parkcast is back for 2026! And we’re kicking things off chatting to our friend Lawrence from Universally Bedford. A lot has happened since we last spoke - so what have we missed and what can we expect?
And just like that we’ve landed at our final episode of 2025!
What a year it’s been, and we are celebrating in the only way we know how, a comedy quiz!
Join us for Parkmaster where our two teams, each comprised of one theme park nerd and one novice, compete in a series of rounds to be crowned Parkmaster champions 2025. You can play along at home too!
A special edition of Parkcast this week which we were honoured to be asked to record on location at Europa Park!
There’s a reason this park is consistently voted the world’s best - with a stellar line up of rides and shows, unbelievable operations and fantastic theming. I’m joined by Marcus Earnst - a Creative Project Manager for Mack One who tells me about the tech innovations at the resort, what we might be seeing in the future and how it’s going to benefit us as guests.
At some point in most enthusiast’s lives we’ve thought it would be fun to be a ride op for the day. In 2020, Brad Corben did exactly that when Covid 19 shut down his work in theatres and on stage. In this episode he tells us what it’s really like, shares some great enthusiast experiences and tells us why in his current role as Skate Coach for Starlight Express, his first question is always “do you like rollercoasters…..”
You can find Brad on TikTok as @bradcorben, and his coaster page on Instagram is @coasterb_coasterbrad
The IAAPA expo in Orlando is over for another year, and there’s a LOT to take in. In this episode we’re joined by expo veteran Mark Rosenzweig to take us through everything you need to know from this year’s show….
Enjoying historical attractions is a huge part of being a theme park enthusiast. But does there come a point where we should lose rides we love that are getting too costly to run for the greater good? Or are they too important to go? What about when enthusiasts start taking things into their own hands (and too far?!). Andy Hine, Chairman of the Rollercoaster Club of Great Britain joins us to discuss….
Mark Rosenzweig from 3DX Scenic joins us for our final instalment of totally doable theme park road trips in the USA. This time we are off the West Coast with itinerary ideas and parks not to miss along the way.
Merlin CEO Fiona Eastwood said in a recent interviews that screens are their biggest competition. We’re not so sure….
In this episode we talk about what we think are the biggest issues when it comes to consumers chosing to visit a Merlin park or not.
Craig Seedhouse has spent a lifetime in themed attractions. From running the F&B at Alton Towers - including launching the Rollercoaster Restaurant, to launching The Bear Grylls Adventure and now finding himself at Gullivers Rother Valley - he’s seen a LOT. He talks candidly with us about all of it in this weeks episode - and drops a huge hint as to what we could see soon at Gullivers…
This week we’re taking you behind the SCREAMS. I’m joined by Kieran Kimberley - the former Creative Manager at Alton Towers. A stalwart of the event, Kieran was the mastermind behind iconic scare attractions like The Attic, Project 42, Compound and so many more. In this episode he tells us how the ideas get brought to life, his tips for getting the best scares and which mazes he believe went too soon…..
Rotting Flesh, Musty, Attic…..Three things contribute to theme park experiences - the sights, the sounds and the SMELLS. So we are delighted that Liam from Aroma Prime agreed to join us to talk about the iconic scents we’ll find in our favourite parks.
The robots are coming - but is it a bad thing? Kip Hakes joins Parkcast this week as we look at the increasing use of AI in our theme parks - the good the bad and tne downright ugly. But is it all bad news and could AI actually help us have a better day out?
It’s finally October and this month is all about spooks and scares! As our UK theme parks launch their Halloween offerings - let’s look at if they can really compete with stand alone scare atttactions. I’m joined by enthusiast and self-confessed scare obsessive Darren Judson from Judventures to chat through the events you really shouldn’t miss if you’re looking for a terrifying night out this October.
Despite being under 30, Harry Peek has a huge responsibility on his hands. As General Manager of Clacton Pier he looks after one of the most famous seaside amusement parks in the UK - and it’s so much more than that too. In this episode Harry tells us about his journey from ride sceptic to industry pro and the impact he’s making at Clacton Pier, and it’s really inspiring. Mark our words - we are going to be hearing a lot more about Harry in the future!
In a corner of Texas, a group of dedicated theme park enthusiasts have been quietly collecting a treasure trove of amusement industry history. In this special episode, we’re joined by Mark Rosenzweig and Kris Rowberry, Directors of the National Rollercoaster Museum & Archive, who tell us about this huge project, their hopes for the future, and how we will be able to see inside it ourselves.
A full video tour is available on our YouTube channel!
We might not have the final green light on the Universal project in the UK, but we’ve had some big news dropping over the past week. A name has been trademarked, Harry Potter could be back on the cards and there’s talk of a water supply issue throwing the whole thing off! Lawrence from Universally Bedford is back to chat through all this and more with us.
After a short hiatus, Parkcast is back! And we are joined by Dean Stokes - a guy who sent ripples through the theme park enthusiast world when his mission to ride every rollercoaster in the UK got attention from mainstream tv and radio outlets. In this episode we put some controversies to bed, talk about THAT Guinness World Record, but also find out what Dean thought about parks having visited so many in quick succession.
The Notable Stranger aka Glenn Robertson is BACK on Parkcast. Having joined us at the start of the year to talk about his work on the Icon and Big One soundtracks, this week we’re talking about Valhalla, Launch Pad AND the huge Aviktas project for 2026. The level of detail that has gone into these scores is outstanding and any theme park fan will be fascinated to hear how Glenn created what we know and love today.
In this episode we’re back with our friend Mark Rosenzweig from the USA to plan out some more totally doable theme park road trips. This time we’re looking at itineraries in the SE, Central and Texas regions and landing on some truly bucket list parks.
This is an episode we’ve been wanting to record for a while! Paultons Park has built itself a reputation as THE place to be for theme park enthusiasts. With immaculately kept grounds, fantastic operations and a ride line-up that is perfect for families - it’s so much more than just Peppa Pig World. Lawrence Mancey from the park and the family who still run Paultons joins us to talk about how it manages to keep going from strength to strength.
Our guest on this week’s episode is the brilliant Benedikt Schikora from BSK Projects. He’s got years of experience in the theme park and themed attractions world, and spent years at Merlin, but you’ve probably never heard his name before. Benedikt is one of those people quietly in the background pulling all the strings to get the attractions we know and love off the ground. A master plan maker and visionary - he’s telling us exactly what goes on behind the scenes.
You can find out more about BSK projects here http://www.bskprojects.com.au/ and Benedikt’s other work here http://www.i-zacs.com/
Or you’ll find him on LinkedIn https://au.linkedin.com/in/benediktschikora/en
It’s all getting VERY exciting in Bedford. As you may have heard, Universal have submitted their SDO (special development order) for permission to build Universal UK. Lawrence from Universally Bedford is back for this episode where we look at what we’ve found out from the documents submitted and what it could mean for the UK’s most eagerly anticipated theme park….
When Merlin announced a £492 million loss in their latest annual report theme park enthusiasts everywhere were quick to ponder what that meant for our theme parks.
In this weeks episode we are joined by Ross, a financial analyst for a FTSE 100 company who explains what we are actually looking at and why things are not actually all that they seem…..
Fastracks are definitely a divisive issue amongst theme park fans. In this episode we talk about the pros and cons and debate whether Fastracks have become a necessary evil part of ensuring a great theme park day out. We also look at examples of parks where Fastracks simply aren’t an option, and where they are almost essential. Thank you to all the Parkcast listeners who also contributed their thoughts for this episode!
This week we are doing something most theme park enthusiasts dream of doing - planning a USA theme park road trip! With the help of our friend Mark Rosenzweig from 3DX scenic, we’re looking at potential itineraries that make sense logistically and will tick off some bucket list coasters and parks without leaving you exhausted! Mark has carefully planned several potential trips drawing on years of enthusiasm and park visits. Whether they remain on the bucket list or get achieved one day, it’s a really interesting listen to hear how the parks we know so much about can all slot together.
2025 seems to be the year of the theme park VIP experience. We’ve seen more and more on offer and often they give us theme park nerds exciting unprecedented access to our favourite attractions. But are they really worth the cost and are “VIP” elements at theme parks going too far?
Kip Hakes is fresh from the Chessington Tomb Blaster experience so in this episode we find out what he thought of it, and was it worth it?!
After the shock closure of Oakwood earlier this year we’ve been on edge about the future of some other UK theme parks. But recently there has been talk that the park could be saved by a mysterious local who promises they have the backing to bring it back to its former glory. There’s also been an odd job advert for a park ops manager to help reopen another “much loved park”.
In this episode we’re joined by Danni from Off The Tracks as we chat about whether this is really the good news we’ve been wanting, or if these parks are now better left in the past.
2025 has seen huge announcement after announcement in the theme park world. It’s an exciting time to be a theme park fan so who better to join us than writer of “Theme Park Fan: The Musical” himself - Nick Hutson.
You’ll have heard Nick’s work at Chessington or during the Oakwood fireworks but he also famously wrote and recorded a full musical about being a theme park fan.
In this episode we talk about that and the biggest announcements of the year so far….
It’s official - everyone is talking about Paultons Park. This family theme park has grown from strength to strength over the last decade and just a couple of weeks ago they announced they had no plans to stop.
This week I’m joined by Kip Hakes who went to the Super Fans event and got all the details about their new Ghostly Manor attraction and their future investments. We discuss why enthusiasts are getting so excited about this park, and exactly why it is becoming so highly regarded.
This week we’re joined by industry veteran turned consultant Mark Shaw. Having cut his teeth at Thorpe and Chessington alongside legends like John Wardley and Glenn Earlam, Mark headed down under to turn around Adventure World in Perth. He took a park that was consistently scoring low on guest satisfaction to become the highest rated in Australia.
In this episode he tells us how he did it, and why creating fantastic customer experiences is vital to running a successful theme park.
Strap in park fans because this is a long one!
This week I’m dissecting my trip to Universal’s newest theme park Epic Universe! Having booked an impulsive 5 day trip to go and check it out, was it worth it?
We’ll go through the portals discussing the highlights of each area of the park, and anything to note along the way.
And how does visiting make me feel about Universal coming to the UK?!
It’s about time for another trip across the pond! We’re joined by our favourite US-based enthusiast and industry insider Mark Rosenzweig, and there’s a lot to talk about! From Epic Universe previews, to Top Thrill 2 finally reopening, a Canadian coaster to get really excited about and just a general look at how parks in the US are holding up - we’re doing it all in this episode!
A few weeks ago UK theme park fans got the news we had all been waiting for - Universal are going to be building a park here! Set to open in 2031 it could be a game changer for the UK industry and will undoubtedly bring a world class park experience to our shores.
There was only one person we could get back on to dissect what we know so far - our friend Lawrence from Universally Bedford. In this episode we look at absolutely everything we know so far, the strong predictions and what will happen next.
Hold onto your lap bars park fans - Universal is coming!
In this episode we continue our chat with former Alton Towers Resort Operations Director and General Manager Francis Jackson.
Francis talks to us about how building cohesive teams hugely impacts ride operations, why we see staggered openings and we find out what his “Just Gotta Ride it” rollercoaster is.
We’re delighted to bring a theme park legend back to the UK for this episode! Francis Jackson was both Operations Director and General Manager at Alton Towers from 2016 - 2023 and his personable style and viral social media videos gave him renowned status amongst enthusiasts and the general public.
Now living back in his native Australia and working globally as an attractions industry consultant, we’re delighted to have him on Parkcast to explain the realities behind some of our theme park frustrations!
This is Part 1 with Part 2 to follow next week….
35 years ago on the 11th April 1990 Vampire opened at Chessington World of Adventures. Along with the much acclaimed Bubbleworks, the rides were the focus of Transylvania, the first truly themed area at a theme park in the UK. In this episode we celebrate both rides by chatting to the creative genius who brought them to life and made them the special attractions we have known and loved - John Wardley.
John takes us through the history of the rides, the problems he faced along the way and shares some details you may not have heard before!
We’ve all got one…..
This week it’s been over to you as we ask - what are your unpopular theme park opinions?
From SLC’s to POV’s - we’re covering off the unpopular opinions you sent in; and whether we agree or not….
We’ll be revisiting this topic so if you have your own please send it over!
As theme parks have started to reopen for the 2025 season, things haven’t all been plain sailing. As theme park enthusiasts we often get called overly critical, so do we care too much? Do we notice things and get worked up over things your average park guest wouldn’t? Or are we right to push for higher standards for everyone?
In this episode we talk about the Alton Towers 2025 opening day which didn’t go as well as hoped and try and work out if we were right to be upset by it.
Despite our climate we’ve always had a strong line up of water rides in the UK, but are we starting to fall out of love with them? Especially the classic log flume?! In this episode we look at some of our favourite water attractions - past and present - and discuss what we think the future of water-based rides could look like.
The UK theme park enthusiast community has been left reeling from the shock announcement of the closure of Oakwood Theme Park in Wales. This week we’re joined by RCCGB Chairman Andy Hine to look back at the park over the years and try and work out what went wrong? Is there any chance Megafobia can be saved and what does the future hold for the park once held in such high regard by enthusiasts and the public?
Ride closures, park closures and even resorting to justgiving pages to raise money - it’s been a tough week in the UK theme park industry. This week we dissect the news from Chessington, Oakwood and look at Blackpool Pleasure Beach’s opening weekend. Are there any positives, and are things going to get worse before they get better?!
Dark rides provide us with incredible thematic experiences in theme parks, but do we value them enough in the UK?
This week we’re joined by two experts in creating world leading immersive attractions - Andy Sinclair-Harris and Alex Tyrell from Katapult a themed attraction design company based in Derby.
With projects at Disney and Universal under their belts, they talk us through the theatre of creating dark rides, where technology is going and why we maybe don’t see as many as we’d like.
When plans for Saudi Arabia’s first theme park emerged many enthusiasts assumed it would never get off the ground. Now nearing completion, the park will open in 2025 and the plans have become reality. In this episode Bex chats to Neil Dwyer - VP Operations about his humble beginnings at Camelot Theme Park in the UK through to heading up this incredible project. And of course we discuss the most anticipated rollercoaster in years - Falcon’s Flight.
There have been shockwaves through the UK theme park industry this week with news emerging that Merlin are making sweeping cuts in their entertainments teams. Bex and Kev are joined by Kip Hakes who has quit the content creator programme in protest over it. But what do these changes mean for us as theme park fans and guests? And do entertainments matter anyway?
At this point in the closed season we’re all really feeling the coaster blues. But with just a week to go until many UK parks start to open at least some of their attractions for Feb half term - where should we be looking to get a theme park visit under our belts?
Bex and Kev are joined by Kip Hakes to look at what the UK has to offer theme park fans and families this Feb half term.
Love them or hate them - IP’s are a familiar sight at Theme Parks. But are they stifling creativity and as park guests, do we crave more? Or do we love being able to immerse ourselves in the worlds of characters we know and love? With Universal UK looking more likely by the day one thing is for sure - we are only going to see more in our parks! Were joined by Lawrence from Universally Bedford to look at this and the very latest on the Universal UK project.
This week Bex and Kip are joined by Sam aka Coastertog! With only a few weeks left of the UK closed season we’re looking ahead to 2025 and looking forward to getting back into our favourite parks. Whilst 2025 may not share the same hyped ride openings of 2024 - is there still plenty to look forward to as a rollercoaster enthusiast?
This week Kip Hakes is co-hosting and we’re joined by Glenn Robertson aka The Notable Stranger. If you’re a theme park fan you’ll have heard his work at Blackpool Pleasure Beach as the mastermind behind the Icon, Big One and Valhalla themes. In this episode Glenn talks us through his unlikely route into music composition, how he caught the ear of Amanda Thompson, and some of the incredible detail that goes into each of his soundtracks. We promise - you’ll never listen to them in the same way again!
Parkcast is back for 2025! And if you’re anything like us you’re dreaming of sunnier days and possibly an epic theme park adventure. But with the closure of some classic attractions, should 2025 be the year you book your Walt Disney World holiday?!
Radio legend and self-confessed Disnerd Andy Goulding from The Most Magical Podcast on Earth joins us with all his suggestions, hints and tips to help you decide!
And with that the Parkcast 2024 season comes to a close; and we're wrapping up the year with a festive treat! In this special episode, enjoy a bite-sized Christmas buffet-esque selection of highlights from the podcast. Relive some of the best moments with our incredible guests, including John Wardley and Digital Dan. We'll revisit topics like Universal UK, Merlin’s chaotic year and even those crazy enthusiast rumours.
If you’ve joined us in 2024 - thank you! We’ll be back in January 2025 park fans
It’s been a turbulent year for Merlin Entertainments with their CEO stepping down just a few weeks ago, a challenging theme park season for ride reliability and signs of financial struggles. But with a new Minecraft IP on the horizon and the success of Nemesis Reborn and Hyperia, is it enough to turn things around? In this episode we’re joined by renowned blogger and vlogger Kip Hakes to work out if the magic can be saved or if it’s been lost for good.
Theme Park Content Creator legend Digital Dan joins us for this week’s episode and we’re putting him on the spot! With news of The Blade’s removal, we’re looking further ahead to the future of some of Alton Towers’ most iconic rollercoasters. But if one had to go - which would he happily lose?!
Plus we find out which coaster Dan would say you’ve “just gotta ride”.
We all love a good theme park rumour, especially when they turn out to be true. Sadly the rumours in this week’s episode never came to be.
Whether through change in direction, or simply by the fiction of the fan forums, we discuss the rumours around UK parks & potential ideas for new attractions that never came to pass.
With the closed season underway in the UK we’re setting our sights abroad for our Winter rollercoaster fix. But when it comes to the ultimate family theme park trip, where should you go - Disneyland Paris or Efteling? Can the fairytale charm of Efteling hold its own against the magic of Disney? We dive into the details and help you decide in this episode!
Our favourite theme park creation game is back and better than ever! Planet Coaster 2 was released last week and we're chatting to game director Rich Newbold. He's taking us through all the awesome new features and additions to help you build the theme park of your dreams. We're also asking if those manufacturer names are just coincidental.....
In this episode, we take an in-depth look at a park that, just a few years ago, faced an uncertain future. Join us as we explore the attractions that have shaped its history, discuss the positive transformations made since Looping Group took over, and share our predictions for what lies ahead.
Spoiler Alert: We don't think it's a Drunken Barrels themed area.....
We're back with our favourite enthusiast from across the pond Mark Rosenzweig. As well as being a top level coaster fan, Mark has also worked in the theme park industry for years and is a passionate ambassador for all things ride related. In this episode he talks us through what's new in the US, his current work with scenic installation company 3dx Scenic and how to get into the industry.
As we enter the final week of Spooky Season 2024 we take a look at what theme parks in the UK have had to offer. Apart from offering an amazing opportunity to ride our best rollercoasters in the dark, what worked and what didn’t? And now that Hex has finally reopened, what has dark ride guru Kev got to say about the new experience?
We know, we’ve been here before! But this time it looks like we really might be getting a brand new UK theme park - and Universal at that!
Were joined by Lawrence from Universally Bedford who takes us through absolutely EVERYTHING we already know, predictions for the park and the impact it might have on the UK theme park industry.
With declining revenues and visitor numbers it it time BPB brought back the “good old days” of free entry? We chat about this and what the future might look like for the park.
Poor ride availability, a disappointing Scarefest lineup, food complaints and will Hex ever reopen?! 2024 has been a tricky season for the UK’s biggest theme park - but is there light at the end of the tunnel? We chat about all this and more in this episode.
We're joined by the OG UK enthusiast Andy Hine! We find out how the Rollercoaster Club of Great Britain has literally changed lives, get his thoughts on the enthusiast community in 2024, and ask what he really thinks about RMC-ing the Nash.....
We’re back for 2024! Join Bex and new host Kev as we chat to theme park legend John Wardley. From his early days with Chessington, to the Haunted House, Nemesis, Air and beyond! We get his honest thoughts of Nemesis:Reborn and find out what his biggest regret was.
We chat to American enthusiast, ride guru and industry insider Mark Rosenzweig about life as a roller coaster fan across the pond. Mark is an experienced industry professional with bucketloads of passion and expertise. We get his thoughts on theme park life after lockdown, and he tells us which roller coaster he thinks is the greatest in the world.
Whilst we are still unable to enjoy theme parks (in the UK at least) - Alex "The Milkman" Crump continues his Top 25 rollercoaster countdown with his Top 10. We also have general coaster chat with Danny from Theme Park Family and find out why Phantom's Revenge didn't quite make the Top 10.
This is Parkcast: Lockdown Edition! As we can't get to the studio we recorded this special episode over remotely - technology hey?! The parks may all be closed, but we've still got Theme Parks to discuss. We are joined by Danny from Theme Park Family as we muse over what we're missing and Alex starts to countdown his Top 25 coasters.
Alex is joined by Shawn from Theme Park Worldwide for this special episode recorded just before the UK's lockdown.
Q jump/fast lane.......everyone has a view on fastrack tickets at theme parks - but should we be using them or do they just create problems that wouldn't exist without them?
This podcast was recorded just before the UK's coronavirus lockdown whilst the parks were still open and all information was correct at the time of recording.
We take a trip to Europe for some out of season rollercoaster action. With Phantasialand and Efteling on our list, do they live up to expectations? And is it worth taking a trip abroad for a Winter Theme Park fix? Plus the latest news from around the parks.
Theme Park Halloween Season is upon us! One of our favourite times of year to visit parks. And when Blackpool Pleasure Beach said they were planning a new experience for 2019, it would have been rude not to check it out for you. In this Episode you can find out exactly what they've got in store, and find out what we make of it. Plus Shawn from Theme Park Worldwide pops up from the back seat (which is not as weird as it sounds......)
We talk USA theme parks after Alex's Strata trip riding rollercoasters over the other side of the Atlantic. With 19 parks to tick off, what was worth the trip, and where would he not head back? Shawn from Theme Park Worldwide tells us which rollercoaster you've "just gotta ride" and we talk Polish efficiency and German park nightmares in the latest news from around the world.
In this episode Alex Crump was busy doing milk research (probably) so instead Andy from The Most Magical Podcast on Earth stopped by for some National Rollercoaster Day chat. We talk about Epic Universe, what makes us keep coming back for more, a new coaster at Flamingo Land, Disney gate prices and more!
We chat to the insanely talented Xaver Willebrand - Managing Director and Founder of IMAscore, celebrating 10 years of iconic theme park music.
It's Eurovision time and so in Episode 2 we put some of the best parks in Europe head to head. We discuss what you'll find there, and how to get there. Plus the latest news from around the world, and should we #rmcthenash ??!!
We chat about the UK theme park scene for 2019, celebrate 25 years of some of the UK's most iconic coasters and review the Alton Towers Dungeon. Globally we talk about Star Wars at Disney and rebuilding at Europa Park. Alex tells us which coaster he thinks you've "Just Gotta Ride" - and it's not his favourite.......