After a 91 year wait, Mickey Mouse finally has his own ride at Walt Disney World. Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway has opened in the former location of the Great Movie Ride at Walt Disney World's Hollywood Studios. We talked with one of the people who rode it on media day, Alan Dalinka of MousePlanet.com. What is the ride like? Is it a worthy replacement to GMR? What kind of changes could be coming to the Disney Parks with the new leadership change? And how is coronavirus impacting Disney Parks? 

Coastin' the Country

Ep. 17: Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway opens at Disney World

Marcus Leshock talks with Cedar Point's Tony Clark about everything the amusement park is doing for their 150th season in 2020 - and we look ahead to what could be coming in 2021. We also talk about the latest news in the amusement park industry. 

Ep. 16: What should Cedar Point add in 2021?

Marcus recaps his trip to the American Coaster Enthusiasts No Coaster Con and talks with Six Flags Great America after their presentation there. They give us an update on the construction of their new water coaster Tsunami Surge. We also break down the latest news in the theme park world, including Super Nintendo World coming to Universal Orlando, and the latest rumors about the big 2021 attraction coming to Busch Gardens Williamsburg. 

Ep. 15: Six Flags Great America Tsunami Surge update, No Coaster Con recap

Marcus takes his first trip to Star Wars Galaxy's Edge at Walt Disney World for the opening of the new attraction, Rise of the Resistance. We spent a few days exploring all Galaxy's Edge has to offer and rundown the things you must do and how to get the best possible experience when visiting!

Ep. 14: Star Wars Galaxy's Edge and Rise of the Resistance - everything you need to know

Marcus talks with Tim Baldwin of Amusement Today about his experience riding the new Axis roller coaster prototype from S&S. The ride takes passengers along a track and has them flipping 360° horizontally. Tim talks about what it was like to ride it, what it's like to visit a manufacturer like S&S and when he thinks we might see it in an actual theme park. 

Ep. 13: S&S AXIS roller coaster prototype breakdown with Tim Baldwin of Amusement Today

We talk to Don Helbig of Kings Island in Mason, Ohio about their newly announced GIGA COASTER - ORION! Don answers all of Marcus's questions about the backstory of the ride, how it was created, how the construction process should play out and everything else Kings Island. 

Ep. 12: Kings Island announces ORION giga coaster!

We talk to Silver Dollar City President and General Manager Brad Thomas about Mystic River Falls, their new raft ride featuring an 80-foot tower lift and a 45-foot final drop - the largest in the Western Hemisphere. We talked about the history of Silver Dollar City, the significance of the real Mystic River in the Marvel Cave, and just how this ride and new $30 million Rivertown section fit into the rest of the park. 

Ep. 11: Silver Dollar City announces giant raft ride Mystic River Falls

We head to the Raging Waves water park in Yorkville, Illinois to get a behind the scenes look at how wave pools work. The new launch roller coaster Maxx Force opens at Six Flags Great America and Marcus describes what his first ride was like. And we talk about that disturbing video featuring a fight at Disneyland. 

Ep. 10: How wave pools work, Maxx Force opens

Marcus visits the longest suspension bridge in North America, the Skybridge at Skylift Park in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. A chair lift system takes guests up to the top of the Smoky Mountains and now you can walk across a suspension bridge 140 feet in the air, with glass panels in the center than let you look straight down. We talked with them about why the created the attraction and we give you some tips if you plan to visit. 

Ep. 9: Gatlinburg SkyBridge at Skylift Park in Tennessee

We break down the first FULL CIRCUIT TEST for Maxx Force at Six Flags Great America. Just a day after we saw the train slowly leave the station, crews have launched Maxx Force all the way through. Will it get faster as it runs? We discusss. And we take a look at all of the glowing reaction coming out of the opening of the Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure roller coaster at Universal Orlando. 

Ep. 8: Maxx Force Full Circuit Test Six Flags Great America, Hagrid coaster reactions at Universal

We check out the construction site for the new launch roller coaster Maxx Force at Six Flags Great America and sit in the new coaster trains! We also spoke to park president Hank Salemi about when they hope to open the ride, when testing might begin and more. 

Ep. 7: Maxx Force Construction Update Six Flags Great America

This week, Marcus runs down the latest news in the theme park world, including the plans for Kings Island's new giga coaster that ended up on the internet. Also, we look at Six Flags America's Firebird, which was once Iron Wolf at Six Flags Great America. We have a WGN News report from the day Iron Wolf opened!

Ep. 6: Kings Island 2020 plans leak, Iron Wolf flashback

We sit down with the one and only DOLLY PARTON to talk about the new Wildwood Grove expansion at Dollywood! Wildwood Grove is biggest expansion in the park's history - six acres and 11 new attractions. We talked with Dolly about why she got into the theme park business in the first place, how big of a role she has in the operations and planning of the park, if she still gets amazed when she sees new additions in person, and if she would take a ride on Lightning Rod with me!We also spoke with Dollywood Company President Craig Ross about how Wildwood Grove came together and where the park is headed in the future. And we caught up with Vice President of Public Relations Pete Owens who talked about possible new attractions the park might want to add in the future. 

Ep. 5: Dolly Parton talks Wildwood Grove at Dollywood

Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio opens for the 2019 season! We talked with Director of Communications Tony Clark about their new Forbidden Frontier on Adventure Island attraction, some of the new food additions for this season, and he gave us a nugget about what fans can expect for the big 150th anniversary season coming in 2020. 

Ep. 4: What's new at Cedar Point in 2019

We head to Canada's Wonderland to ride the world's tallest, fastest and longest dive coaster YUKON STRIKER! We talked to the park's communication director about everything Canada's Wonderland has to offer. We also talk to some enthusiasts who were on the scene to ride the coaster before it opened to the public. And I break down my trip up there and some of the other things you can do - including what I thought of my first visit to nearby Niagara Falls. Listen and subscribe to the Coastin' The Country podcast today!

Ep. 3: Yukon Striker at Canada's Wonderland

Join Marcus Leshock as he talks theme parks, roller coasters and all around family fun!Every episode, Marcus talks about the latest news happening in the theme park world. We'll have reports on all of our trips to parks and attractions across the country, including reviews of the latest roller coasters and thrill rides. And we'll have interviews with the big names in the theme park world and experts who can help make your next family trip one to remember. 

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Coastin' the Country

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