Offseason No-More!

The Wait Is Almost Over!

Unless you happen to be some of the lucky individuals who live in California or Florida, you are currently sitting in another Amusement Park Offseason. Well cheer up because for some parks in the country, the season starts this weekend. Yes the sights, the sounds, the smells.....it all comes back. Some of you will have to wait even longer, but it's ok. I'm throwing out the invitation for you to come to Kings Dominion or Busch Gardens in Williamsburg.

Fellow Bloggers!

Last month our friend Mike Collins over a CoasterRadio.com, relaunched the site to take on a whole new blog look and feel to it. To me Mike is doing exactly what I think the blog idea should be. Provide fairly updated news on the industry, give his personal insight on some of the matters as well as give you all a chance to respond to them as well in the "New Forum Forum".

This blog is more of an updated once every full moon kind of deal. A deal that provides my opinions which will mostly just piss you off. That's how I roll, but I like CoasterRadio.com idea a lot too.
I definitely recommend that you check it out. If you are or were a fan of the old CoasterRadio.com podcasts, you should still check out the new blog Mike has running at the site. It's always a good read, very informative and in true CR.com fashion, it's highly entertaining. Two audio shows are still on the way as well, as promised from the gang for helping out with the Single Riders charity event. Nice to see CoasterRadio.com up and running as we head into the new park season.

Also as always our good friend Pat McCabe over at "A Walk In The Park" has his blog to check out. Pat gives the readers great insight on not only whats going on in the amusement industry, but also shares his views and opinions on other topics as well including sports and movies.

Of course the main focus of "A Walk In The Park" is Pat's short video updates from the different parks, or baseballs games, or his own apartment. Where ever the hell Pat feels like updating from, he's got a video for it. Maybe Pat should should give us an update from Wrestlemania 24 in Orlando. That's what gets my vote.

Clint A Dictator?...No...But Definitely Hogs The Spotlight!

So I opened the last blog with a little quick blurb about Clint Novak being a dictator. Now obviously people had a good laugh with it and got where I was coming from. A few people where confused, but a quick explanation later it was all taken care of. What surprised me was the complaints coming from the man himself. The morning after I posted the blog I had text messages coming in from the the "Dictator" himself. Why would I write that? Why would I say such things about him? Damn I am evil. Well for his sake let me clear it all up....Clint is not a dictator. Yes he demanded every week I update the blog, but that's understandable. That doesn't make a dictator.

Now since Clint did complain about me calling him a dictator, I do have to take it upon myself and pick on him some more. Don't encourage the bully, eventually he will stop. So let's talk about how Clint likes to hog all of the spotlight. First do you ever notice how at the beginning of every "In the Loop" it always says...."And now your Host....and Creator.....of In the Loop....Clint Novak". Clint has to remind everybody that "In the Loop" was his creation. I mean ok I understand. First AudioShow/Podcast on the Amusement Industry so feed that ego. Lately though the show hasn't been something I would want to take credit for creating. Do we really need another all commentary audio show??

Now you'll also notice that whenever Clint and myself do a show together. Whether it be the old Weekend Review shows or our current "Guide To The Midway" video shoots, I might get to do my closing line. But Clint has to take it upon himself to get that very last word it. He always does that weird "See Ya" line that he says very fast. It almost comes off as "Sea-uhh". Whats wrong with telling everybody that we will see them all next time and that's it? You have to tell them see ya again? Clint always has to get that last word in. Our last show he almost didn't even let me get anything in. Whatever it takes to feed that ego more.

Notice how in the closing credits he will list himself as "Host - Clint Novak" and then a few seconds later.....up scrolls "Co-host - Will Holder". Again despite the fact that we have equal presence on camera, he can't put "Hosts - Clint Novak & Will Holder". He has to take "Host" all to himself. I didn't know we had a spotlight big enough for him. But remember regardless.....Clint Novak IS NOT a Dictator. "Sea-Uhh"

No Love For Six Flags????

Coaster Enthusiasts always make me scratch my head. You would think they might support the industry and anything that could help it's bottom dollar. So why in the last few years have they taken it upon themselves to bash Six Flags, Mark Shapiro and Dan Snyder? OK I can bash Dan Snyder too, but for reason unrelated to Six Flags. It seems that no matter what Six Flags does, enthusiasts call the move dumb, moronic and bad for business. As an example Cedar Fair relocates rides and enthusiasts are happy that said park has a new ride to enjoy. Six Flags relocates a ride and enthusiasts call them cheap and lazy.

They complain that Six Flags makes to many business partnerships and sponsorship deals. Who really cares? I don't, it's more money going into their pockets. I would much rather eat Ledo Pizza and play Home Depot skee-ball then eat Craig's Pizza and play normal skee-ball. It's all brand recognition. Six Flags raising park prices was long overdue as I felt that to get into a Six Flags park was a steal. Their season pass prices are still the cheapest in the industry as well.

Shapiro and the rest of the company know that to move into the future, it needs to evolve it technology. I like the fact that I can use my season pass at the entrance gate of all Six Flags parks and when I get off of a rollercoaster, I can open my phone and see my picture on there. At Cedar Fair, you have to take that pass to guest relations and wait in even more lines to get a piece of paper. It seems to me that where Six Flags makes advances in technology, Cedar Fair goes backwards. A lot of the former Paramount Parks have literally gone backward in technology advancement thanks to the Cedar Fair purchase.

If I had to pick between Cedar Point and Great Adventure as the only park I could take a family vacation to, I would pick Great Adventure hands down. Six Flags knows that the amusement industry is a family industry. The family has more to do a Great Adventure and for coaster lovers, Great Adventure has a selection just as good, if not better, then Cedar Point. Magic Mountain is going in a great direction to turn the park more family friendly.

Coaster Enthusiast for some reason have this need to have everything go there way. If a park is not building the next major rollercoaster like Six Flags has not done lately, then in their words, Six Flags suck. But the majority of enthusiast that voice the displeasure DO NOT have little ones to take to the park for a day. Ones that do, are more understanding and I applaud them for understanding. To the rest though, to those who feel as if companies like Six Flags HAS to cater to YOUR needs. To those that feel every new attraction has to be a new coaster masterpiece. It's the same for those that feel Six Flags America, despite having a great coaster collection as is, including a 200ft Hyper that many parks do not have at all. To those that feel that despite having those great coasters, but installing a new waterslide is alienating Six Flags America's future. You guys are self-centered bastards and need to shut the hell up.

To Six Flags I say you guys are doing the right thing. Your name recognition is second to Disney as far as the general population goes. I know that if I have a family with little ones looking for a good time, I can send them your way. For your enthusiast who are so anti-corporation. May I suggest you go to Knoebels or something. Maybe you can help them finally finish those Flying Turns while you are at it. They are on pace to finish in July.....of 2012!

Random Thoughts!

So who in this country DID NOT visit the Magic Kingdom in 2007? The new attendance record that they set for 2007 was phenomenal. Congrats to the Walt Disney Company for that Milestone.

I think the Coaster Crew should set up an office in Dubai. Everybody else is setting up shop there.

Who would have thought that after the Cedar Fair transaction was finally complete, that Canada's Wonderland would be the company's flagship park? I have a feeling that Behemoth could be the company's flagship coaster as well.

If I was a gambling man, I would bet high on Hard Rock Park for it's first year. Also I suggest you don't go with Coaster Enthusiast. You'll appreciate the park a whole lot more.

Universal Orlando Resort will knock everybody out in 2009. Save your money now.




First you took away my HyperSonic, then you took away my Backward Rebel Yell. Please don't take away my Yogi's/Treasure Cave.

Final Thoughts!

Finally I wanted to share some warm, happy fuzzy feelings with everybody. Last Sunday I attending the Season Pass Preview Day at Busch Gardens Europe. While Clint Novak and gang where busy processing their season passes. I rushed through the gates so I could open the season on Lochness. I noticed a couple share a picture in front of the water fountain at the entrance of the park. As soon as the picture was snapped, the man dropped down to one knee, pulled out the ring and proposed to his girlfriend. With tears in their eyes, she said yes and the couple people that witnessed this magical moment applauded. Thanks to digital camera technology, I captured that moment on film. So Enjoy! I will see you all again very shortly.

Let Us Begin.....Shall We?

What The Funk Is This?

Hey! What's Going On? My name is Will Holder and welcome to the first ever edition of the Thrill Holder Blog. Now before I begin I have to get the legal mumbo jumbo out of the way. My views are mine and mine only. They in no way shape or form reflect that of the Coaster Crew, Two Guys Productions, this webmaster, or anybody else affiliated with this project. I would say that I have free speech but if I do say something that might not fly well, Clint Novak will have already deleted it anyway. What a bastard! He can be somewhat of a dictator....but we can save that for another day.

Now this blog was born out of the demand that people wanted to hear more from me. Why that is the case, I have no clue. But since the Coaster Crew and In the Loop is very personal-able, we shall meet those demands. Now I am going to be upfront with everybody right away. I have no idea what direction this will go in, so please just bear with me. There is a reason I don't post much on forums. I'm not much of a guy who puts his thoughts into words. So let's just go along for the ride.

A Little About Me!

Now since everybody will be following my wisdom from here on out, I guess it would help if you people knew a little about me. Up until now, the only little bit of Will Holder you have received has come behind the microphone or behind the camera on In the Loop. Well it's time to get personal and let you all in on the real me. Hopefully it will let you understand me more and make this blog more enjoyable for you.

I was born July 31, 1983 in Silver Spring, Maryland. I've lived in the Washington Metropolitan Area for my entire life, up until last year. Currently I call Fredericksburg, Virgina home. I love D.C. though. I love it's sports teams, especially the Washington Redskins and Wizards. I love all the history and sites. The poor homeless people who sleep under newspapers on Van Dorn Street, yeah I love them too. And believe it or not, I love following the politics that goes on in this city. On TV if I'm not watching the Skins or the Wiz playing, I'm laughing at Homer and Bart, enjoying a good movie or loving all the action that goes on inside the squared circle. Thats a wrestling ring for you dummies out there. I've been to many wrestling shows, mostly in D.C. and Baltimore. Say what you want....oh it's not real....or oh it's really gay.....blah blah blah. I like it....brother. Besides wrestlers are the nicest celebrities you'll ever meet in real life too.

Now as far as this coaster hobby goes, truth is I only very recently in my life became an enthusiast. My first rollercoaster was Big Thunder Mountain at Disney World back in 1988. I don't remember much from it, only the stuff that exist on the POV footage my dad shot with his old ass VHS camcorder. You know, those really big ones that weighted a ton. My next coaster wouldn't come until 1992 when I rode Rebel Yell at Kings Dominion. Now that I was a little older I realized that what I just did was scary, and for many years after that I was very scared of coasters. I rode a few coasters hear and there over the next few years, but I was usually crying my eyes out in the queue line. My mom then dragged me on the rides. Eventually I rode them no problem, they were fun, but not the obsession that I have now. My favorite rollercoaster is El Toro and my favorite park is Disneyland. Want to learn what turned me into an enthusiast? Of course you do. Well it's story time.

Goodbye To The Ride That Started It All!

Well now it is official that HyperSonic XLC is being removed before the start of the 2008 season at Kings Dominion. This news also closes a door on a personal chapter in my life. I used to only go to Kings Dominion once a year, twice if I was lucky. In June of 2000 I went onto what was at the time Kings Dominion's very crude website to look up info on operating hours that day. What I saw however was a picture that said "New in 2001...HyperSonic XLC". The picture of a car going up and down 90 degree hills totally blew me away. Plus when I read that it would have a launch of 0 to 80 in 1.8 Seconds, I was speechless. Now you have to understand that at this time, I only visited Kings Dominion and Hersheypark once a year. That was the extent of my park travels. I only cared about rollercoasters if I was at the park, never speaking of them again for another year.

Now that day at the park with my family, the first hints of geekism began to show. I was actually going around the park wondering where the ride was going to go. Also believe it or not, I also was on the lookout for pieces of the ride. Looking back on that now its so funny that I was doing that at the time. It's like I secretly knew all along how to be a coaster nerd. Now for the first time ever I was siked about a ride for an entire year. All off season I was doing Internet searches, trying to find out more information on HyperSonic. I discovered many websites like Coasterbuzz and even the famous RCDB. Reading message boards alone opened me up to a new world I never knew existed. When HyperSonic did finally open the next year, I rode it and it was the greatest ride I had ever ridden. It's hard to believe that the first year, it was smoother then a B&M coaster. Hey now!! Don't laugh, it's very true. It's a shame what happen to it over the years.

I finally, officially became an enthusiast/coaster geek when me and my brother Joe took a journey to Sandusky, Ohio for 4 days in the summer of 2003. Our mission was to ride Top Thrill Dragster. My first ride to the top of the 420 foot tophat had me wearing one of my very few coaster shirts. My first coaster shirt I had ever bought........HyperSonic XLC. This will be an emotional off season for me. When we do some shoots of them taking the ride down, don't be too shocked if I get a little chocked up on camera. But as is life, nothing lasts forever. We must move on and move on I will. Bring on Dominator I say.

Last Words!!!

So I hope you enjoyed the first edition of the Thrill Holder Blog. Like I said this is a work in progress. Feel free to leave me some feedback and suggestions. Let me know what you would like to see in this piece of work.

Thank You Very Much and I'm Glad You Could Join Me! Now Sit Back, Hold On Tight and I'll Blog To You All Next Time!!!!