EB and Mike are taking a week off for the holidays.  But, they have produced this video podcast showing you the complete circuit of Mike's 2011 Christmas Tree Monorail!

Mike set up the Walt Disney World Monorail toy under his Christmas Tree. Two trains (Yellow and Black) move through a track switch and visit EPCOT's Spaceship Earth along with Disney's Contemporary Resort and Disney's Polynesian Resort.

Here at Coaster Radio, we're big fans of the Variety Specials they used to have on TV awhile back.

Before there were hundreds of lame reality shows and other filler, television networks used to produce special programs (especially around the holidays) that featured different kinds of entertainment and segments.

This week, we're going to try to do the same thing with our 2011 Holiday Spectacular!

This week's episode is jam-packed with fun stuff like:

* A live call from Main Street USA at the Magic Kingdom from one of the show's newest correspondants.
* Live trip reports from Christmas Town at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, a Holiday Fair at Hyde Park in  London and a roller coaster ride at Gulliover's World, Warrington, UK.
* A "Holiday Kid Call" from "Hagrid Claus" and "Shapiro the Elf" to two lucky children.
* A dramatic (and sound effects filled) reading of "A CoasterBoy Christmas"
* Interactive calls from CoasterRadio.com listeners
* Music and Mayhem, plus a whole lot more!

We're so thankful that you listen to the show week after week and have made us a part of your lives.  We wish you and your families a Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays!

Jim Hill Media published an interesting article this week about possible plans at Walt Disney World to introduce a fee-based version of the FastPass System.

Nothing has been announced by the Walt Disney Company as of yet, but the article says that Disney is considering offering a way to reserve ride times and show/parade viewing spots if you stay at a Disney Resort and purchase something called "The X Pass."

This week, the guys discuss this new possiblity and what it would mean for the theme park experience... at Walt Disney World and beyond.

The guys also take a look at the winners of the 2011 Themed Entertainment Awards - The THEA Awards!

The annual awards reward excellence for the creation of compelling educational, historical and entertainment projects.

You'll be amazed at some of the new technologies that were honored this year! AND, you'll be excited to learn about an old friend of the show who won the Lifetime Achievement Award!

Plus, we'll have news about our GIGANTIC holiday spectaculars that are coming up in the next two weeks!

With the holidays right around the corner, you might be scrambling to find the perfect gift.

But if you're looking for something for a theme park fan, the local mall might not have exactly what you need.

Never fear!

Here at Coaster Radio, we're bring back our annual tradition - The Holiday Gift Guide!

The 2011 version has a ton of great ideas, sure to impress the theme park fan in your life.  Hey, you might even want to check out some of these items for yourself.

Plus, EB and Mike get into a great debate/rant about the latest announcements from Universal Studios.

This week, we found out that Hogwarts (and the incredible Forbodden Journey attraction) are coming to Universal Studios Hollywood.  In addition, there were confirmed plans to expand the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando.

However, another recent annoucement had to do with the closure of the classic "JAWS" attraction at Universal Studios Florida.  The latest hot rumor is that Amity Island will make way for Harry Potter's London and Phase Two of the Potterverse.

Mike and EB will disect the rumors and give you their opinion on the current state of things.

Hey! As you listen to the show, here is a list of all of the gift items that the guys discuss!

Coaster Dynamix Kits
    - Full Coaster Kits
    - Train Models - Statix
Knex Kits
Quercetti Skyrail Rollercoaster with Elevator
Disney Monorail
Park Season Passes

Online stores - Holiday World, Busch Gardens, Cedar Point, WWOHP
Millennium Force Replica Space Mountain Seat at Mouse SurplusJungle Cruise Gallery of Light by Olszewski
Kinect Disneyland Adventures for XBox360
Imagineering Blueprints
Walt Disney Autograph
Touring Plans Subscription
Skee-Ball Game
Cotton Candy Machine
Sno Cone Machine
Rollercoaster DVD - Watch it with Our Unofficial DVD Commentary!
Vintage items from your home park on EBay (70s, 80s, 90s)

The guys had planned on producing a regular show this week, but Mike came down with a pretty bad case of the flu.

So, after some thought, they decided to enlist the help of Clint Novak from The Coaster Crew and dig out an episode of the show that has never been heard on our podcast feed before!

Let me explain....

Back in 2007, after Coaster Radio 1.0 had gone off the air, Mike, Flava and Mario formed a team to compete in the first ever "Single Riders Marathon" at Kennywood Park.

Now, the marathon had nothing to do with being single.  Instead, it meant that each marathon rider would fill an empty seat on a coaster and complete as many laps as possible during the day.

People would then pledge a certain amount of money for every coaster lap counted.

As part of this event, Flava , Mario and Mike produced an episode of "The Coaster Crew's Guide to the Midway" on-location at the park.

We thought this show was lost forever, but Will Holder was able to dig it up out of the archives this week!

So, since Mike is sick, we decided to play this show for the first time ever on OUR podcast.

For all of you who have missed Flava and Mario... this one's for you.

For all of you who have missed Flava and Mario... this one's for you.