ACE - Ride With Us

March Updates: The Latest Roller Coaster News

ACE Social Media Manager Doug Perry joins his twin brother, ACE Communications Director Derek Perry to recap some of the most exciting roller coaster and theme park news for the upcoming year! Between roller coaster opening dates, name changes, construction updates and new details being released, you'll get all the week's updates plus the latest information on the ACE Spring Conference.
In this Episode:
[01:30] Dorney Park
 
[02:47] Snoopy's new coasters at Kings Island and Knott's Berry Farm
 
[04:23] California parks
 
[06:41] Cedar Point
 
[07:25] Playland in Vancouver
 
[08:47] Carowinds and Kings Dominion
 
[10:59] Wooden coasters adding steel track
 
[11:51] Hersheypark
 
[12:58] Six Flags parks
 
[13:52] Florida parks
 
[18:18] UK parks
 
[19:39] Australia Parks
 
[21:03] Tokyo DisneySea
 
[23:22] ACE Spring Conference
 
Share your ideas and thoughts about this podcast via email: podcast@aceonline.org. Visit ridewithace.com to learn more about the non-profit organization American Coaster Enthusiasts.
 
Join the team of ACE volunteers. Volunteering offers different ways to share your talents by:
Having an impact on the future of ACE
Providing opportunities for rewarding experiences
Developing friendships in a small group
Learning new skills or sharing your talents with ACE
Podcast Volunteer Team 
Host: Jessica Gardner
Producer: Derek Perry
Editor: Bob Randolph
Show Notes: Liz Tan
Production Manager: Corey Wooten
Correspondents: John Davidson, Doug Perry, Bryant Yeager
This episode was edited by Quinn Coleman

Love Is in the Air: 'Ride With Us' Valentine's Special with Sky Elements and Speed Dating for Coasters

It’s almost Valentine’s Day, which realistically means one thing to coaster enthusiasts: theme park season is just around the corner! However, whether you’re celebrating this day or eagerly anticipating your next theme park adventure, this episode has something for everyone. Join us in exploring how “Love Is in the Air” in more ways than one. 
 
First, correspondent Bryant Yeager chats with Rick Boss from Sky Elements Drones. You may remember us marveling at the world record-setting drone show during IAAPA Expo – a show that was brought to you by none other than Sky Elements. We’re so excited to have them on the show.
 
The love continues as our Production Manager and correspondent Corey Wooten introduces Sam Cooper, who has an Instagram channel called Mid Course Blues featuring his original series, “Speed Dating for Coasters.” In this highly entertaining series, two coasters are matched with one another, he compares their similarities and differences to explain how they'd be compatible as a couple. Sam also posts amazing shots of roller coasters, one of which won the ACE Photography Contest during Coaster Con 45!
In this Episode:
[01:56] Bryant Interviews Rick Boss from Sky Elements Drones
[28:07] Corey interviews Sam Cooper about his Instagram series “Speed Dating for Coasters”
 
Check out Speed Dating for Coasters and Sam’s amazing photos: https://www.instagram.com/mid.course.blues/
 
Watch Sky Elements’ video of the historic, epic, record-breaking drone show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxYNHt7mThg
 
Share your ideas and thoughts about this podcast via email: podcast@aceonline.org. Visit ridewithace.com to learn more about the non-profit organization American Coaster Enthusiasts.
 
Join the team of ACE volunteers. Volunteering offers different ways to share your talents by:
Having an impact on the future of ACE
Providing opportunities for rewarding experiences
Developing friendships in a small group
Learning new skills or sharing your talents with ACE
Podcast Volunteer Team 
Host: Jessica Gardner
Producer: Derek Perry
Editor: Bob Randolph
Show Notes: Liz Tan
Production Manager: Corey Wooten
Correspondents: John Davidson, Bryant Yeager, Doug Perry

ACE Election Q&A Plus the Latest News on Fire in the Hole

It’s almost that time of year again – time for ACE elections and summer in the theme parks!
This episode covers both of these critical summertime topics. In our first segment, co-host Jessica Gardner talks with current ACE President Elizabeth Ringas about the upcoming elections.
We change tracks in the second segment and start looking toward summer as podcast correspondent Bryant Yeager shares his conversation with Dalton Fischer, Communications Manager for Silver Dollar City, during the recent ACE Winterfest event in San Antonio Texas.
Indoor coasters offer more than thrills – they often bring a story to life. Fire in the Hole at Silver Dollar City in Branson Missouri is no exception. The indoor coaster was built in-house in 1972; it’s often considered a cross between a dark ride and a roller coaster. 
This well-loved attraction is getting some new life as Rocky Mountain Construction is rebuilding the ride. While coaster enthusiasts know RMC for their thrilling I-box track and wood/steel hybrid coasters, the company is also well-equipped to transform this classic ride into a modern experience.
In this Episode: 
[01:45] Elizabeth Ringas talks about the ACE election process
[20:41] Dalton Fischer joins Bryant Yeager for their conversation about Silver Dollar City and the upcoming changes to Fire in the Hole
Share your ideas and thoughts about this podcast via email: podcast@aceonline.org. Visit ridewithace.com to learn more about the non-profit organization American Coaster Enthusiasts.
Join the team of ACE volunteers. Volunteering offers different ways to share your talents by:
Having an impact on the future of ACE
Providing opportunities for rewarding experiences
Developing friendships in a small group
Learning new skills or sharing your talents with ACE
Podcast Volunteer Team
Hosts: Jessica Gardner and John Davidson
Producer: Derek Perry
Editor: Bob Randolph
Show Notes: Liz Tan
Production Manager: Corey Wooten
Correspondents: Bryant Yeager and Doug Perry

Brick by Brick: A Deep Dive Into LEGOLAND® Florida Resort

LEGOLAND® Florida is a unique park with a rich history.
It began as Cypress Gardens and became LEGOLAND in 2011 after the original park closed. Home to three adorable hotels, a water park and the Peppa Pig theme park, this park has a lot to offer, including a swimming pool that was featured in the 1953 film Easy to Love!  
Co-host Jessica Gardner met with Banks Lee, LEGOLAND Production and Marketing Support Specialist to learn more about the park and hear about some upcoming attractions. 
In this Episode:
0:00 - Introduction to the podcast and LEGOLAND Florida
0:21 - Background on LEGOLAND Florida spokesperson Banks Lee
0:40 - History of LEGOLAND parks starting in 1968
1:17 - Significance of LEGOLAND Florida being located on the site of the former Cypress Gardens park
2:40 - Banks' career path and advice 
3:09 - Details on the different areas within LEGOLAND Florida
5:32 - Popular attractions at LEGOLAND Florida
8:35 - Questions from listeners 
9:34 - Recommendations for first attractions to visit
14:31 - Banks' favorite attractions to visit with his family 
17:31 - The most popular attractions at LEGOLAND® Florida
18:37 - Jessica's Dragon Coaster milestone
20:50 - Explanation of the Ninjago property and ride
21:14 - Masters of Flight attraction in LEGO Movie World
23:15 - LEGOLAND's mini lands and structures 
33:37 - Upcoming life-sized LEGO® builds 
34:38 - Entertainment at LEGOLAND 
38:30 - Peppa Pig Theme Park 
43:00 - Food options in the park and the delicious Apple Fries 
44:27 - LEGOLAND merchandise 
47:45 - Trading LEGO and Minifigures 
50:00 - LEGO Pop Badges 
51:35 - The Infamous "Mr. Gold" Pop Badge 
54:00 - LEGOLAND accommodations 
58:30 - The future of LEGOLAND Florida Resort
Share your ideas and thoughts about this podcast via email: podcast@aceonline.org. Visit ridewithace.com to learn more about the non-profit organization American Coaster Enthusiasts.
Join the team of ACE volunteers. Volunteering offers different ways to share your talents by:
Having an impact on the future of ACE
Providing opportunities for rewarding experiences
Developing friendships in a small group
Learning new skills or sharing your talents with ACE
Podcast Volunteer Team 
Hosts: Jessica Gardner and John Davidson
Producer: Derek Perry
Editor: Bob Randolph
Show Notes: Liz Tan
Production Manager: Corey Wooten
Correspondents: Bryant Yeager and Doug Perry

Coasting Around the World: Planning the 2024 ACE International Trip

Coasting Around the World: Planning the 2024 ACE International Trip
 
ACE’s Journey to Central Europe is happening this July and Jessica Gardner talks to three of the members of the International Trip Committee who are planning this epic adventure. Cheri Armstrong, Vanessa Thomas and Jimmy Titko discuss everything you need to know about joining this trip or planning your own journey to parks in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Poland!
 
For more information, please visit https://www.aceonline.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1778704 
In this Episode:
[01:37] Meet the travel dream team
[05:21] Trip details
[23:12] Parks in the Netherlands and Belgium
[41:21] Parks in Germany
[59:50] Add-on parks in Poland
 
 
Share your ideas and thoughts about this podcast via email: podcast@aceonline.org. Visit ridewithace.com to learn more about the non-profit organization American Coaster Enthusiasts.
 
Join the team of ACE volunteers. Volunteering offers different ways to share your talents by:
Having an impact on the future of ACE
Providing opportunities for rewarding experiences
Developing friendships in a small group
Learning new skills or sharing your talents with ACE
Podcast Volunteer Team 
Hosts: Jessica Gardner and John Davidson
Producer: Derek Perry
Editor: Bob Randolph
Show Notes: Liz Tan
Production Manager: Corey Wooten
Correspondents: Bryant Yeager and Doug Perry

Looking Back at the Past Year and Ahead to 2024

Now that 2023 is but a memory, your podcast team is pausing for a moment to recap many of the amazing ACE events that happened during the year. Podcast producer Derek Perry joins his brother/ACE social media manager Doug Perry for a rousing conversation about their adventures with ACE.
  
This episode also includes the all-important winter events roundup. Stay tuned to hear about all of the upcoming ACE events that are sure to break up the long, coaster-free winter.
 
In this Episode:
[01:33] 2023 events review (national, regional and digital)
[19:42] 2023’s new roller coaster highlights
[24:14] 2024 roller coaster construction update and upcoming events
[34:56] January event rundown 
 
 
Share your ideas and thoughts about this podcast via email: podcast@aceonline.org. Visit ridewithace.com to learn more about the non-profit organization American Coaster Enthusiasts.
 
Join the team of ACE volunteers. Volunteering offers different ways to share your talents by:
Having an impact on the future of ACE
Providing opportunities for rewarding experiences
Developing friendships in a small group
Learning new skills or sharing your talents with ACE
Podcast Volunteer Team 
Hosts: Jessica Gardner and John Davidson
Producer: Derek Perry
Editor: Bob Randolph
Show Notes: Liz Tan
Production Manager: Corey Wooten
Correspondents: Bryant Yeager and Doug Perry

Vekoma Rides: Good Gravy, Tilt Coaster, Super Boomerang and More (IAAPA Expo)

Vekoma Rides: Good Gravy, Tilt Coaster, Super Boomerang and More (IAAPA Expo)
The show floor has been wiped clean, but the memories of IAAPA Expo 2023 continue as co-host Jessica Gardner interviews the team from Vekoma.
Jessica talks with Ricardo Tonding Etges and Carin Davits about the new Good Gravy roller coaster at Holiday World and other upcoming/newly opened projects that many ACE members have already enjoyed. Jessica and the team take a tour of the Vekoma booth and get a close look at the tilt coaster train model.
We hope our continued coverage of the IAAPA Expo is helping to keep the winter months bearable. (See what we did there?)
In this Episode:
[1:42] Designing the Good Gravy roller coaster for Holiday World, a close look at the train on display
[06:33] Carin discusses the completed coasters that opened this summer (bonus mention of Big Bear Mountain and Rookie Racer!!)
[10:17] A tour of the tilt coaster model
[13:52] Super boomerang coming to Six Flags Great Adventure
Share your ideas and thoughts about this podcast via email: podcast@aceonline.org. Visit ridewithace.com to learn more about the non-profit organization American Coaster Enthusiasts.
Join the team of ACE volunteers. Volunteering offers different ways to share your talents by:
Having an impact on the future of ACE
Providing opportunities for rewarding experiences
Developing friendships in a small group
Learning new skills or sharing your talents with ACE
Podcast Volunteer Team
Host: Jessica Gardner
Producer: Derek Perry
Editor: Bob Randolph
Show Notes: Liz Tan
Production Manager: Corey Wooten
Correspondents: Bryant Yeager and Doug Perry

Hersheypark’s Comet, Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters, Inc. and Illuminated Integration

IAAPA Expo 2023 was a whirlwind of activity for your podcast team. From setting up the ACE booth before the show began to doing interviews with anyone and everyone we could, we were on the show floor from start to finish. This episode brings several IAAPA Expo show floor conversations together with the teams who are bringing new life to the Comet coaster at Hersheypark.
Jessica Gardner does a carside chat from inside the new Comet train with Tom Rebbe and Laura Woodburn Krolczyk about the design and build process for these eye-catching new trains.
The series of conversations moves on to a chat with Quinn Bryner, Director of PR at Hersheypark. Our episode finishes with Tyler Hoffman and Mike Birardi from Illuminated Integration – all of these fantastic conversations add up to a detailed glimpse into what Hersheypark will look like next summer.
In this Episode:
[02:48] Tom Rebbe and Laura Woodburn Krolczyk “live” from the Comet train
[07:51] Quinn Bryner Director of PR at Hersheypark 
[10:38] Tyler Hoffman and Mike Birardi 
Share your ideas and thoughts about this podcast via email: podcast@aceonline.org. Visit ridewithace.com to learn more about the non-profit organization American Coaster Enthusiasts.
Join the team of ACE volunteers. Volunteering offers different ways to share your talents by:
Having an impact on the future of ACE
Providing opportunities for rewarding experiences
Developing friendships in a small group
Learning new skills or sharing your talents with ACE
Podcast Volunteer Team 
Hosts: Jessica Gardner
Producer: Derek Perry
Editor: Bob Randolph
Show Notes: Liz Tan
Production Manager: Corey Wooten
Correspondents: Bryant Yeager and Doug Perry

Legacy of Schwarzkopf – Documentary Team Highlights

Legacy of Schwarzkopf – Documentary Team Highlights
Fellow ACE members and documentarians Robert Ingle, Kris Rowberry, Nicholas Laschkewitsch, and Scott Schaffer are currently filming the next ACE documentary, exploring the multitude of roller coasters and flat rides worldwide created by the legendary Anton Schwarzkopf. The team has been tirelessly capturing these rides and coasters in action, traveling across the globe this year to bring the story to life for coaster enthusiasts everywhere.
A familiar voice joins us once again. Listen in as one of the original Ride With Us Podcast co-hosts, Kris Rowberry, and the team discuss what they've been up to since our last conversation. (Spoiler: They've been BUSY!)
In this Episode:
[02:23] Filming at Six Flags Great America and a comparison between that park and California's Great America.  
[06:31] The team moves to Lagoon Park in Farmington, Utah.
[10:30] Nicholas visited Worlds of Fun, where Zambezi Zinger pays homage to Schwarzkopf in many ways.
[13:30] The team heads to Atlanta, visiting Six Flags Over Georgia, Fun Spot America Atlanta, and the North Georgia State Fair.
[24:00] On to Germany for Oktoberfest.
Legacy of Schwarzkopf: Trailer #1
Legacy of Schwarzkopf: Trailer #2
Share your ideas and thoughts about this podcast via email: podcast@aceonline.org. Visit ridewithace.com to learn more about the non-profit organization American Coaster Enthusiasts.
Join the team of ACE volunteers. Volunteering offers various ways to share your talents by:
Making an impact on the future of ACE.
Providing opportunities for rewarding experiences.
Developing friendships in a small group.
Learning new skills or sharing your talents with ACE.
Podcast Volunteer Team:
Hosts: Jessica Gardner and ACE's Documentary Team
Producer: Derek Perry
Editor: Bob Randolph
Show Notes: Liz Tan
Production Manager: Corey Wooten
Correspondents: Bryant Yeager and Doug Perry

IAAPA Expo 2023: The Final Day and Expo Recap (featuring Storyland Studios and RMC)

The ACE Ride With Us Podcast team had a busy week at the IAAPA Expo. We’ve had a great time walking the show floor, meeting theme park industry partners and spending time together. Bringing our listeners along for the ride has been a real treat for your podcast team.
Our final broadcast from the event brings the event to a close. Join co-host Jessica Gardner as she talks with ACE Communications Director Derek Perry about their immersive experience at the expo.  
In this Episode:
[02:30] Check out ACE’s YouTube channel for our interview with S&S
[06:05] Derek’s interview with Adam Sandy from Zamperla (live from the Top Thrill 2 train!)
[08:00] Derek talks about ACE's interview with 3DX and their work on Holiday World’s new Good Gravy! coaster
[12:20] Matt Ferguson, Chief Innovation Officer at Storyland Studios talks about the two new parks they’re opening
[23:02] Interview with Jake Kilcup from Rocky Mountain Construction
[32:44] The episode wraps up with ACE President Elizabeth Ringas
ACE’s YouTube channel has all of the awesome video coverage from the week (and a lot more).
Share your ideas and thoughts about this podcast via email: podcast@aceonline.org. Visit ridewithace.com to learn more about the non-profit organization American Coaster Enthusiasts.
Join the team of ACE volunteers. Volunteering offers different ways to share your talents by:
Having an impact on the future of ACE
Providing opportunities for rewarding experiences
Developing friendships in a small group
Learning new skills or sharing your talents with ACE
Podcast Volunteer Team 
Hosts: Jessica Gardner and Derek Perry
Producer: Derek Perry
Editors: Bob Randolph
Show Notes: Liz Tan
Production Manager: Corey Wooten