Parkcast

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.