🤖 AI Summary
Overview
This episode explores the enduring allure of amusement parks, from their nostalgic charm to their modern evolution as billion-dollar enterprises. Gilbert Cruz is joined by Brooks Barnes, a Hollywood reporter with a unique carnival upbringing, and Mekado Murphy, a roller coaster enthusiast and film editor, to discuss the cultural, emotional, and economic significance of theme parks. They delve into personal experiences, the rise of intellectual property (IP)-driven attractions, and the thrill of roller coasters.
Notable Quotes
- When carnies have a vacation, they go to Disneyland.
- Brooks Barnes, reflecting on the surprising leisure habits of carnival workers.
- It's a controlled way to have a little bit of chaos in my life.
- Mekado Murphy, on the appeal of roller coasters.
- You want to go somewhere where the normal rules of life are suspended.
- Brooks Barnes, on the magic of theme parks.
🎡 The Nostalgia and Magic of Amusement Parks
- Brooks Barnes shared his unique childhood growing up in a traveling carnival, which instilled in him a deep comfort with the chaotic yet enchanting atmosphere of amusement parks.
- Mekado Murphy reminisced about creating his own imaginary theme park, Fun World,
as a child, complete with detailed maps and ride designs.
- For Gilbert Cruz, a childhood trip to Disney sparked a lifelong fascination with recapturing that sense of wonder.
🎢 The Thrill of Roller Coasters
- Mekado Murphy has ridden over 200 roller coasters and tracks them meticulously on a website called Coaster Count. His favorites include Twisted Colossus at Magic Mountain and Ride to Happiness in Belgium.
- He highlighted the artistry of themed coasters like Hiccup’s Wing Gliders at Universal’s Epic Universe, which combines storytelling with thrills.
- Brooks Barnes admitted to lingering trepidation around roller coasters, stemming from safety concerns during his carnival days.
💰 The Economics and IP-ification of Theme Parks
- Disney and Universal have turned theme parks into their most profitable ventures, with combined profits soaring from $2 billion in 2014 to $10 billion in 2024.
- Themed attractions increasingly rely on recognizable IP, such as Harry Potter, Marvel, and Nintendo, to attract younger audiences. For example, Disney’s rebranding of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror into a Guardians of the Galaxy ride doubled its popularity.
- Universal’s $7 billion Epic Universe aims to challenge Disney’s dominance, featuring lands based on How to Train Your Dragon, Harry Potter, and Super Nintendo.
🎟️ Accessibility and Affordability
- Rising costs at major parks like Disney and Universal have made them prohibitively expensive for many families. A Disney Princess breakfast for five can cost nearly $1,000.
- Mekado Murphy recommended Knoebels in Pennsylvania as an affordable alternative, with free admission and pay-per-ride options. Brooks Barnes praised Dollywood for its wholesome charm, excellent roller coasters, and famous cinnamon bread.
🎠 Theming and Changing Guest Expectations
- Classic rides like Haunted Mansion and It’s a Small World are being overshadowed by interactive, gamified attractions that cater to younger, tech-savvy visitors.
- Mekado Murphy expressed a preference for traditional rides over gamified experiences, emphasizing the importance of immersive theming.
- The hosts lamented the loss of affordability and simplicity in modern parks, contrasting it with the communal joy and nostalgia that parks once universally offered.
AI-generated content may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon as a sole source of truth.
📋 Episode Description
Amusement parks are enduring vacation destinations for American families. The rides, the long lines for rides, the concessions, the long lines for concessions — these are practically familial rites of passage. Theme parks are also enormous moneymakers, with industry leaders such as Disney and Universal earning billions of dollars each year from their parks.
In this episode, Gilbert Cruz chats with Brooks Barnes, who writes about show business (including theme parks), and Mekado Murphy, a film editor and thrill-seeker who reports on roller coasters. They talk about the state of the contemporary amusement park and the ups and downs of roller coasters around the world.
On Today’s Episode:
Mekado Murphy is the assistant film editor for The New York Times, and its unofficial roller coaster correspondent.
Brooks Barnes covers Hollywood for The New York Times.
Background Reading:
Riding Your Way Through Epic Universe
See the Real Live Man Who Grew Up in a Carnival
Photo: Business Wire/Associated Press
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