CoasterBuzz Podcast #113 posted

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Jeff and Pat review this week's news in the amusement industry.

Holiday World starts serving allergy sensitive food. Apparently more people do have food allergies than they used to, but why? What's the medical reason for that? Gonch shares a "when we were kids" story.
Toy Story Mania coming together and passholders got a sneak peak at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Jeff just wants to see the Mr. Potato Head pull his ear off.
It looks like Cedar Fair is going to let go of the Star Trek Experience at the Las Vegas Hilton. Science fiction stuff like Star Wars and Star Trek surprisingly doesn't have a strong presence in theme parks. Somehow we drifted off to Lego.
Orlando rides open with a phased approach, which is so different from the way the seasonal parks must get them open on time.
Ed Markey enlists the Lassiter family to again promote his latest safety bill. This one, like all of the previous incarnations, doesn't make the rides any safer. The CPSC has jurisdiction over portable rides, and still a Yo-Yo recently collapsed and hurt a bunch of people.
While the issue around the Kentucky Kingdom accident is emotionally charged, this legislation won't change anything, nor would it have prevented this particular accident.
Minnesota tourist attractions join forces to market themselves. Makes sense in an economy where long-distance tourism may be on the decline.
Dark Knight coaster opens in New Jersey to mixed reviews. Who doesn't love those mouse rides?
Kennywood Entertainment sale to close by end of the month. It's too early to be skeptical.
PointBuzz has photos and videos from Planet Snoopy opening.

One allergy theory is that parents are so afraid of their kids getting a germ that they sanitize everything, and the kids' immune systems aren't exposed to anything that could help them develop protections against ger, or avoid allergies.*** This post was edited by ilovethewildone 5/20/2008 2:56:14 AM ***

There has a been a very persistent rumor that Disney would change the side of the Disney Hollywood Studios where Star Tours and Indy stunt show is to a "Lucas Land", with Star Wars and Indiana Jones stuff. Over at Disneyland, Star Tours is rumored to be changed at the end of this year or in 2009.

Another big factor in the "food allergies" thing is awareness. Not all food sensitivities are actual deathly allergies.

For instance, celiac sprue (the condition I deal with) is a form of gluten intolerance. It's a genetic autoimmune disease, so it has nothing to do with the current environment unless you count a form of small-scale evolution (people with it survive to pass on the genes, etc.)

If I eat anything that has gluten in it, it won't kill me (but I might wish I were dead :) ) Since it's not fatal and symptoms vary, it's very underdiagnosed -- I've read estimates that as many as 1 in 100 people have it (although most estimates put it lower than that), most of them unaware...

Another unsubstantiared theory/rumor is that it has more to do with the mom's diet and chemical intake (apparently certain plastic containers may be part of the problem) during pregancy than what the kid eats after it's born.

I attribute my food allergies to the continuing alteration of food products by the food industry, such as injecting cows with hormones to make them bulkier (which reside in their bloodstream, aka steak juices) and genetically modifying soybean so the farmers don't lose the crop after spraying them with pesticides.

There are numerous theories, any/all/none of which may be correct, but it all comes back to the same thing -- allergies and sensitivities are here, and it's big business.

For a park like Holiday World to offer allergen-free food is a nice gesture and a good PR move, but it's also good for their bottom line -- people who wouldn't or couldn't spend money on food in the park before will now.

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