Get more out of CoasterBuzz (2010 edition)

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

[Ed. note: The following is from our newsletter. If you don't currently receive it, login, click "my account" at the top of the page, check the box "Subscribe to mailing list" and click "Save." -J]

Most of the world is about to get summer moving, and that means more and more of you will be heading toward amusement parks. Many of you have already enjoyed some of the great new attractions opening this year. With this time upon us, it's a good time to remind you how to get the most out of CoasterBuzz.

Trip reports and the Day in Pictures forums

The trip report is as old as the Internet itself, where roller coaster enthusiasts would tell tales of their latest conquest for the newest ride, or the simple "credit" for some kiddie coaster in a remote location. Whatever your motivation, trip reports are like our version of movie reviews. Next time you visit a park, post a recap of your visit in the trip report forum. After you post it, you'll have a chance to associate your TR with the park (or parks you visited). Then when someone visits the park page in our database, they will see links to your report. For example, check out the Kings Dominion page, where you'll see a great many links to recent visits.

Last year, we also introduced the Day in Pictures forum. It's a lot like a trip report that you tell with photos. Select files to upload using the uploader on the page, and then you'll have a chance to write captions for each photo. As with the trip reports, you can then associate your photos with a park, and the park page will link to it. For a great recent example, check out Lord Gonchar's collection of photos from Kings Island. We want you to tell us a visual story, and include photos of you, your family and the parts of the park that we might not otherwise see. Yes, photos of the food you purchase are OK!

The meeting calendar

The meeting calendar has been a part of CoasterBuzz for a very long time. It's an easy way to let other members know where you'll be, and offer chance for meet ups. This too appears on the park pages. Again, check out the Kings Dominion page for examples.

CoasterBuzz Club needs your help

With more features and an active community, it's important that we work to keep the site up to date. CoasterBuzz has been running on the same server now for nearly six years, and it's in dire need of an upgrade. To meet that upgrade budget, we need about 30 new club members (that is, non-renewals) in the next few months. Can you help? CoasterBuzz Club is just $25 USD per year, and club members enjoy the site advertising-free and have a private forum. We'll send you a membership card in the mail, giving you access to several enthusiast events and discounts. Join online here (with event details), or follow the links to the mail-in forms. Your membership keeps the engine behind the community running.

Thanks again for your support of CoasterBuzz!