Universal Horror Unleashed the Disappointment

They're back. Two weeks off, one terrible cold, and one truly spectacular failure in Las Vegas. Mike and EB return with a packed show — but first, an apology. The Universal Horror Unleashed trip report that was promised at the end of Episode 2114 is not happening. Not because the show didn't go to Las Vegas. Not because Mike didn't convince an entire table of colleagues to pile into taxis at 9pm on a Tuesday. And not because the outside of that abandoned warehouse didn't look absolutely incredible. It's because there's a rule on the Universal Horror Unleashed website. Buried. In small print. That says you cannot enter within two hours of closing. And nobody read it. The security guard was unmoved. The group was turned away. Area 15 was completely deserted. And Mike spent the rest of the evening explaining to his coworkers why they had taken a 10 minute cab ride to stare at a very good looking warehouse. Universal Horror Unleashed will have to wait for another trip. On the bright side — the show has a lot of news to get through. The USA Today 10 Best list is back and EB has officially had enough of it. Mako at number four on the best roller coasters list. Phantom's Revenge at number two. No Fury 325. No VelociCoaster. No Dollywood. No Disney. No Universal. Mike and EB spend considerable time asking whether this list has any business existing at all — and then asking the listeners to vote on whether it should ever return to the show. Also this week — Lost Continent demolition has officially begun at Islands of Adventure. Phantom Theater Opening Nightmare opens at Kings Island and it's getting excellent early reviews. Epic Universe gets its first major financial validation from the Comcast quarterly earnings report. And the teen takeover story continues to escalate with another ICON Park event on May 9th and a Universal CityWalk takeover announced for June 15th. Plus the Coaster Radio mailbag delivers a spectacular Spain trip report from listener Alex — five days, four parks, four zoos, DragonCon, Shambhala, and a Port Aventura Express Pass that was absolutely worth the 19 euros. And somewhere in Las Vegas, a Golden Tiki porthole is calling Mike and EB's names.