• An editorial rant, of sorts

    by
    Katie
    Published on 12-15-2011 01:16 PM
    13 Comments Comments
    As I have been running this website a few months, I am still new to making everything run like clock work. However, it isn't like I don't know my way around either. It's the off-season, everyone is moody. We all need an airtime fix, fresh air, sunshine, the smells and sounds of a park. It's what makes us tick. It is what makes us feel alive!

    As the off-season is chugging along this is where we tend to get excited for parks because of all the announcements they make for their new additions. This gets us in the mood to really get excited and the anticipation sets in for the spring. Back just about ten years ago, you had to wait until TV commercials popped up for a new ride or a newspaper article. Now, heck you can sneak photos of construction, find out insider information, etc. Sometimes, it even ruins the fun.

    This morning, on Facebook, a park (that I will remain nameless for now) announced their 2012 attraction. It wasn't a coaster or a dippin' dots stand, but a very BIG flat ride. I thought it was an appropriate fit for that park and the ride it replaced will make it a better capacity rather than a maintenance nightmare.

    The patrons of that page are screaming and whining about how "I won't ride that, it will make me sick!" or this one is my particular favorite, "They took out _______ for this?! It's the same ride as ________!" Granted, I know they are the general public and they have a right to their own opinions, but seriously you are complaining about at least a 4-5 million dollar ride installation?!

    Instead of being grateful that the park is installing ANYTHING at all, they are whining children. What has this world come to? While I am sure people wanted a roller coaster at this particular park, one was just installed just about two years ago. Apparently, they expect more and more when the park is really kind of locked in. (Am I giving away who I am talking about yet?)

    At this point, it just bothers me anymore. We go out to different parks all over the world to have fun and get away from life and stress. At this point, people just don't want to have fun anymore? Or if they do, it has to be on their terms. They just can't accept it and move along? I bet you 99% of those people complaining now have no idea what the ride is like and will end up riding it a lot during the next season. In my opinion, it seems like people should think before they post on the internet. Or at least when you are posting, make a valid point. Make an argument for and against. Get discussion going instead of whining.

    As I tend to get older some of the stuff I see at parks, on the internet message boards and websites and everywhere it seems like everyone is always entitled to their opinion but choose not to listen to anyone else.

    When it comes down to it, as long as people are plopping down ticket prices for any amusement park, the parks will still expand and grow, add and get rid of attractions that are fan-favorites, and figure things out in this economy. At this point I am just grateful that I have the opportunity to visit amusement parks, meet amazing people and get to know a lot of professionals in this industry. Without all of that, I think we all would be pretty bored!

    So, let's make this a debate/discussion about this. I would love to hear the opinions and debate!
    1. Categories:
    2. Offbeat,
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    Comments 13 Comments
    1. Chris H - 12-15-2011, 02:08 PM
      I 100% agree with this. What most park guests don't seem to realize is that a park doesn't cater to just 1 person or 1 family, they've got thousands upon thousands of people that come through the gates each week. While I understand there are some cases where personal attention from a park, adding/removing a ride isn't the case.

      I too am grateful that I even have parks to go to and two within my own state.

      Great editorial!
    1. Steven - 12-15-2011, 02:58 PM
      Enthusiasses fail to realize that they only make up a small portion of park visitors (maybe 1% at best). Parks get their revenue from the GP. Who are they going to cater to? The GP.
    1. Austin - 12-15-2011, 03:05 PM
      I wouldnt say they cater to them. They have to make the moves based on money. Once a ride loses value and reliability etc or costs too much to run (IE a flume ride, water bill) then its instantly on the chopping block, even if its a popular ride. The GP dont understand that, most of us do though. I mean its like the GP is wanting them to keep the ride thats basically holding the park back due to the expenses. I'm pretty sure they would do the same when Kings Island announces that Son of Beast is coming down, they don't realize its sitting on alot of land and connects to other unused land and that its cost them $30 mil or more. I wish the GP would think about why the ride is being removed though before lashing out about it. My two cents.
    1. Rick B - 12-15-2011, 03:08 PM
      Yeah, I am fortunate that I live within 5 hours of four quality parks, and I have been happy to support three of them (the other one keeps alluding me but I'll get there soon). It annoys me how people are so critical of parks (your ticket prices are too high, your food is too high) but then they complain that they don't keep getting new coasters every year. I've had to stop reading facebook comments for a lot of the parks because some people get so annoying.

      I'm with you 100%! We go to the parks to have good, clean, family fun, and are fortunate that we can travel and see different parks every year. Despite that, we continue to support the local park that is closest to us every year.
    1. Katie - 12-15-2011, 03:20 PM
      It's not even the enthusiasses this time. It's the GP who have NO clue what they are talking about. All they want is roller coasters. They don't care how much they cost, how they can fit into the park but they better not raise ticket prices.
    1. Antoine - 12-15-2011, 04:57 PM
      I agree 100% too. You know the GP always want a park to spend a fortune on different new rides. But they also fail to realize what is the main crowd draw. It is not always the roller coasters. It is the flats. So you need to balance what you add to a park. Sure many people may love a new roller coaster, but the majority of people flock to everything else, especially children who make up a large percentage of visitors. That is why Disney stays packed to the core. Everything there is kid friendly. I noticed this especially when I went to Disneyland this year. Disneyland was ridiculously packed while Disney's California Adventure was just moderately crowded. Mainly big kids rides there and it doesn't pull in the majority of Disney customers. But you know as much as I would love a new roller coaster in a park, a new coaster has not always worked out for the good (see Son of Beast, Viper, Rattler, Colossus, Flying Turns, Ring Racer, and Windjammer). In those cases I would have preferred they add a nice flat as opposed to those coasters.
    1. Hank - 12-15-2011, 10:22 PM
      Everyone *****ed about the Windseeker installations this past spring, but then everyone rode them - many, many times! Then the "all I want is a new coaster" crowd needs to get a reality check - there's more to life than coasters. I am sick of the BS from people who don't have a clue as to how a park runs. Maybe all the parks should close for a year - then they would be appreciated more.
    1. sclisso - 12-15-2011, 11:34 PM
      I guarantee that most of those people will see it, ride it, and love it. I agree with what everyone else has said. They don't realize you can't just go put a new 15 million dollar coaster in every year and expect the park to stay open. I say let 'em complain. I think it's a good addition to the park. I think a lot of places lack flat rides these days, and they can be just as, or even more fun than a roller coaster. I'd still agree that drop towers scare me more than most of the coasters I've been on.
    1. psyclonerider - 12-18-2011, 03:30 PM
      I won't be near Kennywood anytime soon, but if I were them, I would be extremely happy... Not complaining! At CW, we have a ride like this, and it's amazing...one minute you're just a few feet from the ground, pulling about 5Gs of pure EPICNESS, and the next, you're floating out of your seat over 100 feet in the air. Why would any thrillseeker complain about that?
    1. windshawne - 12-18-2011, 08:37 PM
      My first response on here, unfortunately not the positive way I had hoped to start. I agree with this more than I can say. I have had it with all the whiners to the point it has caused friction in several friendships with the community-but then again at least one knows the true nature of these folks. There is another enthusiast forum that is so out of control it has basically destroyed it. It distresses me to see people so spoiled and cruel that all they can do is whine and put others down. I'm with Hank-close for a year-then, if we're lucky, they will appreciate what they have.
    1. Dalee4lifefan - 12-18-2011, 11:48 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by Katie View Post
      It's not even the enthusiasses this time. It's the GP who have NO clue what they are talking about. All they want is roller coasters. They don't care how much they cost, how they can fit into the park but they better not raise ticket prices.

      I find it funny that on Kings Island's and Cedar Point's page, the gp acted like a bunch of cry babies. They whine about how they won't like this or that they charge too much. I've asked the gp how many of them think that Cedar Point and Kings Island cost too much but would drop over $5,000 or more just to go to Disney. I hate that people whine about a 45.00 ticket. But they would spend 100.00 on one at Disney per whatever. I had to school a guy about why SOB was shut down and why it has not reopened yet.
    1. Dalee4lifefan - 12-18-2011, 11:54 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by windshawne View Post
      My first response on here, unfortunately not the positive way I had hoped to start. I agree with this more than I can say. I have had it with all the whiners to the point it has caused friction in several friendships with the community-but then again at least one knows the true nature of these folks. There is another enthusiast forum that is so out of control it has basically destroyed it. It distresses me to see people so spoiled and cruel that all they can do is whine and put others down. I'm with Hank-close for a year-then, if we're lucky, they will appreciate what they have.

      Go to one of Geauga Lake's fan sites. And go to ***. All i will say is that i can see both being shut down due to either Cedar Fair shutting them down, or they get sued. I know the people who run one of them have been banned from parks.
    1. Chris H - 12-19-2011, 12:48 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by windshawne View Post
      My first response on here, unfortunately not the positive way I had hoped to start. I agree with this more than I can say. I have had it with all the whiners to the point it has caused friction in several friendships with the community-but then again at least one knows the true nature of these folks. There is another enthusiast forum that is so out of control it has basically destroyed it. It distresses me to see people so spoiled and cruel that all they can do is whine and put others down. I'm with Hank-close for a year-then, if we're lucky, they will appreciate what they have.

      I have to say I love ya cuz I know who you are But yeah, I 100% agree with you!