I see myself as a bit of both. There's a difference between loving coasters and being a hardcore enthusiast, too. I see myself as not quite one of those because I don't marathon rides and I don't intentionally ride bad rides for the cred, or to formulate an opinion. I find it fun to watch cheesy movies sometimes, but if I think a roller coaster is going to be an unpleasant experience I'm not going to do it. Your RU-vidr enthusiast will gravitate to those just so they can do an informed bashing. Also, my family are not coaster enthusiasts at all, so if they're going to a theme/amusement park they want something more than thrill rides. And I like to hang with them most of the time, so that keeps me from being as obsessive about coasters as I might.
Some people go to experience the park not just the roller coasters = theme park enthusiasts And the ones who only go for the coasters and complain that a park isn’t doing something right = coaster enthusiast 😂 And half the coasters they criticize aren’t even bad they just find some reason to not pick at that specific ride either for content and coaster enthusiast videos kinda get repetitive in my opinion that’s why I really don’t watch them anymore
Park culture is an important part, and not just theming. The employee friendliness, ride operations, food, layout, ride portfolio, etc all combine into one package. This is why Holiday World, Kings Island, and Knoebels have such fans. They are run well with a pleasant vibe felt throughout the park.
Yes! Kings Island does a great job of creating an atmosphere in the park and for their rides. The atmosphere for my beloved The Beast rollercoaster has always created a tension. Standin in line and during the ride itself. You are swooping through the forest and you can imagine that a beast would suddenly break through the treeline and go after you.
Holiday World is genuinely pleasant. Something as simple as free soft drinks, parking, and ample places with shade lift it above most other regional parks. It also doesn't hurt that it holds my personal favorite roller coaster in the entire world (The Voyage).
Yes, but they also don’t ridiculously get over shadowed by other parks like Kings Dominion does by Busch Gardens Williamsburg. KD does everything you’ve listed better than BGW, yet still gets dumped on. SeaWorld is now charging extra for the sky buckets on top of their overpriced tickets, and the sycophants will still have their heads up the company’s backside.
Truthfully, if all of the rides are walk-ons, I don't care much about theming. But mostly, you spend most of your time queueing. And the difference between being in a park that makes queueing pleasant, and a park that just makes you line up in an open pen is huge.
I personally love and prefer theming. However, I totally agree with your point. Waiting in boring switchbacks all day is just a drag and to me it can ruin a day. I personally don't rank Cedar Point in my top 10 parks and that is the reason. I don't need every park to be a theme park. But I find that the queues at Cedar Point are long and boring. I can't help but feel that this hurts the park experience even if the 30-90 seconds of prime ride time are world class. Now if by some freak accident every ride at Cedar Point was a near walk on then that would make for an amazing day. But since that isn't the typical situation and their queue lines do so little to entertain it means most of the day is boring.
100%. Parks in the US need to spend more time making waiting in line an enjoyable experience, rather than something dreadful. I think the only parks I have been to that actually do this are Disney parks. They excel at making the whole ride an experience from the moment you step in line to the moment you leave. Universal comes close on some rides with its great theming, but Disney has the extra interactive features and incredible story telling that make its queue experience the best in the world (which is kinda needed since the parks always have long lines).
@@zacg_ I had two very good days at Cedar Point in late May, where the longest wait was maybe half an hour. The headlining coasters ranged from walk-ons in the morning to 15-20ish minute waits during peak hours. Despite that, it was pretty clear that I would NOT want to be at Cedar Point on a peak summer day.
agreed, I when I went to universal orlando and I was waiting to go on one of the harry potter rides (I forgot which one tho), I was waiting there for like 30-45 mins and I wasnt that bored bc there were all different kinds of things in the quene to look around in where as when I go to six flags america and have to wait of a while to go on superman (or another more popular coaster there but mostly superman) Im just bored out of mind mind with my only entertainment being the music loop playing in the backgroud
But that's literally the difference between a theme park and amusement park in the United States. It's the way it's always been since the theme parks opened.
I think it comes from what we grew up with. You come from Europe, parks littered with theming. I come from Ohio. Intense thrill coasters (with next to no theming) were part of my childhood. Our upbringing builds our expectations.
There’s also something to be said for nostalgia taking the place of theming. Take the Beast at KI, for instance. Not a whole lot of themed elements, but there’s nothing like being on an old wooden coaster in the middle of the woods, especially at night.
I'm also from Ohio and ofc love coasters but I think the lack of theming around the area has made me appreciate it when I've been to parks that do have it even more to the point where I think I would also consider myself more of a theme park enthusiast than a coaster enthusiast.
@@luckyzonkey8027 guess I just haven’t been out enough yet. Only place I’ve been to that’s known for theming is BGW, and it really didn’t do anything for me that any other park hasn’t. I was actually more annoyed that I couldn’t get cell service for a lot of the day and I was not a fan of their quick queue system so ended up not using it and waiting in lines which is something I’ve become spoiled about. Lol
Miserable queue lines with no theming or shade really do suck the fun out of most U.S. parks. Combine that with obnoxious patrons, overpriced trash food and almost no theming and really the only time I'm enjoying myself at most U.S. parks is when I'm on the actual rides and that's it.
It's designed that way to get you to buy a shitty fast past, the amusement park industry is mad predatory nowadays. Hell even Cedar Point won't accept cash, it's all card now, I understand a move to the future but not accepting actual cash? Wtf?
I just got back from Silver Dollar City, and if you want a park with none of the bad things you listed, that's the one. I was pretty blown away, such a unique, beautiful park.
@@ianmartin3885Silver Dollar City falls into that rare category where it’s a theme park that manages to have great thrill rides. Dollywood, Busch Gardens, SeaWorld and Universal do this too, but that’s about it
you know during covid i visited a theme park, which had a limited number of visitors. IT WAS AMAZING! every line was basically empty. even the biggest one which took over an hour on a normal day, took less than 5 minutes! so many rides had no wait times and i wish i could go back.
@@ianmartin3885 O my favorite park in the states was there a month ago now that is park i just could go in take a book with me just read and soak up the atmosphere and have a good time. Didn't do that cause the two days i was here i had to much fun doing the rides wich are also pretty good. But i did just sat down a couple of times just watching people and enjoying meself.
This video hits hard for me, because i completely agree witb everything you said. I grew up visiting US theme parks and Amusement parks as thats where i lived. I always enjoyed the likes of Universal/Disney/ Busch gardens more than the rest but i never really knew why as i was younger. For the last 3 years in my early 20s I have lived in europe. Ive had the opportunity of visiting Phantasialand and Europa Park multiple times as well as also going to Efteling, Toverland, Plopsaland de Panne, Walibi Belgium, and Walibi Holland. During my time here i have realized that while I still consider myself a rollercoaster enthusiast, I dont always share the same tenacity as others do at non Theme parks. Theres a reason Taron is #1 on my list even though ive ridden objectively better coasters. The atmosphere, the music, the environment, the near misses and the way it flows perfectly with everything around it creates peak enjoyment for me. Fury 325 has always been one of my top 5, but it just doesnt hit the same as something like F.L.Y., Voltron, or RtH. I will say though my one critique about theme parks is when they dont have at least 1 really good roller coaster then i can feel a bit let down as the combination of theming and coaster is my favorite part of a park. Efteling while beautiful felt like that, but wouldnt be my favorite park to revisit as they didnt have one roller coaster that i really wanted to reride over and over again. Overall great video Coaster Bot, i completely agree with you so much!
It felt strange going to Tokyo DisneySea, which is sometimes touted as the greatest theme park in the whole world, and not getting even one cred (because the only major coaster there, Raging Spirits, is reputed to not be very good and I had limited time). But it was fine--DisneySea has plenty else to offer! It's just not a coaster park. My wife and daughter actually did get a cred because they rode Flounder's Flying Fish Coaster, a gentle kiddie ride.
Entering Klugheim, earing the work of IMA Score, waiting for Taron seing the ride everywhere, the dispatch music (those drums !!) and then the frigging launch. And after that you go ride F.L.Y. ... Maybe here in Europe we don't have the best coaster, but we sure have some of the best experiences
I like theming but I'm not typically bowled over by it, with a few exceptions. I mostly prefer landscaping to theming. Give me great coasters surrounded by trees and colorful flowers and I'm happy.
That's actually a good point--Hersheypark comes to mind as a place that actually isn't heavily themed but is nicely landscaped (though recent additions look like they are a little more generic). My home park, Canobie, is another one, though some parts of Canobie actually are significantly themed (there's an area that is a kind of mini-Liberty Square with Revolutionary War-era theming, for instance).
@@coasterbot Watching a POV when a coaster is first build and contrast that with 10 years later and it is astounding how a dense tree and shrub growth around the track can totally add to the experience.
It's alright for our interests to shift as time passes! I'm not much of one either anymore, but specifically because I have a spinal injury that has changed a lot of things for me, and doctors have all suggested I stay away from coasters for the rest of my life.
Sometimes your body does make the choice for you. I love coasters but I came to the enthusiast community relatively late in life and I just can't take the kind of physical punishment that young coaster freaks can, and I know there will probably come a day when doctors tell me to stop. I avoid the ones with rough reputations as it is--I'm not willing to ride them just for the cred.
I love parks of all kinds but have a connective tissue disease, so being in my younger year I need to be careful to keep my passions alive. I’m glad to hear you have found passion in the parks even without coasters
I think there are really *three* categories in the US. There are the large theme parks, which include the whole top tier: Disney and Universal, and some other players like Dollywood and Busch Gardens. There are the Six Flags-type large regional amusement parks, which do a lot of "ride plunked down on asphalt" and can be kind of unpleasant places aside from the rides. (I think the management of the companies that run these things all realize that plussing them into family theme parks is the way to go for future viability, but that takes money, effort and time.) And then there are the *small* local parks, like Knoebels or Seabreeze or Canobie Lake Park, often family-owned (though some are now run by chains like Palace/Parques Reunidos), which may not have elaborate theming but can have an intimate, nostalgic vibe that the big parks don't. There used to be hundreds and hundreds of these; they used to be the dominant form of amusement park. Today, the bigger players have driven most of them out of business. But some of them survive, especially in markets like the US Northeast that the big boys haven't seen fit to completely saturate. Most of these, I would categorize more as amusement parks than as theme parks (though some of them do have theming, which is often quirky and homespun--many little independent parks with fairy-tale themes popped up across America around the same time Disneyland opened, and a few of them are still operating). But they have genuine charm. Like you, I definitely prefer a good theme park over a big chain amusement park, even if the latter have some of my favorite rides. The last park I visited was Tokyo DisneySea, possibly the theme-iest theme park in the entire world; it's often said that you could spend a day at Tokyo DisneySea, ride *no* rides and feel you'd gotten your money's worth just from the astounding atmospheric theming, and it's really true. But I think the little players may actually be my favorite category. I live just down the road from Canobie Lake Park and I feel blessed to be so close to that place. It's nice just to be there, too.
I could not agree more with this comment, which is why I was disappointed that the creator lumped Knoebels in with the rest of the 'asphalt' parks. Beyond the small coaster lineup (and I would put Phoenix up against most other coasters out there), there's an incredible flatride lineup, one of the best Haunted Mansion rides, exceptional food, all at reasonable prices and zero cost for admission or even parking. I live about 30 minutes away from SF Great Adventure and about 45 minutes away from Dorney Park. I haven't been to either of these places in a long time, but I'm sure to take my family to Knoebels at least a couple times every year. It's that good. (One aside: should the creator visit PA again, he would do well to give Kennywood a try.)
@@Coyotek4Much agreed! What it lacks in elaborate set-up it makes up 10 times over in dedication to the history of the industry. Save for the main road it's fairly tightly packed with lots of shade too.
@@arturobianco848 One of my bucket-list vacations is a theme-park tour of Germany. As it is, the one European park I've visited is PortAventura, which is a fine example of a large park with both thrills and lovely theming--it reminded me of a Busch Gardens, and as it happens that was not a coincidence, since Busch Entertainment co-designed it and was an owner on opening day. If/when I ever get back to Catalonia I'd like to do Tibidabo, which I didn't have time to do last time.
I completely understand. I strongly consider myself to be a roller coaster enthusiast, but I still love it when parks go out of their way to immerse you. I still enjoy roller coasters without theming, but I totally get how it can be boring to someone who likes theme parks specifically.
8:33 “Amusement parks are not designed with humans in mind.” What a good, fitting, true quote. I personally have little interest in amusement parks, but I love theme parks. I don’t really go searching for big thrills anyway. I love getting lost in different worlds, experiencing almost otherworldly places. And a queue line doesn’t have to be such a bad thing for a ride if it’s themed. As a Dutchman, I don’t feel that big of a rush to go to Walibi. But Efteling, I absolutely adore and I have to come back at least annually. It’s just a nice place to be. To just vibe, as you said. In my last visit, it was nice and warm, but not too warm. And it was lovely to just bask in the sun near Fata Morgana with fruit I brought from home. And just walking around in the fairytale forest, you don’t encounter much action. You just wander about and have a fun time doing so. Just walking around there at all is just part of the fun. For me, Efteling is a great theme park with some coasters as a nice bonus. And I’d love to visit other European theme parks. Such American parks definitely seem like they would be a culture shock to me too.
I did a trip in May going to Europa Park, Phantasialand, Walibi Holland and then Efteling. Walibi Holland felt really "empty", yes Untamed and Lost Gravity are fun, but the other three parks are so good ...
@@rootoz From what I’ve seen of all parks, that’s about what I would expect. Walibi has the country’s most thrilling coasters and if that’s your thing, you’ll enjoy yourself there. But I much more value a complete experience, so I feel much more attracted to those other three parks.
@@rootoz Well yup the last one is well dressed up amusementpark thats about as good a it gets in the americane amusement parks if you haven't been there.
Good on ya, Harry. Roller coasters are definitely a big part of theme parks, maybe they're even the core of the theme park experience, but yeah, you can't just visit them for the coasters alone, or more broadly, the rides. Because of that I can now appreciate parks like the Islands for what they truly should be: escapes
I spent two days at Carowinds and Chiz was the best ride op I've ever seen. The only reason he EVER compromises speed of dispatches is for fun and hype. He gets you on that ride ASAP and gets you pumped up in the process.
As soon as he was talking about the operator on fury getting more hyped toward the end of the night I knew who he was talking about. All the ride ops on fury are amazing though
Growing up, the only amusement parks I had been to were Busch Gardens and Disney World. When I went to Carowinds with some friends a few years ago, I found that a couple of the big rides were fun, but the overall experience was mediocre compared to the parks I was used to. I love roller coasters, but solid theming makes the experience of the trip as a whole so much more exciting and memorable. Even though a ride like Fury 325 is probably better than anything at Busch Gardens, I would pick Busch Gardens any day over Carowinds because the experience of a day in the park is just so much better. Great video, glad you were able to put this into words!
I found this video oddly surprising and illuminating but maybe because, even with the channel/podcast name, I had never really considered the idea that it was ONLY rollercoasters that were the point of interest and not wider theme park topics. Perhaps, also being a Brit, I am used to the heavier theming but I also just felt the theming was part of the package. This has given me a lot to think about. Life has been odd and disruptive at the moment and something here has resonated with me (perhaps just in hope/cope) and I'm glad you have found a wider world to love & enjoy
Good thing you didn’t visit Six Flags America. They just opened their Steam Town area that supposed to be rethemed and rejuvenated. There was no music, minimal theming, and now some of the attractions won’t stay open. This has made me appreciate parks like Busch Gardens, Universal, and Disney even if they don’t have the most thrilling rides. Experiences is what keeps guests coming back for more.
Glad you enjoyed BG Williamsburg, that is one of my top USA picks! Great coasters in a great setting. And maybe you liked it more because it was themed to European theme parks 😆
I call myself a theme park and rollercoaster enthusiast and that works for me. I guarantee you will enjoy amusement parks more if you give more of a break between parks or reduce the number in your itinerary. I see it on vloggers all the time. Rollercoaster fatigue really is a thing. Like drinking too much coffee, the impact and excitement is lost if you do it too much in a short time. After I came back from a similar trip like yours I vowed to never plan for two parks consecutively and it really helps to maximize the enjoyment. Going to a theme park or amusement park one should give yourself the best chance of having an amazing time. The park deserves a fair shot at delivering and that might mean saving it for the next trip abroad.
I'm a blind person and this is how I feel too. I relie on that audio, literally, because I can't see. I live in the UK and right now my favourite ride is at Chessington, Croc Drop, a small drop tower with an amazing audio atmosphere throughout it's queue, load, dispatch, ride and ending. Even Vampire now has extra audio ambience in the queue and the station has smell pods in it. Gets you hyped to ride. I haven't seen (figuratively speaking) the Jumanji area yet. I use seen even though I can't see, as it's just easier to say about watchig videos or going to areas. It sounds weird saying I listen to TV, I watch TV just in my own way.
That's why Phantasialand is so great among German parks. It not only has beautiful queue lines, it also gets you pumped with pre-shows, starting sequences, orchestra drums while leaving the station, well-made soundtracks matching the ride. I'm also very happy for you for taking that US trip. I'd LOVE to visit the US and its parks soon. Too bad none of my friends and family want to go with me. It's MUCH less fun alone (another factor btw.). :)
Same thing happened to me. Started off as a coaster enthusiast, but I came to realize I much prefer the theming, place making and the quality of the park far more than a “good coaster” It’s just far more interesting than a big coaster on a concrete pad.
I totally agree! I almost never spend my time and money to visit amusement parks anymore. I love Dollywood, Universal, and even Disney. I can't wait to visit Europa and Efteling next year though.
I've not visited any US parks yet, but I'm pretty sure they would be perfect for me. I love good thrill coasters and don't care so much about theming. It's nice to have but not necessary. For example I rank Walibi Holland way above Efteling
I resonated with this. I do really love roller coasters but as I have gotten older I really enjoy just soaking in the atmosphere of theme parks and simply spending time in the park and admiring the surrounding theming, and character interactions instead of just racing from one coaster to another
I wonder how your perspective would have changed on Kings Dominion had you not started your trip there. Kings Dominion self-identifies as a themed amusement park and has been working for the last decade-ish to do better in the theming department-from the debut of Jungle X, the various Old Virginia refresh projects, improvements to International Street theming, themed soundtracks park-wide, etc. Aside from Knott's, Kings Dominion seems to be the home of substantial thematic experimentation in the Cedar Fair (well now, new Six Flags) chain. They have a LONG way to go-but KD is legitimately tryin'. Oh, and hopefully all of those TREMENDOUSLY valid Project 305 complaints are addressed in the expected overhaul of the ride for next season! Kings Dominion definitely has a lot of past mistakes to clean up-but hopefully Tumbili remains the minimum level of effort we can expect moving forward.
Yeah KD has been making progress, this is just an off/building year, so it was unfair to single them out considering they may soon be one of the better ones. Plus the crowds might have been a nice break after up north. And a nice sunset ride on P305 is hype as soon as you take off.
I completely understand, and as a themepark enthausiast I rly needed to see this vid and I'm happy I did, I just love the atmosphere in a park, happy people/kids, an escape from reality, good theming and hyping for a coaster or a good flatride (I rly love a good flatride as well), and even being able to go together on a fun family coaster with someone who is not willing to go on the bigger and more thrilling rides, being from Belgium I'd probably also have this culture shock seeing a station like the one from 305 or massive concrete areas, I love most of the themeparks in my country and also like Efteling or Europapark or I think my personal favourite Fantasialand, they all know how to theme things great and give an overall happy experience spending a day in their park.
@@coasterbotagreed. Cedar Point is the birth place of the Coaster Wars and while those days have passed, it still prides itself on having one of the most impressive coaster line up on the planet. While I also am outgrowing coasters (I still like them, but cant do more than 2 or 3 in a row without starting to feel a bit nauseous), I can still appreciate a world class coaster line up. However, I think that Cedar Point does make great use of its waterfront location to create a pleasant atmosphere and it has some mild theming in the back half (Western Theming near Maverick and Steel Vengeance) and in the Boardwalk area. I would argue its biggest weakness is not having enough family coasters (although Iron Dragon, Gemini, Ourangarou, Raptor, Gatekeeper, and their new Wild Mouse coaster all fill the niche of family coaster/moderate thrill coasters pretty well).
It's quite crazy how different it is in Europe. In Europe almost every park is a theme park. Meanwhile in the US, you got stuff like Six Flags and Cedar Fair parks. Personally i enjoy theme parks a LOT more.
I have the opposite opinion. I don’t care much for theming, nice employees and good food are always cool but they don’t make or break an experience for me. In my opinion it’s all about the quality of the rides and how fast the line moves.
@@AirtimeAxolotl So you're both boring people with little substance, is what you're saying. LOL Kidding. I get it. Quality rides can make the day sometimes.
I'm glad there are people who agree me, roller coasters are good, but the things that make roller coasters overall an amazing experience are the theming and atmosphere, take Revenge of the Mummy at Universal Orlando, the roller coaster itself is great, but the thing that elevates it above and beyond is the insane amount of immersion, atmosphere and theming it has.
Having recently returned from my first taste of European parks (Germany), I can say that amusement parks for me over here in the US have been slightly ruined by how spoiled I was over there. I can still acknowledge though, that it's coasters that get inside my soul. I love to look at the structural beauty of them off-ride, admire the train as it travels, see the riders' excitement and most importantly ride them myself. For me it comes down to whether I'd take an amazing coaster over a good coaster that's well themed, and I would take the amazing coaster over the theming. I'm an enthusiast, that appreciates the impact theming can have on an experience.
I've always been a theme park enthusiast first, then a coaster enthusiast. As someone who has always loved stories, parks like Alton Towers, Universal Studios, and Dollywood draw me in more. It's the story presented to me by the atmosphere and little details that I love. The roller coasters just happen to be a fun extra
I will always love riding roller coasters as long as I live, and I’m grateful for having gotten over my prior fear of coasters. But I’ve had less and less time and money recently to continue visiting new parks and riding new things, and I’ve been enjoying what I have at Kings Dominion, and even Six Flags America. Good luck in your future endeavors Harry.
The thing I think leads to American amusement parks being comparatively soulless is that, for the most part, they aren't run by visionaries who want to sell an experience, they're owned by investment banks and huge corporations that just want to suck as much money out of customers as they can. I live near Busch Gardens Tampa, and over the years since Seaworld Parks was split from Busch Entertainment and sold to Blackstone Group, I've seen the quality of the park experience slide away from being a top-tier family park themed around a safari experience across Africa to a generic coaster park that happens to have animal exhibits, a couple flat rides and shows that only run a couple times a day.
Watching a POV when a coaster is first build and contrast that with 10 years later and it is astounding how a dense tree and shrub growth around the track can totally add to the experience.
Theme parks are so much more fun, for example Walibi has better rollercoasters then Efteling but Efteling is so much more fun. Walibi just feels like a big fair, mediocre ambience, terrible music, barely any scenery but great coasters tho. Good theming/music/stories are so important for a fun experience imo. Glad in Europe most parks are theme parks.
It depends on what you are looking for. I like Walibi way more. Don't get me wrong Efteling is a beautiful park, but I have more fun on Untamed alone than I would ever get in Efteling
Strong disagree with that first statement there. Efteling's Baron single handedly blows all of Walibi's rides out of the water. But I may be biased, because I think the Efteling is the best themepark in Europe, better than Phantasialand and Disneyland Paris.
@@NvmThemHereIAm just if youre looking for world class theming. I'm looking for a good rollercoaster and a Rmc Hybrid is so much better than a B&M Dive. Yes Baron has amazing theming, story and atmosphere and that makes it better for me than other Dive coasters in Europe, but it has no Chance against a World class thrill coaster for me
This was very well articulated; good on you for knowing yourself. I'd describe myself as a roller-coaster fan who doesn't get to ride them nearly often enough to get burned out, but the first park I visited was Busch Gardens Williamsburg, and I don't know if I'd love coasters as much as I do if it had been Kings Dominion instead. That WHOLE DAY back when I was nine left such a huge impression on me - just the sensation of walking from Ireland to Germany on a whim. I'd vaguely known up front what theme park rides were, but I'd never imagined anything like the whole place. I went to Cedar Point for the first time the other year and it was amazing and unforgettable to ride Millennium Force and Steel Vengeance, but if I had to pick exactly one of those two parks to be the last park I ever visited, it's no contest: Busch Gardens.
Not watched yet but im going to guess the meaning of the video: He's a *THEME PARK* enthusiast, not a coaster thoosie. Only reason I guess that, is because its the same for me. I prefer Theming, Immersion and Atmosphere then just a basic coaster
I don't know how much it has changed since 1999 but King's Island had 5 (now 8) themed areas the last time I was there. Action Zone · Adventure Port · Area 72 · Coney Mall · International Street · Oktoberfest · Planet Snoopy · Camp Snoopy.
True, my home park Six Flags Great America Chicago had the different zones when I was younger in the 70's to 1990. It felt like different areas. Now it is just signs but the feels are the same.
i never understood this "gripe" until my first visit to Universal Studios and Island's of adventure. I understand you. i am a rollercoaster guy but, when presented with a well done park, i love the good and immersive experience.
Had a very similar experience going to Virginia this past month. While Project 305 was easily mine and my friend’s favorite coaster, DarKoaster was our favorite ride on the trip due to its theming and special effects.
I grew up going to Disneyland, so that set the standard of what I enjoy when I attend theme/amusement parks. I would also consider myself a roller coaster enthusiast. I enjoy the overall atmosphere and little things parks do to go the extra mile when attending parks. For example, when I attended Cedar Point this past week, the little touches such as station music at Millennium Force and Magnum XL-200 really added to the overall ride experience. Then you have Velocicoaster at Universal Orlando that is the epitome of an immersive experience, which is one of the main reasons it’s my number one coaster.
also, i am definitely a huge coaster enthusiast still, but i have problems with motion sickness and stuff... so if i've just eaten, i prefer to spend some time just walking around and enjoying what else the park has to offer before coming back to the rides. this is great in parks like plopsaland, chessington, alton towers, even thorpe park and adventure island. if literally all there is at the park is rides, the part where i don't want to ride anything gets pretty boring...
So what I’ve come to, is a couple things as I’ve gotten older. I’m stopping before you get into your reasons. But mostly as I moved around the US and experienced different coaster and ticking off credits; I felt like a lot of it was just experiencing relatively similar things for a +1. I would rush lines and just completely avoid enjoying the park. As I’ve gotten older I’ve taken to appreciating things like scenery, atmosphere and food more. I appreciate the small bits that go into making a park experience enjoyable instead of treating it like a mad dash line to line to get as many +1s for my collection.
Shaun from TPW has said this for like the last 4 years. He has always rated the park for its atmosphere, vibrancy, fairness and ride line-up. I'd love to have the money to go to some of the US parks but I know for fact I'd also grow tired of the barren landscape.
Agree with everything said here. Cedar Fair parks (5 of which you visited) have loose theming in parts of the parks. We go there for the rides and then head to Disney/Universal once a year for the theme… wish the US had more theme parks. Dollywood last summer was fantastic with my two kids just over 48”.
I really like the queue and audio from joris en de draak in the Efteling for atmosphere building, for those who dont know it a short (reading it back its not short and quite detailed) explanation, you enter the queue and head towards a swamp where the dragon (in dutch draak which is where the name comes from) lives, while heading there you have instrumental music including loads of brass instruments hyping you up to fight the dragon, when you enter the swamp the music changes to a more vocal based version of the song which fits the vibe of the swamp, when you get to the station you are out of the swamp again. While boarding the same brass intensive version of the theme is playing, when the lap restraints release a message from the king is played offering 1001 ducats to whomever kills the dragon, when the trains leave they play a short trumpet clip which announces the depaeture of the ride. During the ride tention is held high by the fact its a dualing coaster, which if you win moves a pole in the brake zone to indicate which side had won, upon returning to the station the winning side has banners drop from the ceiling and the employees on that side celebrate the win
2:19 bro yes! Ive been to a couple of parks where people act like they couldnt be in a more boring place. On the other side, i always bring the energy on coasters and whoever is next to me WILL get loud too. Its almost like me being loud gives them the comfort to be loud, too
My local amusement park, Lagoon, is an amusement park with some themed rides. Overall it’s a dense park though with plenty of trees for shade, food, a historical town, and even a zoo area (that most people disagree with). It has themed rides and zones but the park itself isn’t themed overall. Cannibal and their recent addition, primordial, being their most themed rides. That park is a unique blend of amusement and themed parks. It’s interesting as you can get both. They even have a Germany themed food court near the spider ride. Overall lagoon is trying to step up its game but their only major competition is in Vegas or Disney land so it’s a very unique experience there.
As an American I guess I'm just used to it, never thought of it this way but you are 100% right kudos. Going to places like Disney or universal is a completely different expirence almost a "treat"
This is an EXCELLENT video. I have always admired how the parks OUTSIDE the US have such incredible theming. The build up to the cue and overall theming around the rides. You have definitely opening my eyes to what I have always been, a THEME park enthusiast. I definitely LUV coasters but I always felt a bit envious of how parks and rides OCONUS, look so freaking cool! ❤
Nice video. I love it how somebody finally distincts the difference between theme park and an amusement park. I have been trying to get people to see the difference between the 2, and this video explains it perfectly. Wonderful job.
Thanks! I will most likely be making more videos about what makes a theme park a theme park, which should include further distinctions between the two :)
We are currently on a 3 weeks tour on the same route like you with 7 parks, but it's 9 park days as we visit 2 parks for 2 days (Hershey + Cedar). We are also here for riding coasters and I can completely understand you. The US parks are just concrete and coasters. Add the complete overpriced drinks (e.g. water 5+ USD), lockers (30 USD for 1 day), Parking costs (30 USD) and you have an atmosphere of no fun. The European parks are so much better even if they have only 1-2 great rides.
I have been on the exact same path recently. A European trip last year in 23’ shifted my love from strictly coasters, to love and appreciation for theme, environment, story, and atmosphere. There is so much more to love than just the coasters in the parks. The internal shift was so massive for me, it has lead me to Orlando to study theme park and attraction management. Thank you for wording this feeling so perfectly.
This is such a good video, and I agree with you completely! If you gave me the choice of going to Silver Dollar City or Cedar Point, I’d say Silver Dollar City in a heartbeat. Yeah, Cedar Point has the better coaster lineup, but Silver Dollar City is such a fun place to be even when you’re not riding the coasters. I’m actually really optimistic for the future of the Six Flags parks, because Cedar Fair has been doing a great job with park improvements, specifically with stuff like Jungle X-petition and the gorgeous new Fiesta Village revamp at Knott’s. And I obviously don’t have to tell you how awesome Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Dollywood are.
When I was a kid, Kings Dominion was 100% a theme park. I can remember when the Grizzly opened, it was very exciting. One of the most memorable things was that you couldn't see the whole ride. From the Eiffel Tower you could see the taller parts crest above the tree line while the majority of the ride was mostly hidden with a few bits exposed to see a train whiz by. There was some mystery and excitement watching a train emerge then disappear into the woods. The theming through the entire park was magical and a fun place to be, but when there is too much emphasis put on the ride and not enough put into the supporting features, it subtracts from the overall experience. The top chefs in the world would not get a Michelin star if they served their food in a truck stop parking lot. This is how I feel about I305 and Twisted timbers, its not as much of an adventure because its served up on a sterile, unappealing plate.
You‘re absolutely right: A theme park delivers an overall better experience throughout, and I‘m all in for that. That being said, I consider myself both: a theme park fan and a roller coaster enthusiast. I don‘t think that one has to choose one of these. I can‘t, as theming and the subsequent immersion are super important to me, but roller coasters are still the attractions I love most.
I've done veryy similar trips to the one you described and when you cram in too much you can definitely get coaster/park fatigue. Sometimes there is a ride you've been incredibly excited for, but when you've ridden 50 odd coasters beforehand it's difficult to get hyped up for it. Whenever I roadtrip around amusement parks in the US, I make sure to give myself days off to recover, avoid cloned coasters that I don't like (SLC's, Boomerangs, etc...) and never have a park and a long drive on the same day. All these things massively improve how much I enjoy a park and a coaster. I'm still definitely a coaster enthusiast, but like good all things, they're better in moderation (I say before planning my next bi-weekly park trip).
As a Roller Coaster Enthusiast i am a themepark lover so i know the feeling. What does help is staying 2 days in the same park if they have a lot of coasters. I always feel a bit rushed to get all me creds in and the second day you can just relax a bit more. Doesn't make the amusement parks that much better but i ussually enjoy them more. Also you aren't as bone tired at the end of the tripp cause you can just quite early on the second day if you don't feel like spending the entire day and drive to the next park earlier. Not sure if you been to them already but Silver dollar city is something for you. Also if you haven't been to Knotts and disney in california i would suggest staying a couple of days in the knottsberry hotel. Its quite eay to reach with public transport from LAX (about 2 hours) and disney is just a half hour by the locale bus from the hotel.
I think this is where I stand. I love roller coasters at parks but I would rather do a good coaster at a Universal, Bush Gardens, Seaworld(same chain I know), Knots Berry Farm, Dollywood, Silver Dollar City etc or equivilent fun park with some atmosphere or theming. Its one of the reasons why I can find magic at the disney parks still even with some of the flaws-although I will say there is a lot more magic in Anaheim and Tokyo then Paris and Orlando even if both of them are still good.
You have perfectly described why I'm a theme park enthusiast over everything else. I absolutely love cramming in roller coasters from morning to night at places like Cedar Point; but if I had to choose to spend one day there or at a more immersive theme park, I'm choosing something like Silver Dollar City, Disney, Universal, or Holiday World almost every time. The immersion makes the most impact on me. Living in Orlando, I'll go to a park, walk around for a few hours, and leave having only ridden one ride (though that's usually a coaster).
I've been to many US parks over the last decade, today whilst visiting Sweden we visited Liseberg park, and although its pretty small compared to the likes of Cedar Point, we found ourselves just really really happy. Short lines, all the coasters are brilliant, friendly laid back staff, no feeling that the park is run by money grabbing businessmen trying to shaft every last penny from you, and just an overall good vibe. I think I used to focus everything on the rides in a park, but no more.
I spent a short time working at Doctor Doom's Fear Fall at Universal Orlando. There, my favorite thing was to begin a countdown early or late compared to when I knew the ride would launch. Oops. The other fun thing to do there is act sad, apologizing profusely as you lock everyone into their seats. Pick one person, look them in the eye with a concerned expression, and shake your head as you lock them in and walk away. Legit way to have them screaming well before the ride launches. Or when someone asks if the fall is scary, reply with, "Fall? With this thing, you won't even notice the fall," followed by a maniacal giggle.
I totally agree with every single point made in this video. A good theme park is like immersing yourself in a new world for a whole day, and more of an escapism from the hustle and bustle of the real world. An amusement park doesn't give you any sense of escape, just thrills
I totally understand what you're saying. I would say I'm a roller coaster enthusiast but I love theming as well. So when I get great theming (while I love roller coasters, I appreciate a great dark ride just as much) I just think of it as above and beyond and really enjoy it.
Couldn't agree more! When I started going to amusement parks abroad; in 2007 I decided to go on a 2 week trip to the USA (just like you). Just to ride coasters and a 3-day visit to NYC. I would never do something like that again. Not only because it's tiring and boring by the end; but also because you miss out on so many nice sightseeing opportunities and the chance to actually experience the culture. Now it's quality before quantity and I'ld rather spend 4 days at Europa Park or Universal than visiting 4 (or more) regional amusement parks in 4 days just to ride coasters.
I had a similar experience when I visited the US two years ago. Dollywood felt closest to a European theme park, though the whole surrounding area of Pigion Forge and Gatlinburg felt super tacky and fake. Carowinds and SFoG had some of the greatest coasters I have ever ridden but it completely lacked any kind of ambience. I still don't get how people get all excited about Monster Mansion, I guess a dark ride is better than no dark ride? SFoG also really felt like it could use a lot of fix ups and a lick of paint. Carowinds was in a much better state but also felt somewhat barren. The queue is Copperhead Strike nearly gave me sunstroke with the lack of shade and cooling, though it was one of the rides with some theming.
I definitely agree. Theming is so important, and by that I don't mean just beautiful things, but creating atmosphere. You can make a place beautiful while it still feels artificial. There is a special art in really creating a place that keeps you engaged in a sincere way. Also coasters can be way different. Instead of forceful, fast and tall, having a ride encompassed in an amazing theme, and a creative layout or creative tech makes a difference. Rides can be "good" in another way than just tall and fast and forceful. That's why DC Rivals so far is still my personal top coaster, not because it blows away people by its intensity. No, it's because it feels like flying. The restraints and the seat let you feel so free, like you are flying through the air, and then you are doing acrobatic maneuvers, and flying around left right, having airtime and changing direction in the air. If I condense it down, it is the feeling of forgetting you are sitting in a seat. The feel of having the arms up, and then you get up there through the non-inverting loop, that spins you around while having airtime at the same time, in that moment you feel like you fly through the air. And then it continues with those "impossible" angles, like you fly around yourself, another airtime and spin to the side. And a very smooth experience as well. Well, that's just my type of coaster. Even Taron was not on that level of the feeling of freedom, that DC Rivals had. But a lot of coasters are built and opened right now, new top coasters I have to try is RTH, Voltron and Hyperia. Hyperia interests me, because it's probably the closest to DC Rivals with what it's going for. Voltron I am waiting until they figure out the roughness of the trains, they're still having a bit of a problem there.
Amen brother. Growing up I was all about the roller coasters and ignoring the rest. Now being older I feel like I’ve robbed myself of the theme park experiences. I live 2 hours from WDW and only went there twice before 3 years ago. Now I love Spaceship Earth. Oh the injustice I’ve done to myself just glad I’ve finally seen the light!
I've also only been to European parks, but I believe I feel the same way you do. Atmosphere is a key factor and good theming really helps with a relaxed atmosphere. I don't want to feel like walking through a parking lot that happens to have coasters all over it. Theming is very important. This weekend I visited Efteling. After riding all 5-7 coasters (depending on how you count them), my favourite was actually De Vliegende Hollander (Flying Dutchman). The coaster aspect of this ride is nothing special but oh my god did I love the theming. And for the fun family coaster for everyone, when I visited Phantasialand, I actually preferred their mine train, Colorado Adventure, over Taron (but only in the back row of C. A.).
i completely agree with you. the USA has always just focused on attractions not the overall experience. to put in perspective that i always said that cedar point, my home park, is not a theme park or even a amusement park but rather just a working hall of fame. sure its a amazing park with one of/ best of/ first of a kind rides but that's about it.
CP is my home park too and I’m not sure you are giving it enough credit. There are tons of other things at the park that make it a special place, not just the coasters. Hell, I know people who have season passes who go and don’t even ride the coasters.
Totally understand the viewpoint and well presented. I have never been to the US but I guess if I ever did get over to Cedar Point I would probably feel the same, that I am not there to visit the 'park' but there to ride Steel Vewngeance/Maverick/Millenium Force etc. I can imagine that a bit of coaster fatigue set in a bit, especially with riding quite a lot of similar models of rides and with all the traveling in between. I sometimes get tired of riding coasters by the end of one day. The only time I have spent two days at a park (Europa Park) I actually spent the second day at a very relaxed pace and I wasn't too bothered about getting loads of rides in but there was plenty to take in around the park apart from just the rides. How do you feel about European parks which kind of straddle the line between amusement park and theme park? Say Energylandia where the first first half of the park is just a mess of random rides plopped down anywhere but then the more recent sections of the park have more coherently themed lands? Or Thorpe Park where they have in the past themed some of their rides and areas quite well by UK standards but then with their brand new ride just went with an American biggest/tallest/fastest approach to sell the ride experience with minimal theming included in the experience?
Nice Video! I worked a lot on an unthemed Wooden Coaster, and it still has a alot of Atmosphere to me, same like other coasters that are barely Themed. I think this "oldschool low budget 90s coaster" is a vibe for itself
no i really agree with this personally the theme and atmosphere are so important ive been to alot of parks and the thing that stands out most to me is how i felt walking around i love a good thrill ride but it dosent make or break the park
I grew up going to Disney, Universal and Dollywood so I think I will always prefer theme parks over amusement parks. I’d love to hear about your experiences there, and you could do Epic Universe! Looking forward to seeing more content from you!
Balance is crucial- as always. Sure, I love rollercoasters, but I want to feel like I'm embarking on a journey when riding them, not boarding a piece of industrial equipment. I've visited theme parks in the US, South Korea, Japan, and China, and overall my best experiences were in Japan. Their themed parks were (obviously) great, but even their amusement parks think of ways to get guests hooked, mostly in the form of an onsen (hot springs/hot bath). Plunking yourself in a nice, hot bath after an exhausting day at the park just hits different. I'm not telling every amusement park in the US to builld a bathing facility, but giving guests reasons to visit other than 'just coasters' seems like a smart thing to do.
You are spot on! To enjoy these world-class parks, one needs to spend multiple days to truly enjoy them. From the shows to the animals to the food to the incredible water parks, a season past is a must. Now, with the merger of Cedar Fair and 6 Flags parks adventures will be incredible. Too bad you couldn't go on the best coaster in the world by far Top Thrill 2...
I have the exact same thoughts and I 100% agree. I remember when I was 7 when I went to Canada’s Wonderland for a day while visiting family in Ontario and it was really awesome even though I was kinda small and had a broken arm so I only went on some of the rides and not the super big ones, but then 3 years later in 2018 my family went to Walt Disney World for the first time and it blew me away and opened my eyes to how gorgeous theme parks can be while still having plenty of fun rides, and then I visited the resort again in early 2020 and it was even better. I’m sure there are some decent looking standard amusement parks out there in the world maybe some I might visit at some point but there are TONS of theme parks I wanna visit all over the world and I wanna start that with hopefully planning to go to Universal Orlando Resort next year. I always love the gorgeous looking theming with fun rides still in the mix which is why Expedition Everest is currently my favourite roller coaster and there are so many other rides at theme parks I wanna ride someday. I definitely do prefer theme parks and I hope to visit more in the future. 😊✌️
I've struggled to put this distinction into words before, but you said it perfectly! I'm kind of bored by most coasters to be honest - it's the theming and atmosphere of a park and its rides that gets me excited. So much online park content is amusement park and coaster based - there needs to be more theme park enthusiasts in the world!
For me, I like amusement parks but it depends on atmosphere as well. Kings Island for example, I liked a lot better than Cedar Point. It had a log ride, a river rapids, a fun themed mine train, and it was just didn't feel like something solely meant for roller coasters. I felt like Carowinds was solely missing atmosphere, and while the coasters were awesome - the lack of anything else is what kept me from staying longer.
Only just getting to this video. One nuance that I think is worth pointing out is that many of the amusement parks are improving in this respect. Not getting good, but better. In the last few years there has been a shift in the American industry to creating a bit (emphasis on a BIT) more of a themed or branded experience. All of the best-looking parts of the amusement parks (with some exceptions) are the newest areas and attractions. The jungle section of Kings Dominion for example, or the dive coaster at Fiesta Texas, or the clear increased effort put into the Good Gravy queue and trains compared to older things at Holiday World. There are clear attempts being made toward environmental and immersive storytelling with a lot of the new additions. I don't think any of this stuff is amazing, but the time of just slapping down a big coaster as a new addition and calling it a day seems to be kind of...behind us? A lot of parks are in a state of transition, though (especially a lot of the Cedar Fair parks you went to) so there will be growing pains for sure. Secondly, I know this video is chiefly about the aesthetics of parks, but the experience of a park visit is also the people you go with, and I think that's worth acknowledging too. So yes, in America we're kinda screwed if we want to go to many of our regionals and have an aesthetically good time, but we still make fun out of those days by going with friends. Sorry your trip was disappointing in some ways, I hope you still managed to have some fun regardless. I enjoyed spending time with you.
I’m no longer a coaster enthusiast because a lot of the people in the community started just getting really toxic and were acting like their opinions were right and everyone else’s were wrong and everyone was at each others’ throats. I still enjoy roller coasters but I can’t go back to the community because it feels like it’ll never be back at the era of speculating what’s next for parks and whatnot. I appreciate all it’s done for me and expanded my knowledge in all sorts of areas, and I hope the best for everyone in the community.
Right??? I agree also other drama in the community that i just got really tired of it i might be guilty on the facts opinions at times but everyone has there own opinions and it just felt like it was getting to negative for sure.
I'm kind of this way, but growing up with Cedar Point as my home park, I don't take much to be excited. It's more about ride landscaping to me. I don't like rougarou, for example, in part because it feels like it's in a barren field in the second half (also the concussions...) but Maverick I love just as much for the landscape the ride goes in as the experience itself, y'know?
Yeah, you need to go to Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO. You would definitely enjoy it. Since I live 2 hrs away, I go a few times a year. Great coasters and great atmosphere and theming!
I can totally relate to everything you said :) But I'm also lucky enough to live half an hour away from Phantasialand and it takes me a maximum of 3-4 hours to get to Europapark, Efteling or Energylandia. I think that the quality of the Theming in the many parks around me reinforces this expectation.
I completely agree with you on coaster-filled amusement parks vs immersive theme parks. Its one of the reasons WHY alot of my bucket list parks are on your side of the pond, and why places like Silver Dollar City are probably my favorite parks. That said, sorry you spent so little time at Knoebels. Such a charming park in the middle of the woods that pays alot of attention to detail on their atmosphere and attractions for what they have, and just so happens to also have one of the best airtime-filled coasters in the country.
