Another "if you felt this way" topic...

[Homer]

Every time I go to BGT, I always see a group of young teenagers having a blast. When all the GP care about coasters is "Is it tall or fast?" and "Scorpion sux because it had one loop and it derailed, lololol!"

 

Of course, as enthusiasts, the stereotype goes that we'd all get pissy if some smartass in line thinks he knows everything. Doesn't the knowledge seem to take away from the fun of being at a park?

 

This is the precise reason why we ride, because of the rush and the fear. The knowledge of "This train can't fly off the tracks because it has upstops" kind of kills some of that joy of riding a coaster. Also with park effects such as "I know how the ImagiNations globe works!" Anybody agree with me so far?

 

Anybody feel that way that being a coaster enthusiast seriously spoils a ride? Heck, maybe spoil fun at a park when you know how a certain effect is done?

 

Maybe things are a lot more fun from a GP POV than from an enthusiasts' eyes.

[ParkTrips]

Of course, as enthusiasts, the stereotype goes that we'd all get pissy if some smartass in line thinks he knows everything.

I don't get pissed myself, I usually laugh inside - being naiive isn't worth getting frustrated over, it can just provide for some really funny statements

 

- Joe, who thinks the "stupid things GP say" thread is really stupid

[haux]

I visit parks for fun. I don't care that this ride's a B&M and this one's a Vekoma. I ride because they're fun. I guess I'm a member of the general public, except I know too much about big steel things that make you go up and down and through loops. Hurr. Coasters.

 

If there's a know-it-all in line, I laugh to myself. If it's an ACEr, I laugh to his face.

 

Just go and have fun. Don't think about being an enthusiast. If you want to stand out, ride a ride 35 times in a day and wear a shirt from a park 300 miles away.

 

Nerd.

[viking86]

I definately agree with some parts. Knowing how safe the rides are and getting used to the feeling of drops and inversions definately kills the adrenaline rush. I remember my first rides when I held on for dear life and thinking "Oh S**T!" going over the top.... Now there are VERY few coasters that gives me that feeling, if anyone at all!

[coasterdude5]

Maybe in some ways, take Expedition Everest for example, if I had seen the POV, then it probably would've been better because I didn't know what to expect. But that was my choice, and being an enthusiast is cool so it doesn't really bother me.

[pvcoasterguy]

I don't think so... I'm not so far into coasters that I know "Well this PTC train has 20000 bolts, so it'll be a better ride than the PTC with 1000 screws." LOL. Anyway, I have a very general knowledge of coasters. I don't let my knowledge impede on my trips, however.

 

I do the normal park thing... hang out with friends... go with the flow. Once in a while, if someone asks me about a ride, I'll tell them... but I try just to enjoy the park and have a good time--not to point out all the bad things at the park and showcase my knowledge to everyone.

 

Parks are supposed to be fun--don't overthink them!

[neovortex2k]

I don't care that i know the coasters are safe, i go on them cause i love the feeling the psotive and negative G's!!

 

I also love bringing people on rides that i know lets say go upside down but i tell them they wont cause otherwise they wouldn't ride them. Oh the look on their face priceless.

 

My friend from Ireland came over when i was in hollywood and i brought him to SFMM. He'd neveer been on a coaster before and i brought him om x first. I convineced him it was the smallest one in the park and when it was over he went nuts!Oh the on-ride photo was classic.

[SharkTums]

I think you can have way more fun at a park being an enthusiast! I mean, we're not stupid enough to wait 3 hours for a ride that you know will have a shorter line at a different time of the day. We also understand breakdowns better, know how to 'do' parks, know where to sit on rides to get better rides, etc.

[Meteornotes]

^Elissa is right. I have just as much fun at parks now as I did when I was a kid. Knowing not to wait an hour for a boomerang, or to stay out of a corporate park on a summer Saturday only adds to my enjoyment. I'm not your "typical" enthusiast where I study the details of every ride, or watch endless POVs before riding something. I can see where that might ruin your enjoyment of a new experience. I also don't visit the same park over and over and over and over in the same season. Helps to keep things fresh.

 

dt

[coaster05]

As I continue to add new parks I have found I enjoy coasters about the same, but I like the park experience a lot more. I have found other rides I enjoy, I love looking at the layouts and trying different foods. All the little things that go into a park have gotten so much better since becoming an enthusiast. I used to only be about big rides, now I really enjoy seeing small parks.

[larrygator]

I certainly enjoy and appreciate the flats more as I become enthusiastical (new word). I always thought every Whip was the same until I made it to Camden. Flyers- hell I'd think the ones at Lake Compounce, SeaBreeze and Holiday World were good if I didn't know about Knoebels. Same for Bumper Cars.

 

On my first 3 trips to Cedar Point I never rode Derby Racer, because to me it was a merry go round. Now I know a merry-go-round is really a carousel and Derby Racer is an all together different animal.

 

I used to think all flats ran on the same cycle, being an enthusiast helps me to avoid certain flats at certain parks.

 

Being an enthusiast allows me to take advantage of rides that locals might take for granted.

 

I still don't know what half the elements are called on a coasters, I rarely know stats, I sometimes forget who built it, I can forget the layout even after riding a dozen times but in the end I know what I like and what I consider fun.

 

I rarely buy park shirts or wear them to parks. I know where I've been and don't need to announce it to others.

 

I AM AN ENTHUSIAST.

[CoasterCrazy]

I don't get pissed myself, I usually laugh inside - being naiive isn't worth getting frustrated over, it can just provide for some really funny statements

 

Ditto!

 

I think being a coaster enthusiast makes going to parks more fun.

[waterviper]

This is the precise reason why we ride, because of the rush and the fear. The knowledge of "This train can't fly off the tracks because it has upstops" kind of kills some of that joy of riding a coaster.

 

Looks to me you have outgrown coasters. What you need to start doing is more extreme stuff that is life threatening and unpredictable. Like skydiving, bunjy jumping or even jumping cars with a motorcycle! Or anything that will give you that rush of possible death or injury!

Maybe you should be the next Evil Kanevil!

[IwantRevenge]

^

 

But no not relaly, I feel being a enthusiant make going to park funny becuase you get to listen to things form the GP such as "Did you know dat kigda ka is 2000feet tall juzt like nitro" or "Did u know dat nitro loop-de-loop [Evil word ] is da faztest on urff" and be able to turn around correct them and laugh because they try and prove you wrong.

[downunder]

I think familiarity breeds contempt and being an enthusiast and going to parks a lot can take a little of the magic away. I spent so much time at Cedar Point in 03,04, and 05 I really didn't feel like going there this year, even though it's a great place. My Disneyland binge in 2001 has kept me away from there ever since.

[the sound]

I don't get pissed myself, I usually laugh inside - being naiive isn't worth getting frustrated over, it can just provide for some really funny statements

 

Oh yeah.

[vjgx]

I think you can have way more fun at a park being an enthusiast! I mean, we're not stupid enough to wait 3 hours for a ride that you know will have a shorter line at a different time of the day. We also understand breakdowns better, know how to 'do' parks, know where to sit on rides to get better rides, etc.

Yeah, that's a good point... If I were part of the GP, I'd likely have more waiting time due to lack of knowledge on such things as what to ride and when...

 

And I HATE waiting!

[niiicolaaah]

It's easy for me to see both sides of this. I feel like I am between GP and enthusiast right now. This is the first year I've been really into actually going places and visiting new parks, and I know a heck of a lot less about stuff than enthusiasts who have been doing stuff for 10 years or more.

 

Up until this year, I had never visited a park with an enthusiast. It was lame because any time I would say ANYTHING about ANYTHING, my friends would tease me. Ex. saying Superman was made by Intamin. I could say anything about rides and they wouldn't know what the heck I was talking about. Once I started visiting parks with enthusiasts, I found I could talk about stuff and THEY would know more than ME! lol.

 

But, on the other hand, it's sort of nice to visit with GP because they like crappy rides that I also like. For example, Vekoma boomerangs. Yes, I know.

[robbalvey]

I kind of see both sides, but I see Elissa, Dave, Rich's side of it more. I think the more educated you are about how to do parks and knowing more about rides means you CAN do more in a day than the normal GP and know how to get better rides.

 

I mean, as an example, who here was with us at SFMM on that Saturday of the last TPR party? Think about how much we got done....ON A SATURDAY...where all the lots were full when we left?

 

I guarantee you 99% of the rest of the park's GP didn't ride 1/2 the amount of stuff in the same time we did.

 

On the other hand, I do feel myself get more "jaded" about coasters. It takes a LOT more than it used to for me to get excited.

 

I can remember my "non" enthusaist days when Viper at SFMM opened, and OMFG that was just the most INSANE ride ever!!!!

 

Now, it really takes another Expedition GeForce or Balder to get me really pumped. That's not to say I don't enjoy most rides, but when I get off your average brand new B&M now (Silver Bullet for example) and kind of go "meh...that was ok, I guess...." you do kind of get that jaded feel. But even still, there are very few coasters, even the bad ones, where I didn't have "fun".

 

I enjoy just about every day at a park I spend! Even at parks like Knott's....because while I might not have fun at the park, damn it sure as hell is a riot ripping on the place later!!!!

 

--Robb

[CoasterFanatic]

I can also see the "jaded" theory. When you have been on a bunch, it can sometimes feel like a ton of mediocre coasters with a few good ones thrown in. Still .... I always have fun. Even when the coasters are crap.

 

When it stops being fun, I will find something else to do. Till then ....

[RaptorBoyASU]

^^Especially when you become jaded about parks such as Knott's.

 

I still think Knott's is by far the best park in SoCal after Disneyland (and ahead of DCA). Of course I think that's because I didn't ever visit the "old Knott's". When something you loved gets changed for the worse, you tend to only see the bad.

 

Thus why I was so peeved by stupid things at Cedar Point last time I went (like Raptor and Magnum not even being close to hitting interval because of new operations procedures).

 

I haven't gotten tired of coasters, but I have gotten tired of parks more quickly. If a park is poorly run and has ridiculous dispatch times, I get so FRUSTRATED that I'd rather just leave.

[2Old4Coasters]

I don't know that I'll ever be jaded, as there are too many parks and coasters out there just waiting for me to conquer. And as others have expressed, it's not just about the coasters for me. I like to enjoy the rest of the park as well.

 

Consider me a "Theme Park Enthusiast" first, coaster junkie second.

 

Jim

[Three]

This question wouldn't be all that different if "enthusiast" were replaced with "adult".

 

And you'd have the same ambiguous "yes... and no..." answers.

[USRoadTripper]

I see both sides also. I definitely agree that as I've become more of an enthusiast, my ability to get more out of my theme park days has dramatically increased. An example is when we arrived at Car Toon Spin. The standby line was an hour, or we could get a Fast Pass and come back in half an hour to ride. That's a no brainer for me, but that hour long line still had tons of people entering it! Having that extra bit of knowledge about crowd dynamics in parks really enhances most days I spend in parks.

 

Alternatively, it does take quite a bit more to impress me now that I've been to more parks and ridden more coasters. I can ride a really good coaster (Robb's Silver Bullet example is fitting) where in the past I would have said "Wow that was awesome!!!" and now I end up saying "That was nice." Those "OMG what an incredible coaster!!!" moments are pretty few and far between. Shows tend to be the same way... rarely does a show ever elicit much reaction out of me.

 

Overall, I definitely think it's improved my theme park experience.

 

-Julie

[Tmcdllr]

Im one of those people that likes to know how everything works so it only adds to my enjoyment. Knowing how a coaster launches or brakes or how it performs some maneuvers is very interesting. Some of the technological advances on some of these machines is truly amazing and for me, having knowledge of that stuff only enhances the ride experience.