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

[DailyBugle_JL]

Life is more fun as an enthusiast for me. I know not to stand in line for more than an hour anymore unless its spiderman the ride. If im with family or friends and they really want to ride a ride ill stand in line for an hour maybe since fun at a themepark also comes from the people your with.

 

As for stupid people in line its fun making them feel retarded as the crap they say. The only time i dont have fun at parks is if the park is crappy and thats another topic in itself. I also learned that as an enthusiast solo tripping is not for me. I noticed a couple people on these board do solo trips by themselves. So I tried the whole solo tripping to a park and I didnt have fun by myself, except for the walk from DLR to Knotts, that was fun.

[rollermonkey]

I often bring someone with me who isn't into amusement parks and coasters just for an unbiased opinion to help ground me in reality.

 

The first time I rode Dodonpa and Fujiyama, I was with a guy that had been on less than ten coasters in his life, even at the end of the day. That made it more fun for me and not just because he had no idea what he was in for!

[MonkeyPants]

I definitely feel that being really familiar with coaster safety, and having ridden them so much, has drastically lowered my excitement on them. It's almost as if my enjoyment comes from seeing photos of 'em, or thinking about them, more than actually riding them.

 

So often, I find myself saying after a ride "I don't think I need to go on that again," especially if it was uncomforable. There are very few rides that actually cause any adrenaline to flow.

 

When I started riding as a kid, the Gemini first drop was terrifying, and I felt like I'd fall right out of the train. Now, I'll ride Mill Force and kinda make myself say "wheee!" The ride feels pleasant, but certainly not scary or exciting.

 

There have been only two rides as an adult that actually made me scared and gave an adrenaline rush. Big Shot on Stratosphere and X. Big Shot mainly cause the rest of Stratosphere seemed cheap, and the ride-ops seemed 'distant.' So I wasn't entirely sure about things like routine maintenance happening there. As for X, it was during the preview weeks, after having been delayed and delayed. I knew Arrow had design problems in the past (the Bat), and obviously with X, so I wasn't entirely sure the seats wouldn't break off. In both cases, feeling like the thing might fall apart was the reason I felt scared.

 

So it could have to do with comparing it to my childhood views (which are different than adult views), doing other things that are less controlled and therefore more adrenaliny (riding a motorcyle, skiing), and/or knowing alot about ride safety. Also, I think it has to do with the fact that a rollercoaster is the same everytime you ride it.

[jynx242]

I have found (like others in this thread) that being an "enthusiast" makes my park days alot more fun. Knowing how to "do" a park, and knowing which kinds of rides I like more than others greatly enhances any day at a park. I laugh inside at some of the crazy things that non-enthusiasts say in line, but I don't correct them. It really does not matter to them how everything works - that is my thing.

 

Also, as mentioned on another thread, sometimes I might burn out on parks. When that happens, I don't go for a while and the "magic" comes back!

 

david

[FlyingScooter]

I get enthusiastic every time I go to a park. I get exited during the drive to the park and a bit happily bummed on the ride home.

 

I enjoy parks the same regardless of being labeled 'an enthusiast' or 'one of those anal retentive, stuck-up, bolt counting, accidents mongering coaster fanatics'.

[photoginit]

To me it is all about having fun. Some people take this whole hobby way too freakin seriously. I have fun whether i am at a park with friends are enthusiasts or with friends who are not. I just can't stand the enthusiass's who take this stuff too seriously and will get into arguments about "whether Superman at SFMM is a coaster or not" like it is something that will effect your life like affordable health care or gas prices. Those kind of people are the ones who make this hobby not fun.