Today's Burning Question! Theme Parks or Amusement Parks?

[Mrlittle]

I went with theme parks. Theming means everything to me. My favorite theme parks do not necessary have my favorite rides or coasters. What they do have is an atmosphere in the whole park that takes me away. For an example, I like Animal Kingdom because it has so many great themed areas. Course now it has a great coaster but I liked it even before.

[Jew]

Easily theme parks. Atmosphere adds so much to the experience.

[gforce1994]

Depends on whether the park has a theme. If themed, it is a theme park. If not, it is an amusement park.

[thrillseeker4552]

Amusement park. I would rather have an awesome ride without a theme rather than real pathetic ride with great theming.

[bert425]

Amusement park. I would rather have an awesome ride without a theme rather than real pathetic ride with great theming.

 

I'd ride "Peter Pan" over and over forever it was a choice between that and "NTAG" or "Iron Rattler" or even "XCellerator"

 

same is true for "Winne the Pooh"

 

Theming is so much more important than anything else (heck, just look at the difference that was just made in Dumbo. Moving it and adding to the theming improved a great flat ride, into a BRILLIANT ride.

[gforce1994]

Amusement park. I would rather have an awesome ride without a theme rather than real pathetic ride with great theming.

So Life in the Fast Lane from Hard Rock is better then KI's Adventures Express? Yeah right.

[SingleRiderCam]

Theme parks because they might have good rides with the theming.

[jjune4991]

Theme. I prefer a park that looks good and has good foliage and themed areas, not just asphalt and concrete.

[therooboy]

Amusement parks, primarily for the coasters, but its more about the quality of the park than type that matters to me.

I cannot visit LA & not do both Magic Mountain & Disney, but can skip Knotts & Universal.

 

Would i go to an unthemed Busch park with the same coasters?

Hell yea!

Edited March 24, 2013 by therooboy

[hyyyper]

Both, as long as they either have a B&M or kick-ass woodie.

[rcjp]

Honestly, I don't really care. What I want is top kickass coasters. As long as they have that, I'm fine.

[robbalvey]

This is the closest burning question we've had so far!

[MNCoasterlover]

Amusement Parks=Coasters

Theme Parks=Bushes

This is not a bush forum, so no doubt in my mind.

[BenFreeze]

I generally prefer parks that contain a good mix of theme and great rides, such as Busch Gardens or Silver Dollar City. Theme makes the overall experience much better, but a good amount of coasters is a must for me.

[Manic Monte]

I grew up going to amusement parks. To me they were special because they were more accessible for my friends and I. Theme parks are awesome as well, but I have more fond memories tied to parks like Coney Island, Santa Cruz, SFMM, Knotts and Kennywood. I'm also one of those people who even at theme parks run straight for the coasters and little else. For me, this one isn't even close.

Edited March 23, 2013 by Manic Monte

[cfc]

^I'm not arguing with your preference, but I would still classify Knott's as a "theme park."

[bert425]

^I'm not arguing with your preference, but I would still classify Knott's as a "theme park."

 

as I said in my response, parts of Knott's still work as a Theme Park (particularly Ghost Town, and Camp Snoopy). Maybe once they get the boardwalk up and running, that section will work as well. . but it IS majority Amusement park, I'd say.

[cfc]

^Redoing the Roaring 20s Airfield as a "boardwalk" did make that part of Knott's more "generic."

[CpBluestreakCp]

My vote went with theme parks. I love when you enter a theme park such as a Disney property and you're just immersed in the land and what the park is trying to convey. Every little detail in theme parks is seriously thought about and it just makes the experience of going to one that much better.

 

Don't get me wrong, I love a good amusement park with some world class roller coasters. But, when it comes down to it, I want my experience as a whole to be enjoyable, not just one or two rides.

[the ghost]

Amusement park. I would rather have an awesome ride without a theme rather than real pathetic ride with great theming.

Let's look at something like Disneyland's Space Mountain. In my opinion the layout really isn't all that impressive but it becomes an awesome ride due to the darkness and overall "ambiance" of Space, making it an amazing ride. I mean even something like California Screamin, which isn't too heavily themed(unless you cont the wood inspired supports as theming, which I do) fits in with the environment and boardwalk area making it a better ride.

 

Let's look at parks like USF or IOA or even WDW to a degree. Say you were to remove the Mummy's theming or Rock N Roller coasters theming, you would still have a fairly solid ride, but in no way would it be as good as it was with the theming. I said theme parks, environments are cool and I like to walk around and see things, for example I can go to Disneyland nearly weekly and not get bored at all, but I go to Knotts twice a year, once for WCB and once for haunt. I go to SFMM once a year. I like roller coasters, I really really really like roller coasters, but the parks(in terms of the corporate chains) are not as well run, the staffs are slower and not as professional, and the atmosphere often leaves a lot to be desired. Good roller coasters are AWESOME but I can only ride them so many times before I grow tired, but the little details in theme parks or on theme park rides(I have been on haunted mansion probably a hundred times and I am sure I haven't seen every single thing) are what keep me coming back.

[JJLehto]

Just a question for all those who seem to be really negatively against "theme parks" - do you realize that "theming" isn't just scenery you walk around and look at? I mean, think about a park like Epcot, it's one of the top five most visited parks in the world and there isn't a single "roller coaster" in the park. It's all themed attractions, dining, shopping, and experiences.

 

So all those people who are really against theming, do you not like parks such as Epcot? I'm just wondering.

 

--Robb "Kind of surprised to hear so many people vocally against theme parks here, considering we are THEME PARK Review!" Alvey

 

100% right and I'm not "against" a theme park at all. They are a great experience!

Look at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, helluva place.

Just simply, they tend to not have as many rides/quality ones and that is what a park is about for me.

And between a really great looking and themed park that's not as good, or a drab park that has better and more rides, well as it's been said not paying for theme!

[Geauga Dog]

This is a question that I can't really answer as I enjoy both equally the same. If both have a great atmosphere and a good selection of rides and attractions then it doesn't matter if the park is themed or not.

[ernierocker]

While I obviously love roller coasters, I love a good themed ride just as much. Hands down I prefer theme parks.

[rjvader]

I'll have to go with theme parks, it's fun to escape the real world at places like Disneyland. It's hard to experience that disconnect at parks where you're surrounded by office buildings (I'm looking at you CGA).

[azza29]

I enjoy both types of park, but I feel like theme parks offer a better day out. Good theming can do wonders to an otherwise unremarkable ride. Shows are a great way to take a breather from the queue/ride/queue/ride cycle. And there's a great sense of escapism that you don't get from an amusement park.