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

[Aceattack52]

Amusement Parks. I'm paying to ride rides, Not to see a Big Fake Tree or Bushes from another Continent.

I really agreed with this one the most. Theme parks you can experience thorough pictures (there are rides, I know), but in amusement parks, you have to ride the rides to gain the full effect. Will we have a daily burning question? They are pretty fun.

Edited March 24, 2013 by Aceattack52

[3Mutts]

I dont really know, both have positvies and negatives. Themeparks usually provide great scenery, food, and service but dont really have much in terms of thrills (exceptions to this are parks like Europa Park) while Amusementparks offer tons of thrilling rides but not much in terms of scenery or food. I would say I like Themeparks more because I have had alot better times at Themeparks than Amusementparks in general (exceptions are parks like Knoebels).

[Zcev5454]

I've grown up with amusement parks, and only visit theme parks on occasion (once a year), so I have to go with amusement parks.

[rubysparkles]

Theme parks because there aren't many Amusement parks with good dark rides. Just riding coaster after coaster is fun, but they become more thrilling when you have stuff to do inbetween other than walk to the next coaster.

[robbalvey]

Theme parks you can experience thorough pictures (there are rides, I know), but in amusement parks, you have to ride the rides to gain the full effect.

You really think you can get the same experience at Disneyland, Universal Studios Orlando, and Epcot by looking through pictures?

[boardwalkbullet91507]

Theme parks are nice, but I'm a thrill person. Theme parks tend to lack this a little (unless your talking about BGA.) But for me, amusement park wins. More rides, and it has just a tad more thrill factor!

[Double0Kevin]

I've had a blast at some Amusement parks, but Theme Parks are by far my more memorable experience. I'm a Disney fanboy, I'll admit it. Plus I love Universal parks, The Busch Gardens etc.. Theme Parks always win with me.

 

Theme parks you can experience thorough pictures (there are rides, I know), but in amusement parks, you have to ride the rides to gain the full effect.

You really think you can get the same experience at Disneyland, Universal Studios Orlando, and Epcot by looking through pictures?

 

Robb is 100% right here. I thought Epcot would bore me to death based on what I had seen. It easily ended up becoming my favorite park that I've ever visited. You don't even come close to getting the full effect unless you actually go to ANY type of park.

[DenDen]

I prefer amusement parks.

 

Theme parks can get quite "plastic" to me. Not to mention, if there's a theme that doesn't appeal to me, (example: I'm not a Harry Potter fan...) that kills a section of a park I don't want to be bothered with. Spending $100 to get into a park that you could care less about half of it is kind of a waste. Theme parks also tend to be more expensive and have less of what I want to see or do.

 

Amusement parks appeal to me more because of the traditional aspects. Yes, they occasionally try a theme here and there and it gets cheesy and lost at times, (cough, volcano valley, cough, Lost Kennywood, cough) but it's these quirky park decisions not having millions of dollars riding on them (no pun intended) that make a great and unique experience. They also tend to have a better selection of flat or unique rides. History also plays a big role in my favoritism.

[Vtafro]

Amusements parks, like cedar point, kings dominion and six flags are great, roller coasters make the park. However, Dollywood and Busch gardens do both and do them well, not sure if that nullifies my vote.

[ProwlerPrey]

Theme parks. Don't get me wrong, I go for the rides. But a well themed park can make the experience so much better. Long lines become much more tolerable when you have theming to look at to help pass the time. Food also tends to be better at theme parks than amusement parks.

[Angry_Gumball]

While I love the typical amusement park, there's many times I feel it's important to escape reality...as in not seeing office buildings and such when you're in a place that was meant to create a fantasy. In this sense I'd have to say Theme Parks.

 

What I like in amusement parks, when executed right are themed areas. This would technically still be a theme park, right? Sure it wouldn't be on the scale of Disney, but keeping with specific themes in areas...or sticking with 1 major theme. This is something I wish SFDK stuck with...I like how a lot of their rides are animal-themed, African-themed, or jungle-themed. But when other things start getting mixed in, it just feels weird. I also wish that though it was basic, CGA stuck with their original themed areas (County Fair, Yukon Territory, Orlean's Place, Hometown Square...). Sure they weren't extravagant but it definitely added polish to a more traditional amusement park.

 

In the end, I can say I like both as I most frequently visit amusement parks yet I like to forget that I'm in the middle of a business district/residential/where ever else the park may be located... (I need to visit Disney more frequently...will be going next month, but my last visit was in 1998...*ducks/hides in shame*).

[cfc]

Some parks are in a bit of a "gray" area. Kings Dominion, for example, was a full-blown theme park when it first opened, but became a bit more "generic" over time (although it's more of a "theme park" when compared to the rest of the Cedar Fair chain, outside of Knott's).

Edited March 25, 2013 by cfc

[Ed Farmer]

Definitely amusement parks- by light years. It wouldn't bother me one bit if every roller coaster in a park was built over a parking lot. That doesn't mean I dislike theme parks- the two Busch parks, for example, would be 1 and 1a on my list of favorite parks if I had one- they just happen to balance that out with several excellent coasters between the two of them. doesn't have that, and as a result, means absolutely nothing to me. Same goes for Universal (sans IOA). I suspect that won't change until I have kids who are at the stage of their childhood where Disney is their idea of the ultimate vacation.

[frozenflames]

I vote for Theme Parks. I love Amusement parks, don't get me wrong, (partially because I like increasing my credit count), but I feel like I can get bored more easily. For instance, I love Hersheypark because of its great ride assortment, but a few years ago, I was there three times in one month (because of the camp I worked at), and I spent several hours playing skeeball because I felt there wasn't enough to catch my interest.

 

However, I can make tons of repeat trips to a Theme Park and not get bored. It's especially true in a place like Disney, because there's always some new little detail that makes everything so much more immersive and enjoyable. And as far as lines go, I would much rather walk through a detailed queue environment like that of Revenge of the Mummy or ET than a giant mess of plain switchbacks.

[Swornenemy]

Themeing is nice but is not a priority to me. I would rather have a good assortment of rides as opposed to heavily themed areas.

[Her0ofLime]

Although my vote was indeed for theme parks, if said theme park does not have a good selection of rides, I would prefer the nearby amusement park with the B&M Hyper Coaster. If there is a good selection of rides at a Theme Park, I can enjoy visiting for both the Theming and the Rides.

 

Devin "Thinks Disney World needs a small B&M flyer somewhere though has nothing against and annualy visits Disney World" Kelsey

[jokey]

Amusement parks. While theming is nice, I really only care about the rides.

[netdvn]

I prefer a good theme over a bunch of rides placed over a concrete pathway. When I look at pictures of a park like Cedar Point or Magic Mountain, I think "hey this park has nice looking coasters," but looking at pics of an amazing theme park like DisneySEA or Europa Park, I think WOW.

 

Good theming can really enhance a ride.

[azza29]

In place of theming, nice landscaping can really add to how enjoyable a park is. I'd consider Dreamworld more of an amusement park, but the parts of it that have plenty of trees and plants are far more pleasant to spend time in.

[Coaster_Fanatic]

I enjoy theme parks a ton more than amusement parks. I like parks that have great themeing, landscaping, etc. more than parks that just cram a bunch of rides in a park. I prefer atmosphere over thrills

[Nrthwnd]

My home park, PLAYLAND, has always looked as though it was a total midway setup, able to pick up and leave for the next town. Except we do have a fairly grounded wooden coaster there LOL. But also with the gawdawful alsphalt to walk around on, with minimum shade, if that, from the arcade overhang. Woo hoo.

 

When I go to theme parks like Disney, Universal, and even the Chinese Happy Valley chain we visited last fall, I really enjoy how they try and blend everything into something thematically cohesive. Not really that easy to do, hmm? And Disney has been doing it since the original Anaheim park opened.

 

Theme Parks. All the way. GO TOKYO DISNEY SEA!

What I gots.

What I wants.

[neovortex2k]

I really like both but I do prefer Theme Parks.

 

I enjoy going to Amusement parks as they tend to have big and or fast rides but I do find these parks a little soulless and on certain days the other park guests can be less than civilized.

 

Where as on the other hand when going to a Theme Park I love the total immersion in another world and the escape from the normal. It's like a real adventure and thats what I like on a holiday.

[IrishBuckeye]

I grew up going to amusement parks, so that is what I'm used to and I enjoy the experience. My experience with theme parks is limited, having been to the former sea world of ohio, and epcot. Had a wonderful time at those places as well. I'd say I prefer amusement parks overall, but a great theme park certainly has its place.

 

Would Holiday World, for instance, be considered an amusement or theme park? the park seems to be setup like your typical amusement park, but all the areas are themed after holidays (and real well from what I've heard).

[Sir Clinksalot]

I love Theme Parks. Some "Amusement Parks" are great when they have other things to do other than coasters.

 

I like a well-rounded park. A couple of great coasters, a few middle-of the road coasters, some family rides, a nice collection of flat rides, a dark ride or two, maybe a monorail, train or sky ride and 2-3 good water rides. That's my ideal park.

[Cyber.Fiber]

Theme Parks all the way. I love variety that they offer in terms of attractions. As much as I love a BIG roller coaster, I do love the smaller, less intense attractions just as much.

 

Also, the amount of detail that is put into each ride greatly increases the overall experience for me.