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 RUclipsr 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.
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.
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 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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 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.
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
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 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
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.
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
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 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'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.
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 think I'm starting to feel the same way. I could happily sit in Forbidden Valley or Amity for ages before going on Nemesis or Stealth, but I wouldn't enjoy those rides to the same degree if they didn't have the atmosphere around them that they do.
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
Excellent video! And I agree, I have been saying this to my partner all throughout my one year of being an enthusiast and visiting new-to-me parks. Sure, coasters are great and all but overall atmosphere and ambiance make all the difference! You didn't mention what your favorite ride was out of your 101 US credits though, and I am curious!!
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.
OMG! I just went to Dorney Park 3 days ago! My favorites there are Steel Force and Iron Menace but they were all great! I love Hersheypark, my favorite theme park. I'm going to Six Flags Great Adventure in a month, VERY EXCITING!!! After that I'll be going to Carowinds and Cedar Point.
@@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).
I've done a 3 week, 17 park trip. A 2 week 10 park trip. And a 25 day 19 park trip. I'm not sure how but I never felt tired or worn out. I could keep going and going, I love it.
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 Harry! I will go to the USA when my kids are older, because the youngest is only 4 months old, but I can't wait to find out what you found out! I love Efteling and Toverland in the Netherlands, where I live... Europe also has Amusement parks, but there are way more themed experiences in them! For example: Walibi Holland has Xpress with a very nice cue! And Untamed has a very nice station with dispatch sequence...
In defense of Ohio's amusement parks, Kings Island used to be a theme park (or at least had a lot more theming) before Cedar Fair took over and they lost their licensing deals with Paramount. Bizarrely they also removed the Australian theming (which is not under copyright to my knowledge) from their waterpark in exchange for "generic water park" theming. While Kings Island still has a decent amount of charm and could easily be more themed in several areas (at least to the level of Busch Gardens) Cedar Fair for some reason is just averse to dark rides and any real efforts at theming other than for Halloween. Also Kings Island has a fairly robust family/ moderate thrill coaster lineup that can really help ease kids into bigger coasters. It certainly does have something for almost everyone. Cedar Point is a bit different. While Kings Island has plenty of space for both coasters and theming, Cedar Point tries to use every inch of land for coasters given its location. As such the terrain of Lake Erie has to be used to create much of the atmosphere. I do think the back half of the park does a tolerable job with its western theming (and that could be leaned into with a bit of a refurbishment, a dark ride, and some character actors). Their new "Boardwalk" area also does a halfway decent job at theming although "Boardwalk/Carnival" theming is the easiest and laziest theming for an amusement park (just ask Disney that did it twice in the late Eisner era). Overall Cedar Point is the coaster capital of the world and is the birthplace of the coaster wars. That legacy does influence how the park perceives its investments and makes it challenging for them to pivot away from thrill coasters. Overall I would say that both Kings Island and Cedar Point have enough aesthetically going for them to be pleasing places to be most of the time (Kings Island really benefits from its trees and Cedar Point definitely gets points from the lake). Also "Studio" theme parks (OG Hollywood Studios, OG Universal) are also pretty bare bones for actual theming with Paris' Hollywood Studios being the key example for how boring a studio theme can be. I think that "Coasters surrounded by beautiful natural scenery" is better than a boring Studio park. Overall I wish that Cedar Fair (which has now conquered Six Flags like the Normans conquered England), would at least try to go for Busch Gardens/Seaworld level of theming and at least try a dark ride or two, I still think that Kings Island and Cedar Point are great places to visit (even if they cater more to coaster lovers).
Studios theme parks are awful, I 100% agree with that. I'm not a fan of Hollywood Studios, or Disneyland Paris's one, or Universal Studios Florida. Cedar Point does have the lake going for it but I found I was unable to see it from inside of the park 95% of the time sadly. I also agree that Frontier Town is much much nicer than the vast majority of the park.
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
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 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.
This video made me realise i'm the same, last year I went to Brean Theme Park in Devon and felt like so much was missing, ofc i was expecting terrible coasters but the ambience was like an American park. There was no scenery, I call it Brean Amusement park because it's not a theme park.
As somebody growing up with Cedar Point as my home park, I can see where you are coming from. I actually prefer amusement as opposed to theme parks. It's what I'm used to. Not that I'm saying I don't like Unversal or Dollywoood, it's not what I'm used to. But it is easier to enjoy my experience at Dollywood if a couple of attractions are closed.
I like to fly... nice parks are also enjoyable, but a lot of the parks listed can be. Cedar point is beautiful, if only you could see that more, be sure to take a walk on the beach. Hershey has its terrain and stacked rides, most people find KD and Dorney pleasant, lots of them are in improvement.
Oh dear, did my country destroy your coaster enthusiasm? I feel like I should apologize on our behalf. Also 100% agree with all your praise of BGW, which is one of my absolute favorite parks. I’m fortunate enough to live only a couple of hours from it.
I am a coaster enthusiast BUT ALSO a theme park enthusiast this year I am going to Great Adventure and HersheyPark BUT next year I’m going to Disney world for a week
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.
Bye bye.. Coasterbot.. Welcome, ThemeBot. But honestly some U.S parks in general have amazing theming, like Cedar Point, I love Cedar Point’s theming though, as it has a boardwalk, a western theme in an area, and an amazing beach. Top Thrill 2’s land has large concrete because it was themed off of a racing theme.
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.). :)
I'm a coaster enthusiast and a theme park enthusiast. You can have a coaster park without theming, but you cannot have theming without a couple good coasters.
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.
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.
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?
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 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.
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 completely agree, there does seem to be a slow shift towards more complete experiences. I think Holiday World is a great example with Thunderbird being a bit more, and now Good Gravy going even further. Hopefully you're right and it's something they continue to work on! Also 100% true, I could not have imagined going to those parks without you guys. It would have been much much worse than it actually was. We all had a great time - I really enjoyed it even if the video sounded like I didn't. I'm glad I got the privilege to visit all of those bucket list places!
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.
Nail on the head. US parks are thrilling, but the guest experiences suck in a lot of them. Food is outrageous, Theming is lackluster at best, No shade, no picnic areas, and a lot of the time the staff do not want to be there, because they are so poorly paid.
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.
@@coasterbot same here. From what I heard silver dollar city is basically if Dollywood craftsman’s valley section was the entire park. Plus the same great food.
Hey, I'm sorry I missed you, but I hope you enjoyed your trip to my part of the world. Question: where would you put Hershey on the "theme park vs amusement park" spectrum?
We had a great time! Hershey is less amusement park than the many Cedar Fair parks we visited. I wouldn't quite put it in the theme park category, maybe like 25% theme park 75% amusement park (excluding chocolate world that is).
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.
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.
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 can just hang out and vibe at Knoebels. I love hearing the people enjoying themselves on the rides. In order to truly enjoy Knoebels, you need to spend the entire day there. I would ask you to give Knoebels another try but spend the entire day there.
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! ❤
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
@@coasterbotExactly. Like you were saying if fury didn’t have Chiz fury would loose something huge! Also Chiz is so kind. I usually have conversations with him when I’m in the station!
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...
I hope you were able to get ice cream from Santa's Candy Castle while you were in Santa Claus, Indiana. My brother and his wife live there and I gain at least 5lbs everything I go because I will get a Frozen Hot Chocolate Frappé each day I'm there.
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.
Ah, America. My country is definitely one of extremes. I think one of the reasons you don't find many true "theme parks" outside of Universal or Disney here is because we as a collective society have compartmentalized them from other amusement parks. For instance, whenever you see a smaller park or even Six Flags or Cedar Fair try to create a more themed experience, you get a lot of people (not theme park enthusiasts, but the GP) mocking it and saying "its trying to be Disney" and will view it as a lesser knock-off because of that. Therefore, I think a lot of parks are discouraged from even trying to reach the heights of Disney and Universal theming. Instead of trying to create a "complete package" experience, they'll try to differentiate themselves from those companies and focus on what Disney and Universal tend to neglect- which tends to be big thrill coasters. I mean, think about it. Would a family visit a not-so-good small theme park or spend a bit more and go to the amazing Universal or Disney parks if theming is what they're into? So instead of trying to be a smaller, lesser Disney, Six Flags and Cedar Fair opt to focus on the thrill coasters and perfecting an amusement park experience. In Europe, pardon me for being reductive, but the parks there have always had to try a bit harder. For the longest time, they didn't have a Disney park to compete with, so they took the initiative and made their own themed experiences which became part of the culture and the expectations of the European public. In Europe, Disneyland Paris is most likely viewed as just another theme park amongst the sea of others, while here in America the original Disneyland (and even Disney World) almost has a sacred connotation. In many ways, it was the first truly successful "THEME PARK" in the world, and we've kind of latched onto that ever since. However, instead of letting a thousand Disneylands bloom, everyone just compares every new venture to it and inevitably comes to the conclusion that the newcomers are always inferior, even if that's not true in all cases. Disney has been able to carve out a space for itself as the king of theme parks in America because its a part of Americana. Therefore, few parks here ever dare to try to outdo it. The same isn't true in Europe, where the Disney park was initially seen as an invader. So, I'm guessing that many parks there had no qualms with trying to compete with and outdo Disney. So yeah, its a bit strange. We in America have some of the best theme parks in the world (Disneyland, Disney World, Knott's Berry Farm, Dollywood, Silver Dollar City, Epic Universe for god's sake) but we also have a crapton of asphalt-ridden, coaster-heavy parks that do little if anything with theming.
A new favourite roller coaster?? Oh nooo...... When you made your last top 10 video, you listed Velocicoaster as your number one. After watching this, I jokingly searched for flight prices to NYC and Orlando. I happened to find a very cheap ticket to NYC, and then to Orlando, so one thing leads to the other, and that's a 5-day trip to NYC (where we also visited SFGA), and then on to Orlando for Universal... Velocicoaster also became my number one! Basically because of how extremely good it is, AND the amazing theming. The whole atmosphere made it complete. And as you say in this video, that atmosphere that surrounds a coaster really adds to the experience! Buuttt... Does this now mean I have to go to the States again?? hahahaha
It was soo cool meeting at kings at kings dommion!! You had me with the title ngl had me scared thinking you wouldn't make videos anymore or ride coasters😂
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.
I am rollercoaster guy though and though and I totally understand where you are coming from ESPECIALLY with six flags parks, Cedar Fair parks tend to be a little nicer on average and better run. I am curious if Knoebels rise above just being amusement park for you? IMO its almost like Knoebels is a theme park, that theme is being the most charming, nice well run, amusement park that could exist. There are two amusement parks where the I can just spend time at out of the ones I have been to, and Knoebels is number 1, and Kennywood is a distant 2nd, but the vibe just falls off after that.
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
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"
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.
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.
There definitely is a difference between Loving theme parks and loving coasters
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 RUclipsr 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.
Why not both? That’s how I roll
I love both equally
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
There defenitly is fortunatly i love Both. But i generally have a better time in a themepark even if the coasters are a bit crappy.
Prediction, you are now an amusement park enthusiast??
Edit: oops
Lmao
Real
So true tho!!
So close
Bro got the exact opposite 😂
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.
100% there's many many more factors at play than just good roller coasters!
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.
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.
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.
Hope you’ve been okay!
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
That sucks well i hope you are european then plenty of good themeparks where you can enjoy yourself wouldt recommend a tripp to the states though.
100% - sorry to hear you can't ride coasters anymore. I hope you still get to enjoy theme parks from other perspectives though!
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.
That's a really great point, it's all about expectations!
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
@steveo7771286 hey. We had theming until Cedar Fair XD I still remember the paramount era.
Goodbye coasterbot hello just uhh..
Bot. Or HarryBot.
Or even Toaster Bot
Amusementbot bot of Amusement?
ThemeBot
@@DahBananaCannon catchy
themeparkbot .tm
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!
Great post! I love your appreciation of Taron. It's just a special ride- the whole package!
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
This is a great comment and reflection. It certainly does help when a park has a stand out roller coaster!
@@rootoz 100% . The Taron and Klugheim scores give me chills. Incredible stuff!!
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).
One of the big reasons I prefer Kings Island over Cedar Point
Honestly that goes a long way to improving the overall experience too!
Great theming is really great, but half-baked theming is really bad. But it's tough to mess up trees and ornamental plants.
@@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.
Harry: riding roller coaster 15 days in a row isn't a common thing...
"Taylor from CS has entered the chat"
Its a joke calm down@Studio732JRL
@Studio732JRLgood god man it’s a video about roller coasters. Chill out.
Taylor is a weird nerd who doesnt seem to understand that nobody cares about his weird and nitpicky criticisms
@Studio732JRL I definitely think you were the triggered one lmao but go off I guess
@@marcusmcgraw3519 Airtime thrills is 10 times worse
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 used to go to adventureland which I think counts and I got surprised how nice it was compared to some other parks near large cities
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.
You would love europe then plenty of those parks around and a lot of them are even pretty nicely themed.
@@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.
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.
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.
Roller coasters are awesome, but after a while it just gets a bit samey for me. Everyone has different tastes and that's what makes it interesting!
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
Islands of Adventure is certainly an escape from reality, it's a fantastic park!
It’s actually crazy how much better a coaster can be when it’s immersive, well maintained, exciting air conditioned queue.
Yup!
It’s alright for interests to come and go! :)
100%
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.
and I am a european used to theme parks with rides for everyone but want more high thrill rides haha
Do the trip I did and then you won't want it anymore ha ha
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.
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
I can relate to this.
When I was 16, I just wanted the most intense rides possible. Now I'm almost 30, and I appreciate theming, and smooth rides more
The older I get the more I follow this
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 😆
BGW is delightful. Maybe it did help it was all European themed ha ha 😂
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
It made riding Fury so much better!
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.
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
You got me! ha ha :)
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 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.
Completely agree. Atmosphere and theming matter more to me than pure airtime. A ride should be an experience for more than just your stomach
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.
These are two great comments.
I've never really thought about it from the perspective of someone who is blind. Thanks for enlightening me!
I've kinda lost all interest in coasters to ngl plus the fan base is toxic as hell if you even remotely disagree with any of their opinions
Yeah it's not always the most friendly sadly
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.
I agree
@@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 think I'm starting to feel the same way. I could happily sit in Forbidden Valley or Amity for ages before going on Nemesis or Stealth, but I wouldn't enjoy those rides to the same degree if they didn't have the atmosphere around them that they do.
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
Excellent video! And I agree, I have been saying this to my partner all throughout my one year of being an enthusiast and visiting new-to-me parks. Sure, coasters are great and all but overall atmosphere and ambiance make all the difference! You didn't mention what your favorite ride was out of your 101 US credits though, and I am curious!!
I'm keeping it a secret for now - I'll most likely make a revised top 10 video later this year :)
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.
OMG! I just went to Dorney Park 3 days ago! My favorites there are Steel Force and Iron Menace but they were all great! I love Hersheypark, my favorite theme park. I'm going to Six Flags Great Adventure in a month, VERY EXCITING!!! After that I'll be going to Carowinds and Cedar Point.
Cedar point is definitely weird with its giant paths, but it is super nice how many coasters they jammed into one park. A lot of pretty good ones too.
It's the perfect park for coaster lovers
@@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).
I think it works, because the "theme" of cedar point is coasters.
I've done a 3 week, 17 park trip. A 2 week 10 park trip. And a 25 day 19 park trip. I'm not sure how but I never felt tired or worn out. I could keep going and going, I love it.
You're a machine!
It’s the spaces inbetween the attractions that truly make a theme park. Excellent video!
That's a really succinct way to put it! Thank you 😊
Why does extremely wide concrete paths and parks not being built with humans in mind sound so much like the average American city planning as well 💀
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 Harry! I will go to the USA when my kids are older, because the youngest is only 4 months old, but I can't wait to find out what you found out! I love Efteling and Toverland in the Netherlands, where I live... Europe also has Amusement parks, but there are way more themed experiences in them! For example: Walibi Holland has Xpress with a very nice cue! And Untamed has a very nice station with dispatch sequence...
Chiz at Carowinds is the best! I worked with him last year and his energy is unbeatable!
He's incredible!
In defense of Ohio's amusement parks, Kings Island used to be a theme park (or at least had a lot more theming) before Cedar Fair took over and they lost their licensing deals with Paramount. Bizarrely they also removed the Australian theming (which is not under copyright to my knowledge) from their waterpark in exchange for "generic water park" theming. While Kings Island still has a decent amount of charm and could easily be more themed in several areas (at least to the level of Busch Gardens) Cedar Fair for some reason is just averse to dark rides and any real efforts at theming other than for Halloween. Also Kings Island has a fairly robust family/ moderate thrill coaster lineup that can really help ease kids into bigger coasters. It certainly does have something for almost everyone.
Cedar Point is a bit different. While Kings Island has plenty of space for both coasters and theming, Cedar Point tries to use every inch of land for coasters given its location. As such the terrain of Lake Erie has to be used to create much of the atmosphere. I do think the back half of the park does a tolerable job with its western theming (and that could be leaned into with a bit of a refurbishment, a dark ride, and some character actors). Their new "Boardwalk" area also does a halfway decent job at theming although "Boardwalk/Carnival" theming is the easiest and laziest theming for an amusement park (just ask Disney that did it twice in the late Eisner era). Overall Cedar Point is the coaster capital of the world and is the birthplace of the coaster wars. That legacy does influence how the park perceives its investments and makes it challenging for them to pivot away from thrill coasters.
Overall I would say that both Kings Island and Cedar Point have enough aesthetically going for them to be pleasing places to be most of the time (Kings Island really benefits from its trees and Cedar Point definitely gets points from the lake).
Also "Studio" theme parks (OG Hollywood Studios, OG Universal) are also pretty bare bones for actual theming with Paris' Hollywood Studios being the key example for how boring a studio theme can be. I think that "Coasters surrounded by beautiful natural scenery" is better than a boring Studio park.
Overall I wish that Cedar Fair (which has now conquered Six Flags like the Normans conquered England), would at least try to go for Busch Gardens/Seaworld level of theming and at least try a dark ride or two, I still think that Kings Island and Cedar Point are great places to visit (even if they cater more to coaster lovers).
Studios theme parks are awful, I 100% agree with that. I'm not a fan of Hollywood Studios, or Disneyland Paris's one, or Universal Studios Florida.
Cedar Point does have the lake going for it but I found I was unable to see it from inside of the park 95% of the time sadly. I also agree that Frontier Town is much much nicer than the vast majority of the park.
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
The Efteling is a fantastic park!
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.
NOOOO
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.
Dude i got a handy on rhe millennium force
What was his name?
@@simplemanchannel3318 serge
This video made me realise i'm the same, last year I went to Brean Theme Park in Devon and felt like so much was missing, ofc i was expecting terrible coasters but the ambience was like an American park. There was no scenery, I call it Brean Amusement park because it's not a theme park.
Yeah Brean is something!
Noooooo why 😢
As somebody growing up with Cedar Point as my home park, I can see where you are coming from. I actually prefer amusement as opposed to theme parks. It's what I'm used to. Not that I'm saying I don't like Unversal or Dollywoood, it's not what I'm used to. But it is easier to enjoy my experience at Dollywood if a couple of attractions are closed.
That's fair!
@coasterbot I get where you are coming from Phantasialand and some of the other parks look better than Universal or Disney over here
I like to fly... nice parks are also enjoyable, but a lot of the parks listed can be. Cedar point is beautiful, if only you could see that more, be sure to take a walk on the beach. Hershey has its terrain and stacked rides, most people find KD and Dorney pleasant, lots of them are in improvement.
I've heard that things are improving, which is good!
Oh dear, did my country destroy your coaster enthusiasm? I feel like I should apologize on our behalf. Also 100% agree with all your praise of BGW, which is one of my absolute favorite parks. I’m fortunate enough to live only a couple of hours from it.
I am a coaster enthusiast BUT ALSO a theme park enthusiast this year I am going to Great Adventure and HersheyPark BUT next year I’m going to Disney world for a week
Have a great time next year!
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.
Bye bye.. Coasterbot..
Welcome, ThemeBot.
But honestly some U.S parks in general have amazing theming, like Cedar Point, I love Cedar Point’s theming though, as it has a boardwalk, a western theme in an area, and an amazing beach. Top Thrill 2’s land has large concrete because it was themed off of a racing theme.
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.). :)
90% of the comments so far are from people who haven't watched the video yet lol.
This is the comment
I'm a coaster enthusiast and a theme park enthusiast. You can have a coaster park without theming, but you cannot have theming without a couple good coasters.
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.
DarKoaster is surprisingly good!
This video is actually just an essay on how much better European theme parks are xD
And you only hit just part of what USA parks have to offer.
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.
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?
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 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.
NOOOOOOO!
Edit: honestly same
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 completely agree, there does seem to be a slow shift towards more complete experiences. I think Holiday World is a great example with Thunderbird being a bit more, and now Good Gravy going even further. Hopefully you're right and it's something they continue to work on!
Also 100% true, I could not have imagined going to those parks without you guys. It would have been much much worse than it actually was. We all had a great time - I really enjoyed it even if the video sounded like I didn't. I'm glad I got the privilege to visit all of those bucket list places!
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.
Personally, I don't care much about the "experience"
holiday world and dolly wood might be peak mid-west-east-south
Everything you said about Ride Atmosphere are the exact reasons I love going to Disney World but not Six Flags or Carowinds as much
Completely understandable
Nail on the head. US parks are thrilling, but the guest experiences suck in a lot of them. Food is outrageous, Theming is lackluster at best, No shade, no picnic areas, and a lot of the time the staff do not want to be there, because they are so poorly paid.
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.
Three parks here in the states worth checking out.six flags fiesta Texas. Silver dollar city. And knots berry farm.
I would love to visit all three of those!
@@coasterbot same here. From what I heard silver dollar city is basically if Dollywood craftsman’s valley section was the entire park. Plus the same great food.
Hey, I'm sorry I missed you, but I hope you enjoyed your trip to my part of the world. Question: where would you put Hershey on the "theme park vs amusement park" spectrum?
And do you include Chocolate World in that equation?
We had a great time! Hershey is less amusement park than the many Cedar Fair parks we visited. I wouldn't quite put it in the theme park category, maybe like 25% theme park 75% amusement park (excluding chocolate world that is).
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.
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.
Exactly!
I live in the worst part of America for amusement and theme parks. My closest park is Dollywood and that is 5 hours away.
That's sad :(
Huntsville/Nashville area really needs one
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...
The Top Thrill 2 plaza was awful to be in - I'm sure it's nicer when the ride actually works ha ha
@coasterbot Awful how?
When I was there, it was exciting and cool...
I can just hang out and vibe at Knoebels. I love hearing the people enjoying themselves on the rides. In order to truly enjoy Knoebels, you need to spend the entire day there. I would ask you to give Knoebels another try but spend the entire day there.
Knoebels is a vibe, for sure. I do wish we had more time there, it seems like a really quirky and interesting place.
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! ❤
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
There should always be hype and energy. We're riding these amazing rides, how could you not be excited!
Carowinds is my homepark and Chiz is amazing! He gets you ready for FURY 325!
You mean "FURY! THREE-TWO-FIVE-UH!"
Chiz and Fury is an amazing combination!
@@coasterbotExactly. Like you were saying if fury didn’t have Chiz fury would loose something huge! Also Chiz is so kind. I usually have conversations with him when I’m in the station!
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...
U.S. amusement parks ARE themed. It's just that the theme is advertising with minimal effort.
wheyo!
I hope you were able to get ice cream from Santa's Candy Castle while you were in Santa Claus, Indiana. My brother and his wife live there and I gain at least 5lbs everything I go because I will get a Frozen Hot Chocolate Frappé each day I'm there.
We didn't, I'm sad we missed it. Next time though, that ice cream sounds awesome!
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.
Ah, America. My country is definitely one of extremes. I think one of the reasons you don't find many true "theme parks" outside of Universal or Disney here is because we as a collective society have compartmentalized them from other amusement parks. For instance, whenever you see a smaller park or even Six Flags or Cedar Fair try to create a more themed experience, you get a lot of people (not theme park enthusiasts, but the GP) mocking it and saying "its trying to be Disney" and will view it as a lesser knock-off because of that. Therefore, I think a lot of parks are discouraged from even trying to reach the heights of Disney and Universal theming. Instead of trying to create a "complete package" experience, they'll try to differentiate themselves from those companies and focus on what Disney and Universal tend to neglect- which tends to be big thrill coasters. I mean, think about it. Would a family visit a not-so-good small theme park or spend a bit more and go to the amazing Universal or Disney parks if theming is what they're into? So instead of trying to be a smaller, lesser Disney, Six Flags and Cedar Fair opt to focus on the thrill coasters and perfecting an amusement park experience. In Europe, pardon me for being reductive, but the parks there have always had to try a bit harder. For the longest time, they didn't have a Disney park to compete with, so they took the initiative and made their own themed experiences which became part of the culture and the expectations of the European public. In Europe, Disneyland Paris is most likely viewed as just another theme park amongst the sea of others, while here in America the original Disneyland (and even Disney World) almost has a sacred connotation. In many ways, it was the first truly successful "THEME PARK" in the world, and we've kind of latched onto that ever since. However, instead of letting a thousand Disneylands bloom, everyone just compares every new venture to it and inevitably comes to the conclusion that the newcomers are always inferior, even if that's not true in all cases. Disney has been able to carve out a space for itself as the king of theme parks in America because its a part of Americana. Therefore, few parks here ever dare to try to outdo it. The same isn't true in Europe, where the Disney park was initially seen as an invader. So, I'm guessing that many parks there had no qualms with trying to compete with and outdo Disney.
So yeah, its a bit strange. We in America have some of the best theme parks in the world (Disneyland, Disney World, Knott's Berry Farm, Dollywood, Silver Dollar City, Epic Universe for god's sake) but we also have a crapton of asphalt-ridden, coaster-heavy parks that do little if anything with theming.
A new favourite roller coaster?? Oh nooo......
When you made your last top 10 video, you listed Velocicoaster as your number one. After watching this, I jokingly searched for flight prices to NYC and Orlando. I happened to find a very cheap ticket to NYC, and then to Orlando, so one thing leads to the other, and that's a 5-day trip to NYC (where we also visited SFGA), and then on to Orlando for Universal... Velocicoaster also became my number one! Basically because of how extremely good it is, AND the amazing theming. The whole atmosphere made it complete. And as you say in this video, that atmosphere that surrounds a coaster really adds to the experience!
Buuttt... Does this now mean I have to go to the States again?? hahahaha
It was soo cool meeting at kings at kings dommion!! You had me with the title ngl had me scared thinking you wouldn't make videos anymore or ride coasters😂
I still love roller coasters, don't worry! It was great to meet you too ☺️
😭Realizing how bad we got it here in America
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.
I am rollercoaster guy though and though and I totally understand where you are coming from ESPECIALLY with six flags parks, Cedar Fair parks tend to be a little nicer on average and better run.
I am curious if Knoebels rise above just being amusement park for you? IMO its almost like Knoebels is a theme park, that theme is being the most charming, nice well run, amusement park that could exist. There are two amusement parks where the I can just spend time at out of the ones I have been to, and Knoebels is number 1, and Kennywood is a distant 2nd, but the vibe just falls off after that.
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
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"
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.
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.
Excellent video. Though I've never been to any European parks in person, I agree with your perspective.
Thank you! I hope you get to visit some European parks in the future ☺️