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Theme park guilty pleasures

Matt N

TS Member
Favourite Ride
Mako (SeaWorld Orlando)
Hi guys. So often in theme park enthusiasm, there’s a consensus opinion on certain things; certain rides, attractions and parks are loved, while others are hated. But have you got any attractions or parks that you feel as though you really shouldn’t like, but you just do? Any theme park-related guilty pleasures, if you like?


I must admit, I have quite a few! Some of mine include:

  • The Simpsons Ride/Springfield at Universal Studios Florida - How much of this is down to the ride and area themselves and how much of this is down to the fact I’m a big Simpsons fan, I’m not entirely sure of, but I’m rather ashamed to admit that Springfield, including The Simpsons Ride itself, is actually one of my personal favourite bits of Universal Orlando. Even though the ride itself doesn’t really compare to some of Universal’s bigger e-ticket dark rides like the Potter rides, Spider-Man, Transformers and Mummy in terms of technical complexity, I must admit that I have a huge soft spot for it, and it makes me smile every time I ride! I’ve ridden it quite a few times now over various trips to Universal, and there are still certain bits in the ride and queue that really make me chuckle every time! I’m also a huge fan of the Springfield area; I think the attention to detail is absolutely astounding, and it really feels like you’re in a Simpsons episode at times! However, I’m always afraid to admit my love for The Simpsons’ attraction at Universal Orlando, because I feel like it’s almost universally panned by most!
  • Runaway Mine Train at Alton Towers - The fact that I have a powered family roller coaster in my top 30 (for reference, my coaster count is 74) probably looks laughable to most of you, but I must admit that even though I’ve been riding RMT for years now (it was one of my first ever coasters), it consistently delivers a fun ride every single time for me! It’s not the most intense of coasters by any means, but it’s just such an effortlessly fun ride that anyone of any age can just sit back and enjoy. And it packs a surprising punch in places; that ending helix is really quite intense for a coaster of only 22mph! It may be a powered roller coaster aimed at families and young children, but there are far worse places you could be than on the back seat of Runaway Mine Train, in my opinion!
  • Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at Alton Towers - Even though it was almost universally slated by most Alton Towers fans, I must admit that I really miss CATCF; it’s one of the defunct rides that I wish I could bring back, for sure! I have many very fond memories of riding it; I always found it a nice, relaxing ride with some really nice theming, and the elevator ending added a really unique layer to the overall experience, in my opinion! On the whole, I just have many fond memories of this ride, and I always really enjoyed it; certainly one I never personally got the hate for!
  • DinoRama at Disney’s Animal Kingdom - While I admit that DinoRama is far from my favourite area in Animal Kingdom, and it is quite a stark contrast to the park’s other areas, I’m ashamed to say that I do still kind of like it! I found the area quite cute and charming in its own sort of way; it’s a very vibrant area, in my opinion, and there’s a surprising amount of theming with all of the dinosaur cutouts and the lights around! Overall, I always kind of liked DinoRama, in an odd kind of way; even though I admit that it’s not Disney’s finest work, I still think it’s a nice little area in its own special way.
  • Oakwood - Even though everyone seems to hate Oakwood, I must admit that I have a real soft spot for it! In spite of the fact that it was tipping down with rain, I still managed to have a great day at Oakwood when I last went in May 2019! And I actually think the park has a lot going for it; Megafobia, even though it doesn’t quite compare to newer rides like Wicker Man for me, is a really solid, fun coaster, in my opinion, and I love Oakwood’s very quaint, wooded setting! I also think that the park has a certain charm to it throughout that really makes me like it; things like Neverland and the train ride to the park, amongst other sections, dare I say almost feel kind of magical!
But what are some of your theme park guilty pleasures?
 
I unashamedly love Mir, it was in my top 10 for many years until the weight of genuinely great rides on my list got too much to justify it still being up there.

Sticking with EP, I unironically liked Universe of Energy. MFC is objectively much better but I don't particularly want to ride it more often than its predecessor.
 
There is nothing pointless to the turns atop Euro-Mir when you are looking over the best overall park in Europe. in winter season, in the dark, it becomes something even more beautiful.

*spots all the nice things before being hurtled downhill at ridiculous G force*

 
- Crazy Bats at Phantasialand is admirable on how awful it is compared to what is the rest of the park I couldn't help but smile when riding it.

- Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris is something I unironically like. Then again most people say it's bad by Disney standards.

- Fun Spot Orlando left a positive impact on me. Maybe because I found the staff to be quite friendly when I went.

- Walibi Holland has a whole is fun because of how bizarrely presented it is.
 
I will also add to my guilty pleasures, Paultons, a really good park with far superior rides to Chessington and actually good animatronics. Hoping that I can go ride Storm Chaser next year!

Nothing guilty about a Paultons Pleasure, it's the best park in the country by a mile.

Mine would have to be Great Yarmouth's Joyland. I know the snails and tubs aren't meant for 40 year olds, but I ride them with glee. It's my happy place.
 
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Mine would have to be Great Yarmouth's Joyland. I know the snails and tubs aren't meant for 40 year olds, but I ride them with glee. It's my happy place.

I been riding the snails and barrels for around 50 years, so yes I still have a soft spot for Joyland and the snails have got to be my guilty pleasure (and not just the ones at Joyland, but also the ones at the pleasure beach) . Dark rides have got to be my guilty pleasures including Blackpools Alice in wonderland, River caves, Wallace and Gromit ride etc...
 
+1 vote for Euro Mir. I absolutely adore that ride.

Also at EP I’d throw Abenteuer Atlantis.

Beyond Europa:
  • Any monorail system which isn’t in a state of total disrepair (looking at you, Towers)
  • The late Slammer at Thorpe (RIP)
  • Journey Into Imagination at EPCOT
 
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