Are theme park enthusiasts too picky?

[Matt N]

Hi guys. On Saturday, Paultons Park announced their heavily hyped-up Vikings area after months of speculation. The new land generated a lot of excitement... but the choice of a Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter, Drakon, for the area's headline coaster has heavily divided opinion, to say the least. Some (myself included) have been fairly critical of the choice, while others are excited and think it will be a brilliant fit for the park. One common thread I noticed among those who are happy with the addition is that they seem to infer that those who aren't are being overly picky and overly critical. There's a lot of talk along the lines of things like "cut them some slack", "can't people be positive for once" and "let's not criticise Paultons when they're trying their best". With this in mind, it got me thinking; are theme park enthusiasts too picky? Do we pick at the minute flaws a bit too much and fail to see the wood for the trees a little when it comes to reviewing things?

Personally... I'm going to be awkward and say yes and no. A few years ago, I would have emphatically said yes, but I think my stance has changed somewhat on this as I've grown older and experienced more.

On one hand, I would say yes, I think theme park enthusiasts can have a somewhat pessimistic, picky side to them at times. On these forums, I do sometimes think that some of the issues and critiques raised with regard to certain parks are exaggerated at times. Things that I would personally argue are minor flaws or points for improvement are sometimes made out to be major park-ruining issues, and I do sometimes think things can be blown out of proportion. At times, I do also think it's very easy to criticise parks when you are not in a position of power and don't have access to their wide range of data and KPIs. It's all too easy to play armchair critic or armchair theme park manager when you're in no position of power to change anything, and while some decisions made by parks may look ludicrous to enthusiast eyes, many of these decisions may well have an explainable rationale behind them that we as guests aren't privy to.

At the same time, however, I would say no... because I think enthusiast critiques are very often more than simply picking at flaws for the sake of a good moan. In many cases, enthusiasts pick flaws because we care so deeply; we want these parks to do well and have some level of investment in them doing well. When you care about something, you are bound to have stronger opinions on it, for better or worse. Also, many people around these parts have accumulated a vast wealth of park visiting and coaster riding experience, which will naturally give us our own personal idea of what works and what doesn't. Sometimes, people might criticise a new addition or park decision because their wide breadth of experience has shown them that there are better options out there.

But I'd be interested to know; do you think theme park enthusiasts are too picky? Do we as a community pick at the flaws of these rides and parks too much and fail to see how good we actually have it?

 

[GooseOnTheLoose]

There's a lot of talk along the lines of things like "cut them some slack", "can't people be positive for once" and "let's not criticise Paultons when they're trying their best".

Of course there is, it's Paulton's Park. One is never allowed to criticise park. Praise be.

Let's be perfectly honest, if a Merlin Park were to install a Gerstlauer Eurofighter, with Over the Shoulder Restraints, as their next coaster, they would be utterly crucified.

 

[Matt N]

Of course there is, it's Paulton's Park. One is never allowed to criticise park. Praise be.

Let's be perfectly honest, if a Merlin Park were to install a Gerstlauer Eurofighter, with Over the Shoulder Restraints, as their next coaster, they would be utterly crucified.

I'd... be lying if I said I disagreed with any of that, to be honest!

 

[Benjsh]

I don't think theme park / rollercoaster enthusiasts are any more 'picky' and 'demanding' than any other enthusiast group.

Disney hardcore fans are insanely picky and touchy. Same goes for Marvel fans, DC fans, Star Wars and Tolkien fans etc. I think once who go down the rabbit hole there's no turning back. People live their lives around these IP's.

 

[Benzin]

I don't think theme park / rollercoaster enthusiasts are any more 'picky' and 'demanding' than any other enthusiast group.

This.

See it loads in my other hobbies. Football fans are notoriously patient for new signings and Warhammer fans just love it when new rules come out for their army and they get a good nerfing.

I think with Paultons what didn't help is that the expectations were so high (and many had RMC in their heads) that an Eurofighter was a bit of a downgrade in their mind. Though as discussed ad nasuem in the topic the decision to build one has good and bad points for their audience.

Definitely more likely to write something off because of the ride type though.

 

[Alix]

I think sometimes people here forget they're not always the target audience.

I remember all the stick mandril mayhem got when it opened - people seemed to forget it wasn't aimed at the seasoned enthusiast who's got 100+ CREDS - it was aimed at little kids who were a bit too big and brave for dragons fury but not yet big and brave enough to go to Thorpe down the road ...

(Capacity etc criticisms were fine, but "it's slow, it doesn't do much" were overly harsh in my opinion)

Criticism levelled at Hyperia is mainly justified though. It's a "big boy/girl" ride so aimed at us, but I've ridden it a few times now and only had one ride where I didn't feel my brain was being shaken out of my ears. Awful thing. And it's forever breaking down.

 

[owenstreet7]

I think with Paultons and the Eurofighter, the criticism is harsh and that enthusiasts can be rather picky. Some of this is based on experience with Saw and to a lesser degree Rage and Speed.

Is it a good choice? I would say so within the context of the park going for their first major thrill coaster.

I believe a lot of enthusiasts have expectations based on what they want and could be disappointed if they don't get it.

I wanted there to be a water ride opening for 2026 in Valgard (or at least keep Raging River open until one does open). Although it doesn't change my view that Valgard is a good investment and exactly what the park needs (even if it's a model they could've went for about 10-15 years ago).

I think what an enthusiast wants may not reflect a park's strategy with an investment.

 

[BSwiss]

Many fanbases have a tendency to set the pinnacle of their obsession’s output as the standard, which raises expectations.

But, AT will never have the 92-98 run of new rides again. Weezer will never release anything near Blue and Pinkerton again. Your League One football team isn’t a ‘sleeping giant’ - their median is 50th-60th best team in the country, in spite of a small spell in the late 00s .

In the specific case of Paultons - I think the ride could be a big error. If it is a notorious headbanger - this will leak through via social and mums net, and potentially deter people from coming. My wife is a fastidious researcher, and I imagine other non-enthusiast parents are similar - which could mitigate the ‘my first inverter’ angle.

 

[Zeock]

I usually think that criticisms are justified when it comes to capacity and roughness, but enthusiasts such as myself often seem to forget that they are not the target audience for family and children's rides.

 

[QTXAdsy]

I think regarding Towers and maybe the UK theme park scene in general, people have perhaps thanks to what has happened in the past 20 years with how parks have been run that many enthusiasts have a total zero tolerance for anything such as Paultons' new Eurofighter which comes off as very snobby as only a B&M or Mack will do and anything else like Vekoma or Gerst is made for the pleb parks who don't deserve anything nice for something that happened in the past.

Honestly I just hope Universal works out as all I want is all the miserable gits on social media who wibble about the 90s no longer being the same to finally shut up and enjoy something in this country. I have learnt Scotland will be forever a butt monkey for the theme park scene which marks me out as a joke and scumbag to other enthusiasts because where I come from and hell I would happily have a headbanger Eurofighter if it meant we had an actual coaster where I come from. Some really take things for granted and I wish they'd understand my case but so much for so-called like minded enthusiasts who laugh at me. Pricks.

 

[NuttySquirrel]

Taking the Paultons Eurofighter example specifically, I don't believe the critical voices stem from pickiness, snobbery or a failure to recognise that we may not be the target market for this attraction. Put yourself in the shoes of an eight-year-old riding your first inverting coaster at Paultons Park. You've never even been upside down on a ride before, and yet the first thing to happen is that you are tipped 90 degrees right onto your back. The blood rushes to your head. You cannot see where you are going and you cannot see your family, it's just you and the big white sky above. You have no idea how long you'll be in this position or what's coming next. Then the ride starts properly. It's rough and jolty - you don't know any better, so you assume this is what all thrill coasters must feel like. You are thrown around a corner and smash your ear against the restraint, it hurts a lot. You are just the right wrong height for the sides of your head to become a punchbag. You come off feeling traumatized and with red, smarting ears. Your parents ask you if you want to ride again. You look at the imposing vertical track reaching far up into the sky and say 'no thanks'. You decide scary rollercoasters maybe aren't for you...

I think as enthusiasts we recognise (objectively) when a decision is clearly a mistake - we know these coasters are not smooth and there are far better options for a family-friendly park both in terms of manufacturer, model and restraint design. Families don't know or care what manufacturer is responsible for a ride or how cutting edge it is, but they will know and they will care if a ride is uncomfortable and makes their children cry. No one was expecting this to be the next enthusiast's wet dream, but we did expect it to be a sensible, modern choice that families would love and would stand the test of time.