Unpopular Opinions: Theme Park Edition

[Benzin]

I think quite a few people have certainly mentioned about the Vikings area having a coaster older than most users on here being a major part of it.

In addition I think a lot of times now it entirely depends on which circles or "influencers" you follow online. Group opinion is king often, and general viewpoints are so often blurred by the number of attendees to media days where things often work perfectly or beyond the norm. Very rare do any of these attendees say anything remotely critical purely out of fear of no future invites. It's frustrating when you want a honest opinion on these things.

 

[Poisson]

Vikings was already peeling when I went the September after it opened. Not a good area.

Paultons and DMP get put on a pedestal because people are desperate for something not Merlin, not always because they're that good.

 

[Thameslink Rail]

I think part of it is just how little investment Chessington got in the time Paultons went through its transformation, (and the previous decade for that matter).

 

[JAperson]

I think most people are right here in that it's just that people are sick of the Merlin monopoly the industry is stook in so when other parks are investing and have somewhat of a bright future people really hype them up.

 

[pluk]

Paultons and DMP get put on a pedestal because people are desperate for something not Merlin, not always because they're that good.

I dont think that's fair at all. Paultons absolutely is that good, not because they are 'not Merlin'. My opinion has nothing to do with it not being Merlin, other than if it was run by Merlin it would be run in a completely differently. I'd be very happy and positive about their parks if Merlin ran them well, ran them anything like as well as Paultons do.

No clue about DMP, last time I went G force had just opened! But the reviews I've seen favent exactly been unanimously praising the place. Without having been it's hard to judge but both possitivity and criticism about the place has seemed quite fair and balanced overall.

 

[jon81uk]

My point was more that I almost feel that if Drayton or Paultons had built the exact same land as Chessington did, the response would be far more positive. It feels like people are focused far more on the negatives when Merlin build something than when Drayton or Paultons build something.

People seem to pick at the flaws of every Merlin project when it opens, but not at the flaws of Drayton or Paultons’ projects. For instance, I would argue that Drayton Manor’s decision to centre Vikings around a 35 year old coaster that is showing its age and has previously been earmarked for removal could be construed as slightly odd or short termist, but I never hear people mention that in relation to the Vikings area, only focusing on the positives. I accept that context is key, and it does appear as though they painted up and refurbished Jormungandr to some degree as part of that project, but it does feel like people really dig in and focus only on the flaws when it comes to Merlin in a way that they don’t with other UK parks.

I think the issue with Jumanji as an area is that they could have done so much better, Merlin have bigger budgets than Paultons but Paultons seem to pull of more cohesive better themed areas. If CWoA had gone with a different/cheaper coaster then maybe more could have been spent on the support rides. Its just not quite delivering what many think they are capable of.

Vikings could be compared to Wild Asia at Chessington, which took the old Beanoland rides (some of which I think were even older than that) and themed it into a great small area with just one new ride (Kobra) and one new animal exhibit (Lorikeets). In fact Wild Asia is probably better overall themed than Jumanji (I've not see it in person yet though). DM did a similar thing of adding some new rides to enhance an existing one when making Vikings, but Wild Asia probably came out better, although had more exisiting hardware of course.

 

[Matt N]

After my visit to Thorpe Park yesterday and riding my 3rd one, I’m concluding that I have a new unpopular opinion; I’m not a massive fan of gyroswings.

They seem to be raved about often, and whenever the topic of new flat rides for a park comes up, it’s always gyroswing this, gyroswing that. The ride type is very popular among enthusiasts.

However, I have to say that none of the 3 I’ve done have really done it for me. I’ve done Cyclonator at Paultons Park (a Zamperla Discovery), Maelstrom at Drayton Manor (an Intamin Gyroswing) and Vortex at Thorpe Park (a KMG Afterburner), and haven’t been a huge fan of any of them. I think they all suffer from the same flaw in that the spinning ruins it for me and seems to nullify the sensations of airtime and speed that I really enjoy on a non-spinning pendulum ride like a Screamin’ Swing.

Personally, I much prefer something like an S&S Screamin’ Swing to any of the gyroswings I’ve ridden.

 

[MellowPasta]

I agree Matt, I don’t find them enjoyable, in fact to me they’re just chunder machines.

 

[Benzin]

There's a massive difference between facing inwards and outwards.

That being said, Huss Frisbees are vile, but I'd ride the likes of Loki and SpinSpider a lot.

 

[Zeock]

After my visit to Thorpe Park yesterday and riding my 3rd one, I’m concluding that I have a new unpopular opinion; I’m not a massive fan of gyroswings.

They seem to be raved about often, and whenever the topic of new flat rides for a park comes up, it’s always gyroswing this, gyroswing that. The ride type is very popular among enthusiasts.

However, I have to say that none of the 3 I’ve done have really done it for me. I’ve done Cyclonator at Paultons Park (a Zamperla Discovery), Maelstrom at Drayton Manor (an Intamin Gyroswing) and Vortex at Thorpe Park (a KMG Afterburner), and haven’t been a huge fan of any of them. I think they all suffer from the same flaw in that the spinning ruins it for me and seems to nullify the sensations of airtime and speed that I really enjoy on a non-spinning pendulum ride like a Screamin’ Swing.

Personally, I much prefer something like an S&S Screamin’ Swing to any of the gyroswings I’ve ridden.

I agree. None of them do much for me. Cyclonator is the best that I have ridden, but it doesn't have any airtime. Vortex varies. It is sometimes decent, but it is often rubbish.

 

[Shaggy_Dog_]

I love gyro swings. Loke at Liseberg is probably my all time favourite flat ride with ridiculous amounts of airtime all whilst being held in by a very free feeling lapbar.

We have some nice ones here in the UK, Maelstrom of course, Cyclonator for a good forceful swing (only let down somewhat for it shoulder crushing restraints), and the chilled out hang time focused Axis.

It’s interesting [mention]Matt N [/mention] that you found the spinning aspect of Vortex too intense as for me the spinning is really a secondary thing that varies your position on the highest point of the swing each time rather than being one of the main sensations of the ride. Those KMG Afterburners do have a nice kick to them. But just as some people don’t like drop towers, and others (myself included) don’t like star flyers, it’s maybe just a case that gyro swings aren’t your cup of tea due to either the motion of them or the feeling of being repeatedly swung high in the air at speed whilst looking straight up or straight down at ground. I’d imagine that they can be quite a nerve wracking ride for many people.

 

[Squiggs]

I much, much prefer Gyro Swings over the inward facing alternatives like Afterburners.

For me a big part of the appeal is the views offered by having outward facing seats. There's something about having nothing between you and the sky or you and the floor that really adds to the experience.

 

[Poisson]

I'm still waiting for Mondial or Intamin to offer a stand up giant gyro swing.

 

[GooseOnTheLoose]

Nickelodeon: Outta Control was one of the best attractions to ever grace Alton Towers, and my inner 8 year old has never forgiven them for its closure.

 

[Zeock]

An opinion of mine that I didn't know was unpopular until recently is that Detonator is a better drop tower than Hangover. The views from Hangover are terrific, but the drop of Detonator packs more force for me.

 

[Ethan]

I've just discovered this thread and it's time to unveil my unpopular/controversial theme park opinions. I'm sure some of these will make people scratch their heads.
1) Smiler is the best coaster in the uk (for now oooo hyperia)
2) Nemesis is a great ride but overrated by most enthusiasts
3) Rita's launch feels just as powerful and intense as Stealth to me, can't really tell the difference
4) Saw is the best ride at Thorpe (until next year)
5) Stealth has to be one of the most overrated coasters in the uk
6) Swarm is the best themed coaster in the uk (Sorry Wicker man)
7) From in the queueline underneath the ride, Smiler might just be one of the most visually impressive rides in the world
8) Bleasure Beach is overrated and doesn't appeal to me like towers and thorpe do

 

[Squiggs]

Here's one... when they built The Smiler, they'd have been better off building a pair of duelling coasters with seven inversions each.

 

[Ethan]

Here's one... when they built The Smiler, they'd have been better off building a pair of duelling coasters with seven inversions each.

It just feels like 2 7 inversion coasters put together anyway. Doesn't make you as dizzy as colossus

 

[GooseOnTheLoose]

It just feels like 2 7 inversion coasters put together anyway. Doesn't make you as dizzy as colossus

"Ok... We've done five inversions, what about the other half? We need the record of ten. Any ideas?"

"Barrel rolls"

"Barrel rolls?"

"4 barrel rolls and then, when they think it's over..."

"Yeah?"

"We get them with another barrel roll"

"Brilliant! No one will ever top this"

 

[Ethan]

"Ok... We've done five inversions, what about the other half? We need the record of ten. Any ideas?"

"Barrel rolls"

"Barrel rolls?"

"4 barrel rolls and then, when they think it's over..."

"Yeah?"

"We get them with another barrel roll"

"Brilliant! No one will ever top this"

It's repetitive but that's why it makes you dizzy. Its just one after another like being in a washing machine. Most of Smilers inversions are different, therefore it doesn't feel repetitive and it doesn't actually feel like you're doing a record amount