Cedar Point Vs. Morey's Piers ( We all Win)

Here's how the Top 10 Thrills were listed:

1) World's scariest chair-- Insanity @ Stratosphere

2) Tallest and fastest -- TTD @ CP

3) Oldest Theme Park-- Lake Compounce

4) Largest Ferris Wheel-- Fair Park, Dallas

5) Largest Seaside Park-- Morey's

6) First Floorless in SoCal-- Scream @ SFMM

7) Largest U.S. Water Park-- Noah's Ark

8) Tallest Woodie-- SOB @ PKI

9) South's Loopiest Coaster-- Assimilator @ Carowinds

10) Highest Drop-- Drop Zone Stunt @ PKD

They never say what their criteria are for deciding the best of anything. Now whether having the fallest, tallest, biggest anything means the whole park it's in should be ranked in the Top 10 is a matter of discussion. And that's why we're here.

^ Trust me, I am not picking a fight... I am just trying to figure out why people consider "the first floorless coaster in southern CA" to be a big deal. Is it like southern CA was just aching for a floorless coaster?

There's that "need to classify" thing again. :)

I think an amusement park (used as a generic term encompassing amusement parks, theme parks and whatnot) is simply a collection of rides placed in the same area where admission or fees are paid to ride those rides and those rides are the sole attraction.

Under that definition, the roof of the Stratosphere certainly qualifies as an amusement park. They have four rides grouped together that you pay to access and there's no other reason for guests to be on the roof other than to visit/use those rides.

Heck, I'd certainly call the Adventuredome at Circus Circus an amusement park, although in comparison to the Stratosphere it's technically it's just some rides stuck behind the casino/hotel.

The real question in that definition comes in the number of rides, I suppose. Is 4 rides enough to make an 'amusement park'? If not, what arbitrary number does it take to make a collection of rides into an 'amusement park'.

(In hindsight, I suppose you could also argue the presence of other park staples like games and food also matter)

Just some ideas. Feel free to rip apart my theories - I'm new to this whole 'need to classify' thing. ;)

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razore86 said:
I don't understand how a park like "Fair Park" ranked higher than say.... Kennywood? Who has even heard of FP?

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Fair Park is taking about the State Fair of Texas. It's not a real park for 11 months of the year, and is one of the best flat ride parks for 1 month a year. :)

In reference to the lists of "best whatever" - keep in mind these are just opinions. The same as if we all made lists. They'd all be different.

The main difference between our list and the ones on AOL and MSN are that it's not any of our jobs to make the list that gets posted to those sites.

In the end it's just the opinion of the person whose job it was to make a list in arbitrary categories of their own choosing. Not every list is meant to be an authority or even proclaims to be.

(man, things are getting really anal around here lately :) )

I would certainly classify Stratosphere as an amusement park- it's a collection of rides that people pay to get to. Balboa Fun Spot in Newport Beach, CA only has a handful of rides- a ferris wheel, a carousel, a tiny darkride and one other that escapes me but I would classify that as an amusement park.

That is, assuming you feel the need to classify ;)

It's worked for biologists, why not enthusiasts?

Yes, but it doesn't seem to work well for music or painting or books or art in general and coasters are as much art as they are science. ;)

Offbeat list, that's for sure. Not a single Florida park. Some parks (SFMM, Lake Compounce, PKD) that may not even be the best in their chain. To each his own, I guess. At least the list is somewhat unique.

I think, we are seeing a change in society of a "need to classify" basis. Now, mind you this is just an observation. I never thought that 4 rides could make an Amuesment park.

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RavenTTD said:

LOL AstroLand! That place totally sucked. Astroworld is the best amusement park.

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You obviously haven't ridden their Top Spin (3.8mb). Of course, that doesn't make it a number one. The makers of the list have probably never even visited the parks, they just researched who has the tallest, fastest, biggest, yadda yadda yadda of whatever to come up with a list just as people are starting to make summer plans.

*** Edited 5/14/2005 12:32:17 AM UTC by Cyclonic***

I think they might of based it on last year....because TTD is no longer the tallest and fastest, unless you count how high the sea levels are in comparison to the parks. I think we get the idea....

So, any state fair is an amusement park because they have at least four rides? They also have food and games.

I thought permanent installation was understood. For clarity let's amend the rule to:

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a permanent collection of rides placed in the same area where admission or fees are paid to ride those rides and those rides are the sole attraction

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Ok, still, I'm not seeing Stratosphere as an amusement park. I have not seen a definitive arguement that "classifies" it as an amusement park.

So, exaclty how many rides does it take to be a park? I could have a train ride in my backyard and charge people to ride it. It's permanent and I charge and it's the sole attraction. Amusement park or not? I'm not trying to start an arguement, however, I don't think it's as cut and dry as some say. *** Edited 5/14/2005 3:18:29 PM UTC by Coasterbuzzer***

I know that explanation is simplistic and I did offer my own reasons why in my original post. So what would it take to make the stratosphere an 'amusement park'?

What would have to be added?

*** Edited 5/14/2005 3:24:05 PM UTC by Lord Gonchar***

I always thought Stratosphere was a bemusement park.... ;)

Praiseland!

That's what I'm saying Gonch. I think there's a lot of grey area. Some say gate fees, some say it doesn't matter. Some say you need games and food as well. I'm as confused as ever. How about, if you think it's an amusement park, it is. If not, then it's not. I guess it's all subjective.

I agree totally.

The 'need to classify' rules the enthusiast community with a mind warping iron fist.

What's an inversion? What's an Amusement Park? What's a Theme Park? Who Has This or That? Biggest, Fastest, Longest, Newest, Most Unique, Whatever?

Why do enthusiasts have to categorize on such a meticulous level?