Do you read park-hosted blogs?

Okay, I admit it, I've asked you here under false pretenses.

I was hoping some of you good folks read our HoliBlog and would be willing to vote for us the the Indiana's Top 50 Blogs poll. We're currently in the top 10 ... I'd like to at least top out the Beer Geek. :)

As long as I have you here, though, I would like to ask what sort of things you enjoy reading about on park blogs. I'm guessing you'd like more technical stuff about the coasters ... what else?

Thanks, Paula

Count me in as long as you give us an exclusive to what is coming to Holiday World in 2011 (eh, coaster?)!!

I really enjoy reading on park blogs more into the inside working of the park (i.e. you wouldn't believe complaints/compliments and operational issues).

I voted for the one I read most often ;)

Speaking for myself: More business side of things, like the statistics on your free drinks program - how it's worked for you.

Green initiatives like the waterless urinals. Any recycling, energy, conservation measures...and of course how that works for HW in terms of energy savings, waste reduction, that kind of stuff.

Of course, ridership numbers.

Lastly, just in case you thought we'd forgotten, we still want to know *officially* which coaster in Southern Indiana will be the first in the world to sport Timberliner trains... ;)

Well Paula, I'm sorry to say I haven't read the blog lately. Plus, I feel bad that I was in Indy a few months ago (I was moving my sister out from NH. I've got a truck. It's an obligation :) ), and I couldn't get the time to drop down for a visit.

Next year, I hope.

Hope so, too, Hopman. :)

And 'gator, you forgot to request our P&L statement. Sheesh, you're slipping!

Paula

I know I'm in the minority here, but I don't have a lot of interest in the technical aspects of coasters and rides. Like Gator, my interest also lies in the business side of things.

I like the suggestions he made and would add things like how you decide on new additions and expansion and what kind of analysis you do for operations each year that drive future decisions.

I really don't read park blogs, unless someone directs me to a specific entry. Most of them suck, most of them don't even pretend to be marketing schlepping. (Not counting yours, of course.)

Only yours. (And I voted for it.)

I just want to know what that big secret that you've been holding in, is... :)

^...and Schlitterblog...(kinda funny since we're talking about slipping and schlepping)... :)

Paula, I figured I'd give a range of suggestions for you to choose from, I wasn't asking for "all of the above". Unless you're offering. Then, by all means... ;)

P.S. I think if Will were to ask all the parks that have spinning coasters what they think of them investment-wise, he might be surprised. Price versus value.

Surprised...in a good or bad way?

Dan, Will has "gone on record" saying that he thought the spinners were over-priced for what you get. My interpretation is that Will thinks the mechanicals of the ride(s) should come out with a lower overall price-tag than they do.

*My* interpretation is that he may be right in that the hardware is expensive for the trackage length...but I think parks have found that for the dollars invested, these rides generally provide a hefty return (i.e., wide demographic appeal, high uptime and ridership).

edit: Re-ridership also seems to be a major benefit to the spinning coasters, based on what I've seen at numerous parks that have them. For instance, even when Starliner at Cypress was running (and running really well), typically the mouse had an even longer line.

So what *don't* you want to see on park blogs? (I'm working on an IAAPA presentation, so you're part of my research.) What sort of thing would cause you to stop following a park blog or to no longer follow their tweets?

Thanks to those who voted for the HoliBlog ... the contest is still up for a few more days if there's anyone who hasn't voted yet. We're just a handful of votes away from landing in the top 5. :)

Thanks, Paula

Paula, I'm happy to help be one of your lab rats.

Oh, BTW, I was talking with my sister in Indy last night. Next time I see her, she's on board for a trip to your park.

You guys are about three hours from Indy, right?

Yes, about 3 hours. Will can make it in 2 hours 45 minutes. But that's just Will...

Well, I'm a bit of a leadfoot. Heck, I made it from Concord, NH to CP under 12, in a MINIVAN!!!

Raven Maven said:
So what *don't* you want to see on park blogs? (I'm working on an IAAPA presentation, so you're part of my research.) What sort of thing would cause you to stop following a park blog or to no longer follow their tweets?

Thanks to those who voted for the HoliBlog ... the contest is still up for a few more days if there's anyone who hasn't voted yet. We're just a handful of votes away from landing in the top 5. :)

Thanks, Paula

Let me qualify my comment by saying I'm more of a "second hand" park blog reader. I don't follow any blogs regularly, but if there's a thread on here about something on HoliBlog or one of the others that sounds interesting, I'll check it out.

I think one thing that could turn readers off is the build-up to a big letdown. If the earthmoving is really only for a storage shed, just say so and don't drag it out for a month. OK, it can be kind of funny reading the reactions of folks who were hoping for the giga dueling 4-d coaster with 10 inversions, but that works only once. To do it repeatedly would be the park version of crying wolf.

Another thing that many blogs in general do is feel like they have to post every day. As a result, a lot of it is meaningless filler. It's not like radio or TV where you have to worry about dead airtime. So take a day or two off here or there, and keep the posts to relevant meaningful topics. People won't disappear. Personally, I hate to go through something and realize I just wasted my time.

These comments don't pertain to your blog in particular, but general things that would cause me to lose interest in a blog I was following. And as always, thanks for allowing us our input.

Thanks, RGB. Good stuff.

In addition to the things RGB said, I will tie into his argument of not making irrelevant posts. A turn off for me is when the posts are needlessly really long. If it is a technical blog writing about detailed things, then sure multipage blog posts can be ok. If a sentence or short paragraph will do though, why make your readers read a terribly long article?

Raven Maven said:
So what *don't* you want to see on park blogs?

I find that puns and hints about new attractions are really, really annoying.

No, wait.

Nevermind ;)