Does Paramount destroy their 5 park's "Theme"

Has anybody else noticed how the Paramount Parks are moving farther away from there original "Themes"

In my opinion this is horrible. Paramount does have everyright to do it, but in many cases they have completely destroyed their park's charm and magic. Kings Dominion can now just be called an amusement park thanks to them, and Carowinds has almost lost its purpose entirely.

In some cases, evan Six Flags is maintaning themes better. SF Great America gained a new area that goes with the theme of park, whereas Paramount's Great America has lost two of its areas to themes that have nothing to do with America.

Its sad to think that these parks once had a purpose.

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"The fish are eating the guest, sir

hmmmmm.... I never thought about it. I guess I was never into the Paramount "Hollywood movie" style of park anyway

I JUST got back from PGA and let me tell you, the park is beautiful. It is almost spotless in most area's, great music throughout the park, friendly staff, good rides, good food, and lots of other things. I know this has nothing to do with your orignal question, but I am just saying that even though are straying a little away from the theme, it is a still a great park.
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"There's no such thing as a mistake. There's what you do, and what you don't do."

Theming is overrated unless your talking about Disney or Universal. Give me some good rides, friendly employees and good capacity. If theming were so important to a great amusement park, why is Cedar Point constantly rated #1?

Paramount is not perfect by any means, but they put on a great show. They don't just open new rides, they present them as "events". They hook you with their enthusiasm, without all the "aren't we the best with our latest *est coaster" that Six Flags and Cedar Fair beat into the ground.

...and their employees aren't lap bar nazis!

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"Escuse me, can you tell me where the heck the Mystery Lodge is"?

you want themeing, go to islands of adventure.
then when you go to a paramount park after going to IOA you wont care about themeing anymore cause basically nothing will ever beat IOA

im with outkast, i just want hard working employees that are freindly and maybe a coaster every couple of years. not 10 years like it has been. my home park is paramount canadas wonderland.

Well at PCW they have slowly been adding and renaming/themeing attractions to move away from the different theme areas. This year the enitre Mexican theme was replaced with the Action Zone theme. However, I was happy to give up the themeing for the addition of Psyclone... mmmmmm.

I went to PKD this year and found it to be OK themed but I found the best themed section to be the Congo. I'm also going there on Monday.

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-Sean
In 4 Days My 100th Coaster will be HyperSonic XLC

Anyone been to PKI recently? The kids area is outstanding. Action Zone is great but is missing a few rides. And this year TRTR did not in anyway destroy the look of Rivertown. Coney mall is still great with the flatrides, shops, and games along it. Octoberfest is outstanding, even though really only one ride (viking ship) but it still has the German feel to it. IMO PKI has it down as close to perfect as you can get.

But I've never been to another Paramount park. ;)

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Gas to get to PKI, $5.60. ACE card for walkback, $50.00. Meeting up with Beastnum1 and drinking 20 lemonjuice packets, priceless

Ya Paramount seems to have kept Kings Island intact, because it's their big park. They pump more money into us than Six Flags or Cedar Fair NORMALLY pump into a park.

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(Former Signature replaced due to bad joke with accident) The Beast at night-Two peas in a pod?

SFgadvMAN said:
"I went to PKD this year and found it to be OK themed but I found the best themed section to be the Congo.
"

So tell me, what does Avalanche Run or FOF have anything to do with a Congo theme?
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TOGO!

I think it's not so much "destroying" the theme as it is "migrating" to another theme.

For example, Rivertown. It used to have the classic old west/river theme that most every park seems to have. With the addition of TR, and the loss of 2 water rides, a good portion of the "river" theme has been lost. What's been gained, though, is an lost city/exploration-type theme. None of that area's major rides can be seen from the path, leaving you to wonder what's out there.

The original themes may be gone, but I think Paramount is doing a good job of transforming the parks into how they see fit.

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"I am a pitbull on the pantleg of opportunity."
- George W. Bush

Actully, the Rivertown theme is replicating an early "Gateway to the West" Ohio town. I'd dont think theres any anicient God temples in this section of the cotinent.

I would have put Tomb Raider in the Paramount Action Zone. That area has no theme since Paramount got rid of the Adventure Village idea.

PT300 said:

SFgadvMAN said:
"I went to PKD this year and found it to be OK themed but I found the best themed section to be the Congo.
"

So tell me, what does Avalanche Run or FOF have anything to do with a Congo theme?
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TOGO!

Well I guess more of Volcano. Maybe there theming isn't that great.

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-Sean
In 4 Days My 100th Coaster will be HyperSonic XLC

OutKast: I agree that IOA beats the pants out of anywhere else in terms of theming, but you have to admit that Montu and Alpie were both greatly enhanced by their theming. A good theme makes a good ride better and is a heck of a lot cheaper than a lot of the alternatives.

You alos have to think that they are open all year-round, and are in more of a destination spot. Ohio, Canada, Virginia, Northern California, and Carolinas are not real real big destination spots, Florida is though. Also, with that low of a height limit you have to have theming to make your rides (drop and launch towers) better for the size. You also have to give a one of a kind experience.

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(Former Signature replaced due to bad joke with accident) The Beast at night-Two peas in a pod?

I understand why IOA does it, but that doesn't mean it's useless at a Paramount Park. I mean look at Alpie. It would certainly stand on it's own without the theming. It's the biggest invert in the world. But it definitely better with the theming. Imagine if Hypersonic was themed as well as Alpengeist (and was as long, but now I'm just getting greedy. ;))

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A rollercoaster? What's that?

Teenage Ninja said:
Ohio, Canada, Virginia, Northern California, and Carolinas are not real real big destination spots, Florida is though.

Northern California is not a destination spot? Uhh... ever heard of a little small town called SAN FRANCISCO? Apparently not. =P

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"Hey, man! Is that Freedom Rock?! TURN IT UP!!!"

One more thing... Canada? Lumping an entire country that is larger than the US with some states? Canada is a tourist destination spot. Since you didn't specifically say where in Canada... Vancouver, Banff, Niagara Falls, and Toronto (where Wonderland is near), are all destination spots.

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"Hey, man! Is that Freedom Rock?! TURN IT UP!!!"

Ok ok ok, Northern California isn't a theme park destination spot. The area where Wonderland is isn't a big area, if people go to Canada they wanna do something that they can do in the states (theme parks) Sorry I am not perfect like all of you.

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(Former Signature replaced due to bad joke with accident) The Beast at night-Two peas in a pod?

Well, Wonderland doesn't have to pull in Americans. There one of the only major parks in Canada. They can focus on that market.

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"The fish are eating the guest, sir