Does Paramount destroy their 5 park's "Theme"

Well, I just went to Canada's Wonderland on the 7/23, and I found no problems with themeing. It is a fact that this is no IOA, but what do you call the cliffs in the center of the park, or the numerous hangars and plane by Top Gun? Not bad if you ask me... The landscaping at that park is excellent. That pool with all those fountains really sets a nice impression. The only thing I would change is add some more music to the park. Either it was really quiet, or there was no music played in many places throughout the park.

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Ya, I know what your saying about Top Gun not fitting into a jungle theme, I think Paramount had the whole Action Zone idea from day one. They are jsut now trying to fit rides in the areas where they are placed.

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

Yes, Paramount has slowly destroyed the overall theming of all of their parks. Some people just want to ride rides, and don't care about the overall "feel" of the park. For some of us, the theming is very important in the experience, and only adds to the trip to the park as it tends to transport you away from the real world and take you somewhere else for the time being.

Kings Island theming has slowly been deteriorating, and Tomb Raider was the icing on the cake. It is completely out of theme for that section of the park. Those who say that they are changing the themes of each section are grasping at straws. There is no overall theme for Rivertown anymore, and Action Zone never had a theme. Last time i checked, africa was not in germany (adventure express) and oktoberfest has basically become 2 buildings and a viking ship.

Kings Dominion has followed the same path. Rides are basically just plopped down in the most covenient spot with little regard to the overall theming. In most cases, some creative thinking could have maintained the theme.

PGA, just look at Great America in Chicago. While it has some theming issues, the original areas are still intact plus one new section. In California, again rides were plopped down here and there with little regards to the great theming that was there.

Carowinds is the worst. In the early 80's not only was each section of the park excellently themed with everything in each section carrying that theme, the whole park had an overall theme--the Carolinas. Hollywood was not in the Carolinas. While Carolina Boardwalk may be an attempt to get some theming back (did they add any water to that area, when it was Frontier Outpost there was none), it is a poor replacement for the excellent Pirate Island section that was there, while completely eliminating the Frontier theme.

While the downslide of these parks (mass removal of rides) began under the management prior to Paramount, Paramount has not did much overall to improve the park experience (more removal of rides, mediocre new rides and attractions). These parks will never be hollywood type total experience type parks like Universal, so why try. Rides like Tomb Raider as pretty much pitiful attempts to do that, how timeless is THAT movie?

At least some of us were lucky enough to get to go to the Taft parks in the 80s, when the magic was there.

Super 7 I couldn't agree with you more. The quality of PKI's thememing and the quality of the park has detriorated rapidly over the past 6 years. Rides are removed year after year with no replacement or replacement with rides you have to pay for (King Cobra, Skylab, Flight Commander, Ohio Overland Livery) and many of the rides and buidlings and landscaping look as though they are going to deteriorate into the ground. Next time you go look at the fountain as you go in. It has a brownish/green look to it not to mention the rust covered fountains in the middle. Take a look at the racer and the desperate paint job it needs. Look at the station for the vortex and it's roof in bad need of repair. Overly elaborate theming on some rides would be ok if the rest of the park was kept up. go ahead and put in a giant top spin but maybe use some of the money used for themeing on making your park cleaner and nicer.

Super7 no Carowinds did not add water to the carolina boardwalk section

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JOHN
RCT INSOMNIACS
KIMBERLY LAKE INC.

Well what do you expect them to do? build a beach too?

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i am emo

Call me and old fart if you want, but I really liked the old theming at PGA....I liked the music...I liked the train...I liked the employee costumes....I liked the Sky Whirl....I liked the Whizzer....all gone now. Not quite as fun. Then again, I'm not a kid anymore. But now it doesn't stand out from Magic Mountain anymore. Sob Sob.

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"If the beats were made of meat then they would have to be me ..." - L.L. Cool J

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GhettoCoaster said:
Well what do you expect them to do? build a beach too?

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Yes. Yes I do.

Carowinds Already had a Carolina Boardwalk. It was at the northeast corner of the area formally known as Plantation Square.

They should of just renamed Waterworks Carolina Boardwalk.

How in the Heck can anyone say Carolina Boardwalk was well done? I did not know that a beach on the Carolina Coast looked like something out of California.

Actully, the Carolina Cyclone fit in pretty good. Let me refer to the Tennessee Tornado Story:

"About a year ago, a tornado came up through the valley and twisted up the track of the Little River Mining Company"

I would imagine that 22 years ago, Carowinds had a similar story, because originally there were mine cars and water pumps around the Carolina Cyclone station.

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"The fish are eating the guest, sir

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*** This post was edited by Dukeis#1 on 7/29/2002. ***

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janfrederick said:
Call me and old fart if you want, but I really liked the old theming at PGA....I liked the music...I liked the train...I liked the employee costumes....I liked the Sky Whirl....I liked the Whizzer....all gone now. Not quite as fun. Then again, I'm not a kid anymore. But now it doesn't stand out from Magic Mountain anymore. Sob Sob.

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"If the beats were made of meat then they would have to be me ..." - L.L. Cool J

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Yeah, that train ruled! I know nobody rode it, but it was fun and had character. The best part was passing by the Demon and below the Vortex. The trestle past the Hometown Square was really nice too.

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