Has improving existing coaster increased ridership
I've been a coasterbuzzer for about x years. about the time I became a member a select few of the other buzzres and myself, talked of improving existing rollercoasters to make them more ridable and enjoyable.We were basically laughted off the net.The common thought among most of the Buzzers at the time was "Why would parks invest on improving an existing coaster? It's not profitable???".
Then all of a sudden the Amusement Park industry started to do just that. Wondering since Rollercoasrters such as Phantom's Revenge,Flight of Fear, and Vampire have been transformed how it's impacting ridership and attendance.Will this trend continue?????
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Arrow's dream turned into nightmare with words Six Flags all over it
*** This post was edited by Coaster Bob on 7/17/2002. ***
*** This post was edited by Coaster Bob on 7/17/2002. ***
You've been a CoasterBuzzer for four years? Remarkable considering the site opened in January 2000!
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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com, Sillynonsense.com
7/27: Subdivision Cam becomes party cam at the year's hottest Ohio luau!
Jeff - the way you run this site it just *seems* that long!
Matthew - kidding him, and I'm sure he knows it ;-)
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"There's nothing sweeter than a bowling ball with a liquid center" - Homer Simpson
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Arrow's dream turned into nightmare with words Six Flags all over it
*** This post was edited by Coaster Bob on 7/17/2002. ***
*** This post was edited by Coaster Bob on 7/17/2002. ***
Coaster Bob said:
Actually, I have a changed my screen name.
Why do I have a sudden urge to vote for Jesse Jackson?
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No love for the whiners
[anyone who's seen Steve Martin's "The Jerk" will get this]
Jeff - I've figure out how Coaster Bob has been a C-buzzer for four years [48 months] despite the site only being around since Jan 2000 [or 31 months]:
He registered shortly after the site debuted. That first month felt like a year, but the next month only felt like a week. Then he was sick for a week and it felt like three months, but when he got better and the following week felt like three weeks. That night he ate some bad Chinese food and it felt like six months [which also really helps my math]. Then it was the off-season and there was news was slow, so the next week actually felt like six months again. Now this is where things get fuzzy...I'm not sure exactly what happened but over the course of four months it actually felt like a year, but then over a two month period it felt like 4 months. Then the next six months a ton of parks were announcing new rides and it went by so fast it only felt like a month. The following day felt like a week, the day after that felt like a week, and so on for eight days. Then the next three weeks felt like seven months
And there you have it: 31 months that actually feel like 48!
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"There's nothing sweeter than a bowling ball with a liquid center" - Homer Simpson
....but then there was that day I didn't see you at all, and that just seemed like a regular day.....;)
Back to topic, ridership seems to have increased on FoF at PKI....I remember being able to walk on the old SP for as many rides as my ears could take.....and I was able to ride Legend all night at SRM this year....:)....
bill, thinking an "improved" coaster is in some ways better than a new one....
l. Upgrading the trains (seats, lapbars, etc.) so they were more comfortable did not increase ridership among the 30 and under group. However, it did increase ridership among the 30 and over group. It seems the under 30s take a sort of macho pride in enduring hardship, and scoff at more cushioning, car suspension or more ergonomic lapbars, harnesses, etc. The over 30s, however, have wearied of headaches, bruises and jostling, and will stop riding certain rides once the discomfort passes a certain threshold (which itself is a matter of some debate and further research).
2. Upgrading the track layout with longer distance, more or steeper drops, or any other expansion of the rider experience does increase ridership among the under 30s indefinitely, but only increases the 30 and over ridership temporarily unless ride comfort is maintained or improved. E.G., over 30s will increase their riding of Phantom's Revenge over Steel Phantom but if the new version is less comfortable, they'll try it a few times and then back off.
3. This is a percentage behavior, not an absolute. About 80% of each group will behave in the ways described.
The older the age of the rider, the more comfort counts. Riders in their 50s and 60s are not intimidated by the speed, steepness, length or frequency of drops as some might think. But they are offended by poorly designed trains and they will not tolerate bruises, aching muscles or headaches.
This study came out sometime in July of '01, because I remember reading it and discussing it while in Pennsylvania at that time.
I've observed a major increase in the ridership of Premier coasters since they got the improved trains. I have particularly noticed this on Jokers Jinx since it is at my home park. This year, it has gone from always being a walk on to usually having a half hour queue. We will have to see if this continues.
Phantom's Revenge is in to it's second year and also seems to have increased ridership. For me personally, it has gone from a "ride once" coaster to a "can I squeeze in one more ride" coaster.
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"Escuse me, can you tell me where the heck the Mystery Lodge is"?
*** This post was edited by OutKast on 7/17/2002. ***
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