Records, Loyalty, and Ramblings

I really want to bring this subject up, but without the thread being shut down, so no flames please.

So far it looks like the Holy Grail of records "number of coasters at any one park" will be challenged for the first time in a long time. We all know who the two competitors are, so I won't even mention any names.

My question is, do you think that any park loyalties will shift along with the record? Currently, there are plenty of people who will tell you that the reason "their park" is better than "any other park" is because of the magic number 14. If, all of a sudden, that number is no longer enough to hold (or share) the record, will those people change their reason for liking one park over another, or will they decide that the new record holder is the new "king"?

I really want to get some good conversation going on this topic, without the pissing matches, espically since the final announcements have not been made yet. So put the attitude away for a while and think about it from someone else's point of view. The winds of change are blowing, but will that matter in the long run?

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So you want a coaster in your backyard? I hope you have a big backyard.

My question is, do you think that any park loyalties will shift along with the record?

Answer: No

I believe many of the park loyalties do NOT lie with coaster counts, even though that is the cited reason. I believe that geography plays a more important role than coaster count. Many of the "diehards" for the current reigning park (which shall remain nameless :)), are in a much closer proximity to it than to the opposing golden state park. Furthermore, the poor opinion of the parent company of the westernmost park, will still veil its shine. All of these factors lead me to believe that the loyalties will remain the same. However, if "America's Roller Coast" loses its slim margin (barring re-counts ;)), its proponents will simply say it's the best for a different reason...say for instance best capacity.

Well that's my story, and I'm sticking to it!
lata,
jeremy
--"Welcome to America's Coaster MOUNTAINS"

The park in your back yard is always your favorite. Could Magic Mountain ever be my favorite? Probably not, because it's around 3,000 miles away.

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com

exactly! Is loyalty to anything ever based on anything rational? Look at people who are loyal to sports teams. It's all geographic or what you grow up knowing about.

Oh I don't know Jeff, that depends on the park. It's pretty easy to say Cedar Point, Magic Mountain or any Florida park is your favorite if you live next to it. I live close to Paramount's Great America, but you'll never hear me call it my favorite by any means. My favorite parks are so far away they require long planned trips. And I'll be honest, I look more for *quality* coasters than quantity. I'd much rather spend money on a park batting 3 for 3, than I would a park batting 2 for 10. And I also look for so much more from a park anyway.

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SOMETHING IS COMING!!!
In 2001 a new *beast* will rise at SFMM.

Everyone seems to say quality over quanity but.............. CEDAR POINT HAS BOTH!
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"Conjoined Twin Mislexia Week"

I don't think the "Coaster Count" really matters. I think it is the quality of the roller coasters that count. Don't get me wrong, having 3 coasters at a park and 45 miles down the road there is one with 14, the one with 14 will most likely get more business. Look at it this way, if there is a park with 9 coasters that are what you would call "poorly designed and maintained" coasters and there is a park with 5 "well designed and maintained", that the park with 5 "well designed and maintained" will most likely get more business, because of the quality of the ride.

Good question!
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Kyle
I'll take Roller Coasters for $200

My Loyalty will always go to the park that I have the most memories of. If you can't tell by my name it is Worlds of fun. However I can say that it is not the Best park in the country It does not have the market to compete with certain parks. As Far as I am concearned The best park that I have visited is Islands Of Adventure and is no were close to having the most coasters of the parks I have visited or the parks that I have not. No park will ever beat Worlds Of Fun in being my favorite due to the childhood memories and all of the fun that i can remember having at this park.

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#1 Steel-Incredible Hulk
#1 Wood--Timber Wolf

I personally don't care about the number of coasters in a park as long as the ones they have are good. I actually went to Kennywood more times this year than Dorney Park. I even had a season pass for Dorney and it's about a quarter the distance too. I just think Kennywoods coasters are better than Dorneys. I like going to parks with lots of coasters too since they have the best variety Wood, Hypers, Stand Ups, Inverts, Suspendeds, etc... The only thing I really found out its where there are more coasters there are usually bigger crowds.

My favorite park I visited this year was Holiday World. We went on Memorial Day weekend and didn't wait for more than 20 minutes for the Raven or Legend all day. Sure they have two woodies but I thought it would have been worth the trip from central PA if we would have skipped SFKK.

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I agree that your favorite park all relates to geography. I mean I'm from Iowa, and my favorite park is Valleyfair. I realize its not the best park in the nation, but its the park that I go to all the time.

However, I'm moving from North Central Iowa back down to South East Iowa so Six Flags Great America might get my #1 park vote. We'll see this summer.

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Randy Hutchinson
You build it, I'll ride it

My loyalties lie with the parks that have the most respect. Say Kennywood got up and moved and only brought two cosaters (like a certain unnamed park that we love to hate), would they get respect? I think not.

Well, the coaster count thing was a nice advertising ploy for CP for a long time, and they still hold it. But, I could care less. It is what the park offers. CP could tear down some old coasters and put in new ones, and lose the coaster count, but it would be a better park. Besides, the coaster count has become a joke...when you have PKI saying they have 13 coasters, three of which are kiddie ones and counting a racer as two...please!!!!!!!!

I can't say CP has quality along with quantity. I mean how many of their coasters are actually good? MF, Mantis,Gemini, and Raptor. Blue Steak is too slow, Iron Dragon just plain sucks, we all know the story with Mean Streak, Magnum is by far the roughest hyper I ever ridden I dunno why everyone loves it so much. What else am I missing, oh yea, Disaster Transport is a flop, Corkscrew is a rough, borring Arrow loop n' screw, and how can you count the kitty coasters in with quality in the quantity?
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Parks for 2000: CP, Great Escape, Great Adventure, SFA, Islands of Adventure, Kennywood

My loyalties are to the parks that give me the best overall experience. I would have to say hands down Kennywood and Knoebels Grove. Quality,not quantity.

kOrN4/8/00 stop being a Hater. How can you even judge an almost 50 y.o. roller coaster. Cedar Point had quality and diversity. Also you cannot say that a roller coaster sucks because Cedar Point does not build roller coasters only for your liking. All of the roller coasters cannot be extreme because everyone is not into that. What about kids who are to big for Woodstocks Express but don't want to ride Millennium Force. People who say cirtain rides they are not built for extremes need to stop thinking of themselves because you know what, if Cedar Point did have all extreme coasters, I think their crowd would drop.

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Number 1 And Only Cedar Point

I live in New York and my favorite park is Cedar Point. I do agree with what Jeff said, but I am just one of the few exceptions. I also agree with Jephry. Cedar Point does not just produce rides that are extreme and thrilling, even though they please thrill seekers by adding many extreme rides every now and then. Cedar Point is a family park , making kids happy with two kiddie coasters and even older people who grew up with rides like Blue Streak. Numbers do not matter when it comes to any park with the exception of some people who come to a park to be "thrilled to the max". Parks such as others mentioned, Kennywood, Knoebels Grove, and Cedar Point will thrive for years pleasing people not with just thrills, but the perfect amusement park atmosphere.

My vote goes to the "geography" mavens. Since I was raised in NE Ohio, and traveled to and from Florida every year since I was 3, and now have lived 20 years in FLA, my whole "park-bent" is along this geographic corridor.

No matter what happens out west, named or otherwise, my life experience bases me here, which leaves two comments: 1.) That unnamed North Coast park will always rule in my mind; and, 2.) I wish--for Godzakes someday!--I get to travel out West on a new corridor, so that I may add that "other park" to my experience.

And you know what?

I wish I could spend every day of my life in any park--you pick it!

Now...somebody recount my vote......;)

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bukweet FL
"kanwegoagain?" *** This post was edited by bukweetfl on 11/15/2000. ***

Well quantity does bring in more variety and less lines (theoreticlly, actually results may vary ;))

Korn, thats YOUR opinion. Last time I checked. Because there are some people out there who think the exact opposite. Sorry, Soggy. But obviously Korn didnt read your original post. INstead of responding he made a direct flame towards the park because someone voice their opinion that a park can have both quality and quantity. *** This post was edited by Bernard on 11/15/2000. ***

The question is, will SFMM try to pull off S:TE as a coaster? Guiness Book of World Records 2001 lists it as the tallest, fastest "thrill ride" or something to that effect and listed (incorrectly) that MF was the tallest coaster. SO even IF SFMM builds two coasters for 2001, which I hope they do, cause my first visit ever to the park is next summer, will that meet or beat the CP record?

-D

-----------WILDFIRE--------------
Scorching the Competition in 2001
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