Research Paper

The topic for my term paper is going to be some aspect of the theme park industry. So far, ive mainly thought about doing something about the history and progression of Cedar Point, the history of the Six Flags corporation, and the development of roller coasters & their compainies(mainly focusing on the development of individual manufacureers and then tying it in with the over all picture of the evolution of coasters). Does anybody have any suggestions in what directions or ways I could use these topics, or other topics that may be interseting to research and write about?

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formally known as Flying DutchMan, Alpengiest is the best!

Hey buddy,

You were given that assignment to learn something. Write your own damn paper.

Edit: forgot to put a ;)

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The squirrel is only screaming because it hates the new restraints.
*** This post was edited by one sided soldier 10/28/2003 11:22:01 PM ***

Perhaps focus on the rise and fall of one of the mainstays of coasters? Arrow, CCI, Summers/Dinn were all quite successful at one point or another... what made them successful and why did they close?

I agree that the story of Arrow would make for a great paper. From all of the old loopers to Magnum to X the company has a long history. I'm sure a paper could be written just about X and all of its problems and the lawsuit and such.

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This space is not in operation today. Please accept my apologies.

I wrote a research paper many years ago on the move by amusement parks to accommodate disabled patrons. I would be interested in reading your aper, whatever you decide to focus on. (This is actually Belmont Babe's post, but I'm too lazy to get off Dutchman's screen . . . . )

I myself wrote a research paper on the saftey of amusement parks and attractions and how newer technology has not made them more dangerous (i.e. faster, taller, etc.) but more controlled and safe. I too would also be very interested in reading your final topic, whatever it may be. I chose a rather high profile topic ( as of late anyways - gotta love Markey, not), so finding research material was easy. Even though my paper was more of a position research paper, as long as you have a topic that will have lots of data to pull from, your paper won't be to hard to write.

Good Luck!

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Come visit SFGAm for the Final Weekend 10/31-11/2!
*** This post was edited by NegativeG-Force 10/29/2003 10:46:23 AM ***

If you're going to write about the history of CP, a great source would be the book, "Queens of the Watering Hole" or some such title.... very comprehensive.

EDIT: LOL!! I was close... it's "The Queen of American Watering Places."

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A day is a drop of water in the ocean of eternity. A week is seven drops.
*** This post was edited by Den 10/29/2003 10:40:18 AM ***

email me and I can help you with some papers.

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I am one.
I am Turbo.
Top Thrill in the front row... anything else is lame
X...Whoa

Im going to talk with my teacher tomorrow to see what she would think would be the best approach to this and what might and might not work. Im not sure weather a historical type of paper is what would be fine, or if it has to be a position paper with an arguable thesis, as it would obviously change everything. Thanks for all your ideas!

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formally known as Flying DutchMan, Alpengiest is the best!

I could definitely see doing an action research sort of paper on accessibility for the physically disabled. The action part would of course involve visiting several parks...

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"Let the Dragon ride again on the winds of time." Personally, I'll settle for a ride on a decent coaster.

True, but what parks are open now? I would have to fly down to florida or california in the next like 2 months. I dont think my parents woiuld like that idea, but I certainly would!
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formally known as Flying DutchMan, Alpengiest is the best!

There are quite a few parks open this weekend still.

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"Let the Dragon ride again on the winds of time." Personally, I'll settle for a ride on a decent coaster.

I did a paper about the restriction of thrill rides, and why the government (ed markey) are wrong. I could send it to you if you'd like. I got an A on it.

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2nd Bunny Hill, Superman: RoS SFA = AIRTIME!
BackSeat of COURSE!

same with me. I did a report on theme park safety for my Senior Project. I got an A.

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I am one.
I am Turbo.
Top Thrill in the front row... anything else is lame
X...Whoa

Make sure you have someone proofread it first. ;)

- E, who needs a full-time proofreader for his posts.

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"I go out at 3 o' clock for a quart of milk and come home to my son treating his body like an amusement park!" - Estelle Costanza

I was actually thinking about making my thesis on, well, like this- (very very very rough thesis, if even a posiblity)- The ever-increasing hight and speed of roller coasters has improved the theme park industry and invited more people to the parks, but has also caused fear of possibly taking it to far and the safty of these rides as they become taller and faster and how the gov't has interferred and how Ed Marky has gotten involved. (something of the sort, id obviously have structure it so it made sense, but that may be a direction i want to take it)

Proof-reading will not be for a while, the paper isn't due till March! I just need to figure out the topic now so i can do this slowly, instead of researching the paper in 2 weeks and writing it all out the day before its due!(it happenes all the time with me)

Thanks guys, just keep posting any ideas you might have, its really helping.

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formally known as Flying DutchMan, Alpengiest is the best!

You actually take two weeks to research? That is about one week, 6 days and 18 hours more than I have researched most of my grad school papers for. And I have gotten mostly A's. Now writing the day (or night) before it is due I can understand. Oh well, maybe not what you would expect to hear from a high school teacher - just don't tell my students.
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"Let the Dragon ride again on the winds of time." Personally, I'll settle for a ride on a decent coaster.

I would argue that point. Coasters do not drive attendance. Capital Spending drives attendance. Marketing drives attendance. Group Sales drives attendance. Customer service drives attendance. Family attractions drives attendance. Baseball stadiums and movie theatres that keep raising prices causes theme parks attendance to rise. Season Pass sales drives attendance.

The pie is only so big, and amusement parks are one event the the family can do together. While coasters bring teenagers, family attractions bring out the cash, which drive per caps. Coasters bring an intial rise in people, but a Looney Tunes land, or a new catering area, or a new hotel, or something that extends the length of stay. Waterparks, aquariums, fairlyland style parks, go-karts, etc. Any second gated attraction. all contribute the bottom line.

Too many parks are rolling strong attendance figures without a dozen coasters in their ride lineup. Kennywood. Morey's Piers. Adventuredome. Sea Worlds. Bottom line is that coasters bring short term performance, but great service brings generations after generation.

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"Step on that lapbar and make it nice and tight!"

True, but they still help to bring people into the park. Marketing, group sales, and all that stuff also bring people in, but the marketing is usually for a new coaster or great ride. Its not the only thing, but it is a fairly large thing. All six flags parks are marketed mostly around coasters, ive seen sooo many commercials for six flags parks and most of it is about the new coaster and all the other great coasters and rides. But my main focus would be the debate going on about how safe these rides are and how people like Ed Markey are dealing with it(BADLY!! lol).

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formally known as Flying DutchMan, Alpengiest is the best!

I've read many times that coasters do bring in attendance. Cedar Fair's CEO Richard Kinzel said that when CP opened Magnum XL-200 the parks attendance jump to record heights. So ever since then he always wanted the tallest and fastest coasters at Cedar Point and his plan is still working after 14 years. Of course without marketing the coaster no one would know about it.

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CP Coaster Guide Ride Count
TTD: 1; WT: 9; MF: 4; Mantis: 3; Raptor: 6; Mean Streak: 5; Magnum: 5