"Scream!" theme

One of these days when I run a park, your not going to believe you ever said "Themeing Doesn't Matter."

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Jes
Jes's Roller Coasters DJ Jes
Six Flags Worlds Of Adventure 2002 Ride-Ops Crew (Have Fun Trying To Find Me!)

Some rides need themeing of course, otherwise they wouldn't make any sense.
For example Las Vegas: What sense would it make to put slot machines in the street? This works much better if they are emmbedded into a giant half-fake Venetian palace. (Las Vegas is actually the classic example of what happens when themeing takes over and becomes the actual content)
The question is: What will make people enjoy their stay? And I can say clearly: Pseudo 19th century european cream colored plaster architecture or the second infusion of movie themes is not it for me.
But of course, that's my opinion, it's different for everyone.
Maybe one day we could get together and create something really cool un-themed ;)
(BTW, there is a subtle difference between themeing (as in creating jurassic park - the ride - coffeecups) and landscaping (as in intelligently planning walk-ways and vegetation)

*** This post was edited by superman on 11/17/2002. ***

SFMM always does a very good job landscaping or theming rides, the only exceptions are the woodies, everything else is themed and landsacped, I mean what if Ninja was a parking lot coaster? Yeah we wouldn't have the lift hill to the station finale, but it would be half the ride with out all the greenery, same with Reveloution and Goldrusher. Before X and Deja VU, SFMM themed all the new coasters very well, and in some cases like RR, the really hit a home run, by making the focal point of the queue the visuals of the ride, and the station is heavily themed outside and inside. X and Deja probibly didn't have anything in the budget to really theme, but X has a wonderfly landsacped queue, and Baja Ridge got soem enhanced theming becuase of it. Deja Vu is all covered to keep you from the sun, and theres some cool plants and schrubs. I think being a semi-theme park is a big part of why SFMM is so awesome, so I would hope they do at least somthing cool!

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See THE ULTIMATE in Orlando TR'S! Right now in the TR fourm!

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Zero-G said:

One of these days when I run a park, your not going to believe you ever said "Themeing Doesn't Matter."

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Is it OK for an *old guy* to have a role model that's 17? Jes, that was just TOO sweet, thanks..! Living in FL means we already *get* the importance of theming. Making a "ride" into an "experience"....that's where the FUN is...(props to Manfred Mann)....

bill, giving his age away again....Manfred Mann, who is THAT?

Zero-G, what are you talking about? When's the last time Cedar Point themed a ride? Theming obviously does not matter. When's the last time you've heard any of the GP say, "My God, where is the theming for this ride"!

It may matter to you, and that's great because it will add that extra niceness to you park, but unless you open a "theme park", most people won't care.

What I DO like are well run parks with a welcoming atmospere and free parking, slam dunk!

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

*** This post was edited by OutKast on 11/17/2002. ***

OutKast, "thrill parks" like CP and SFMM can survive woth little/no theming it's true....but my *demographer* says it's becoming increasingly important to bring in the "graybeards" who may not RIDE as much, but who'd like to have a good time anyway, and sitting on a bench checking out theming is CERTAINLY something *they* enjoy when they bring the grandkids to IoA....;)

You wouldn't happen to be referring to Satan's, er, um Santa's park in Southern Indiana, would you...;)

Sure Outkast, you don't need theming. But amusment parks shouldn't be about giving their customers the bare essentials. You can still run a business and blow away your guests.

Parks like Paramounts Kings Island and Alton Towers do this everyday.

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Jes
Jes's Roller Coasters DJ Jes
Six Flags Worlds Of Adventure 2002 Ride-Ops Crew (Have Fun Trying To Find Me!)

And unless your Paramount or Disney, I wonder how long you'll be able to keep up that theming once the bills start rolling in.

And even those to giants find themselves pinching pennys and cutting corners when it comes to theming, something SF and CF knew all along...

...but I do get what your saying.

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

*** This post was edited by OutKast on 11/17/2002. ***