What happened to the fun?

I've been reading a lot of TR's here and other forums where enthusiasts have outright lost their sense of real life. By that I mean the over-analyzation of every aspect of every ride. Does anyone ever get off a ride and just ask themselves if it was fun?

Sometimes the statements seem absurd to me. I don't know how many times I've read that Millennium Force "didn't do anything for me." Like a 300' drop at 92 mph is something you experience every day?

At the opposite extreme, I've heard people trash various wild mouse rides like BGW's Wilde Maus or Kennywood's Exterminator. Are they huge and extreme? No, but they sure are fun! They balance out the experience.

To be quite honest, there are few rides I can honestly say I'd do with out. Even some of the rides you have to fight to enjoy (Outer Limits, for example), are still good fun to me.

Are you one of these enthusiasts? Try to respond without referencing my examples, because I know The Force is always the target for criticism in this area... I'm looking for a more general feeling.

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com

I totally agree with you jeff! Wow, way to say it! Everyone has something horribly rotten to say about son of beast, six flags, mean streak or millenium force, etc., but i LLOOVVEE ALL rollercoasters!!!!! No one is a true coaster fan if they dis on parks and rides man! Right on!

Don't forget how people are ALWAYS trashing SLC's and Boomerangs.

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Goliath: The most intense Hyper in the world.

On a recent trip to The Mountain I went there to analyze everything. Turns out though, it never happened. I just enjoyed my day at the park and had fun. I tend to have fun on any ride I go on. Even going on Psyclone was fun.

I tend to feel that all the rides don't need to be extreme to make them good fun either. On this same trip I had the most fun on Gold Rusher. Yes it's a mine train ride but it sure is a good ride. I actually prefer some of the smaller rides out there.

Yeah I found out that I just can't analyze the rides because I'm having too much fun. I think people to need to lighten up and enjoy the ride. Hey it's better than work.



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LONG LIVE ARROW DYNAMICS!!

Well... with SLC's... ;)

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com

I think the day when people stop worrying about a ride being cloned 3,000 miles away that they will never ride anyway, the fun will return. The truth is people are *never* happy. Look at the responses to all of the annoucements for 2001. "Not tall enough", "Not enough inversions" or "Yuck, it's a clone" is all you hear. Honestly, People now and days aren't just happy being coaster enthusiasts, they want to be park general managers, public relations experts or Roger Ebert. RRC has some nice people there, but it is also full of snobs, know-it-alls and morons.
Even if a coaster is not my personal favorite, or a certain park chain unperfect, I try to find something to enjoy anyway, otherwise I might as well find something else to do. BTW, I like Vekoma SLCs, they've grown on me. Go figure...

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The new KING of coasters:
SFNE Superman
Unforgettable!!!

I am trying to figure that one out to. Jeff, you are guilty of this as well. By me saying that you were disappointed with RB because of all the hype it had although you still liked it I think the same goes for people that heard all the hype about MF and were left disappointed as well. I guess everyone has certain tastes in being satisfied with a coaster so coasters like MF are just the initial first drop and than after that its just like other coasters they have ridden(to some peoples opinions). I dont know, I, like yourself find something fullfilling when getting on any coaster but we are human so this debate will never end.

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"DONT FIGHT IT, RIDE IT",,,,RAGING BULL

I think sometimes emotions get extreme in these forums because people who frequent forums like this anticipate new coasters more than the average joe. (How many civilians mark coaster openings on calendars? Arrange their vacations around park schedules, etc...)

In this vein, I think the sense of disappointment can seem greater to us and the posts get more passionate. BUT to say things like MF is ho-hum is downright silly. (I had sweaty palms on the lift hill even though I've done dozens and dozens of coasters.)

Now, I won't say all coasters are great... We know that's impossible, alas. But I try to see the merits in all that I experience and find something to like about it. But if a forum comes up where people want opinions, I'll willingly tell you what rides I was disappointed in and WHY... (and I never mind an opposing argument if it has a foundation in fact , i.e. the other person has ridden it, etc.)

Above all, I think this is a great place to exchange ideas about coasters. Whether you trash 'em or praise 'em, we all love 'em or we wouldn't waste our time coming here.

Keep up the great posts... and as the coaster season winds down, let's all optimistically look ahead to next summer's surprises!
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"You have to scale a lot of lift hills to coast easily..."

Jason

In this day and age the problem is that so much is advertised before you get to enjoy the experience...our imaginations fly. We will talk about a ride for 6-9 months. It's like looking forward to a hot summer movie around Christmas time, only to be disapointed. A roller coaster is no different to me.

For example, I went to SFO for the first time yesterday. I was looking forward to riding BKF and The Villain (especially the later since I heard from some people that this coaster was one of the better ones they have been on...kiss of death). BKF was fun, it meet my expectations and I enjoyed the ride. But the Villian disappointed me. I rode it twice in different train spots and found no air time. I think the Big Dipper is better...I really do.

I did come off the Villian saying "I had fun". But how interesting is that quote when deep inside I felt betrayed in a way. Had I never heard the hype, maybe I would have felt better.

*** This post was edited by Martling on 9/4/2000. ***

Yeah well the ops at sfo took 12.98653 seconds too long to dispatch BKF, they are terrible. The op pressed the green button with her ring finger instead of her thumb. They made me so made I hated the ride. There is also clicking that ruins the ride! Millennium Force is terrible! There is no airtime and the ride wasn't intense at all! It may have been because I fainted at THE SHEER HEIGHT AND BEAUTY OF THE RIDE.

In all reality though, I made a post at the begginning of the year similar to yours, Jeff. Just because we all know more than the GP doesn't mean we have to be complete asses about going to places we live for. Get the sticks ot your *HONK* and have some FUN! We only have a few more weeks before we sit around with nothing to do, thinking about how we wasted our fun at parks by being 'The Hawks'. [I love to rant]
-Mike
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"I feel like I'm stuck in Stand By Me." - The Ataris

I try to look at the bright side of every coaster, but sometimes there are very few bright spots in a coaster. I think that knowing (and riding) really good coasters spoils us into thinking (or at least hoping) that they will all be as good as your favorite ones.

For example, if you went to Holiday World one day and Cedar Point the next, what will your opinion of CP's woodies be? I would, however, rather be on the Mean Streak than in my car, driving away from it.

We all put rides under a microscope, but that is half of the fun. Where are the dead spots, where are the airtime drops, which seat is better, which train is faster, which trees are getting too near to the track, I could go on. We love to talk about the good, the bad and the ugly, where else can we go to talk about these things?

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Gotta ride 'em all!

I always have fun on coasters be it a clone or not.
It's like riding the Magnum this year.
Almost everyone(myself included)riding it this year seems to end up cheering at the end of the ride and it's been a very long time since I can remember anyone being so happy to ride it.:)

What's the point of even going to a park, if you don't want to have fun?

Blaming ride ops, weather conditions, trash, graffiti are just excuses by someone who probably is having an "off" day, and doesn't even realize it.

If the ride ops are alert and fun, it might make the day better, but if they're not fun, you shouldn't let it make your day bad. Sometimes it helps if "you" are more outgoing, by teasing, making eye contact, or some other thing that might make the ride ops day go better or faster. They don't have a choice of the people they have to meet all day, but you have the opportunity to make sure they don't think you're one of the jerks.

Trash happens. If trash bothers you, stop by the guest relations and make some "positive" suggestions. If they don't take you seriously (which they should), then let it go or call their office the next day you have a chance and try talking to someone that wants to make it right.

Remember, having a nice day is up to you.

When I am in line for the Mean Streak, I don't get as excited as I do for say the Force, but when I get off, I am still excited. When i get off, I don't say, wow, there was a dead spot at section 2,367ft. and the trim brakes slow the coaster down 5 miles an hour too much!!! I am still excited and hyped up. You will always have fun on a coaster unless you like get seriously injured. Honestly, I had more fun on Outer Limits then I did on any coaster at PKI. I was so freaked out on the launch!! Me and my friend practically peed our pants!! It may not be as fast as TA2K or S:TE, but it was still absolutely terrifying, AND FUN!!!!

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DOWN WITH TRIM BRAKES!

Guilty as charged. I like to have fun, although some thngs the parks do make me have less fun that I would like. Then I DO tend to ***** about these things. Which is why I want to move into this business; I'd like to see my *****ing do a little good. LOL

But then, we ARE a little unusual -- how many people do you know are changing their vacation schedules (from annually in August to annually in July) because too many parks are closing early?

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Whatever goes up, must come down, preferably at a speed over 60 mph and leaning into a flying turn

What's "unusual" about being a coaster enthusiast.

What is it "normal" to on vacation, that is safer or more fun to do than coasters.

The list of things that are more dangerous than rollercoasters, that people do for a "rush" is endless.

Most of us are not nearly as crazy as the people that think our passion is "dangerous". Most of the things other people do on vacation are much more dangerous.

Even falling asleep on the beach can put you in the hospital.

yay jeff! :)

Some say the Judge and (also Mini) Mine Train at SFoT are just little kiddy ride, they're not tall/fast enough....WHO CARES?!? I had ALOT of fun on those rides, they weren't scray but they were fun, thats the thing that matters, thats the point of an AMUSEMENT park. :)

I agree with you Jeff. Roller Coasters are meant to make you enjoy yourself and have fun with your friends and family. Criticism is a part of this but people just need to remember why we have roller coasters, for fun, not so we can criticize every little aspect of the ride. Just have fun with them.

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http://www.coasterriders.freeservers.com

I agree, I write TR's about whether or not I had fun. I do not rate the ride. When I went to CP for the first time this year I was looking forward to MF, Magnum, Raptor and Mantis. but you know which ride I had the most fun on. Gemini, that is one of the most exciting and fun rides. The racing trains(esp. at night), slapping hands as you go around the turns and the great ride ops. I enjoyed this ride better than anything else. was it the biggest, the longest or fastest, no but it was the most fun.