When will the GP stop riding?

Obviusly, parks rely(sp?) on the GP to survive, so they have to build rides they will ride. But with rides getting taller and taller, when do you think the GP will stop riding? Or have we already hit it with Superman: The Escape and MF, and SD2K?

I'm not sure they will ever stop riding. As rides get taller and faster, people are getting more and more used to bigger rides, and I think they will ride as long as the coasters are safe, which they always will be. Sure, some people will be scared of coasters and won't go on anything, but I think most people that will go on a 200 foot coaster would also go on a 350 foot coaster. About half the people that go on a hyper would probably go on a 500 foot coaster. The question is, would a park build something that tall?

The GP will never stop riding. There will always be the thrill seeker that will ride.

And you have to remember, thrill ride manufacturers design rides around people, not out of sheer height and size. They would never design a ride that people wouldn't go on. Then you're just getting into bad business. Someone will always ride.

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Tommy Penner - Variable X
"We'll put a boot in your ass, it's the American way."

People will continue to ride. They adjust to and get used to the newer, taller rides. I remember the first year MF was open, less than half the people in the train would ride whith their hands in the air. Now, almost everyone does. As long as there is no airspace restrictions over the park, I think that coasters will keep getting taller.

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The worst day at Cedar Point is better than the best day at work.

When rides become older, then the "GP" rides them less. The majority of people enjoy doing the latest, most exciting things, regardless of thier level of commitment.

There is so much GP. If every family goes once a year parks will still be crowded because there are millions of families that go to amusement parks.

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-Sean Newman
84 coasters in Track Record!! Hypersonic XLC # 100 in July. Waiting for the 305 foot drop tower in 2003. Thank you PKD.

I know a lot of people I would consider the GP but they still love coasters and go on everything. They just don't tape shows, buy the computer games, or sit and read rumors for hours.

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Does this thing go faaaaaast!

CP ismyhome said:
As long as there is no airspace restrictions over the park, I think that coasters will keep getting taller.

Unfortunately SFA has a 200 foot height limit due to Andrews Air Force Base being only a few miles away. In fact, I saw Air Force One fly over the park about a couple of weeks ago while I was at the park.

But yeah, I don't think the GP will ever stop riding!

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i think the only reason the GP would stop riding would be if that idiot markey gets his own way and convinces everyone that rides are deathtraps!

What makes you think "GP" are any less willing to ride tall, fast, big, scary coasters than you are?

Because you surf the net, that makes you more "hard core?"

Sorry, to get all pissy, but I despise the use of the terms GP and enthusiast.

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A rollercoaster? What's that?

Judging by the long waits for major coasters, i would say that the "GP" wants and expects bigger, faster, etc. rides. I do not really see the"GP" backing off from any ride. As long as they feel it is safe people will ride.

SFA's 200 foot height restriction has nothing to do with Andrews air force base being in the vicinity of the park at all. It was imposed as a result of all the residentail communities being in close proximity to the park.

Back on topic though, I strongly believe the GP will ride any new ride or coaster that a park builds as long as it's safe and also for the 100's of peeps that won't ride there are 100's more that will. And besides for those that won't it means shorter lines for the rest of us who will.

I agree with ApolloAndy, what's the difference between 'gp' and enthusiasts? I don't think it's what we are willing to ride, it's that we spend an exorbitant amount of time discussing, dissecting and travelling just for coasters. That doesn't mean we are more hard core than anyone else, we may know more but that's it.

I guess those 3 hour waits for MF are all enthusiasts, right? How about the supposed 5+ hour waits for X, no gp there becaues they're too scared? A common coaster fan will ride just about anything you or I will ride, end of argument.

I think it's a pretty safe bet that parks aren't going to build anything that people won't ride.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com, Sillynonsense.com
"We used to hate people, now we just make fun of them. It's more effective that way." - KMFDM, "Dogma"