Відео

That's why Efteling is my favourite theme park. ✨🍄

1:47 This is the roller coaster from Final Destination Three!

Excellent video! And I agree, I have been saying this to my partner all throughout my one year of being an enthusiast and visiting new-to-me parks. Sure, coasters are great and all but overall atmosphere and ambiance make all the difference! You didn't mention what your favorite ride was out of your 101 US credits though, and I am curious!!

In defense of Ohio's amusement parks, Kings Island used to be a theme park (or at least had a lot more theming) before Cedar Fair took over and they lost their licensing deals with Paramount. Bizarrely they also removed the Australian theming (which is not under copyright to my knowledge) from their waterpark in exchange for "generic water park" theming. While Kings Island still has a decent amount of charm and could easily be more themed in several areas (at least to the level of Busch Gardens) Cedar Fair for some reason is just averse to dark rides and any real efforts at theming other than for Halloween. Also Kings Island has a fairly robust family/ moderate thrill coaster lineup that can really help ease kids into bigger coasters. It certainly does have something for almost everyone. Cedar Point is a bit different. While Kings Island has plenty of space for both coasters and theming, Cedar Point tries to use every inch of land for coasters given its location. As such the terrain of Lake Erie has to be used to create much of the atmosphere. I do think the back half of the park does a tolerable job with its western theming (and that could be leaned into with a bit of a refurbishment, a dark ride, and some character actors). Their new "Boardwalk" area also does a halfway decent job at theming although "Boardwalk/Carnival" theming is the easiest and laziest theming for an amusement park (just ask Disney that did it twice in the late Eisner era). Overall Cedar Point is the coaster capital of the world and is the birthplace of the coaster wars. That legacy does influence how the park perceives its investments and makes it challenging for them to pivot away from thrill coasters. Overall I would say that both Kings Island and Cedar Point have enough aesthetically going for them to be pleasing places to be most of the time (Kings Island really benefits from its trees and Cedar Point definitely gets points from the lake). Also "Studio" theme parks (OG Hollywood Studios, OG Universal) are also pretty bare bones for actual theming with Paris' Hollywood Studios being the key example for how boring a studio theme can be. I think that "Coasters surrounded by beautiful natural scenery" is better than a boring Studio park. Overall I wish that Cedar Fair (which has now conquered Six Flags like the Normans conquered England), would at least try to go for Busch Gardens/Seaworld level of theming and at least try a dark ride or two, I still think that Kings Island and Cedar Point are great places to visit (even if they cater more to coaster lovers).

Went to hershey yesterday and got to do wildcat revenge...I was not expecting it to be so intense. I was expecting a steel vengeance wannabe but it was fantastic.

Except for when they do and you get stuck upside down right?

I prefer amusement parks due to the focus on rides - but I love flat rides too. Skyhawk is one of my favorite rides ever. It makes me sad that so many coaster enthusiasts just completely disregard the flat rides.

I'm that opposite guy. I'd rather a park spend every dime on the ride elements or another train rather than a soundtrack and faux finishes. I do appreciate when an amusement PARK has some park-like features, like trees and some benches to sit on, in the shade the trees provide, maybe a babbling brook and a little stamped concrete or pavers to break up the over use of blacktop.

1:03 Why's the water mill spinning the wrong way 😂

The most important thing to me is shaded walkways Busch gardens tampa fors this very well.

Holiday World will be sad to hear you don't consider them a theme park. They pride themselves on being one of the first theme park in the US as Santa Clause Land.

I'm not an enthusiast anymore either because I've recently given up on beating my fear of heights and could never get on them in the first place because of this. Now I'm forcing myself to not like roller coasters and have isolated myself from all roller coaster media, videos, subreddits, and video games. Its really painful because I love all the history and stuff about them but I gotta stay away from them. I've been to Cedar Point 4 times, Michigan's Adventures 2 times, and done countless hours of research and made multiple graphs on the stats of rides. I only hope that no one goes down the path I have please don't become me get on all the rides you wanna get on. You only live once after all.

You didn't mention any parks on the west coast

i completely agree. parks with overkill rides seem to be bland due to their focus on the industry of thrill. on the other hand, the parks with big atmosphere tend to be a place I would prefer to stay at more and actually enjoy my time there. the roller coasters/rides for me would be the only reason I would want to visit an amusement park in the first place.

I find myself loving both for different reasons. I love the crazy coasters at Cedar Point, but I also love the atmosphere and variety at major theme parks like Disney/Universal. I feel like it doesn't have to be an either or.

This was very well articulated; good on you for knowing yourself. I'd describe myself as a roller-coaster fan who doesn't get to ride them nearly often enough to get burned out, but the first park I visited was Busch Gardens Williamsburg, and I don't know if I'd love coasters as much as I do if it had been Kings Dominion instead. That WHOLE DAY back when I was nine left such a huge impression on me - just the sensation of walking from Ireland to Germany on a whim. I'd vaguely known up front what theme park rides were, but I'd never imagined anything like the whole place. I went to Cedar Point for the first time the other year and it was amazing and unforgettable to ride Millennium Force and Steel Vengeance, but if I had to pick exactly one of those two parks to be the last park I ever visited, it's no contest: Busch Gardens.

Theme parks in the United States have a rocky history, so many of the parks you visited were originally theme parks just the same as Dollywood and BGW. Don’t believe me then go look at the original concepts for every US park built in the 60s and 70s. What happened? Disney and Universal happened, they are giants in the US in a way unlike their presence in Europe. Simply put they demolished their competitors so their competitors shifted the focus solely to thrill rides. We are beginning to see a shift though, Disney is quickly pricing people out and allowing a chance for competitors to get back into the theming game, just look at the new Jungle Ex area at Kings Dominion. It’s just the beginning of what I think is the next age of American theme parks.

Welcome im Club! Theme Parks on top!

I'M A THEMEPARK GIRLIE

If you like theme Park, you should go to "puy du fou" in France. There are not flat ride or coaster, but Amazing show. It's really something that worth your Time and money

My favorite example of this that I like to bring up is Hulk at Islands of Adventure. When compared to many other coasters at Carrowinds, Six Flags, Kings Island, etc. Hulk is just alright. But because of the queue, theming, on-ride speaker system, and overall attention to detail, the ride is worth doing because it’s a great package. Good theming won’t necessarily save a bad coaster, but it will make a good coaster even better.

6 Flags Great Adventure is near me in NJ. el toro, kingda ka, nitro… the best.

🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 happy Independence Day

I 100% agree with your conclusion. Im obsessed with coasters & would consider myself a Thoosie, but i have very little interest in visiting amusement parks except to get the coaster creds & move on. Now give me a well-themed THEME park & ill come back over & over & over & over

I totally agree with every single point made in this video. A good theme park is like immersing yourself in a new world for a whole day, and more of an escapism from the hustle and bustle of the real world. An amusement park doesn't give you any sense of escape, just thrills

I'm definitely inclined to agree with this! I would say I'm a rollercoaster enthusiast, but a ride with theming will always have more potential to rank higher in my opinion

For me i like the soul of a ride. Most of the time i only see this in old rides. Maybe they are janky or old, but they tell me there history. A old ride that still has many people love, is for me a better ride then a record breaking brand new one. Simply looking at a HUSS Break Dance in Germany, or Psycke underground at Walibi Balgium, or Droomvlucht at Efteling Very old rides that still make people go: WOUW!!! Thats what I love.

Thats a very interesting point and one I've never considered. Like you I've been spoiled by UK/Europe/Orlando. So I'm curious how I'd feel about these Barron parks. Glad you're not quitting the channel ;)

This is pretty much as European video as it gets 😂😂

I would consider myself a theme park enthusiast who loves coasters as well. At the very least, I think the USA parks that aren’t themed should copy holiday world and focus on guest happiness over exploiting guests for money. Also it was a pleasure to have a ride with you and the Coaster Studios crew on voyage!

Is this like when I booted up MGS5 and realized that I didn't care anymore? Thanks for the memories Kojima. I'll be leaving now!

"i am no longer a roller coaster enthusiast... i am now a roller coaster"

Thats why I love Universal so much. They have coasters that I absolutely love on top of providing an intangible exoperence. Thats the reason why I have that as my fav park over Cedar Point.

I think this video can be summer up as US culture vs European culture. There is nothing wrong with either. It’s just two different cultures. Being from the US it seems like this culture is more “to the point “. For example: we go to a football game to watch football, we go to a concert to watch the performance, we go eat to get full, and in this case we go to amusement parks to ride roller coasters.

"i am now a hard drug enthusiast" jesus i didnt expect that man, thats hard.

Nice video. I love it how somebody finally distincts the difference between theme park and an amusement park. I have been trying to get people to see the difference between the 2, and this video explains it perfectly. Wonderful job.

3:10 What in the block zone??

I actually started off as a theme park enthusiast because I grew up with Disney and Universal. My love for roller coasters didn’t come until later

I get this 100%...I love coasters, but going to a park and just vibing while working your way to a coaster is so much better than just blacktop and generic coaster theme# 3... I do think american parks are starting to learn this lesson, but it's never going to fully switch over. I figured this when I went to magic kingdom, the only coaster I rode was tron...the rest of the day was just vibing with my kids and family and having having fun being there

I'm not sure if this was discussed, but I would argue that, while small, Holiday World is a theme park.

Great video!

this is def a valid take

This was an excellent take on many of the non Disney/Universal theme/amuesment parks in the USA. A little too thrill focsed and therefore, not enough overall balance in the experiences that are avaialable. I have always loved roller coasters, but for me it is Dark Rides that will initially pull me to a park, and then it's the balance of everything else that helps prioritize which one to go to over another. And then on top of all that, I will always choose 'theme' over 'amuesment' as being immersed in the atmosphere as that is really what it is all about.

Trust me, some of your gripes about US parks are things that a lot of us US based enthusiasts have been griping about for years. We love our coasters, but wish parks put more attention into the total experience, which includes theming.

As somebody growing up with Cedar Point as my home park, I can see where you are coming from. I actually prefer amusement as opposed to theme parks. It's what I'm used to. Not that I'm saying I don't like Unversal or Dollywoood, it's not what I'm used to. But it is easier to enjoy my experience at Dollywood if a couple of attractions are closed.

I am a coaster enthusiast BUT ALSO a theme park enthusiast this year I am going to Great Adventure and HersheyPark BUT next year I’m going to Disney world for a week

Roller coasters a awsome but teryfying

Very Well Done. Thanks for the video :-)

I agree but also a little hurt with Cedar Point as my home park. Yeah the main mid-ways are coaster saturated and low on theming, but Frontier Trail, Frontier Town, and the Boardwalk are highly themed areas. And the Beach is it's own chill thing most days. I've spent entire days with mimimal riding just wandering these areas of the park. The average thoosie coming to get all the coaster rides they can in 1-3 days probably aren't hitting these areas and really exploring. But previously being a non-thoosie scared of 200 ft or taller rides, and with friends and family who aren't thoosies, there's a lot to do and explore. Ducking in all the Frontier Trail buildings, petting the llamas, sunbathing on the beach, people watching from the top level of the Grand Pavilion, looking through the gift shops even when I'm broke, riding the train through Boneville, or catching shows are all great times. CP does relie on flats and low themed coasters to amuse non-thoosies. And there is fun bawking at all the tall rides you wouldn't dare ride. I spent way too much time just watching the original Dragster from those bleachers. Also I met really good friends in those low themed queues. Whether we were commenting on the Fun Time TVs, listening in on another groups debate on coasters, or riding with a stranger and talking to them. Also I've developed a pretty good imagination. The Beast is my favorite coaster, and it's pretty low on theming. But I also like to pretend we're the giant cat running through the woods with zoomies. And a train in Mystic Timbers's shed all singing and swaying along is a blast. Verus Disneyland's Galaxy's Edge and all of Disney's California Adventure felt so empty. Sure there's look at that set pieces, but no real action or engagement. It felt like walking through something rather than experiencing it. Sure Cedar Point has a lot of midways you must walk through to get elsewhere, but they're filled with kinetic energy from flats and coasters running around you, cool shop windows, or catching the sound of a pop song you only need a hear a few lines of to sing a long. I grew up with Geauga Lake pre-Six Flags as my home park. I know the fun of running around a small family focused amusement park too. It's more about the people your with or being willing to explore the little things than big thrill rides. The small parks are less about hitting X,Y, and Z, and more about "what's over there? Oh that's cool or cute! Do you want to try that?" Whereas Disney was like "Oh, look Millennium Falcon! Oh it doesn't do anything but exist, and there's a crowd. Ok quick photo and let's find a short line because I'm not waiting 2 hours to play a video game."

Yes!!! You are right! I am the same way. I did a similar trip in 2022 and I had the same realization. I like coasters, but I am a theme park guy.