Paramount's Ride Survey Results (Disney Included)

[robvia]

A few months ago, a ride survey was done.
Here are the results. You'll need acrobat to view.
The fans want long, high speed roller coasters.
http://www.thrillresearch.com/results/Ride_Survey_Results_2003.pdf

 

[jamsmom]

I am not sure I would put RnR under Tower of Terror ...They would have to be a tie.

 

[dianeschlicht]

With the demographics changing and more of the population reaching retirement in the next few years, I wonder if this will change too? I know at 56 (yep, I'm one of the oldest baby boomers), I know I am more effected by the intense rides than I used to be.

 

[robvia]

Originally posted by dianeschlicht
With the demographics changing and more of the population reaching retirement in the next few years, I wonder if this will change too? I know at 56 (yep, I'm one of the oldest baby boomers), I know I am more effected by the intense rides than I used to be.

I dunno, but what you describe is kinda why parks go "soft" and build family rides. Fans want white knuckle thrill coasters and tall drop rides. But a few say they're scared. What do the suits do? Build the family ride, or tone down the coaster. Case in point, Mount Everest at AK. A roller coaster, yes, but tame, almost appears to be a clone of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. The theaming will make it good, but the ride itself will be average.
For 100 million dollars Disney could have built two Millennium Force coasters. Instead, we get Mission Space, a super theamed gravatron. Disney blames their low attendance on everything (war, economy), yet they never mention the idea that fans want real thrill rides.

 

[Rajah]

Not all fans do, robvia. I'm a fan, and I don't want more thrill rides. I'd much prefer more Thunder Mountain type coaster rather than a Top Thrill Dragster. If I want thrills and elevator-drop rides and such, I'll go to six flags or similar parks. I go to Disney for the theming and the family attractions, attractions I can do even if I'm not feeling well that day and I don't typically have to worry about not eating before riding. I go for the atmosphere. Not thrills.

 

[disykat]

I like the themed rides too. I was curious how many people feel like robvia so I posted on the debate board. So far, many people seem to like themed rides and feel like Disney has a good mixture of both.

 

[MosMom]

I go to Disney for a themed ride. If I want a thrill ride there are a multitude of other parks I can visit. Disney is unique and that is why I love it so much. There is nothing else like it.

 

[jerseydizdreamer]

Thrill or theme?
Talk about a tough question to answer! I'm a few months away from 39, but have felt 22 since I was 15. I've always loved thrill rides, and during each Disney trip make sure to take a trip over to Islands Of Adventure to hit such attractions as The Incredible Hulk. But I spend the majority of my vacation (6 days out of 7) at Disney, soaking up the theming and the atmosphere.

Personally, I'd like to see a better mixing of theming and thrills at Disney. For example, I've always been a fan of Alien Encounter, which is a heck of a thrill, and themed to within an inch of its life. (I have to admit, talk about them "revamping" the ride has me worried. Please don't take away the genuine thrills this ride, unlike most other Disney attractions, offer!).

I feel as if Disney needs to balance the two needs. It's not enough to open four differently themed variations of the slow-loading Dumbo attraction. I'm not saying every new ride introduced should be a thrill ride, or even every other ride, but I think in order to compete in this day and age, there have to be at least a few thrown into the mix. You'll always have the Peter Pan's and Winnie The Pooh attractions that appeal to the kids and their parents. But Disney needs to also address the "tweens", as they're called, as well as the generations coming up behind us who are increasingly drawn to the thrill.

I'm a huge, huge fan of Disney, as I've said. I'm only thinking from a practical point of view. It's one man's opinion, so please, please, don't crucify me!

Bowing humbly, hoping to avoid execution by flaming...

richard

 

[jerseydizdreamer]

Thanks SO much for posting this survey! It's interesting to read, and, of course, offers all kinds of jumping-off points for good, old-fashioned discussion and debate.