Theme Parks / Amusement Parks

My post is prompted mainly by two things:

1. The grand opening tomorrow of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at DisneyWorld in Orlando. I’m a Star Wars fan, but I know way more about this than I would normally because I have a friend who’s a FANATIC and sends me links and posts all sorts of stuff about it. I must admit it looks pretty interesting and I’d like to see it one day. For all its commercialism, Disney is still a master at imagineering. I still remember the delight of the Haunted Mansion when I was 10 and subsequent visits. That and Space Mountain when I was a little older – although, that’s essentially the old Wild Mouse roller-coaster ride in the dark.

2. The official seasonal opening on Memorial Day weekend of the local Six Flags theme park, Great Adventure – now, the only reason I know about that is because of the bombardment of TV ads. The last time I was there was over 20 years ago and I maybe went on three rides – the log flume, the Runaway Train, and the classic roller-coaster Rolling Thunder – most of the rides were these massive thrill things that flipped you upside-down and dropped you and twisted you around, not for me. And it seems like every year, at least for the ads I’m seeing, these rides are increasing in the number of them and their intensity.

So, these two things have had me reflecting on my own memories of amusement parks and theme parks over the years. Yes, I still like Disney – even though it’s weird to fly all the way to Florida just to go to a theme park. The last time I was there with my family – my mom planned the trip 15 years ago, she wanted everyone together to re-create the memories of our first trip as kids – I was not in the greatest place in my life, but heck, I didn’t have to pay for it and it made my mother very happy – I just took it for what it was and found what I liked to do (and ignored the fact that there was a gift shop every five feet).

Theme parks like Great Adventure felt more user-friendly when I was younger. They had hardly any thrill rides – the first time they put a loop-the-loop coaster in the park, Lightening Loops, it was a big deal. But over time, a lot of that changed – in fact, I don’t think the last two rides I mentioned, Runaway Train and Rolling Thunder, are even there anymore. Runaway Train was a metal coaster that zipped you around fast, but never flipped you upside-down, and Rolling Thunder was an awesome classic wooden roller-coaster – in fact, the first one I rode when I finally got over my fear of roller-coasters at age 20. I remember how fearful I was before that first drop, and then when the ride ended I turned to my friend and exclaimed, “let’s go on again!” We went on three more times.

I did try Lightening Loops one time – my first and only time on a ride that turns you upside-down. I felt so sick, I decided never again. And even going back to the park that last time, I could already see the advancement of the more technical thrill rides.

Bringing me back again to when I was a kid and the rides I loved. Aside from Disney which is really more of an experience than an excursion, my favorite amusement park memories where places like Coney Island, Asbury Park, traveling fairs, and small local amusement areas that weren’t too far away. It didn’t cost a lot, wasn’t a big deal to get in and out, and you could have a lot of fun without going high-tech, even on the rides for older kids and adults. I still appreciate things like that.

Notice how happy my mother was on that Disney trip:

EDITED FOR CORRECTION: SW:GE opens in Disneyland in California tomorrow; it opens in DisneyWorld in Orlando in August.