So, early this week I put my mum and cousin in the hot seat and decided to ask a few questions regarding theme parks. As an enthusiast, it’s hard to not become blindsided by the technical facts & the normal hive mind enthusiast thinking. I thought this would be a fab opportunity to share an insight into a non-enthusiast thoughts regarding theme parks, it was certainly interesting for me to learn how others think! I hope this something you guys can also enjoy as much as I did writing and putting it together. I’m going to lay it out in a Q&A style blog post to make it easier to understand if that makes sense?
Before we head into the post let me introduce my mum (Lorraine) and cousin (Ash)! We love taking them to theme parks and to see their reactions to the rides which we are somewhat used to now. So, I hope you guys enjoy this blog! Please, understand neither of these guys are enthusiast and have only visited a handful of theme parks, go easy on them.
Firstly, let’s start the chat with your favourite theme park and why it’s your favourite?
Ash: I would say Chessington, there are a few rides that I enjoy, also had a few laughs on the rides which made the experience even memorable.
Mum: My favourite theme park has to be Alton towers, I loved the Halloween offering which was totally amazing, the mazes well worth the money as the actors are extradionary.
Onto pricing at what price would you consider purchasing a theme park ticket? Is there anything in particular that makes the more expensive parks appealing?
Ash: I would say around £25 personally due to the typical long queues and if any rides end up going down.
Mum: Okay, I think £50-£60 for a full days riding is fair. Of course, excluding the other discounted tickets that are available for careers and students. But also I’d love to see a pay per ride system with a small fee for entry alone like £15. 
In terms of crowd levels, what queue times are reasonable in your opinion? What is the longest queue you’ve waited in at a theme park?
Ash: For me, personally I would say 15 min and 20 min max.
Mum: Queues are a hard one to judge. But I’d love to see some virtual queuing even if it’s an extra fee (similar to speedy pass at Pleasure Beach) to make it more accessible for everyone. The longest queue I’ve waited in was 2 hours at Disneyland Paris but in the UK it would of been an hour. 
How important are new investments to you & do they keep your interest peaked for return visits? How many years do you feel a new ride should open?
Ash: I don’t mind new investments but I think they should introduce new stuff every 2 years or so to keep the interest high.
Mum: Investments for me are very appealing and I’m sure that’s the same for pretty much everyone. I think theme parks should invest every two years including the building process to help keep their guests eager to return. 
Do you keep up to date with new rides and general news?
Ash: I do sometimes check the websites to see if there is anything new or interesting to look forward to on my next visit.
Mum: Yes, I regularly browse the internet to see what is happening/coming to the parks and prior to visiting I check mainly the Alton Towers app to keep up with the latest queue times and offers. 
How do you feel about paying for your entry to then pay for an additional charge for attractions inside of the park?
Ash: I don’t mind as long it isn’t too expensive.
Mum: I think it’s okay, however, I’d prefer it all in included into one price to help avoid confusion but as I mentioned before I quite like the idea of pay per ride also. 
Does theming and audio impact an experience to you?
Ash: The theming makes a huge impact on the experience as it makes it more enjoyable although audio sometimes makes it more intense.
Mum: Definitely, I think both aspects keep the adrenaline pumping throughout the ride experiences. Especially during the Halloween and Christmas events.
Is it noticeable the old to new rides and rollercoasters?
Ash: I’d say 50/50 because I understand they might need to change some bits due to maintenance and that.
Mum: It’s hard to judge really but the main ones that are noticeable are the wooden rollercoasters. For me, I find Grand National and Big Dipper somewhat out dated and in some aspects they feel almost unsafe. They are both in need of new track and parts of the ride replaced to make them enjoyable again, in my opinion. I have heard from Emma that Big Dipper has had it’s first drop done and is riding much better now, so I’ll have to check it out some point this year.
What’s your least favourite ride and why?
Ash: I would honestly say none as I have enjoyed them all which I have experienced so far
Mum: For me, my least favourite has to be Big Dipper (before the re-track) & Grand National at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. I find them both a tad too rough to be enjoyable. 
Do you think most parks should have extra entertainment outside of events?
Ash: Most definitely, to keep the different age groups entertained and keep interests peaked.
Mum: Yes, I would love to see some more outside entertainment and it would definitely attract me into more parks. But it would be good if they could stay open past ride close purely for outdoor entertainment for guest to whind down at the end of the action packed day and relax with selected food and drink outlets on offer too.
If you could see one ride last as long as possible which would it be & why?
Ash: I would say nemesis, as it was my very first rollercoaster, it wasn’t bad as I expected and I quite liked it actually, my adrenaline was so high which made it funnier.
Mum: It’s hard to pick individual rides as they are all brilliant in their own ways. However, for me it would have to be Thirteen & Duel at Alton Towers as I adore those rides. 
If you had your own way how many times would you visit a theme park in one year?
Ash: I would say 7/8 times throughout the year as long I had enough money to visit some of them.
Mum: For me, I’d love to visit perhaps twice a month if not more assuming I had the money to do so. But I’d love to see a loyalty scheme available😉.
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There you have some questions answered by non-theme park enthusiasts! This is the start of a new series I aim share with you guys and I really hope you’ve enjoyed reading this.
Thank you all so much for reading!
