Like 'em Crowded?

[Dan]

I'd like to know how you like parks to be when you visit. Although it is fun to be at a park when you are the only one (and you're group), I find that waiting on line for maybe ten or fifteen minutes improves the atmosphere of the park. Running around empty midways is fun, but the spirit of the place itself, I feel, is somewhat lost. With that, how do you like parks to be when you visit?

[-Drop Zone-]

I prefer to go in the morning when its empty, but I like some crowds. In my opinion you don't get the whole theme park feeling without them.

[Jake]

It was always my dream to be the only person on a roller coaster. That dream came true yesterday, and it is not as great as I thought it would be. It just.. loses the fun, honestly, what's the fun of screaming on a coaster if your the only one doing it?

I remember on the opening day of Sierra Sidewinder, Dan made a comment to Jack Falfas about how the park was a little more crowded than he would like. He responded "I like it crowded, if it's crowded it means business is good." That's an angle that most of us don't think of. While we may prefer the park to be empty, from a business standpoint when the park is crowded it's a good thing!

[theRock-steel]

I usually travel by myself because the wife thinks I'm crazy for riding these, and the only one of my three adult kids that would get on all of the them has two jobs and two kids of his own. (My youngest did go with me and her boyfriend to Universal twice.) Anyway, I do like a little bit of a crowd so I don't feel alone.
(Myself and this brother and sister team that I didn't even know hung out at BGE for two hours one time.)
Of course, during the whole day I have run into the same people time after time, going from coaster to coaster. That happens almost everywhere I go. Recently, I have tried to tell them about the best web-sites (this included).

[p0tat0]

Being empty just feels weird... like you missed the memo

[rollercoasterfreek]

I like it empty. After all, no waiting in lines. When I make my annual trip to SFDK, we choose usually a Monday or Tuesday in the summer and the wait times at the most are about 10 minutes. When I was at Great America this year, the longest wait was 20 minutes for a ride.

I am proud to say I have never waited for a ride longer than an hour (not including breakdowns).

[Thrill Reconnoiter]

As more knowledgeable park goers, you can always pick certain days to beat crowds if you don't like them. I usually go to parks in the off-season because I hate waiting in lines; sometimes though, it depends on what I'm doing. Large crowds are great for photography and I don't mind them if I'm just moseying about a park. If I'm going somewhere I haven't been or don't go to often, I try to aim for light crowds.

[Dan]

Large crowds are great for photography and I don't mind them if I'm just moseying about a park.Yet another reason I prefer some people than none...photos of half empty coasters just don't give the same effect as full ones.

[MaverickManJZ]

Haven the experience of being in Kings Island when the population is around 30 or less...and being at KI when the population is at 75,000....

I heavily prefer those lesser crowded days. Wether the park is dead due to cloudy days....or it's just everyone is at the water park. I love being able to walk onto my favorite rides. And on the weekends, they get the attention they deserve. But waiting 15-30 minutes for a mediocre coaster, no thanks.

Maybe my opinion is because I come and go 75% of the season

[Cody]

When I'm at the park with my camera then I want it to be a crowded day. Sometimes I go to SFMM just to use my camera.

Otherwise I would like those 15-20 minute lines.

[Airtime&Gravity]

It really depends:

Yes I love going to parks when they are empty as it is possible to get a lot of rides in. However when the park is crowded, you get to see how the park can handle it. It can be fun just to watch what is going on instead of riding rides. However if you want to ride, you can always get a flash pass. If I go to a park on a crowded day, I'll usually just take photos, enjoy the park, and maybe get in only 3-5 rides.

As long as this sign isn't up, I'm happy:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2105/1676235772_b4b8e9daa4_o.jpg

[Nate]

It really depends on how many times you have been to the park. If it is a park that I have never been to, I don't want people there because I want a chance to do as much as I can. If I have been to the park many times, I don't care about the lines all that much.

[TPDan]

If the first option is 10 - 15 mins all day, then ill go for that one. There was a fantastic day at thorpe earlier in the year (April 1st I think), when queues where odd. 30 minutes for Rush, 5 for Colossus, 15 for Nemesis Inferno, 10 for stealth and about 5 - 10 for everything else.

Yes it was fairly empty, but the park atmosphere was amazing. Simply being there was really fun, especially around Tidal Wave, as the weather was perfect! Blue Skies, and not Hot, but just Warm. That day was one of the best days ive ever spent at a theme park all down to the atmosphere, and with light queues.

[Voyage100]

When I want to get on rides in a row, I would love an empty line, but when I want to see lots of people are putting hands up with tons of smiley faces, I would go for a crowded line. =)

[jolash]

I want the park to be as empty as possible, but I don't want the park the alter its operation at all. I found that Cedar Point kind of half-a sses operation on Fridays during Halloweekends. Most rides closed, no music, no screamsters. The atmosphere is killed. I want that atmosphere of a normal day, but all to myself.

[Jake]

^ Yeah, I've been to Disneyland on days when it isn't too crowded. And it seems like they kind of.. peter around, like there isn't too big a rush. I end up waiting just as long on those days as I do on days when it's actually crowded!

[The Storm Runner]

I don't like it when you feel "ugh" because everything has a long line, and you don't feel like waiting, so you go over to Chocolate World. :) Although I do like how Chocolate World can be a good refuge. :)

I like the "normal" Hersheypark day, which is walk ons for LR, Wildcat, sooperdooperlooper, Trailblazer, and 5-15 minutes for Great Bear, Storm Runner, Wild Mouse, Comet.

Wow I'm spoiled. :P

(And to think it was like half of this before 2007...)

[3xinvert]

I'm happy with anything..so long as none of the lines are over an hour long! :)

[Jake]

So your not really happy with "anything".

Out of curiosity, what is the longest line you guys have waited in? I'm curious to see how crowded the parks are when you guys visit.

I've got three hours for Rocket Rod's, and the same for Stealth.

[Michael]

^ I once waited 3 & 1/2 hours for drop zone, which is a 6 second ride :p

[JD71]

4 Hours for Rocket Rods. :p

For me, I love the empty days.

[MaverickManJZ]

Longest I waited was probably for MF and TTD.

Both 1.5-2 hours.

[rollercoasterfreak91]

The whole point for me is the rides, and i love running down the midways of an empty park yelling random coaster facts to my friends.

[Youhow2]

longest wait? X, 4 hours...


I like it when your with friends and it's empty...

[Norcal Twists]

No lines..period. I can't see how people could want lines other than for picture reasons.

[tycooner55]

When I went to BGA the longest line was ten minutes for SheiKra. Everything else was empty. There were enogh people to give you the "crowd experience", but with no lines. Good times.:D

[socalMAN123]

Walk-ons all day FTW. I can deal with 10-15 minute lines, but walking straight on to a ride or waiting one train is defenitly better.
---Brent :cool:

[rollercoasterfreek]

It is highly annoying when I have to wait more than an hour for a ride. Empty is always nice. I suppose crowds are good for pictures but not for me.


Walk-ons all day FTW. I can deal with 10-15 minute lines, but walking straight on to a ride or waiting one train is defenitly better.

I agree with that.

[socalMAN123]

As for longest wait time I've ever had for a coaster is X back in the first year of operation, four hours and forty-five minutes. That sure was a loooong wait.
---Brent :cool:

[IntaminFan007]

I like them partially crowded.

[Batman: The Member]

Who likes it crowded, empty for me.

[chris]

I chose crowded, it is good for the park. When it is empty you feal that the park is unpopular. Long lines is the adrenaline builder. You can watch the ride in action. Sure it is a long wait but by the time you get off, you feel like it was well worth it. I just like the park to look good. People enjoying it.

[p0tat0]

I like long lines only if I have a group of people. Then you got people to talk too.