Pleasure Beach, rollercoasters and "white knuckle" rides

[matgb]

What's your reaction to a chance to go on a decent rollercoaster? The reason I ask this is because we^[1] went to Blackpool Pleasure Beach^[2], and Jennie insisted on going on as many of the big fast rides as possible. At one point she observed to one of the crew "I'm not bothered, but he is"—meaning me. The thing is? I wasn't bothered, just really really not caring. I just don't really see the appeal of most of them—one of them, the Revolution, announced itself as "the most thrilling ride of your life", but to me it was merely meh. I figure there are four main reactions to these things, so I thought I'd find out.
[Poll #1209471]
It's not that I didn't enjoy the day out—both shrublette^[3] and Jennie were obviously really enjoying it, and some, especially the 'family' rides were good. I just was completely unmoved by the Big Dipper et al. The Avalanche was quite good, and the Mouse was actually scary as it felt like we were falling off at every corner, but I wouldn't say I really enjoyed them that much.

You? Do you like rollercoasters?

---

[1] We being snapesbabe, her daughter shrublette—it being her 5th birthday Friday) and her dad (who runs her YouTube channel)

[2] It has a flash thing that autoplays with music, fair warning for those of you that don't have flashblock as a standard install.

[3] So much so that some of them, notably River Caves, Derby Racer and Grand Prix she went on again, and again, and again (and again). Fortunately Daddy volunteered to redo fair few of them...

Comments

[innerbrat]

I haven't been on something rilly rilly fast in a long time. I love it.

[ms-ntropy.livejournal.com]

....ROAD TRIP!

[innerbrat]

How fast do you drive?

[ms-ntropy.livejournal.com]

Fast enough to have never been pulled over.

[matgb]

I am thinking you must come up and visit,t hen you and SB can go do all the scary stuff while I sit in the all-you-can-eat pizza buffet and laugh at you both.

[innerbrat]

OKAY THEN.

[sylo-tode.livejournal.com]

If you're looking for roller coaster heaven, it's gotta be Cedar Point. Unfortunately, it's in Ohio.

It's got plenty for the various levels of ride-seekers. misscoollinda doesn't like roller coasters, I don't like the ones that go sideways, so little_jesus has at least one of us to go with; he pretty much likes them all.

[matgb]

If you're looking for roller coaster heaven

Yeah, um, I'm not. And Ohio? It has some redeeming features, but not many...

[bopeepsheep.livejournal.com]

Used to enjoy them but am banned thanks to potential for back damage. :( So I don't really know what I think of them these days, not having been on anything vaguely cool since about 1999.

[matgb]

See, didn't factor that sort of thing in, ah well, the other option is good.

[andrewducker]

I find them fun, so long as I avoid ones that spin me round and round.

So rollercoasters are fine - and I really like the underslung ones, like Air at Alton Towers.

[nannyo.livejournal.com]

exactly. I don't do spinning, but the rest of it I LOVE.

[tinuvielberen.livejournal.com]

I've been mountain biking lately, which is a bit like a rollercoaster - with the exception that falling off is WAY more likely.

[matgb]

And also you have control of the vehicle and direction, so can choose to, well, stop, or take a different route, etc.

Probably a lot less safe, but more yours to control.

[gaeriwitch.livejournal.com]

I love them, unless they make me really dizzy. Other than that, I'd ride on them over and over again. If there is a chance of getting a little splash of water (Spain is hot in the summer), all the better.

[redatt.livejournal.com]

Boring. They don't do anything for me.

Those big boat swings, on the other hand ... back-and-forth ... back-and-forth ... ICK!

[wieselkind.livejournal.com]

I like them, more for the speed than the thrills though. I don't like that ones that wrench my neck.
I enjoy proper chair-o-planes the best though.

[caseytalk.livejournal.com]

It depends on my mood. Sometimes I love them, and sometimes I've had plenty of adrenaline in my life and am not looking for more.

[pmoodie.livejournal.com]

I'm not that bothered about rollercoasters really. Haven't been on one since I was about ten or so!

I seem to remember quite enjoying the experience of the ride, but I remeber HATING the queueing! The fun of the ride is negated by the annoyance and boredom of having to stand around for ages to get on it!

[baseballchica03.livejournal.com]

I haaaaaaate roller coasters. The upside downy ones would make me sick, and the regular ones are just scary. Hate them. Gah.

[dream-electric.livejournal.com]

Re rollercoasters and other such rides - the BIGGER the FASTER the SCARIER the BETTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have to get to Thorpe Park soon!

[anisiriusmagus.livejournal.com]

They're not my idea of fun, although I did go on every ride I could when we had a pre-6th Form day trip to Thorpe Park around 12 years ago.

Ani-sis loves these adrenalin rush causing rides, but I don't enjoy that adrenalin rush being a person prone to worrying. I don't enjoy putting myself in a potentially dangerous situation such as going on these rollercoasters/white knuckle rides that are likely to cause me to feel sick.

That said, I can appreciate that some other people love the adrenalin rush or whatever, but I'd hope that I wouldn't be seen as wimpy for not enjoying them just because other people love them. Perhaps it's like Marmite, the love/hate thing.

[poifaerie.livejournal.com]

Self-confessed adrenaline junkie says:

I always go on roller coasters, especially the big huge ones with drops of a million feet with crocodiles wielding tazers at the bottom (ok, maybe a slight exaggeration, but you know what I mean), but I rarely find them... fulfilling. The best one I've been on I think was the Detonator at Thorpe Park; I think this is not because of the experience itself, but the agony of waiting. (I also like to think the staff that run this ride enjoy having the power of their "victims".) Yes, I enjoy the sensation of rushing through the air at 60mph with nothing beneath my feet because it makes me feel a bit like a bird, which is nice... but for true exhilaration I'd prefer a man with ropes and a whip something a bit closer to home.

[matgb]

for true exhilaration I'd prefer a man with ropes and a whip

It's not like you don't have options on that score.

Hmm, wonder if there's a correlation there as well? Thrill/pain seekers have similar instincts?

[rhythmaning.livejournal.com]

I really don't like rollercoaster, speed boats, any stuff like that.

Helicopters are cool, though.

[lizw.livejournal.com]

Like bopeepsheep, I can't go on most rides because of back problems. Before that, I used to like the ones that spin at weird angles, and also the "dead drop" ones, but not the ones that turn you upside down - I've never been able to get myself to trust them. My motion sickness has got worse in recent years, too, so it's possible that even without the back trouble I wouldn't be able to go on them any more. I guess I'll never know!