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2010's new year's resolutions for theme park fans

By Robert Niles
Published: December 30, 2009 at 1:04 PM
I'd like to repeat a list of new year's resolutions that I first ran one year ago today. For those who read it then, how many did you keep?

  1. To spend a day at a theme park we've not visited within the past 10 years, or ever.
  2. To go on at least one old attraction we've never been on at a park we've visited many times.
  3. To walk an uninterrupted lap around the park at some point on every visit -- not to get anywhere, but just for the sights and the exercise.
  4. To let the other folks go first when we get to the queue entrance at the same time.
  5. To start a conversation in a queue with another visitor we don't know.
  6. To start a conversation with a park employee whom we don't know.
  7. To give a lost visitor directions.
  8. To ask for directions when we are lost.
  9. To go to a park's guest services desk on our way out of the park and compliment the work of a specific park employee.
  10. After each visit, to post more attraction, restaurant and hotel reviews to ThemeParkInsider.com. ;-)

I'm happy to say that I kept most of these - including spending a day this year at four theme parks I'd not visited in a long time, or ever: Holiday World, Kings Island, Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Dollywood.

I think that this list holds up well. What are your new year's resolutions, as a theme park fan? What would you like to see as a resolution from your favorite theme park?

Readers' Opinions

From Vickie Boyd on December 30, 2009 at 1:50 PM
Very cool. I already do most of that (3-8). But this year, I resolve to do 1, 2, 9 and 10. It's actually what we're planning on doing. We're trying to get in twenty new coasters we've never ridden before to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. :)
From Corbin Barker on December 30, 2009 at 2:13 PM
These should be the golden rules of Theme Park Fans, not just for new years.

Great list Robert!

From TH Creative on December 30, 2009 at 3:29 PM
1. Make it a point, during every theme park visit, to thank a member of the custodial staff and compliment the appearance of the park.

2. Ride the Jungle Cruise.

3. There's no crying in baseball.


Okay, then maybe just number one.

From Joshua Counsil on December 30, 2009 at 5:28 PM
Yes to 2-8, and 10. Not bad.

11) See area attractions other than the theme parks.

12) Tour an often-visited park with somebody who has not seen it.

13) While completing #12, avoid asserting your opinion on the attractions unless that opinion is positive. Let them choose what to see.

From Mary Ann Nowak on December 30, 2009 at 9:29 PM
Mine will be to read "Theme Park Insider" a little more than once a week -- and submit park/hotel information reviews more often. Luckily I had logged on to Theme Park Insider to find out what else there was to see near Six Flags Great Adventure for our planned trip to ride Kingda Ka and learned that it was closed. We would have made a trip to New Jersey from Indiana for nothing. Our vacation was changed to Canada; visited Canada's Wonderland to ride Behemoth and went to Niagara Falls for the first time. It ended up being a great trip.

Remember, even though you don't think sending a comment in will be valuable, it could be a vacation saver! Thank you all and Happy New Year!

From James Rao on December 31, 2009 at 6:51 AM
When heading back to the Magic Kingdom in May with my six year old in tow (she has no real recollection of her last visit in 2007), it will be a challenge for me to combine Josh's #13 with TH's #2. However, I will do my best.

So let it be written, so let it be done.

From Todd Houts on December 31, 2009 at 10:19 AM
I managed #1 (Six Flags over Georgia), #3 (at several I visited), #4, #5 (I'm often alone so I'm a big fan of making friends in the queue when possible); #6 (especially when visiting a park that isn't busy so you're not interrupting an employee's work); #6 (giving directions), never #7 (I'll look at a map or just wander but I am male and incapable of asking for directions), #9 (Six Flags over Georgia) but something I do regularly anyhow, and sadly I didn't keep up #10. So six out of 10.

Interestingly about #9 (going to guest services to post a compliment) this is the first time I didn't hear back from the park after taking the time to do that. It's also the first time I did it at a Six Flags property. I would hope by now Six Flags corp would be starting to learn the importance of customer service including acknowledging their guests that go out of the way for them. Sigh.

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