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Guidelines for ratings and reviews on Theme Park InsiderHere are some tips from Theme Park Insider's editor to keep in mind when ratings the rides, shows, restaurants and hotels listed on the TPI website.
From Robert Niles
Here are some guidelines, from Theme Park Insider's editor, to keep in mind when you are rating rides, shows, restaurants and hotels listed on the website.Posted March 22, 2008 at 8:37 PM 1. Rate only the locations where you've been within the last two years. 2. Think about how one location should rate relative to the other locations where you've been. 3. Read the rating descriptions. Here are some additional descriptions for each rating, along with a sample attraction that Theme Park Insider's editor thinks fits within that category:
4. Consider your kids' POV on the young kids' rides. These kids' rides are typically shorter, much less intense and may have less theming than family and grown-up rides. (That's because they are for little kids.) So you should give young kids' rides a higher rating than you would "grown-up" rides of similar intensity. Compare young kids' riders against other rides for people of the same age group when rating. Thank you for taking the times to rate and review on Theme Park Insider the locations you've visited recently. Your input helps make this site such a valuable trip-planning resource for more than two million readers every year.
Comments in chronological order. Most recent at the bottom. Scroll down to respond. From James Rao
Beautiful. Posted March 22, 2008 at 9:59 PM Somehow you need to make sure this posting is readily available, like your "Guidelines For Writers" link. Furthermore, the definitions of the ratings should somehow be incorporated into the flow when people input ratings. It is always good to give people a "gold standard" for their ratings.
From Robert Niles
It will be. I'm giving it a day or two before embedding it into the nav and welcome e-mail, though. Mainly 'cause I'm just spent from the tournament right now.Posted March 22, 2008 at 11:06 PM
From Joshua Counsil
This is great, Robert.Posted March 22, 2008 at 11:42 PM I've always wanted an explanation link (a link on each attraction would be great, but not necessary).
From Matthew Baker
Poor: injecting personal bias into what should be neutral guidelines by means of personal suggestions, potentially creating contention where there should be nonePosted March 23, 2008 at 5:42 AM Poor: unfairly categorizing rides that are both intended and suitable for persons of any age who take an interest in it as "kiddie" rides only intended for young children accompanied by their parents. Better to keep the definition of "kiddie ride" limited to those for which there truly exists a maximum age or height requirement with at most only parents/chaperones exempted Not the ideal standard being exhibited on what is being considered a professional or at least semi-professional website. Unfortunate, in light of the potentially-valuable content this site provides, such as safety reports
From Larry Zimmerman
Great, Robert! Now, how about a wallet-sized card all the afficianados can carry with them...Posted March 23, 2008 at 8:10 AM
From James Rao
GUIDELINE: direction or advice as to a decision or course of action.Posted March 23, 2008 at 11:14 AM ==> No one is being forced to vote a certain way. Guidelines are a tool to help users provide a more valuable service in the form of meaningful ratings. RATING: A position assigned on a scale; a standing; a progressive classification, as of size, amount, importance, or rank. ==> When a rating system is used, a definition is also required, else the rating is meaningless. Mr. Niles has simply provided a definition for the rating system used on this website. I see no harm in adding both definition and advice for the ratings on this site.
From Robert Niles
Dumbo, to me as an adult riding alone, is an exceedingly weak ride. It just goes around in a circle, and somewhat slowly at that. It's value derives purely from the fact that my kids, when two to four years old, adored it because it allowed them to fly "way up high" in the air in a fancy vehicle. Posted March 23, 2008 at 6:30 PM I think a rating that reflects Dumbo's value to me as an adult, alone, misses the point. Dumbo's rating ought to reflect its value to its primary audience, which is young children. So I would not dare rate it as weak, indeed I think it ought to be good, or better, by its value to the kids who ride it. (Again, I am citing Dumbo here as an example of a class of rides.) That's what I am trying to say with #4 above.
From Derek Potter
Reviews are always going to be left to the interpretation of the rider no matter what. Some see perfection in rides like Millennium Force because theming isn't necessary to make it a great ride (I personally will take it over most themed coasters I've ridden 9 out of 10 times) On the other hand, some just don't like coasters. Water rides are other people's cup of tea There will eternally be a debate on the necessity of theming and whether or not it increases the experience or covers up a mediocre one, and whether or not it is required to acheive "perfection". I would venture to say that many voting on the site won't be as well traveled or well versed on the subject of theme/amusement parks as others, but please do your best.Posted March 23, 2008 at 7:31 PM I'm all for posting the new guidelines. Ride the rides, shows, and attractions you have ridden, and put some real thought into your votes. No superfan voting. Of course all of this is done on the honors system, so here's to hoping that the reviewers stay honest. There are so many different flavors out there meant for different people, and I think that seeing a ride for what it is and what it was built to accomplish is something to consider. Mr Toad's Wild Ride wasn't really built to thrill people, so don't give it a 5 because it doesn't go a hundred miles an hour and doesn't get your adrenaline going, give it a 5 because it didn't tell the story effectively or didn't capture your imagination. On the other hand, don't give Goliath a 5 because it didn't "tell a story", give Goliath a 5 because it was uncomfortable, or not thrilling enough..etc etc. Just my two cents on reviewing. Just a question...will the ratings be reset? I'm not sure I think they should be, but it's something to think about anyway.
From Rob P
Posted March 25, 2008 at 7:24 AM Robert ....I hope that people aren't misinterpreting your review guidelines as anything other than that..........guidelines. I think most of us get what your saying.
From Mostly Anonymous
It's so true that a ride you hate can suddenly become a big favorite once you become a parent. Posted March 25, 2008 at 10:19 AM Once upon a time, didn't a lot of the kiddie rides have a separate "for kids" rating? That probably did help people to rate the rides more fairly. But it can be very hard to decide what's a kiddie ride and what isn't. Depends on the kids! Every ride-rating website has its strengths and weaknesses. This site has always had a bias towards thrill rides, and I think that's fine. There are plenty of other sites that stress the strengths of less thrilling rides.
From Robert Niles
"Bias toward thrill rides?"Posted March 26, 2008 at 8:41 AM I don't really see that. In fact, we take a lot of heat for an alleged hostility to thrill rides. (See the Best Ride Tournament comments.) As for the separate kids ratings, yes, we did that at one time, but ended it when I rewrote the software that handles the rating tabulations. I'm messing around the some options to bring a form of that back, though.
From Mostly Anonymous
Perhaps the site's voters have moved away from supporting thrill rides, and I just haven't noticed the change yet. I haven't tried to analyze the ratings!Posted March 26, 2008 at 5:08 PM But I do know that this site had Islands of Adventure as the top park for a number of years. And although I do love it, that's a park where if you're pregnant or have a heart condition, you'll be spending a lot of time twiddling your thumbs.
From Joshua Counsil
Robert and MA are both right. The registered readers, for the most part, love theme parks. But within those theme parks, they like the thrill rides the most.Posted March 26, 2008 at 5:54 PM And "thrill rides", in my opinion, does not necessarily define fast or high rides. It defines an exciting attraction, like T2: 3D, or even Soarin'.
From David Singleton
Although the economy has hit HRP fairly hard in it's fist season. The patrions of the park I have had a chance to speak to have had very little if anything good to say about this new park. Most of the better comments heard were of the Led Zeplin roller coaster. The majority of them were that the ride is quiet enough that you can easily hear the quality sound system above what little noise the cars make, not how great the ride it's self was. Other than these few good comments, almost all of people I have had a chance to talk to say they will not be back. Some were unhappy about the risque nature in the park which was not truely family friendly.Posted August 21, 2008 at 7:30 PM Myself I have been a guest twice for free and was so dissapionted in the attractions that I myself would not pay the $50.00 for adults(now reduced to $45.00) gate fee. Actually the second trip I was in and out of the park in less than three hours and had rode the rides that I wanted to. Not one person I have spoken to appeared to come away with a wow that was cool attitude. Yes the Led Zeplin is a pretty cool ($4,000,000) ride, but it is actually the only thing going for them other than two small but entertaining stunt/action shows offered. The Nights in White Satin ride is short and the lighting effects are pretty poor, for a lack of a better word "cheesy". Which unfortunatly would be my description of most but not all of the parks nonride attractions. With only about 30 rides or attractions including the 10 or so kiddie rides, I see no good future for the park as is. As rumors are flying about the park being in trouble financially I'm affraid they are going to have to quickly develop some hi-tek, gotta do it again! rides or the low attendance problems may persist. The park is very small also which limits the number of attractions. Word out lately is that the park is going to build a hotel, shopping village and condo complex ajoining the park. This does not really make sense to me, If they want to make the park a return destination they really need to use this property to double the parks size and attractions instead of building another motel in a resort with it's fair share of ocean front resorts,shopping malls and condos already. Many of the "locals" Ive talked to who had purchased season tickets before the "final" grand opening, had actually returned the season passes and got their money back. If my oppion matters, if you want to buy rock and roll t-shirts, coffee mugs and ride a few ok rides go to HRP. If you want to take the kids to an amusemnt park there are a couple of others in town wich are a lot easier on the wallet and a better bang for the buck.
From Jason Williams
As you stated, it's HRP's first year, so what did you expect? Disney quality like most of the other people who do not like it? That's the problem, many people went into the park thinking 'this is going to be Disney quality' and when they get into the park and see that it's not, they become disappointed and think 'wow this park isn't worth anything at all.' Much of the low attendance can be blamed on the bad word of mouth this place has gotten. People who do not like it focus on the negatives of it, when there are a lot of positives.Posted August 22, 2008 at 6:46 AM I respect your opinion that you did not like the park. But come on, it's the first year. Not every park opened up to the size it is. It takes time to expand. And I agree that with how it is now there is no good future. But like I said, it takes time to expand. They cannot just expand overnight. Give it time, it can turn out to be a much better park than what it is.
From Anthony Murphy
Good job with the rating ideas. What made you decide to put it out?Posted August 22, 2008 at 9:36 AM
From christian giovannini
sTEEL Force is a great ridePosted April 29, 2009 at 2:49 PM
From Britt Taylor
THANKSPosted May 2, 2009 at 3:05 PM
From delroy kerr
hi i think sixflags need to get a rollarcoaster thsts going to draw more crowds to there parks get away from superheros try going to rides thats gonna scare you and thrill you the same time,they need to do get the guys who built THE MUMMY THE RIDE in there let them show it how its done.Posted July 1, 2009 at 12:40 PM I think we need put a the mummy the ride in sixflags all over then you will see you crowed coming back so with the money.
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