An idea for Paramount Parks

Paramount, a reasonably large movie studio, only themes around old movies (i.e. Top Gun, Bond, Wayne's World.) Why don't they market their current crop of movies in the park?

I've only been to Carowinds, King's Dominion and King's Island, but one thing always strikes me as odd. Paramount, a reasonably large movie studio only themes around old movies (i.e. Top Gun, Bond, Wayne's World.) I understand that to build an attraction you need something that's well known and popular, but why don't they market their current crop of movies in the park.

I think they should have a Paramount store in each park that's slightly upscale that sells T-shirts and promotional items from current big Paramount movies. (When it was number 1, there was no mention of MI II at the parks.) Occasionally they hang movie posters up around the parks, but they usually stay up well after the movie has left the theaters, and they are usually mediocre movies at best.
For the love of Pete they own the Star Trek franchise, and aside from the hotel in Vegas, you'd barely know it. There is on sad little "Enterprise" fountain in Carowinds, and the Star Trek shop was closed at King's dominion.

Now on the other hand if you like shot glasses with roller coaster names and oversized Taiwanese knock offs of Winnie the Pooh or Tweetie, the parks supply them in abundance.

One final note.

Hypersonic XLC is worth the wait. (1.5 hours)

In regard to the comment about if something is nice, then it is kept clean... I have to say that that is very true. When Phantom Theater first came out, its was a great ride. But slowly my King's Island attending friend and I noticed how the ride was in deep need of rehab. You can hear the characters jaws clanking from around the corner, sometimes lights which aren't supposed to be on are, and necessary lights have gone out. I can't tell you how many times the ride has stopped and I've had to sit in front of a 'furnace'... Once it was exciting to hear the huge animatronic man say, 'How 'bout some heat?' but now that's only by a rush of cold air. And since these changes have come about, we've noticed trash thrown all over the ride, and spit on the large glass window. I don't think that the timing of that is a coincidence.

Another ride that seems to be suffering is Adventure Express. The ride once had smoky tunnels with things moving all around. Nowadays the spears and skeletons are rarely moving and you'll only find smoke if you arrive at opening and are very lucky. There's also a big blob on some wooden supports that looks like elephant dung, and certainly doesn't smell any better, that you can see if you look back and to the left on the hill leading to the 'helix' on AE. Pretty nasty. And its always growing. You'd think someone would see (or smell) that and take care of it. And at the top of the last hill the temple guard used to be on all the time, with those glowing coals. 'You have disturbed the forbidden temple, now you will pay,' he would boom, and then tilt those coals down... But now you can hardly hear him, and you 'pay' by having the ride stop. And, once again, as we began to notice all this, there began to be trash everywhere, the ride was a mess.

But then again, I see some things that contradict this. On the new Wild Thornberries ride I've noticed a few instances of trash being thrown around. There's a large plastic alligator outside of the ride, which had a Jolly Rancher in its mouth for quite a while.

Well, I've thrown in my two cents... and long after this discussion appears to have ended, but that's OK.

Since so many of the comments in this thread are about Paramount's Carowinds, I thought I'd bring up a few points to consider.

First, Carowinds receives the smallest yearly crowds of any of Paramount's five theme parks in the U.S. and Canada. (King's Island gets the largest crowds.) Since that's the case, it makes sense that the executives at Paramount Parks spend the most money on rides and attractions at Paramount's best attended theme parks.

Second, most of the rides that go into Paramount's theme parks are off-the-shelf attractions it buys from outside vendors. Unlike Disney or Universal, which custom design many of the attractions that go into their parks, Paramount purchases many of its attractions from vendors that specialize in ride design and construction, like Sally Corporation (flat/dark rides like Scooby Doo's Haunted Mansion) in Jacksonville, Fla., or B&M (rollercoasters like Volcano: The Blast Coaster) in Monthey, Switzerland.

Finally, some of the properties mentioned in previous postings don't belong to Paramount. Indy Jones, for example, belongs to George Lucas. If Paramount were to create a ride or theme a shelf bought ride to Indy, they'd have to send George several million $$$ in licensing fees. Sorry, folks, but it ain't going to happen.

And while Paramount does own Star Trek, it's their premier property and they want to keep it that way. If you're waiting for Paramount to build a hypercoaster somewhere and slap the Star Trek name on it, I think you'll have a long wait. It's more likely we'll get an indoor coaster based on the Jetsons' than one based on Star Trek.

I was wondering if the Congo Falls ride at Kings Island was themed around the movie CONGO and if so how is the theming on it? Any apes?

thanks

Nope, sorry. No theming. It used to be called Amazon Falls, and they changed it to Congo Falls, but didn't theme it at all. The closest thing it has to theming is the sign outside and the plants and such... But you wouldn't look at it and think it was related to Congo. Although that would be pretty cool if it was, with those freaky gray gorillas scattered about.

OKay, so it's not the biggest park, but it's the little things that make big differences. Pleasant employees, clean atmosphere, and a fresh coat of paint go a long way.
If you look around, almost everything seems to be done as quickly and cheaply as possible.
Said it before, I'll say it again, they just dont't care.
It's doesn't have to have the tallest or fastest, it just has to be pleasant and fun, and with minimal effort, cost, and a bit of creativity, they could make something better.
Filthy overpriced Subways and Taco Bells helmed by rude, inept, teenagers are not my idea of a good time.
As for Star Trek being a premium franchise, you probably know more, I'm not in the "entertainment industry", just some opinionated schmoe with a 56K modem.
There are poster displays all over the park. Look inside and what do you see? Faded posters for not-so-good movies that are over year old and are rarely aimed at the average theme park visitor.

Paramount should hype it's summer tentpole movie at the park. They still have Jabber Jaw and Hong Kong Fooey wandering around the park. (Okay I think that's pretty cool, but in a cynical Gen X way.)

That's enough ranting for now.

I think they should bring back the slow monorail that 2/3 of the track is over the parking lot and adjacent outlet mall!!!

So far this topic has not been one I have anything to contribute to, but MC brings up a good point. To be honest, when I first heard ( years ago ) that Disneyland was redoing Tomorrowland, the first image that came to mind was a nice new streamlined "Star Trek" looking future. What they did by going retro with that whole "the future as Jules Verne saw it" theme was okay, but I was really envisioning Star Trek designs, more.

Star Trek is a major franchise. It's draw is so strong that they could make a financially failing movie ( first ST movie ) and STILL get approved for a sequel. It's audience is so established that it's spawned off four or five ( lost count ) TV shows and will be around for decades more. Paramount would do well to at least dedicate a wing of some amusement park to Star Trek, not just one or two rides.

Closest thing I've heard of is a Star Trek themed casino w/ attractions in Las Vegas. Anyone know of anything different? Any other Paramount parks that capitalize on this major franchise?

Its me, Annie Clark. Won't let me log in for some reason...

Anyhow, in regards to Star Trek, there used to by Star Trek themed characters walking around King's Island. In recent years they've disappeared, though. I remember my 6 year-old cousin was terrified of them. They were pretty cool looking, though.

I have some really cool pictures from Carowinds of people in Star Trek outfits. They had an ice skating show that featured Ice capade style recreations of Paramount movies. As goofy as this sounds, it was pretty cool. They did Wayne's World, Godfather, a couple others, and the finale was Star Trek. I guess they let the folks in costume wander the park afterward.

I've never been to the Star Trek casino. HAs anyone else? I know Season passholders get a discount.

I know there was a comment about Paramount being an "off the shelf park". Boardwalk and baseballs was as well, but it was always pretty clean.

Also reguarding employee friendlieness, Dollywood employees were some of the friendliest I'd ever met, and that was a very small park. (You could argue that it caters to a different crowd, but they have some surprisingly good rides. See my trip report.)

Personally I wouldn't mind having my picture made with a blonde wearing a purple vinyl body suit. mmmmmm seven of nine.

Okay I admit it, the word "Geek" is written on my forehead in indelible magic marker.

I have to get this off my Chest: CAROWINDS SUCKS!!!!!!
Now it really is a nice park,
but in recent years it has gone to the dogs. The management appearently is yet to notice what a dump it has become. The park is nice, but it's employees just don't really give a crap. There hateful, rowdy and just don't care.
Now second of all is the parks name CAROwinds. There trying to take the "Carolina"
out of Carowinds. I have seen
area after area be removed in favor of other themes In 2001, one of the parks signature area's: "Plantation Square" remodled to "Paramount Plaza".
Now don't get me wrong, I love Paramount, But it does not have ANYTHING to do with the Carolinas. I really think paramount has performed well at this park but its a local park, and lets keep it local.
Last, the park's guest. I'm not blaming Teen's but calm-down! It seems that Carowinds is overun with Teen's. Somebody get these Kids under Control! I mean relly evan the teens at Six Flags in Atlanta are not this rowdy.
(and Atlanta is bigger than Charlotte)
Overall, Carowinds and Paramount are nice, they just need to pay attention.

I would Like to start my responding to everyone putting down Paramount's Parks. As A person who has been in the theme park business and working for Paramount's it is not as easy as people think to run a park. Do i disagree that the employees sometimes seem like they dont want to be there no. But on the same hand working there can be a drag sometimes, as any other theme park. As far as stealth goes. Try working it sometime. That ride is the hardest, most difficult rise to run, than any i have ever seen. Why complain they take so long to send a train out? it takes that long to ensure saftey, you want it fast, then, maybe to speed up we will skip ur harness, so we can move faster and not check. Yes things could be done a little quicker, yes the parks could have better rides. yes they could be neater, but in order for that to happen, guest have to stop complaing about everything and anything there is to complain about. A park is only as good as 1. the guest makes it. Dont stop going to it, the more people stop going, the less money there is to fix up the park. Just because Paramount has a lot of money doesnt mean that the parks, pretty much arent on there own so to speak. I thinks it great when people commint on things. But when you start complaing on things you dont understand, like the running of stealth, then that really pisses me off. But hey its not your fault you dont know. So thats why I try to let it slide, but nobody ever listens, they always want things there way and what they say is right no matter what. Well let me tell yea, shut up and listen to what the operators have to say. Amybe you will understand and not get all up tight and then start a problem.

Tried to register...password hasn't come yet. Anyhow, I would like to give my 2 cents on Carowinds. As a passholder since the age of 12(I'm now 34) I have to state the dissappointment that has occured over the past 20 years! Carowinds was actually a family oriented fun place to go as I was growing up in Charlotte. It has now turned into some sort or mayhem. As of last season(2001) I will no longer spend $350+ dollars on season passes to take my 3 children to the park. We were greeted by rude teens with pierced tongues working at the rides, more rude teens serving disguisting food, and yet, more rude teens that walked around with their Basket Balls running into people! It was a total waste to try to enjoy the park on summer weekdays, as 1/2 the attractions were closed(due to no help?). It is nearly impossible to ENJOY a Weekend at the park fighting the crowds. I found myself taking lunches in a cooler, and hauling the kids out to the tailgate of the SUV to have lunch. My husband was talked to by an employee like he was not an adult~the TEEN working was rude and inconsiderate. What happened to the great shows the park used to provide? What about adding a new and fun attraction? The park is outdated, the few shows are lousy, and the food gross! I would much rather drive 6/8/10 hours to enjoy an amusement park, pay the high price of a hotel, and fees to get in, and be treated with courtesy, and go someplace clean! The times have certainly changed, and not for the better~as you visit what used to be a fairly nice park at the border of NC/SC!
I hope someone from Paramount reads what all has been said on this page, and actually does something to improve it!
At $5.15 p/h, good help is hard to find.....pay your help to WORK, and maybe they actually will. ~Cheri from Charlotte.

What is happening to hypersonic this year, making it taller callmer at the top or what???

I am a Paramount Parks employee at their park north of the border. I have never visited any of the other parks, though I hope to get down to at least one of them during this season. I can say without question that at Canada's Wonderland there is very little of the items which I have seen mentioned above.

In regards to cleanliness...yes, there is a problem with cleanliness at the park, simply because the attitude amongst people is that it isn't their job. Even amongst the ecology line staff (they're hired to clean the park during open hours) they take very little pride in their job. Ecology is generally regarded as the repository for those who couldn't quite make it into ride operations.

In regards to theming...I have actually seen an increase in themeing at Wonderland since Paramount took over in the early 90's though like I said, I have never been to other Paramount parks, so I can't say how we compare in that respect. I can say that we lag far behind both disney and universal in themeing.

Ride maintenance and safety...I have worked on fourteen different rides within the park and I can say that having seen the required checks at those fourteen rides, I have no problem with the approximately forty other rides in the park. I would feel extremely safe with myself or my children on any one of those rides. I can't go into detail, but there are more than enough safety precautions to ensure the safety of the guest, provided that they listen to the ride operator's instructions.

I would hope that Viacom would put some new money into ride development, especially at Wonderland. Since 1996, we have received three splashworks expansions, three flat rides, an Intamin Giant Drop ride, new kids area including one of only two Vekoma Junior Suspended Coasters, and a Heinrich Mack Wild Mouse ride, known as the Fly. The last major coaster we received was a Vekoma Suspended Looping Coaster (Top Gun) in 1995.

This topic is old, but I like it so good I thought I'de bring it back up. I went to Carowinds to find that they are celebrating there 30th anniversery this year, which makes no sence at all. Carowinds opened in 1973, that means its only 29 in 2002, it won't be 30 until 2003. Also the park has'nt improved any. It remains a dirty, tenager overuned place with awful smells and high addmision prices. Please at all cost avoid Carowinds you'll just be disapointed. I recommend Six Flags Over Georgia or Dollywood instead.

The other paramount parks are awful, except: Kings Island for some reason they seem to have the cleanest park, nicest employees, and even though they're not one for theming, i thought the theming for outer limits(specifically kings island version, its fantastic) was incredible, and tomb raider, well you won't see disney doing anything this cool. so, i give Kings Island a perfect 9.5/10, the other ones though(kings dominion, carowinds,etc.) are simply Kings Island wannabe's.

Hi im from Cincinnatie and i love Kings Island!

But i have just one question to ask you guys if you know.
What are they going to replace
King Cobra with?

What happened to the proposed park in Melbourne, Australia? Also, I think they should have kept Wonderland Sydney!!

Ok folks lets get one thing straight!!! outta all the paramount parks carowinds is what they dubbed as a "family" oriented park. thats why in the previous years most of their attractions have been geared towards kids. PC is infact the runt of the chain. due to location and weather. it gets kinda hot there and no one wants to be in the heat too much. i see carowinds blooming into a very nice different park. i must agree that they are kinda deviating from the orignal concept of the park by adding new lands in the place of the old. but until we complain to the chain nothing wont happen. next year paramounts carowinds will be getting the same nickelodeon central that kings island recieved. as far as a major thrill ride.....i dont see it happening in the times to come. however i was told that they plan to expand the park beyond the hurler. we will just have to see what happens. as far as employees.......well thats another story and topic. america doesnt wanna really want to work and doesnt take the job that serious anymore. thanks for your time

I really don't think that Carowinds is "Family Oriented". There are Teenagers using Vulgar words everwhere, and the place is coverd with trash. Security is also not high, its miraculus if you actully see a security guard.

Why Isnt Paramount Canada's Wonderland On The Park Insider List ??? PCW is a very well knowen theme park here in Canada. Its located just north from Toronto Ontario Canada. Anyway, Can someone give me a clue on why PCW is not on your park list ??? Is it cuz its a Canadian Park ??? Thanks Eh.

Hey "Skull" PCW Isn't on the list because they don't have anyone who can be their "on the spot" person. If you want PCW on the list, you could always volunteer your time to post stuff here. From what Robert (webmaster) says on the website it's not too hard. I would offer to do it myself, but it would violate my contract (I work for them...) That's why PCW isn't on the list...

I agree with that, although Kings Island's Tomb Raider was pretty cool. Kings Island is bad about recycling old rides..they have gotten rid of more rides in the past few years than they have built them. They took the classic log flume last year and turned it into a Nickelodeon Ride. Their simulator has gone through 3 different films, and the King Cobra is coming down this year...along with phantom theater, which used to be the much cooler smurf ride many years ago. I dont know about the other Paramount parks, but I think that PKI did much better when it wasn't owned by Paramount.

Paramount Parks could use some help. The employees could use some help as well. Even though PP strive to bring a fun memorable day for the family, they need to listen more carefully to the needs of their guests. Not necessarily doing what they demand but meeting them halfway at least.

Paramount Parks could use some help. The employees could use some help as well. Even though PP strive to bring a fun memorable day for the family, they need to listen more carefully to the needs of their guests. Not necessarily doing what they demand but meeting them halfway at least.

I cant tell you that is exactly NOT the reason why Paramount Canada's Wonderland isn't featured on the list. Why well, because I'm the one that's responsible for updating the page. Yes it actually does have a page and it does feature restaurants, hotels and ride reviews.

this is for all the cracker heads that put down carowinds,there is nothing wrong with teenagers at carowinds either visiting or working there ,i too was a teenager working and riding there at carowinds,maybe in the future they will build a park for all you 70 year old low lifes,as for now come on everybody lets go to carowinds,email david somers liveyounger2002@yahoo.com

Its a Bashing from the past!

Some people are willing to support a park no matter what.
I'm surprised that you still praise Carowinds if you worked during the park's "Golden Age". Things have gone down hill ALONG way since then. Safty has loosend up to the point where there is normally at least 2 mishapps every year or so (2 robberies on park property in 2 years, the the Thunder Road Braking problems,the chemicale fumes coming out of Rip Roarin Rapids....) and the park is never clean.
I don't have a problem with the teenagers, I just HATE to see Carowinds used as a baby-sitter where parents drop there 14 year olds off and then come back and get them later on in the day, So they can reek Havoc all over the place with those damn Basketballs they win (which should be deflated) and go around flipping off the cameras on Top Gun and the Hurler. By the way, I'm not in my 70's. I am only 23.

It's something that's not limited to Carowinds...the "bird" and "ball" problems happens at most parks anywhere...good suggestions, though!

Back on the original article's topic... ;)

I'm pretty certain that the reason Paramount doesn't use recent properties (most parks don't, SF has been using Batman and Superman which are old, tried & true properties) is to make sure the ride has longevity. I'm assuming that it takes a considerable amount of time from the initial planning stages for a ride (even if it's built by an outside company) to actual implementation, so it would be an incredible risk to base a new ride on a new property. What if some company had banked on Battlefield Earth, then after the movie came out and became one of the biggest bombs in movie history, had to scramble to re-design all the theming, advertising, etc etc to avoid associating the ride with that movie?

Paramount, I think, recognizes this, so they've been themeing things after "classics". Movies that people still remember and love, and ones that have shown that they have incredible staying power. It's a smart choice on their part...sure, something after MI:2 might be able to pull on that movie's success soon after release, but now? Who really looks all that fondly back on MI:2 the way they look back at Top Gun?

I dunno, I like MI:2 a-whole lot more than Top-Gun. And before you all start...tomb raider was excellent idea to base a ride off of, because even though the movie didn't do well, the game is considered the best of its genre in the world. Which is a very smart move!

Yeah...'considered'.

By PlayStation fans ONLY!

(Sorry all you adults who havent the foggiest what Im talking about...but it had to be said.)

Derek:

I'm not sure that KI did any better, generally, before it was purchased by Paramount.

What I DO know is that in the years just prior to that takeover, KI's safety record was abysmal. It's improved a lot since Paramount came in, but in my mind a bad safety record takes a long time to live down.

As a kid growing up in the 80's and early 90's, there weren't many summers that passed without my reading about someone getting seriously hurt or even killed on one of their rides.

The one and only time I visited KI, in my late teens, that was enough to keep me off of all their rides, except for Flight Commander.

And I thought Flight Commander was the bomb, until a few weeks after my visit, when I read about someone who flew out of it when a shoulder restraint failed and was killed.

I've never been back to KI since, I don't care who owns it now, and that's why Cedar Point gets my money every summer.

I think the worst possible idea for Carowinds was to build that bloody water park area. Now, on top of the pierced, finger-popping, basketball tossing morons, now you have people walking around in various states of undress (none of whom SHOULD be walking around like that). Unless Saturn has another "family" day there, I have no intentions of returning there. And even then, it'll be hard to convince any of my friends to go with me.

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