Robert Niles
Editor
Robert Niles

The 2011 list of New Year's resolutions for theme park fans

January 2, 2011, 4:15 PM · It's time for our annual New Year's resolutions for theme park fans. There are a few tweaks from last year's list, thanks to readers' suggestions.

Disneyland's Monte Cristo sandwich
My resolutions probably ought to include eating fewer of these...

Salmon salad at Disneyland
...and choosing more of these, instead.

As theme park fans, let's resolve in 2011 to:

  • Start the day with a smile on your face, and work to see how many other faces you can get to share that smile before you lose yours.
  • Let the other folks go first when you both get to the queue entrance at the same time.
  • Start a friendly conversation in a queue with a visitor you don't know.
  • Offer a lost visitor directions.
  • Not linger at a restaurant table when others are waiting with food, trying to find a seat.
  • Ask a park employee for his or her advice on finding a special experience in the park that most visitors miss.
  • Say 'thank you' to the attendant every time you get on or off a ride.
  • Thank a member of the custodial staff and compliment the appearance of the park, during every theme park visit.
  • Go to a park's guest services desk on your way out of the park and compliment the work of a specific park employee.
  • Finally, if you're not having a good time, don't compound your bad experience by arguing with someone. Simply take your business elsewhere. That's the most effective form of complaint.

    I also hope that all Theme Park Insider readers will resolve to "give something back" to the community by posting at least one blog comment, discussion response or attraction rating and review in 2011, especially those lurkers who've not posted to the site before.

    Happy New Year 2011, everyone, and thanks for reading Theme Park Insider!

    Replies (6)

    THCreative
    TH Creative
    January 2, 2011 at 4:35 PM

    (1) Attend grand opening of new Star Tours at DHS.

    (2) Recommend TPI to friends, family and colleagues as the web's best source for the most up-to-date information related to theme parks and attractions.

    anonymous
    98.14.59.201
    January 2, 2011 at 6:17 PM

    Another one everyone should do is to not RUN to the first attraction when the gates open you will get to it eventualy it gets worse every year. Also for people to stop cursing in the park their are little kids around and it is a bad example for a family oriented place

    coasterdude
    Anthony Murphy
    January 2, 2011 at 7:05 PM

    I agree with eating less Monte Cristos and more salads.

    Perhaps we can all do some reports on eating healthy at...(fill in the park)

    JoshC.
    Joshua Counsil
    January 2, 2011 at 11:26 PM

    Now, how about the theme park companies' resolutions to their guests?

    Upsindwns
    David Sutter
    January 3, 2011 at 6:47 AM

    All good and will do Robert. Heres one more visit a park youd normally check off your list. instead of a Major one pick a small one. Maybe a few hours but might be fun. To the major theme park companies work on your guest satisfaction not your wallets.

    robert
    Editor
    Robert Niles
    January 3, 2011 at 5:58 PM

    I would love to see some theme parks publish a New Year's Resolutions list. They all have blogs now. If anyone sees a park's resolution list out there, link it here.

    This article has been archived and is no longer accepting comments.