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Can Theming Ruin A Coaster?

In terms of Disney, as I say I honestly don't think there is an example of the theme being worth more then the ride, since as I say, the two components are always planned to work cohesively and are integral to the whole storytelling aspect that Disney try to achieve. Never is it just about being a rollercoaster. It is about an experience and a story.

Outside of Disney, i'm not sure there are any coaster companies that do actually spend an equal or larger amount of time on theme than the actual coaster, although Merlin are working towards a bigger themed experience goal again. Do I think they will spend more time on the theme rather then getting a fantastic ride. I doubt it. The main difference being with Disney, like I say, they plan both elements at the same time and will be directing the coaster company (more often than not Vekoma) throughout the design process as to what they want to fit with the theme. I daresay Disney are a lot more hands on in order to ensure that the two work together. Some of their coasters have actually been designed layout wise inhouse but they source coaster companies to build it.

Other park companies appear to have less involvement in the layout design process and begin designing the theme once the ride itself has been planned. I think that is often why the coaster is on flat ground and the theme (if any actual theming besides the station) goes up around it etc.

However, we digress a little. This topic was discussing theming ruining a coaster not outshining it. One thing can be said about Expedition Everest. Having ridden it, the theme does not ruin the coaster.

Just to quickly mention cholubys' post though. Rock 'n' Rollercoaster doesnt suit it's theme? Does that spoil the overal ride then? Does it actually ruin the coaster? Granted, it may not be as fast as the theme may suggest but It's fair to say that I don't know of any super stretch limos that blast around like that either. I don't recall ever being particularly slowed or stopped on any of the brake runs :-/ I know they are there of course.

What I was getting at with this topic, was pondering the possibility of getting off of a ride and thinking the ride would have actually been better without the theming and if there were any examples of that... I honestly don't think either Everest or RnR fit that definition.
 
What about Calfronia Screamer in Disneyland ? That coaster has no theming other than the big Mickey mouse ears on its hill? Was that a mistake for Diseny to ditch the theming for just that one coaster?
 
^The ears have gone now.

The coaster does not need theming, the fact that its a steel coaster made to look wooden and fit on a pier means it is themed of sorts. It has on board sound which is perfect for the coaster. If they had themed it more it actually would have ruined what is the best coaster Disney have.
 
Venom2053 said:
What about Calfronia Screamer in Disneyland ? That coaster has no theming other than the big Mickey mouse ears on its hill? Was that a mistake for Diseny to ditch the theming for just that one coaster?
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Erm it is themed. It is designed to be look like a wooden coaster on a classic California Boardwalk. It has all faux wooden supports all round it giving the impression of a wooden coaster aswell as classic styled 'funfair' lighting and the surrounding buildings match that theme too. The layout itself, excluding the vertical loop was also designed with the style of out-and-back woodies in mind too. :)
 
California Screamin' is interesting, because it's self representative. It's, like others have said, trying to convey nostalgic ideas about theme parks.
 
Joey said:
California Screamin' is interesting, because it's self representative. It's, like others have said, trying to convey nostalgic ideas about theme parks.
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And even more interesting when considering the fact it is self representative. It conveys nostalgic ideas of the exact thing Walt Disney was trying to avoid when he concieved Disneyland. Although that is another topic for another day...
 
Mark said:
Joey said:
California Screamin' is interesting, because it's self representative. It's, like others have said, trying to convey nostalgic ideas about theme parks.
Click to expand...

And even more interesting when considering the fact it is self representative. It conveys nostalgic ideas of the exact thing Walt Disney was trying to avoid when he concieved Disneyland. Although that is another topic for another day...
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Yeah! It is odd... Was California Screamin post-Walt? Regardless, I think I read somewhere once that Disney have felt "under pressure" a couple of times to build rides who's focus are visceral thrills - the one thing that Disneyland was built to avoid, like you say. So it's funny that when they accept the challenge they turn it on it's head.

I came into this topic to mention Revenge of the Mummy. The Florida one is quite clearly one of the world's best coasters, but we never ever see it at the top of polls. Why?

I think it's got to do with the topic title a bit. There aren't many coasters which are a near 50/50 split of narrative driven ride and visceral thrill ride like RotM and I honestly think it's because it's so difficult to market and get people to remember it.

I think that's why California Screamin's theme is so damn clever, really. Because if you build a big scary coaster you can see people visually remember it's imposing element... With a dark ride, it just gets stored in "ghost train" section of the brain. It's like people forget RotM is even a coaster, enthusiasts and the GP alike.

So in ways, perhaps a heavy theme is detrimental... It depends what your ride to evoke. And it begs the question whats the point of heavily theming a coaster if people won't remember it as a coaster? That's what you NEED people to do, because people see coasters as being the main thing you go to an amusement park for. That's why such heavily themed, narrative driven rides don't really exist outside of Disney and Universal and such.
 
I'm not sure about the dark forest, but when the area was UG land I felt the areas theme let down Rita and the other way round at the same time.
 
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