Taking control

[Ian]

One of the worst things about being known as an theme park enthusiast is going to a park with your non-enthusiast mates.

I've done this on several occasions and they always expect me to lead them around the park.

I understand to some extent. I visit theme parks quite often and they don't. This is possibly their only visit to the park in years and will be for a few more years to come. They want to maximise their ride count and minimise queues, so why shouldn't my experience help them out, so inevitably, I lead.

I do prefer it when a non-enthusiast leads. I get more out of a park watching their reactions. I even try not to let on too much about a ride but am always ready to answer any questions they may have...but that rarely happens!

Do you find that on your park visit with non-enthusiasts, you take, or are expected to take, control?

 

[tks]

Not really. Sometimes i'm asked "is this ride worth going on" and i'll give an opinion, but otherwise I keep my mouth shut and act clueless.

 

[Ollie]

Whenever I go to a park it's usually always with either CF or family.
The odd occasion I do go with friends though I do get the feeling they expect me to help them get the most out of the day and I don't mid making suggestions. But if it's at a park I've done to death like Thorpe then I just take it easy and relax.

 

[RCF]

Usually I go with family, but when I do, since I'm the only enthusiast, they usually expect me to lead them around a park (especially where we've never been) so I basically have to lead my family around.

 

[CreditCrazy]

Sort of a mix. I don't lead my friends around without even asking where they want to go...but usually at opening they expect I know what to do. For example, at SFMM, my friends would probably think to go to the "new one" first, but I know that it is more smart to go to X2 first. After that I don't care and we can go wherever they want to go...but we tend to stick to similiar paths each time.

Lately I've been going to parks with enthusiasts a lot more though, so I don't have to worry about it too much.

 

[Snoo]

Little bit of everything. Usually I only go with people who can keep pace with me at a park.. or an enthusiast. Those are mostly the same people.

 

[rollermonkey]

I have to say the same; a little bit of everything. It all depends on the circumstances.

If I'm on a port visit, I either take control or my buddies expect me to so we can get the most done in the short time we have in town.

Sometimes I'm with people who just like to wander around, taking in sights, people watching, riding occasionally.

I sometimes visit parks with other enthusiasts.

I often go to parks by myself.

 

[CMonster]

I only go to Busch Gardens with my friends, and they've all been enough that they're practically tour guides themselves.

When I go somewhere new with my family, I usually lead, unless my little siblings want to go on something their size.

 

[theRock-steel]

I like lists and plans. I have been to too many of these places to waist time just wandering in whatever direction. I usually let people know that this here ride can get a long line by mid day, so I ask the group what they want to do and try to get them to the big stuff early.

 

[Hixee]

I think I'm in the same position as you Ian.

I'm often expected/asked what to do next, however I don't really like it.

I don't often visit parks with non-enthusiasts and when I do, it's often Alton Towers, they know their way round mostly anyway.

I seem to get asked more about the technical side of things thought.

 

[Brookes]

I lead sometimes when I'm with family or whatever but I normally go with my mates who know a bit about coasters. We usually say shall we go on this and we'll all agree, so it's a bit of each.

 

[nadroJ]

I lead, always. I can get quite scary sometimes too XD

 

[Waffleman]

Generally speaking I only go to parks I've already been to with friends (not a rule, it just seems to happen). But if I was with them I think I'd get all he stuff I wanted to do done first, then go with the flow. But isn't that what tends to happen anyway?

 

[Pierre]

Theres nothing more I hate than know-it-alls so to speak so I'll just go along with the group, and even dumb things down (call Velocity the motorbikes, call Kumali that big blue one that goes over the lake!!) it just makes life simple. If they were being really dumb about queueing or something though I'd probably step in but I've never had to!

I see it as they're there to have a fun day, not to have a guided tour by some nerd :lol:

 

[Hyde]

Yup, I tend to be the leader of the pack.

I don't take control with an iron fist, but I keep the group rolling to the next attraction, providing random nerdy facts when necessary. :lol:

 

[LiveForTheLaunch]

Friends? What are they?

Haha just kidding but yah I'm usually asked to lead, but I don't mind.

 

[nealbie]

Not at all. In fact it heightens the fun of being at a park with mates if you're led around like a headless chicken. :lol:

I don't take my enthusiasm seriously (as some of you may have noticed ), this allows me to be able to wander around an attraction completely oblivious to common sense. After all, I've been many a time before, they wont be going for a while like Ian says - so I let them decide for the most part. I contribute naturally, but never take the lead.

Doesn't mean I don't shout at uselessness though

Faffing must be met with - vocal chords!

 

[Mr Nash]

No.

If I go to a park with friends,then I'll treat it as their day out,instead of mine,and let them decide in which order to take things.

I might chip in every now and then with helpfull advice,but they never listen to me anyway. :lol:

 

[Lofty]

Every time I go with my friends the same thing usually happens.

Our bossiest friend tries to take charge and I keep quiet. Then after they decide to go on a specific ride my other friends tell them to 'F@ck off' and they ask me to show them around.

Even if we've been to the park like 100 times before, it happens guaranteed every time!