What have you learned in your years as an enthusiast?

[Howie]

Putting your arms up on a rollercoaster very probably slows it down.
Think about it, if things like temperature, moisture, time of day, wind direction, weight of riders etc... can all significantly affect the speed and pace of a ride, and we know they do, imagine the extra drag factor of 24 squealing goons sticking their arms up in the air.
For a faster ride, y'all would be better off hunkering down.

 

[Tonkso]

Most of this will repeat what has already been said by others, but still:

• There are very few bad rides. Rides that are derided by the community can still attract a queue, someone is enjoying them. You can too. I even met someone who loves Hero at 'mingo*.
• Beware of gatekeepers. Count means nothing, and just because you have not ridden x ride or y ride, it doesn't change anything.
• Stop ranking. I've got to this point now where I am starting to drop the top 10 and instead have my group of favourites. Your opinion will change every day. Or do rank, you do you!
• I miss the fear, and love it when a ride brings it back. Stealth somehow still does it for me.
• Balance makes a park for me. I get much more enjoyment out of a park that has a good top tier line up, but also mid tier and chilled rides. It really isn't all about the big rides.
• Cred counting doesn't always matter. I did not ride the kiddie creds at Parque de attraciones, and I am okay with this.
• Enthusiasts are a broad church. There's good ones, bad ones, bloody annoying ones, ones I can talk to for hours, ones who are arrogant gits, we're not all the same.
• 'Those' enthusiasts suck, the ones who think they're better than the general public and use the term 'GP' whilst looking down their nose. Go away.
• I like pins, I got into pins far too late.
• Most parks over-report queues. And learn which ones don't.
• Merlin's 'bad' days when break downs are constant are really not normal in any other park. Their good days are fantastic, but those bad days really let them down.
• Most people think we're weird.
• There's a weirdly large crossover with the escape room community. Like, seriously, loads of escape room enthusiasts and GMs are big theme park fans too. It's kind of awesome.

* okay that one stretched it a bit, but different strokes and all that.