Bob O wrote:No joke at all!!! Comparing a park to Paramounts Great America is a joke, now compare the theming to parks like WDW/USF and Busch Garden parks. When I was at the park on Saturday they had a guy with little talent singing rocks songs in Southwest Terr., unless something has changed I dont think that goes with the western theme.
You are a snob. When SF has as much money as Disney, General Electric, or Anheiser Busch to clean up their parks and put in themeing...they will...now how do you think they're going to be getting that money? And also the Guy in swt, his name is Paul Wilaert, and he is amazing! He knows so many songs and sings them well. Incidently when he is there, he is only there in the morning and in the afternoon there is a show there called "Country Rocks" which does fit more with the theme.
What about the Scarecrow in County Fair or just Outside Demon by V2? Whats with that? Since when did Turner buy SF? LoL. I dont mind the geico thing, or the HD things.
A) you dont see Gecko at 70 MPH on the Eagle
B) The HD facts gives you something to talk about in those long lines (not) that the Eagle has
C) If you listen real hard, you can block out the Wiggles crap below.
Think of it like a racecar. At a certain point in racing, do you really care that the car has decals all over it? It still looks cool, and it goes fast.
Or like teeball, or soccer teams and little leagues, they all have to wear sponsors on their shirts, don't hear nearly as much complaining about that do we.
What you don't understand you can make mean anything.
There is nothing wrong with placing advertising around the park like this sign, however, it's always more appreciated when it's done in a way that compliments the rides/park. The Home Depot signs are a good way to advertise without taking away the experience of the ride.
RIP: Trailblazer and Deja Vu...heck, even Alien Encounter
BUT, a theme park is a place where most people go to escape all the "real world" issues and commercialism. And sfgam is throwing ads out there and changing music in the park. All of this kills the atmosphere that sfgam used to have two or three years ago. From a business standpoint, it's a great idea. But from a coaster enthusiasts point, it sucks. WORD
"Oh My Gosh, She is such a whore!" - heard behind me exiting Raging Bull.
Im not a snob, just one who appreciates a well themed park and advertising that is overdone takes away from any theming, as does someone siging nonwestern themed songs in a western themed area of the park. While you may think he is good, what I heard of him wasnt good and wasnt in the theming of the area anyway.
As said before me, a visit to a theme park is meant to be a escape from reality and not supposed to be a place where every where you look you are seeing irritating advertising which detracts from any escape from reality and is no different than a visit to your local mall.
While a little sign by a ride is fine, but when most rests. in the park are coporate owned and everwhere you look is a sign promoting some product, then you destroy any type of theming and as Uncle Walt wouls say it is bad show.
The Home Depot signs are a good way to advertise without taking away the experience of the ride.
An advertisement doesn't take away the experience of the ride. When you're on AE, you're not thinking of the big Geico sign, you're just thinking about the ride before you. (At least that's how most people are)
a visit to a theme park is meant to be a escape from reality
Well, considering you can't see the banner inside the park, I don't see how it can be an intrusion in your "escape from reality." Seriously, it probably wouldn't even bug you or even noticed by you if somebody didn't bring it up on here.
a visit to a theme park is meant to be a escape from reality
Well, considering you can't see the banner inside the park, I don't see how it can be an intrusion in your "escape from reality." Seriously, it probably wouldn't even bug you or even noticed by you if somebody didn't bring it up on here.
See, that doesn't bother me as much. The whole idea of having ads all over the park annoy the hell out of me.
"Oh My Gosh, She is such a whore!" - heard behind me exiting Raging Bull.
I have my pros and cons of this whole thing the pros are that if you look we have ALOT of new signs like the big wooden signs that is pretty nice but I don't like that there's ads everywhere I like how its funding our park but I would rather them do it in a subtle way like the HD thing that's subtle and entertaining. I'm not saying its a bad thing I'm far from saying that but it was better going into six flags with out seeing Geico or Comcast on the six flags parking payment booth. I'm on the fence on this situation we will see how it goes during the season.
Quote: a visit to a theme park is meant to be a escape from reality
Well, considering you can't see the banner inside the park, I don't see how it can be an intrusion in your "escape from reality." Seriously, it probably wouldn't even bug you or even noticed by you if somebody didn't bring it up on here.
I agree with that. Even though I never rode it while the banner was there, you still wouldn't see it.
See, I have no problem whatsoever with advertisment in the park. It's the fact that the advertisment is on the rides. Call me stupid and superficial but I like the look of just a roller coaster, no strings (or in this case, signs) attatched. It kind of takes away from the appeal of the ride.
Example: You're walking under the train bridge in SWT and, as you enter the territory, you're met with the giant beauty that is Raging Bull, a breath taking sight. Unfortunatley, the majestic sight is completly ruined. Why? There's a giant banner strung on the supports.
See? Takes away from the beauty that is a coller coaster basking in the afternoon sun (hah, now it sounds liek a snake).
The other advertisments are no problem though. I happen to particularly like the Home Deopt signs. They're for sure loaded with interesting facts and they kind of make the line go faster. You get to one, read it,a nd eagerly await the next one to see what else you can learn about the ride you;re about to go on. It's nice.
^I don't mind the Home Depot signs when they're actually about the ride you're about to go on. A couple of them bug me though. Specifically the ones at the bottom of the stairs at Superman and the one by the Batmobile. Both of them are about a type of tree. Honestly, how does that fit in with an amusement park?
Coasters Ridden: 131 Top 5: Maverick, El Toro, Voyage, Fahrenheit, Dominator
a visit to a theme park is meant to be a escape from reality
Well, considering you can't see the banner inside the park, I don't see how it can be an intrusion in your "escape from reality."
If only that were still true...
Now, isn't that a pretty site? That's some sweet themeing. Hopefully, the park will add many, many more banners just that large as it truly does add to the ambiance of Great America.
Great pic...I seen it Tuesday. Its very visible from the parking lot now, and obviously from inside the water park. Geico must of asked for better placement. Hopefully its temporary, but I doubt it. Ugly.
it is ugly but the only three places you can see it is the parking lot STT and HH. You can see the outline of it while riding viper, but you have to be loofing for it and not pay attention to the ride, so in my opinion I would rather it not be there but since it is I'll deal with it, because after all it is paying for one of my favorite parks!
Remember, there's nothing but air beneath the chair.
Boy oh boy, does that banner ever look dumb! I can see putting signs up in the queue lines for rides and stuff like that, but not ON THE RIDE! If you want to put up a big banner to advertise, PLEASE don't put it on a ride! What's next? Geico.com, so easy an American Eagle rider can do it?
EDIT: Um, I just noticed that the banner in the big picture was on the Viper! Oh no, he's spreading. Look out!
Hee hee, look. I have a signature thingy um, thing.
The big banner was moved from eagle to viper because it was legally considered a billboard which is not allowed in the city of Gurnee, since it's facing the parking lot it's no longer considered a billboard.
BullInDaBack4Life wrote:Boy oh boy, does that banner ever look dumb! I can see putting signs up in the queue lines for rides and stuff like that, but not ON THE RIDE! If you want to put up a big banner to advertise, PLEASE don't put it on a ride! What's next? Geico.com, so easy an American Eagle rider can do it?
EDIT: Um, I just noticed that the banner in the big picture was on the Viper! Oh no, he's spreading. Look out!
...and I thought they got rid of that annoying little pest! At least Tiny won't eat him up anymore! That should be good news.
R.I.P. Splashwater Falls and Space Shuttle America. Deja Vu, enjoy Idaho.
Hear ye, hear ye: "After 45 years, Six Flags has stopped smoking."
Hopefully, the park will add many, many more banners just that large as it truly does add to the ambiance of Great America. 
