Thinking Aloud On a Sunday

~ beetleypete

Funfair Rides.

I was talking to some people when I was out with Ollie yesterday. They told me that they are off to a popular theme park with their children for a few days. It is called Chessington World of Adventures, and combines the former zoo with lots of modern pleasure rides. Things like ‘Forbidden Kingdom’, one of those rides where you whizz around at great speeds, mostly upside down.

So that got me thinking this morning…

I grew up with things like the swings on chains, shown in the photo above. The Big Wheel, The Helter Skelter Slide where you came down on a mat, and Dodgem Cars. There were places that had rides that were more exciting. Travelling funfairs added The Whip, or the covered-in Caterpillar. Then there was The Waltzer, with your car being spun by an attendant, as it went around the track. All of this was done to a soundtrack of loud music, often the pop songs of the day, bright flashing lights, and the squeals of the people supposedly enjoying themselves.

Seaside towns had rides that went up very high, like The Mousetrap, or the various wooden roller-coasters that seemed to get bigger and more terrifying every year. They had a Parachute Drop, Water Splash, and the usual Ghost Train and kiddie rides too. Once holiday camps became popular, they built large amusement parks inside their camps that came with the added bonus of all the rides being included in the price. Compared to the white-knuckle attractions seen today, all of these would be considered to be tame indeed.

But I have a confession to make. I hate theme park rides.

Going round in circles at great speed makes me feel sick. Dropping five stories on a roller coaster that sounds as if it will come off its tracks at any second has no appeal to me whatsoever. Travelling upside down at a strange angle is something I have avoided all my life. So paying a substantial amount to be able to do just that seems just silly, from where I sit.

When it comes to funfairs and modern theme parks, I am the least ‘fun’ person you can imagine. I will hold the coats, go and buy the soft drinks, and sit on a bench until your ride has finished. I might even walk around and take a few photographs.

But if you think you will ever get me to go on one of those rides, you’re very much mistaken.

70 thoughts on “Thinking Aloud On a Sunday”

  1. I agree, Pete! Here – were i live – they are planning something very special for older people. They are to be driven here by bus. Then they should drink the home-brewed beer (Dont ask me how it tastes, compared to leading beer brands.Lol). Some bottles of these should be taken – overpriced – with them. I am very curious to see if this plan works. Politically, they are trying to get the older people out of the cities to the countryside. First through day trips, then firmly in residential and nursing homes. Horrible! Michael

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  4. You sound a lot like my dad! I never got to go on any rides as a child because my dad did not like funfairs. I discovered only as an adult that I love them… just not the ones where you have to drop from a great height.

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  5. You would be joined by Gosia on the bench, whilst Malina and I would eagerly be having the blood pumped round our body a little faster, although I would be white from shock at the cost 🙂

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  6. Great post 🙂 Here in the United States, we have the conventional Ferris wheel and rollercoaster etc. As far as theme parks go, one of the biggest names is Six Flags Great America. I guess like everybody else, I grew out of them as well. I may be in my early-to-mid 30’s, but I can’t remember the last time I went on an amusement park ride 🙂 Anyway, keep up the great work as always 🙂

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  8. I loved to visit carnivals and fairs when I was young but there were only a few rides I really liked. Rollercoasters were probably my favorite; I avoided the spinning rides as they tended to make me feel sick, and I’m not big on going upside down either, though I’ve done a few of those. I still like the more mellow themed rides you find at Disneyland, where you basically enter another well-crafted world for awhile. My favorite there is ‘Pirates of the Caribbean.’ And I admit it would be fun to see their latest Star Wars land.

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  9. I’ve never done well on spinning rides. I almost always get nauseous, and I’ve learned to avoid them. I do enjoy some roller coasters, but I have no interest in the type of rides that drop you fast at incredible speeds. Most of my memories of being at the fair involved trying to meet girls rather than getting on scary rides.

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  12. I loved them as a kid — the excitement was so different from my normal, boring day. Then I grew up and they made me sick and hurt my neck. So I don’t bother. I am the one holding the coats and wishing I was elsewhere.

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  13. It is funny how things change with age. Living close to Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm, and Magic Mountain meant I was always taking my kids on rides. The faster the roller coaster the better. The only ones I would not do were the ones that left you upside down for any length of time. I then took my grandkids as they reached the required height.
    Then at some point, probably ten years ago, I started getting sick from them. I would also get severe body aches from the jerking about. I was wise enough to say, I AM DONE. I had my fill and I have no regrets. I stand on the side now and wave knowing that I enjoyed it while I could, but no more.

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  14. I haven’t been on a theme park ride in over a decade, but I’ve always enjoyed them. I once rode the Big Shot in Las Vegas three or four times in a row [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Shot_(ride)], and the Desperado in Primm (Nevada) six times in a row [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desperado_(roller_coaster)]. After the Desperado, I was sore for a couple of days, as it jerks you around pretty hard. I’ve been to Disneyland a couple of times (last time in 2000), and went on all the wildest rides. And I’ve ridden all the rides at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri, and Worlds of Fun in Kansas City, Missouri. Some of the rides are getting a bit extreme for me now, so I’m not sure that I would get on every single ride available. But I’m pretty gung-ho!

    One last note: the best “ride” I’ve ever been on was canoeing the boulder-strewn Tarn River in France (except I had to control the canoe!). I grew up canoeing Ozark streams…

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    1. You are certainly a fan of all those things I would never set my bum on, David!
      If you enjoy them, that’s fine with me. Just as long as I am watching from a distance! 🙂
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  15. I used to love them Pete…then I had kids, and suddenly watching them being flung about violently at all angles, barely holding on for their lives, just didn’t appeal to me! I took my daughter on a roller coaster where you hung down in seats below the track…it lifted everyone up more than ten stories high, then it spun us around and flung us straight down toward the earth…how much did I pay for this stomach-churning torture? Never again!

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  16. I totally agree with you about the fun in the past, at fun fairs [what used to be called “Kirmes” in my youth], and I – like you – dislike the modern entertainment parks.

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  18. I never enjoyed them although I did ride a few in my time. I know I do not like being out of control and all those rides make me feel out of control. Now with vertigo off and on, I cannot imagine I could ever get on another one. I did like the Tilt-a-Whirl when I was younger, but never roller coasters or anything high.

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  20. When at a fair the only ride I go on is the one in the car to and from the fair. They are all heart attack invitations. I may try to win a teddy bear or tiger at some skill booth and enjoy the food and just people watch.

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  23. Funny you should blog about this. I am just going to mention what we did yesterday on my blog. There was a fun fair but we didn’t go on the rides. I used to like bumper cars and the shooting gallery but not much else. Our son, his wife and our granddaughter came down to Worthing and two of them sampled the big wheel.It was too expensive for all of us, £7 for an adult and £5 for a child. I have never gone on a roller coaster in my life.

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    1. I don’t mind the ones like that big wheel in Worthing, Julie. I have been on The London Eye in the past. They go nice and slowly, and I don’t mind the height, so much as the speed. 🙂
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  24. Reblogged this on Wilfred Books and commented:
    Some people love them, I know, but I’m quite content to watch them from a safe distance! (and not endure the boredom & frustration of the queueing) I used to enjoy the waltzer at the funfair, but I can happily live without it now.

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  25. Lol! I’m with you Pete! I have never seen the appeal either, and honestly you wouldn’t get me into one of those rides for the life of me! I do like the shooting galleries they at times have at these fairs, or the haunted houses. Other than that? No way! 😂😂

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    1. I have seen candy floss still sold in bags at the seaside, BF. It’s a long time since I have seen a machine spinning it ‘fresh’ though. The last time I saw a toffee apple for sale was a few years back, in a Farm Shop in Kent. 🙂
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  28. I am with Pete on this one…..I cannot see standing in lines to do something I hate….I also do not like a circus because of what they make animals do….like a bear on a bike or a dog riding a pony….it irks me. chuq

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  29. I so understand. Even as a child and a teenager, I was the one holding the handbags, coats etc. I couldn´t even go on a teeter-totter or be pushed on a swing. I enjoyed watching the others so I don´t feel like I missed anything.

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  30. Like you I hate theme park rides but Josef and Nissa love them. I get dizzy just looking at those rides especially those we have at the Enchanted Kingdom. They have everything there.

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