Who's Ready for Summer? (Des Moines, Cincinnati: fit in, real estate, waterpark)
Des MoinesDallas, Guthrie, Madison, Polk, and Warren Counties
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I haven't been to Adventureland in 5 years. I kinda wish they would have spent the money to update the park instead of adding a water park. It's 30 years old now and was showing it's age the last time I was there in 2007. Maybe they should be separate charge a separate admission for each, and still have a double admission for both. To me $30 is fair for just Adventureland, and $15 for just the water park, and still charge $40 if you wanted to do both in the same day. I would love to see some work done to the park to make it nicer, and replace some of the older and/or less popular rides. Also another parking lot behind Walmart for those wanting to just go to the water park would be great. I think this would be the best solution for those like me who just want to go to 1 and not both. The number of water park visitors would probably increase and be more profitable for both because people would be more likely to go if they just paid for what they want to go to.
Status:
"We might finally be thawing out!"
(set 5 days ago)
Location: Des Moines, IA
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Season passes are the way to go. If you buy before Xmas they are like $115 per person, parking included (which is 5 or 6 bucks a pop without the pass). I go an average of 3 to 4 times a week all summer. I more than get my money's worth.
The waterpark is worth more than $15 admission. It's VERY impressive. It's also very popular, often reaching capacity limits on hot weekend days. (there is a line to get into the park that can have you waiting an hour)
As for the park, they would need to do some demolition to really add anything new. The rides now are well maintained. I think some of the appeal is that it hasn't really changed much over the years. It holds great memories for me as a kid and I like that its still basically the same as it has always been.
It's shamefully overpriced, and they absolutely do desperately need a big new addition in the park. It's been 16 years since their last roller coaster, and that was Underground. Outlaw is going to be 20 next year. That's ridiculous for a park the size of Adventureland.
They wouldn't need to do any demolition to add new rides. There's plenty of space, and all rides are designed to fit into specific spaces. And if they did do some demolition, that wouldn't be the end of the world. An amusement park does need to grow and change to succeed. That's the way the business works. Losing Underground or Dragon or Inverter would not be a loss.
I have worked rides at Adventureland, and their safety standards are terrible. I'm honestly very surprised their haven't been more accidents like the girl who got hit with that plank on Tornado a few years ago. Training for rides employees is generally quite lengthy and in-depth. My training consisted of a tour of the break room, then I was sent to Tornado to check harnesses without any further instruction. Adventureland is the only park I have ever encountered that not only allows, but requires guests to bring loose articles on rides with them. This is so mind-blowingly stupid. They're just asking for lawsuits.
Yes, it's a quaint little park, but it's extremely behind the times, and way, WAY too expensive to warrant a visit. Better to drive down to Worlds of Fun, where you'll at least get your money's worth.
Status:
"We might finally be thawing out!"
(set 5 days ago)
Location: Des Moines, IA
2,555 posts, read 1,023,114 times
Reputation: 1241
Quote:
Originally Posted by steel03
It's shamefully overpriced, and they absolutely do desperately need a big new addition in the park. It's been 16 years since their last roller coaster, and that was Underground. Outlaw is going to be 20 next year. That's ridiculous for a park the size of Adventureland.
They wouldn't need to do any demolition to add new rides. There's plenty of space, and all rides are designed to fit into specific spaces. And if they did do some demolition, that wouldn't be the end of the world. An amusement park does need to grow and change to succeed. That's the way the business works. Losing Underground or Dragon or Inverter would not be a loss.
I have worked rides at Adventureland, and their safety standards are terrible. I'm honestly very surprised their haven't been more accidents like the girl who got hit with that plank on Tornado a few years ago. Training for rides employees is generally quite lengthy and in-depth. My training consisted of a tour of the break room, then I was sent to Tornado to check harnesses without any further instruction. Adventureland is the only park I have ever encountered that not only allows, but requires guests to bring loose articles on rides with them. This is so mind-blowingly stupid. They're just asking for lawsuits.
Yes, it's a quaint little park, but it's extremely behind the times, and way, WAY too expensive to warrant a visit. Better to drive down to Worlds of Fun, where you'll at least get your money's worth.
I went to WoF a couple summers ago. They have great coasters but other than that I was not impressed with the park. It seemed dirty, and very behind the times, IMO. We had a heck of a time finding anything to eat. (though I would like to ride the Mambo again!) If I really wanted a big amusement park experience I'd make the drive to Six Flags. WofF isn't really a step up from ALand IMO. Given the choice I'd take Aland.
I spend a lot of time at Aland and attendance is pretty good from what I can see, especially at the waterpark. Many parts of the country don't have a waterpark that elaborate, we are lucky it's here. I'm planning a move out of the state at the end of the year and will definitely miss it.
I am with you about not being able to leave your stuff behind when you ride the rollercoasters at Aland. That is pretty stupid. At WoF they have the cubby cabinets for you to stash your stuff. That makes more sense.
One ride that needs to GO is that Splash Over or whatever it is called. (the ride that hangs you upside down and violently flips you over as it squirts water into your lap) That is the worst ride ever.
Worlds of Fun is actually very, very "with it," and certainly a LOT cleaner than either nearby Six Flags (St. Louis or Great America near Chicago). WoF has been expanding and growing with the industry consistently since it opened. In the last six years, they've opened two fantasticnew roller coasters built by big-name, world-class manufacturers - Patriot by B&M and Prowler by GCI, and Prowler was named the best new attraction of 2009, as well as one of the top ten wooden coasters in the world on Amusement Today's Golden Ticket list and on the Mitch Hawker Coaster Poll list. Last year, they opened a huge new kids section, Planet Snoopy. Worlds of Fun also has an annual Halloween event during October, uses social media effectively and actively, has a user-friendly and navigable website, routinely hosts enthusiast events, and has annual middle and high school music festivals that draw ensembles from all over the Midwest. It's also one of the only big chain parks (it's part of the Cedar Fair chain) that still has excellent tree cover and landscaping. Adventureland isn't even close to the same league as the major Midwest parks, and there are a ton of major Midwest parks - Valleyfair and Nick Universe in the TC area, Worlds of Fun in KC, Six Flags St. Louis, Six Flags Great America between Chicago and Milwaukee, Holiday World in southern Indiana, Cedar Point in Sandusky, and Kings Island in Cincinnati. I would put Adventureland in a group with Michigan's Adventure in Muskegon and Indiana Beach in northern Indiana - both of which, I might add, have made additions to BOTH their amusement park and waterpark halves in the last several years.
As far as the Adventure Bay, it's certainly a great waterpark, but it's far from unique. You'll find comparable waterparks in most major US metros. Its construction seems to me more to fill a void in the DSM area than to give it something unique.
I gotta say I agree with you about Splash Over, but I'm sure they won't take it out. It's still fairly new and it has pretty decent ridership. I like topspins like that a lot more when the water is turned off.
Status:
"We might finally be thawing out!"
(set 5 days ago)
Location: Des Moines, IA
2,555 posts, read 1,023,114 times
Reputation: 1241
I never said the waterpark was "unique"...it's not. Aland admitted they looked to other parks for inspiration. What I said was
" Many parts of the country don't have a waterpark that elaborate, we are lucky it's here"
I have shown pics to friends all over the country and many have said it's impressive looking and that they don't have access to anything like that in their areas.
You don't like Aland. Nothing wrong with that. I, for one, am happy that the park is here and seems to be doing well. It's a great place to spend the summer. I don't care if other parks are bigger or better or more with it. So what? Why is everything a competition? Aland is ours and it's a short drive away. I'm happy about the changes!
Expand the park into the campground area. You can relocate a campground anywhere and is it really needed?
Quite honestly, Des Moines is awful lucky to have an amusement park of this caliber. I do agree that it's time for a new roller coaster, but I don't think it has to come at the expense of what they already have. Tearing down and building new roller coasters at an independent, family-owned amusement park is not a small feat.
Status:
"We might finally be thawing out!"
(set 5 days ago)
Location: Des Moines, IA
2,555 posts, read 1,023,114 times
Reputation: 1241
Quote:
Originally Posted by DMRyan
Expand the park into the campground area. You can relocate a campground anywhere and is it really needed?
Quite honestly, Des Moines is awful lucky to have an amusement park of this caliber. I do agree that it's time for a new roller coaster, but I don't think it has to come at the expense of what they already have. Tearing down and building new roller coasters at an independent, family-owned amusement park is not a small feat.
The campground or the circus. Have you been to that circus? I checked it for the first time ever last summer. Not worth the real estate, IMO.
The campground does seem to be fairly full a lot of the time at least.
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