Theme Park Insanity might not be a name you instantly recognize when it comes to roller coaster content but it’s certainly a name you will know soon enough!
Creator Joe Marshall has set up the wonderful Theme Park Insanity Facebook page community to bring together his love of coasters with the wider community.
Shooting past 1000 followers incredibly quickly the page is going places! With video content and a website planned for the future, everything’s looking up for this UK based enthusiast.
Being a newbie to the theme park content world much like ourselves I sat down to speak to Joe all about the site, coasters and more.
Enjoy!
How did Theme Park Insanity originate and how long has the page been live?
Theme Park Insanity has been LIVE officially since 25/07/2019 and started out life as a Facebook page which I set up primarily to keep the mountains of theme park related content I kept posting separate from my profile!
I also quite liked the idea of being able to document my travels and share my passion and as such Theme Park Insanity seemed like the perfect outlet for me to be able to achieve this!
Could you tell us what inspired you to set the page up?
My main inspiration really came from the likes of Theme Park Worldwide, Coaster Crazy and Screwy Loops, however also as previously mentioned I really wanted a way to keep all of the theme park content I was posting separate from that of my Facebook profile.
I therefore decided in late July of 2019 that I would do just that and as such my page was born.
Since then I have soon come to realise just how popular the industry is and have met some absolutely amazing people along the way, however having Theme Park Insanity also allowed me to keep up to really showcase my creative writing skills as well which is also something else I am extremely passionate about as much as I am theme parks and attractions!
With so many people covering theme park content how do you feel Theme Park Insanity stands out from the crowd?
Theme Park Insanity is all about daily content as much as the industry.
The best way I can really describe this is I set out to create something far more unique which drew inspiration from the online magazine format.
This is the reason for such a varied range of content being posted on the page.
I also wanted to create content that I knew I would love just as much as anyone else and this meant the page gave me a chance to fill in the blanks if you will where theme park content was concerned!
Do you have any tips for upcoming theme park content marketers out there to follow in your footsteps?
The best piece of advice I could really give is be original.
Look for content that you as an enthusiast are missing or would like to see and just roll with it!
The chances are that it won’t be an instant hit, however perseverance really does pay off and if you are in touch with the enthusiast community as a whole people will listen!
The only other bit of advice I can give is make sure you appreciate your followers! They are your bread and butter and without appreciating them you won’t get far.
You have to remember that each like or follow you get is a human being and as such you need to ensure that you treat each and every one of them with the same level of dignity and respect you would want afforded unto yourself.
With the sad announcement of theme park closures for the foreseeable what content will Theme Park Insanity be covering on over the next few months?
As much as the current situation is a very sad and difficult one to be in as a theme park enthusiast there is still lots you can be doing to ensure that you’re still constantly getting your daily fix of adrenaline!
We have so much in the pipeline to ensure we meet this need, and this currently ranges from the launch of our official website in the coming weeks to brand new daily update series and the return of some fan favourites as well!
We have also just relaunched Pov of the Day yesterday (Friday 27th of March 2020) which proved last time to be one of our most popular update series and as we speak we are also considering the relaunch of Park of the Week as well, therefore it’s safe to say we really do have you covered when it comes to ensuring your need for your next thrill fix is met!
Is there a particular type of coaster or attraction you prefer over the others and if so, why is that?
For me I am more about the overall experience as opposed to just a thrill fix, therefore my overall favourite ride type will always be a well designed and highly immersive dark ride!
I will happily take this over an intense coaster any day!
Here in the UK however I really feel that this is something which our industry seems to be lacking in which is why I really can’t wait to get to Alton Towers when it reopens and experience their brand new addition for 2020 Gangsta Granny: The Ride!
There is just something about being taken away from the outside world for however briefer period it may be and being immersed into a completely different world altogether that really gives me that sense of true enjoyment when it comes to riding and that’s why I will always take a good dark ride over a coaster any day of the week!
How do you feel theme parks in the UK could improve to match their overseas competition?
I really think that here in the UK competition between parks seems to be few and far between, and when you look at how the American parks alone approach their new investments it’s clear that they are really heading out to create something which will stand out above the rest.
Thorpe Park is a prime example of how this isn’t the case here in the UK! Their last major coaster was added back in 2012 and since this the park hasn’t really tried to out do the other park’s here in the UK with the investments they have made!
Alton Towers really stands out as the UK industry leader in my personal opinion though! With the amount of uniqueness their attractions offer it’s clear that the park are listening to the fans, as where I don’t really get the same impression from Thorpe!
In conclusion I really feel that when you consider the overall calibre of other parks worldwide and then look at the UK offering it’s clear that the UK industry has a mountain of room where improvements are concerned to meet the same level of competition other parks are bringing to their fans right now!
Is there a particular park in the UK that holds a special place in your heart?
For me I grew up in Yorkshire all my life which therefore can mean only one thing! Lightwater Valley!
Growing up we always had at least one family outing to the park once a year and as such I have spent many a happy time there riding the likes of the Ultimate, Raptor Attack (formerly known as the Sewer rat) and many other rides as I grew up and with the Ultimate being my first major coaster this small independent park will always hold a very special place in my heart!
I even once sat with my father on the road at the back of the Ultimate’s second major lift hill eating my lunch and watching train after train of riders pass us by screaming as they did so!
What’s one theme park ride you’ve always wanted to ride but still haven’t had the chance to yet?
This is a difficult one as there are so many great rides and ride manufacturers within the industry to date, however since RMC’s have been a thing, I have craved the experience like nothing else! This therefore puts Steel Vengeance at the very top of my list!
Just the fact this ride type has just a lap bar and shin guard alone given the elements this ride type traverses puts it at the top of my list as my top bucket list ride type!
Where do you see the future of Theme Park Insanity taking you and what are your goals for the page?
To be honest I haven’t really planned that far ahead! I just take each day as it comes and just enjoy the fact I am able to share my passion with the world!
I never dreamed that the page would be where it is today as I haven’t even being doing this a year and for that I am ever so humbled!
The response from the community I have received has been phenomenal and I have made so many new friends in such a short space of time including yourself, Raymond of Flamingo Land Crazy, Luke of Coaster gen and Chris of Screwy Loops to name but a few!
I really appreciate everything this amazing community has done to help me through some truly difficult times and for that I consider it an honour to be able to give back as much as I can when I can!
After seeing your first VLOG online get a positive reception, is there plenty more to come?
Oh yes, there most certainly is! I have talked in length with Luke about appearing in future vlogs with them, however I will also be filming plenty of my own too and as such the minute the minute those gates open once more I will be back to Alton Towers like a shot to start creating as much brand new content as I possibly can!
The theme park community has to be one of the nicest on the planet, how are you finding it being relatively new to the scene?
I am absolutely loving every second of it and have as mentioned previously met some truly unique and very special new friends since taking my first step into this brand-new life!
I have also had the chance to meet and talk with some of the bigger content producers such as Screwy Loops, PBE, Coaster Gen and Andy Rumney aka. Coaster Crazy as well and it’s been brilliant having that chance as these are the main vloggers I have spent many of my years watching prior to taking this decision to go it on my own!
I have also had the pleasure of meeting quite a few of the Theme Park Worldwide crew as well and have found them to be just as nice in person as they are behind the camera!
Overall you really have hit the nail on the head in the way you have described this brilliant community, they really have been one of the most welcoming and supportive communities I have ever had the chance to call myself a part of and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Theme Park Insanity in the years to come!
Thank you for the chat Joe!
Visit https://themeparkinsanity.co.uk for more info!
