This month's newsletter will have links to watch videos about the Fun parks.

"What happened?" asked the hospital visitor to the heavily bandaged man sitting up in bed.


"Well, I went to the Amusement Park at the weekend and decided to take a ride on the roller coaster. As we came up to the top of the highest loop, I noticed a little sign by the side of the track. I tried to read it but it was very small and I couldn't make it out.

I was so curious that I decided to go round again, but we went by so quickly that I couldn't see what the sign said. By now, I was determined to read that sign so I went round a third time. As we reached the top, I stood up in the car to get a better view."


"And did you manage to see what the sign said this time?" asked the visitor.
"Yes."
"What did it say?"
"Don't stand up in the car!"

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Welcome to our newsletter for September. Topic is recreation - theme and amusement parks.
**** If you can't see the images then click here. ****
What's the difference between a fun park and a theme park?
A theme park is based on a concept, such as Disneyland or Universal Studios Hollywood.
Fun parks or amusement parks are not based on any concept but purely for amusement rides.
Carnivals are traveling fun parks where the rides are set up for a period of time.
Water parks are for rides that use water.
Why do people go on amusement rides? Apart from the sheer terror, many people like the "rush" feeling and also the feeling of "free-falling." Most rides are the closest experience you can get to flying in a fighter jet and the effects of G-forces.
There are two main types of roller coasters, traditional wooden and modern steel. These are the main attractions to fun parks and what draws in the crowd. Click here to watch videos on how to build a wooden and steel roller coaster, part 1. Part 2. Part 3. Part 4.
The Gilded Age (1876 ~ 1910) was an era when people started to make money and had more free time. They had a disposable income and wanted to spend more time on leisure. This was in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. There were many of these parks during this time.
Trolley parks: a trolley is a name for a tram, at the end of the line there would be a park for people to go to. Each city boasted that they had the best trolley park.
World's Fair: Whenever a city held the World's fair, they will try to outdo the previous city's World Fair. For instance, this photo of a Ferris Wheel was from the World's Fair in Chicago 1893, the previous Fair was in Paris and they erected the Eiffel Tower. World's Fairs were for demonstrating technological and scientific advances.
During the Great Depression and World War II, fun parks closed down because people had very little money as there was a decline to spend for leisure.

Disneyland gave birth to the first large theme parks in 1955. Walt Disney wanted it to be "the happiest place on earth."

Most theme parks will try to outdo each other by having the scariest rides.

Click here to watch video.

Carousel: this is the classic ride for children, also known as a Merry-go-round. Click here to watch video.
Enterprise: this starts off horizontally, then tilts up while spinning fast. Click here to watch video.
Tilt-a-Twirl: is a spinning ride where you sit in a chair. Mathematicians call this "chaotic motion." Click here to watch video.

Gravitron: this ride spins you around and you feel the effects of gravity known as "centrifuge." Click here to watch video.

Sling Shot: this is a ride where a giant elastic rope is pulled and you'll go flying. Click here to watch video.
Chair Swing: this ride will spin while you sit in a chair and some will tilt. Click here to watch video.
Inverter Ships: this ride is usually one or two ships that swing upside down. They start slow and gradually builds momentum. Click here to watch video.
Log Flume: this ride floats on water, similar to a roller coaster but you will get a splash. Click here to watch video.
Water Slides: the main attraction in a water park.
Octopus: the compartments spin while the arms rotate and rise.
London Eye: is the Ferris Wheel in London. Cities now build large Wheels to attract tourists. Click here to watch video.
Drop Tower: this ride free falls from a tower. Click here to watch video.
Superman: this ride is designed so that you are seated as if you were flying just like Superman. Click here to watch video.
Stratosphere: this ride is on top of a tall building in Las Vegas. While spinning you will experience vertigo. Click here to watch video.
X Roller coaster: "X" stands for extreme, and, on this roller coaster, the passengers' chairs will rotate 360 degrees while they ride it. Click here to watch video.
Boomerang: just like the Aboriginal throwing device. This ride will loop and then come back.
Corkscrew: named after a wine bottle opener, usually two loops for the cars to go upside down.

Dodge 'ems, British English. Bumper Cars, American English; like a car but runs on electricity, and to crash into other drivers.

Flow Rider: this is a simulated beach, it uses a water jet to create the sensation of water skiing or surfing. Click here to watch video.
Summit Plummet: is Disneyland's steep water slide drop from an artificial mountain. Click here to watch video.
Chair Lift or cable car: this is how you get around at a fun park.
Monorail: another way to get around, mono means one.
Bungee Jump: this actually is an extreme sport, but some fun parks will have it. An elastic rope will bounce up and down after you jump from a high platform. Click here to watch video.
Fun House: an obstacle course in a building with spinning and rotating mechanisms. A Spook House is similar with mechanical ghosts. Click here to watch video.
Thrill seeker
Anyone who likes to go on roller coasters, Bungee jumps and anything that is very scary to do is called a thrill seeker.
Cotton Candy is the most favourite snack eaten at a fun park.
If the ride is popular, you will have to wait in a very long line.
Some places you need to pay-as-you-go with cash, and other places will exchange money for tokens.
Corn Dogs are hot dogs, but cooked in batter and eaten on a stick.
"He screamed liked a little girl."
"You will have to drag me onto the roller coaster kicking and screaming!"

"He screamed liked a sissy." (A little girl)

Click here to watch video.

"There is no way in hell you will get me on that thing!"
"Not in a million years would I ever get on that "
"I'd die on that thing."
"If I go on that, I will have a heart attack."