This feature is looking at a trend I've noticed in the U.K. in the last couple of years. The first big example was when Drayton Manor chose to build a new well themed Thomas the Tank Engine kiddie land, instead of a major thrill ride or roller coaster to bring in the crowds. A strategy that worked out well as they had a very successful year. This year Thorpe Park opened Saw: The Ride, opting for a ride that's not as large scale or exclusive as rides they've built in the past, but putting more emphasis on theming. Looking at what Alton Towers has planned for 2010 it look like we can expect something similar.

The fact Alton Towers and Thorpe Park are doing this shouldn't come as a huge shock considering they're now owned by Merlin. They own the Lego parks and the Dungeons, attractions that put major emphasis on theming rather than thrill rides.

Such a plan has often been a recipe for success, the most obvious example being Disney. The major emphasis of Disney is on the theming, and their the worlds biggest  theme park chain by a long way, more British people visit a Disney park every year than Alton Towers.

It's interesting to note that a lot of the biggest parks have branded theming. Themed around a known brand such as Disney, Universal or Lego, as well as Thomas the Tank Engine and the Saw films. You don't necessarily have to have a brand to base your theming around to be successful though. Holland's most visited park Efteling and Germany's most visited park Europa park are both heavily themed parks that mainly target the family audience.

It's interesting to note how a lot of parks that start out successfully as themed family parks add major thrill rides at a later date. Europa Park and Plopsaland in Belgium have added major power launched coasters this year, and Disney now have more thrill rides at their parks than they used to. This is obviously to cater for a wider audience. It's also interesting to note the U.K.'s  almost done it the other way around, the emphasis has been on thrilling rides for a long time, and is now more on theming. With the big parks doing this it could be a good time for a park to bring itself up the rankings by installing a major new attraction.

So which is better, a park with major thrill rides and not much theming, or a well themed family park. At first it may seem obvious to say the well themed family park, but I don't think the answers that simple. I've been to well themed family parks, and found the lack of innovative rides has led to an unmemorable day. I've also been to parks and fairs with little emphasis on theming, but lots of thrill rides and a great atmosphere, and have had a great time. It may seem like a cop out, but with so many different parks out there, run in so many different ways, I don't think I can categories them like that and say one type is better than the other.

What I will say though is my favourite parks are the ones that offer the best of both worlds. One that have a great collection of rides in a well themed environment, thinking about it, a fact which was pretty obvious from the start.

What about more emphasis on themed family rides in the U.K.? In the short and mid term I don't think this is a bad thing. We already have a great collection of thrilling rides in the U.K., so some good themed rides added to the line up won't be unwelcome. In the long term more thrill rides will be needed to keep parks fresh and appealing to the thrill seekers market, but I'll be highly surprised if that doesn't happen before it becomes a problem.