What is a Foamer?
There are fans of theme parks, then there are die hard fans of theme parks. Those who currently or have worked on either the theme park operations side of the business or on the design side of theme parks understand what foamers are.
A foamer is an overly enthusiastic fan of all things theme park related. They take the love of the theme park experience to a whole new level. While most theme park visitors look forward to an annual trip to their favorite theme parks or they may have an annual pass and visit a handful of times a year, the foamer is an individual who visits multiple times in a week or month.
Understanding What Foamers Do
The origins of the term foamer – as it relates to theme parks – is unknown. The term foamer, however, does relate to an individual that gets overtly excited about both large and small advancements, announcements, or general discussion about theme parks. Many believe foamers take the love of all things theme park related to a religious-like level of following and devotion. In some cases, a foamer may be ‘blind’ to the negative impacts or aspects or even non-positive news or information about theme parks, especially their favorite theme parks.
The term foamer references a person who gets uncontrollably excited about something it causes theme to metaphorically ‘foam at the mouth’ when discussing anything related to theme parks or theme park design. Though not an official term in the theme park industry, the term ‘foamer’ is used in behind the scenes discussions between theme park designers and theme park designers and theme park operators. The irony about foamers as dedicated fans they are, many have never actually worked in the theme park business either on the operations side or the design side, and yet they often have an air of or attitude that the ‘know everything’ about all things theme parks.
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Foamers typically mingle in or converse in groups of other dedicated theme park fans and followers. Some of the subjects they become highly sensitive about are:
- New food menu items announced in theme parks.
- Longstanding or new rumors about new real or never realized theme park attractions.
- New theme park related merchandise they plan to purchase or would love to see made to add to their ever growing theme park merchandise collection.
- Those who question their wardrobe that may contain large quantities of theme park clothing and wearable accessories.
- Talking about and being members of several online theme park fan groups on websites such as Facebook or Reddit.
- They tend to read and potentially contribute to one or several theme park rumors websites and may at times misquote rumors as facts.
- Have traveled extensively around the world to visit theme parks outside of their home country and in turn compare their local or regional favorite theme park to one abroad.