Mattgwise

It doesn't fit with the heritage/vintage idea at all, but I don't believe that alone could bring in the number of visitors they need to survive in the long term. Much of the feedback was that there were not enough thrilling rides and let's be honest there aren't many thrilling vintage rides out there. So I guess they have no choice. This will be better for the park in the long run.

But the company you were with made it a highly enjoyable visit

If only it could operate that fast! Not a bad advert though!

For those wishing to visit from 4pm on the 10pm closing time dates in August the park have evening only tickets for just a tenner making it one of the cheapest theme park tickets available (if not the cheapest) in the UK. Thats a true bargain and can see the late night evenings being very popular now. Even £15 would have been a bargain!

Awesome report Martin. Looking forward to trying it in a few weeks.

It will launch at 75kph/46.6mph on launch 1 and 85kph/52.8mph on launch 2.

Actually looks pretty decent so far, and the soundtrack actually fits the ride well.

I second that after also being at the park yesterday. The staff who had the unfortunate job of being outside were all friendly, smiling and not complaining or fussing.

I don't think it's open this year as it has disappeared from the food page.

Exactly what I meant. My point essentially being that there's actually less storage there than all of the other 2 train Merlin Coasters and this runs 3 or 4 trains most of the time.

Will also be interesting to see how this works when The Smiler is running all its trains...

Up for this but WILL NOT be going on Battle Galleons even if we are lucky enough to get a scorcher of a weekend like last year!

Rumoured to be a B&M hypercoaster!

Nice little article about Paultons Park. https://blooloop.com/features/paultons-park-peppa-pig-world-mancey/

I have to agree too. Once in the park its like you're not even in Blackpool itself.

Stuff that should naturally happen each year, or even tbh a few times in a year!

Same! And therefore not get stuck in a 45 minute queue trying to get to the barriers

Definitely one of the biggest factors. Times have changed and with h&s gone mad and complaints/suings taking place due to the most minor of things it certainly didn't help. Using Pleasure Beach as an example, the documentary aired in the 90s even showed a crash and all parties involved were pretty calm and just got treated and got on with things. See below from about 16 mins in...

I don't think that is correct as the test video shown had 12 rows on the one train being tested making 24 per train.

New animated POV released of Icon... Apart from hitting a few other rides looks awesome!

Add me too please

And hilarious how the time machine restraints get stuck after every cycle but they continue to get an engineer and reopen it everytime for the entire day!

Awesome day in a very chilly and wet Southend with the rides doing some very bizarre things. Great to see you all and meet some new faces A nice video clip of one of those bizarre things...

And being Merlin they have to mention its a "first"... Again!