slappy mac

Staff are getting notably better, and It's only really the Plaza that really lets down the park now, and the sparse themeing of Metropolis.The park closing down though is as bad as Chessie though; I remember a pub that just turned off the lights until everyone buggered off, and this always feel the same at Mingo. No queue closes at 5pm malarkey, just clear off, we're closed, and that is just short sighted, especially when as you say the shops close with the rides, and especially given that there is a caravan park attached, this is just plain silly. The shame is, it does take the edge off what is a genuinely nice day out.

You know there are times when you just think...when the bloody hell did that happen? Well That just happened to me at Flamingoland. I have had plenty of visits over the last few years whereby I've been impressed at the park progress, but this year, (partly due to the fact that I didn't really get a chance to ride much because we were there for my son's birthday, and he had his diminutive friend, brother and cousin in tow) it struck me just how far they have come from the concrete jungle they were in the mid nineties. It struck me how Merlin-like the park was starting to become, the Children's world interactive play area set amongst meercats and lemurs out-Chessingtoning Chessie, although mid construction was astounding to see, when considered that the site not two years previous was still full of tacky funfair rides and concrete.I'll just let the piccies tell the story (save for mentioning the poor Asian lad sat in the firing line on Splash Battle when it broke down for five minutes, and got wetter than a Westlife tune...). If the park could just get around to marketing itself properly, then it really does have the potential to be quite a big hitter one day.Children's Worldparrot showariel viewskumalicable carsmumbo Jumbocliff HangervelocitySplash Battle/SploshMine Train

Shame more people haven't given reasons; this is potentially an excellent topic...1. NEMESIS. Even 20 years later, it is still a masterclass in ride design. Magnificent.2. VAMPIRE. Nemesis's spirital kin; gives an experience unique to the UK, and is utterly a shame no other parks have been bold enough to install anything similar.3. STEALTH. I was expecting to hate it, thinking 'one trick pony.' One tick pony par excellence....4. APOCALYPSE. Given the price it cast to install, it remains Draytons one genuinely world class attraction.5. PHANTOM MANOR. Again, it is a massive shame there are not more dark rides in the UK (curse you alton for the abortion that is Duel), this remains Europe's best.6. ROCK n ROLLERCOASTER. Frankly shouldn't work, but like its similarly excellent park partner......7 CRUSH'S COASTER the sheer amount of money chucked at is removes any doubt.8. MUMBO JUMBO. Unfairly overlooked, but as a mouse coaster, only short of... ...9. WILD MOUSE (BPB) greatness.10. AIR. Because rollercoasters don't it would appear, need to be intense...

...but not run; they only have two days for what should be an absolute moneyspinner....doh!