Coaster

That is absoloutley awful! How could they replace a great piece of music with that horrendous racket?!
Thorpe...

That is absoloutley awful! How could they replace a great piece of music with that horrendous racket?!
Thorpe...

Not only is it terrible but it's incorrect IMO because the guy says the rides and attractions are now closed, when its only the entrances to the queues.
They better change it back, I think we should all do a petition saying we want the old one back.

That is absoloutley awful! How could they replace a great piece of music with that horrendous racket?!
Thorpe...

I'm not sure, when I visited last year it was doing it and again this year so probably all the time.
It is appauling, why can't the multi million pound company that is Merlin even be bothered to fix a shutter/sensor?

Thank you
And the car parks at Chessie are dire. Only one barrier to get out of the car park is utter nonsence.

These boards appear Definitely improvements from the last ones. I just hope they theme them in to the rides to fit.

Why the support hate?
It's not a Maurer Sohne...

Pretty hard choice. I like both Tidal and Loggers but it is fair too say neither are particularly looking their best. Having said that, neither are Storm Surge or Rumba.
I would have to go with Tidal due to its immense splash. I would say Rumba but just feel there is so much wasted potential.
Spitting totem poles. Sprinklers. Mini water features built around the track. Anything could be added that won't be too expensive or cause H&S concerns. I do love the purple, green colour scheme though.

It looks even more beautiful these days.
I remember when this was seemingly a fun ride. Your day wasn't complete without a quick ride on Rumba Rapids, it had some memorable moments like the "Ribena factory" tunnel and waterfall, and the shower tower when worked. It was great before the refurbishment as well. Now I hardly notice the ride is there, it feels like it closed years ago but staff continue to operate it as a joke! It really has lost its status.

Not everyone might have done, we don't all have the clear concise knowledge or prowess in life as you do...

The annoying thing about Rumba is that it has the potential to be a great ride - but they can't be bothered.

TRIP REPORT - 6th and 8th April 2013
Firstly, I would just like to mention that after not being able to visit Pleasure Beach for a whole year it was amazing to be back at the park for two days!

I now prefer the woodies to the steelies overall, although PMBO is still the best coaster in my opinion (Just!) Although the ride operation was an absoloute farce on both of the days I was there. (Now known in our family as "The sandbag ride" hehe). I was very dissapointed, I only go once a year so only getting on three times in two days was not good. (Was closed for most of Saturday and then half a train open on Monday. Not acceptable.)

Grand National and The Mouse were both running brilliantly both days (although people who visit reguarly may disagree) and were the coasters I enjoyed the most this time. They are both brilliantly fast and much more fun than any steel coaster.

Wallace and Gromit is a fantastic addition to the park and is great for people of all ages. Whilst it isn't a special effect machine it does have some very good scenes and is well paced throughout - with a few small drops/downhill sections (the same as Goldmine.)

Last but not least, Valhalla. I know it has it's haters, but for me it is absoloutley brilliant. The way it combines so many different things, the amazing soundtrack and everything about it makes it my favourite ride still. (I still think the wetness is too much though - it alienates the customers that go on it whereas otherwise they might reride - although it didn't put me off )
Also, the ride was running absoloutley brilliantly on both days with the only effect down being the fire on the actual water and the occasional bit of fire not going off. (The ring of fire was on for all 12 goes )

RIDECOUNT OVER TWO DAYS:
Valhalla x12 (Great ride and we got our first breakdown! Although it was only before the first chainlift and for a few minutes we still counted it as one!)
Grand National x6
Wild Mouse x5
Revolution x5
Wallace and Gromit - Thrill O Matic x4 (Fantastic new addition to the park)
Big Dipper x4
Steeplechase x4
Big One x3 (Not happy about this - we managed nearly 20 last year with proper operation of the ride.)
Ghost Train x3
Avalanche x2
Nickelodeon Streak x2
Derby Racer x1
Ice Blast x1 (Good ride, running better this year but I wasn't queueing for it when the woodies had shorter queues!)
Infusion x1 (Not because I don't like it, but I can go on rides similar to that at Thorpe park which I live near to. I wanted to go on the woodies which I don't get to go on enough!)
River Caves x1
There were probably a few more rides but I can't remember them off the top of my head.

So my overall opinion of Blackpool Pleasure Beach:
Absoloutley the best park I have ever been to - everything about it is amazing and there is no other park like it. It is without doubt the best park in the UK - it has everything.
(Although it would have been nice for The Big One to have been on two trains, not half a train!)

The ride that makes you wet 10

They turned it off because people complained they were getting too wet? That's disgraceful, how dare they get you wet on a water ride.

The trains take forever to park because it's a very old system in use! And yes, the air gates are not aligned exactly with the rows but they still stop so that the riders know row is theirs, although I have seen confusion amongst them manier times.
You also raised the point about unnecessary announcements. Perhaps this is why the ride is performing this poorly, the staff are having fun more than they actually care about running the ride professionally and efficiently.
The worst changes ever made was the back row being blocked off for exit riders (totally pointless), the single riders waiting on the exit steps and getting trod on as others tried to exit, and the stupid handrail put in the middle the exit steps to the turnstile.

And yet still has a better record than most of Thorpes rides.

Two prime examples of flumes that reverse you in this country are Valhalla and Storm Force 10. Both though have larger boats so throughput isn't affected to bad and they are very efficient. They do add a nice bit of variety to the ride and especially on Storm Force 10 surprise quite a few people who sit at the back thinking they won't get to wet but end up getting drenched (this is from personal experience )

TRIP REPORT - 6th and 8th April 2013
Firstly, I would just like to mention that after not being able to visit Pleasure Beach for a whole year it was amazing to be back at the park for two days!

I now prefer the woodies to the steelies overall, although PMBO is still the best coaster in my opinion (Just!) Although the ride operation was an absoloute farce on both of the days I was there. (Now known in our family as "The sandbag ride" hehe). I was very dissapointed, I only go once a year so only getting on three times in two days was not good. (Was closed for most of Saturday and then half a train open on Monday. Not acceptable.)

Grand National and The Mouse were both running brilliantly both days (although people who visit reguarly may disagree) and were the coasters I enjoyed the most this time. They are both brilliantly fast and much more fun than any steel coaster.

Wallace and Gromit is a fantastic addition to the park and is great for people of all ages. Whilst it isn't a special effect machine it does have some very good scenes and is well paced throughout - with a few small drops/downhill sections (the same as Goldmine.)

Last but not least, Valhalla. I know it has it's haters, but for me it is absoloutley brilliant. The way it combines so many different things, the amazing soundtrack and everything about it makes it my favourite ride still. (I still think the wetness is too much though - it alienates the customers that go on it whereas otherwise they might reride - although it didn't put me off )
Also, the ride was running absoloutley brilliantly on both days with the only effect down being the fire on the actual water and the occasional bit of fire not going off. (The ring of fire was on for all 12 goes )

RIDECOUNT OVER TWO DAYS:
Valhalla x12 (Great ride and we got our first breakdown! Although it was only before the first chainlift and for a few minutes we still counted it as one!)
Grand National x6
Wild Mouse x5
Revolution x5
Wallace and Gromit - Thrill O Matic x4 (Fantastic new addition to the park)
Big Dipper x4
Steeplechase x4
Big One x3 (Not happy about this - we managed nearly 20 last year with proper operation of the ride.)
Ghost Train x3
Avalanche x2
Nickelodeon Streak x2
Derby Racer x1
Ice Blast x1 (Good ride, running better this year but I wasn't queueing for it when the woodies had shorter queues!)
Infusion x1 (Not because I don't like it, but I can go on rides similar to that at Thorpe park which I live near to. I wanted to go on the woodies which I don't get to go on enough!)
River Caves x1
There were probably a few more rides but I can't remember them off the top of my head.

So my overall opinion of Blackpool Pleasure Beach:
Absoloutley the best park I have ever been to - everything about it is amazing and there is no other park like it. It is without doubt the best park in the UK - it has everything.
(Although it would have been nice for The Big One to have been on two trains, not half a train!)

Having all those stops seems silly when travelling forwards. I know they are neccesary, but the final two sections which consist of about five seconds of ride time between the brake sections are just stupid now.

Had to do 11, Sorry
1. Valhalla (Pleasure Beach Blackpool)
This ride is my favourite because it combines so many things into one. Log flume, huge drops, special effects, ice, fire, temperatures etc...
Just an absoloutley amazing ride, really well themed and the fantastic theme music finishes it off perfectly. Just wish the effects were more reliable.
2. Big One (Pleasure Beach Blackpool)
Just an absoloutley amazing coaster in every way. An unbeatable first drop followed by two minutes of pure adrenaline and speed. The views from the top and the fact that it is the only coaster that you can ride multiple times in a row and still feel excited about riding it after the 5th or 6th consecutive ride also make it my favourite.

3. The Swarm (Thorpe park)
Another great coaster. The theming really makes this ride for me, without it The Swarm would not be in second place. It is however a great coaster and (being my first Wingrider and the only one I have ridden) good because the ride experience is slightly different each time.

4. Wild Mouse (Pleasure Beach Blackpool)
Fantastic coaster. It can't be beaten anywhere for intensity and airtime, feeling that hte car will actually leave the track and the speed make this one of my favourites.

5. Astro Storm (Brean Leisure Park) (Formerly Space Invader at PBB)
Thought this was a good coaster at Blackpool but I really like what Brean have done with it - the main coaster is now taken in pitch black darkness, and special effects and theming is used on the trim brake sections, chain lift and brakes at the end. Also, the ride is usually walk on at Brean.

6. Oblivion (Alton Towers)
The feeling of weightlessness as you descend into the tunnel makes this quite high on my top 10. I know it is short and the layout could (and should) have been longer, but the drop is a good one, beaten only by the first drop of The Big One. (And possibly Swarm's)

7. Th13teen (Alton Towers)
Great ride and love the indoor section. This would be higher on my top 10 but the trim brakes round the outdoor section ruin it somewhat. I also think it was way overhyped by Alton Towers.

8. Colossus (Thorpe Park)
I think this is a great coaster, an intense and thrilling first half before the five barrel rolls to finish. It is unfortunate that the ride is a shadow of it's former self, it was once a much better coaster.

9. Grand National (Pleasure Beach Blackpool)
A classic woodie, the airtime is great, as is the rest of the ride and the racing element.

10. Revolution (Pleasure Beach Blackpool)
The airtime, very forceful loop and the very strange sensation of doing a loop backwards make this coaster one of my favourites.

11. Megafobia (Oakwood Theme Park)
Although this is a shadow of it's former self, I still find this a brilliant wooden coaster.

It is worth mentioning that the piece of theming from Vampire (with the horse) has now been placed near to where the train stops to head up the second lift hill.

Trip report from Wednesday 3rd April 2013
TIME IN PARK: 10:00am - 3:00pm
A very poor day at Thorpe today.
- Colossus and Saw: The Ride down all day (don't know if they opened after 3pm or not.)
- Nemesis Inferno on one train operation until 11:15am with a 1 hour queue.
- X on two trains because the other's weren't ready yet.
- Rush, Slammer and Stealth were all down for part of the day.
- General operations were slacking a bit with stacking on The Swarm and no sense of urgency whatsoever.
- Heaters in Calypso BBQ were not working at all, quite appauling considering the weather!

RIDECOUNT:
The Swarm x2 (Once backwards, once forwards)
Stealth x1
Nemesis Inferno x1
X x1
Loggers Leap x1
Rumba Rapids x1

Very poor day, would not have been happy if I had paid full price or even half for price for park admission. (Merlin annual pass holder so won't be making any form of complaint, however one would have been warranted with the poor operations seen today.)
I do understand that the weather affects rides like Saw and Colossus, but the lack of urgency and one train operation on some rides was not acceptable.

Rush was closed and testing for most of the day today.

If you are a fan of water/dark rides then I reccomend Valhalla. It's an amazing experience (yes not everyone likes it buy hey ho) with fantastic effects and drops etc...
One thing though - wear your own waterproof, then buy one of the ponchos from there (not too expensive if I remember rightly) and wear that on top. You do get rather wet, but it is worth it for the experience.
Also The Big One and all of the woodies. (From what I have heard about Stampida it is much rougher than the Blackpool ones, although I have not ridden it myself so don't take my word for it). Start of with Nickelodeon Streak/Blue Flyer, then Big Dipper, then if you like them go onto Grand National and Wild Mouse.
Also don't forget their new ride for 2013, Wallace and Gromit!
Hope this helps