CoasterKing
Mega Poster
This weekend in Blackpool has been- unusual. The fire at the Yatses Wine Lodge and the Pet Shop next door was one thing. But amid the chaos in the town centre and front during the Valentine's weekend, The Pleasure Beach also nearly came to a halt.
We arrived at the park at precisely half-past eleven, an hour after the gates had opened. A woman directed us to the 'new' tickets sales (opposite the main entrance.) The new ticket sales is extremely spacious but the queuing area to collect tickets or purchase wristbands is strangely small (picture the inside of the Nat West building. There are plenty more staff working behind the ticket booths so queuing isn't too much of a problem. After quickly collecting our wristbands we headed for the Entrance plaza. Now I know Amanda has probably been receiving a few unkind letters, but security at the park has stepped up quite a few notches, with ultra-violent lights and metal detector scanners not to mention turnstiles that only unlock when your new special 'Freedom Pass' is placed directly into a slot above. The 'Freedom Passes' are nothing more than tiny cards with a picture of the Pleasure Beach printed on. Its basically like going to the airport getting into Pleasure Beach, however here food is not permitted and we were asked firmly to leave behind a bag of sweets and a milkshake. Oh well.
On to the park we go and I was glad to see practically all of the rides were open apart from Grand National, Space Invader 2 and Avalanche. We headed straight for the Big Dipper which was walk on with no queue what do ever. Both of the trains were also running which was great to see. After Dipper we went and did Big One. Its interesting to know that this nation-famous landmark coaster now has a new name. Instead of 'Pepsi Max Big One' it now goes by 'Big One sponsored by Pepsi Max.' I'm really not kidding that is how it is now marketed. Likewise Tango Ice Blast is called 'Ice Blast sponsored by Tango Ice Blast' and Valhalla 'Valhalla sponsored by Daily Star.' In a turn of events 'Irn-Bru Revolution' is now just marketed as 'Revolution' despite still clearly being plastered with the Irn-Bru logo.
Now a question everyone has been asking. Is the 'Rollercoaster' really SBNO? Well I'm afraid I can't answer that for you because it hasn't been explained. On the day we went (15th February 2009) Rollercoaster was indeed open, but only for an hour if that. It is also not listed on the park map and it has been taken off the Pleasure Beach website. I know for sure it was open though because we even rode on it and spoke to an enthusiast party about why its best to sit on the back seat. I find it odd that if a ride has been removed from the map and the website it would still operate. Whats weirder is that it operated for barely a few dozen minutes.
Anyways after getting off the Big One we went to Steeplchase. Again there was no queue (but by now it was getting busy in the park.) After that we went and rode the Dipper again. No queue. Then Wild Mouse which had quite a large queue (I'd say about 20 minutes.) After that we decided to watch the new 'Amazing Dancing Water Show' which to put it best was breath taking. You can see the Pleasure Beach are trying to up the ante with the enchantment within the park and people are really taking to this new million pound feature. Little kids running in and out of the fountains which spray mist and bounce off each other, partents clapping and gathering in a large circle around the diplay as loud and classical music booms over head, to the beat of the jets and fountains. And the timing is choreographed perfectly. This really is a great show and it is lovely to see Pleasure Beach finally bringing joy back by wowing people and allowing them to interact. Everybody was smiling as the show went on through the day. Anyways after a few snap shots we went and did the Big Dipper for a third time before stopping off at Infusion.
By now it was about half one in the afternoon. In the queue for Infusion we watched the Vekoma trains roar through the inversions before finally getting to the turnstile and then... it happened. The rubber support belt on one of the wheels suspending the second train of the ride snapped off mid way during the ride. The train grinded and made a horrible eerie noise and shuddered to a halt at the break run, slamming heavily. Riders were stranded for about ten minutes and the ride was immediately shut down as security came down. The riders were taken off and we were all told that the ride was too dangerous to operate now and we would have to leave. I have never heard such a horrible noise it made everyone in the queue jump. The belt just snapped off and the wheel almost came off the train. The passengers were all okay amid slightly shaken up.
After that incident we went and rode Big Dipper for a fourth time before heading back to the Big One which was now also closed. The park by now was getting busy and with the 2 big rides closed the queues were getting bigger. Avalanche was opened so we quickly headed over to find a long tedious queue. After Avalanche we went and had something to eat and spoke with the staff guarding the entrance to Infusion. They told us they were taking the second train off and that if given the go ahead the ride should be re-opened shortly. After getting a bite to eat we went for a walk to Beaver Creek and went on the Log Flume and then afterwards the Rollercoaster. Then we did the Ghost Train and Avalanche again. A short while later Infusion re-opened but with only one train so we went over to join the queue which was, like Avalanche very long. After 45 minutes of queuing we got on and I felt nervous having witnessed the thing nearly come off the track before! But it was deemed safe and was operating. It was an average ride on Infusion, but whilst in the queue I was delighted to see that Big One had re-opened and was running both trains. We bounced over to the Big One and got in 2 rides. The queue was fairly small (about 15-20 minutes) but the wind was choppy so people were turning away. We went and re-rode Avalanche after Big One and eventually went back to Big One (because it was getting dark.) An amazing night time ride on the Big One before heading towards the exit.
Other than the Infusion incident it was a relatively good day. Pleasure Beach was busy and there was a lot of families with younger children there. The park was fantastically clean and there was no anti-social behavior. Everyone was smiling pretty much and no one was grumbling about the prices. So to all those people saying Pleasure Beach is past its sell by date and is heading down the swanney perhaps think again? It was thriving considering it was the opening weekend. It looks like Space Invader 2, Trauma Towers and Impossible are SBNO. Neither is marked on the park map you are given and neither was operating. I am not sure about Rollercoaster as it was operating on the day we went despite not being marked on the map.
Another thing- Steeplechase is no longer a 'White Knuckle Ride.' They are marketing it as a 'Family Ride.' That made me LOL.
I hope I have given you a non tedium-personaefied overview of the Pleasure Beach opening weekend. It was incredibly strange seeing Infusion break down in such a heavy, unexpected and frightening way. Even the staff were shocked. Perhaps it was just warming up for the season? Who knows. Anyways there are many changes to Pleasure Beach. Mostly good. Some not so good. Expect the unexpected if you are going this year.
PS- I saw you Bicko! Haha.
Its been my Pleasure
We arrived at the park at precisely half-past eleven, an hour after the gates had opened. A woman directed us to the 'new' tickets sales (opposite the main entrance.) The new ticket sales is extremely spacious but the queuing area to collect tickets or purchase wristbands is strangely small (picture the inside of the Nat West building. There are plenty more staff working behind the ticket booths so queuing isn't too much of a problem. After quickly collecting our wristbands we headed for the Entrance plaza. Now I know Amanda has probably been receiving a few unkind letters, but security at the park has stepped up quite a few notches, with ultra-violent lights and metal detector scanners not to mention turnstiles that only unlock when your new special 'Freedom Pass' is placed directly into a slot above. The 'Freedom Passes' are nothing more than tiny cards with a picture of the Pleasure Beach printed on. Its basically like going to the airport getting into Pleasure Beach, however here food is not permitted and we were asked firmly to leave behind a bag of sweets and a milkshake. Oh well.
On to the park we go and I was glad to see practically all of the rides were open apart from Grand National, Space Invader 2 and Avalanche. We headed straight for the Big Dipper which was walk on with no queue what do ever. Both of the trains were also running which was great to see. After Dipper we went and did Big One. Its interesting to know that this nation-famous landmark coaster now has a new name. Instead of 'Pepsi Max Big One' it now goes by 'Big One sponsored by Pepsi Max.' I'm really not kidding that is how it is now marketed. Likewise Tango Ice Blast is called 'Ice Blast sponsored by Tango Ice Blast' and Valhalla 'Valhalla sponsored by Daily Star.' In a turn of events 'Irn-Bru Revolution' is now just marketed as 'Revolution' despite still clearly being plastered with the Irn-Bru logo.
Now a question everyone has been asking. Is the 'Rollercoaster' really SBNO? Well I'm afraid I can't answer that for you because it hasn't been explained. On the day we went (15th February 2009) Rollercoaster was indeed open, but only for an hour if that. It is also not listed on the park map and it has been taken off the Pleasure Beach website. I know for sure it was open though because we even rode on it and spoke to an enthusiast party about why its best to sit on the back seat. I find it odd that if a ride has been removed from the map and the website it would still operate. Whats weirder is that it operated for barely a few dozen minutes.
Anyways after getting off the Big One we went to Steeplchase. Again there was no queue (but by now it was getting busy in the park.) After that we went and rode the Dipper again. No queue. Then Wild Mouse which had quite a large queue (I'd say about 20 minutes.) After that we decided to watch the new 'Amazing Dancing Water Show' which to put it best was breath taking. You can see the Pleasure Beach are trying to up the ante with the enchantment within the park and people are really taking to this new million pound feature. Little kids running in and out of the fountains which spray mist and bounce off each other, partents clapping and gathering in a large circle around the diplay as loud and classical music booms over head, to the beat of the jets and fountains. And the timing is choreographed perfectly. This really is a great show and it is lovely to see Pleasure Beach finally bringing joy back by wowing people and allowing them to interact. Everybody was smiling as the show went on through the day. Anyways after a few snap shots we went and did the Big Dipper for a third time before stopping off at Infusion.
By now it was about half one in the afternoon. In the queue for Infusion we watched the Vekoma trains roar through the inversions before finally getting to the turnstile and then... it happened. The rubber support belt on one of the wheels suspending the second train of the ride snapped off mid way during the ride. The train grinded and made a horrible eerie noise and shuddered to a halt at the break run, slamming heavily. Riders were stranded for about ten minutes and the ride was immediately shut down as security came down. The riders were taken off and we were all told that the ride was too dangerous to operate now and we would have to leave. I have never heard such a horrible noise it made everyone in the queue jump. The belt just snapped off and the wheel almost came off the train. The passengers were all okay amid slightly shaken up.
After that incident we went and rode Big Dipper for a fourth time before heading back to the Big One which was now also closed. The park by now was getting busy and with the 2 big rides closed the queues were getting bigger. Avalanche was opened so we quickly headed over to find a long tedious queue. After Avalanche we went and had something to eat and spoke with the staff guarding the entrance to Infusion. They told us they were taking the second train off and that if given the go ahead the ride should be re-opened shortly. After getting a bite to eat we went for a walk to Beaver Creek and went on the Log Flume and then afterwards the Rollercoaster. Then we did the Ghost Train and Avalanche again. A short while later Infusion re-opened but with only one train so we went over to join the queue which was, like Avalanche very long. After 45 minutes of queuing we got on and I felt nervous having witnessed the thing nearly come off the track before! But it was deemed safe and was operating. It was an average ride on Infusion, but whilst in the queue I was delighted to see that Big One had re-opened and was running both trains. We bounced over to the Big One and got in 2 rides. The queue was fairly small (about 15-20 minutes) but the wind was choppy so people were turning away. We went and re-rode Avalanche after Big One and eventually went back to Big One (because it was getting dark.) An amazing night time ride on the Big One before heading towards the exit.
Other than the Infusion incident it was a relatively good day. Pleasure Beach was busy and there was a lot of families with younger children there. The park was fantastically clean and there was no anti-social behavior. Everyone was smiling pretty much and no one was grumbling about the prices. So to all those people saying Pleasure Beach is past its sell by date and is heading down the swanney perhaps think again? It was thriving considering it was the opening weekend. It looks like Space Invader 2, Trauma Towers and Impossible are SBNO. Neither is marked on the park map you are given and neither was operating. I am not sure about Rollercoaster as it was operating on the day we went despite not being marked on the map.
Another thing- Steeplechase is no longer a 'White Knuckle Ride.' They are marketing it as a 'Family Ride.' That made me LOL.
I hope I have given you a non tedium-personaefied overview of the Pleasure Beach opening weekend. It was incredibly strange seeing Infusion break down in such a heavy, unexpected and frightening way. Even the staff were shocked. Perhaps it was just warming up for the season? Who knows. Anyways there are many changes to Pleasure Beach. Mostly good. Some not so good. Expect the unexpected if you are going this year.
PS- I saw you Bicko! Haha.
Its been my Pleasure
