Intresting point about the Ultimate. I used to hate it. I saw nothing good about it and, to this day question what I see in it. But unfortunately, I now do see something in it. Maybe it's the thought that it's built by BR (and the inevitable, constant fear of the train sticking a person, not making it round for leaves on the line, getting held up due to over running engineering works, that that brings). But in truth, I actually think it's a good ride. It is well designed if a little unimaginative; ok, the first half is essentially pointless, but the terrain hugging second half uses that valley for maximum effect and for that I must say I love it. It's like someone's back garden, hobby built rollercoaster (which, well, it is), and that has a nice bit of charm to me. It's unique, it's fun, and it's British.
But that aside, I have to say I'm not following the Flamingo Land buzz here. It's too much like everything that's bad about Thorpe. It's flat, there are no clear themes, rides are plonked on concrete footings with little thought as to theme, there is little greenery used to positive effect (ie: trees arn't used to break the areas up, there is no vegetation consistent with theme). The park is also ramshackle in places, take the area around Cliff Hanger, it's typical quick theme theme park, boring building with cheap facade. The newer areas just lack buildings all together. The only ride I find pleasant is the boat river (whatever it is called), and that, I never ride, because hypothermia and lion flu don't interest me.
Blackpool I despise. It does nothing for me at all. Rides are lovely but rides on a bleak sea front, with no theme, lots of concrete/wood/building materials, and panoramic views of council estates all on offer. I know a lot of that isn't the fault of Blackpool Pleasure beach, but I just don't think they do much to hide these things and to bring a better experience. Also, they removed bling, after years of running it on a poor cycle, so don't expect much love from me for that one...
Drayton, I like. It does a lot of things right. It's rides are well themed, it pays attention to detail and it actually tries to make something of it's investments. I feel like it's the poor man's version of PortAventura, or rather, a park that tried to be Alton Towers in the 1990's, never had quite as large investment fund, but still keeps on trying, and to be perfectly honest, if the park just had a slightly bigger collection of thrill rides, could just win me over from Alton Towers in the majority of cases. My only criticism, is it's inability to manage large gate figures; although I think that's a theme common to many smaller parks.
Finally Lightwater Valley. My favourite. I really have a soft spot for Lightwater. As I already mentioned in another topic, I feel like it's a park going through all the right stages and doing all the right things to one day flourish into a real star of a theme park. It's not rushing down the MUST BUILD A HOTEL ROUTE, or storming into the build anything we can as long as it's a new ride party either. No, it takes it's limited budget and does the right things with it. Take their latest investments. They've put in a really good (for a small park), themed area. They've added a good all rounder (the fairground rapids ride), and they've (in my eyes), invested wisely in an ex-fairground flat ride, that is actually a superb crowd puller (Whirlwind). They don't blow they're own trumpet, they don't try and ram sales down your throat when you visit them, and they don't hide from what they are. I also give them top marks for superb customer service. When I last visited, all the staff were superb. I was given student entry rate without asking, staff on numerous rides spoke friendly-ly to me, and when I requested specific elements in a cycle on Whirlwind, instead of the Thorpe Park answer (how do you know what cycle 6 is? No you can't have it (followed by looks of what a geek)), I had a really friendly chap, who had a genuinely friendly conversation about the ride and tried to do exactly what I had asked. And for that reason, I give Lightwater valley my vote. They look after their guests, they seem to invest wisely, and the rides they have, are actually, pretty darn good.
