Smithy
Strata Poster
This will not be as interesing as the other report as we focused on rides rather than shows (for one reason or another, explained later) but I've got quite a few thoughts to put down about rides that were new to me on this visit.
It had been 6 years since I visited PA, since that time they've added Sesame Street Land (Sesamo Aventura), Baco would actually be open and primarily, Shambhala.
We flew into Barcelona mainly because I hate RyanAir, hate their 15kg baggage allowance and hated Reus airport. On board was a group of school children who'd been at a boarding school in London for a month. Poor guys. Going into the arrival hall there was a mountain of parents, siblings and friends waiting for them and it was fun that each person walking through got given a mock cheer by the crowd.
There were a lot more down the far end, and the noise when the kids finally emerged was brilliant fun. Transfer were woeful, waited for ages at the fabled black horse statue with some others, eventually a rep turned up, quick phonecall and then told me to go and wait for half hour for the transfer bus. Eventually found out where to wait by following the masses. Only thing of note about the transfer is the masses of toll booths on the route we took, how fast our driver sped through them trusting they'd open automatically for him, and finally how imposing Shambhala looked, even unlit at night, from a great distance away. Ran up to our room hoping to see BBC One as a channel choice to catch Arsenal on Match Of The Day but alas, it was BBC World News or nothing
Went for a quick walk down the sea-front in the morning to stock up on supplies, and came across all the brilliant little climbing frames and swings and the like that I think should be a mainstay on similar styles of beaches. Also couldn't help myself. Headed for the biggest climbing frame and had to conquer it.
McDonalds for dinner, bypassed the huge queue by using their brilliant self-order machines. Had already checked what food they offered and quite a few items took my fancy, but for today settled on the Oreo cake to try.
It was odd, it was like a giant Oreo without the crunch. Decided to walk up to the park as the weather was nice and it was at most a half hour walk. Took a little bit longer what with having to constantly outmanouvre those **** annoying street hawkers desperate to drag you into their restaurant/bar. As with the beach front, they had random assortments of things for children to play on.
After more hassle from people trying to offer us tickets right outside the park gates, we spent 15 minutes waiting for our 3 day tickets to be printed for some reason or another. The park was open until 8pm, and then 7 during the week which we thought was a bit poor given it was opening weekend for halloween. Seeing pictures in the other report though and the midnight close on the Saturday seemed to be the best day. From memory not too many of the decorations had changed.
Remember walking round the park for a bit, then having to go back to Baco area to get our fastpasses as that was the only stall with which you could pay by cash. 30 euros for the max pass gold which gave us 1 pass on all the major rides bar Condor, plus a front row ride on the 3 main coasters was exceptional value and in hindsight made the day brilliant.
First ride we went on was Baco. I hate accelerators, had heard all the negative reviews about the ride and it's roughness, and was aware that the only people I know of who rate it even remotely are a few guys from the BPB forum and Erol on here. I went front row outside right as I figured that'd be the roughest of the two and my girlfriends back would be spared on an inside seat. Was genuinely nervous waiting for it to launch, that little rollback onto the catch-car seemed to take an age.
Thoughts on Baco; Wow. Halfway down the launch I was thinking it wasn't that much different to Rita or Stealth. Then it just seemed to kick on and absolutely flew. The dip into the valley was a bit rough, by the time I regained my senses half the ride had passed, and the inline sensation was pretty fun. The curve over the water up into the brakes was again, fun, but it's such an odd ride to place. We had no desire to ride it again, but then from our ride I can't criticise it for anything other than being a waste of potential for ending somewhat abrubtly. Later on when watching the ride though, you can really see how bad the ride rattles and vibrates the outer seats, especially the outside left over the water. The on-ride picture aptly captured my thoughts on the second half of the launch;
We then decided it'd make sense to get the water rides all done whilst the day was at it's hottest. Loved Tukituki Splash, everything about it was great bar the tunnels of chewing gum terror. After that it was the rapids (carried more speed than any I'd been on, really liked them) and the log flume (enjoyable but the worst of the three water rides). Quite a few decorations are still the same from last time all around the park.
El Diablo ridden. Still boring but I liked that the entrance wasn't a halloween maze this time round. Stampida was rough as ****, they were sending cars round half full, it wasn't so much the front and back that hurt rather than the side to side, my ribs took a beating. Tomahawk was still as fun as ever, I daresay it's one of my favourite woodies.
Went back to catch two or three shows, I've never been a fan of shows etc when in a theme park and this was no exception, they tended to draw a crowd but not necessarily hold one, moreso people passing who stopped for a minute and watched before moving on.
Quick turnaround between shows too, one off one on.
This one was a bit risque, so much arsecheek. And annoying guy overacting with too much eye-contact for my liking. Also had an Adams family show that we caught the end of.
Sesamo Aventura to get Tami Tami (decent kiddy ride but short on only 1 circuit), some of the smaller rides. and the brilliant wave rider thingy. Got into an argument with some Spanish woman who was pushing through the queue, didn't budge at first, she got a bit lairy in Spanish and in the end I got bored and let her past. Turns out she'd kept no eye on her kid whatsoever and they were at the front of the queue about to ride before silly woman actually found her and ran around to join. That along with parents letting their heathen kids with Monster energy drink logos shaved into their heads climb all over the queueline and barge into people wore my patience thin, but figuring out how to splash people walking past if you were lucky let out some of that frustration.
I love how imposing Shambhala now is. Also, how quiet it is, especially compared to the beautiful roar of Khan.
Before we went for Khan and Shambhala at the end of the day we got Templo Del Fuego done. Had heard it was a decent dark ride of sorts, the first bit was a bit pants as it felt too crowded and it was hard to keep up with what was going on, but the overall show bit at the end was brilliant, the fireball heated the room up instantly, I was impressed with it.
Queue times were brilliant past 2pm btw (my mind is lagging with what order we did stuff and took pics), coasters on 10 minutes each and the water rides with no queues. Picture spam of my two favourite rides coming up.
My two favourite rides mating. Ooooft, imagine that. Not literally. Perverts.
So. Rode Khan, front row outside again. Absolutely loved the first half, although oddly my favourite part from last time, the zero-g, was this time the worst. Felt the roughest part of it.
Then it was onto Shambhala. Front row, waited an extra train to get the proper front row (really don't like the seating arrangements) as we wanted a dvd of us on it. Spent the entire lift hill (hated it, too steep for my liking with such a free upper body, also kept wrapping my legs around the restraint rofl) decided at the last second I'd brave having my arms up. Hanging over the edge and still being unable to see where the drop levels out was surreal, and the speed when the rest of the train kicks you in the arse is fun. The speed hill is amazing, the overall ride was fun. We ran back round as the queue was minimal (two train operations all day) and got seated in the middle of the train. OMFG WHAT A RIDE. After the first hill I think I spent my time with my arse out of the seat than I did in it. Utterly insane. After that it was a ride at the very back which had a bit more forceful airtime but not as enjoyable as the previous ride, and our last ride for the day was at the front on the seperated seats, where not only did we get wet on the water splash but didn't find it as fun as the previous rides.
Caught the end of the closing show with the jet skis, fireworks, fountains, and the awesome tron guy jetpacking around the water. Bit lame how certain parts were closed off just to put smoke machines up and a bit of 'atmospheric music' and the crowd around the exit was a bit lame.
Just remembered certain rides like the train shut 2 hours before closing which was really annoying.
Thoughts on Shambhala; Can't place it. I've always had Khan above Nemesis as my number one favourite ride, but I can't decide if I enjoyed Shambhala more. On the day, easily, but we rode both the next day and Shambhala was a bit tame whereas Khan kicked serious arse. The ride in the middle of the train was one of my favourite ever experiences related to theme parks, it was utter insanity, it must have been a combination of the conditions, time (sunsetting over Salou), palce in the train etc... It's a stunning ride, it's everything PMBO should have been, and the sort of thing a park like Thorpe would thrive i they installed imo.
Went to the park the next day for a few hours, annoyed that not only were several of the smaller rides shut including Templo Del Fuego but also that there was only a handful of shows on. Can understand why with hindsight as the park was quiet, but for the 3rd day of Halloween celebrations to only have a few decorations and 3 interchanging actors roaming one area of the park was a bit dull. Frankenstein guy was hilarious though, chasing after people, the creepy straight jacket guy was amazing, there was a woman in a bed who was posing for pictures. Sure there was one more but I can't recall what they were dressed as. But yeah, all in the wild west area of the park and only for short periods we found. The REC maze in Sea Odyssey was pay to enter and also shut on the Monday. Park closing they only had this skeleton in a speedboat driving round for a few laps.
We only rode all of the Sesamo Aventura rides, then Khan once and Shambhala once to have a relaxing day, Khan seriously rode like a beauty and flew through smoothly whereas Shambhala felt a bit meh after the heights it hit on the Sunday.
Got the bus back on both days, would be grand if it was signposted from the park exit not only where to go, but where the buses actually stopped other than ''Central Salou'' given the number 1 and number 2, which are both meant to stop in ''Central Salou'', actually drop off about a mile apart from one and other.
You don't need to know nor care about me spending the day at the pool, getting burnt, filming loads of horsehead clips for a Youtube video but I will share a picture of the stunning sunset we had.
Overall, if I had to queue throughout the day I'd have probably had a **** day, just far too many queue jumpers, bratty children and generally annoying people. But as it was, being able to skip this and enjoy the rides instantly made specifically the Sunday absolutely outstanding, though I'm in no rush to get back. The Halloween decorations seemed a bit sparse bar the entrance and Wild West area, there weren't enough actors spread around the park, and I suppose it's our fault for going so early during their halloween celebrations but there's just no atmosphere in the park until the sun goes down and closing at 7pm doesn't allow you to appreciate that.
It had been 6 years since I visited PA, since that time they've added Sesame Street Land (Sesamo Aventura), Baco would actually be open and primarily, Shambhala.
We flew into Barcelona mainly because I hate RyanAir, hate their 15kg baggage allowance and hated Reus airport. On board was a group of school children who'd been at a boarding school in London for a month. Poor guys. Going into the arrival hall there was a mountain of parents, siblings and friends waiting for them and it was fun that each person walking through got given a mock cheer by the crowd.
There were a lot more down the far end, and the noise when the kids finally emerged was brilliant fun. Transfer were woeful, waited for ages at the fabled black horse statue with some others, eventually a rep turned up, quick phonecall and then told me to go and wait for half hour for the transfer bus. Eventually found out where to wait by following the masses. Only thing of note about the transfer is the masses of toll booths on the route we took, how fast our driver sped through them trusting they'd open automatically for him, and finally how imposing Shambhala looked, even unlit at night, from a great distance away. Ran up to our room hoping to see BBC One as a channel choice to catch Arsenal on Match Of The Day but alas, it was BBC World News or nothing
Went for a quick walk down the sea-front in the morning to stock up on supplies, and came across all the brilliant little climbing frames and swings and the like that I think should be a mainstay on similar styles of beaches. Also couldn't help myself. Headed for the biggest climbing frame and had to conquer it.
McDonalds for dinner, bypassed the huge queue by using their brilliant self-order machines. Had already checked what food they offered and quite a few items took my fancy, but for today settled on the Oreo cake to try.
It was odd, it was like a giant Oreo without the crunch. Decided to walk up to the park as the weather was nice and it was at most a half hour walk. Took a little bit longer what with having to constantly outmanouvre those **** annoying street hawkers desperate to drag you into their restaurant/bar. As with the beach front, they had random assortments of things for children to play on.
After more hassle from people trying to offer us tickets right outside the park gates, we spent 15 minutes waiting for our 3 day tickets to be printed for some reason or another. The park was open until 8pm, and then 7 during the week which we thought was a bit poor given it was opening weekend for halloween. Seeing pictures in the other report though and the midnight close on the Saturday seemed to be the best day. From memory not too many of the decorations had changed.
Remember walking round the park for a bit, then having to go back to Baco area to get our fastpasses as that was the only stall with which you could pay by cash. 30 euros for the max pass gold which gave us 1 pass on all the major rides bar Condor, plus a front row ride on the 3 main coasters was exceptional value and in hindsight made the day brilliant.
First ride we went on was Baco. I hate accelerators, had heard all the negative reviews about the ride and it's roughness, and was aware that the only people I know of who rate it even remotely are a few guys from the BPB forum and Erol on here. I went front row outside right as I figured that'd be the roughest of the two and my girlfriends back would be spared on an inside seat. Was genuinely nervous waiting for it to launch, that little rollback onto the catch-car seemed to take an age.
Thoughts on Baco; Wow. Halfway down the launch I was thinking it wasn't that much different to Rita or Stealth. Then it just seemed to kick on and absolutely flew. The dip into the valley was a bit rough, by the time I regained my senses half the ride had passed, and the inline sensation was pretty fun. The curve over the water up into the brakes was again, fun, but it's such an odd ride to place. We had no desire to ride it again, but then from our ride I can't criticise it for anything other than being a waste of potential for ending somewhat abrubtly. Later on when watching the ride though, you can really see how bad the ride rattles and vibrates the outer seats, especially the outside left over the water. The on-ride picture aptly captured my thoughts on the second half of the launch;
We then decided it'd make sense to get the water rides all done whilst the day was at it's hottest. Loved Tukituki Splash, everything about it was great bar the tunnels of chewing gum terror. After that it was the rapids (carried more speed than any I'd been on, really liked them) and the log flume (enjoyable but the worst of the three water rides). Quite a few decorations are still the same from last time all around the park.
El Diablo ridden. Still boring but I liked that the entrance wasn't a halloween maze this time round. Stampida was rough as ****, they were sending cars round half full, it wasn't so much the front and back that hurt rather than the side to side, my ribs took a beating. Tomahawk was still as fun as ever, I daresay it's one of my favourite woodies.
Went back to catch two or three shows, I've never been a fan of shows etc when in a theme park and this was no exception, they tended to draw a crowd but not necessarily hold one, moreso people passing who stopped for a minute and watched before moving on.
Quick turnaround between shows too, one off one on.
This one was a bit risque, so much arsecheek. And annoying guy overacting with too much eye-contact for my liking. Also had an Adams family show that we caught the end of.
Sesamo Aventura to get Tami Tami (decent kiddy ride but short on only 1 circuit), some of the smaller rides. and the brilliant wave rider thingy. Got into an argument with some Spanish woman who was pushing through the queue, didn't budge at first, she got a bit lairy in Spanish and in the end I got bored and let her past. Turns out she'd kept no eye on her kid whatsoever and they were at the front of the queue about to ride before silly woman actually found her and ran around to join. That along with parents letting their heathen kids with Monster energy drink logos shaved into their heads climb all over the queueline and barge into people wore my patience thin, but figuring out how to splash people walking past if you were lucky let out some of that frustration.
I love how imposing Shambhala now is. Also, how quiet it is, especially compared to the beautiful roar of Khan.
Before we went for Khan and Shambhala at the end of the day we got Templo Del Fuego done. Had heard it was a decent dark ride of sorts, the first bit was a bit pants as it felt too crowded and it was hard to keep up with what was going on, but the overall show bit at the end was brilliant, the fireball heated the room up instantly, I was impressed with it.
Queue times were brilliant past 2pm btw (my mind is lagging with what order we did stuff and took pics), coasters on 10 minutes each and the water rides with no queues. Picture spam of my two favourite rides coming up.
My two favourite rides mating. Ooooft, imagine that. Not literally. Perverts.
So. Rode Khan, front row outside again. Absolutely loved the first half, although oddly my favourite part from last time, the zero-g, was this time the worst. Felt the roughest part of it.
Then it was onto Shambhala. Front row, waited an extra train to get the proper front row (really don't like the seating arrangements) as we wanted a dvd of us on it. Spent the entire lift hill (hated it, too steep for my liking with such a free upper body, also kept wrapping my legs around the restraint rofl) decided at the last second I'd brave having my arms up. Hanging over the edge and still being unable to see where the drop levels out was surreal, and the speed when the rest of the train kicks you in the arse is fun. The speed hill is amazing, the overall ride was fun. We ran back round as the queue was minimal (two train operations all day) and got seated in the middle of the train. OMFG WHAT A RIDE. After the first hill I think I spent my time with my arse out of the seat than I did in it. Utterly insane. After that it was a ride at the very back which had a bit more forceful airtime but not as enjoyable as the previous ride, and our last ride for the day was at the front on the seperated seats, where not only did we get wet on the water splash but didn't find it as fun as the previous rides.
Caught the end of the closing show with the jet skis, fireworks, fountains, and the awesome tron guy jetpacking around the water. Bit lame how certain parts were closed off just to put smoke machines up and a bit of 'atmospheric music' and the crowd around the exit was a bit lame.
Just remembered certain rides like the train shut 2 hours before closing which was really annoying.
Thoughts on Shambhala; Can't place it. I've always had Khan above Nemesis as my number one favourite ride, but I can't decide if I enjoyed Shambhala more. On the day, easily, but we rode both the next day and Shambhala was a bit tame whereas Khan kicked serious arse. The ride in the middle of the train was one of my favourite ever experiences related to theme parks, it was utter insanity, it must have been a combination of the conditions, time (sunsetting over Salou), palce in the train etc... It's a stunning ride, it's everything PMBO should have been, and the sort of thing a park like Thorpe would thrive i they installed imo.
Went to the park the next day for a few hours, annoyed that not only were several of the smaller rides shut including Templo Del Fuego but also that there was only a handful of shows on. Can understand why with hindsight as the park was quiet, but for the 3rd day of Halloween celebrations to only have a few decorations and 3 interchanging actors roaming one area of the park was a bit dull. Frankenstein guy was hilarious though, chasing after people, the creepy straight jacket guy was amazing, there was a woman in a bed who was posing for pictures. Sure there was one more but I can't recall what they were dressed as. But yeah, all in the wild west area of the park and only for short periods we found. The REC maze in Sea Odyssey was pay to enter and also shut on the Monday. Park closing they only had this skeleton in a speedboat driving round for a few laps.
We only rode all of the Sesamo Aventura rides, then Khan once and Shambhala once to have a relaxing day, Khan seriously rode like a beauty and flew through smoothly whereas Shambhala felt a bit meh after the heights it hit on the Sunday.
Got the bus back on both days, would be grand if it was signposted from the park exit not only where to go, but where the buses actually stopped other than ''Central Salou'' given the number 1 and number 2, which are both meant to stop in ''Central Salou'', actually drop off about a mile apart from one and other.
You don't need to know nor care about me spending the day at the pool, getting burnt, filming loads of horsehead clips for a Youtube video but I will share a picture of the stunning sunset we had.
Overall, if I had to queue throughout the day I'd have probably had a **** day, just far too many queue jumpers, bratty children and generally annoying people. But as it was, being able to skip this and enjoy the rides instantly made specifically the Sunday absolutely outstanding, though I'm in no rush to get back. The Halloween decorations seemed a bit sparse bar the entrance and Wild West area, there weren't enough actors spread around the park, and I suppose it's our fault for going so early during their halloween celebrations but there's just no atmosphere in the park until the sun goes down and closing at 7pm doesn't allow you to appreciate that.
