Thoughts on Hyde Park Winter Wonderland?
- Thread starter Squrmyweesl
- Start date
roomraider
Best Topic Starter
Should be popping down Thursday morning.
Turns out I've got at least +3 maybe +4 to pick up somehow so going to need to take out a loan.
Turns out I've got at least +3 maybe +4 to pick up somehow so going to need to take out a loan.
Squrmyweesl
Roller Poster
^ Hah. Which ones? I haven't got Ice Mountain, Time Machine or Racing Coaster (?), but I don't usually bother with spinning mice or wacky worm-type kiddies anyway so not that bothered.
Squrmyweesl
Roller Poster
You're not wrong...
FistedColossus
Hyper Poster
Yes I've been many times, it's the best time of the year to visit IMO. Couldn't recommend it highly enoughDiscovered that it's now £12 for the Looping today
Have you been to Wintertraum? Was it atmospheric/busy? Didn't realise they were open over Christmas...
One thing I would say is try to avoid the busy days as Phantasialand is so compact and it gets uncomfortably crowded.
Ollie
CF Legend
I used to go yearly from its very first year when it was in the Dome, and you could get a wristband for unlimited rides, so I saw it grow year by year when it moved to Hyde Park.
It's always been expensive but it just takes the piss now that it's no longer free entry to wander around. It was a costly trip before being a solo rider but now everything I do is a family of 4 I'd rather spend that money to have an entire day out at a theme park rather than 2 rides at a fairground. The huge crowds also drain any Christmas spirit there used to be. You're too focused on pushing through thousands of people and worried about being pickpocketed or separated from your group than you can take in the atmosphere.
It's always been expensive but it just takes the piss now that it's no longer free entry to wander around. It was a costly trip before being a solo rider but now everything I do is a family of 4 I'd rather spend that money to have an entire day out at a theme park rather than 2 rides at a fairground. The huge crowds also drain any Christmas spirit there used to be. You're too focused on pushing through thousands of people and worried about being pickpocketed or separated from your group than you can take in the atmosphere.
Disco Lumberjack
Roller Poster
I've been every year for the past few years, but I live close enough that travel isn't an issue. This year I may not even ride the coasters, although I may not be able to resist going on Olympia Looping at least once, me and my other half are probably just going to sample the food options. I think they do cheesecake dipped in biscoff on a stick. 
Squrmyweesl
Roller Poster
Waaaait, that's the new one...?! I didn't spot that when I was there! Guessing from the signs behind that it's called 'Scenic Railway' (haha, my arse) but they don't even have that on the website. I thought the new one was Racing Coaster!
Squrmyweesl
Roller Poster
I've been every year for the past few years, but I live close enough that travel isn't an issue. This year I may not even ride the coasters, although I may not be able to resist going on Olympia Looping at least once, me and my other half are probably just going to sample the food options. I think they do cheesecake dipped in biscoff on a stick.
That'll be £15 please (+ £4.50 for the stick)
AidanCKY
Mega Poster
Discovered that it's now £12 for the Looping today
Have you been to Wintertraum? Was it atmospheric/busy? Didn't realise they were open over Christmas...
I went to Wintertraum in late November a couple years ago and it was lovely. Short queues for everything and very atmospheric and lovely.
Squrmyweesl
Roller Poster
Has anyone else noticed that the general opinion of the Olympia Looping has gone down since appearing in London? Enthusiasts used to gush over it to no end when it was some rare, exotic cred. Now that she appears in London every year, and every basic Becky like me that couldn't afford to chase it around Europe before can ride it... much more "hardened" enthusiasts seem to be turning their noses up at it and saying stuff like "well, actually, I think it's rather overrated". This certainly isn't aimed at anyone here, just something I've noticed in the community as a whole that tickles me
This might be controversial but after riding it again several times this year, I get why some people might get a bit disillusioned with Olympia when it's in the back garden... because when you can ride it over and over, you realise that you don't want to because it's not really that great!
I agree that it's a classic and definitely an impressive feat of engineering, but based purely on the ride experience I think it ranks close to something like Colossus for me which is kind of mid. I thought I'd be on it constantly this winter since it's so close to us, but so far I only felt like shelling out for it three times. If it was cheaper I would probably have ridden more often, but I did start to find the layout a bit repetitive. Also the horrible high-backed accordion restraints totally ruin the view (from behind), they're really intrusive. I'm not sure why enthusiasts - who will typically drag any coaster for having bad restraints, no airtime or a little jolt here and there - seem to generally rate this one highly? Not saying it definitely doesn't deserve it, just seems inconsistent somehow.
Blizzard on the other hand... TAKE MY MONEY!!
roomraider
Best Topic Starter
I couldn't disagree more. For me while it's here for me it's easily the 2nd best coaster in the UK without question. The forces from the backrow beat anything we have except nemesis.This might be controversial but after riding it again several times this year, I get why some people might get a bit disillusioned with Olympia when it's in the back garden... because when you can ride it over and over, you realise that you don't want to because it's not really that great!
I agree that it's a classic and definitely an impressive feat of engineering, but based purely on the ride experience I think it ranks close to something like Colossus for me which is kind of mid. I thought I'd be on it constantly this winter since it's so close to us, but so far I only felt like shelling out for it three times. If it was cheaper I would probably have ridden more often, but I did start to find the layout a bit repetitive. Also the horrible high-backed accordion restraints totally ruin the view (from behind), they're really intrusive. I'm not sure why enthusiasts - who will typically drag any coaster for having bad restraints, no airtime or a little jolt here and there - seem to generally rate this one highly? Not saying it definitely doesn't deserve it, just seems inconsistent somehow.
Blizzard on the other hand... TAKE MY MONEY!!
The restraints suck ass sure. But it's a brilliant ride and I'll be devastated when it stops coming here.
emoo
Hyper Poster
Even if you were to haggle over the top rankings its quite something how this traveling coaster is one of the best we got. Finally got a re-ride yesterday after skipping for so many years, I forgot how good it was and appreciated so much. Forceful, smooth with fun nippy transitions. Fast dispatches, HOOONK, cool look of loops and dazzling led package. Didn't come back to the station crushed by the dumb shoulder things as I was prepared.
The rest of the fair bothered me way more than I remembered though. All those beeping people at pinch points (otherwise known as wide pathways) standing still walking slow and doing U-turns. Possibly just as lost, confused or alarmed as me. Partly my own fault for trying to rush through and not like its loads better in other events. £9 for a Jägerbomb? No, and other extortionate short stories. A zen ride on the mouse was cool but 6 seats to myself on Scenic Railway (+1) was slightly embarrassing in a packed area. Only saved by the big family blocking others & ride ops who didn't try at all to fill the wasted seats. Sorry to anyone else in the queue. Also I haven't seen anything like that layout before so was a novelty. I was able to upgrade the pre booked XXL mouse for a couple of quid to skip most, but not all of the line. Unfortunately they couldn't do that for me on Ice Mountain so just bailed as I just couldn't with that line. Still ended up marginally cheaper than paying the entry fee though.
The rest of the fair bothered me way more than I remembered though. All those beeping people at pinch points (otherwise known as wide pathways) standing still walking slow and doing U-turns. Possibly just as lost, confused or alarmed as me. Partly my own fault for trying to rush through and not like its loads better in other events. £9 for a Jägerbomb? No, and other extortionate short stories. A zen ride on the mouse was cool but 6 seats to myself on Scenic Railway (+1) was slightly embarrassing in a packed area. Only saved by the big family blocking others & ride ops who didn't try at all to fill the wasted seats. Sorry to anyone else in the queue. Also I haven't seen anything like that layout before so was a novelty. I was able to upgrade the pre booked XXL mouse for a couple of quid to skip most, but not all of the line. Unfortunately they couldn't do that for me on Ice Mountain so just bailed as I just couldn't with that line. Still ended up marginally cheaper than paying the entry fee though.