Colossus
Giga Poster
So we always go to Thorpe Park every year on Easter Sunday, we have done for the last six years anyway, well that streak is dead now because this year we decided that we didn't fancy spending the day with all the queue jumping gypos that always seem to attend Thorpe on this day, and we wanted something a little more quint and new, step forward, Wicksteed Park.
So after a really easy drive from Norfolk (driving anywhere Easter Sunday is always a dream, no traffic, pure bliss) we arrive just after 10 and we're immediately confused by the parking arrangements as you have to go in to come out to go in again, then there was some car boot sale going on in the car park, but not too much problem, we park up and head in.
So after a short walk around the main area taking it all in, we stumble across the ticket office so we purchase our wristbands, first thing of note is that our adult wristbands are £13, excellent value I think, but the child's wristbands are £17? I have never seen this in a park before, you might say, well perhaps there's quite a few rides that adults can't ride due to height restrictions and what not, but no not really, the're 2.
The ride ticketing option seemed to be more popular with families.
We purchased our tickets and conveniently after we had purchased them the young lady behind the counter informs us that there's a few things closed today, the main coaster, Pirate Ship and the log flume, a little saddening, but what the heck.
We then spent the next hour or so just walking between the 3 main areas, just seeing where stuff is, and stumbling across 1 or 2 quirky little things.
After wandering about for a bit and nearly getting lost, we decide it's time to get some rides in, and more importantly, the first coaster of the year, and what better way to start the year off then with a Ladybird cred? Nemesis, Mraws, whatever? There's nothing like a +1 Ladybird to start the year off
After that we checked out the Go-Karts, and I was pleasantly surprised that to discover that they're included in the wristband price and therefore there was no charge, so it was time for some long awaited revenge, and did I get it? Hell yeah I did! 1st place to me the track was only a basic oval with banked turns (which was quite cool for somebody who is a fan of motor racing) and you only got 2 laps, but the fact that they didn't cost anything means it was very good.
After that we headed back up the the main area to get the other cred, and how do you follow up a Ladybird cred I hear you ask? Well, with a Clown coaster obviously.
Follow that up with a slide and some dodgems and you have got yourself a pretty fun 10 minutes or so
Actually I really do like dodgems and therefore I can be quite critical of them if they're crap, but these are actually really good, they're operated really well.
We had a quick look at the Wicksteed Park history room, which was quite nice as it was just a room in a building, so it was really peaceful and just a nice way to spend 5 minutes, looking at all the old photographs and articles.
We stopped for lunch, and for the first time ever, we took a pack up with us, because we fancied a picnic, but as it was quite cold, we sat in the car and had that, although one thing I will say about the food is that it smelt delightful, especially the fish and chips.
Mini-Golf next and more competitiveness going on, these two pictures below are comedy gold, it's Tash on the very first hole, the first picture is of her fluffing the shot, and the second is of her genuine reaction as a result of that shot, enjoy.
We had so much fun on here though, the course is actually quite hard, so this lead to lots of laughter at eachothers misfortune, very fun 20 minutes or so.
This was also free with the wristband, which was cool and I was victorious by 1 point, remarkable as our score cards read something like 233 - 234
Laser Xtreme next, again free on wristbands, so we had a good 20 minutes or so messing about in there as it was just the 2 of us. Again though, as with the golf this was real fun.
Any trip to Wicksteed wouldn't be complete without a trip on the Wicksteed Express, it definitely felt like it was the parks centerpiece attraction, it was well up-kept, and popular all day.
After that we had another little bimble about had a look at the bird aviary and this log chute type ride? I have never seen anything like this before, although I'm sure some of you more experienced guys have, the ride was non operational, but I popped up the scariest set of steps I have been up in a while for a closer look.
Headed back round to the Go-Karts so that we could take some action shots of each other from the bridge, so Tash went first and left me on the bridge waiting, I was there for about 10 minutes as a queue developed, so as I was waiting on the bridge minding my own business, when a group of women joined me to enjoy the race, nothing remarkable about that right? Well, have you ever found something really hilarious but at the same time completely disgusting?
Well these "women" were just talking to themselves, when I catch one of them smelling their own breath, she turns to her friend say says, in quite a serious honest tone "I think my breath smells like poo?" made my chuckle, but at the same time, urgh.
Needless to say Natasha Vettel completely whooped her opponents silly, whereas I didn't
Had a little look at the Pinfari spite coaster and log flume.
Then headed back over to the other corner to do the vintage cars and monorail, both of which where silly fun, the monorail actually was quite physical, espcially around the tight corners, it must just be a testament to how unfit we are, as kids were coming off the ride smiling whist we virtually crawled off it
The day was nearly up so we decided to have another half hour or so in the Laser Xtreme as there were now some others in there, then there was just about enough time for me to get my ass handed to me in the dodgems before it was time to get our customary fridge magnet before heading off.
There was just one more thing, this beautiful little signal box, served hot beverages!
Hot chocolate in hand it was time to head home.
Conclusion
We really enjoyed ourselves here actually, we made the best of a bad situation with the cred spite and one or two other things not open, in the end we more than got our £13 worth when you think of the attractions that are free, whereas in other parks they are not, like Go-Karts, Mini-Golf and Laser tag.
So value for money definitely, staff are also really polite and chatty, park was clean and quite picturesque, with lots of nice little weird things like a lake for toy boat enthusiasts to come?
Atmosphere was also good, lots of dog walkers and happy families, good stuff.
All round really good day, apart from 1 or 2 things not being open, I cannot pick any fault, its a really nice little park. If your somebody that spends most of your time at Thorpe or Alton and you're only an enthusiast for the adrenaline, then Wicksteed is not for you, but if you fancy a day out just taking it slow and messing about on the smaller attractions, or if you have a family, I would recommend it
Missed out on
Rollercoaster - Closed (Spite)
Pirate ships - Closed
Waterchute - Closed
Lake Boats - Tash is scared of water, I just about got her on a pedalo at Oakwood last year, there was no way I was going to get her on a rowing boat.
Rocky River Falls - Closed
So after a really easy drive from Norfolk (driving anywhere Easter Sunday is always a dream, no traffic, pure bliss) we arrive just after 10 and we're immediately confused by the parking arrangements as you have to go in to come out to go in again, then there was some car boot sale going on in the car park, but not too much problem, we park up and head in.
So after a short walk around the main area taking it all in, we stumble across the ticket office so we purchase our wristbands, first thing of note is that our adult wristbands are £13, excellent value I think, but the child's wristbands are £17? I have never seen this in a park before, you might say, well perhaps there's quite a few rides that adults can't ride due to height restrictions and what not, but no not really, the're 2.
The ride ticketing option seemed to be more popular with families.
We purchased our tickets and conveniently after we had purchased them the young lady behind the counter informs us that there's a few things closed today, the main coaster, Pirate Ship and the log flume, a little saddening, but what the heck.
We then spent the next hour or so just walking between the 3 main areas, just seeing where stuff is, and stumbling across 1 or 2 quirky little things.
After wandering about for a bit and nearly getting lost, we decide it's time to get some rides in, and more importantly, the first coaster of the year, and what better way to start the year off then with a Ladybird cred? Nemesis, Mraws, whatever? There's nothing like a +1 Ladybird to start the year off
After that we checked out the Go-Karts, and I was pleasantly surprised that to discover that they're included in the wristband price and therefore there was no charge, so it was time for some long awaited revenge, and did I get it? Hell yeah I did! 1st place to me
the track was only a basic oval with banked turns (which was quite cool for somebody who is a fan of motor racing) and you only got 2 laps, but the fact that they didn't cost anything means it was very good.After that we headed back up the the main area to get the other cred, and how do you follow up a Ladybird cred I hear you ask? Well, with a Clown coaster obviously.
Follow that up with a slide and some dodgems and you have got yourself a pretty fun 10 minutes or so
Actually I really do like dodgems and therefore I can be quite critical of them if they're crap, but these are actually really good, they're operated really well.
We had a quick look at the Wicksteed Park history room, which was quite nice as it was just a room in a building, so it was really peaceful and just a nice way to spend 5 minutes, looking at all the old photographs and articles.
We stopped for lunch, and for the first time ever, we took a pack up with us, because we fancied a picnic, but as it was quite cold, we sat in the car and had that, although one thing I will say about the food is that it smelt delightful, especially the fish and chips.
Mini-Golf next and more competitiveness going on, these two pictures below are comedy gold, it's Tash on the very first hole, the first picture is of her fluffing the shot, and the second is of her genuine reaction as a result of that shot, enjoy.
We had so much fun on here though, the course is actually quite hard, so this lead to lots of laughter at eachothers misfortune, very fun 20 minutes or so.
This was also free with the wristband, which was cool and I was victorious by 1 point, remarkable as our score cards read something like 233 - 234
Laser Xtreme next, again free on wristbands, so we had a good 20 minutes or so messing about in there as it was just the 2 of us. Again though, as with the golf this was real fun.
Any trip to Wicksteed wouldn't be complete without a trip on the Wicksteed Express, it definitely felt like it was the parks centerpiece attraction, it was well up-kept, and popular all day.
After that we had another little bimble about had a look at the bird aviary and this log chute type ride? I have never seen anything like this before, although I'm sure some of you more experienced guys have, the ride was non operational, but I popped up the scariest set of steps I have been up in a while for a closer look.
Headed back round to the Go-Karts so that we could take some action shots of each other from the bridge, so Tash went first and left me on the bridge waiting, I was there for about 10 minutes as a queue developed, so as I was waiting on the bridge minding my own business, when a group of women joined me to enjoy the race, nothing remarkable about that right? Well, have you ever found something really hilarious but at the same time completely disgusting?
Well these "women" were just talking to themselves, when I catch one of them smelling their own breath, she turns to her friend say says, in quite a serious honest tone "I think my breath smells like poo?" made my chuckle, but at the same time, urgh.
Needless to say Natasha Vettel completely whooped her opponents silly, whereas I didn't
Had a little look at the Pinfari spite coaster and log flume.
Then headed back over to the other corner to do the vintage cars and monorail, both of which where silly fun, the monorail actually was quite physical, espcially around the tight corners, it must just be a testament to how unfit we are, as kids were coming off the ride smiling whist we virtually crawled off it
The day was nearly up so we decided to have another half hour or so in the Laser Xtreme as there were now some others in there, then there was just about enough time for me to get my ass handed to me in the dodgems before it was time to get our customary fridge magnet before heading off.
There was just one more thing, this beautiful little signal box, served hot beverages!
Hot chocolate in hand it was time to head home.
Conclusion
We really enjoyed ourselves here actually, we made the best of a bad situation with the cred spite and one or two other things not open, in the end we more than got our £13 worth when you think of the attractions that are free, whereas in other parks they are not, like Go-Karts, Mini-Golf and Laser tag.
So value for money definitely, staff are also really polite and chatty, park was clean and quite picturesque, with lots of nice little weird things like a lake for toy boat enthusiasts to come?
Atmosphere was also good, lots of dog walkers and happy families, good stuff.
All round really good day, apart from 1 or 2 things not being open, I cannot pick any fault, its a really nice little park. If your somebody that spends most of your time at Thorpe or Alton and you're only an enthusiast for the adrenaline, then Wicksteed is not for you, but if you fancy a day out just taking it slow and messing about on the smaller attractions, or if you have a family, I would recommend it
Missed out on
Rollercoaster - Closed (Spite)
Pirate ships - Closed
Waterchute - Closed
Lake Boats - Tash is scared of water, I just about got her on a pedalo at Oakwood last year, there was no way I was going to get her on a rowing boat.
Rocky River Falls - Closed
I think the pinfari is still going through checks at the moment. It happened with the pirate ship aswell. Probably due to the weather conditions over the winter and how old they are starting to be..