Blackpool Pleasure Beach: General Discussion

[Dar]

I so don't agree with that but it made me properly LOL anyway hahaha!

I love it, it just looks perfect for BPP, it's iconic, and it's fun, it's not serious and never was - it's almost like a folly in a way - it's the antithesis of Nemesis and I adore them both.

I don't think it's humanly possible for me to disagree with you any more than I do right now! I enjoy PMBO for the first drop and that's about it. There's no airtime really except in the odd spot and it doesn't really do anything for me, if it didn't hurt you and make a lot of noise you probably wouldn't realise you were on a roller coaster! From what I understand, we have everybody's beloved Geoffrey T to thank for that, he wanted the ride to be big and domineering on the coast which lead to those iconic 30 degree inclines on the second hill. Plus whoever decided the turnaround should go INTO the sea wind was an idiot. Full stop.

Past all that though, I think what annoys me the most about that infernal contraption is that PMBO *could* be an amazing coaster! If the first drop was made properly, and the hills were a bit steeper to eject you into space and the turnaround was actually a good shape instead of being uphill into the wind and, above all, if the track was just a little bit less clunky and more smooth. Not B&M smooth, but not with the horrific kinks it has now!

As @Bear has said to me constantly since we got back from PBB last month: get CHANCE in to sort it like they did with Phantom's Revenge and it could be a good ride. Who knows, maybe they could get a deal with them to get their own Lightning Run clone for cheap!

They are in dire need of a headline attraction now. The idea of a launch across the promenade would really be spectacular but I do doubt that's ever going to happen.

With sensible investments like W&G & Nick Land etc hopefully at some point the budget will allow. Perhaps this is exactly the kind of park that would benefit from a RMC. Though I'd of course rather see a big steel launch or air time machine.

The attraction itself isn't horrific, it's got no real narrative but the theming is quite good. It was just badly marketed so has had little return for the investment.

As much as we can hate marketing sometimes if parks do it badly their investments don't work.

I have to disagree, W&G seems like such a wasted opportunity. I really think it's a step down from the Goldmine. There's far too much dead space with nothing happening and whilst what's there is of a good standard, there just isn't enough of it and it doesn't flow together at all!

And at £5 million?! I really can't see where they spent that money, unless they had to pay some extortionate amount to dispose of the old theming!

Am I the only one that thought Wallace and Gromit was a good investment. A family ride and whole family area then a thrill ride every 4 years would be a fantastic development plan for pleasure beach. If they get a new thrill in 2015 then it will be like that which I think is very good since they had ice blast then an off the shelf headbanger from a park that closed down the road which they also owned.

For only a million more they could have got an Alpina Blitz and plonked it behind Infusion and opened up the south entrance again and made that end of the park a little more busy like it used to be. Get another thrill flat and put it where Bling used to be and both ends of the park are a little more evenly spread out!

I know it doesn't look like it, but I really do love the park. I grew up there and it saddens me to see it flounder with so little money.

 

[TheMan]

I know it doesn't look like it, but I really do love the park. I grew up there and it saddens me to see it flounder with so little money.

In the spirit of disagreement, allow me to disagree with this!

I would not complain if PMBO was better - and your Alpina suggestion with the south entrance makes perfect sense. And it certainly does not come across like you don't love the park - it's like me with Towers, and indeed PBB - it's the fact you DO love them that makes you so passionate when you see obvious ways the parks could improve.

It is, at times, frankly infuriating.

 

[Tim]

I guess most of you have seen the recent EE advert on The Big One?



Is anyone else shocked this advert exists and that Blackpool agreed to it! As the advert says it's encouraging customers to use their phones anywhere because they can, but they've chosen a location where it is banned because of how dangerous loose items can be.

Maybe it's just me that's annoyed by this as I spend a big chunk of my day making sure people don't do foolish things like this. I'm surprised though that Blackpool don't have the same attitude give that as mobile's are becoming more common (and to people like children that aren't as responsible) phones on rides has become a real issue.

 

[Alastair]

Let's be honest, EE probably offered them a decent sum to let them use it. And BPB aren't going to turn down money, no matter how dubious the cause.

 

[Poisson]

When that first I appeared I was like 'That's The Big One, they'd better brace

 

[DiogoJ42]

I agree, but what I find more shocking is that in the opening wide shot, two trains are quite clearly running on the same block section.

 

[chris_c_4]

I agree, but what I find more shocking is that in the opening wide shot, two trains are quite clearly running on the same block section.

Have you seen the final shot on PB's TV advert? Both PMBO and Big Dipper have some very interesting dispatch speeds

 

[DiogoJ42]

PB don't advertise down south. All I ever see is M£rlin adverts.

 

[Poisson]

Indeed some very interesting dispatch speeds

 

[Scott]

I get the point about the ad - it is obviously incredibly unsafe to use a mobile phone at that height. However BPB are desperate for cash, if any kind of promo like that helps them bring in the pennies for a decent new ride I'm for it!

 

[Sam]

I guess most of you have seen the recent EE advert on The Big One?



Is anyone else shocked this advert exists and that Blackpool agreed to it! As the advert says it's encouraging customers to use their phones anywhere because they can, but they've chosen a location where it is banned because of how dangerous loose items can be.

Like, seriously? It's clearly meant to be a joke...

 

[Tim]

Oh I know that, but if my job has taught me anything it's that some people will copy anything

It's not like I'm rallying for it to be banned, I just can't believe it exists.

 

[Coaster]

Adding to the debate about The Big One, I think it is a fantastic coaster.
The first drop is unrivaled IMO, and I really enjoy the rest of the ride as well! Whilst the hills are a different shape to most, I find them really fun and unique - how many other coasters have hills which tilt you to the side at the top?
I have also found that this year it is running much faster and I have been getting airtime on almost every hill apart from the second one.

It's actually my favourite coaster, and I've been to most UK parks.

 

[Rob]

The first drop is unrivaled IMO, and I really enjoy the rest of the ride as well! Whilst the hills are a different shape to most, I find them really fun and unique - how many other coasters have hills which tilt you to the side at the top?
I have also found that this year it is running much faster and I have been getting airtime on almost every hill apart from the second one.

If you think the first drop is unrivaled then I really have to feel sympathy for you! If you ever get to ride something like Expedition GeForce, Oz'Iris, El Toro or I305 to name but a few then I can assure you that you wouldn't be saying that!

As for how many other coasters have hills that tilt you to the side at the top? Err lots. I've just watched a Big One POV as I've not ridden it for a while but what it does is hardly unqiue, as youn can see:

And those cases are generally more extreme that on the Big One. I'm pretty sure I've had more airtime in my car than when riding the Big One!

 

[Danny]

The Big One and airtime simply do not work in the same sentence. Other than the 'decent' first drop, the airtime offerings at Pleasure Beach are far greater on Krusty Krab's Order Up. If I want airtime, I take delight in riding Nash or even Big Dipper to some extent. The Big One is nothing more than a stunning way to observe the illuminations from atop the lift hill later in the year, followed up by a mundane layout.

 

[Poisson]

I have had more airtime in my car as well. Granted it has no rear seatbelts......

 

[smudge]

I actually prefer the first drop on Th13teen than PMBO.

 

[Craig]

Moving away from the endless Big One chat for a second . Amanda Thompson has announced on Twitter that The Star will be reopening as The Apple and Parrot. It looks as though it's operated by the same guys that run the Apple and Parrot venues in Taunton and Torquay, with a focus on live music. Will be interesting to see how it pans out, as the venue is pretty far out the way. Perhaps the attraction of some decent live bands by an already established operator may bring people down to the south side of Blackpool. It was only on my last visit to Blackpool that I was saying they needed to do something with The Star, so it's great to see something happening. Opening date is 4th July.

In addition, Tiger Bills will also be opening in the coming weeks. I'm not too sure exactly where, as this was another thing that Amanda announced on Twitter. I visited their Whitley Bay venue a few weeks back and the food was absolutely gorgeous. Think of it as a TGI style menu with Thai Food chucked in to boot too (Sample menu here). Again, it seems like a really good choice of venue, I just have concerns about it being a little too far out of the hustle and bustle of Blackpool. Hopefully this combined with the new bar will bring in the punters though!

 

[TheMan]

@Craig Please take your sensible news and dialogue out of this topic, it's not welcome here

 

[Coaster]

The Big One and airtime simply do not work in the same sentence. Other than the 'decent' first drop, the airtime offerings at Pleasure Beach are far greater on Krusty Krab's Order Up. If I want airtime, I take delight in riding Nash or even Big Dipper to some extent. The Big One is nothing more than a stunning way to observe the illuminations from atop the lift hill later in the year, followed up by a mundane layout.

You have clearly been riding a different PMBO to me then, or on a windy day at least. I have had it nearly launch me out of the seat in the front on the rise up to the MCBR, been thrown out of the seat to the side on the hills, on the first drop and the last rise up into the brakes. Sometimes even on the second crest if you are lucky. If you don't get airtime on it then you probably have the lapbar too far down, or you are riding it on a windy day when it will be slower.

If you think the first drop is unrivaled then I really have to feel sympathy for you! If you ever get to ride something like Expedition GeForce, Oz'Iris, El Toro or I305 to name but a few then I can assure you that you wouldn't be saying that!

As for how many other coasters have hills that tilt you to the side at the top? Err lots. I've just watched a Big One POV as I've not ridden it for a while but what it does is hardly unqiue, as youn can see:

I was talking about coasters in the UK as I haven't been on any outside it.