Fantasy Island

[Spark]

Is that like a glorified Wild Mouse?

 

[Rob]

Is that like a glorified Wild Mouse?

It is a travelling version of Maurer's spinning coaster. The same model as Whirlwind that was at Camelot.

 

[Skyscraper]

It has the same cars as Spinball Whizzer, but a different layout.
Do the travelling versions have a conveyor station like the permanent ones?

 

[John]

The traveling model generally has separate load and unload areas. I don't think the platform is long enough for continuous loading

 

[John_P]

Whirlwind at Camelot was pretty good from what I can remember, hopefully this ones in a good condition as well. Might have to pay a visit to the park if I'm able to get over that way this year.

 

[D4n]

Do we know if this is replacing Ice Mountain?

Two spinning coasters in one small park feels a bit like overkill. Not complaining though.

 

[Skyscraper]

Do we know if this is replacing Ice Mountain?

Two spinning coasters in one small park feels a bit like overkill. Not complaining though.

Now that is a good point actually. Ice Mountain is not listed on the rides page of the website, so I would assume that you are correct and it is being replaced by this one.

I would expect Turbulence to be announced as one of the new rides soon. Mellor's own Starflyer, that they brought in while Turbulence was having issues, is still listed on the rides page though.

 

[AstroDan]

I have done Spinning Racer when it was at the Hamburg Dom. A solid coaster. Don't expect Whirlwind, though. This is far smoother and because they fully load, you won't have the obscene spin. It rides like Crush's Coaster at DLP.

Either way, is it just me or is it a bit of a shame Fantasy Island seems to have become a park that just temporarily hosts funfair rides? I mean, it's great the park has had a clean up and I didn't have a bad time there last year (my first ever visit) - but I certainly have no real urge to return, given the distance.

Spinning Racer will I am sure serve the park's interests well this year, but long term - can't they aim higher than a glorified fairground?

 

[Themeparksandy1981]

I think sometimes with non Merlin parks renting or leasing rides is there best option as they offer new attractions every season and if it don’t work out they can move it on to try in another park.
This could have been Drayton new ride this year if the Mellors deal was still in place with the new owners.

 

[Skyscraper]

Here's a POV of Spinning Racer for anyone who's interested;



Interesting how it doesn't spin down the first drop, unlike Spinball.

 

[mo237]

Looks like a fun little family coaster, especially that whippy last corner- shame it's supposedly leased though

 

[djtruefitt]

Fantasy Island have announced on Twitter they’ve got another new ride this season. All it’s got is a animation of some fire, so who knows what it might be.

LOOKOUT, something extraordinary is coming…
#AttractionTeaser #NewRide

 

[Mikw]

Fantasy Island have announced on Twitter they’ve got another new ride this season. All it’s got is a animation of some fire, so who knows what it might be.

Perhaps they're leasing "Wicker Man"!

Seriously though, i think Mellors are doing a grand job, the inside of the Pyramid is massively improved, and ride downtime has been reduced substantially.

If they can't build another great ride anytime soon then renting in decent travelling coasters isn't a bad way to go.

 

[djtruefitt]

I suppose by getting different rides in every year or two it does refresh your ride line up for those who visit, which I imagine 99% of their visitors are just holiday makers, and not people going just for fantasy island. So I don’t think they will spend a fortune on a mega new perm ride which probably won’t increase guest figures massively.

 

[AstroDan]

Fantasy Island was fine. I thought the indoor area was really nicely presented. Outside, was a solid collection of funfair rides and a smattering of more permanent fare. Oddysey was incredibly fast, Millennium boring and bland.

Can't say I would return given the drive, but good luck to them moving forwards.

 

[Sazzle]

Millennium boring and bland

As smooth as Temple of the NightHawk, but with added inversions in what is a very uninspiring layout. A very strange phenomenon (the bland smoothness) for a Vekoma of that ilk!

Childhood summer holidays were always spent on the east coast with trips to “Jinglebells”, and while I’m pleased the park is still going, I’m a little disappointed to see that things are perhaps moving towards a more temporary feel than they previously have been.

I do take your point though, Mike -

I suppose by getting different rides in every year or two it does refresh your ride line up for those who visit, [...].

For the target audience, I imagine this is a great move!

 

[Poisson]

The main problem for FI is space. 2 decent coasters plus a spinner of some kind (permanent seems unlikely, Mellors can just use the most fragile one at FI as it doesn't suffer from moving) and that's about it unless they get rid of the market which won't happen. I think the best approach would be half the size of the carpark and make it double level on the rest of it unless they feel creative, where I'd put the market under or over the car park or preferably in the bin. This idea of temporary rides I think works because of what the park is like and the connections Mellors have to source rides that aren't completely terrible most of the time.

 

[Rick]

I am not sure if there would be a big financial win in expanding the park. Wristbands and weekly passes seem to be the preferred payment method at this time. Whatever they build I am not sure it's going to be a destination park, Ingoldmells, Skeggy and Butlins are destinations and people go to Fantasy whilst they are there.

What they're doing works great, works for the park and them being able to chop and change their own hardware as they please seems to work for them too.

 

[siralgenon]

I'd like to see some added landscaping around Fantasy Island, as nice as the pyramid is, the outdoor areas that look like rides plonked on carparks. Id like to see some greenery and landscaping to make the park look more permanent.

 

[venny]

They have added a few potted palm trees, which to be fair is an improvement. If they could continue on that theme and add a little more greenery it’d make the travelling rides feel a little more settled into their environment.