Holiday Park 2014: Premier Launched Coaster

I have no problem with this. Expedition Ge-Force isn't themed at all, and it doesn't even have a covered station (this looks like it already does). If an unthemed amusement park wants to become a proper theme park, that is a wonderful thing. And hey, if they're a small and cash-strapped park, and need to do it in two-parts, that's fine with me.

As long as they add the theming once the ride's open, I have absolutely no problem with this - it is to be applauded. Rome wasn't built in a day. I am going to HoPa next week, and while it'd be nice with all the theming, I'd much rather this new coaster be open than closed. It baffles me that anyone would actually rather see this ride closed. Theming or no theming, it looks like great fun.

Maybe... dare I say it... Europa-Park could take a leaf out of Holiday Park's book.

Could you actually imagine a dark ride opening with most theming missing? Arthur is 80% dark ride. This is 100% coaster.

Hardly comparable and people would be disgusted if EP opened a €20m dark ride looking as bad as this does.

I'm not personally saying it shouldn't be open, but I am somewhat surprised Plopsa with their good track record are opening a building site.

It's going to be officially finished in July.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INizWe1wkNo#ws

A video from the opening day, thanks to Rideonblog.com
Sky Scream really looks ugly at the moment!

Despite saying that they wouldn't do this last year at Walibi Belgium ("Everyone is our equal before the law. Wealthier children should not receive priority over less well-off children"), Plopsa have introduced a queue-jump system at Holiday Park.

They said this is because competing German parks have a paid queue-jump system, though Germany's most popular theme park located just down the road does not. Poor show Plopsa, poor show.

Sam said:

Despite saying that they wouldn't do this last year at Walibi Belgium ("Everyone is our equal before the law. Wealthier children should not receive priority over less well-off children"), Plopsa have introduced a queue-jump system at Holiday Park.

They said this is because competing German parks have a paid queue-jump system, though Germany's most popular theme park located just down the road does not. Poor show Plopsa, poor show.

Click to expand...

What's Plopsa got to do with Walibi? They're not owned by the same company at all...

Besides, the Walibi decision was changed because of the backlash from the public, rather than their own real choice...

Funny.

Tripsdrill and Europa - the parks nearest competition don't have one.

I worry that the more parks which introduce it, the harder it gets for EP to go without.

I don't understand this. The park is not that big that such a system is really necessary.

I don't think that EP will implement such a system. EP has a very close look at disney since they started. When they would like such a system EP would have implemented it years ago.

Sky Scream is a good coaster that is somewhat hindered by its restraints. It has these really annoying leg guards that dig into your shins whilst riding. It was certainly very fun though and I'm sure it will look great once all the theming is finished.

EGF on the other hand, I rode it for the first time and wow what a beast of a ride!

I do think SkyScream would be so much better without the stupid leg restraints. I spent the whole ride more worried about the pain on my legs than paying attention to the ride, the taller and thinner you are, the more the leg restraints hurt!

I was also surprised by how fast the ride went, when stood in the station, you could blink and miss the ride car go past. OK the station and outside look utter crap, but looking at the plans it should be very good once its had its themeing added to it, it's just a shame the restraints let the ride down.

I agree, what the heck were they thinking when they came up with those restraints? Obviously not of Mack!

After riding this coaster last Friday, I have to say the ride experience is quite fun, and packs a bit of a punch. However the leg restraints are truly awful. I have bruises on my legs after being shoved into my restraint, therefore leaving me no room for my legs to feel comfortable! Who ever thought that was a good idea clearly didn't think that through. If they were adjustable to where your legs are in relation to the restraints then it would make the ride more enjoyable imo. However I was left disappointed. Shame as I did like the ride itself, except for the unfinished building haha!

Also EGF is just AMAZING! <3

Well, SkyScream. Unfortunately this mini-review is only based on one ride, as I sacrificed the second for a couple of extra laps on EGF, which was absolutely breathtaking as ever. SkyScream isn't great, but it's good. Better than expected. Of course, the throughputs are appalling, as is the theming at the moment, that's already been gone into enough, and I don't really have anything to add. When viewed from across the park, with just the top of the loop poking through the trees, it is a pretty ride but it's quite ugly up-close, with a predictably messy support structure ruining the elegancy of the 'double loop'.


RCDB.

The forwards-backwards-forwards again triple-launch is a fun sensation, if nothing to write home about. Something about the sequence mean that the latter two launches don't quite have that awesome kick that a 'rolling launch' element does on other rides (Anubis, Karacho) but flying through a small station at speed is always fun. Then up, up, up and into the rump of the ride. The super-tiny squashed little trains on this massive ride do help foster a feeling of exposure at the top, which the ride tries to exploit with a zero-g roll. Unfortunately, due to the poor quality restraints, this just hurts. I'm sure with quality Mack OTS lapbars or B&M OTSRs, it'd be great.


Shin-diggers are clearly visible here. RCDB.

The drop into the 'second' part of the loop is trimmed so is forceless, but falling off the precipice still has a good effect on the mind, though does nothing for the body. The 'second' loop itself is quite small, nippy and fun, and feels like a cheeky lap of honour at the end of the ride cycle. And that's it, pretty much over. It's short, but you can't really expect much more from the concept. A short, cheap, thrilling ride for small parks. However. Knock about 20% of the praise off everything above due to one factor: the shin smashers. Small metal bars on the trains that for some inexplicable reason dig into your shins for the entire ride, like someone attacking your legs with a spade. Why are these there? Are they really the best solution for whatever the problem is? Premier, sort out these, and the entire ride will be improved considerably.

The shin things do make this ride so much worse than it probably is, however for the whole ride I was more bothered about the pain of my legs than the ride itself, which of course is not something you want from a ride. I would say the shin things will be fine if you are a child, quite short or even quite fat. But if you are thin or tall they will dig in to your legs, as the tighter you pull down the restraint (if you are thin) the tighter the shin guards get.

Not much really to add to everything others have said, i found the ride really very fun, and packing quite a punch. But throughputs and absolutely terrible restraints let it down (obviously the theming is lacking but this should be rectified).

Surely the leg crushers aren't actually needed? And if they are, they should be adjusted. Air gets leg restraint spot on....

The only reason I can see for them is to stop you sticking your legs out as the ride moves, or to stop your legs lifting up when you go upside down, but there must be so many other options to stop that happening.

Whoa, are these as bad as they look? Are your legs really restricted to being at a 90 degree angle like the poor dudes in the front row?

These things look like they were designed by a bitter and spiteful double amputee. They must surely rank among the worst restraints ever designed?
(Now there's a thought for a closed season topic, a poll for best / worst restraint types! )

They affect different people in different ways, as can be seen from the photograph. The young boy in row two is fine. The girl in row four looks probably OK. But if you have long legs like me or the guy in row one, you're screwed. They actually dig into your shins the entire ride.