Mini Meet PleasureTowers Weekend: 20-22 February 2015

I have now posted firmer times for the weekend, for those not staying over.

Saturday
Meet at Noah's Ark, Blackpool Pleasure Beach entrance at 10:30am

Sunday
Meet at Splash Landings Hotel reception at 9.30am

i'll be at alton towers on sunday, may have 1 or 2 friends with me that have recently purchased annual passes for the 1st time

What time are people planning on arriving at the hotel on Friday?

I believe 6pm onwards is the time stated in the first post on this topic, although I'm not sure when I'll be getting there, depending on traffic.

Around 4pm probably myself - but anytime is fine.

First English park of the season is going to be Blackpool what a fine pleasure

For anyone travelling by train, I will doing a pick up at Birchwood Rail Station (the nearest station to the hotel) at 5:30pm on Friday evening and will be able to drop off at Uttoxeter Rail Station following park close at Alton Towers, at around 5:00pm on Sunday.

Please let me know if you need picking up.

I'll be going straight to park entrance on Sunday as need to renew my pass before going in to park

I could be tempted into a trip to Towers on the sunday, if anyone is able to give me a lift from Stoke.

Anyone fancy Taybarns in Wigan on the way back to Warrington on Saturday after BPB?

Only want to do one night at Mascrat Manor if at all possible!

Fine by me, Dan.

Updated the plans for the weekend and have found breakfast spots for both days (Starbucks on Saturday, McDonalds on Sunday) and dinner for both nights (Fayre & Square on Friday and Taybarns on Saturday)!


Friday, 20th February
15:00 onwards: Check in to accommodation at the Holiday Inn Warrington at M6 junction 21.
Evening meal: Mascrat Manor (Fayre & Square) - pub adjacent to hotel then Holiday Inn bar
Accommodation: Holiday Inn Warrington WA1 4PX

Saturday, 21st February
08:45 - Depart Holiday Inn; breakfast at Starbucks Preston PR4 3HE (M55)
10:30 - Meet at Noah's Ark; Blackpool Pleasure Beach entrance
Blackpool Pleasure Beach open 11:00 - 17:00
Evening meal: Taybarns Wigan WN3 6XB then Holiday Inn bar
Accommodation: Holiday Inn Warrington

Sunday, 22nd February
07:45 - Depart Holiday Inn; breakfast at McDonalds Sandbach Services (M6)
09:30 - Meet at Splash Landings Hotel reception; Alton Towers Resort
Alton Towers open 10:00 - 16:00

I've managed to sort an 'early' dart for myself at work tomorrow, so with good behaviour, should be in the hotel by 9 - it's actually closer to work than home is!!

See everyone later! I'm leaving shortly in order to call for a Starbucks en route!

It was actually a really good meet today (I know we split but we had reasons). Such a shame on the crap operations though Thanks to @John for the lift

Aerial shot of part of the group



New ride progress

Hmm... it was cold, wet and generally a bit February.
As a result, I took one look out the of window today and decided to have a lie-in, got to Alton just after two because the snow had BROKEN the M6, met the group who'd already given up and gone to Dragon Bar before braving an hour on park. I enjoyed the emptiness (aside from learning that Nemesis apparently doesn't run with less than 2 people on it), but not so much the weather. Still, after reading Wardley's autobiography a week or so back when I couldn't sleep, I've got more of a sentimental attachment to Nemesis than ever... plus, after Taybarns last night, I probably needed the exercise!!

Blackpool, I'm sad to say, reminded me of why I don't visit Blackpool as often as I used to and why it doesn't excite me as much as it used to. It was by no means quiet on park, so one train operation just wasn't appropriate and the 45 minute waits for the Big One and Grand National did little to improve my mood - and neither did the fact that Infusion ended up being my first ride of the season Ride staff locking up and buggering off at moreorless 4:59 raised my eyebrows a bit too, especially after late openings across seemingly the entirety of the park.
On the upside, I finally got to ride Wallace & Gromit for the first time and liked it a lot more than I was expecting to, I had my best ride on Big Dipper in a good few years (though Nash, as ever, did nothing more than injure me). Riding Valhalla at any time of year always brings a smile to my face, particularly as we had a PBB virgin amongst our number, and even though half the pretty effects were turned off whilst any WET effects seemed to be turned up to eleven, I was still impressed. Also, as the sky was a very similar colour to the Big One's supports for much of the day, we were probably lucky to only get drowned once!

All told, whilst they at least manage to offer a full ride line up in February, unlike most - I think my annual visit may be somewhat later in the year in 2016; Blackpool is cold in February!

All Muskrat Manor aside though, great to see everyone again - Friday evening was fun, and also cheers Aaron for the lift on Saturday - can't remember the last time it wasn't me doing the driving on a coaster trip!

Almost forgot to add my thoughts on the new ride too - and whilst it may look like a good idea, it's also in totally the wrong park for something with such a glaringly obvious capacity problem - surely I'm not the only one that remembers why Spin Doctor was fatally flawed...

You think the motorway was bad, the Snake was shut yesterday and the Woodhead down to slow speeds and the car being blown about badly and snowploughs in action

Despite is being freezing at Blackpool and even colder at Towers, I had a great weekend. I will certainly be up for doing it again next year, except ill be packing more layers, more gloves and more hats! Taybarnes was great, but maybe we can go elsewhere for a meal on the Friday next year