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Dreamland Margate: General Discussion
- Thread starter Sam
- Start date
Danny
TS Contributor
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance
I'm sure Kim will be in this topic later to deliver a more nostalgic post of sorts seeing as Dreamland was her childhood, but here's my thoughts considering it was my first time.
It's obvious that the site is far from completion and even before the park opened, the opening speeches confirmed there is still lots to come. The on site branding looks fantastic, with a classic nostalgic feeling intwined with a striking modern feel.
The support from guests attending yesterday was remarkable, and there was a clearly distinguishable vibe about those who remembered Dreamland from yesteryear and were excited to visit once again. Lots of the older generation made a real effort in dressing up for the Opening Night Hullabaloo which despite not appealing to me in the form of music, was a clear success for the park.
The Penny Arcade and Roller Disco just outside the park are well preserved, however it's debatable whether the pennies being squashed into the floor to make a rather unique design make it appear tacky or is a quirky and well executed idea. The Dreamland Emporium is also well stocked with a wide variety of well branded merchandise, and Dreamland have also jumped onto Europa's bandwagon of selling parts of a roller coaster (however, the appeal to purchase a clock from the oldest roller coaster in the country is greater than a single block from a relentless modern day version).
The real highlight for me was the staff. Oddly, their uniform consists of jeans and white trainers of their own choice, going for a casual appearance. Their shirts range in colours and the new marketing catchphrases, allowing the staff to have their own identity. The most noticeable element about the staff however is their enthusiasm and passion for the project. Whilst the majority of them seemed somewhat clueless at some point, they all displayed vibrant personalities and made it clear that they loved what they had done for the project thus far and were enjoying working there. (I managed to obtain two free beers from the bar inside the Roller Disco due to "staff training'.)
On the way out of the park was a lady seeking feedback, very genuine and cared about responses given. Best of all, she wasn't going for the 'in your face' attack mode displayed by photographers at Towers or Pleasure Beach, and it seems like the park want to adapt to guest feedback.
Sadly, some of the rides weren't open alongside the Scenic Railway. The Monotopia monorail was closed and still looked very much a construction site situated right in the middle of the park. The Counter Culture Caterpillar remained closed despite looking as if it could easily have been opened, the same with the Kiss Me Quick ride. The Ferris Wheel was on a constant cycle all day but with no staff on hand to operate it. Naturally the small line up may not appeal to some, and it's very obvious that some of the attractions (the Crazy Mouse spinning coaster and Wall of Death show) are only temporary.
The day went very smoothly for Dreamland and it's clear there is a vibrant and fruitful future in store for the park. The press coverage was far larger than I anticipated and the support from the general public, regardless of generation is something that should hold the park up strongly. Providing the staff remain as enthusiastic and as vibrant as they were yesterday, the customer service at Dreamland will make a laughing stock of all the major players in the country.
Does the park need good luck to thrive in the future? Absolutely not, providing the park doesn't play with fire...
It's obvious that the site is far from completion and even before the park opened, the opening speeches confirmed there is still lots to come. The on site branding looks fantastic, with a classic nostalgic feeling intwined with a striking modern feel.
The support from guests attending yesterday was remarkable, and there was a clearly distinguishable vibe about those who remembered Dreamland from yesteryear and were excited to visit once again. Lots of the older generation made a real effort in dressing up for the Opening Night Hullabaloo which despite not appealing to me in the form of music, was a clear success for the park.
The Penny Arcade and Roller Disco just outside the park are well preserved, however it's debatable whether the pennies being squashed into the floor to make a rather unique design make it appear tacky or is a quirky and well executed idea. The Dreamland Emporium is also well stocked with a wide variety of well branded merchandise, and Dreamland have also jumped onto Europa's bandwagon of selling parts of a roller coaster (however, the appeal to purchase a clock from the oldest roller coaster in the country is greater than a single block from a relentless modern day version).
The real highlight for me was the staff. Oddly, their uniform consists of jeans and white trainers of their own choice, going for a casual appearance. Their shirts range in colours and the new marketing catchphrases, allowing the staff to have their own identity. The most noticeable element about the staff however is their enthusiasm and passion for the project. Whilst the majority of them seemed somewhat clueless at some point, they all displayed vibrant personalities and made it clear that they loved what they had done for the project thus far and were enjoying working there. (I managed to obtain two free beers from the bar inside the Roller Disco due to "staff training'.)
On the way out of the park was a lady seeking feedback, very genuine and cared about responses given. Best of all, she wasn't going for the 'in your face' attack mode displayed by photographers at Towers or Pleasure Beach, and it seems like the park want to adapt to guest feedback.
Sadly, some of the rides weren't open alongside the Scenic Railway. The Monotopia monorail was closed and still looked very much a construction site situated right in the middle of the park. The Counter Culture Caterpillar remained closed despite looking as if it could easily have been opened, the same with the Kiss Me Quick ride. The Ferris Wheel was on a constant cycle all day but with no staff on hand to operate it. Naturally the small line up may not appeal to some, and it's very obvious that some of the attractions (the Crazy Mouse spinning coaster and Wall of Death show) are only temporary.
The day went very smoothly for Dreamland and it's clear there is a vibrant and fruitful future in store for the park. The press coverage was far larger than I anticipated and the support from the general public, regardless of generation is something that should hold the park up strongly. Providing the staff remain as enthusiastic and as vibrant as they were yesterday, the customer service at Dreamland will make a laughing stock of all the major players in the country.
Does the park need good luck to thrive in the future? Absolutely not, providing the park doesn't play with fire...
Adam James
TS Contributor
- Favourite Ride
- Wild Mouse, BPB
If Paramount opens, I think the park may need slightly more than good luck! Great report though, really enjoyed reading about the park, hopefully it does well through the different opening phases
Craig
TS Administrator
You've literally been sat eagerly awaiting being able to use that closing line for years haven't you?
Danny
TS Contributor
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance
You've literally been sat eagerly awaiting being able to use that closing line for years haven't you?
This genuinely came to me as I was concluding the post and re reading Rob's post prior to mine
Kimberley
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Wodan
It's now been over a month since Dreamland re-opened! So, how has it been going?
Opening day
Rewind back to June 19th and the park was received very positively from the media and the general public. @Danny has summed up our experience there already, but I thought I would give my views anyway
Despite opening with the Scenic and a number of other rides closed, the atmosphere within the place will make it a day I won't forget. The enthusiasm from the staff is something I haven't experienced at a park before, and I was surprised by how much it influenced my day. This was spread across all sectors of the park, from the lady working on the Helter-Skelter getting a Mexican wave up and down the short queue we were waiting in, to another lady working on a food stall asking what I thought of the place and telling me how much she loved it already. As you explore the park you can easily see how much thought has gone into everything, and these tiny details really do make a significant difference. My personal favourites were the benches made out of recycled wood from the Scenic, the pennies pressed into the floor in the arcade and the flags they gave out to us
Happily holding my flag :')
The Helter-Skelter during the Opening Night Hullabaloo
Vintage (and very speedy) dodgems!
The dodgems had to be my favourite ride there so far. They have been beautifully restored, and it came as an unexpected surprise to find that they are actually very fast! The long ride we were given made it very enjoyable, it was also very amusing on our second ride when there were power issues - cue odd looks on everyone's faces when the cars repeatedly slowed down to then suddenly speed up again
I visited with an open mind and tried not to have my hopes too high given it was nowhere near finished, so it was really lovely to have my expectations surpassed having followed the project ever since the park closed 10 years ago. The place is full of charm, from the beautifully restored vintage rides and upcycled features, to the enthusiasm that is shared between the staff and visitors alike.
The main question we had when we left that evening was whether all this would continue, or if it was just the high spirits that would be commonplace at an opening day? I can only judge from what people are saying online, and when I next visit in just over a week's time
General updates
So a month has passed, and the park is continuing to change
Scenic Railway updates
Whilst no opening date has been given yet, it has been reported that the Scenic won't be opening until after the summer, according to Kent Online. Whilst the trains have not been delivered yet, the ride has been testing with makeshift carriages for the time being, hopefully it won't be too long until we can see the new trains going around the track
I believe that now covers everything :') Interestingly the decision was made to close the park at 1pm today due to incoming bad weather, I guess that's health and safety for you
Opening day
Rewind back to June 19th and the park was received very positively from the media and the general public. @Danny has summed up our experience there already, but I thought I would give my views anyway
Despite opening with the Scenic and a number of other rides closed, the atmosphere within the place will make it a day I won't forget. The enthusiasm from the staff is something I haven't experienced at a park before, and I was surprised by how much it influenced my day. This was spread across all sectors of the park, from the lady working on the Helter-Skelter getting a Mexican wave up and down the short queue we were waiting in, to another lady working on a food stall asking what I thought of the place and telling me how much she loved it already. As you explore the park you can easily see how much thought has gone into everything, and these tiny details really do make a significant difference. My personal favourites were the benches made out of recycled wood from the Scenic, the pennies pressed into the floor in the arcade and the flags they gave out to us
Happily holding my flag :')
The Helter-Skelter during the Opening Night Hullabaloo
Vintage (and very speedy) dodgems!
The dodgems had to be my favourite ride there so far. They have been beautifully restored, and it came as an unexpected surprise to find that they are actually very fast! The long ride we were given made it very enjoyable, it was also very amusing on our second ride when there were power issues - cue odd looks on everyone's faces when the cars repeatedly slowed down to then suddenly speed up again
I visited with an open mind and tried not to have my hopes too high given it was nowhere near finished, so it was really lovely to have my expectations surpassed having followed the project ever since the park closed 10 years ago. The place is full of charm, from the beautifully restored vintage rides and upcycled features, to the enthusiasm that is shared between the staff and visitors alike.
The main question we had when we left that evening was whether all this would continue, or if it was just the high spirits that would be commonplace at an opening day? I can only judge from what people are saying online, and when I next visit in just over a week's time
General updates
So a month has passed, and the park is continuing to change
- The park is now open daily from 10-6 Sundays to Thursdays, and 10-8 Fridays and Saturdays throughout the summer
- The Wall of Death show has now left, and has been replaced with the Dreamland High Divers for the summer in addition to Chaplin's Circus at an extra cost
- September will see the opening of the 1950's ballroom
- Starflyer Tower
- Speedway
- Austin Car Ride
- Barrel of Laughs Rotor
Scenic Railway updates
Whilst no opening date has been given yet, it has been reported that the Scenic won't be opening until after the summer, according to Kent Online. Whilst the trains have not been delivered yet, the ride has been testing with makeshift carriages for the time being, hopefully it won't be too long until we can see the new trains going around the track
I believe that now covers everything :') Interestingly the decision was made to close the park at 1pm today due to incoming bad weather, I guess that's health and safety for you
Danny
TS Contributor
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance
The Mouse coaster screams temporary to me, so I wouldn't expect it to last too long particularly once the Scenic has reopened.
Perhaps it was something to do with the fire regarding King Solomon? I can't recall off the top of my head other than Blackpool's Whip that was rendered almost unsalvagable as a consequence, but it wouldn't surprise me.
Perhaps it was something to do with the fire regarding King Solomon? I can't recall off the top of my head other than Blackpool's Whip that was rendered almost unsalvagable as a consequence, but it wouldn't surprise me.
Kimberley
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Wodan
Here's a bit more about the new rides:
Starflyer Tower
Austin Cars
Speedway
Barrel of Laughs Rotor
Nothing too significant but nice additions nonetheless In terms of King Solomon's Mine I can only guess that they have it in storage alongside The Whip, I can't find any news about it
Source
Starflyer Tower
Austin Cars
Dreamland said:
Speedway
Dreamland said:
Barrel of Laughs Rotor
Dreamland said:
Nothing too significant but nice additions nonetheless
In terms of King Solomon's Mine I can only guess that they have it in storage alongside The Whip, I can't find any news about it Source
Danny
TS Contributor
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance
* Testing with.... plywood and some wheels.
Certainly a good sign to see it testing, I'd imagine the restoration of the trains can't be a million miles away from completion if they've begun sending something around.
No doubt I'll be back there again on the day it opens
Kimberley
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Wodan
Visited Dreamland yesterday with a friend of mine, and once again it did not disappoint
Firstly I can confirm that the dodgems are still fast, as a couple of collisions were enough for me to leave with a huge bruise on my knee and a scrape on my back that required a quick visit to first aid :') A few of rides were still closed, most notably the Kiss Me Quick and the Twister which was a shame. The Chair Swing has also disappeared which was unexpected, hopefully it'll be making a return soon! A Top Spin is currently in its place; this was good fun as we were given 2 ride cycles with 8 flips in total, in addition to the continued enthusiasm from the staff who were operating it I am assuming this will be a temporary addition, hopefully until the Chair Swing can make a return, as it arguably doesn't quite fit in with the rest of the ride line up
In contrast, a lot of rides had opened that were previously closed on opening day, most notably the Monotopia, Born Slippy, Big Wheel and Mirror Maze, in addition to the new rides These were all good fun, with the only downfall being that only 2 slides could be used on the Born Slippy The Barrel of Laughs Rotor was also one of the most unusual of experiences :')
My only concern after opening day was whether the atmosphere would be the same, and I can happily say that I needn't have worried. The staff were still enthusiastic and clearly passionate, with us repeatedly being invited to go on the rides when we walked past, even during the afternoon when the park had got quite busy. The high diving show was great entertainment, and there was also the addition of a roaming magician who did a few tricks with us when we had stopped for a break Needless to say that Dreamland got a big thumbs up from my friend after her first visit there, and it made me very happy to see the place buzzing with people enjoying the attractions and with queues for tickets at the gate. I can't wait to visit again when the Scenic has opened, as then it will really feel like the heart of Margate has returned for good
The Huss Top Spin at Dreamland
Firstly I can confirm that the dodgems are still fast, as a couple of collisions were enough for me to leave with a huge bruise on my knee and a scrape on my back that required a quick visit to first aid :') A few of rides were still closed, most notably the Kiss Me Quick and the Twister which was a shame. The Chair Swing has also disappeared which was unexpected, hopefully it'll be making a return soon! A Top Spin is currently in its place; this was good fun as we were given 2 ride cycles with 8 flips in total, in addition to the continued enthusiasm from the staff who were operating it
I am assuming this will be a temporary addition, hopefully until the Chair Swing can make a return, as it arguably doesn't quite fit in with the rest of the ride line up In contrast, a lot of rides had opened that were previously closed on opening day, most notably the Monotopia, Born Slippy, Big Wheel and Mirror Maze, in addition to the new rides
These were all good fun, with the only downfall being that only 2 slides could be used on the Born Slippy The Barrel of Laughs Rotor was also one of the most unusual of experiences :')My only concern after opening day was whether the atmosphere would be the same, and I can happily say that I needn't have worried. The staff were still enthusiastic and clearly passionate, with us repeatedly being invited to go on the rides when we walked past, even during the afternoon when the park had got quite busy. The high diving show was great entertainment, and there was also the addition of a roaming magician who did a few tricks with us when we had stopped for a break
Needless to say that Dreamland got a big thumbs up from my friend after her first visit there, and it made me very happy to see the place buzzing with people enjoying the attractions and with queues for tickets at the gate. I can't wait to visit again when the Scenic has opened, as then it will really feel like the heart of Margate has returned for good
The Huss Top Spin at Dreamland
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