Blackpool Pleasure Beach: 2023 Discussion

[Alexsniff7]

The staff member on one side got distracted somehow and missed a seat. This was many years ago now, in case anyone from BPB is reading this

that's what i am wondering with this - was it recent or was it years ago because in a post smiler incident world something like this would not happen

 

[Dipper_Dave]

A seat belt is surely a purely mechanical thing, not technically linked to the ride system whatsoever. I very much doubt it’s linked to anything, unlike say modern cars which will bleep at you if a seatbelt isn’t in when a person or heavy item is on a seat.

Thus having both that and a locked lap bar is a ‘belt and braces’ approach in case one doesn’t work. I very much doubt that it would have ever been sent round with unlocked lap bars AND an unfastened seat belt.

 

[Katy]

As far as I'm aware there is nothing to prevent it going with either not secured - seat belts don't have any method of checks besides staff checking, lap bars don't have any method besides staff checking. The lap bars is purely mechanical - a bar pushes up on a lever under the train to unlock, once that drops down the restraints will close but not open. So as long as the person had pulled the bar towards them (and weren't so big that the bar wasn't even reaching the first lock point before touching them) then the lap bar will be locked. The trains themselves are basically the 1970s Arrow mine train design with few changes (upstop wheels instead of pads, that's about it).

 

[pjanvil]

The season passes have now been reduced £160 down from £189.60 and Hot Ice season pass £87 down from £99 I think.

 

[Katy]

The season passes have now been reduced £160 down from £189.60 and Hot Ice season pass £87 down from £99 I think.

BARGAIN! I'll take 18 of the Hot Ice passes!

I'm sure the Hot Ice passes were £80 last time I looked. Wonder how many have sold, I just don't see people wanting to watch the same show multiple times. Although I suppose there are people who do, who think "why would anyone want to ride the same rides over and over" about us. Hmm.

 

[Alexsniff7]

A seat belt is surely a purely mechanical thing, not technically linked to the ride system whatsoever. I very much doubt it’s linked to anything, unlike say modern cars which will bleep at you if a seatbelt isn’t in when a person or heavy item is on a seat.

Thus having both that and a locked lap bar is a ‘belt and braces’ approach in case one doesn’t work. I very much doubt that it would have ever been sent round with unlocked lap bars AND an unfastened seat belt.

they now have told me that the seatbelt fit but wouldn't lock??

i have given up trying to explain how that couldn't have happend i think some people just want to be told rollercoasters are unsafe - actually they can just go and read the daily mail

 

[pjanvil]

BARGAIN! I'll take 18 of the Hot Ice passes!

I'm sure the Hot Ice passes were £80 last time I looked. Wonder how many have sold, I just don't see people wanting to watch the same show multiple times. Although I suppose there are people who do, who think "why would anyone want to ride the same rides over and over" about us. Hmm.

I have wondered why they do a 'Season Pass' over an 'Annual Pass' because with a season pass they become less good value the longer you leave it. Also most people will buy them at the beginning of the season and then thats it. Very few sales after that, I think either they should reduce the price of a season pass as the season goes on. In the case of Blackpool it initially increased as the season went on. (Mine for this season was £145) or do Annual passes then you get the same value from it whenever you buy it. Only benefit I can think of for Season passes (from park POV) is cashflow, it pushes a lot of cashflow at beginning of season perhaps when it is quiet. And they can also write off the costs of season pass at end of the season.

 

[b2311e]

Neither the belt or bar are linked to anything electronically, it is entirely mechanical. Once 'locked', the bar can't be raised from whatever position it is in by the rider. It can, however, be released by an operator standing on the pedal to the rear, or from a rising mechanism in the station.

The likes of Icon do have electronic communication between the train and the station track, and a multitude of safety features.

Both (and all) rides will of course rely on the common sense of the rider, and a ride operator to confirm.

I will admit, many, many years ago I have ridden Big one without the bar down. Long before any current staff worked there, I hasten to add

 

[John]

To add to the above, automatic monitoring can prevent (for example) an operator sending a train with all the restraints wide open but it CAN'T ensure that passengers are actually properly secured. For a very thin passenger a just-about-locked bar may still be unsafe, so ride staff should always perform a manual check and not rely on the electronics. A visual check might not be enough as it would only indicate the bar is in the right place, not that it is locked (the ratchet could be held off on a mechanical system or a valve stuck open on a hydraulic one)

 

[b2311e]

I have just arrived at BPB for late night riding (or whatever it's called this time). Absolutely torrential rain. I'll be impressed if many stay late in this

 

[rob666]

Forecast not too bad, 50% chance of light rain, wet teatime, dry evening, allegedly.
Have a good un, bad weather means short queues.
Big One should be open.

 

[Skyscraper]

Had an awesome day at the Pleasure Beach today! Weather was great and the queues weren't bad at all. I'll post a trip report after I get home tomorrow, but a few points:

Valhalla was fantastic, the effects were good and I thought the audio was cool. Definitely was a good idea to bring my wellies (and waterproof overtrousers), I had forgotten how wet you got. The hammer was working, I saw it rising and thought "oh shit"...

Did the Dipper for the first time in a few years and it was really good. Not as rough as I remember last time, probably because I sat on a non-wheel seat.

Rode the Nash for the first time and it was also really good. Got off one side and went straight back round the do the other as it was walk-on!

Was definitely not as busy as I'd expected it to be, I think Avalanche was our longest wait, but that was only 25 mins or so. We walked straight on to a few rides, including Big One. Ghost Train would have been a short wait but it was having a few technical issues when we joined. As soon as those were rectified the queue moved very quickly.

Also, we went to the Velvet Coaster Wetherspoons last night, which was really nice. After hearing so much about it on here it was nice to finally go in.

The e-ticket system is a faff. Was very difficult to get my ticket to scan at each ride. I noticed that it displays your name and photo on the screen attached to the turnstile when you scan.

Again, I'll do a full trip report tomorrow afternoon, but it was a fantastic day today.

 

[Skyscraper]

Just posted the first part of my Blackpool trip report, check it out here!

 

[Danny]

There appears to have been a fire on the park this afternoon:

 

[John_P]

Hope it's not too bad, it's a really compact space down there.

 

[Robinsonhtid]

Apparently the fire was out before the fire brigade arrived

 

[Poisson]

All the cables moving under the ride, with plenty of wood shavings must make it an easy tinderbox if there's a spark.

 

[popey85]

Anyone seen any updates about the ride or area in the park we are due to visit Friday and my daughter was really looking forward to it

 

[rob666]

Currently closed, sorry.
Most other stuff open though, and you have a good forecast.

 

[MattyH]

Come on Rob, we want details. Juicy Juicy details...