Blackpool Pleasure Beach: General Discussion

[RoyJess]

That's a good point actually; there's no footplate!

I've circled them for you

I'm confused by those horses. Just where exactly are your legs supposed to go?

Just don't have fat legs

 

[DiogoJ42]

That's one cute dino. And it seems to have no lap bar...?

EDIT:
Regarding the lack of leg space, I was refering to the way it looks like the lap bar would slice through your ankles when it closes.

 

[RoyJess]

Those photos are deceiving. If you look closely, the lap bar is wider than the foot rest, no difference if you sit with your feet wider than those on Hex/Duel, you soon move them in.

 

[Skyscraper]

Those photos are deceiving. If you look closely, the lap bar is wider than the foot rest, no difference if you sit with your feet wider than those on Hex/Duel, you soon move them in.

So it is!

 

[DiogoJ42]

Still looks really awkward to me. I'd have thought a sideways hinging belly bar would be better.

 

[Skyscraper]

More angles:

Multiple theming options!

(Photos taken from coastercrazy.com)

 

[Benzin]

They also had Nick Thompson do part of their reveal presentation...

It would certainly be great to see them update Steeplechase in this fashion, it's always such an arse to get on/off it...

 

[Skyscraper]

They also had Nick Thompson do part of their reveal presentation

Could that indicate that S&S will indeed be upgrading Steeplechase in the near future?

 

[John_P]

Isn't Steeplechase the only ride of this type remaining? Would seem like obvious thing for the manufacturer to get Blackpool on board. They've even used a picture of the ride in some of the marketing

 

[Skyscraper]

Isn't Steeplechase the only ride of this type remaining?

Yes, it is.

Who else thinks the dinosaur looks cute?

 

[DiogoJ42]

Yup, dinos or leave it as is for me!

 

[rob666]

Dinosaurs racing above Icon...cool.

 

[MiserableMonkey]

These horses are far lower than the current BPB ones, which is a shame. Would imagine that would complicate matters.

 

[DiogoJ42]

These horses are far lower than the current BPB ones, which is a shame. Would imagine that would complicate matters.

On the other hand, it might make the latterals on corners much less terrifying.

 

[venny]

Pretty sure Steeplechase also got some new horses earlier this year so can’t see any news ones coming anytime soon.

 

[Lordy]

Yeah they refurbished them last winter. They looked good until the seat belts started taking chunks out of them.

I hope it never receives 'cars' like this, as all the fun of Steeplechase is being 20ft above the track, the slightest bit of banking and you move about 30ft to the side XD

 

[Rob]

On the other hand, it might make the latterals on corners much less terrifying.

But the reason that both Steeplechase and Wild Mouse are so much fun is the genuine possibility of death!

 

[DiogoJ42]

I trust rodents. I don't trust beasts eight times my weight with hooves designed for kicking. Same goes for their coaster counterparts.

 

[Coaster]

I'm aware I may care more about this than most people do, especially with it being my favourite ride and all, but it makes me so sad to see how generally crap Valhalla is these days

Most of the effects being broken and the general state of the scenes has been highlighted enough in various different places, but seeing these two stills of the ice room really shows how one of the world's most impressive dark rides has been reduced to a poorly presented, unimpressive mess.

Ice scene, 2011;

A recent shot of the same scene;

(The images are stills from Valhalla POVs on YouTube and do not belong to myself).

Like, how can standards be allowed to fall that badly?!

I think Valhalla is misunderstood by the park's current management, and is being maintained as a piece of ride hardware rather than the themed, theatrical experience it was built as. All the creative thought and detail that went into the original ride, from the hugely impressive effects to tiny little things such as the colour of lighting used, or how the audio triggers, is lost.

Personally, I would be in favour of the ride remaining closed during WOW Weekends in 2018, with the operating costs instead being ploughed into getting the experience back to the standards it has previously set. Failing this, I would rather see it removed for the park's next big investment (after Icon) rather than continued to operate as a shadow of its former self.

 

[MakoMania]

Don't know when that last photo was taken, but the ice room was much better than that on the last weekend of the season.