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Drayton Manor Park

Matt N said:
Is it known what the planned Thomas Land ride is to be, out of interest?

Very good news that the park is apparently pressing ahead with plenty of investment for next year in spite of these trying times; gives me great hope for the future under the Looping Group!
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https://www.draytontalk.co.uk/threads/new-thomas-land-ride-4d-cinema-film-for-2021.265/
I don't know the reliability of Drayton talk but they might have the answers
Whether the looping group will change these plans, we don't really know.
 
Dora said:
How credible is your source though?
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Very as far as I’m aware, having used to work there myself I still have quite a few friends who work there. The email was generic to all staff who work at the park.

Not sure any of them were aware of Pandemonium though, so not sure when that decision was made?
 
It wouldn't be unheard of for parks to test the market with an asset and see what interest it attracted - it might not go anywhere.

That said, the sale of Vertigo suggests they are in the market to sell. I was talking to a friend of mine regarding attractions like Vertigo, they were of the view they aren't as workable as they once were with costs rising and them being increasingly popular in other venues, making them less attractive as an upcharge as part of a paid for day in a theme park.
 
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Matt N said:
Is it known what the planned Thomas Land ride is to be, out of interest?
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It was supposed to be a teacups style ride manufactured by Zamperla (would never want it any other way). It was cancelled and I personally doubt it will ever get installed now. I don’t see Thomas Land being expanded any more.

Thameslink Rail said:
I don't know the reliability of Drayton talk but they might have the answers
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Most of the information provided by the site is from our members, much like this site. We don’t receive information directly from the park.
 
When I owner Draytonmanorplus we regularly had interviews with Colin and invited to press releases of new attractions and allowed into the park to do closed season updates. He liked the way we promoted the park.
We gonna ask William next year if they would be interested in hosting a behind the scenes tour again.
 
Drayton and Colin in particular were always very good at hosting the ECC back in the early 2000's.

From lift hill walks, members climbing Apocolypse, walking the Rapids and riding Shockwave backwards, just to name a few. The club were always very well looked after!
 
DistortAMG said:
Drayton and Colin in particular were always very good at hosting the ECC back in the early 2000's.

From lift hill walks, members climbing Apocolypse, walking the Rapids and riding Shockwave backwards, just to name a few. The club were always very well looked after!
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Very much agree. Probably the most welcoming park, feels like a very different time. Shockwave backwards is bizarre!

My favourite ECC event was the AGM at Thorpe in 2002 where they let us loose on X like it was a climbing frame - literally just "off you go" ... imagine that now.

Hard not to be nostalgic, in some ways.
 
Only park I have climbed around the rides was Drayton.
Night security guard on the parking booth lent us a torch to play hide and seek at 2 in the morning...bloody fool put me in charge as the only grown up.
Finest camp site ever!
 
I'm just in the process of putting together my video after a discussion with a randomerspoutingcrapontheinternet reliable source, and can't wait to discuss the rumoured up-charge paddling pool attraction on the site of the entire of Thomas Land.
 
I think the fall out from Covid is going to bankrupt quite a few parks around Europe this year. I can seep Loopings Group swooping in and getting some decent quality second hand rides for DMP should that happen.
 
jon81uk said:
Anyone care to list what the rumours are so I don't have to sit through the video?
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. Pandemonium and Apocalypse are removed for an S&S
FreeSpin
. G-Force replaced by a Zamperla Disk'O and a Wave Swinger
. Splash Canyon rethemed and renamed and reopened in 2021
. Shockwave repainted to fit new Splash Canyon look
. Pirates Adventure replaced by Zamperla Indoor Coaster similar to Hurakan at Bellewaerde
. VertiGone replaced by four flat rides
 
Pleasure Beach Valhalla said:
. Pandemonium and Apocalypse are removed for an S&S
FreeSpin
. G-Force replaced by a Zamperla Disk'O and a Wave Swinger
. Splash Canyon rethemed and renamed and reopened in 2021
. Shockwave repainted to fit new Splash Canyon look
. Pirates Adventure replaced by Zamperla Indoor Coaster similar to Hurakan at Bellewaerde
. VertiGone replaced by four flat rides
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Unless they are working on Splash Canyon now, I doubt that Splash Canyon would be ready for the start of the season. (That's assuming that the HSE gives them permission to operate the ride).
Those other predictions sound optimistic at best given the current financial situation and probably rely on a few good seasons (it wouldn't make economic sense to add new rides not knowing when the public will be allowed to ride them or if the public want to come back)
 
Feels like too much of a thrill focus, replacing apocolypse with a FreeSpin doesn't really achieve much.
Otherwise it seems plausible over a long timeframe, although it probably will result in the non-Thomas sections of the park feeling even more like collections of flat rides.
 
It makes no sense for them to remove a perfectly decent thrill ride (Apocalypse) which is much loved and takes up a small space to build another thrill ride in its place which could easily fit somewhere else. Other than that the plans sound decent.
 
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