• ℹ️ Heads up...

    This is a popular topic that is fast moving Guest - before posting, please ensure that you check out the first post in the topic for a quick reminder of guidelines, and importantly a summary of the known facts and information so far. Thanks.

Drayton Manor Park

Rob said:
Surely not!? Do we have any idea where the drop tower in the photo is from? Looks very similar to Apocalypse in terms of height so it would make more sense for it to be that one that is being sold.
Click to expand...
The drop tower in the picture is Golden Driller at Fraipertuis City, which I’m afraid was manufactured far more recently than 2000; I remember it getting built...
EDIT: Just had a look, and Golden Driller opened in 2017, so I highly doubt that Fraipertuis would be keen to sell it. Golden Driller also doesn’t match up in terms of height, as it’s 216ft tall.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Rob
siralgenon said:
If they sell that it'll be one of the biggest mistakes they've ever made. It's the one ride that still draws most people in. Someone tell Towers to buy it and stick it in a bit hole.
Click to expand...
I’d argue that the main thing drawing your average visitor into Drayton these days is Thomas Land, so I’d argue that removing these thrill rides (Apocalypse and Pandemonium, as I believe that was also listed on Interlink a few pages back?) won’t really affect the experience for Drayton’s core market of young families. This could even be a way of raising money to invest in new family attractions!
 
Matt N said:
I’d argue that the main thing drawing your average visitor into Drayton these days is Thomas Land, so I’d argue that removing these thrill rides (Apocalypse and Pandemonium, as I believe that was also listed on Interlink a few pages back?) won’t really affect the experience for Drayton’s core market of young families. This could even be a way of raising money to invest in new family attractions!
Click to expand...
Yes, but they could be removing one of the UK's best rides. That could stop a lot of families coming to the park as that's one less big ride for the parents to do.

Also how the heck are they going to remove it and it surely must be expensive?! The concrete foundations extend a fair few feet into the ground.
 
skyscraper said:
Yes, but they could be removing one of the UK's best rides. That could stop a lot of families coming to the park as that's one less big ride for the parents to do.

Also how the heck are they going to remove it and it surely must be expensive?! The concrete foundations extend a fair few feet into the ground.
Click to expand...
Surely if you’re a family theme park like Drayton is trying to become, though, you want things that adults and kids can enjoy together? I’d kind of argue that Apocalypse, with its 1.4m height restriction, isn’t that, whereas a potential replacement could be.
 
Matt N said:
Surely if you’re a family theme park like Drayton is trying to become, though, you want things that adults and kids can enjoy together? I’d kind of argue that Apocalypse, with its 1.4m height restriction, isn’t that, whereas a potential replacement could be.
Click to expand...
Obviously it's their choice, and I respect that, but the best (and most successful) theme parks tend to be those with a wide mix of attractions for the whole family, which includes kids rides (for kids to enjoy alone), family rides (for kids and their parents to enjoy together), and thrill rides (for the parents and older kids).

It saddens me that Drayton are following in LWV's footsteps. :(
 
G-Force is gone already (not that it was a great ride to start with). Shockwave is probably not got long left. With Apocolypse gone it would leave Maelstrom and Stormforce really as the only reasons for someone to visit without kids. Yes Wild West shootout and dodgems etc are fun rides, but there will be nothing to draw people in who don't have kids, meaning on term-time weekdays the park will be dependant on under-5s at Thomas Land really.

Although I get moving away from 1.4m height rides makes sense, they would need to add some more "in-between" rides too, things with a 1.2m restriction (Wickerman/Thirteen level). Also some more whole family stuff like Pirates adventure was. Re-thinking Excaliber and getting it open would be a great move to get a ride suitible for everyone.

But if it feels too much like the park is just Thomas land, I don't think they will get any adults without kids visitors?
Maybe we will see it working as Paultons are doing and they will add new coasters at DM similar to Paultons did this year?
 
Matt N said:
I’d argue that the main thing drawing your average visitor into Drayton these days is Thomas Land, so I’d argue that removing these thrill rides (Apocalypse and Pandemonium, as I believe that was also listed on Interlink a few pages back?) won’t really affect the experience for Drayton’s core market of young families. This could even be a way of raising money to invest in new family attractions!
Click to expand...

I meant in terms of rides outside Thomas Land, me and my friend visited last year for the sole purpose of getting to ride Apocalypse and Maelstrom again. Don't get me wrong we went on everything* else but we wouldn't have gone in the first place if those two wasn't there.

As it's been mentioned before, this will end up going down the American Adventure route. It's all well wanting to go down a family route but even the best theme parks have attractions that cater to older family members. And if the rumour is true that they're replacing Apocalypse with another thrill ride, it defeats the object even more.

*there isn't really much else.
 
Meh it’s been on the cards for a while Thomas Land will always be the draw to the park. Everytime i have been to Drayton rides like apocalypse have always had next to no queue walk on all day but Thomas land is packed. I wouldn’t say they are doing a light water as the main attraction and that keeps the park open is Thomas land.
 
The UK theme park industry really is becoming more dire year on year. I've very little reason to visit Drayton Manor these days anyway, but if Apocalypse goes then I can't see myself returning for a long long time. I'm not overly surprised though, Thomas Land has been such a success for them and they probably feel that they are going to be more successful in the long term targetting younger families.
 
Is Pleasurewood Hills owned by the same people now? I think it was mentioned that they are selling probably their most thrilling flat ride as well. If so, looks like Loopings are firmly in the 'family' market going forwards.

I can't imagine anyone wanting Apocalypse. Just the removal alone will cost a fortune.
 
What "adult" rides are there at DM now
Apocolypse (?)
Shockwave
Maelstrom
Stormforce
Splash Canyon (?)
Buffalo Coaster
Accelerator
Wild West shootout
Dodgems
Pirate Ship
plus the zoo
Edit to add
Air Race
Drunken Barrels
4D cinema
the Haunting

Is there anything else that you would ride if you visited without kids? That isn't an awful list at the moment, but it does show how few coasters the park has.

As a comparison I thought about Chessington
Vampire
Rattlesnake
Scorpian Express
Dragon Fury
Dodgems
Tiger Rock
Kobra
Croc Drop
Tomb Blaster
plus the zoo

So at the moment Drayton has slightly more "adult" rides than Chessington, but its the quality and length of Dragon Fury and Vampire that make the difference in feeling like there is more there for people visiting without kids. If DM did at Paulton are doing and adding a couple more family coasters it may well be enough to off-set losing Apocolypse.
 
Last edited:
You missed Air Race, drunken barrels, jolly Buccaneer, 4d cinema and the haunting as rides suitable for adults/older kids.

Apparently their are plans for some new rides but will see what happens as plenty of parks with new owners have had big plans but for them never to happen, I am sure will be moving down the paultons route. There is a big difference between somewhere like light water though that the park has got a decent offering for young families. Plus they till get around 1-1.2m guests a season ( pre covid). Which is a huge amount more than somewhere like light water valley and around 3 times more than somewhere like pleasurewood hills.

The park do have planning issues with new rides and anything above about 70ft in the main area of the park needs permission, there was a lot of issues with the neighbours after apocalypse was built who hadn’t noticed the height on the planning application, there was also some issue with Shockwave. The park have said in the past they would struggle to get any further rides at 100ft plus. It could be that they will use removing apocalypse as a way to get another slightly taller ride than normally aloud to build. Although if sticking to just younger families plenty of options of coasters less than 70ft.

If you are a park operator and have the money or prepared to take the risk now is a good time to be buying rides at some good prices as am sure many manufactures have cancelled ride orders.
 
Last edited:
Maelstrom said:
You missed Air Race drunken barrels, jolly Rodger, 4d cinema and the haunting as rides suitable for adults/older kids.
Click to expand...

I completely forget about Air Race.

Its odd to me that without Apocolypse and Shockwave (yes I know its not gone yet) Drayton Manor doesn't appeal as much, despite on paper having more rides for those without kids. I think it is just the lack of coasters?
 
Themepark-newbie said:
Is Pleasurewood Hills owned by the same people now? I think it was mentioned that they are selling probably their most thrilling flat ride as well. If so, looks like Loopings are firmly in the 'family' market going forwards.

I can't imagine anyone wanting Apocalypse. Just the removal alone will cost a fortune.
Click to expand...
The Looping Group owns Pleasurewood Hills, Drayton Manor and West Midlands Safari Park
 
Apocalypse has had a lot of problems last year and after the park reopened in July last year 1 floorless,1 stand up and both sit down were working but by September 1 side of sit down was down so the queue for sit down was always at the top of the stairs with the other side nearly walk on then around October time the other sit down drop went down so only the stand up side was available for guests at the end of the season.
Would love the park to get a drop tower like Venom or Jolly Roger.
 
As a thrill seeker, Drayton Manor hasn't been worth visiting since the closure of Splash Canyon and G-Force. There is simply too little to do there.

If Apocalypse also ceases operation then I won't be back. It's my local park but, frankly, if I want family rides & a zoo then I'd much rather travel further to visit West Midlands Safari Park or Chessington.

As of three years ago, Drayton's zoo was awful.
 
D4n said:
If Apocalypse also ceases operation then I won't be back. It's my local park but, frankly, if I want family rides & a zoo then I'd much rather travel further to visit West Midlands Safari Park or Chessington.
Click to expand...

Yep, on paper, Drayton Manor should be as good as Chessington for family rides and a zoo. But in reality Chessington is much better quality, despite all of its issues.
 
I last went during the 2019 school trip season. Whilst it was not particularly busy, the main rides were all being operated very slowly so it felt very busy e.g. Shockwave was on 1 train 5 minute dispatches
 
While we’re talking about Apocalypse, is it only me who found it a little bit overhyped? Don’t get me wrong, I thought it was a pretty good drop tower, and quite possibly my favourite ride there (the only other potential candidate I can think of is Shockwave, which I’ve got to say was a really pleasant surprise!), but I can certainly think of a fair few I’ve enjoyed more; rides like HangOver, Venom and Detonator come to mind.

It seems to be a lot of people’s favourite UK drop tower, so I was a little underwhelmed by it in that regard, even though it was still pretty good.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top