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Drayton Manor Park

Connor98 said:
Apocalypse running on only one tower yesterday judging by a social media post I’ve seen, causing a 90 minute queue at times. Maelstrom was also closed for the day as far as I know.
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Yeah it’s been the same all week. I’m not sure why stand up isn’t open but that needs looking into swiftly because the throughput is absolutely appalling with only one chute in operation especially with only one Covid bubble being boarded at once.
 
Apparently Maelstrom has been down the last few days as well.

Looking at the photo of dirt, is it reasonable for new rides to be in place by summer? Looks like a lot of work to do in a short space of time. Not holding out much hope for theming etc.
 
If they’re just popping down a wave swinger and possibly a Disko it won’t take long at all to get the rides in and built. The wave swinger especially will likely be a case of just pouring a foundation for it and then assembling. I’d expect possibly later in summer, towards the end of July, but provided there’s no major hold ups I don’t think it’s too far fetched to say they’d be ready for the summer holidays.
 
Do we have any idea on the Disko model? Hopefully the same as BPB! I am not a fan of the smallest ones, nor largest. But the medium ones are good fun.
 
Themeparksandy1981 said:
Pictures I took yesterday of G force site
https://www.draytontalk.co.uk/threads/g-forces-replacement.183/page-3
The blue spray paint is the centre of the wave swinger with the fencing marked out.
Splash Canyon update
https://www.draytontalk.co.uk/threads/splash-canyon.69/page-9
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I must say, it's simply delightful to see WORK taking place in that park that ISN'T in Thomas Land. Colour me interested and actually following this thread for the first time in years.
 
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A good sign.
 
Double post, but it was brilliant to see the park busy again today! Really looks like things are on the up after a turbulent period. Yes you could pick holes... but at the end of the day things aren’t going to be perfect yet, give them a time and I think the park will be well back on its way to being the one of the best if not the best family park in the UK.
 
It is worth pointing out here, that the issue with the park was never really that it was not getting busy. It used to get very busy, it's on the doorstep of Britains second city. The issue was that they struggled to balance the books. Certainly in later years anyway. That was the bigger issue.

So the fact the park is busy in itself, is not a sign it has turned things around. Although having a bigger company now owning the place, increases the chances of them being able to balance the books so the place can turn a profit.

I do however, have high hope's (I can see Apocolypse from my window) so I am always going to want to see my literal home park succeed. But the changes I am seeing this year so far are very promising. I just want to see a nice dark ride from them now..

I am not going to say who, but you can see my employer displayed in some of these photos and videos showing Splash Canyon and other areas of construction at the park.
 
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DistortAMG said:
I just want to see a nice dark ride from them now..
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Yep I think with the flat ride additions this year the line up isn't too bad, but dark rides will be the main thing missing, a replacement for pirates adventure is probably the biggest gap in their line up. Maybe another coaster, but hopefully in addition to the Buffalo rather than removing another ride.
 
I totally agree. I think the additions this year are fantastic and really do point the park in the right direction. Seeing as Looping Group have owned the park since the summer. The fact the rapids are getting a decent re theme and we are getting some rides on the old G force site is quite an achievement in what is a very short space of time. The lead times on rides and attractions, theming and scenery can take a few years, so for Looping to get these in, since the summer, in the time they have, in a pandemic is a commendable achievement.

I have very high hopes going forward, if we are to see this level of effort put into the place going forward from Looping.

I believe a coaster of some sort and a Pirate Adventure replacement, are going to be high up on the parks agenda. As a coaster is desperately needed and Pirates can be replaced with no additional loss of attractions and is in a prime location in the park.....maybe they will kill two birds with one stone. Who knows.
 
Can't Drayton put in a bid for this recently closed Acclereator? I guess it's a bit similar to Rita... Something of this kind of scale would be wonderful at DMP, though.
 
AstroDan said:
Can't Drayton put in a bid for this recently closed Acclereator? I guess it's a bit similar to Rita... Something of this kind of scale would be wonderful at DMP, though.
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Something like that would be fantastic for Drayton. A pre owned ride like that would be perfect while still getting decent "bang' for the buck" while they are getting the park back to financial strength.

Potential issues I could see though, are the high amounts of maintenance these hydraulic rides apparently require. This might not be something they want to take on, atleast yet anyway. As reducing operating overheads as much as possible is a key strategy in getting the park back to strength. This is why I cannot see maintenance heavy attractions being viable for now.

Second issue, most important one, is does it match the strategy the park apparently wanted to take previously, the strategy that resulted in Apocolypse and Pandimonium up for sale. I would initially say no. But, surely they need to realise that for the park to be healthy even in their target market, they should have some rides the bigger thrill seekers can enjoy, along side offerings for all the family. If they see this, and they have the room for all to co exist, then it is perfect in that sense.
 
Themeparksandy1981 said:
The rapids are looking better than it did 28 years ago. With the bright colours and so much theming going in.
From the pictures I took from the train
https://www.draytontalk.co.uk/threads/splash-canyon.69/page-9#post-4794
They removed the station control room and building it opposite. They also making the channels smaller so the boats don’t get stuck anymore and putting in more safety features.
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It is not they are making the channel smaller, they are putting in guideways (exactly the same as Alton Towers wave pool sections). But the concerete channel is still the same size. They have installed 2 sets of ladders and walkways over the ride. This gives easy access to the middle of the circuit and the buildings in there. For ease of access when the ride is in operation.

It is exciting times. I have to agree with you, it seems to be looking as good if not better than 1993. Although in 1993 it was one of the best themed rapids rides in the country.

If you go back on this thread a couple of years maybe. After the ride was inspected by people I know. I did say it needed a substantial bit of cash spent on it just to make the rides buildings structurally sound. Fast forward to now and it is getting that work it desperately needed plus much much more. Much more than I would have expected it to get.

It was always the intention of D.M.P to get the ride back open after the court case had concluded, but I wonder if it would have recieved such a big upgrade if the park was in private hands. I severely doubt it.
 
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I would agree its looking great, probably as good as 1993 but the theme is different, in the 90s it was bare wood and a "realistic" western feel. Now they have gone cartoony with the bright colours so its hard to compare.

DistortAMG said:
They have installed 2 sets of ladders and walkways over the ride. This gives easy access to the middle of the circuit and the buildings in there. For ease of access when the ride is in operation.
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There was always some bridges to the centre
Splash Canyon | Page 9 | Drayton Talk
page-9
 
There has, but there has been access issues in later years, specifically in later years as health and safety has got tighter. You can quite easily climb onto / touch the shockwave track by the loop using the previous access points. Fencing the track off would block off access to Splash. New access points were the only real, safe viable options.
 
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