Drayton Manor Park

[Themeparksandy1981]

Sorry for the double post

 

[ShadowTD]

Just back from a full day out at Drayton. Took a few pics:

View from inside the park including the scaffolding on the Buffalo station

Is that an old Excalibur boat in the storage area with the rest of the Disk-o parts?

Yep, that’s a Disk-o alright

Can’t quite decide if that’s enough track to be one of the ones with the ‘hump’ or just the half pipe. Really hope it’s the former.

Station/op cabin 1

Station/op cabin 2

Station/op cabin 3, with ride base

The staff we were chatting to in guest services at the end of the day ‘confirmed’ everything’s coming from Zamperla. Now here’s a thing - I’ve been going to Drayton for 20 years and I have *never* seen the staff as upbeat, friendly and engaged as they were today despite the absolutely god-awful weather for the first half of the day. Almost everybody we spoke to was full of enthusiasm for the new owners and how the park was panning out. A few people also reinforced the ‘last year for Apolocalypse’ theme, and the idea that the new owners do want to build another family coaster but nothing’s set in stone. The Zoo especially was looking really good, and the quality of the coffee we got from Thomas Land was a cut above a few years ago. Came away from Tamworth with big smiles all round and optimistic views for the future.

 

[Skyscraper]

Just back from a full day out at Drayton. Took a few pics:

View from inside the park including the scaffolding on the Buffalo station

Is that an old Excalibur boat in the storage area with the rest of the Disk-o parts?

Yep, that’s a Disk-o alright

Can’t quite decide if that’s enough track to be one of the ones with the ‘hump’ or just the half pipe. Really hope it’s the former.

Station/op cabin 1

Station/op cabin 2

Station/op cabin 3, with ride base

The staff we were chatting to in guest services at the end of the day ‘confirmed’ everything’s coming from Zamperla. Now here’s a thing - I’ve been going to Drayton for 20 years and I have *never* seen the staff as upbeat, friendly and engaged as they were today despite the absolutely god-awful weather for the first half of the day. Almost everybody we spoke to was full of enthusiasm for the new owners and how the park was panning out. A few people also reinforced the ‘last year for Apolocalypse’ theme, and the idea that the new owners do want to build another family coaster but nothing’s set in stone. The Zoo especially was looking really good, and the quality of the coffee we got from Thomas Land was a cut above a few years ago. Came away from Tamworth with big smiles all round and optimistic views for the future.

Well given the amount of pieces there I would think it is the Disk-o Coaster model. I certainly hope so anyway, but we'll find out once it's constructed.

 

[John]

Definitely a Disk'O "Coaster" - look at the green power rails on the track in image #5. All those track pieces are the same way up, so some of them must be the hill in the middle.

 

[Benjsh]

It's great to see them investing and not only that but actually trying to create some themed areas too. Nothing amazing in ride hardware I will concede but it's a start.

Next few years they definitely need a stand out family coaster which has been rumoured.

 

[Benjamino]

i do wonder what they are doing with the Excalibur boat

 

[Themeparksandy1981]

I think they could be reusing the boat itself as it looks like a Viking boat if you remove all the theming off it.

 

[Prof Burp]

I think they could be reusing the boat itself as it looks like a Viking boat if you remove all the theming off it.

I’m just putting it out there,but could Drayton be planning to retheme and open Excalibur? I cannot fatham why an Excalibur boat would be in amongst new attractions if a rebirth wasn’t in the works. @Themeparksandy1981 I doubt Drayton would utilise a single boat as theming. Relaunching Excalibur would aid capacity within the Theme Park. Technically Excalibur would fit in with a Viking Themed area. I know it’s currently themed to Vikings but with a light sprinkle it could easily be tweaked into a Viking attraction.

 

[Themeparksandy1981]

The control panel was all removed in 2012 and the indoor section of the ride blocked off and flooring put in for the Santa experience and with every guest paying £8 to enter Drayton must be making £2-£3 profit per person when u take out staff wages and the price of the present for the kids and hot chocolate/mince pie for the adults.
The only bit Drayton got left to work with without removing more attractions is the pandemonium, Test track and Apocalypse site and the pirate Adventure building.

 

[rob666]

Crap when it was open, closed for over a decade, so no.
Mechanics for the cable rusting under water for a decade as well.
Would be better tidied up and used for rowing boats and swan pedaloes.

Bad manners to quote yourself from a couple of weeks ago, but here you go.
Excalibur.
Again.
Makes a change from Pirate Adventure I suppose.

 

[Ciaran]

Excalibur will definitely never return, the boat may be used for theming in the new area. Drayton have used theming from previous rides before, for example the well near the entrance to Thomas Land.

 

[Skyscraper]

Excalibur will definitely never return, the boat may be used for theming in the new area. Drayton have used theming from previous rides before, for example the well near the entrance to Thomas Land.

Which ride was the well from?

 

[Ciaran]

Which ride was the well from?

Excalibur

 

[Benjamino]

It has the little dragon on the top of it and that was what Excalibur was around and also there is a couple of the little push cart things used at the main entrance to the park as well that have been used as planters i think

 

[pluk]

If apocalypse doesn't fit where they are going and is too problematic/expensive to maintain as drop tower, and noone wants to buy it, would it be possible to re-utilise the tower as an observation tower ride with a rotating enclosed gondola? It's my understanding the maintenance issues are with the drop mechanisms, not a structural issue with the tower.

It feels like it would be a fairly simple conversion, and a relatively cheap way of adding a new family attraction what with the groundwork and tower already being there.

 

[Skyscraper]

If apocalypse doesn't fit where they are going and is too problematic/expensive to maintain as drop tower, and noone wants to buy it, would it be possible to re-utilise the tower as an observation tower ride with a rotating enclosed gondola? It's my understanding the maintenance issues are with the drop mechanisms, not a structural issue with the tower.

It feels like it would be a fairly simple conversion, and a relatively cheap way of adding a new family attraction what with the groundwork and tower already being there.

Basically the opposite of what Liseberg did with AtmosFear?

 

[pluk]

Basically the opposite of what Liseberg did with AtmosFear?

Yes, exactly!

 

[WillPS]

I’m just putting it out there,but could Drayton be planning to retheme and open Excalibur? I cannot fatham why an Excalibur boat would be in amongst new attractions if a rebirth wasn’t in the works. @Themeparksandy1981 I doubt Drayton would utilise a single boat as theming. Relaunching Excalibur would aid capacity within the Theme Park. Technically Excalibur would fit in with a Viking Themed area. I know it’s currently themed to Vikings but with a light sprinkle it could easily be tweaked into a Viking attraction.

I for one can't wait. Maybe if they're getting rid of Apocalypse they could get Knightmare in as well.

 

[DistortAMG]

Looking good. Makes me laugh how the person who 'predicted' this on YouTube, was spot on once again, has often been put down and laughed at for his predictions. For what has turned out time and time again to very accurate.

I can only really put it down to jealously and people being jealous that he knows more than them. Cannot really be anything else. That and simple childish behaviour. It shouldn't matter where information comes from, just that we have it for us all to know. I guess this sort that behaviour is what sorts the boys out from the men.

The area is looking great, good to see this part of the park used for the first time ever as a proper part of the park.

 

[WillPS]

Looking good. Makes me laugh how the person who 'predicted' this on YouTube, was spot on once again, has often been put down and laughed at for his predictions For what has turned out time and time again to very accurate.

I can only really put it down to jealously and people being jealous he knows more than them. Cannot really be anything else.

The area is looking great, good to see this part of the park used for the first time ever as a proper part of the park.

This the same lad who confidently confirmed SW6 was a B&M?