Drayton Manor Park

[Benjamino]

Maybe it's been sold? Or maybe they decided against getting rid of it?

i honestly hope it is the second one to be honest, but it is most likely the first one

 

[Benjsh]

I could be wrong but I doubt it has been sold. Drop towers don't have that long of a shelf life and Apocalypse is known for needing plenty of maintenance these days. It wouldn't be a very sensible purchase for any park really.

Let's hope they have decided to keep it for a bit longer. When it's taken down I expect it will be pulled down and scrapped tbh.

 

[Skyscraper]

looks like apocalypses listing on interlink has been removed https://www.interlink-lg.com/used-rides/ not too sure why

Usually it says "Sold" on a ride's page before it's removed. I wouldn't be surprised if they've given up as I doubt anyone would want to shell out the amount of money that would be required to remove, transport and reinstall it. There are two options now; 1. It stays, 2. It gets scrapped. I think 2 is more likely but I'd obviously prefer 1!

 

[JAperson]

I think it will be scraped, I suppose them having a go at selling it was a long shot but probably worth a go. They'll now just scrap it and build something in the new larger plot.

 

[Themeparksandy1981]

It will be scrapped there is a lot of land if they decide to remove or move the Flying Dutchman as that will be 40 years old next year. All that side of the park has been cleaned and painted during the closed season so really it’s just the pirate Cove area that needs to be looked at for the 2024 season.
Maybe remove the train and it’s station from around the rapids and the surrounding buildings and put a drop tower in its place next 2 Maelstrom

 

[immelmanloop]

Just noticed, in the yard of stuff by the road for the new area, it looks like Excalibur boat 11 is being repurposed as a Viking longship scenery piece with a cut down roof.

 

[JAperson]

Just noticed, in the yard of stuff by the road for the new area, it looks like Excalibur boat 11 is being repurposed as a Viking longship scenery piece with a cut down roof.

Yes I love it when parks do things like that, very cool indeed.

 

[Wilko]

A new entrance to the Viking area is going up around the existing Buffalo track, looks like it will interact with it, possibly go through it.

 

[Benjamino]

they might be doing what i have seen at other parks where the entrance will be put on a wall of a tunnel and the buffalo could start to go through a tunnel at that point in the ride i dont know though

 

[Themeparksandy1981]

Happy they added a attached picture to the site now.
Anyway on to some stuff I found out yesterday. The annual passes are going up tomorrow and I was told all 3 age groups. 12+ £110 they couldn’t confirm the 4-11 and 2-3 price but the family pass is going up to £380.
Anyway on to a park update the gift shop /haunting exit been repainted

I tried to take a picture of inside but the shop been split in 2 with a wall inside there and it’s all been painted white. I asked staff and they had no idea what they were doing in there.
Pandemonium site is still the same since it was removed.


There also looks like there more marking around the area

Pirate Adventure looks like look it’s having some work done to it as they blocked off the entrance and the substation on the side was open. I didn’t get a picture but there’s more skips round the back of the ride

Accelerator still having major work doing to it as it’s usually open during the Thomas weekends

 

[Themeparksandy1981]

Continued Flying Dutchman also still in pieces

The lake been drained not seen it this low before.


Last 2 pictures were taken inside the Dodgems building there’s restrains in them boxes and also looks like pistol rams. Also not sure what that last picture is off/for is anyone knows

They also storing the rapids rubber bits in there.

 

[Rick]

Were you the guy wandering around with a potato?

 

[JAperson]

Thanks for the update @Themeparksandy1981 some great information but as @Rick has pointed out it's hard to actually see what's in the pictures.
One thing that particularly interested me was the annual pass price going up, I had thought it was quite reasonable but I'm not sure about the new price, yes the park is improving quite significantly but it hasn't added any major attractions yet. I still think it isn't awful but I'm not sure it was the right time yet.

 

[Themeparksandy1981]

Sorry about the pictures the sun didn’t help the outside pics and the Dodgems is all covered around with just 1 part where the wall was taken out.

 

[Trooper Looper]

When I went for my 2nd Job interview on Saturday they gave us a quick promo video of a 3D layout of what's it'll look like and what attractions the area will have.

I'll spoil nothing for the sake of the Parks respect, but I think its gonna be brilliant, with some actual theming!!!

Question: Not sure if I've asked this already, but does anyone know if the ride System for Pirate Adventure is still inside the show building? I can see that being the next big thing for the park if Looping Group ever decided to revamp / retheme it.

 

[JAperson]

Question: Not sure if I've asked this already, but does anyone know if the ride System for Pirate Adventure is still inside the show building? I can see that being the next big thing for the park if Looping Group ever decided to revamp / retheme it.

I know you haven't been here very long @Trooper Looper (well neither have I but I've been here a bit longer than you), the debate about how much of pirates adventure is left is a bit of a circular discussion in this thread with lots of conflicting reports. From what I understand there are significant bits of the ride system left however it's probably not in a state that means it could be revived without basically replacing most of the ride system.

 

[Trooper Looper]

Yeah, sad that the ride system is in a bit if a helpless position. Mack unfortunately don't produce boat rides anymore, but I am aware that Intamin do a very similar system, I think it's called the Lazy river boat trip. They can easily keep the layout, but the most expensive part will definetly be the lift hill, replacing that to suit the new boats would be crazy expensive.

 

[JAperson]

Yeah, sad that the ride system is in a bit if a helpless position. Mack unfortunately don't produce boat rides anymore, but I am aware that Intamin do a very similar system, I think it's called the Lazy river boat trip. They can easily keep the layout, but the most expensive part will definetly be the lift hill, replacing that to suit the new boats would be crazy expensive.

If they wanted a new boat ride I'm sure both Mack and Intamin could do it, the thing is I'm not sure they will go for another boat ride, I think there's other things they can do that would be cheaper to run but probably provide a better experience if they so choose.

 

[pjanvil]

The £99 Annual Pass offer has been extended until the 7th March at 12pm now. I think its the cheapest annual pass for a single park including (nearly) every day its open and parking. Poultons is £250 or £150 for a weekday only version so quite a difference and Merlin park ones are now £119. Even when it does go to £110 it will still be amount the cheapest.

 

[Trooper Looper]

The building does take up a lot of land, so yeah, if they ever consider adding a new area, I can see the removal of the building happening.

As for a cheaper solution for the indoor attraction, i can see them buying a Flow Master from Garmendale (e.g. Tinkaboo Factory and Bubbleworks ride system) It'll definitely be cheaper to run and have a much higher capacity.