Thameslink Rail
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Is it the same one that was at Thorpe?
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Drayton Manor Park
Secret Weapon
TS Member
It might have worked better for their nostalgic 75 year anniversary last year
Drayton manor have announced they are getting angry birds 4D this season, unsure if it's the same show from thorpe park or not
From: https://www.tiktok.com/@drayton_manor/video/7622585756304919840?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7581565776462022166
From: https://www.tiktok.com/@drayton_manor/video/7622585756304919840?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7581565776462022166
Secret Weapon
TS Member
It feels like a hand-me down from another park
But younger guests and parents may not be that fussed?
I may be wrong, but one advantage of targeting families rather than enthusiasts is that they are probably not as bothered, and many of them will be visiting a park for the first time anyway and thus it may still seem 'new'
Themeparkplanet
TS Member
event lineup confirmed
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Secret Weapon
TS Member
Does anybody know whether the ride availability has improved since Friday?
Themeparkplanet
TS Member
thor is open and the 4d
Benjsh
TS Member
Is it fair to say that the renewed enthusiasm on here for the park after the Loopings Group took over is now well and truly gone? Looks an absolute horror show for the outside right now.
I haven't been since it changed hands and despite quite fancying a ride on Gold Rush.....I just can't justify the journey/diesel/entry price for it. I suspect i will probably never visit the park again in all honesty unless they add something bigger to make it worth my while.
I haven't been since it changed hands and despite quite fancying a ride on Gold Rush.....I just can't justify the journey/diesel/entry price for it. I suspect i will probably never visit the park again in all honesty unless they add something bigger to make it worth my while.
Secret Weapon
TS Member
I'm not sure what to make of the Looping Group; part of me blames them for removing some of the park's few thrill rides, such as Pandemonium and Apocalypse, but perhaps I am being unfair and these rides were destined for the scrap heap anyway?
I suppose they deserve some credit for not scrapping The Wave, although - even then - they opted to use a cheap sit-down train instead of one from Intamin (I'm not sure if this was due to cost, or time pressure).
They made some minor improvements at Pleasurewood Hills (new lap-bar train for Wipeout), but I get the feeling that the new owners have bigger plans and thus perhaps Looping Group were holding the park back?
I suppose they deserve some credit for not scrapping The Wave, although - even then - they opted to use a cheap sit-down train instead of one from Intamin (I'm not sure if this was due to cost, or time pressure).
They made some minor improvements at Pleasurewood Hills (new lap-bar train for Wipeout), but I get the feeling that the new owners have bigger plans and thus perhaps Looping Group were holding the park back?
As soon as they purchased Drayton, Pleasure wood became an afterthought. It's quite clear where they wanted to invest, I'm just surprised they hung onto the park as long as they did.
Investment was set for Drayton I think they could do with a new thrill flat ride of some sort preferably one with high capacity
Secret Weapon
TS Member
My prediction is that the Pirate Adventure will return. The building is already there (unused), it plays off nostalgia, and fits with the family theme.
It'd be good to have some more inverting rides (the owners are called Looping Group, after all), but I won't hold my breath for that.
P.S. Does anybody know what happened to the building that used to house the old haunted crypt ghost train? (not The Haunting, but the older ghost train)
It'd be good to have some more inverting rides (the owners are called Looping Group, after all), but I won't hold my breath for that.
P.S. Does anybody know what happened to the building that used to house the old haunted crypt ghost train? (not The Haunting, but the older ghost train)
How will it return when the props were auctioned off?
Pirate adventure and excalibur are prime real estate for new areas of the park
owenstreet7
TS Member
I'm sure Looping Group are open to the idea of adding some thrill rides that fitted with the all ages family direction of the park
I'm sure if they were able to keep Apocalypse, they would've done. It was at the end of it's life anyway which is why it went
Five hundred and forty pages, and every half dozen or so, "The Return Of The Pirate Adventure" rears its ugly head again.
Like a dog returns to its vomit, so fools return to their folly.
proverbs 26:11
The Pirate Adventure will not be returning.
See about 10% of the last 10,956 posts in this topic.
Squiggs
TS Team
I believe it was final demolished when Thomas Land was being constructed (though someone might correct me if it was demolished earlier than that). It was replaced by the Thomas Land indoor playground.
Secret Weapon
TS Member
I'm not that bothered whether it returns or not, to be honest, as I don't particularly enjoy water rides anyway, and so it was more of a prediction rather than wishful thinking, as an empty building is currently being sat unused.
They could buy new props
I remember hearing that they would have kept it, but Intamin were charging too much for a refurbishment
I can therefore understand the decision to scrap it, but - in my opinion - Apocalypse and The Wave are special rides because, due to their height and/or location, it's better to keep them if possible because it might be difficult to obtain planning permission for rides of that size and/or in that location again
P.S. Coaster Dad said in his vlog last year that Drayton Manor were possibly considering adding a new drop tower due to the disappointment of Apocalypse going, although my guess is that it won't be as big if it happens
Benjsh
TS Member
What Robb's said about Pirate Adventure is spot on. It's never coming back sadly. 
However the previous owners should never have allowed that attraction to get in the state it got into. It was easily one of the best dark rides in the UK in it's day and it should really still be operating today given it was a pretty low tech ride compared to modern day attractions. In fact such is the lack of quality dark rides in this country that it probably still would rank fairly high if it was operating.
Rumours came out that the ride need serious investment I believe and maybe even the building roof needed repair work. Shame as it was my favourite ride at the park along with Poccy. Without those two open....I just can't justify the visit anymore.
However the previous owners should never have allowed that attraction to get in the state it got into. It was easily one of the best dark rides in the UK in it's day and it should really still be operating today given it was a pretty low tech ride compared to modern day attractions. In fact such is the lack of quality dark rides in this country that it probably still would rank fairly high if it was operating.
Rumours came out that the ride need serious investment I believe and maybe even the building roof needed repair work. Shame as it was my favourite ride at the park along with Poccy. Without those two open....I just can't justify the visit anymore.
Secret Weapon
TS Member
I liked the Pirate Adventure as a kid, but - then again - I enjoyed almost every ride back then*, including the Haunted Crypt
I didn't realise that it was a copy of a Disney ride, as this was during the pre-internet era - although it wouldn't have bothered me even if I'd have known, as everybody ultimately copies everybody (the rollercoaster concept itself is unoriginal, and so is the 'pirate' theme in general)
(*The ferris wheel was the only theme park ride that I legitimately hated and was scared of because you weren't strapped in, the ride wobbled, and I was paranoid that either the metal hook would wear away or somebody would open the gate and push you out - which isn't possible on a modern rollercoaster)
I agree with you that the lack of dark rides in Britain is shocking, though; one of the reasons why Britain produces better TV shows than Australia is the bad weather (more time spent indoors), and so - theoretically - indoor rides should be Britain's speciality
I didn't realise that it was a copy of a Disney ride, as this was during the pre-internet era - although it wouldn't have bothered me even if I'd have known, as everybody ultimately copies everybody (the rollercoaster concept itself is unoriginal, and so is the 'pirate' theme in general)
(*The ferris wheel was the only theme park ride that I legitimately hated and was scared of because you weren't strapped in, the ride wobbled, and I was paranoid that either the metal hook would wear away or somebody would open the gate and push you out - which isn't possible on a modern rollercoaster)
I agree with you that the lack of dark rides in Britain is shocking, though; one of the reasons why Britain produces better TV shows than Australia is the bad weather (more time spent indoors), and so - theoretically - indoor rides should be Britain's speciality