Flamingo Land: General Discussion

[Lordy]

^ But this one has an interactive element to it. Kids do love stuff like that.

And yes, to a park like Flamingo Land, a Volare is a major coaster.

 

[BigAl]

It'd be interesting to know how much these three rides have cost Flamingo Land so that we can compare them with other rides that they could have purchased instead.

 

[Nathan]

And yes, to a park like Flamingo Land, a Volare is a major coaster.

I agree that 'major' is very much a relative term (i.e. Kumali is chicken feed compared to something like The Smiler), but I still don't agree that a Zamperla Volare can be considered a major investment for a park that regularly pulls in 1.4m visitors a year.

I certainly wouldn't put it in the same bracket as Kumali, Velocity and Mumbo Jumbo.

It'd be interesting to know how much these three rides have cost Flamingo Land so that we can compare them with other rides that they could have purchased instead.

EDIT: A Volare costs in the region of £2.8m.

 

[Lordy]

I see your point, though I would actually consider it to be similar to the likes of Mumbo Jumbo. Small footprint, farely strange ride type, all about the gimmick, and probably not too expensive.

but I still don't agree that a Zamperla Volare can be considered a major investment for a park that regularly pulls in 1.4m visitors a year.

I guess I agree with that too. But, and ultimately, if they are pulling in 1.4m guests a year, they must be doing something right, yeah?

 

[Nathan]

The holiday village is a massive draw - and the money maker - for them.

 

[BigAl]

Besides the other woodies we pointed out a few pages back, building something like Boulder Dash at Lake Compounce would cost something like £4.92 million today (going off $6 million in 2000, adding inflation and converting that amount to pounds). Mumbo Jumbo cost them £4 million so £4.92 million isn't really out of reach.

Interesting.

 

[Alastair]

Of all the ride manufacturers they could have chosen to do a deal with, Zamperla is probably the worst possible one (perhaps with the exception of Pinfari). Their flat rides aren't particularly special and their coasters certainly aren't. Still, if they're deluded into thinking that they will massively increase visitors next year then the joke is on them.

 

[Bear]

I would far rather that the £4m or so was spent on sorting out Kumali and Velocity's trains, the fact that they have got so rough in such a short time is just ridiculous.

 

[Benzin]

I would far rather that the £4m or so was spent on sorting out Kumali and Velocity's trains, the fact that they have got so rough in such a short time is just ridiculous.

You're surprised by Vekomas getting rough over a few years?

 

[Bear]

I would far rather that the £4m or so was spent on sorting out Kumali and Velocity's trains, the fact that they have got so rough in such a short time is just ridiculous.

You're surprised by Vekomas getting rough over a few years?

You're right, that's probably to be expected to be honest. Still, there are many other things that deserved investment more, like just general tidying up and housekeeping.

 

[thefatone]

Mingo need to invest by having rides which make people want to visit, and then return.

Their most recent investments struggle to be interesting enough to make people visit, and they're nowhere near good enough to warrant returning for them.

That's the issue.

 

[joelpagett]

Zamperla are selling Flamingo Lands wild mouse coaster on thier website. Any takers?
http://www.zamperla.com/en/zamperla-details-rides-used_rides-wilde_maus

 

[thefatone]

Interesting. Must've used Wild Mouse in a deal to get Zamperla attractions.

Maybe they're not doing well financially.

 

[Lordy]

Going by what has been said on CF, Mingo are getting 2 new coasters this year...

 

[Nathan]

http://www.zamperla.com/en/zamperla-details-rollercoaster-junior_twister_coaster

 

[Bear]

ANOTHER junior coaster?

 

[John]

That would take them to 9 coasters, ahead of every UK park apart from BPB. Obviously the quality of them is generally pretty poor - they've already got 4 kiddy coasters so another seems rather excessive.

 

[Nathan]

I suppose another way of looking at it is that it's certainly a better attraction than the Junior Driving School it is replacing.

Volare has also been confirmed to be going on the site of Wild Mouse, with the Corkscrew site to be redeveloped in 2014/2015 (which to me suggests we'll finally see another large scale development).

Here's the interview with Mark Crane.

EXCLUSIVE, Interview with Mark Crane of Flamingo Land

 

[TheMan]

Right, if they have filled up the park with a Volare, Magic Bikes, and Junior Twister - shopped in a couple of old rides, and done that on a budget of 2/3 million I don't understand how that can be argued with.

The Smiler centre piece will probably cost that ;D

What is interesting, is talk of "planning" etc for 2014... if those investments are a filler year, gearing up for a major investment that they actually do well, that actually turns this from a ridiculous decision, to a very, very shrewd one indeed - and arguably better than some of Merlin's filler years!

If they go out and build something major, and well, with the rest becoming supporting attractions - with a holiday park, that can be a massive draw for visitors.

I think this years investments, can only be fairly judged on next years plans.

 

[BigAl]

This is fantastic news! So they've picked two bad off-the-shelf coasters over making something much better such as one custom family thrill coaster? :S

Fine, sell the Corkscrew and Wild Mouse as they're nothing marvellous, but at least replace them with rides that are significantly better. They could have sold one or two of their kiddie coasters while they were at it if they are desperate for two coasters.

At least those serve a purpose. But what the hell is this...

??



They could have gone to Vekoma for a Stingray and a Family Suspended or Junior Coaster.

Vekoma Stingray Roller Coaster POV Suzhou Giant Wheel Park

Flight School Roller Coaster POV Front Seat Legoland Florida Onride


They could have even gone to Maurer for a SkyLoop like Abismo and purchased Whirlwind from Camelot to replace the Wild Mouse. Maurer could have had the Wild Mouse back off them to fix up for another park and Whirlwind could have been fixed up and painted nicely too.

Abismo Roller Coaster Front Seat POV - Parque de Atracciones Madrid

Mind you, with a capacity of 550 riders per hour and knowing Flamingo Land's procedures, one of them would probably barely scrape 55 riders per hour, never mind 550!


Ah well, at least we have confirmation that Flamingo Land won't be touching wood any time soon! *smacks face*