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Flamingo Land: General Discussion

Back from a weekend in North Yorkshire and a cheeky trip to Mingo Land. Now, the last time i went to this park, i was a bit younger and wasn't really an enthusiast, so didn't worry about certain aspects of the park. Let me start by talking about Hero. I really wanted to understand why the Zamperla Volare model was so disliked by the theme park community as i am not a man that generally worries too much about a bit of roughness. Hero has got to be the worst ride i have ever been on in my life and fully understand why this is so hated now. I am still suffering pains in my neck and upper back from that thing. Once is enough and i doubt i will go on it again. To be brutally honest, i had a good day, in a very average park...at best. Kumali was testing all day but did not open, Mumbo Jumbo ran on one train causing a really slow queue, the Zamperla Disko was shut, Hero was a big queue because it was running one train (but maybe that might have been when saw it). The park can be summed up in one word really...Cheap (apart from the entrance price). Really slow operations all day, lack of interest from staff, apart from the Diner staff who were great. The place is a mess really but has soo much potential. Lets face it, the park are only building this Intamin because it is practically second hand. Again...a cheap option. The zoo is actually a really nice area but the park is just a monstrosity. A little bit dissapointed really. This place needs some money pumped into it. I know Merlins cost cutting can be annoying but this place actually makes them look like a company that is second to Disney. Apart from that, it was a great weekend.
 
Ireally wanted to understand why the Zamperla Volare model was so disliked by the theme park community as i am not a man that generally worries too much about a bit of roughness. Hero has got to be the worst ride i have ever been on in my life and fully understand why this is so hated now. I am still suffering pains in my neck and upper back from that thing.
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I do have a morbid curiosity and would like a ride just to see how bad Hero could possibly be. My worst coaster experience to date was saw the ride about 2 years ago when the trim breaks on it were broken and I'm pretty sure the wheels were nearly depleted. I had neck pain for days and an instant headache
 
Doublethink said:
I do have a morbid curiosity and would like a ride just to see how bad Hero could possibly be. My worst coaster experience to date was saw the ride about 2 years ago when the trim breaks on it were broken and I'm pretty sure the wheels were nearly depleted. I had neck pain for days and an instant headache
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I don't generally find Saw too bad, but never experienced it without the trim breaks haha. I am a bit of a fan of Gerstlauers eventhough they can get a bit rough. However, Hero was next level. I've been on more comfortable Pinfari's. There are a combination of issues with Hero, bad track profiling causing a heavy train to try and swing around very tight bends in a clunky way. Also, there is too much movement in the 'restraints' mean you end up trying to hold yourself in position. I think thats where my bad neck and shoulders have come from. Honestly, never been on anything like it.
 
It's my worst coaster of all time and I've got nearly 500 creds. One ride and never again. I'm still sore now and it was a good few yrs ago now when I rode it.

Sometimes these small parks install these absolute monstrosities rather than just waiting and investing their cash more sensibly. Whoever thought that a Volare was a good idea needs a slap.
 
I remember it being bad, but not actually painful like Infusion at Blackpool.

To be fair it was 2013 when I was last at Flamingo Land
 
speedy said:
I remember it being bad, but not actually painful like Infusion at Blackpool.

To be fair it was 2013 when I was last at Flamingo Land
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Infusion on front row I find okay tbh. Not smooth obviously but not really rough either. Pretty average.

However as you go back on the train it gets worse and worse and right at the back it's like being punched by a heavy weight boxer.

Get there first thing in morning why everyone heads elsewhere and get a front row ride. It really isn't too bad.
 
Benjsh said:
Infusion on front row I find okay tbh. Not smooth obviously but not really rough either. Pretty average.

However as you go back on the train it gets worse and worse and right at the back it's like being punched by a heavy weight boxer.

Get there first thing in morning why everyone heads elsewhere and get a front row ride. It really isn't too bad.
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Infusion wasn't terrible when I did it however I expected bad and went near front to try and counter it. Saw on that bad day was 100x worse for me. Nash on the other hand made me consider visiting a spinal surgeon post ride....
 
Did Hero no handed first ride...for a continuing challenge...observed by my mates kid laughing his head off.
Ridden each new coaster no handed since nemesis/big one /Shockwave, back in the day.
I think it hurts less when you just let yourself slam round the cage on hero.
Won't be riding it again any time soon.
 
Flamingo Land has some serious identity issues. The management there really isn't sure what kind of park they're trying to build. The theming there is either minimal or messy, and it's generally very mismatched. Cohesion between individual areas and attractions is virtually non-existent, which makes visiting the park unpleasant and jarring.

If Flamingo Land was an out-and-out, straight-cut 'amusement park' this would be fine, but it's clear that they're trying to create more themed, immersive spaces - and the entrance price reflects this. The ridiculous thing is that the park does receive a decent, consistent level of investment - probably more than most of the smaller (but far superior) European parks. The management team just has a frustrating tendency to waste money on cheap, inefficient hardware without envisioning and adhering to an overall 'masterplan' for the park.
 
Harv said:
Flamingo Land has some serious identity issues. The management there really isn't sure what kind of park they're trying to build. The theming there is either minimal or messy, and it's generally very mismatched. Cohesion between individual areas and attractions is virtually non-existent, which makes visiting the park unpleasant and jarring.

If Flamingo Land was an out-and-out, straight-cut 'amusement park' this would be fine, but it's clear that they're trying to create more themed, immersive spaces - and the entrance price reflects this. The ridiculous thing is that the park does receive a decent, consistent level of investment - probably more than most of the smaller (but far superior) European parks. The management team just has a frustrating tendency to waste money on cheap, inefficient hardware without envisioning and adhering to an overall 'masterplan' for the park.
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This. It feels confused. As much as I would love to try the 'Colossus Mk 2', once again, it is going to look very odd plonked next to velocity unless they theme it. That area isn't as big in person as it seems on pictures. It's going to be a bit of a squash. In my honest opinion, if they want to go down the theme park route rather than an amusement park, they would be better sticking to an overall theme for the park, rather than scattered themes.
 
Well Flamingo Land win the award for the most boring way to announce a new coaster!
 
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