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Oakwood Discussion

Coaster said:
Operations were the same as ever, though Speed did start the day on two cars before going down to one (as it was so quiet two weren't really needed). The issue with the operations is that they are fine for quiet days, but don't change when the park is busy; Megafobia only has one train built up, but it used to run two on busy days. Speed used to run three if I remember correctly, yet I have witnessed it running one with a full queue back in 2014.
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I suppose Oakwood rarely gets busy enough to warrant running more than one train/car on anything, though.

Also, I have to say that the Creepy Crawler theming looks like nice improvisation on Oakwood's part. Well done, guys!
 
Matt N said:
I suppose Oakwood rarely gets busy enough to warrant running more than one train/car on anything, though.

Also, I have to say that the Creepy Crawler theming looks like nice improvisation on Oakwood's part. Well done, guys!
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Making the best of a bad situation

Looks like a nice park, shame it's so awkward to get to!
 
I dont think I could ever bring myself to visit Oakwood again. When I last went many many years ago it was falling apart. Think it was the last year Bounce was open and it was having problems all day while I was on it. The park didnt feel safe and its not often I get to feel like that.
 
Glad you had a good time @Coaster - that ride count makes my body hurt just thinking about it.

I've had good times and a bad, certainly a park to visit on a quiet day.
 
I actually quite like Oakwood as a park. The place has a very unique charm to it compared to other parks I've visited and I love how the park is set in the woods. Megafobia is fantastic, and Speed is a very underrated ride, in my opinion! It's not my favourite park, but it's a lovely place to spend a day at.

However, my main gripe with Oakwood is its operations. When I visited Oakwood, they were selling a lot of Fastracks and running 1 train on Megafobia and Speed. I actually think Speed might have been running 2, come to think of it, which is good! However, they were operating a policy where they were filling one full train/car with Fastrackers, and then one full train/car with normal riders. So every other train was full of Fastrackers. In Oakwood's defence, I did visit for a school trip on a sweltering day in July 2016, so crowds might have affected it. I can't imagine that Oakwood ever gets busy enough to warrant running two trains, so that's probably me being petty, and this policy works for them normally.

So overall, I quite like Oakwood.
P.S. Sorry for being petty about Oakwood's operations.
 
My main gripe is it's location, it would be a shame to see it go but I'm surprised it has lasted as long as it has. I'd expect Speed would be relocated but Megafobia will die with the park. I didn't think it was great but the UK would sorely miss it.
 
@Martin The only reason Oakwood exists is because of where it is...

Offering the right product in the wrong place can work. See Holiday World and numerous others.
 
Went for the 1st time 31/7/18 and found it to be a very pleasant park. The longest que in the park was the entrance booths(2) about 30 mins to get in. Once in no major ques at all.

Positives
Megafobia great dispatch bloke very funny on the mic, nice to see a bit of personality
Speed good ride although loading area a bit weird behind the white line
Toboggan good fun

Negs
Lack of atmosphere (not busy)
Seagulls whilst trying to eat(mine)


What’s with all the water chutes lol? Great fun this time of year, not sure how much they would get used in colder times.


Got stuck in boat on drenched before exit ramp. Technician got us into station then released us via his battery pack at rear of train.
Ride closed thereafter approx 3:15pm. Only opened at 2pm

Good day, would I return soon? Maybe a bit to far(150 miles) until something new arrives
 
Wales247 just did a review of the park. At the end of the article, there is a pros and cons list. I am not making this up... (see link).

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Rick said:
Wales247 just did a review of the park. At the end of the article, there is a pros and cons list. I am not making this up... (see link).

ahG37CI.png
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Nice to see Oakwood getting some positive publicity; while the operations aren't the best, it's a really charming and underrated park in my opinion!
 
Rick said:
Wales247 just did a review of the park. At the end of the article, there is a pros and cons list. I am not making this up... (see link).

ahG37CI.png
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Review sponsored by Oakwood (probably). Totally contradicts the online reviews from other guests. Travel time from Cardiff is just under 2 hours so thats quite a distance (Alton is 3 hours). Ride choice depends on the day you visit and which ones are open, at which time, and for how long. Queue times, well, read the reviews from when the schools were there and its a whole different story! As for food choice, there are 2 outlets in the park, and both over priced, with a Mars bar in one of them costing a whopping £1.75
 
Thinking about visiting Oakwood this weekend and I've just been on the website. It says that Speed is closed. Anybody know why?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Refreshing to see information out there about what’s wrong and a daily diary of what’s happening.
We are going the 18th so hopefully it’s all sorted as planned
 
Fair play to them, they are setting a precedent for other UK parks to follow in terms of communicating ride closures, the reason for them etc. It's refreshing to see them take such an open approach rather than the usual "it's closed" or keeping it quiet so as to not harm gate figures.

They've done a good job here.
 
Interesting approach.

I agree known closures not being communicated are frustrating, but other than to satisfy certain people's curiosities by revealing the exact nature of the fault, it seems a little excessive and potentially problematic if there is an issue with the ride in the future.

And I bet their drinks are still warm.
 
On one hand i applaud Oakwood for honesty, and for informing us Coaster geeks why one of their big rides isn't it operation. On the other hand it could be business suicide to say it's probably going to be out of action for a week.
 
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