Burbs
TS Team
- Favourite Ride
- Iron Gwazi
Wasn't that in the ice arena?
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ℹ️ Heads up...
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AT86
TS Member
@GaryH - that was in the Big Top
So the equivalent for the Big Top located in the Farm / Storybook Land:
1992-1993: Captain Henry’s Gold: An Adventure on Ice
1994-2001: Peter Rabbit and Friends on Ice
2002-2003: Webmaster: an Adventure on Ice
2004: Circus of Illusion
2005: Circus of Illusion featuring ‘The Twins’
2005 (winter weekends): The Magic of Panto on Ice
There were also various Halloween Ice Shows, I remember the 2001 and 2003 versions quite well. The 2003 version was so popular it was the basis for the replacement of Webmaster and the Circus of Illusion in 2004 was very similar to the Halloween Ice Show.
The Big Top was completely replaced for the 2002 season - the previous version used up until 2001 was much larger but I believe it wasn’t in the best condition towards the end and the pillars often restricted the audience view.
AT86
TS Member
Ahh sorry, I forgot there was another venue back then! It was up by CBeebies land if I recall correctly around by where Nutty Squirrel is? Thanks @AT86 for the information, really useful
Yes it was pretty much the exact footprint of where Big Fun Show Time is today. Access was via the ‘tree trunk’ of Squirrel Nutty where the current CBeebies Photo Studio is now.
Ahh yes - wasnt it called the "Music Tent"?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/124482621@N02/shares/7DPe0C
https://www.flickr.com/photos/124482621@N02/shares/7DPe0C
AT86
TS Member
Yep the Festival Park Dome (which was opened as an open air stage in the late 80s and then was covered over with the Dome a few years later). The shows were mainly live music with lots of appearances from Henry Hound.
1988: Henry’s Celebration & Magic Show
1989: Henry’s Festival Spectacular
1990: Henry’s Time Machine
1991: Henry’s Mega Mix
1992: Henry’s Super Sounds
1993: Music Mania
1994-1998: Music Powerhouse & Children’s Fun Factory
In 1999 when UG Land opened the entertainment was shifted to the new area and the Dome was used as a bar/BBQ for a few seasons before it was torn down.
As a kid I loved all this stuff. There was an indoor theatre venue, covered outdoor music venue, Ice Show Venue, 3D cinema, daily parade and character meet and greets, makes today’s entertainment offering seem pretty depressing.
AT86
TS Member
These posts about past shows got me looking through some old literature from the park that has been sat in an old plastic bag for a long time. No idea if this is of interest but it did bring back some memories for me, this is mostly entertainment and hotel related.
I have more stuff, but I don't want to clog up the thread with them if it's not really of interest to others.
First up a leaflet promoting the new hotel for 2003 that was planed to be called "Calypso Springs" at the time and the waterpark was to be known as Splash Landings
From 2004 when hotel guests received park entry, water park entry, priority access to some rides, early ride time, priority seating at shows among other things
Again 2004, Alton Towers annual passes included one entry to European parks
2003 - when free fastrack still existed. Technically you could only have one fastrack at a time. Unless you knew where the button was at the back of the machine that would just print a time slot without you having to scan your park ticket that was
Anyone remember "Chocolate Towers" from 2006?
Special Events from 2005 including "Sound of Music" week and Scooby Doo on park for the summer
Apologies for the long post, if you want me to upload some more let me know, if not - no bother
I have more stuff, but I don't want to clog up the thread with them if it's not really of interest to others.
First up a leaflet promoting the new hotel for 2003 that was planed to be called "Calypso Springs" at the time and the waterpark was to be known as Splash Landings
From 2004 when hotel guests received park entry, water park entry, priority access to some rides, early ride time, priority seating at shows among other things
Again 2004, Alton Towers annual passes included one entry to European parks
2003 - when free fastrack still existed. Technically you could only have one fastrack at a time. Unless you knew where the button was at the back of the machine that would just print a time slot without you having to scan your park ticket that was
Anyone remember "Chocolate Towers" from 2006?
Special Events from 2005 including "Sound of Music" week and Scooby Doo on park for the summer
Apologies for the long post, if you want me to upload some more let me know, if not - no bother
Alsty
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Shambhala
Towards the end we were wise to that trick and disconnected the switch2003 - when free fastrack still existed. Technically you could only have one fastrack at a time. Unless you knew where the button was at the back of the machine that would just print a time slot without you having to scan your park ticket that was
lagolfer09
TS Member
Does anybody remember the Peter Rabbit on Ice show that used to run around the Mid 90's?
AT86
TS Member
Yep, the scale of the production is so far above anything that the park produce now it’s sad to see how far things have fallen. The venue, sets, outfits, bespoke music, number of cast members etc was impressive. There are some videos on YouTube of the shows.
That one show probably had more staff to run it than the entirety of the ents staff left in the whole resort now.
One downside to the Peter Rabbit show was it led to the killing off of a certain Hound. It was felt having their own mascot would detract from the Peter Rabbit characters that they wanted to push as part of the advertising. It was a certain Mr Varney who was head of marketing at the time I believe.
AT86
TS Member
I very vaguely remember it. It only lasted for the 2000 season I believe? Or maybe not even that long?
Poopoohead
TS Member
Alsty
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Shambhala
I think it lasted for about 3 months, maybe? It really was awful.
AT86
TS Member
A few more random pieces from my 'theme park carrier bag of history'
Entertainment schedules that they would hand out as you exited the monorail station at the park entrance, this one from 2002:
and 2003:
Top Trumps from 2003, these were given out to hotel guests as part of an 'activity pack':
Original Splash Landings Hotel brochure from 2003 with concept art. If you stayed in the hotel you would get access to Cariba Creek from midday on your arrival day to midday on departure.
The winter weekends would see the park open between 10.30am and 2.30pm on Saturday's during the closed season for hotel guests and annual pass holders, selected rides would open:
Entertainment schedules that they would hand out as you exited the monorail station at the park entrance, this one from 2002:
and 2003:
Top Trumps from 2003, these were given out to hotel guests as part of an 'activity pack':
Original Splash Landings Hotel brochure from 2003 with concept art. If you stayed in the hotel you would get access to Cariba Creek from midday on your arrival day to midday on departure.
The winter weekends would see the park open between 10.30am and 2.30pm on Saturday's during the closed season for hotel guests and annual pass holders, selected rides would open: