Every theme park has a finite amount of space and so when a new ride is planned the development will often involve the demolition of an old attraction. Whilst some are well past their sell by date by the time they are pulled down, others are victims of a premature demise. There are some rides whose passing I have seriously mourned and the situation is particularly provoking when the replacement ride simply doesn’t live up to expectations. Continue reading
Tag Archives: rides
Stealth
I have to admit to a fair amount of bias regarding this ride as I worked on it for three years and it was certainly my favourite place to be every day. Stealth was built in 2006 and remains the most popular ride at Thorpe Park despite the arrival of Saw the Ride and the Swarm. The 205ft structure is visible from miles away and I still look up whenever I pass it. Continue reading
A New Kind of Hitler
When working at a theme park health and safety concerns are paramount and one must always be acutely aware of potential danger. The parks tend to employ a lot of young people who can become rather distracted and wrapped up in the fun of it all. Those in a supervisory or management position must try to keep things running smoothly and safely. Various managerial techniques are employed but my own preference is for using a pterodactyl! Continue reading
Cloudy with a Chance of Mobile Phones and Metal Bolts
I worked at a theme park for several seasons and dealt with many terrified quests. Whilst these people find the prospect of taking on the roller coaster terrifying my experience has taught me that the most dangerous place to be in a theme park is underneath the rides not on them. A person falling out of a ride is such a rare occurrence that it isn’t worth worrying about but flying debris is another matter! Continue reading
Silver Star
This was the coaster that inspired my first visit to Europa Park and I am very glad that it did because I loved the ride and enjoyed the park so much that I have returned many times since. I recall the first day I arrived when I was so keen to get to the main attraction that I sprinted past everything else including the lovely band playing Spanish Guitars at the entrance. I made the first train of the day and I think I was probably on the last one too! New rides have been installed since my first visit but somehow I can never get enough of Silver Star! Continue reading
Desperado
I will never forget my one and only ride on Desperado if only because I had to work so hard to get it. This steel hypercoaster is constructed around Buffalo Bill’s hotel in Primm, Nevada which is not somewhere I ever happen to be passing! The coaster is, however, just a short drive south of Las Vegas and so shortly after it was opened I made a pilgrimage to experience what was the world’s tallest roller coaster at the time. Unfortunately Desperado was closed and I had a wasted journey. Continue reading
Speed
If you have experienced Saw the Ride at Thorpe Park then you will know pretty much what to expect with this one. Speed is another Gerstlauer Euro-fighter but without the elaborate theming and special effects that you get with Saw. Despite the lack of embellishment I actually prefer this one as the layout is better and the ride somehow seems more fun. Continue reading
Roller Coasters Inspire Travel
You might think that it is only serious coaster geeks that would travel long distances to experience a ride but that is not always the case. The journey can lead people to visiting destinations that they otherwise would not have considered and that is often a very good thing. Travelling to theme parks does not have to be about the park alone and can inspire a love for the entire region in which the park is located. Continue reading
Ride Availability
There are many factors which affect the success of any day at a theme park and one of them is certainly the availability of the rides. Few things are worse than finding that your favourite attraction is closed or having your valuable time wasted by standing in a queue line waiting for a ride to be fixed after a breakdown. It is always best to have as much information as possible at your disposal before travelling and there are some tactics you can adopt to maximise your chances of bagging a ride on your favourites. Continue reading
Painful and Unpleasant Rides
Theme park rides are supposed to be fun but some have a tendency to inflict pain and discomfort whilst they are delivering the thrills! Rides can inflict injury in all manner of ways and there are some attractions that I now avoid at all costs in order to prevent a hospital trip during my visit. Here are some of the more unfortunate machines I have experienced which you should take on advisedly. Continue reading