Tag Archives: roller coasters

Onesie World Record

There is something fascinating about the sight of a roller coaster full of people in costumes or their underwear. Don’t ask me why but it just looks brilliant and it is great publicity so it is no surprise that Theme Parks are happy to host world record attempts for lingerie or nudity and even arrange such events themselves. Now Drayton Manor has got in on the act by attempting to break the world record for the number of visitors wearing a onesie.

Cheap Day Out

Visitors were allowed into the park for just £5 rather than the usual £36 if they wore a onesie. So many people flocked to the park that the gates were closed early. It didn’t take long to surpass the required figure and when the guests in onesies were asked to congregate in the middle of the park to be counted there were 3152, easily breaking the previous record of 1184. The event was so popular that it caused tailbacks on nearby roads and a queue of 90 minutes to enter the park.

Another Record

A second world record followed as the crowd also managed the longest scream which reached 80 decibels and lasted for an amazing 8 minutes and 45 seconds. I am glad I missed that one as I can’t stand ear piercing screaming especially on rides!

Poor Park

I am sure the record attempt gained valuable publicity for the park and it certainly boosted their visitor numbers. Having visited Drayton manor I would say that they need all the help they can get because I wasn’t impressed by the place one bit!

Lingerie

The onesie event probably wasn’t as eye catching as the lingerie event hosted by Alton Towers when they teamed up with Ultima Bras. A group of ladies wearing nothing but their lingerie was filmed riding the various coasters to prove its supportive qualities and the episode must have been quite a sight. There have been similar stunts with men in their briefs showing off well-toned torsos.

Nudity

Things were taken one step further back in 2004 when Thorpe Park hosted an attempt to set the world record for the most naked riders on a roller coaster. 81 students stripped off to take a ride on Nemesis Inferno. The record was established at 28 which is the number of seats on a nemesis train.  This number was surpassed the same year at Alton towers when 32 naked guests rode Nemesis. This effort was then beaten in 2010 when 102 nude riders took on Green Scream at Southend’s Adventure Land.

What Next?

I am sure these efforts won’t prove to be the last. World records, lingerie and nudity are all guaranteed to get people rushing to the parks which then gain the sort of publicity that would cost a fortune under any other circumstances. Actually I quite like the idea of taking part and so the next time I see an invitation to attend a theme park in my onesie, nightwear or underwear I will answer the call. I think I might invest in some smarter lingerie for the day though!

Byline

Article by Sally Stacey

Wet Weather Blues

 

There is nothing that will ruin a day at a theme park as efficiently as rain. The weather is one thing that the parks simply can’t control and generally results in a miserable day for customers and staff alike.  Many of the issues are obvious but for those who have never worked at a park some of the attendant problems will not become apparent until they have paid their entrance fee. Continue reading

It’s All About Timing

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We all have visions of a fabulous day in a theme park with the sun shining and warm temperatures as we enjoy multiple rides on all the attractions on offer. The trouble is that sort of perfect day will rarely happen because during the summer months most parks will be very busy and we are going to spend most of our time queuing. The truth is that the enjoyment of your visit and the amount of rides you get is going to depend largely on when you visit and so to get the best bang for your buck off peak is the way to go. Continue reading

The Revenge of the Mummy

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I can still remember the hullaballoo that surrounded the construction of the Revenge of the Mummy rides at Universal Studios in both Orlando and Hollywood. The ride promised to be the ultimate thrill experience – a coaster in the dark with a launch, pyrotechnics and special effects. I was thinking Rock ‘N’ Roller coaster with sheets of fire and surprises. I was wrong. Continue reading

When Kids are a Problem

Working at a theme park you have to deal with many issues and incidents and small children feature high on the list of problems. I worked at Thorpe Park where there a few attractions for the youngsters which caused problems for the parents who wanted to ride the coasters. The park operated a parent swap system enabling parents to ride in turn without the second one having to queue but clearly many people wanted to ride together. Continue reading

Apocalypse

I have to admit that on the occasion of my last visit to Six Flags Magic Mountain I was so focused on riding Tatsu and X2 that I hadn’t given much thought to anything else. There had been several new rides constructed since my last visit but I hadn’t given them any thought so it came as a great surprise when Apocalypse turned out to be my favourite attraction at the park. Continue reading

Stealth

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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

Another Season Ends

November is here and in addition to signalling the imminent arrival of Christmas this is the month when the British Theme parks close for the season.  After the relative excitement of the Halloween period it is a time when enthusiasts must face months away from their favourite attractions. They can usually then cheer themselves up with the anticipation of new rides being built for the following season. Except that next year there don’t appear to be any! Continue reading