This is a sensible little list I've come up with of attractions etc that I'd like to see at Pleasurewood.
I have posted this on other sites, so may have seen some of it before, but this one is different.
Firstly, a kind of major re-haul of the quiet end of the park:
- Intamin Gyro Swing (Maelstrom, Drayton) on the patch where the Hungry Bears pavillion used to be. They're fantastic rides and it would fill the long walk to the back of the park. (Not a travelling one.)
- Fabbri Rapids. They're the ones that travel with Mellors and the ones that Ligh****er are getting. I'd put them in the area where the Dinosaur walk through used to be, in the corner next to the Rattlesnake. They normally look nasty and tacky, but the one at West Midlands Safari Park is themed, and looks 100 tiems better, so I'd like a themed one. Travelling version, that looks incredibly tacky.
(The only picture I could find of the WMSP themed version)
- Remove the AWFUL Dodgems and put a nice new Ferris Wheel there, like Chessingtons or Light Water Valleys
And lastly (for that area) a new food outlet, a larger one with large, outdoor, covered, seating area. Like they used to have at Alton, outside where Hex is.
All them ideas are feasable, and I believe woud do wonders for that area of the park.
Also:
- Spinning Coaster. On the scale of Whirlwind (Camelot). To be placed where the Waveswinger currently is, oh and scrap that because it is awful. This isn't the Whirlind from Camelot, but it is exactly the same.
- Replace Fireball (Whizzy Dizzy (no need for it with Gyro Swing) and replace it with an S&S Space Shot (Pleasure Island). Planning shouldn't be an issue as the old "Eye on the Coast" observation Tower used to sit there, and they don't cost much either. Would like it to be a bit taller than PI's though, as that is bloody tiny!
- Replace Thunderstruck with a Mondial Topscan (Samurai, Thorpe Park), not a portable one!
- Spend money on sorting Engima out so it can run more than one train, oh and obviously somehow try and get the other trains back. Its a great little coaster and I'd like to see it being used properly.
- A nice large, traditional Waveswinger to be placed opposite Wipeout (behind Parrot building)
- And lastly, possibly a Euro-Fighter? On the scale of Spongebob, to sit where the old 3D Cinema used to be. Spongebob Square pants Rock Bottom Plunge!
Now please do start shooting me down, I haven't just randomly pulled some names out of a hat, I've thought long and hard about it, and I believe all them rides are perfectly feasable for Pleasurewood, and wouldn't just be great additions, some of them would be perfect additions, especially the one I mentioned first, down the quiet end of the park.
Your thoughts please!?
-- Edited by Martyn on Wednesday 18th of March 2009 05:09:20 PM
I think all of your ideas are plausable and everybit possible. Though I'm not sure how they would get on for Enigma's trains (seing as schwarzkopf is no longer manufacturing). Thought it might be possible to have custom one's made.
Agree that PWH needs a signature water ride and a flume style one would work. I thought that travelling one was a Reverchon model? It would suit nicely in that corner of the park, with a nice theme and queline that met near the chairlift entrance.
That spinning coaster looks like a Mecanno collector's dream! I agree they need a decent, family coast but not a travelling style one? Im sure it wouldn't cost too much to take it off it's base frame - either that, or 'cover it up' using suitable theming.
Pleasurewood has been in need of a drop tower return since the Fabbri one left. It would easily be attractive to the thrill market, and would stand out great in Whizzy Dizzy's spot.
Lastly, the signature ride for the park through a Gerstlauer works. It could have it's own area!
My points:
-Food needs to be sorted. More outlets, and cheaper! The prices are quite atrocious!
-More defined 'areas' of the park. There needs to be more themed areas, not just rides put here and there
-names reverting to their old ones, or ones that have meaning!
I really like all your ideas there Martyn. In terms of the Rapids - I think a portable model would go well at the park but I do like things to look permanent - so a well themed portable model would be the only way (unless they wanna build some permanent rapids, but I can't see a plausible route for that). I really like the idea of a Eurofighter on the scale of SB. My opinion of something that small would be great as a dark coaster inside a tent of sorts which would also be great for sound issues when it comes to planning permission.
Though I'm not sure how they would get on for Enigma's trains (seing as schwarzkopf is no longer manufacturing). Thought it might be possible to have custom one's made
You could find out if there are any other Schwartzkopf trains that would fit, other than that, they would have to be custom made I guess.
I agree they need a decent, family coaster but not a travelling style one? Im sure it wouldn't cost too much to take it off it's base frame - either that, or 'cover it up' using suitable theming
I'm sure you may be able to buy them models with permanent fitting? If not that are quite a few other companies that make decent, small, thrilling Spinners: Mack, Gerstlauer or even a custom MS?
Food needs to be sorted. More outlets, and cheaper! The prices are quite atrocious!
The prices may be high, but I feel you get good value for money. Ever since they re-furbed all the restraunts, the quality of the food has been at a very high standard.
Though it is odd how the 3 main restraunts are all very close together, yet the quiet end of the park, far away from any sort of food outlet, just has a counter selling chips!
More defined 'areas' of the park. There needs to be more themed areas, not just rides put here and there.
This is one thing I have always disagreed with, I think Pleasurewood is just too small to have themed areas. The park as it is, is just like a park, it has a natural look about it, and I like that.
Wait, are you one of the Coasterforce Martyns, you posted it there.
Yes, I'm Martyn B from CF.
I think a portable model would go well at the park but I do like things to look permanent - so a well themed portable model would be the only way
I agree with you 110% there buddy. That is why I mentioned having them themed like the Rapids at WMSP, they look quite neat, but I cant find a good picture anywhere!
I really like the idea of a Eurofighter on the scale of SB. My opinion of something that small would be great as a dark coaster inside a tent of sorts which would also be great for sound issues when it comes to planning permission.
That would possibly be the worst thing for a coaster like that. The main gimmick on Euro-Fighters is obviously the 'beyoned vertical drop', so having it indoors as a dark coaster will be hiding the gimmick from everyone, if you get what I mean.
I have a few more idea's I'm going to post, but not now, I'll do it tomorrow, when I have more time :D
That would possibly be the worst thing for a coaster like that. The main gimmick on Euro-Fighters is obviously the 'beyoned vertical drop', so having it indoors as a dark coaster will be hiding the gimmick from everyone, if you get what I mean.
I get what you're saying but imagine a Eurofighter in a pitch black tent (ie Blackhole) with maybe some flashy lighting effects and travelling slowly up that vertical lift hill not actually quite sure how high you are and knowing that once you get to the top you are going straight back down. I think it could be quite effective.
I agree though on the whole that as a coaster for the park a Eurofighter would be great! Also they are inexpensive which is a plus for a small park - and to have a major park like Thorpe Park having one would only boost its credibility and hopefully draw more punters.
I get what you're saying but imagine a Eurofighter in a pitch black tent (ie Blackhole) with maybe some flashy lighting effects and travelling slowly up that vertical lift hill not actually quite sure how high you are and knowing that once you get to the top you are going straight back down. I think it could be quite effective.
I too see what you mean, but I think only larger parks would do that, the smaller parks would benifit largely from the vertical drop being out in the open, as thats the gimmick that people are being drawn too, where as the larger type of park would most probably have plenty more gimmicks to draw peope in, if you get what I mean.
Now then, these other ideas I've thought of aren't so feasable, so chances are we probably wont ever see them happen, unlike all of my ideas above, which I could see happen, but here goes anyway.
Tales of the Coast
Well the gist of this is one is bascially changing this ride to relate with sea life, and call it "The Sea Live Adventure", or maybe "The Sea Life Adventure with Spongebob Square Pants" - he can be a little character that pops up every now and then. This would also be a kind of educational ride.
So the outdoors section would have like boards dotted about with interesting facts on them etc and pictrues about anything to do with the sea, and the creatures that live in it, with Spongbob characters dotted about, just to make it that tiny bit more appealing to children. And all the speakers would be there so you could here them talk about whatever you're looking at on them boards, if you get me? Which could also bring a slight comedy side to it as well.
Now the interesting bit is the indoors section, which would basically be a giant fish tank above the trough that the boat sails in, so it the whole indoors bit would be like this:
And obviously you'll see more of Spongebob etc as he tells about the certain fish that you are under as you travel under the different sections of the tank, but it will look like one big tank, again if you get what I mean.lol
I believe that it would be a fantastic attraction, which would be pretty unique as well. It would be done properly as well, no rip offs etc, so like Spongebob and Sea Life will be their official logo's and characters etc.
Castle Theatre
Basically, rip it all out, and have a laser/haunted house attraction, like Duel/Tomb Blaster.
But this would be "Ghostbusters", and the exterior of the castle would look exactly like the old Ghostbusters tower on Great Yarmouths sea front, any one remember that? I always thought that looked so cool when it was there, and even though I never actually went in there, I was gutted when I saw it being destroyed!
Unfortunetly I cant find a photo of it anywhere!grrr
And basically thats all there is to say about this one...
Now my last idea is still a bit sketchy, and one we would definetly never see:
Alpine Chairlift
Change this slow, relaxing ride into an interactive water ride.
Each chair would have 2 guns attatched so people riding could squirt water on to those below, but they could get their revenge as there would be guns stationed on the ground, along the course of the charlift, so that people on the ground could squirt those up above too.
That would be fantasitc fun, though only really worth on hot/mild days, and theres quite a few issues on thing like how the guns on the chairs would get the water etc. Suppose you could have a container of water above the chairs, that gets filled up when the chairs turn round at the either end of the circuit? Thats kind of possible, lol.
That again, would be great, but we'll see that happen!
The rides I mentioned at the top would do wonders for the park, and local people would re-visits alot more etc as it would be worthy or a re-visit, but these rides I've just mentioned I believe would bring in people from further away. I'm not talking Scotland or Wales, just a bit further out of East Anglia, as they have alot more uniqueness about them compared to the rides previously mentioned.
Like I've said, I could really see the rides in the original post happening at Pleasurewood, and I believe it would do the park wonders, but these few rides I've just mentioned wont happen, ever, but its nice to explain to people how I would do things if I was in charge.
Personalyl I would hate to see them get a Eurofighter there already being 3 in the UK, a basic model just down the road at Southend, I would much prefer to see Pleasurewood get some more flats such as a Huss Top Spin, Enterprise, Chaos, Magic Carpet and maybe a Top Scan, also, adding a new coaster; maybe a Spinning Coaster or you may hate me for this, but Pinfari coasters are cheap and might be good for Pleasurewood.
Personalyl I would hate to see them get a Eurofighter there already being 3 in the UK, a basic model just down the road at Southend, I would much prefer to see Pleasurewood get some more flats such as a Huss Top Spin, Enterprise, Chaos, Magic Carpet and maybe a Top Scan, also, adding a new coaster; maybe a Spinning Coaster or you may hate me for this, but Pinfari coasters are cheap and might be good for Pleasurewood.
I too would not like to see a Eurofighter. I believe the park needs something unique, at least to the UK, like a Mack coaster or a Zierer's tower launch like Wicked. I mean the ride doesn't have to big or expensive, just unique. Look at Paultons ride Cobra, its pulling in the punters because it is unique to the UK. I admire Paultons and how they are running the park. They are making good decisions, not spending large amounts of money. The edge is a good bit of business for them. It doesn't take up too much space and will add something a little more for the grown ups. This is what PWH should be doin right now. Thinking of adding a Huss Top Spin, Then maybe next year a reasonable sized coaster.
I just had a thought, Enigma's track is very similar to some Intamin (http://www.rcdb.com/ig4313.htm), Gerstlauer (http://www.rcdb.com/ig2614.htm?picture=2) and Premier (http://www.rcdb.com/ig3853.htm) track, not sure if any of them are the same gage.
-- Edited by Jools on Friday 20th of March 2009 09:44:37 PM
^Well they could just buy new trains/cars instead of getting a whole new coaster if Schwarzkopf have gone backrupt they could turn to these manufactuers.
Oh right I see! I wondered what you were getting at there. I would love to see that running at full capacity again. RCDB still states it at 1200 per hour - I Wish!!
You are right Martyn. In fact I think it has possibly been untouched for 20 years. I went on it last year just to spark up nostalgia and it was exactly how I remember it (apart from not actually fitting in the cars properly!) But it did look tired to be honest.
(apart from not actually fitting in the cars properly!)
LOL I have that problem too, but then so does everyone over the age of 9!
Its one of the rides I'm surprised that CdA haven't touched yet.
They have made some really puzzling moves in my opinio, like:
- Re-furbing the Fantasy Boat ride, when the Fairytale Fantasy ride needs it a hell of alot more than that did.
- According to Matt, the Woody Copter has been reloacted to opposite Wipeout, which goes to show they obviously feel that they need some more rides in that area, which is fine. Yet you have the isolated area of the park, which takes an eternity to get to, (especially as there is nothing to do on the way) and it has nothing to do when you get there. So why oh why haven't they done anything about that? That is definetly the biggest problem with Pleasurewood IMO.
-- Edited by Martyn on Friday 27th of March 2009 04:00:32 PM
Spinball is awful. Besides that it's WAY too loud and too big for a park like PWH...
Just because SEGA's contract is up doesn't mean the ride is going anywhere anyway. It will probably just revert back to Spinball Whizzer and the Sega sponsorship will be removed. Although the Towers development plan suggested a possible move of Spinball - it never said anything about its removal in the near future :)
