Halloween 2011 - The Hills have Eyes...

coolskin · Passionate about Pleasurewood

RE: Halloween 2011 - The Hills have Eyes...

Martyn · Passionate about Pleasurewood

Helter Skelter, Go Karts and Enigma are on for late opening because of the weather. They'll be open as soon as they are safe to ride.

I'm only about 20 miles from the Hills, and the weather has been lovely this morning, so I dont know what that all about....

Anyway, with regards to Thunderstruck being closed, I know there is a notice on the website, BUT, it woudn't do them any harm to have a little sign before you enter the park, not only stating that the ride is closed, but it could also say something like "to make way for an exciting new developement in 2012". With something like that present, I'm sure know one could find a reason to complain about it!

Oh, and they so need to cover Enigma's lift when the refurb takes place!

coolskin · Passionate about Pleasurewood

I am less than 5 minutes bike ride to PWH and there was no rain since I have been up at 5.30am...... Sounds like this has been a bad Halloween week in terms of ride "breakdowns". Laurence has been very quiet too lately, not responding to anything on here, well in this particular thread.

The Thunderstruck info on their website is now tucked away, this should be on the main page still.

PWHSocial · Exceptionally Expressive

Sorry I'm a little pre-occupied when the park is open as we all have to help on the booths to get people in quicker so I don't get as much chance to reply on here.

The rides dried out by about 11am so there wasn't too much of a problem with them and Fireball opened at about 10.30am as the part that was needed was on an early morning delivery.

I haven't had a chance to speak to the operations team about the rides that are lit on the Sunday but I will try to catch up with them as soon as I can.

The money we have ear marked for refurbishments is being used to try to prevent these types of ride closures for next season. I can assure you all though that signage is always put out the front of the park if there is a ride that is going to be closed for the entire day.

I'll be able to reply a lot more next week! :)

andyb · Exceptionally Expressive

Is it just the lift hill which prevents Enigma from operating in the wet, or are the brakes an issue too?

PWHSocial · Exceptionally Expressive

Just the lift hill.

Josh · Passionate about Pleasurewood

Thanks for that Laurence. Hopefully the week is going well, how is the Laser Labyrinth going down with guests?

Martyn · Passionate about Pleasurewood

As I mentioned previously, this major refurb for Enigma could easily include covering the lift in a mine shaft style ;)

Josh · Passionate about Pleasurewood

Absolutely Martyn, would look good and cut down time!

Martyn · Passionate about Pleasurewood

Laurence, are the Go-Karts being covered for next year then?

PWHSocial · Exceptionally Expressive

Yeah the laser labyrinth is going well. Not as many people using it as we thought but everyone is having a good experience in there. I'm don't know whats happening in regard to the covering of the lift hill or the go kart tracks though, sorry guys.

coolskin · Passionate about Pleasurewood

PWHSocial wrote:
Yeah the laser labyrinth is going well. Not as many people using it as we thought but everyone is having a good experience in there. I'm don't know whats happening in regard to the covering of the lift hill or the go kart tracks though, sorry guys.

It will be down to the entry fee I am sure.

Im looking foward to trying it out on Sunday

mrbrightside · Exceptionally Expressive

Is there a reason why it needs an entry fee anyway?

It can't cost that much more to run than other rides surely?

Martyn · Passionate about Pleasurewood

Its probably to keep queues to a minimum. Sounds bizzare, but it does happen at quite a lot of parks.

Imagine if it were free, and the park was heaving, at 10 mins per go, plus prep time, it would be horrendous! And there would be a hell of a lot more people complaining than there is now.

By all means charge for it, just not £3, maybe £1.

And as if there's a 1.4m height restriction!

coolskin · Passionate about Pleasurewood

Some woman moaning about the height thing on their FB page. It is to do with the weights of the guns it seems..............

andyb · Exceptionally Expressive

£3 is a lot of bucks for a family of 3, 4 or more, esp. given the amount paid to get in, food, drinks maybe a ride on the Go-Karts..... I agree £1 would be fair, and would encourge re-runs too.

Josh · Passionate about Pleasurewood

How much are the Go-karts? Maybe they could do a saving if you buy both?

mrbrightside · Exceptionally Expressive

Buy one get one free? Would be a great offer IMO and encourage people to try both?

Martyn · Passionate about Pleasurewood

They're £3 Josh, which is still good value when you consider how good they are (though I haven't been on them for many years now...)

Josh · Passionate about Pleasurewood

£3 is quite reasonable for the karts. It would make sense to do a both for a fiver deal or something like that.

Martyn · Passionate about Pleasurewood

I think 2 for £4 would be better. Seems like you're getting more of a bargain, and the Go-Karts were £2 not so long ago..

coolskin · Passionate about Pleasurewood

Fireball, Pirateship, Wipeout and Main Square will all be lit up until 5.15pm tomorrow ( sun 30th ) to think that the park use to be open until 7pm or later ( was it ? )on the last day for fireworks it is a shame that the rides wont be open after the fireworks like they do at Alton and Thorpe etc. I know the clocks change tonight yet it will be barely be dark before the lights are switched off again...

I am there from the afternoon into the fireworks and will be taking my camera !!

andyb · Exceptionally Expressive

I hope main sq is lit up this year. The only light source there last year was the gamestalls and they closed before everyone started the walk down to the lake. It was a tad amateurish to say the least.

coolskin · Passionate about Pleasurewood

andyb wrote:
I hope main sq is lit up this year. The only light source there last year was the gamestalls and they closed before everyone started the walk down to the lake. It was a tad amateurish to say the least.

That is the thing though Andy isnt it, it is not difficult to rig up a couple of lights........

Twitter states that we must all be in Main Square for 5.15pm......

andyb · Exceptionally Expressive

^Dead right. Also there was no light source at the entrance (where 2000-3000 people were squeezing through the security gates) until someone drove the van up and stuck the headlights on!?

There is a lot of interest on FB regarding Sunday, so lets hope the attendance at least equals last years.

coolskin · Passionate about Pleasurewood

Yes last years last day was steady with people..... And I remember the van with the lights on....how unprofessional was that.... And to think how well they use to do it in the 90's.......I still think they are missing a huge potential with the october half term, which I will discuss in detail in my trip report I will post tomorrow night......

Martyn · Passionate about Pleasurewood

Try and get some pics of Thunderstruck coolskin!

PATRICK · Enigmatic Expert

I hope today does well attendance wise. Can we have pictures please tomorrow? :)

coolskin · Passionate about Pleasurewood

UPDATE it is heaving here. Car park full and the circus was show was packed out. Shame it no longer holds the 800seats it use too..... Now in sealions..... I can see Thunderstruck still intack minus its arms and cars..... Again im told its because the floor was bad they started work before season end......

-- Edited by coolskin on Sunday 30th of October 2011 03:16:34 PM

andyb · Exceptionally Expressive

^ Yeah, went to tescos earlier so had a quick pop up to see how many cars were there, it was near enough full, and as we headed out we passed at least 10 more cars coming in. This was about 1330.