i went on the 29th, it was busy, JR had a big queue all day, they had some sort of entertainment thing on in the main st. square with a group of girls singing and dancing to a few songs. enigma was busy as usual, it's a good ride but it doesn't half vibrate, the car park was full on the good side.
-- Edited by hobohippie95 on Sunday 2nd of September 2012 06:14:31 PM
First off really good to see the park fairly busy... and one of the last 6pm closures too. We got loads done.
JR as stated before looks terrible. Cracking ride, would love to see it get a TTT type makeover. I know the ride time is short, but queue was non-exsistant all day. I wonder if the 1.4 limit really fits in with PWHs main audience? Those that were riding were very impressed however.
The Tide Traveller is a winner, the park 100% made the correct decision to refurb the ride. It seems slightly faster now, espically pre-lift. (That purple fence surrounding it is dog ugly however.)
Kids Zone was very busy but seemed to lack atmosphere... Some hidden speakers in the ground playing Bubbleworks type music and perhaps some random bubble machines or something could sort this. Kids think these are great. The Lighthouse is a nippy little ride, it gets VERY CLOSE to the base while bouncing. Keep your feet raised!! Needs a queue lane.
Pizza slice and Chips for less than £3 at the MM resturant... wonderful value.
Wipeout continues to play 'Dance Hits Vol. 459' or something. Surely some Beach Boys type tunes would fit in better?? Also the area to the side of Wipeout, where the playground was, is a shambles TBH.
Enigma is a mess. The queue lane is falling to pieces, weeds gallore, faded and peeling paint off the track, no atmosphere, only one tyre on the track between the two stations... the tain just about makes it and of course just one train! Even the ride is extremely rough now. Major vibrations through the train?? Its going to take a fair amount of cash to sort all that.
Main Street/Sq. What can I say? No shop, no rides, no atmosphere. Again all that dosh spent and they don't even play the maritime sounds anymore. More of 'Dance Hits 2012' I'm affraid. A lot of the arcade machines were broken too.
LL had zero takers on all the occassions we passed it! Fail!
Faded uniforms on the staff, but most were friendly and did their jobs to a robotic standed. (Goes out to the girl on Sky Hooks doing up remaining chains pre-ride only to have to let newcomers on to then undo the chains and then check everyone is in...And the same routine for the next ride lol) One ride took nearly 15 mins.
Hand written sign on the shop window and on the mini railway ("Queue lane shut") don't strike me as professional. Attention to detail! ("Sorry folks, but this queue lane is closed"... or something!)
Most of this is pretty negative but several of the things mentioned wouldn't be noticed by your 'average' guest.
Lack of atmosphere is really apparent, and this was a fairly busy day. There are too many 'dead' spots in the park. Main St./Sq is the worst as this could be such a vibrant, happening area. A few basic rides would help! I wonder if moving SITG to alongside Tales of the Coast (where Funky Flyers are now), the Dodgems and Balloons to Main Sq would help? Yes completely shut the bottom end of the park and concenrate everything East of Wipeout. Not an overnight thing I know, but something I'd seriously consider if I was owner!
A very bizarre feeling about the day really. Plently of negatives about the place, but loads of rides ridden. Just lacks a certain quality all over. Perhaps I have outgrown the place or been spoilt by visits to other parks... I don't know.
As for next year, I'd love to see a new ride, but then there is just so much that needs sorting. i.e. Enigma, JR, Fireball. I think I would rather the tidy-up took place... maybe...
I agree with all your points Andy. The uniforms are faded but I guess they'll be changing them with the rebranding next season. Main Street needs atmosphere. When I went on a July Saturday it was dead. The podium at the bottom could be used for character shows or a themed band or something. It could have a real atmosphere but as it stands it really lacks.
I hate pop music at theme parks - that screams tacky fairground to me. When I went to AT the atmosphere created by the ambient music was great. Timbers Falls sound bites are great with the sound of the saw mill and the Norfolk bloke. I wanna see this attention to detail across the park.
