I braved the freezing cold and dull weather today and went to the park. I used the 2 for £30 deal in the Mercury. It's a shame I think actually, My original expectations were of a greatly improved park. But to be honest.. I wasn't that all impressed.
Wipeout
Wipeout was down at the beginning (Stuck halway up the track above the station), The maintenance team said it would be up and running by the end of the day. I was sitting on Fireball, and saw it go up to the top.. It was released and went up the first hoop. But it didn't have enough power! It rolled back down the hoop and back up various times eventually settling in the middle. Clearly something was very wrong. It wouldn't open all day now and the Maintenance Crew (Who I do have to say were doing all they could on a busy day!) had to crane each car off individually back to the station!
Enigma
Enigma continued it's colourful service record. It was working to some extent in the morning, However it got stuck on the 3rd set of (PAINFUL!) breaks. The ride attendant prodded it with a ladder and it made it's way to the exit. It was closed for about half an hour, Luckily we came back and were greeted by the headcrushing feeling. Of course it was now working fine! (It really really needs theming! Even a temporary repaint would be lovely).
Jolly Roger
The Jolly Roger was closed all day, I'm not quite sure why! There didn't seem to be sign up.. But I guess it may have been due to high winds? However the attendant happily hid in his little box all day.
PleasureWood Express & Mini Railway
The pleasure wood express appeared closed all day.. Infact I never even saw the train? The Mini Railway I believe I saw once... But when I checked at the station it was nowhere to be seen!
Fireball The fireball appears to have a longer ride time? It also seemed to go almost to full height! (First time in eternity?!).. Unless of course this was aided by the strong winds..
Chairlifts The chairlifts were pottering along as normal, Except for one blip.. Where it appeared to get stuck! I've never seen the maintenance crew run so fast. It was back up and running swiftly!
Tales Of The Coast The doors were still propped open, And none of the animatronics moved anymore. Last time I went some did on and off.. (I used to love it when the boat smashed through all the doors!)
But my biggest dissapointment, More than the main attractions not being open. Was infact the Tide Traveller. Yep, It looks miles better! However.. I feel being set into concrete it no longers gives the illusion of "flying". It's so much faster which is good! But the ride appears to last about a minute! It should be much longer! Also, It was closed for maintenance briefly.. and it didn't rise from the floor and tilt after? The Pirate Ship was also going nowhere near the height it used to.. Infact it seemed very very juddery on the way down! I think something needed tightening.
I was also dissapointed by the overall appearance of the park. The flags and new branding looked nice.. But there's a lot of mis-mashed fencing everywhere (Namely near Enigma where the rope has gone!) and I thought the park had been repainted... Not from what i'd seen. It's a real shame, I guess not everything can happen at once but I thought more had been done... I suppose part of it is due to the weather. Rides clearly don't like cold! The Rattlesnake was choca' block with sand buckets so it wouldn't get stuck on the ramp. (I spent most of my time on this being the only coaster open minus Enigma) Though one thing is good! At least the food is now edible! I believe they were fitting new speakers around the park? Maybe for music? Which would be good as I remember a few years ago you could hear The Beach pumping out which made it less drab.
Oh and in case you were wondering. The carousel is now where the Band Stand was (End of Main Street). I can also report that the teapot for Woody's Tea Party is now under the canopy... With the ride lol!
-- Edited by jskinner97 on Thursday 4th of April 2013 06:06:22 PM
Yes I did, They were very nice! Coming into the park looks nice.. I wouldn't say that about The Beach. Ok the music is repeated a lot and isn't to my taste (or others) but it was nice to have a local station being used.. (They've also become more local since the buy-out from Tindle Radio by Anglian Radio Ltd). Music just fills the background. And when there's not many people there... Being on a ride even with a friend to talk to can be rather tentative. Especially on something like the Kite Flyers which is practically silent.
-- Edited by jskinner97 on Thursday 4th of April 2013 06:20:55 PM
I will investigate fireball at the weekend as it was certainly not at full height on Sunday and has not been for a few seasons now.. the scan I put in of fireball last year was it shows how it should swing at full height but it simply does not anymore.....pirate ship at full height we know no longer happens and the juddery feel I got last time I rode it....
and having the beach blaring ... crikey..its a painful listen as its so tacky "on air" image drives me mad.
Thanks for the report and this is how Fireball SHOULD be but its way way off that.....
Instead it is now this far as I saw Sunday or maybe worse.....
( pictures pinched from fireball sub forum )
-- Edited by coolskin on Thursday 4th of April 2013 07:20:06 PM
Ok, Maybe Fireball wasn't at full height then.. Seemed higher than normal though.. Asked the ride operator and he said he can't make it higher, But goes higher with more people? I think with some grease and maintenance it would..
Martyn wrote:
The Hungry Bears Pavillino used to be on there (large white tent - food court), and it's sat empty ever since it was removed years ago. But you're right, that plot is crying out for a ride.
Everyone get's them return for £13 vouchers. They should be doing more for when there are rides down, it would make people leave with a bit of smile knowning they haven't had the complete pi$$ taken out of them.
GYPB's Waltzers would fit nicely ... Although it needs a paint!
-- Edited by jskinner97 on Thursday 4th of April 2013 07:28:17 PM
They both seriously need a re-paint and oil! They sounded awful and look it too! Snake in the grass is now SHAKE IN THE GRASS! There's still tiny bits of old orange landscaping from the previous tunnel left! And Enigma, Well....
Really, Surley you could paint and grease up a coaster in a weekend or "short week"? I have to admit.. I was also pretty worried looking up at the amount of corrosion and rust on Fireball! Especially being around the bolts that hold the arms on!
-- Edited by jskinner97 on Thursday 4th of April 2013 09:57:57 PM
I'm guessing the wind affected Wipeout - so at least it was good of them to try and see if would run ok. And it makes sense for them to close Jolly on windy days too, it's only sitting on the ground remember, so you dont want to go and make a structure like that top heavy in strong winds!
And I agree on the mish mash of fencing, it's all over the park, not just by Enigma, but all in all, the park is looking a lot better than it used to. There are still quite a few areas that need attention, but they cant do everything at once!
With 2 major rides closed, and other breaking down, I hope they were handing out decent return vouchers?
Yes, We got some "Come back for £13" (I think) Vouchers. Also got given a Free Entry ticket for my mum Old Employee Booklet! Out of interest.. Opposite the pond, To the back of Wipeout (Right of where I took the picture) what was there on a large concrete patch? It's been there as long as I can remember it.. I think it's crying out to be used!
The Hungry Bears Pavillino used to be on there (large white tent - food court), and it's sat empty ever since it was removed years ago. But you're right, that plot is crying out for a ride.
Everyone get's them return for £13 vouchers. They should be doing more for when there are rides down, it would make people leave with a bit of smile knowning they haven't had the complete pi$$ taken out of them.
Shame about the rides being down but it's a shame for guests. I don't think the park should have to compensate for weather related problems, after all it is beyond their control. Some of the park is still pretty mish mash but I believe it will come with time. Do they still have those horrible oil drum things in Enigma's station?
Yes, If you mean containers full of sand/water? They're dummy loads (Snake In Grass used them today due to low number of riders and cold weather).. My mum (Who worked there in the 90s) said if dummy loads wern't used in cold weather Snake In The Grass always got stuck in the tunnel!
Not sure what their purpose is on Enigma though, Unless these were cans of diesel instead? Used to stop the track from rusting?
The containers are dummy loads used for low number of riders, I have been on SITG when It has stalled, as for their puprole on Enigma, I have no idea, unless there used for ride testing at the beginning of the day prehaps?
The Pirate Ship was also going nowhere near the height it used to.. Infact it seemed very very juddery on the way down! I think something needed tightening. 
... Although it needs a paint!
