Videos from the Archives

Bubbles · Passionate about Pleasurewood

RE: Videos from the Archives

Matt · pleasurewoodplace.com

Excellent stuff, this is very much the Pleasurewood Hills I remember as a kid. When you think about it, actual rides were very thin on the ground and yet you never felt short-changed by what was on offer.

Is the entire video from a single visit? I may be wrong, but I think this would be 1992. When the camera pans around in the Land That Time Forgot, you can see the top of the Log Flume, I think. Also, the castle theatre has the Woody Bear signs on it, rather than the Haunted Castle signs. These changes happened for the start of the 1992 season, I believe.

Josh · Passionate about Pleasurewood

Good spot Matt, I think you're right. Luckily I put 'circa' on the title ;). It 'a all from the same visit I believe. It looked liked one of those really great memorable days weather wise with a buzzing atmosphere. That wave swinger was such a good looking majestic ride - it's a shame that this went. I suppose most parks have a wave swinger now but due to the height and size of the ride it just packs more of a punch visually and experience wise than the small non-wave kiddy swinger.

You're right about not feeling short changed back then. Maybe we've come to expect more from our theme parks in this country but filler attractions were certainly the order of the day back then, stuff like the circus, Cine 180 and of course the huge play area that was Fort Fun - that whole area kept kids entertained for hours and the drop slide was great for bigger kids. I remember lots of time spent around there. A staple for a good theme park replaced by something that doesn't have the same appeal and atmosphere. I honestly don't think many people would miss the Go-Karts if they got rid of them and re did Fort Fun - surely Go Karts could have been built in numerous locations on park!

-- Edited by Josh on Saturday 14th of December 2013 04:00:55 AM

Bubbles · Passionate about Pleasurewood

I think a bit of rose tinted specs are at play, do kids ever feel short changed ? I dunno what ticket prices were then but I guess they reflected what was in the park. As an adult I don't think I would enjoy a day at PWH back then, to be honest. not like I'm gonna play on the space net and fort fun as a 30 year old.. lol however much I want to. . I think people are getting far more of their money theses days, at least the older ones are.

coolskin · Passionate about Pleasurewood

use to be around 7-9 quid entry I think....I know return vouchers were sometimes a fiver...forget now

Bubbles · Passionate about Pleasurewood

Yeah that's not a bad price for what was their, but you wouldn't want to pay £19 for all that.

MattyH · Passionate about Pleasurewood

I remember £13 entry and £10 return vouchers...

Josh · Passionate about Pleasurewood

I agree with you Bubbles, there is always a nostalgia clouded perspective but that being said my parents have always said the atmosphere was excellent, street entertainers were in abundance and that is a feeling that the park lost towards the turn of the century. Before this year my patents last visited in 1999 and then they could see how much the park had changed from the glory days, I remember them being very disappointed in the car ride home. So I believe it's more than just seeing through Rose tinted specs.

On the subject of fort fun, the great thing about it was the indoor elements as well as the out door so where it was was ideal for that. I think something like that would be a welcome return. When I visited Crealy Theme Park in Devon last year they had loads of really high quality outdoor play areas. The kind where kids (and adults!) can climb up across bridges, through holes, down slides. They also had 2 very large indoor play areas with high quality play equipment. PWH only has the two (?) small outdoor playgrounds now and that certainly is an area to improve upon.

Clarence · Serious Squawker

I remember getting your ticket stamped at the little hexagonal office where the carousel was at the entrance and returning for £5! 1995-1997 perhaps. Those where the days!

Bubbles · Passionate about Pleasurewood

But I wonder of people want to pay the current price for an over sized playground?

Josh · Passionate about Pleasurewood

If rather have a playground than the go karts, I think the majority of families would. Anyhow, we are getting mousey jones back now so...