Fair pricing and fun for all (Adventure Island)

Member Name: taylor72

Product:	Adventure Island
Date:	30/09/08 (112 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Free with tesco vouchers, fantastic family day out

Disadvantages: None

An extremely cheap day out if you convert your tesco clubcard vouchers. Your vouchers can be redeemed against the price of the wristbands.

You can pay per ride on everything if you like but this works out as an expensive way of doing things.

I think their tiered pricing system is excellent. It starts with red ones for little ones under a meter tall and costs £10 or £8.50 if bought online

If you are between 1 and 1.2 meters you need a green one which is priced £15 or £12 online

For everyone above 1.2meters you get the blue band - this costs £22 or £17 online.

This means that blue band wearers are tall enough to go on all the rides while the other colours are restricted for safety reasons.

I think this is a much fairer system since it means parents aren't forking out the same amount on a 4 year old as a 10 year old for example.

Dont forget these can all be bought free with tesco clubcard vouchers!!

The park is easy to find as once in Southend-on-sea you just need to follow the signs to the sea front - it is well signposted. Southend itself is easy to get from from the M25 OFF JUNCTION 29 OR 30 - both exits get you there and you just follow the brown tourist signs to Adventure Island.

There is no parking directly in the park but there is loads of parking spaces almost next to it and I have never had a problem parking - yet! I am unsure of the exact cost but remember thinking that a days parking was extremely reasonable.

The park opens at 11.00 and closes anytime from about 6.00pm onwards depending on the time of year - peak season it may stay open as late as 10.00pm.

Lets start with a selection of the rides that everyone can go on and enjoy.

There is a classic ferris wheel with views across the sea - this was very welcoming when we went on an extremely hot day (yes i think we had 1 of those this year) and we could all cool down in the breeze.

The Lighthouse Slip - this is a classic helter skelter standing at 15m tall - grab the mat and off you go, be warned it is really fast and you have to get up and out the way before the next person comes crashing into you!

The American Whip
This is my 3 year old niece's favourite ride - I'm not that keen myself, you' re in cars going round a circuit but everytime you go round the bend it whips you round rather too fast in my opinion - tho the little ones were clammering to go on again and again and again - much to the parents dismay!

The Crooked House
It is exactly that - a house you go into which is all crooked - I dont think this is one to try if you have any alcohol in you at all, i could not navigate my way round it very well without the help of my 6 year old nephew and was stone cold sober but looked like a bit of a drunk upon exiting the house - a little embarrassing!

For blue wristband holders you can go on :-

Mighty mini mega
A great roller coaster for younger children - there's lots of twists and turns but no going upside down - just enough of a scare factor for their age.

Barn Stormer - another rollercoaster for younger ones but instead of lots of twists this one is all about speed - it's a fast one

Fireball - its a bit like the ferris wheel but you are more exposed and it is faster - hence the different banding

Sk8borda
Yes you are sitting in a giant skate board going from one end of the track to the other whilst simultaneously being spun round and round - another stomach churner

Drop and Smile
Does exactly what it says! Up you go nice and slowly, then wham it drops you and you smile (and possibly lose your tummy)

The Cow Jumped Over The Moon
Sit down and your then moved fairly gently in a circular direction - This is not a stomach churner tho it looks like it might be when you watch it in action

And the rides for blue wrist band holders include :-

dragons claw
Your strapped in and then spun up down left and right very quickly leaving you feeling like you now know what it must feel like to be in a mixer! - I loved it but did feel a little queasy when it ended to put it mildly!

Scorpian
Strapped in under the scorpion and spun round and round and round at a rate of knots - a definite one to avoid after lunch!

Rage
This is the roller coaster for adrenalin junkies - fast and furious you twist and turn and go upside down - loved it and was scared - perfect!

Green Scream - Not as much of a rush as with Rage but as it doesn't go upside down may suit some people more than rage - I'm thinking of my husband here!

Please remember these are only a selection - there are many more.

There are a few pay per go rides which I am unsure of the price on including Karting and Dodgems but I dont personally go on them as theres so many free rides it seems a waste of money.

Dotted around the park are places you can get drinks and ice creams and hot dogs etc. There are also four restaurant to choose from if prefered that serve pizzas,fish and chips etc for reasonable prices.


When we have finally finished we tend to go to one of the sea front restaurants for a meal before eating out. I will review these later but have not been dissapointed with the ones I have tried out so far.

Summary: Really good day out by the sea