Wristbands, tickets and poor winning games (Adventure Island)

Member Name: andycharger

Product:	Adventure Island
Date:	12/02/02 (319 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheap, Lots of attractions

Disadvantages: Staff, Atmosphere, Lack of food/toilets

The Adventure Island at Southend Seafront is a typical beach front amusement park that is suffering from "Disneyland wannabe" disease.
Sure it is great fun for the family and offers many levels of rides for all ages but it is no Alton Towers.

Spread over a not so large expanse of land either side of the world famous pier, the park is sheltered away from the sea to its rear by high trees and screens. Th epark itself is actually below sea level so would no doubt flood if the waves ever got nasty!

Entrance to the park is free. You just have to navigate either the steep staircase from the street level or the never ending sloped footpath at one end of the park.

Access to both sides of the park can be made from either side thanks to a tunnel under the pier. This links some of the newer rides in the newer side of the park to the older, existing side.

Food is restricted to a few greasy snacks and candy floss type treats. You do have full access to other food and snacks at the entrance to the park and across the road. There is an eel bar,kebab shop and Traditional Fish and chip shop literally under the pier and on the main road. Other shops over here include a novelty goods shop and a fishing tackle shop.

Toilets and facilities leave a lot to be desired. There are none in the actual park. You need to leave the park by the long sloped ramp to one side where public toilets will provide some refuge. Dont stay here too long though. They are not the nicest place to be

Rides are various and quite modern. Aimed at Children mainly, there are a couple of more adventurous rides for adults. Nothing on the scale of Alton Towers though. There is a Log flume and roller coaster in the newer side of the park, along with a crazy golf course.
On the older side of the park there are many more smaller rides and attractions for the smaller children. The Crooked House seems to be an old favourite with the younger children. Yo
u can also hire go karts here.

Rides are "paid" for in tickets that are purchased at the ticket offices. Alternatively, a wristband can be bought for a bigger price and used as much as you want for the day. So there is not "One price Entry" as there is with many modern parks. Can work out cheaper if you only intend on staying a while.

Atmosphere is not always the best. I find the staff are all school children who could not be bothered to do any work and would rather by out with their mates than serving you on the rides and sidestalls. Language leaves a lot to be desired here too.

The Sidestalls all have such minute chances of winning, its not even worth taking part.

Overall, it is a fairly cheap experience but not the most pleasurable place to take your children, particularly if they are young.

Summary: