| Product: |
Blackpool Pleasure Beach |
| Date: |
22/03/07 (2592 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: entry is free just pay as you ride
Disadvantages: the weather can get you down
Blackpool pleasure beach has been an institution of fun for people of all ages for many years now and throughout this review I intend to give you not only an insight into what it has to offer today but also an insight into the history of this great theme park.
The year was 1896 and W.G Bean bought the 42 acre sight that would become Blackpool pleasure beach. He began to introduce rides to the giant area one by one these rides included the sir Hiram Maxim flying machines which believe it or not actually still stand on the same spot where they were erected all those years ago. The park was developing nicely until the first world war began and things came to a stand still in the park.
In 1921 work started once again and bigger and better machines started to arrive as it was now possible to import rides from the USA.
Leonard Thompson was to succeed his father in law in the early 1930`s to become the new Managing Director of the pleasure beach. The 30`s saw still more development of the park and the arrival of the parks first roller coaster, shortly followed by the Grand National roller coaster which is another ride that still stands proud at the park today. This twin tracked roller coaster gives riders the impression that they are racing the riders in the car on the other track and has been a great favourite at the park for many years. Having personally been on this ride many times I can vouch for the fact that it more than holds its own with modern day coasters and in fact because of its wooden structure actually betters many.
The Second World War started and once again things were put on the back burner at Blackpool pleasure beach; however the park did remain open all year round to allow soldiers and evacuees alike to replace the reality of war with the fantasy that came with the pleasure beach.
Once the war was over the pleasure beach took off once again with even more visitors than before passing through its gates. The 60`s saw development really take off this development included the building of the Britain's first monorail, this too is still a great favourite with families today. The giant log flume was also built through during this era, the log flume was another ride which lasted the test of time and only retired from service in September last year. A sad loss to the park felt by many, so much so there are actually videos on you tube marking its time there and documenting its removal and the arrival of the new roller coaster which will take its place. Again having been lucky enough to have ridden the log flume on many occasions both man and boy can tell you it was a wonderful ride and will be a loss to the park I am sure.
As the sixties rolled out and the seventies rolled in Geoffrey Thompson became Managing Director of the company, following the death of his father Leonard. During his time in charge came the arrival of the loop the loop roller coaster named the revolution (now the irn bru revolution due to advertising) and the Avalanche, a unique roller coaster that that doesn't travel on tracks but inside a custom built dome similar to that made for bob sleighing.
In the early 80`s there were some more portable rides coming to the park but still new large rides were being built these included the Tidal Wave, which was a giant swing boat and the construction of a giant fun house for kids. Both these rides have now left the park. Another however, the Galloping Horses still stands today. This ride is similar to the kiddie's favourite the hobby horses although it travels much faster. Young kids will need to ride with an adult.
As the 90`s approach the number of people going through the gates at Blackpool pleasure beach has reached unimaginable amounts and the park is continuing to grow adding more and more rides, each one bigger and faster than the ones before it. As Geoffrey Thompson had promised years earlier the profits from the pleasure beach were always put back into improving it rather than used to make the family rich. This constant investment saw the arrival of rides such as the Pepsi Max Big One, Europe's tallest, fastest rollercoaster, at that time. The record has since been broken but rumour has it a new record will be made at the pleasure beach by the arrival of an even taller and faster coaster. As I find out more I will update my review. In 1997 another first for the park in the shape of the 200 foot ice blast, a ride which consists of a square of seats which are basically blasted up a 200 foot pole then dropped back to the bottom. Not a personal favourite of mine but clearly loved by many! This ride was opened by Mrs L D Thompson MBE, and pop super group Boyzone. and yes she did ride it at the age of 94 she was still riding all the new attractions at her park, until she sadly passed at the grand old age of 101.
The new millennium brought with it the biggest single investment of the parks illustrious history as 15 million pounds were spent to bring a new enclosed water coaster named Valhalla to the park. having this awesome ride in the park sort of makes up for the loss of the log flume, as this is a giant indoors log flume with outstanding special effects, it takes you through the ages stone age , ice age, and so on and so forth you at one point drop backwards from a high height then travel through the coldest part of the ride the ice age section straight into another steep drop this time forwards through a real ring of fire which is put out as you arrive by the spray from the boat you are in. I enjoy this ride so much I would never visit Blackpool without riding it be it rain hail or shine it's a must for me!
2002 saw yet another first for the park as the Big Blue Hotel at the south end of the park opened its doors for the first time, this offered excellent accommodation at very reasonable prices.
2004 saw another investment of over ten million pounds change the face of the park yet further, although not so many drastic changes have taken place recently the arrival of the infusion, the roller coaster which now stands where the old log flume proudly stood for many years was a massive change this year.
These days I feel the park is being somewhat taken over by giant thrill rides which don't get me wrong I still enjoy even at the grand old age of 34, however my 5 year old son cant go on anything over a large part of the park, although I have to admit the kids bit in the park known as beaver creek is still pretty good even if it does seem to shrink a little year by year.
As I mentioned earlier there is a new roller coaster on the park now taking the place of the much loved log flume which I still can't believe has gone. The new coaster is similar to nemesis at Alton towers, the tracks are above you and you sit in cars with your legs dangling below you, I have included pictures below to explain better. over all the park is a suitable place for people of all ages to visit and seen as you can enter free and only pay if you choose to ride the rides then its great for a family day out with the kids unlike some parks such as Alton towers where it costs the adults around £ 30 each to enter with the kids even if they don't intend to go on anything.
Along with all the giant rides at the park comes the stalls, all the usual from knocking tins off shelves to more advanced ways of getting people to part with their money in the vain attempt to win one of the stall owner's prizes. These for me are best avoided as your chance to actually win anything is very small. The other thing the park is littered with is arcades which can be tempting when a sudden downpour comes on but you can bet you will spend more in them than you will in the rest of the park.
Unlike a lot of Blackpool these days the park is kept very clean, anytime I have visited I have always had to step aside a few times to let the sweeping machines past, also the people that operate the rides mostly tend to be cheery and helpful, although I did have a run in with the grumpiest fairground attendant ever during one visit but that aside the workers there are a friendly bunch.
So be it a day trip, or a weeks holiday your on be sure to visit the pleasure beach because perhaps excluding the tower its by far the best entertainment Blackpool has to offer, whether you want to ride the white knuckle rides, relax and let the kids have the fun or perhaps a bit of both the pleasure beach will meet your needs. Oh and be sure to make time in your day to sample the warm doughnuts and the delicious hot chocolate sold around the park!
When can you visit you may be thinking, well ok here's the parks opening times for you.
the park is open from march to November daily the times of opening tend to differ and you should really check online before travelling you can do this at www.pleasurebeachholidays.co.uk the parks opening times can also change through the day as they tend to shut some of the bigger rides during adverse weather conditions, however there are clock signs all over the park which show you when the park and indeed some certain rides will be closing so you always know where you stand.
Cost.
As I have mentioned earlier the entry to the park is free and you only pay to ride, you can do this by purchasing tickets from machines or ticket booths all around the park alternatively; you can buy a wristband for around £30 and ride free all day as much as you choose. There are different wrist bands for the kiddies to ride freely at beaver creek these tend to be around £17 but again check on line before setting off as some great offers can be had throughout the year. Booking your wristbands online can also sometimes make you a saving!
The main thrill rides are as follows
Avalanche The UK's only true bobsleigh ride. A unique rollercoaster guaranteed to thrill.
Grand National Europe's first twin-track racing coaster was constructed in 1935 and remains one of the most popular wooden rollercoaster's in the world
Irn bru revolution Europe's first 360 degree looping rollercoaster.
Pepsi max big one 235ft high and over one mile of twisting and turning at speeds of up to 87mph
The new infusion which is situated above water much like nemesis at Alton towers
And the awesome Valhalla the largest and fastest indoor water ride of its kind.
The favourites with the little ones tend to be as follows.
The Alice ride: this transports the kids gently along similar to a ghost train ride except the ghosts are replaced by all their favourite characters from Alice in wonderland. I rode this often as a child and again recently with my own son and it hasn't changed a bit.
Ellies caterpillar a caterpillar shaped train to thrill young visitors
Helicopters Children can take to the skies in a helicopter or aeroplane of their choice
Morgan's clown coaster a children's steel rollercoaster. Sit in the clown shaped train, pull down your lap bar and hold on
And the outstanding Noah's arc which now stands at the front of the park a rocking rolling funhouse for kids which still works using the original mechanism it was built with in 1921.
All in all there are over 50 full size rides and many more coin operated throughout the park as well as many other attractions such as the pasaje del terror an adventure for adults only in which you wander round a castle filled with actors dressed as popular characters from horror movies past and present, I have personally seen grown men flee from this through the doors provided for people who cant quite make it to the end! Also the new 4d cinema, experience water sprays, air blasts, vibrating seats and even leg ticklers! As you enjoy mini movies for all the family including creepy chiller Haunted House and ecological animal adventure PandaVision.
As if all this wasn't enough to tempt you to the park there's also a massive ice rink which as well as being open for skating also hosts some amazing shows such as hot ice, the ultimate in extreme entertainment, with laser lighting befitting a major concert and state of the art sound meeting the pure thrill, speed and grace of exciting live performance.
Hot ice this year celebrates its 70th anniversary and can be seen at the Arena, Pleasure Beach, Blackpool from Wednesday March 28th until Saturday November 3rd 2007.
Matinee Performances: 2.30pm
Evening Performances: 7.30pm
Please note: 2.30pm and 4.30pm performances every Sunday in April and May 2007.
Afternoon Times
Prices from £5.00 for Matinee performances
Evening Times
prices starting from £10.00 for evening performances.
I hope this review has been of use to you and if you had no intentions of visiting this park, you do now. I will be visiting the park again this year at some stage and cant wait to ride the new coaster and take in another dose of Blackpool's sea air even if it can be somewhat chilly at times
The impressive ride list:
Roller Coasters
Avalanche - A bobsled roller coaster
Big Dipper - A traditional wooden roller coaster
Grand National - A wooden racing roller coaster
Infusion - A Vekoma Suspended Looping Coaster and the first ride of its kind in the world to be completely over water.
Irn Bru Revolution - An Arrow Dynamics shuttle roller coaster
Morgan's Circus Clown Coaster
Pepsi Max Big One - An Arrow Dynamics hyper-coaster with a highest point 235 feet above sea level.
Rollercoaster - A traditional wooden roller coaster, notable for operating with minimal restraints
Space Invader 2 - An indoor roller coaster
Steeplechase - A three-tracked racing steel roller coaster.
Wild Mouse - A wooden Wild Mouse roller coaster
Zipper Dipper - A small wooden roller coas minecar themed indoor coaster.
Spinning/Tower rides
Bling
Ice Blast - A S&S Power Space Shot, originally known as PlayStation: The Ride.
Impossible (Previously 1001 Troubles and The Haunted Swing)
Trauma Towers' Baronial Dining Hall (after the Trauma Towers walk through attraction) ] Water Rides
Beaver Creek - (log flume)
River Caves - Dark ride
Swamp Buggies
Valhalla
General Attractions
Alice's Wonderland - Dark ride
4D cinema
Convoy Ride
Derby Racer - One of three in the world, the ride is similar to a carousel
Dodgems - Bumper cars
Ellie's Caterpillar
Flying Machines
Gallopers (carousel)
Go Karts
Ghost Train - The original Ghost Train was opened in 1930, before being replaced by the ride currently in use today.
Griffin's Magic Dragons
Helicopters
Impossible
Lunar Carousel
Magic Mountain - Dark ride
Mini Dodgems
Mini Scooters
Monorail
Motor Boat Ride
Noah's Ark - A walk through funhouse attraction, one of only 2 left in the world.
Pirate Ride
Pleasure Beach Express - A miniature railroad
Superbowl
Swamp Buggies
Tetley Teacup Ride
Thor's Turnpike
Trauma Towers - A walk through haunted funhouse attaction, hotel themed.
Veteran Carousel
(List provided by the Blackpool Wikipedia)
If you do decide to visit Blackpool pleasure beach then I hope it gives you as much enjoyment as it has given me over the years, in the mean time I hope you have enjoyed my review on it which has been a pleasure to write!
Thanks for reading!!
Summary: just the best place for a family day out!!
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