senna

Sorry if this seems like a stupid question. Are they going to keep both sides open or run them like they used to with a different side being used on different days?

I think it looks fantastic and if it sticks to the plans will look great. It is great that after years and years of theme parks in the UK going for "family coasters" we are finally getting one for us to look forward to This may be short but with 4 inversions etc it should pack a punch.

I wonder if there will be a group that tries to save the old Snow White ride like they did with Mr Toad.

Sorry I should have made myself clearer. Even though Ferrari have not invested in the park it is their brand that is being used, and I am sure if needed they would help out. There is a lot about this park in F1 papers and to Ferrari this park is a big deal when it come to advertising in that part of the world.

As an F1 fan I was always shocked at they built it where they did and not Italy, but this is where the money was. They whole project out there cost more than anyone thought it would, inclding the F1 track. The park will not be allowed to fail, Ferrari would simply not allow it. I have no idea what the visitor numbers are to the area, but due to the problems all round the world they are probably not as high as they thought they would be. Maybe things will pick up but they have to make the normal person be able to afford to go and at the moment this is not happening The park is built now anyway so it will just be the running costs that are needed so I think they will be ok.

When in Orlando a few weeks ago there were alot of blue height ballons around the I4 between Universal and Sea World, I thought they were maybe for the new park that is in planning but maybe there were for this? The ballons were at all different heights and I have seen the same type being used before for this type of thing. Good on them for expanding I hope it works out.

Maybe it was a building they store oil in or something? Its good news that it will reopen soon as they have been at capacity for the past few days and a shut down ride would I assume mean they would have to let less people in?

I just read that as well Robb it looks like it was not the ride on fire but a building behind the ride. I am sure that they just re painted the ride as well, it looked that way a few weeks back when I was there.

I have tbh I thought the parade at Universal was rubbish and went on far too long. You could hear the people walking in front of the floats and people shouting at them etc. Maybe it is because I did not really understand what it means to people, I do not know, but not many people in the park seemed to be that bothered with it.

I just got back from there and really enjoyed the lights, that part of the park I never bother with so this made it 100% better. I just wish it had not been so cold, the car was frozen when we got out. Great pictures, mine did not come out as well.

It is a shame that they have not given a date yet as I am going to Orlando from the 3rd of December for 2 weeks so if this was open I would probably do it. Just read about the camera rule though and that does put me off, I would want pictures of the animals close up etc and for my memory of the trip. $74 a person is not cheap either.

Only been there once but had a great day and the park was really nice. I hope Twist and Shout finds a new home it will be such a shame to see it left to rot

People should be happy, just think of the pictures some people will get from up there of the parks (with permission that is). Sucks living in the uk, we would not even be able to get a 150ft one in most of our parks They are fantastic rides to look at, and they do tend to scare a lot of people. I personally think its better to get rides like these than a stupid kiddy coaster that people would just moan about anyway. They dont seem to be able to win.

Great report and pictures. A lot of your views about the Disney Parks and rides were the same as mine so it was interesting reading it.

I have really enjoyed reading this topic. I followed it all on facebook during the tour and was hoping to meet up with everyone at Adventure Island but could not make it I am a bit shocked people treated the bonus park like it, but I have seen things happen like that on trips with other groups. We had an hour ert on the Ultimate and some people went on it once and as a result the 2nd train was half full, the same with rides at Flamingo Land. Not only does it show people are a bit rude it can also make a park think twice before giving the ert or going that extra mile. The 1st year of Saw the coaster was really rough and did beat me up, this year it has been so much better though but I have yet to see the body actually work Anyway as I said I really enjoyed reading all the reports and hearing different views. Really hope I can make a TPR trip soon as all I have heard is good things from people that have been on them.

It looks like Rollercoaster and Zipper Dipper are getting a re theme as well. Space Invaders was sold the other month to Brean I think it was, the building is meant to be turned into a resturant or something like that. Blackpool were meant to be getting the new Mack Twist n Splash ride, so not sure if it's going to be a Splash Battle or that. I think its great news for the park though, at last some good investment.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach have anounced that they will open Nickelodeon Land in 2011, noticed it reported on Coasterforce so thought I would share the information here. More information can be found on these links. http://www.nickelodeonland.com/ http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nickelodeon-enters-licensing-agreement-for-new-nick-branded-attraction-at-pleasure-beach-theme-park-in-blackpool-england-99299419.html http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news-video/Pleasure-Beach-unveil-10m-park.6441454.jp http://www.coasterforce.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=682592#682592 "Pleasure Beach, Blackpool, is delighted to announce the launch of Nickelodeon Land which will open at Britain's favourite tourist attraction in April 2011. Nickelodeon Land represents an investment of £10.3m. This collaboration between Pleasure Beach, Blackpool and Nickelodeon, the number one entertainment brand for kids, will see a 6 acre area of Pleasure Beach transformed into Nickelodeon Land, which will feature 14 rides, 9 are brand new and 5 are extensively re-themed existing rides. Nickelodeon Land also includes themed retail and catering outlets. New rides include SpongeBob's Splash Bash, which is an interactive ride where riders have the opportunity to turn the jets onto their friends and blast pesky jellyfish with jets of water for a splashing time. Avatar Airbender allows riders to join Aang on an amazing adventure, spinning and soaring through the air on a giant disk. The Rugrat's Lost River is a rollicking flume ride where you join the Rugrats on their quest to find the mythical Temple of Spoon. Amanda Thompson, Managing Director of Pleasure Beach, Blackpool, comments, "We are delighted to welcome Nickelodeon to Pleasure Beach. Both of our brands represent fantastic family fun and Nickelodeon Land will combine Pleasure Beach's reputation for amazing rides and attractions with Nickelodeon's favourite fun characters to produce a wonderful attraction, which will wow visitors to the park." "Pleasure Beach is a first-class amusement park and popular destination for families in the U.K." said Gerald Raines, Senior Director, Nickelodeon Theme Parks and Attractions. "This is an ideal location for Nickelodeon and a great opportunity to expand our global presence. We look forward to offering Pleasure Beach patrons experiences that are unique to Nickelodeon and based on fan favourites like SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer." Work on Nickelodeon Land will commence in the Autumn of 2010 and is scheduled to open in April 2011. There is a map as well. I think it is great for the park as it will inject new life into it, get more visitors for future investment. It should also mean Rollercoaster is open and not just sitting there

Ok I see what you mean, but Blackstone own Merlin who own this park that is what I meant. Merlin do not seem to stick to just one company so I think in parks like Sea World and Busch there will be more of a mix going forward. Some people were saying though because this new type of coaster is being built at this park they probably would not see it at a Busch part due to rights etc. What I was trying to say was all the parks such as Sea World, Busch, Alton, Thorpe and this park are actually all owned by the same group of people. I would fully expect to see this new type of coaster at Thorpe and a park in the USA within the next few years. I do not know if I am making myself clear or not lol, I am not the best at explaining myself

I am a bit confussed here, what do Busch have to do with this ride? The park is owed by Merlin and many are expecting the same concept to be installed at Thorpe as well for 2012.

I am really happy you guys enjoyed my local park, I just wish I had known you were going there as I would have walked down but by the time I asked Robb it was to late . What did you all think about Over the Hill? Hope you enjoy the rest of the trip.

Thanks for the report and video. It does look really good, but I have tbh not as good as I thought it would be with regards to the actual show and how it has been put together. There do seem to be rather large sections with not much going on, as has been said. Not all the clips seem to flow into the next one very well. Maybe these are things that will work on over time? I love Fantasmic and could watch that over and over, I think with this I would probably watch it once during a visit and that would be enough.

I am probably way off here so tell me to shut up if you want to. This coaster was taken out of New Orleans and I thought they were told not to remove any rides. From things I read online there was a group of people wanting to take over the park, so maybe there has been a block on this ride? As I said I could be way off on this.

Good trip report and pictures, I do miss the park but just in no rush to go back. I have happy memories of going their as a kid that I dont want wrecked under its current state. I went last year and I just fear for the place I just hope they can turn things around and add some good new attractions. There is not meant to be anything wrong with Rollercoaster at all, they simply do not run it to save costs which is stupid seeing they spent money on it a few years back to run different trains. Its the same for the Ark as well, there is nothing wrong with that they are just cost cutting. If the park is busy they will probably run Rollercoaster then to keep the queues down on the other rides, they were doing that last year as well. It will be interesting to see what you guys think of the park now when you visit later this year.

Great report, I really want to go on a Zipper but there are none in the UK

Good trip report and pictures. It is great to see more people coming to Southend for the park, its a good little park with some good rides and its nice that its a very short walk from my home I went down there this weekend to see Mega Mighty Mini as it has been moved and re painted, they have done a really good job with it. Not been on it yet since it's been moved. The park looked really busy on Monday which is great, every year for the past 3 years something new has been done. I must meet up with you guys in June.