CSLKennyNI

Today was the press day for Viking Voyage. The ride opens to the public tomorrow. At the centre of the attraction is a 60ft tall mountain and over 500 trees have been planted to recreate the Irish landscape from 1,000 years ago. It has 3 drops including one which is backwards. The ride uses 1.7million litres of water, 5,000 bundles of straw, 10,000 tonnes of concrete and 500 tonnes of steel. There are six stunning Viking replica ships throughout the ride, which will thrill 720 visitors per hour. Manufactured by Interlink. http://www.irishmirror.ie/whats-on/family-kids-news/flumeing-hell-tayto-parks-massive-10630193

The park opens at 9. Most rides open at 10. Typically Maus au Chocolat opens at 9.30. If the park is busy they will open other attractions early - especially Taron. If you are going on a quiet day then yeah there's no need to go at 9 unless you want to spend some time looking around the park before ride opening.

Phantasialand without a doubt. High quality rides and immersive theming unlike anywhere else.

The Big One is definitely the star attraction and its mostly the busiest ride except on very hot days, where Valhalla will be the busiest mainly due to its low capacity. Please let this not be the case! Wild Mouse is still open, no clue where you got this information from. https://www.blackpoolpleasurebeach.com/rides/wild-mouse/ The Wild Mouse was closed the first week of the season but after that it has been open all season.

Tayto Park Hotel Tayto Park have applied for planning permission for a 7 storey hotel with conference and leisure facilities. http://www.eplanning.ie/MeathCC/AppFileRefDetails/AA170579/0 Additionally in a recent interview the park manager revealed they are planning on installing a kiddie coaster for 2018.

Yes Taron and Raik have single rider queues. As does Chiapas! The Quick Pass can be used four times on any of the listed Quick Pass attractions eg. Black Mamba, Talocan, Maus au Chocolat, Colorado Adventure, River Quest, Chiapas and Winjas. Mid June on a week day the park should be dead. You mightn't even need a Quick Pass. Taron and Black Mamba do have storage for bags in the station. Enjoy your trip! Thanks! Even if the park will be dead I'll still get a quick pass just in case, especially since it's just €15. Edit: Do you mean four times per ride or just four times overall? Just four times overall.

Yes Taron and Raik have single rider queues. As does Chiapas! The Quick Pass can be used four times on any of the listed Quick Pass attractions eg. Black Mamba, Talocan, Maus au Chocolat, Colorado Adventure, River Quest, Chiapas and Winjas. Mid June on a week day the park should be dead. You mightn't even need a Quick Pass. Taron and Black Mamba do have storage for bags in the station. Enjoy your trip!

Great trip report. Very interesting to read about someone experiencing Phantasialand for the first time. Although I really do disagree with the remark that Taron needs an inversion. Inversions don't make a good coaster and the park already has an inverting coaster so another isn't necessary. And I those S-bends - you get thrown side to side and a nice quick view over the area. But I'd agree with your review of Colorado Adventure - its definitely better than Black Mamba. I always feel Colorado is underrated. But you missed out not getting a back row ride on it - the airitime is great! Surprised to see you ranked Temple of the Nighthawk so highly. I agree that is a nice coaster but I don't love it. And I'm not really going to miss it if the rumours that this is it's (and Hollywood Tour's) last season are true.

Last weekend was okay - only large queues were Taron at 45 mins. *Winjas never closed. The accident was in the off season. The coasters have operated this season. If you are sightseeing near by the city of Cologne is nice. The cathedral is extremely impressive.

Today is the 50th birthday of Phantasialand! [youtu_be] [/youtu_be] This interesting German video takes a look at the first ever park map in 1967.

^ Except not all the Secret Weapons were world's first. Nemesis wasn't. Air was the world's first B&M flyer but the GP don't care about that. All the marketing so far for SW8 simply says 'Something's Coming' and groundbreaking ride development - which it is the first major modern woodie in the UK for a long time. Nothing about world's firsts has been said so there's no point debating that.

Blackpool's new multi launch Mack coaster will be called Icon. Press release: http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/business/video-name-revealed-for-blackpool-pleasure-beach-s-new-16-25m-rollercoaster-1-8485493 Blackpool Pleasure Beach has revealed the name of its new £16.25 million rollercoaster set to open to thrill-seekers next year. The name of the ride – the UK’s first double launch rollercoaster – was revealed with a touch of Holywood glitz, with a movie-style trailer giving a taste of what it will be like to ride. The CGI film takes viewers onboard the ride as it powers through, over and around other rides including The Big One and Steeplechase. The footage also give the first hint of how the ride would be themed, with a red Japanese emblem embedded within the logo. Managing Director Amanda Thompson hinted at an Asian influence for the attraction last month when she hinted she wanted a garden of tranquility included in the final pans. The Icon brand includes a Japanese emblem But her forus right now is on the coaster’s raw power. The Asian influence She said: “Icon is going to be one of the most talked about, iconic rollercoasters of the future. The name speaks for itself as it will be one of the most iconic rides on the planet. “This is Blackpool Pleasure Beachs biggest investment to date and will have a real impact on the town and region as a whole.” Deputy Managing Director, Nick Thompson, who has spearheaded the engineering side of the project is exctited to finally have a name. He said: “After more than 43,000 hours of planning and with the first phase of construction work complete, we’re thrilled to unveil the name of this incredible new attraction today and to provide rollercoaster enthusiasts with a first-look at Icon.” Icon is being manufactured by Mack Rides in Waldkirch, Germany, the same firm which built the Avalanche rollercoaster for the park. In October work began on the foundations of the ride which will snake around and through the Pleasure Beach’s existing attractions. It will dive through the Big One, weave around Steeplechase and includes a ‘high five’ pass with the historic Big Dipper. The station for the ride is being built in the bed of what was the Tom Sawyer lake, a current Steelwork for the ride is expected to begin being installed once the current season has ended. So far more than 5500 tonnes of soil has been excavated and over 8,000 metres of pre-cast concrete piles and steel tubes have been driven up to 12 metres into the ground.

It is an Interlink Superflume. http://www.interlink-lg.com/products-5.htm

https://www.thesun.ie/news/846269/tayto-park-release-exciting-photos-of-new-viking-voyage-flume-ride-before-it-opens-to-public-this-summer/

It is mostly my name. haha. I'm called Christopher Kenny.

Yeah sure go ahead! I don't mind.

Viking Voyage - Interlink Super Flume - construction update Tayto Park opened for the 2017 season yesterday so it gave me the chance to see the construction of the new ride. I was extremely impressed by the flume site - I did not really expect it to have so much theming. The area comprises of a Viking Village next to a large fake mountain which the ride passes through a number of times. Viking Voyage will feature 3 drops - one of which is backwards, and the ride will open in June! Out next to the car park there was more thatch for roofs in the area. The frame work for one of the replica viking ships in the area. There are two already completed long ships in place around the ride. The entrance to the ride is in this Viking Village they are building right next to Cù Chulainn. Some of the detailed theming items around the village area. This corner still needs to be themed. Here the flume will go up a lifthill, go on a turntable and then go backwards down the drop that you can see in the middle of the image. The flume then goes backwards for a bit section where it goes back around into the building under the turntable (the entrance and exit points can be seen next to the drop) - where there is another turntable sending the boats forwards into the mountain where they then go up a lifthill for the final large drop. The mountain with the Viking helmet they have built is very impressive. The small covered roof on the left will be the entrance to the ride. On the right will most likely be the on-ride photo selling point. The trough returning to the station after the final drop. There is a points section so boats can be stored in another trough that runs parallel to the station. The final drop. The turn around to the station after the last drop. I love the attention to landscaping and theming here. They have placed real rocks, soil and planted trees around the area. The boats are on site. They comprise of 3 rows each with 2 seats. The first lifthill goes under the helmet up into the mountain. In the afternoon some work men hung this advertisement up.

hmmmmm I don't know I've always been very much against thinking this would be a rollercoaster, as are most of the local park fan forums - the park didn't build any rollercoasters for 10 years and then put two in! They would hardly put another in? I assume the source you refer to is Looopings (http://www.looopings.nl/weblog/7351/Nieuwe-attractie-Phantasialand-wordt-spectaculaire-flying-coaster.html) - I'm not sure if I trust them, not a fan, but then they did break the River Quest refurb news first while Klugheim was under construction. They could just be speculating that since we don't know what the Vekoma prototype Flying coaster thing being worked on at Vlodrop is that it could be for Phantasialand as that is also a mystery project. Many people, if not the majority of the PhantaFriends forum, don't think this will be a coaster because they've just added two! And that was after a 10 years with no coasters because it isn't a coaster park. Also early during these projects all sorts of rumours fly around - When they started Taron all the forums were sharing a rumour that it would have Skyrush trains and a drop track like Thirteen. But then it could be possible because - If is more dark ride than rollercoaster perhaps then I could see it. - Phantasialand worked a two ride deal with Intamin for Chiapas (2014) and then Taron (2016). Perhaps this was another deal with Vekoma for Raik (2016) and the new ride for 2018. - The park's teaser for Rookburgh mentions the area is in use both day and night, if that does refer to the dinner show Fantissima moving that means most likely Hollywood Tour and Temple of the Nighthawk are next to be demolished perhaps the park putting in a replacement indoor coaster to replace it. - The Rookburgh teaser said it would be unique in the world. - The Rookburgh concept art and the wall blocking the view from Wurmling Express both have Zeppelins on them - suggesting flight plays a role - Flying Coaster? Also in the concept art on one of the buildings it says 'Air rail' perhaps also a hint at a Flying Coaster.... Not sure what to think... Well only time will tell.

The park has renamed itself to Legendia. http://www.legendia.pl/ Definitely easier to say than Śląskie Wesołe Miasteczko.

New for any fans of Hollywood Tour! The ride's famous/infamous witch animatronic from the Wizard of Oz scene which looked horrible and a lot like a man is no more. Image source: Chuck/cfc's Trip Report - http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1728868#p1728868 In the off season the park replaced the head with a female one. The new figure is now not an animatronic but a static figure. Image source: PhantaFriends.de Shame to lose what was a highlight of the ride but also nice that the park made some effort to go back improve a part of an older ride. Although the fact it is a cheap dummy rather than a new animatronic can be seen as evidence that the ride may not be around much longer... After all the park seem to be at the moment seem to starting new projects every two years (Maus - 2010, Chiapas - 2012, Klugheim - 2014, Rookburgh - 2016). Of course they don't need to continue this pattern, they might add something which doesn't require demolishing an existing ride or a hotel or simply take a year off - it amazes me how they consistently are spending a lot of money on large projects (Klugheim cost in the region of 70 million euro and Rookburgh apparently will cost more!!!) However if the pattern continues that would mean this could be the last season for either Geister Rikscha, or Hollywood Tour + Temple of the Nighthawk. Temple of the Nighthawk apparently has a small cult following and one of the fans is so worried about the coaster's potential - or should I say imminent - removal he has started a petition to save it. 154 signatures so far... https://www.change.org/p/phantasialand-schmidt-l%C3%B6ffelhardt-gmbh-co-kg-phantasialand-f%C3%BCr-den-erhalt-von-temple-of-the-night-hawk-hollywood-tour-627eef26-5196-422e-a97d-96ac0cce6b85

So the park opened today for the summer season. There is a new stall in Klugheim called the Humpenbude and it sells cool beer from the keg and soft drinks. River Quest's tunnel and lifts have received new audio. And in the tunnel are some water effects in the form of fountains alongside the side of the trough. The new River Quest entrance is not yet in use as the internal work isn't finished yet. Also rumour has it that the sailing boat in the River Quest basin used to be Herr Loffelhardt's (the park's owner) private boat in Lake Konstanz in south Germany. Phantasialand's final video in their Mission Off-Season series is a look at the new River Quest. Some good shots and drone footage in the video. I'm looking forward to it seeing for myself in a few weeks!!! [fbvideonew] [/fbvideonew]

Rookburgh Announced The park has announced on Facebook a new steampunk themed world called Rookburgh. While the park haven't officially given a year yet considering they are now advertising it and groundwork has been well underway for months now it is most likely that this will be for 2018. The construction site fence has been covered with the concept art/teaser image below. "Here a worldwide unique project is being created for you! Discover a new dimension of the interplay between themed world, attraction and experience by day and night" No word yet on what attractions will be inside.

Europa Park have revealed that their Flying Theatre Attraction, known until now as Project V, will be called Voletarium. [youtu_be] [/youtu_be]

Heide Park have revealed that they haven't actually decided on the future for Colossus. Their latest statement on Colossus being closed for 2017 from the article linked below ends with "The complex testing and decision-making processes tend to end, and as soon as there is news, we will announce them". The author of the article goes on to criticise Merlin and the park for the lack of information given out and the fact they claim to haven't decided on the future of the ride - when it has already been shut since July. The fact they haven't actually decided to repair it yet it is worrying - they could still decide to demolish it or leave it SBNO.... http://www.freizeitpark-welt.de/freizeitparks/heide_park/heide_park_start.php?id=2&nid=2843

From Freizeitpark Park News NRW. New theming on River Quest's first drop....