WildMouse

Here, hear. The way that the second half of the ride throws you about your seat and gives that feeling of being flung out at any given moment is what makes it so great (yeah, I love crazy laterals!). Certainly a wake up call after the mediocre first half where there train almost grinds to a halt before engaging with the second lift hill. It's as though the ride has suddenly taken a large dosage of steroids. Unfortunatly the excellent second section of The Ultimate is not enough to draw me back to Lightwater Valley anytime soon. There's just nothing else there that warrants a return visit. Shame really, as the park has bags of potential. Hopefully Flamingoland's bout of heavy investment will make LWV wake up and smell the bacon. Wishful thinking though me-thinks.

Irn Bru Revolution at Blackpool Pleasure Beach back in 2000.

After hearing many reports on how average and boring they were, I was pleasantly suprised (very much so infact) by the Vekoma woodies found at Walibi Belgium and Walibi World (Werewolf and Loup Garou). Both are yet more proof that Vekoma are best at making rides of the non-looping variety!

Drayton Manor is (in my opinion) an average theme park at best (mostly due to the strict planning restrictions). I agree with your thought's on G-Force. The novelty of the inverted lift hill wears off really quickly and I also found the bent cuban eight inversion rather boring. Plus the 'airtime hill' (no airtime when I rode it) caused severe stapling, leaving riders breathless when entering the station. Not sure if they have sorted this issue out now though. I actually preferred the ride station + music more than the ride itself. I heard rumours that one of the orignal plans included a dueling X-Car concept. Certainly would have had a lot more long term appeal than what we are left with. Hopefully this will be the only damp squib of the trip.

Fantastic news indeed. Doesn't take that long for me to get there from the UK. Will most definitely be making a return visit to this cool little park next year at some stage. Last time I went was in 2004, about a week before Booster Bike opened (we knew it would be give or take). But, as soon as management/marketing (fantastic bunch) caught whiff that enthusiast's were in the house, we were whisked along to the Booster Bike site where we were allowed to sit on the trains and take as many photo's as we liked. They didn't have to do this for us and it was certainly a nice suprise. Anyway, I have a feeling that this new ride will be far from mediocre Edit: And I hope that this isn't the last GCI we see in Europe (fingers crossed that Flamingo Land bite the bullet and build one of these).

Yet another fab update. Elissa, well done on accomplishing your Crazy Frog mission!

Balder gets my vote. Yes, I'm obsessed!

Fab update. Looks as though you all had a blast at Oakwood. It would be hard 'not' to though as its a great little theme park with an emphasis on fun over thrills. But the addition of Speed has really knocked the thrill factor up a peg or two. They just need that second woodie now.... Keep up with the crazy antics, and Elissa, good luck with your Crazy Frog mission.

Balder is my airtime dream machine!

Looks funky. I'll be riding this contraption pretty soon! Can't wait to get back to my favourite Belgian park once again.

Here, here Wes. It's easy to spend the dosh, but paying it back is not so. Especially when banks rake up the interest. I used to have a credit card. Now I only spend money on what I can afford. Much better that way.

Excellent BGE photos. That park has been on my must do list for a long, long time. I'll get out that way one day... PKD looks rather funky too.

Yes, a horror themed one complete with dinner table. It's the climax to the Trauma Towers walkthrough attraction. It's not as wild as the travelling version but it's still a lot of fun.

I last went to Blackgang Chine in about 1994. Those photo's brought the memories I have of this magical place flooding back. Especially the creepy but fun goblin heavy Rumpus Mansion. I remember the talking goblin at the entrance welcoming guests into the mansion and sending them to their doom, the maid scene with the mischievous little goblins causing havoc, and at the end was a scene where a beautiful woman transforms into the hideous river monster Jenny Greenteeth. The transformation was done using holographic effects. I remember the majority of scenes being button activated. Other highlights that I remember were the maze, dinosaurland with its huge climbable models, the then new 'Triassic Club' which had some fantasic animatronics of 'dining' dinosaurs, Fantasyland with the crooked house, which I remember being fairly creepy (the photo's back that theory up ). there was also a fantastic exibition on the costal erosion which had been and still is effecting the park. Blackgang Chine is a good example of a park that doesnt need to rely on rides to keep people entertained. It's all about the 'experiences' that the place has to offer. Thanks for posting those photos. Almost makes me want to make a return visit at some stage.

A few of my on-ride photos for your viewing pleasure. Vampire on-ride photo from 1997. Gotta love the specs! First ever ride on the Pepsi Max Big One back in 2000. I don't look too happy do I! Well, it was my first BIG coaster experience I suppose. Me (in Adidas) on the short but sweet Daemonen. And no, the kid in the row behind me isn't a Photoshop job!

Hands up unless the coaster is likely to cause brain damage!

I'm thinking that Florida would be best for those on a budget. World class parks/attractions in close proximity, good package deals off peak etc. Or how about a few days at Cedar Point. All depends on what your budget/timescale is really...

Same here. Fingers crossed everything will be A-OK. Fantastic photo report David. Brought back happy memories of my visit to both parks in 2004. Efteling really is a fantastic theme (understatement!) park. Looking forward to trying out the new Python trains. And also looking forward to getting back on the weird and wonderful Vogel Rok. Oh, and not forgeting the rather superb Dream Flight dark ride.

http://www.onride.de/viewtopic.php?t=23300&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=180&-1 (scroll down for photos) Talk about ride/theming interactivity!

Wow! The Voyage onride video is mindblowing stuff indeed. Can't get over insanely relentless pacing. Not suprisingly the RCCGB have been singing the Voyages praises, though it sounds as though some people found it a little too intense! Certainly my kind of ride then. Will hopefully be riding this next June (touch wood )

Speed Monster 'looks' fantastic. Can't wait to see how it rides when I visit the park next year at some stage. I'm loving those dinky trains

Only because it had the hippo with the 'wobbling boobies' And Robb, I don't like Air either. Bores me to death if I'm to be perfectly honest. I go to the Forbidden Valley for one reason and one reason only... In all her glory

Currently at home in my 'slob attire' (so comfy). Turquoise zip up fleece, black jogging bottoms from the 1990's and maroon slippers. Oh, and underwear of course!

Afro-Caribbean. Mum is from Jamaica, father from St Vincent.

Looks fantastic (will look even better when the theming's completed). Hopefully I'll make the 4 hour trek up to Flamingoland later in the year. The park has already come along in leaps and bounds since my first visit in 2004. It's turning into a 'true' theme park and is no longer a glorified fun fair.