TR: Blackpool Pleasure Beach

[Ben]

A trip report from the European Coaster Club's 8th White Knuckle Weekend can be found in this general direction:

 

http://ben.someaddress.net/parks/reports.php?subaction=showfull&id=1120604614&archive=&start_from=&ucat=2&

[ECZenith]

Well done TR. It's interesting how Blackpool has two "skyscraper" type rides right near each other.

 

Right now Blackpool is my must-see park. I'm heading to the UK for the first time next summer. Is Bling usually open? Did it just close that one day or does it usually have problems?

 

Thanks for the great TR.

[robbalvey]

Nice TR, although it might have been good to post at least some of it here or at least a couple of the best photos so it doesn't come off as spam.

 

Not that I mind people posting links to stuff on their site, but this seemed a bit spammy to me.

 

--Robb

[Ben]

Ah, sorry about that.

 

Having them on one site was an attempt to try and combat the different types of BBCode that different forums use. So going around posting the report over and over on phpBB, Invision, vBulletin etc... usually took ages because of different codes for images.

 

Although I think they try and make themselves more compatible with each other now. I haven't tried in a while. Either way yeah, I'll bear it in mind in future

 

Is Bling usually open? Did it just close that one day or does it usually have problems?

There are a lot of rumours about Bling at the moment. I have heard that it is down a lot, and one rumour (although lots of people are obviously sceptical) is that it will leave next year. On the day it was open two of the pods were out of action because one was having restraint problems and so another had to be taken out in order to balance the cross correctly.

 

Either way, if its closed you would be better off heading to Fantasy Island and trying out their Top Scan "The Beast". It's name is supposed to be very fitting.

[ECZenith]

Mondial Top Scans are my favourite flat rides. I've only been on two (Adventureland's Top Scan & Canada's Wonderland's Shockwave) That's why I want to try out the Star Shape. I wonder if High energy (that travels in Germany) has that many problems and a bad rep.

 

Feel free to send Bling to the US. It would look nice on Morey's Piers in Wildwood, NJ.

[tinhead]

It wouldn't surprise me if they did remove bling as there are lots of rumours going around that they are removing three rides, the Log flume, RevOlution and one other for new attractions. Also one of the arcades have got plans for a drop ride and a 520 looping coaster on top of it.

[ECZenith]

What do you mean by 520? Height?

 

Was this the park that was originally going to get that "swine" coaster... remember the concept art that showed a massive steel coaster out over the water? What ever happened to that?

[tinhead]

Sorry 520% loop it may look like the end of a nappy (diaper) pin. The plans for the Big One 2 have been shelved at the moment something to do with planning i think, as it has to cross the main beach road.

[Groteslurf]

I visited bpb for the first time 2 months ago and it has become one of my favourite european themeparks (together with Portaventura and europapark)

Hereunder some pictures I took during our visit at bpb.

 

(from the car we could spot the big one from quite a distance)

 

 

(the first drop is not as steep as the one of Expedition G-force and i expected the speed of the ride to be more faster, but what a location :shock: The seabreeze in yr face made this ride brilliant !)

 

 

(the steeple chase is by far the craziest coaster i ever did so far)

 

 

 

(Irn Bru revolution : short but nice airtime

 

(space invader and big dipper were closed during our visit)

 

(Rollercoaster dd 1924 and NO safety bars :shock: )

(Grand National : no pictures of that duelling woodie but like to mention that this has become one of my favourite woodies. It is not that fast but brilliant airtime)

 

(some darkrides)

 

 

 

(Ice Blast)

 

(Valhalla is my worldwide favourite boatride now. Very, very, VERY wet, brilliant effects, very long)

 

 

(Wild mouse : OMG ... old, no trim brakes, 90° turns at full speed, ... Since my visit to bpb my number 1 wild mouse ride) (btw, i love bpb giving their rides such simple yet effective names : Wild mouse, Rollercoaster, ...)

 

 

 

(double booster Spindoctor)

 

(Ghost train : brilliant old dark ride)

 

(Avalanche : short-but-heavy-and-with-airtime bobsled)

 

(Bling)