Playland (PNE) Vancouver Discussion Thread

[Nrthwnd]

^ Hah! Half right.

 

 

Actually.....

[Nrthwnd]

...I have another theory.

[Nrthwnd]

Went to the park this morning, and found that the red Coaster train had stopped "almost" at the bottom of the lift hill!

The ride ops were nearby helping those who were in the train. They told me it had to do with a new belt being installed,

and tightening having to be done on it, as they went along. But they thought it had all been worked out, until the park

opened. And when I left the park about an hour later, the train still hadn't moved. And most of the crowd in the train

stayed put. Talk about dedication! In direct (HOT) sunlight, too!

And as I left - over forty minutes later - red train still there. With the gp intact. (o;

The view's still good from the Wheel. Add to the Coaster and AtmosFEAR probs, Beach Party, Hells Gate

AND BreakDance were all down for maintenance. This was NOT the day to be visiting the park, today.

Then - other end of the park - AtmosFEAR stops descending! It just sat like this for well over ten minutes.

The ride ops smiling at their...situation.

Where the tightening and fixing was going on. I did not envy those guys, working on it.

What I saw, when I entered the park.

[chickenbowl]

Went to the park this morning, and found that the red Coaster train had stopped "almost" at the bottom of the lift hill!

The ride ops were nearby helping those who were in the train. They told me it had to do with a new belt being installed,

and tightening having to be done on it, as they went along. But they thought it had all been worked out, until the park

opened. And when I left the park about an hour later, the train still hadn't moved. And most of the crowd in the train

stayed put. Talk about dedication! In direct (HOT) sunlight, too!

 

NO! I'm going tomorrow for the first time. I'm really really hoping they will have Coaster running by then!

[Nrthwnd]

^ I hope so, too. I'm going back tomorrow (Sunday),

so am thinking/hoping the same thing as you.

But I am pretty sure they got it all going, yesterday.

 

So, enjoy your day today, at Playland!

 

(It's clear and sunny today with HOT, California-like temps.)

"Banana?" More minions from Playland's capsule machine.

[chickenbowl]

^ I hope so, too. I'm going back tomorrow (Sunday),

so am thinking/hoping the same thing as you.

But I am pretty sure they got it all going, yesterday.

 

So, enjoy your day today, at Playland!

 

(It's clear and sunny today with HOT, California-like temps.)

 

It was running today!! And my God was it hauling?! Holy crap, how can this coaster be legally running with those trains? The airtime is insane! I rode three times in the back row and a few more in other seats. This coaster easily sits in my top 4 among Pheonix and Boulder Dash. The standing airtime on this is so good!!

[Nrthwnd]

^ Great! Good to hear that! Of all the woodies I have been on around the world,

this will always been one of my absolute favourites. Top 5 easy.

So, how was the rest of the park? AtmosFEAR good? BEAST staying awesome?

 

If I ride solo, which they allow before the PNE, I ride it like a buckin' bronco, lol!

[Gnome]

^ I hope so, too. I'm going back tomorrow (Sunday),

so am thinking/hoping the same thing as you.

But I am pretty sure they got it all going, yesterday.

 

So, enjoy your day today, at Playland!

 

(It's clear and sunny today with HOT, California-like temps.)

 

It was running today!! And my God was it hauling?! Holy crap, how can this coaster be legally running with those trains? The airtime is insane! I rode three times in the back row and a few more in other seats. This coaster easily sits in my top 4 among Pheonix and Boulder Dash. The standing airtime on this is so good!!

 

I hope it keeps up! I haven't nailed down a date, but I plan on visiting around late July/early August.

[Nrthwnd]

^ Should be awesome. I have never had an "okay" ride on Coaster. In all my years of riding it.

Note that the actual beginning of August (1-3) is a holiday weekend for us up here. Could be crowded, especially

on the holiday Monday. And it's Pride weekend, so the city will be especially festive.

Old photo. Same thrills. (o:

[Nrthwnd]

I don't know if it's the heat wave we're now having in the city.

Or maybe it's just the fates and such.

 

But - after I entered the park today, there was another coaster stall!

This time, it was CORKSCREW at the top of it's lift hill, not moving.

 

Thankfully, it didn't take as long as COASTER took on Friday, getting moving

again (Coaster didn't get running until 2pm that day). But, after the train

completed it's circuit (after a few minutes wait), they closed the ride

for "Maintenance Work." So much for that.

Round and round...

What's this???

Stalled at the top. Ride op up there as well.

My Ghoul Shot, reaching for a tasty coaster snack.

Hells Gate is still closed down, most days I've been to the park.

The Beast swinging one way...

...Then the other.

[viking86]

Coaster looks like such an innocent ride... incredible how it can provide such a crazy experience! (haven't been on it myself, but I trust your reviews )

 

My Ghoul Shot, reaching for a tasty coaster snack.

 

Haha that is an awesome picture!

[Angle O. Descent]

I'm so jealous of your weather out there. Pride was cold and wet all weekend in T.O.

[Nrthwnd]

^ Well, you never know. Our Pride isn't until the first weekend in August,

(same as Montreal's) so there's still a chance there could be raining, heh.

[LuminousAphid]

Hey Northwesterners of the U.S., I think we should plan a run to Playland sometime this summer. The hard thing is coming up with a time that would accomodate everyone who wants to come.

 

I'll just throw this out there- Who wants to make a run for the border for September 14th - 16th? I might be able to get a steal on up to two hotel rooms if anyone needs them. I also need to get my WA EDL so I can get back into the U.S.!

 

Dates not firm at all, but who has any interest in this? I want to get some rides in on God, but not by myself...

[Nrthwnd]

^ Wish I could be part of it, but I will be in Amsterdam by that time.

 

And just to let you know - those dates would be out, because Playland only

opens weekends, after Labour Day (Sept.07) and the annual PNE (opens Aug.22).

 

So there's only three September weekends Playland is open: 12/13, 19/20 and 26/27.

 

Then they close, and get ready for Fright Nights at Playland.

 

Unless.... you meant August 14-16? Which is the last weekend

for Playland, before the PNE opens. And it's open the weekdays before the PNE, also.

[LuminousAphid]

hours and things

Oh thanks, I should have probably checked that first... I guess I won't really be able to make it this year then, unless maybe for halloween time. What do they generally do for that, the usual "haunted walk-through" things and then rides?

[Nrthwnd]

^ Yes, there would be several haunt walk-throughs, and a good number of the flats and

coasters open, as well. Unfortunately, Fright Nights is where you have to either buy the

ticket for the actual day, if you are buying online, or the day you go to it, at a ticket

booth. No rain check. There's more information here about it, at Playland(PNE)'s site...

 

http://www.pne.bc.ca

 

And as well, just got this in an email...

Unofficial GayDay @ Playland

Sunday July 26 from Noon to 7pm

Vancouver Pride Society has decided not to have their annual GayDay @ Playland this year. This event is a favourite pride-time event for many, so we are going to gather up our usual friends/groups and go play on the rides, wear our red outfits and have fun anyway!!

 

PLEASE INVITE EVERYONE YOU KNOW HAS ATTENDED IN THE PAST OR THINK MIGHT LIKE TO ATTEND.

 

OUR "Pride Day" Group rate for a 2015 Playland One-Day PlayPass, when ordered in advance online, is $27.30 (tax included). Click on this link to purchase:

 

https://secure.ticket-ops.com/Playland_at_the_PNE/PRIDE151

 

2015 Playland One-Day PlayPass is $35.50 at the gate (or $32.50 at 7-11, etc).

 

Hope to see lots of you there!

 

https://www.facebook.com/events/569585333179828/

 

Edited July 26, 2015 by Nrthwnd

[BCTom]

I really enjoyed the Fright Nights last year.

 

Went on a rainy night, and got there early, so was able to do most haunted mazes with minimal wait.

 

What I really liked is they only let a few people in at a time. A much better experience than when I did Halloween at Knott's and Universal Studios, where you basically snake through as one big conga line.

 

Playland's Halloween mazes weren't as elaborate as those parks of course, but I preferred the experience.

[Nrthwnd]

New refill drink bottles now being sold, all about The Beast!

Best part is, if you buy it now, refills are only $1 all through the

Playland season AND the PNE, but only at the Playland stands.

 

Not too bad a deal. (o:

As well as the refillable drink bottles, they also sell popcorn buckets with all-season refills, too!

Naturally, I chose the Green one. With Barq's root beer in it. (o:

So - is The Beast the only one of it's kind in North America? Just curious.

They have printed "First In North America" on the bottle. So I guess it's true. (o:

[Nrthwnd]

Went to the park today. And got a couple of shots of the guys who make sure we have a great ride on Coaster.

 

And a surprise find in the capsule machines, that immediately made me "homesick" for the Japan machines!

Coaster's control board.

This is Robert and Marvin. Two of the great guys who make sure Coaster runs awesome all the time!

Unloading, as the train comes back to the station.

Just noticed this, in the landscaping of the kids' car ride.

Um...is this where Pod People get started? Just curious. (o:

Capsule machines! And upon closer inspection...

I found one machine, with capsules from Japan!!!

What I got. And more of you know about this anime' character than I do, I am sure.

And, as Sonny & Cher used to (sort of) sing: "And The Bea(s)t goes on..." (o;

Edited July 18, 2015 by Nrthwnd

[I305forever]

^ Isn't the Beast kind of like a bigger version of It?

[Nrthwnd]

^ Okay. I will ask. What is this "It" you speak of, that The Beast is a "bigger version of"...?

 

It's an XXL ride, that much I know. But is there a smaller 'XL' size of this ride, as well?

[Nrthwnd]

"It's Not Easy Being Green..."

 

An hour or so spent at the park late this morning. Got a few shots of The Beast's "other colour"...red.

 

The overcast sky allowed me to actually see some working lights on a few of the flats.

The RED starts to take over the green...

Almost complete.

The lights on Gladiator could be seen from a distance. And I still think the whole ride would look so much better

with an actual "swampboat" theme to it - and alligators, too! The whole "Roman" thing has never worked

for me, considering the ride cars don't exactly look like chariots or anything "Gladiator-like". (o;

***Playland(PNE), Please Note!***

Really awesome landscaping here, in the middle of the park.

And it's all done (mainly) for the kids' train ride! (o:

...And the newest capsule machine anime' figure I picked up.

And the "thrill" level of Gladiator could be amped up too, like this version of the same flat in Skara Sommerland,

on the TPR 2014 Scandi Tour. It's ride cycle was a-ma-zing! The height on that is definitely several feet

above what the max height of Gladiator's cycle.

[Nrthwnd]

Well....

 

"Unofficial Gay Day At Playland" = Fail

 

For me. I was there after noon, and by the overall look of it, I was The Only One

with a red t-shirt (the 'uniform' of a Gay Day at most parks) on! And if there were

other red t-shirts around, they were usually on moms and dads, with their kids in tow.

 

We got a good rainfall between 10 am and noon, but by 2 it was really clearing up, with

sunshine and warm temperatures! And still, nobody showed up for GD@P, from what I could see.

 

So, I think this is (now) the final say in any hope of another "Gay Day" at Playland, again.

Unless the Pride Society picks it back up again, which I doubt they will.

 

Sad. But that's okay. I got my rides in, got my dollar popcorn and drink ($1 refills thru the

season, AND the PNE too!), took a few photos, and got my next new anime' capsule toy,

and eventually headed home.

Artsy Coaster shot.

Red train, today.

The Beast is looking to eat something!

...And I think it found something! (o;

Creepy doll anime' figure from the capsule machine.

[Nrthwnd]

New posters up around town, for the PNE and The Beast...

Ooooooo Craft Beer Fest!

I think there's one with the Whack-A-Mole, too. Got to find it. (o;