Fantasy Island Winter Maintenance 2015/2016

[StealthFan]

This new year my family continued its 21 year long family tradition of visiting Butlins. The past 14 of those years have been to Skegness and this was no different. As per usual when I visited I always take a trip just down the road to Fantasy Island to see what happening over the winter season. Having visited the park last year for the first time during operating times since 2010 (Trip Report can be found here.) I was very interested to see what progress was being made this year.

 

What goodies do you think you will find in the Fantasy Island parts bin?

The major job the park is undertaking is a complete repaint of Odyssey.

One of these parts is not like the other.

The quality of the paint job so far is without doubt the best quality repaint I've seen undertaken in this country on any ride.

How do you protect the brakes and have something to cheer you up when freezing and painting a ride? You wrap them in bubblewrap obviously!

The biggest shock to me was the fact that I saw an entire coaster in the car park!

The parks recently repainted Wild Mouse coaster was dismantled and placed in the car park.

I have literally no idea why this has taken place but the ride was down at the end of last season.

How many people just nerdgasmed?

Is this the end for one of the parks most popular rides?

I personally hope not as I do love a good spinning mouse.

Hmmm something is missing.

Ah yes this may be it.

It may look simple but the importance of these devices can't be taken lightly.

Poor Millennium looks like its been locked up in prison for the winter.

How many rides do you know that are literally on the side of the road?

I have always loved this shot! #SmoothVekoma

I dont think anyone will be doing the Twist for the moment.

Those are some very neatly placed Top Scan arms.

I can't even remember what ride this was/is. Dodgems maybe?

I spy with my little eye a train.

This is where the Wild Mouse used to sit. Will it return?

Thats it for Fantasy Island this closed season. As per usual it looks like a lot of great work is going on once again and with the park now up for sale hopefully the future is bright.

 

I hope I can get back to the park once its open to see Odysseys paint job finished and someone who really has a passion for the industry buys the park.

 

Also for anyone wondering what sort of thing Butlins provide for New Years entertainment check out this fireworks display from New Years Day.

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[KarlaKoaster]

It's great to see the administrators are doing such a great job looking after the park and doing their best to make it attractive for any prospective buyers. Fingers crossed the park can be sold and everyone's jobs are safe! Thanks for all the pics

[larrygator]

This new year my family continued its 21 year long family tradition of visiting Butlins. The past 14 of those years have been to Skegness and this was no different.

 

Craig - 14 years in a row visiting Skegness. I see stupidity runs in the family!

 

Thanks for the update.

[RyanTPM]

I believe that the mouse is in the car park because it's being relocated to that end of the park, not because it's being removed. Other than that, thanks for the pics, quite like Odysseys new color!

[Paradox]

Any chance that Odyssey will get new gen Vekoma trains?

[StealthFan]

Any chance that Odyssey will get new gen Vekoma trains?

 

Odyssey already got brand new custom SLC trains a couple of years ago. With the repaint the trains will now match the track!

[viking86]

Nice pictures, always interesting to see some of the work being done in parks during the off-season. Seems a bit strange to paint Odyssey yellow considering it's already intertwined with another yellow coaster. That being said, the colour scheme looks GREAT!

[BDG]

Odyssey already got brand new custom SLC trains a couple of years ago.

No, it didn't. Just a refurb and a new paint job.