Play-and-Stay Blog

After looking at a few articles over the week on this same subject, and having visited some parks recently I thought it might be fun to do our very own list on the typical theme park goer. There are of course, hundreds of different kinds of people that visit theme parks every day but our list is perhaps a more tongue in cheek look at what we saw while queuing at Thorpe Park a couple of weeks ago.

1. The Overexcited Dad.

So you’ve been at the park since it opened, at 10am on the dot. It’s now 4.30pm, the kids are tired, the wife has had enough long ago, but your enthusiasm remains fully intact as you march across the park determined to get your money’s worth and make damn sure you go on every single ride. Really the reason you’ve come to the park isn’t for the kids but for you, you love the rides and have to take every opportunity to grab a photo and remind everyone of some of the local history and how much fun you’re having.

I’m sure we’ve all seen him, dragging reluctant children and an even more reluctant wife onto yet another theme park ride, photographing everything in sight, seemingly just in case he forgets any detail. Personally I’m not sure who I sympathise with more, the kids or the wife who, invariably has to reassure the children that yes, it will all be over soon.

2. Water Lovers

The temperature really doesn’t matter. It could even be snowing for all they care, these are the people that just can’t get enough of water rides. For them it just isn’t a good day in a theme park unless they’re soaking wet. They’re the type of people that stand in the splash zones at Tidal Wave at Thorpe Park just so they can get drenched all over again. Personally I can’t really understand the mentality, but then, I’ve always really hated the water rides, guess I’m the polar opposite to these guys.

3. The Watcher

Ever been on a theme park trip with a group of friends only to have one of your party refuse to go on any of the rides? There always seems to be one person that finds themselves at a park but just can’t face going on anything. While I can sympathise with them to a certain degree I still have to ask, why go there in the first place if you aren’t going to go on anything?

4. The Theme Park Nerd

Admittedly I’m swinging dangerously close to this one by virtue of writing a blog about theme parks but then I’m sure we’ve all heard this guy. Usually found in the queue for the biggest ride in the park you happen to be in spouting all kinds of information about the ride. Top speeds, heights, manufacturer, the theme park nerd is like a walking pack of top trump cards. The usual topic of conversation seems to be about how he has always been on the ride you’re queuing for at least ten times already, and that some other ride in another park is better anyway. Inevitably nothing can really live up to the nerd’s expectations and he can’t quite enjoy the park to the full as he is too busy analysing it.

5. The Emo Kid

Cheer up, you’re at a theme park! Despite being at a place entirely designed for you to have a good time the emo kid only sees darkness in the world and just can’t enjoy themself. I’m not quite sure why they even go if they’re not going to have fun. It can’t be all that bad can it really? You’re at a theme park with a ticket that your mother has no doubt paid for, and if you’re affluent enough to be going to a theme park in the first place I’m sure you have a good enough life. So cheer up and enjoy the day!

6. Orange Girl

Fourteen years old, a fake tan, tasteless jewelry and clothes that are far too revealing I’m sure everyone has seen these girls wandering round theme parks. The fake tan is particularly cringeworthy, I mean, you can’t think you look good when you’re that orange can you?

So thats our list, got any to add? Be sure to let us know.

What I’m about to say next may be hard to believe. It may shock you, it may even disturb you. So prepare yourself. Ready? Ok.

There are some great websites about UK theme parks out there that aren’t Play and Stay. Admittedly they’re few and far between but they are certainly out there. While looking around doing research for the topics I’ve been posting about here, I’ve waded through a vast wealth of theme park sites. Some of them have been very poor, and some have been excellent. However the vast majority have been almost exclusively dedicated to parks and attractions in the USA. While informative to a certain degree it’s hardly relevant to enthusiasts in the UK. I actually found that I had a hard time finding news and topics on UK parks. The industry over here is much smaller than in the USA, but I never expected the web presence to be quite this tiny. Beyond the official sites there didn’t seem to be that much discussion and opinion. I didn’t give up hope though, and after much trawling have found these hidden gems on the UK theme park community.

Drayton Manor Plus

First up is Drayton Manor Plus. It’s a nice website with a catchy design and fresh look. They keep well up to date and on top of all the news and events at Drayton Manor. It’s a great source of information on the new Thomas Land they’ve built there. The community on the forum is active but quite small, and most posts seem fun and informative. A great website to stop by if you’re thinking of having a theme park break at Drayton Manor.

The European Coaster Club

A website for the real enthusiast this took my eye as it was European rather than American! They’ve just posted about their first visit of 2008 to Alton Towers. You can join the club to get their magazines and other promotional material. Some good reading and great photographs on here, worth a visit if you have more than a passing interest in roller coasters.

Screamscape

This website is probably the exception to my rule of being UK or European based. Screamscape covers American resorts primarily but also runs news on the European parks as well. I’ve included it here as it is a really comprehensive source of up to date information on theme parks around the world. Aesthetically it isn’t the best but the content is really complete and I’ve found it very useful over the past few months writing for Play and Stay.

Towers Nerd

With a name like Towers Nerd it needs no introduction does it? News, polls, pictures, information and a really dedicated community this site has everything. One of the larger online theme park communities this site is where all the really hardcore fans hang out. I would say this place even has more information about the park than the official site itself. Certainly the opinion is more objective and honest. Towers Nerd even do a podcast if you really need your theme park news on the move! Definitely recommended.

So there we have it, the best few websites about theme parks in the UK. Or at least, the ones that I found and thought were pretty good. Admittedly there does seem to be somewhat of a shortage of real quality sites. Most of the decent ones I found were getting outdated and news posts were few and far between. Do you post on a theme park message board or know of a site you think I should have listed but missed? Let us know!

Jim Moore was a man on a mission, a mission to open a chicken theme park. With many acres of land in Rosedale, Georgia, Moore launched his dream (primarily in his head) and took his idea to an American reality show - The Great American Dream Vote. Moore felt let down by the show’s producers as they packaged his work as a chicken amusement park, whereas he felt it was more of a chicken educational centre. Moore eventually lost out to a Basset Hound Rescue Centre, who would have seen that coming!

I would like to see what would have happened if the American public had seen the true promise in such a fantastic idea! CHICKENS EVERYWHERE, what could be better than that! With the current popularity of shows such as the American Inventor and Dragon’s Den in the UK, Moore should make one last attempt to get some financial backing for his crusade!

The concept of Chicken Heaven is a little confusing to say the least. Moore sees it as a series of lit paths into various pens displaying many different chicken breeds. I have been to farms and zoos and in my opinion they are a little smelly and the chickens are possibly the most boring animal to look at! Their range of skills and tricks are limited and would probably not really welcome return visitors, although Moore would ensure repeat viewings with featured breeds and even rides! Now you’re talking Jimbo!

Jim Moore loves chickens and i’m with him now!! Make it happen, we believe!

When hearing about the imminent removal of Santa Claus from our shopping centres across the country “to be sensitive to people of other religions”, I couldn’t help but wonder what has happened to this so-called multicultural society. It got me thinking about things - in particular religious things, and what with this being a web-site for fans and visitors of theme parks, I thought that I could tenuously link this story with something about theme parks. And here it is: Religiously orientated parks.

For all the Christians who feel upset and let down by the removal of Santa from the shopping malls in the UK (he is, of course, the real reason Christians celebrate Christmas, right..?) you can now make the trip to The Holy Land Experience in Florida. It is billed on their web-site as Jerusalem in Orlando! with one happy visitor claiming “We love this… It’s a lot safer than going to the middle east.” The park opened in 2006 and took just less than 5 years to build by the well renowned Universal Studios. Customers have the chance to have fun and learn at the same time. With ten different areas of interest covering topics from the bustling Jerusalem Street Markets to the more serene Reflecting Pool, Christians have everything in one enjoyable attraction.

If it seems a little too far to travel, you will soon be able to find that biblical experience in Lancashire. On the 16th December 2007, I read news regarding the implementation of a new ‘theme park’ in the north of the country which would offer youngsters “an alternative” to “binge drinking.” Please don’t be mistaken though folks, non-binge drinkers are also welcome to the new park. Unlike the U.S counterpart, Britain’s park will focus more on Genesis and creation and will feature a film studio within which it hopes to create Christian films and programs promoting holy views on life.

If you were offended by the offering of Father Christmas in your local shopping outlet then you might well have also been offended by the news of a Christian theme park coming to England. Being an equal opportunities company, I thought that maybe I should offer something for a wider audience…

Ganagadham is a the Hindu equivalent, offering thrill seekers the opportunity to learn all about Hindu Mythology in between rides. Admittedly, the park isn’t open yet (the last I heard of it was back in 2005) and it is some distance for UK residents to travel (being located on the bank of the River Ganges), but please rest assured in the knowledge that the creators of the park intend it to be the world’s biggest ever mythological theme park. And when this one is finished? Well, the Hindus will conquer the US with another park in LA.

Now, I would have loved to have finished this blog with news of the Jewish Theme Park, Menorah Mountain, but it appears that it is all one big hoax. Instead, I will leave you all with a picture of everyone’s favourite Christmas character.

A permanent fixture at all theme and amusement parks is the haunted house. From the largest of multi zone theme parks to the smallest of travelling fairs each is bound to have a haunted house, or some kind of paranormal theme ride. There seems to be something about the extraordinary and unexplained that is intrinsically scary, and its only when we can see that light at the end of the tunnel that that terror becomes an afterthought. Ghosts and the paranormal seem to have a particular influence over people in the UK and the USA. A quick look at Google trends shows the UK leading the way in search volume for the term ‘ghosts’.

Theme parks cashing in on this obsession is quite obvious in the UK, I don’t think you’ll need much of a helping hand to think of any. Vampire at Chessington, X at Thorpe, and the regular Halloween events at Alton Towers are all good examples. While the reason that these rides are popular as ’scare’ rides is obvious what intrigues me is the people that seem to start to really believe in the paranormal and claim to have had strange experiences while at theme parks. I dug around in Google and YouTube for a bit and found some fairly interesting material. Soldier on if you dare…

So while looking through YouTube I stumbled across a TV program filmed at Alton Towers a while back, ‘Most Haunted - Alton Towers’. The program is part of a series that travels to supposedly haunted locations around the UK and attempts to prove or disprove the claims. The focus of this program is on the Towers themselves at Alton Towers. There have been several claims of ghost sightings and photographs at the Towers over the years and the aim of the program was to try and find out if there was anything behind these rumours. They set about the task in typical fashion, playing up rumours and trying to build the suspense. The program ends with the team spending the night in the Towers. Of course, the footage is all blurred and filmed in near pitch black with night vision. With night vision on everyone just looks wide eyed and terrified the whole time. Personally I didn’t see anything paranormal at all in the program. One of the presenters was allegedly injured during filming but as you couldn’t see anything happen at all I remain extremely skeptical. The program is well put together but really is just the equivalent of a film for providing proof of paranormal activity. What interests me really are the people that really believe this stuff. And of course the best place to find them is online.

A quick Google search found me this gem - Alton Towers Ghost

This photo interests me as the guy claims;

“I noticed something near the steps, so I zoomed in and immediately saw what appears to be a little boy and i was completely taken aback. Then after looking at the picture more closely, I noticed a very tall man standing next to the little boy.”

I don’t know if its just me but I really can’t see anything in that photo that even closely resembles a person. Just seem to be a rather blotchy photo to me. In typical ghost photo fashion he later says in his blurb;

“Granted, the quality of the picture is very poor as it was taken on my camera phone, and the lighting inside the castle is very poor…”

This almost seems to disqualify the photo before you’ve even seen it, as if to say ‘if you can’t see it it’s just because the quality was bad on the day. It’s there, honest, just a bad photo!” This kind of disclaimer statement seems almost unanimously apparent on all ghost photos that I found. To me it seems that any sighting of a ghost is more in the beholder’s mind that anything. It’s like the people that claim to see the face of Christ in a piece of toast. They want to see it so badly that they make it appear to themselves, despite the lack of real evidence.

Another article I read was about an abandoned theme park at Lake Shawnee in Topeka, Kansas in the USA. The page begins with ridiculous and irrelevant claims of strange things happening, such as;
“Carrillion bells playing, an owl standing in the roadway in broad daylight which took off over my head, the smell of smoke with no fires around, rustlings in the brush behind me as I walked along and a feeling of being watched.”

Quite how any of these things is evidence of the paranormal is beyond me. The rest of the thread seems to be populated by people either making claims to have seen ghosts, or local people rubbishing the idea. You can read it for yourself here.
Apologies for this week’s post turning into a bit of a rant, but I think I have a fairly interesting topic for discussion. I have admittedly gone into looking for paranormal evidence with a distinctly skeptical viewpoint but really what other viewpoint is there to have? Unless these people come back with some real evidence I for one will continue to disbelieve all of it. Perhaps some of you have had a paranormal experience and want to share it? We’re always open for debate here at Play and Stay so let us know!

Like a Tarantino film the following blog posts start in the middle before reaching the end and then showing you the start. If you’re reading this post before Pickard’s account of our Legoland experience then there is a small chance you’ll understand what I’m on about. Chronologically this is second but by nature of the way that blog posts are arranged on the page this will be nearer the top and I would imagine more likely to be read first. If you’d like to experience our theme trip account in the correct order of events I suggest skipping down to Pickard’s post and then returning here. If you’d like the Pulp Fiction experience then read on…

So after an early start we packed into the car and headed out for Thorpe Park. The trip from the Marriott to Thorpe wasn’t too bad at all. Short drive along the M4 to the M25 and then a couple of junctions south, coming off at Staines (massive). The route off the motorway couldn’t have been easier really. I’d never driven to Thorpe from this direction before, I’d always come from the south but the journey from Windsor was not a problem. Coming off at junction 13 we went towards Staines, missing the busy bridge and taking the road heading for Chertsey and Laleham. Took just under half an hour from hotel to park, can’t complain really!

I guess one of the major advantages of working for Play and Stay is the opportunity to visit the theme parks for free! Upon arrival at Thorpe Park we presented our passes and carried straight on into the park, dodging the large queue for tickets. I was surprised at the size of the queue to enter, even at 10am, given how few people there were at Legoland on our previous day. Most of the guests were teenagers though, so I guess the local schools were on holiday for the week. Judging by the amount of people I guess it really shows how Thorpe has captured the teenage audience well, the difference was quite noticeable from Legoland, and again at Chessington later in the day.

Once you enter the park you’re confronted with the dominating sight of Stealth looming in the background. The height difference between it and the other rides really is glaringly obvious. Given the growing number of people entering the park we decided to ride Stealth first of all, before the queue grew too long! I must say, waiting 15 minutes in a queue for the ride was really great after my last visit, where I had to wait nearly two hours. Going on Stealth I knew exactly what to expect and how the ride is, but still nothing can really prepare you for the shock of the speed and acceleration. It’s really quite breathtaking. What I had forgotten about however was the drop once you’re over the peak. Looking down into essentially nothing, you really do feel like you’re dropping out of the sky towards the ground. Of all the rides at all the parks over the week Stealth still provides the ultimate thrill, I wouldn’t really recommend it to the weak willed or those unsure on rollercoasters, but the young crowd at Thorpe Park were lapping it up. I saw many people instantly rejoin the queue for another ride once theirs was over.

After starting the day on Stealth we tried to fit in as many rides as we could before we had to leave for Chessington. Two hours at Thorpe Park just isn’t enough! We went on Nemesis first of all, the queue here was slightly longer and I could really see the park starting to fill up. Still, the ride delivered and even seemed quite peaceful after riding stealth. I do like the hanging style coasters though, makes things a lot more interesting through the loops and corkscews as you can really see the sky for a brief moment.

Once off Nemesis I wanted to head over to try out X as it had been closed on my previous visits. Once through the darkness of the queue line we were on the unique backwards coaster. I have to say, I was disappointed. The ride has a lot of potential to be really good but just doesn’t quite deliver. The dark is used well in the queue line, and builds the atmosphere and theme very well, making the whole experience seem quite sinister and shrouded in mystery. The ride itself is just pitch black the whole way, and while disconcerting given the speed you’re going at there isn’t really any references to see the speed and directions. Some more theming on the inside of the ride would really improve the experience I think. Also, they run a couple of trains at once on the ride, and it stops every now and again. I think that stops can be used very effectively on coasters to build tension, especially before a large drop or series of loops. However on X because you’re in the dark and facing backwards you can’t really see what’s coming so the effect of having stops in the rides feels rather lost and just ends up feeling like you’re stopping so you don’t catch up to the other trains. Perhaps the feeling of X was tempered by riding the more modern Nemesis and Stealth before it. I can’t fault Thorpe for trying something different but I would recommend trying all the other rides before X if you’re limited for time like we were.

Sadly we were running out of time already and the queue for Colossus had grown to over half an hour long by the time we were done with X, so we didn’t have enough time to ride it. Knowing we were missing out on Colossus we went round some of the smaller rides without queues before leaving. The rest of the team seemed to really enjoy the water slides. I figured I’d give them a miss having been soaked the previous day at Legoland, and didn’t fancy getting my only pair of jeans wet again. Still managed to get wet watching the ride though! With that our brief Thorpe Park visit was over and we were back in the car heading for Chessington World of Adventures and Zoo and Sea Life Centre and Kitchen Sink.

Three junctions round the M25, and just 20 minutes in the car and we were at Chessington. I never really appreciated just how close the parks were until I’d driven it myself. Picking a central hotel means that you really can visit all three parks in a weekend. Could make a pretty nice holiday I think. Anyway, after parking up at Chessington we were due a lunch appointment at the newly built Chessington Holiday Inn Hotel.

We met two members of staff, Saskia and Lee, at the Holiday Inn who were kind enough to give us an introduction to the hotel and a tour round the rooms and facilities. The hotel hasn’t even been open a year at the time of writing yet seems to be doing very well, with all the family rooms sold out during the Easter holidays. The hotel itself is decorated in an African safari theme, which seems fitting given it’s proximity to the zoo. In fact, next year there will be zebras and giraffes grazing in the fields surrounding the hotel, all visible from the business conference rooms (aptly named Serengeti Rooms 1, 2 & 3) and many hotel rooms. I guess that’s something that no other hotel can offer you! The rooms themselves were immaculately presented and cleaned, I can’t really fault the hotel on anything at all. They had top notch facilities, including an indoor heated swimming pool and a gym which was just going through the final stages of installation as we were looking round. After thanking Lee and Saskia for our tour we ate and headed out to the park.

Again time and the elements were our enemy. With only a couple of hours to view Chessington we had to pack in as much as possible. And of course in true British fashion the heavens opened as we walked through the gates. Having left the Legoland ponchos in the car we quickly dived into the Sea Life centre to avoid the rain and yet another drenching. I’d like to point out at this stage how the British weather always seems to conspire against me. I can go outside into theme parks and get nothing but rain and cold weather and yet as I sit here typing this, it’s a warm(ish) sunny day outside, and not a drop of rain. Still, what can you do. I’d also like to point out the irony of entering a Sea Life centre to avoid water.

I was quite impressed with the Sea Life centre. For what is essentially a giant tent they’ve constructed something that feels very permanent. The genius of the Sea Life centre really is in the design. There are parts where the fish are literally swimming around and over you, and you can see them at all angles as they glide gracefully though the water. For me the highlights were seeing rays and small sharks. Although they can’t keep anything too large at the centre there was still no shortage of interesting creatures, complete with facts and figures all about them on the walls next to the viewing glass. Once the rain dried up we were out into the rest of the park.

Again, I was actually quite impressed at how much Chessington had to offer. For what is billed as a family park it actually has quite a lot of thrill rides and options for older guests, as well as the full range of childrens rides and attractions. I would say that Chessington does a far better job of satisfying the whole family than Legoland does, which seems to be far more suited to young children. If your family is a mix of older and younger children I would definitely recommend Chessington over Legoland. Of course, if your children are all under ten then Legoland is the place for you. And conversely if you don’t have children then Thorpe Park is where you want to go! The rides we experienced at Chessington were for the most part pretty good. The Vampire was a relatively relaxing coaster and a good median point between kids ride and adult thrill ride. I can remember going on this ride when I was ten years old and being terrified, and here I am now describing it as relaxing! We went on the Dragons Fury, which was an instant hit with the Play and Stay team. Akin to the Pinball Wizard at Alton Towers the ride spins round and round as it careers down the track, and gives some genuinely unsettling moments as you’re not quite sure what direction you’re supposed to be going in. One ride I do recommend you give a miss however is the Rattlesnake. It’s very jerky and stop start and can be quite uncomfortable at times. However despite this and the fact that we didn’t get to see the zoo or even all the rides I enjoyed our time at Chessington and I would definitely recommend it. I would say it really is the one park that has something to offer everyone.

I’d like to end this blog post with a word of advice. We were advised at the Holiday Inn that we shouldn’t leave any later than 15:30 as we’d get caught up in holiday traffic. Well it can’t be that bad can it? Another hour in the park can’t hurt surely… How wrong we were. Due to a fatal accident on the M25 it took us three and a half hours to get home when it should take around 90 minutes. Five people in a Ford Fiesta isn’t the most comfortable experience in the world, particularly if you’re in the back! So my word of advice is this; whatever you do don’t drive home at rush hour on Easter weekend like we did, although I guess given the circumstances I’m glad we got home safely. Once home I collapsed and fell asleep for eleven straight hours, knackered after the trip. I have to say that after having done one, I would recommend a theme park break to anyone. Just make sure you pick the right attractions.

pon·cho |ˈpän-(ˌ)chō|
noun (pl. -chos)
1 : a blanket with a slit in the middle so that it can be slipped over the head and worn as a sleeveless garment
2 : a waterproof garment resembling a poncho and having an integral hood

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We arrive at LEGOLAND Windsor at approximately 3.30pm on a cold, damp Wednesday afternoon with the intention of experiencing the park with the enthusiasm of an excited child. After entering the gates and negotiating the first toilet break of the visit we are met with a pretty impressive view of the whole park area. In the distance we see the beautiful Windsor Castle (i think) although it could’ve been a shopping centre, and we begin our descent to tackle the first ride of the day - Viking’s River Splash!

On reflection, without a change of clothes and on such a day as this a water ride shouldn’t have been our first port of call. However, we are young adventurers and this is the first ride we come across so we approach with little or no hesitation. Even the wet seats did little to deter us. This excitement and lack of regard for personal comfort proved a great choice as the Viking’s River Splash was a whole lotta fun! Wetness rating was about 6/10 but well worth it and I don’t fancy our chances of drying off with the dark clouds looming.

Being dry is overrated. After a little walking we discover the Dragon Coaster so we queue for about 15 seconds and then jump on the back. It is FREEZING! The cold air that hits your face as you twist and turn along the track doesn’t really go well with wet hair and damp trousers. As we finish the ride there are few people waiting to climb aboard so we go round again… a pretty quick ride and it did go some way to drying my clothes.

A gentle stroll across the park and it’s easy to tell that the Easter holidays are not yet upon us. There aren’t many kids in today and those present are probably too young to have even started school yet. We wouldn’t have to queue for the rides so i wasn’t complaining, although the wet trousers were ensuring a few moans here and there…. we’ll come back to the wetness.

Approaching the Jungle Coaster, we become more aware of the fact we don’t look like the average group of LEGOLANDERS as the ride operators appear to rub their hands together and cackle manically. This may not have happened but somehow it seems like it should have - as the Jungle Coaster came to a stop I felt my service station lunch was desperate to make an appearance. A pretty good coaster although maybe I am a little too old and experienced to fully appreciate the excitement that fellow younger riders were clearly experiencing.

So anyway, feeling a little jaded and cynical about roller coasters and my lack of appreciation for them - we approached what appeared to be a pretty small water ride. The Wave Surfer is a circular moat-like track where you ride round on a jet-ski type thing. If this sounds rubbish then my cynicism is translating well. But, I have been converted by the power of the Wave Surfer - this is seriously the greatest ride in the history of the world! Friends and enemies afraid of a little water can activate the water bombs in an attempt to soak you as you steer erratically in an attempt to create the ultimate wave. So much better than I ever thought it would be and I didn’t even care that I was once again soaked.

As the afternoon begins to draw to a close, we spot the coolest kid at LEGOLAND. The kid is unaware of how cool he/she actually is and as you have noticed I am unaware on the gender of said child. There is one thing that separates this ’superchild’ from us mere mortals with our drenched sleeves and damp pants - it is known as a ‘poncho’. Don’t try and picture this creation because your thoughts will never do it justice. It is yellow, it has a LEGOLAND logo on the back and it has a hood. However, we later realise it only has short-sleeves - this minor imperfection will not tarnish the fact this is the best £3 I ever spent!

After the purchase is made, the rest of the afternoon is a blur. I am delirious with glee, glee being a word I haven’t used since another such historical occasion as this. With a poncho on my back and a skip in my step I attack the Pirate Falls. The first carriage we attempt to board is knee-deep in water so we grab the next one…. only our ankles will be soaked in this one. After a pleasant float along the winding approach, we begin to climb the track to the inevitable drop and subsequent splash. As the rear member of four riders, the water appears to feebly adhere to gravitational laws and congregates around me as we continue our ascent. As gravity again rears its ugly head, we plummet towards the biggest splash of the day! I am now immune to water and the feeling of wetness and so would happily ride again but 5pm is approaching fast.

We haven’t even ridden the Longboat Invader yet and so head for one of the newest rides at LEGOLAND Windsor. It doesn’t really look like I should fear it but I just wish I had given it more respect. I exit feeling a little worse-for-wear while a couple of kids a least 20 years my junior clearly had a fantastic time. Maybe I should stick to the water rides…

Time really is against us as we enter Loki’s Labyrinth. If we get lost in here then will they send a rescue team when the park closes? As each one of us attempts to win the race to the centre, I cheat a little by sliding through smalls gaps between blockades and the hedges. As we enjoy the view from the centre of Loki’s Labyrinth we realise it is time to draw this glorious afternoon to a close and head for the car.

As we slowly climb the paths towards the exit, I notice a LEGOLAND train full of other visitors taking the easier option to the top of the hill. I don’t envy them one bit - our glorious afternoon at LEGOLAND will not be tarnished now by such laziness! In the distance Space Tower shows ‘people’ climbing via ropes and a debate breaks out as to whether the climbers are human or LEGO… a coffee rests on the outcome.

They were human. No coffee ever changed hands.

After looking at rollercoasters in great detail I thought it would be interesting to look back at their origins and just how they came to be. I was actually genuinely surprised at how old the concept of roller coasters is, and just how long people have been looking to thrill rides for entertainment. Anyway, without further ado here is the compressed history of the modern rollercoaster.

Early Days

The ball was set in motion in Russia in the 15th and 16th centuries. People would construct giant slides of ice. These slides could reach 80 feet and were dubbed ‘Russian Mountains’.

There are conflicting stories as to what was the first coaster to work on wheels. Some say the first was built near St Petersburg in Russia in 1784 and other sources claim the first was constructed in Paris in 1812. However, these coasters featured wheels and were locked onto a track, achieving higher speeds than the ice slides, starting the evolution of a modern rollercoaster.

The next significant milestone came in the USA in 1827 when an old mining cart at Summit Hill, Pennsylvania was converted to take passengers. They were charged a nickel at a time for the pleasure of cruising down the track at six miles per hour. The ride continued to run well into the 1850s.

In 1846 the first coaster with a loop was built in France. However, the ride was only a moderate success as it was known to cause several neck and back injuries due to its circular shape. It was eventually abandoned and looping coaster weren’t seen again until the 1970s.

From the 1870s to the early 1900s rollercoasters were developed in the USA that featured complete circuit tracks, and chain lifts. By this stage the modern coaster was really taking shape and the first golden age of rollercoasters was about to begin.

At their peak during the early 1900s there were 1500 coasters worldwide, however with the onset of the Great Depression and the first and second World Wars the roller coaster industry died down, and there were no significant developments until after the war in the 1950s.

The Return of Roller Coasters

In 1955 Disney built the first Disneyland in Anaheim, California. The success of Disneyland and its ensuing coasters sparked a revival of the theme park and the roller coaster. In 1959 the first ever tubular track steel coaster was opened at Disneyland, named the Matterhorn Bobsleds. The advent of tubular steel meant that the tracks could be bent and shaped in any way possible by the designers, and so the limitations of wooden coasters were lifted and the modern coaster really began to take shape.

In 1964 the first 100 foot high coaster was build in Mexico City. In 1975 the first coaster with an inverted element was created in Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park in California. Along with the return of the vertical loop coasters in 1976, the roller coaster was ready to enter it’s second golden age.

The Second Golden Age

From here roller coasters went from strength to strength. In the 80s we had the first suspended coaster, coasters reaching seven inversions and the first complete circuit coaster to reach 200 feet. The 90s saw even larger strides forward in coaster design, and as technology and computers accelerated in power so did the design of roller coasters. The last fifteen years has seen coasters break 400 feet, 100mph and some have started using electromagnetic launch systems.

Now that designers can use 3D software to model and virtually test coasters the only limit on their design is what the human body can endure. With some rides exceeding the G-forces experienced by astronauts I do wonder at what point coasters will have to slow down and advances will no longer be possible. What I can count on though, is the ingenuity of the designers in finding new ideas even after four hundred years.

They’ve come a long way since being just slides on ice, and hopefully they have a long future. Perhaps you have some ideas of where roller coasters should be in the future? Please, let us know!

While doing my research for the previous blog post on the fastest roller coasters in the world, I managed to stumble across a hidden gem - the Blue Flash roller coaster. What is unique about this roller coaster is that is has been built entirely by one man, in his own back garden. Nicknamed the Blue Flash due to the distinctive blue colour the creator, John Ivers, painted his construction the coaster is completely hand built from scrap metal and old car parts. Incredible to watch the coaster even has a complete upside down loop, quite an achievement for a backyard coaster!

You can find the official site here. Here you can see the video and see pictures of the coaster. Although not updated for some years I figure many enthusiasts may have missed this brilliant creation. We have emailed John with the hope of setting up an interview, so watch this space in the coming weeks!

After finding Blue Flash I had a fish around in Google for some more backyard coasters to see if anyone else had matched Mr Iver’s ingenuity. While finding a lot of attempt at coasters none matched up the mighty Blue Flash, until I found Jeremy Reid that is….

This coaster dwarfs the Blue Flash. Reid’s coaster cost $5500 to make is 17 feet high and runs for 444 feet. Constructed entirely from wood the coaster is a very impressive achievement and just goes to show what you can do if you’re a qualified engineer. You can check out his website for more photos and details, and I recommend you do, it’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before. Looking at these coasters I never realised that making something like this in your own garden was even possible.

There are a whole bunch of videos on YouTube as well, I suggest searching for some they can be quite amusing to watch. Have any of you made your own coasters, or know anyone that has? Perhaps you’ve found a better backyard coaster than the ones I have here. Don’t forget to let us know!

So we’ve covered the best roller coaster videos, and we’ve told you of the highest drops you can find, but for me we’ve missed the all time most important aspect of a great coaster ride. Speed! It doesn’t matter how high, or how many times a roller coaster goes upside down if it isn’t done at breakneck speed then it just can’t give you that adrenaline fuelled high.

The classic image of the roller coaster is one of a high speed stomach churning experience that throws you at all kinds of angles that the human body was never supposed to experience. The majority of the great coasters stick to this rough formula, combining speed with loops, twists and turns. However there are some that ignore the rules, some that return to the root of what the roller coaster experience is about. Doing away with complicated loops, stripping everything down into one visceral element, speed, we have our top 5 fastest roller coasters in the world.

Sadly there are none in the UK, not even the 80mph Stealth at Thorpe Park breaks the top 10. And if any of you have been on that ride, like I have, I’m sure you’ll have some idea of just how quick the following rides really are.

1. Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure - Jackson Township, New Jersey in the USA

Standing at 456 feet high the Intamin AG manufactured Kingda Ka propels you along the 3118 feet of track at a staggering 128mph. This is a ride that is so quick that it has to be shut during even light rain as rider contact with the rain drops is alleged to cause discomfort.

The Kingda Ka was announced to the public on September 29th, 2004 to the media and enthusiasts. It was claimed that the new coaster would become the fastest and tallest roller coaster on the planet, both claims it has since lived up to.

The ride itself is very similar to Stealth in that it is a hydraulic launch ride. The car is fired down the track by the hydraulic launch mechanism at the start of the ride, where it goes from 0-128mph in just 3.5 seconds, pulling 1.83 G’s. The force of the motor produces an unparalled 20,800 horsepower, the same as 44 Porsches. Once launched the car ascends the main tower peaking at 456 feet before plunging down through a 270 spiral. Another factor that makes Kingda Ka unique is that the ride has a second hill after the main descent that provides a brief moment of weightlessness. The ride is slowed by its magnetic brakes and returns to the station just 28 seconds after launch.

Just like Stealth the Kingda Ka can rollback and visitors are warned of this during the queue.

I’ve been on Stealth a few times and at 80mph that felt very very quick. I can only imagine what this ride is like, being half as fast again. Perhaps some of you have experienced it? Please let us know if you have, would be interesting to read some first hand comments.

2. Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point - Sandusky, Ohio in the USA

The Top Thrill Dragster is a close sibling of the Kingda Ka, both are hydraulic launched stratacoasters built by the Swiss firm Intamin AG. Maxing out at 120mph it is close behind the younger Kingda Ka and at the time of its launch in May 2003 it broke five records; first continuous-circuit coaster to top 400 feet, first to 120mph, highest drop, fastest and tallest in the world.

The ride follows the same routine as the Kingda Ka, and even has rollbacks just like other stratacoaster style rides. I’m sure, like me, that many guests actually want a rollback to occur as you get to experience the exciting launch again. However on Friday June 24th 2005 the train was launched with exactly enough speed and momentum to leave it perched at the top of the tower. It stayed put for an agonising fifteen minutes before a maintenance worker managed to push it along and sent it down the other side. A terrifying experience for some I would imagine. I can’t decide where I’d be scared or whether I’d love that to happen to me. You’d have a great view at least, although perhaps the wind rocking the track at that height might make you feel uneasy.

3. Dondonpa at Fuji-Q Highand - Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi in Japan

The fastest steel coaster outside the USA is the Dondonpa in Japan clocking in at 106.9mph. Only two years older than Top Thrill Dragster I guess it shows how far the technology moves on. Kingda Ka was launched in 2005, so we’re overdue another fastest roller coaster by now, I’m hoping one can break 130mph within the next year and preferably in Europe so I can experience it.

The Dondonpa is a thrust air coaster and is constructed by S&S Power of Utah, USA. The Japanese coaster is not nearly as high as it’s American counterparts but makes up for that by having the highest acceleration at launch time of all, going from 0-107mph in less than 2 seconds.

The name Dondonpa supposedly comes from the music that is played to guests as they queue for the ride.

4. Superman the Escape at Six Flags Magic Mountain - Valencia, California in the USA

Designed on a Superman theme, the queue area of this ride is designed like Superman’s Fortress of Solitude and is air conditioned to simulate being in arctic conditions.

Launched in 1997 it is a shuttle roller coaster with a linear motor launch track, reaching 100mph and lasting 28 seconds. What is most unique about this ride is that riders will experience six and a half seconds of zero gravity as the ride descends.

5. Tower of Terror at Dreamworld in Coomera, Queensland, Australia

Really in a joint fourth place with Superman the Escape, the Tower of Terror also reaches 100mph at its top speed.

The Tower of Terror has caused some controversy among roller coaster enthusiasts, as it goes up the tower, only to fall back again. Some people do not believe it qualifies as a roller coaster and it has been omitted from several lists in the past. Not here, however, I mean, it’s fast, tall and has a car on a track, how can it not be a roller coaster?

The Future?

So the Kingda Ka has been ‘kingda’ of the castle for three years now it would seem about time that there was a new coaster to come along and break the 130mph barrier. There are rumours of a new coaster to be built near the Nürburgring motor racing circuit in Germany. The planned ride would simulate the start of a Formula 1 race, but apparently won’t be completed until 2009. I’m not too bothered about the wait at it means finally a top speed coaster in Europe. Although Stealth is near to me in the UK and is quick, it is put to shame by the coasters in this list today.

Have any of you been on these coasters? Perhaps someone has ridden the Kingda Ka, if so let us know what it was like!