Play-and-Stay Blog

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!