Best non-Merlin UK park & coaster
- Thread starter Ian
- Start date
Smithy
Strata Poster
On paper it should be Blackpool.
But there's just something about Flamingo Land that I loved. It's a bit like a modern Blackpool, only clean and colourful. Loads of random rides you don't necessarily see elsewhere in the country, that just sort of work. The zoo's decent, the coasters are good, there's a handful of decent flat rides and there's enough to enjoy a full day there without feeling like you've been ripped off as can happen with other parks.
Would probably still give coaster to PMBO, as much as I loved velocity, the lift and first drop on PMBO is nearly without equal.
But there's just something about Flamingo Land that I loved. It's a bit like a modern Blackpool, only clean and colourful. Loads of random rides you don't necessarily see elsewhere in the country, that just sort of work. The zoo's decent, the coasters are good, there's a handful of decent flat rides and there's enough to enjoy a full day there without feeling like you've been ripped off as can happen with other parks.
Would probably still give coaster to PMBO, as much as I loved velocity, the lift and first drop on PMBO is nearly without equal.
Thekingin64
Strata Poster
Favourite park has to be Blackpool. The mix of old and new-ish, The amount of rides and the uniqueness of the rides makes it for me. Plus, Valhalla is just amazing.
Favourite coaster is Megafobia. I can't really explain why but I loved it. Front row at night is amazing.
Favourite coaster is Megafobia. I can't really explain why but I loved it. Front row at night is amazing.
MouseAT
Hyper Poster
Bear in mind that I've not been to Oakwood, so Oakwood/Megaphobia aren't in the running for me.
The Ultimate has to take the position of best coaster. It's mental, it's great fun, it's somewhat painful, but for some reason this is one of the few rides where the discomfort makes the ride better, not worse. None of the other non-Merlin UK rides come close.
As for best park, Blackpool has to be the winner. Unfortunately, it's a park that I feel is getting worse, not better as attractions are closed, and vain attempts are made to modernize rather than restore existing rides, but there's plenty of "good" stuff there, even if there's very little (other than Valhalla) that I'd rank as exceptional. It's a fun park to spend a day at, has something for everyone and as such gets a thumbs up from me.
A couple of years ago, Flamingo Land would have been in the running. Not any more.
It was exactly as Nic described it, and left me with no desire to go back to the park any time soon. I didn't visit at all last season, and I'll only be returning this year to get the credits and to spend time with CF, not because I particularly want to spend a day there. No new attractions, no MouseAT.
The Ultimate has to take the position of best coaster. It's mental, it's great fun, it's somewhat painful, but for some reason this is one of the few rides where the discomfort makes the ride better, not worse. None of the other non-Merlin UK rides come close.
As for best park, Blackpool has to be the winner. Unfortunately, it's a park that I feel is getting worse, not better as attractions are closed, and vain attempts are made to modernize rather than restore existing rides, but there's plenty of "good" stuff there, even if there's very little (other than Valhalla) that I'd rank as exceptional. It's a fun park to spend a day at, has something for everyone and as such gets a thumbs up from me.
A couple of years ago, Flamingo Land would have been in the running. Not any more.
I think Nic summarised it best. I remember talking to Jerry that year about how he'd had a terrible day at Flamingo Land, and how terrible he thought the place was. I knew the place never had the greatest staff or operations, but I'd had a good day there with Mushroom earlier in the year and couldn't understand why he'd been so negative about the place... until the CF Live in the autumn.Nic said:
It was exactly as Nic described it, and left me with no desire to go back to the park any time soon. I didn't visit at all last season, and I'll only be returning this year to get the credits and to spend time with CF, not because I particularly want to spend a day there. No new attractions, no MouseAT.
Nemesis of oblivion
Strata Poster
Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Great rides and still has that good, old fashioned sea side feeling. The Big One still for me is a great coaster. Not just the ride but it's character. The ride that brought life back to the Pleasure Beach.
