New attractions at Paultons Park

[Chris Brown]

Chris, via CF, you and I have experienced multiple VIP / press days at Alton / Thorpe featuring:

- Free admission to the park
- Free food and drink
- Access to all the rides in the park with minimal / 0 wait
- Free access to upcharge horror mazes
- The opportunity to ride brand new attractions before the general public

The Paultons Fan Day is a fairly similar to a press day in that it's still a barter - just a less exclusive one.

A free fun day for enthusiasts to generate positive word of mouth / spread the news of their announcement. The incentive behind Paultons Fan Day is basically the same incentive behind Merlin press days - give a special experience to people, to get people talking positively.

While yes, Merlin do not do Fan Days for everyone (I'd argue they are too big for that) Alton Towers Content Creator programme offers a similar thing where enthusiasts can attend previews of rides etc and there's not much of an entry requirement for that programme either.

Now, I'm not knocking Paultons for doing this lovely event and it's fab that anyone can attend.

But it's a little disconcerting to hear that this Fan Day would cause 'favour over' Merlin, when we have been invited to multiple VIP events at Merlin parks every year for over a decade now - where we do get treated exceptionally well!

The only difference is that one event has a guestlist and one doesn't. Which is understandable given one is a massive world-renowed theme park, and the other is a family friendly regional park. But the incentive - good publicity, is the same for both.

I'll hold my hands up and say I probably bum Paultons a bit too much, I'm 20 mins away, its likely the first park I visited, my first cred, I've watched it grow from some gardens with a few animal exhibits to what we see today. There's a definite bias there. But I've critiqued Valguard and the Gerst decision just as you have.

I think you've missed alot of the key details which really sets the super fans day aside from the Merlin press days, its fair, I know you've not been able to make either yet.

This isnt to bash Merlin, the press days are great. But whilst Paultons and Merlin are doing the events for the same reasons, the differing guest list criteria makes a huge difference, the level of inclusion at Paultons, the name of the event, the nerd specific activities. With Merlin I think they'd happily bin off all but the very biggest themepark influencers if they could do so without backlash and leave it with journalists, press and non themepark influencers. If it wasn't for me being 10 mins from @Ian I would never have been invited to Merlin events and I wouldnt expect to be! Again, not complaining about this, but just using it to highlight the difference.

Paultons Event -

• Free all day admission to the park.
• QA with Park leadership
• Presentation on future ride / investment plans
• Presentation on general park updates
• Behind the scenes tours on all rides, you're free to roam the track, stations, trains.

I've not had any of the above at any of the Merlin media days I have attended.

This sounds a bit pathetic but the Paultons event isnt a true press event, there arent half of the 2018 love island cast, random fifa Tik Tokers, or a load of journalists. It is literally just a huge bunch of park nerds. If I remember correctly we both attended a Merlin press event where it was so busy we didnt actually get a go on the ride the press event was held for.

If Thorpe want to run a similar event, bring in all the themepark super fans for a day / evening, offer a presentation showing park updates, tease / announce future plans direct to us, allow us to Q&A face to face with the leadership team then maybe we'll be able to understand some of the decision making and cut them some slack here and there.

 

[Pink Cadillac]

Maybe this could actually be a genius investment. I couldn't come up with something this perfect. A visually striking coaster that exists at a theme park up the road would be bad if the target market for the 2 parks were similar, but that is not the case.

With Paulton's park, it will be the parents who decide to go on behalf of the children. If the parents are willing to take their children to theme parks, the chances are that they went to theme parks themselves growing up and that they have been on Saw or Rage in (almost) the last 2 decades before they had kids. A park having a similar coaster to one they remember when they were younger provides a sense of familiarity and nostalgia and when taking their kids on their first big roller coaster, it's better to have as few unknowns as possible. If they have fond memories of Saw/Rage, they might want their kids to experience the same thing.

Even if the children aren't old enough for this, it is good to have a bigger, scarier coaster that they will eventually grow into. This will be a way of retaining customers as their children get older.

Sent from my Pixel 7a using Tapatalk

 

[Bowser]

If they have fond memories of Saw/Rage, they might want their kids to experience the same thing.

I believe this would be considered child abuse

 

[Tonkso]

Paultons Event -

• Free all day admission to the park.
• QA with Park leadership
• Presentation on future ride / investment plans
• Presentation on general park updates
• Behind the scenes tours on all rides, you're free to roam the track, stations, trains

Reading this makes me quite sad that I've missed both this year and last year's events. I unfortunately had commitments on both. Hopefully next year...?

 

[JoshC.]

Reading this makes me quite sad that I've missed both this year and last year's events. I unfortunately had commitments on both. Hopefully next year...?

Though they didn't totally commit, I'd say they made it quite clear that their intention was to organise another one next year.

 

[Steve99]

Do you think there could be another ride or rollercoaster in Valgard in future years down left side of land from the Raging river site to Cobra. I think someone said Paultons had space limitations so had to use a Vertical lift hill when they had loads of room to work with, if they only planning 1 coaster next to Cobra. Is the land wide enough for another coaster?

 

[CrashCoaster]

Do you think there could be another ride or rollercoaster in Valgard in future years down left side of land from the Raging river site to Cobra. I think someone said Paultons had space limitations so had to use a Vertical lift hill when they had loads of room to work with, if they only planning 1 coaster next to Cobra. Is the land wide enough for another coaster?

Probably down the line. I mean it really does beg the question, what will they do after the 2027 water ride opens? Every area of the park will now be themed afaik, so it will be really interesting to see how they develop further. I am still gagging for a GCI here, maybe something similar to the recently opened Wild Buffalo at Mer de Sable.

 

[Steve99]

Probably down the line. I mean it really does beg the question, what will they do after the 2027 water ride opens? Every area of the park will now be themed afaik, so it will be really interesting to see how they develop further. I am still gagging for a GCI here, maybe something similar to the recently opened Wild Buffalo at Mer de Sable.

Would they need to expand into the car park or into the Sky swinger site to fit a GCI in like Wild Buffalo?

 

[Ian]

The area near the old log flume/water park/play area/Sky Swinger is the only bit of the park that noticeably still has the old infrastructure (ie: the blue sheds). They added a play area to Tornado Springs and one will be part of Valgard, so my guess is that area will be earmarked for redevelopment in the future. I doubt they'd nibble at the car park because they'll need the capacity and access to the accommodation (possibly due to open in 2031).

Other little bit that hasn't been posted, James Mancey chose his words very carefully when asked about the new addition coming to Peppa Pig's family and how it might affect Peppa Pig World. With no outright denial or confirmation, I guess we could see some PPW changes.

 

[owenstreet7]

The area near the old log flume/water park/play area/Sky Swinger is the only bit of the park that noticeably still has the old infrastructure (ie: the blue sheds). They added a play area to Tornado Springs and one will be part of Valgard, so my guess is that area will be earmarked for redevelopment in the future. I doubt they'd nibble at the car park because they'll need the capacity and access to the accommodation (possibly due to open in 2031).

I believe there's two more non themed areas after Valgard that could be developed.

One where the old Log Flume was and the other between Tornado Springs and Critter Creek.

This does beg me the question, why was Raging River closed when it isn't part of Valgard.

 

[Steve99]

The area near the old log flume/water park/play area/Sky Swinger is the only bit of the park that noticeably still has the old infrastructure (ie: the blue sheds). They added a play area to Tornado Springs and one will be part of Valgard, so my guess is that area will be earmarked for redevelopment in the future. I doubt they'd nibble at the car park because they'll need the capacity and access to the accommodation (possibly due to open in 2031).

Other little bit that hasn't been posted, James Mancey chose his words very carefully when asked about the new addition coming to Peppa Pig's family and how it might affect Peppa Pig World. With no outright denial or confirmation, I guess we could see some PPW changes.

That would make a big area, if they developed the playground etc. I don't think they would want to lose Water Kingdom tho,so might need to be relocated elsewhere.

 

[Steve99]

I believe there's two more non themed areas after Valgard that could be developed.

One where the old Log Flume was and the other between Tornado Springs and Critter Creek.

This does beg me the question, why was Raging River closed when it isn't part of Valgard.

It doesn't make sense to close it, when the water ride replacement was not ready to at least 2027. Also on there presentation they had a ? next to 2027-2029 new rides or attractions, so is something else coming 2028 or 2029 what's a big addition as well as the 2027 new ride.

 

[owenstreet7]

It doesn't make sense to close it, when the water ride replacement was not ready to at least 2027. Also on there presentation they had a ? next to 2027-2029 new rides or attractions, so is something else coming 2028 or 2029 what's a big addition as well as the 2027 new ride.

I totally agree, I'd rather they kept it going for a couple more years than to have a big gap between water rides.

Although Towers removed their Log Flume without a proper replacement.

 

[CrashCoaster]

I mean they do have Splash Lagoon that opened last year it's not like they haven't got any water rides at the moment.

 

[FistedColossus]

Whilst this announcement appears to have gone down like a fart in church; it has certainly got people talking.

Nothing much more to add really but to emphasise the OTSR disappointment. I remember when Icon was being built and there was discussion about how the general public would perceive the lap bars on an inverting coaster. It was considered a fairly bold move as it's something we're not used to seeing in this country. It was also an option on The Smiler but they went with the OTSR's.

Anyway, that perception of bulky restraint = safe, lap restraint = death trap has always existed, and I thought Icon would have been the turning point, but here we are.

Overall though it does look a solid choice on a fairly limited budget. There's a lot of thrill packed in there for the little'uns. Modern Gerstlauers tend to be pothole free and generally more pleasant rides than the old guard.

 

[PaultonsLover]

I believe there's two more non themed areas after Valgard that could be developed.

One where the old Log Flume was and the other between Tornado Springs and Critter Creek.

This does beg me the question, why was Raging River closed when it isn't part of Valgard.

Definately where ummm the big red swingy ride with a hill in it and has really painful back restraints is going (I forgot the name and i cannot be asked to search it up)

 

[Niles]

Thinking on it i was hoping that at minimum whatever comes would be the best coaster they have in their lineup, to get an idea of the possibilities of ranking i have used Captain Coaster current world ranking.

I have taken the best Eurofighter along with the most recent three (without launches) as a rough idea and added the current top three from Paultons for a ranking.

380: Saw
409: Storm Chaser
413: Vertica
598: Defiance
621: Petrosaur
701: Cobra
792: Vindfald (newest)

(All Eurofighter rankings here)

Hummm so it will be well themed and have a decent little layout but sadly i dont know if i can see it topping Storm Chaser or Saw, Cobra is low but with the rethem i can see that going up quite a bit because i think its fab.

Just me overthinking, rankings are subjective, we wont know till we ride and so on but in short, i want lap bars.

 

[CrashCoaster]

Whilst this announcement appears to have gone down like a fart in church; it has certainly got people talking.

Nothing much more to add really but to emphasise the OTSR disappointment. I remember when Icon was being built and there was discussion about how the general public would perceive the lap bars on an inverting coaster. It was considered a fairly bold move as it's something we're not used to seeing in this country. It was also an option on The Smiler but they went with the OTSR's.

Anyway, that perception of bulky restraint = safe, lap restraint = death trap has always existed, and I thought Icon would have been the turning point, but here we are.

Overall though it does look a solid choice on a fairly limited budget. There's a lot of thrill packed in there for the little'uns. Modern Gerstlauers tend to be pothole free and generally more pleasant rides than the old guard.

I'm glad you said "tend to" because Vindfald looks atrocious and I've not heard the best things about Defiance either. I know Vertika has the same newer OTSR design but I've not really heard any reviews of it.

 

[PaultonsLover]

Summary

• People don't like the OSTR's and genuinely are hoping for Paulton's to change the cars as quick as possible before its too late.
• The layout looks alright but most people haven't commented on that.
• Nobody really knows what to think of the ride.
• We want it to be smooth.
• The area looks good though and that's where all the budget went.

Now this is just what I have read and understood - feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, I'm sure some people view this differently but this is simply what I have heard.

 

[CineramaMax]

I'm glad you said "tend to" because Vindfald looks atrocious and I've not heard the best things about Defiance either. I know Vertika has the same newer OTSR design but I've not really heard any reviews of it.

It's really their Infinity Coasters that are largely smoother/pothole free. Granted there are *slightly* smoother Eurofighters like Rage out there. But the majority all appear to have kinks in the track and rough-riding trains. Very desperate for the park to prove us wrong with this one as the layout is honestly very decent for a Eurofighter, and it's the first true thrill coaster at Paultons, but the world really doesn't need another Eurofighter if newer ones like Vindvald are anything to go by in terms of roughness.