Yesterday for my 16th birthday I went to Pleasure Beach Blackpool with my family, nana and granddad, and cousin and uncle. I had only been to there once before and that was not for a full day when I was able to pop in for about an hour and get a ride on Infusion and PMBO last year.
So, we set off at about 9:30am to meet a traffic jam on the motorway which we had to make our way round taking up some time. Seeing as we had aimed to get there for opening at 10:30am, it wasn’t looking like we were going to get there at that time. So, after getting a different way we finally got there at 11:30am. We parked the car and walked down to the entrance.
We had pre-booked our wristbands and I found it confusing how it said park entrance, but then you had to go into a different building to get your tickets, was a bit confusing and didn’t seem to be run very well, which was a continuing theme throughout the day.
Still we finally got in at about 12pm, and me and my cousin headed off to the first ride, Grand National. Loading was really slow the ride ops just don’t look bothered to fill empty seats or anything, loading bays are narrow and just bad, especially with only 1 train running on each side aswell. As for the ride, sat near the back, I rode the left lift hill side first and thought it was great. Little bit bumpy but not too bad to ruin it, lots of airtime coming down the drops, great ride, and we won. Hard to photo but got some shots around the back:
Next up was River Caves which most of us went on, was a fun little boat ride even though the boats rock like crazy haha. Nice little drop at the end aswell. Us on it:
By now it was dinner time so we ate our sandwiches which we had brought with us, and sat on the benches next to the monorail which was our next ride. Was good to see all the park and got some good photos, my sister took some of them.
Now I can’t remember the order that well, but I think we did Infusion next which was loading much quicker than Grand National which meant the queue went quicker, it wasn’t that long anyway.
I couldn’t really remember what it was like but I remembered I hated the restraints which I still do. As for the ride, got front row, it was a little bit ear bashing, but it was really forceful and a fun ride, especially over water. I have only done the one SLC, but I think it looks one of the better ones with all the water. Also, got ORP, as you see it cousin left, me right:
Next up was Irn-Bru Revolution. We got up to the top and it’s crazy how the whole station wobbles when it launches, and ride-ops were just riding it themselves on loads of goes, when there were empty seats. And one got on and swapped with another one on the other end which was cool.
As for the ride the drop took me by surprise, especially backwards, and the loop backwards was brilliant very forceful. Really good ride overall.
Next was Avalanche which I didn’t think would be that good as I remember Schweizer Bobbahn (Europa) not being very good and I thought this wouldn’t be either. But I got front car by myself and it was fantastic, really fun ride. Probably the smoothest aswell which was probably why I liked it so much.
Next was Steeplechase, red side first, god I never expected this to hurt so much. The seatbelt dug into me on some turns which meant parts of it weren’t very enjoyable, but some of it was quite fun.
Seeing as Big Dipper is closed, Roller Coaster was open and I had heard good things about this so expected it too be quite good. Well I was wrong, no airtime whatsoever was quite bumpy aswell and there was really slow loading which just makes the queue bigger which is annoying. I didn’t know there were brakes in the tunnel either and wasn’t holding on and the restraint went straight in me, not good. So overall, ok ride, doesn’t really do anything though.
We all met up then as my mum, sister, nana and granddad had been doing smaller rides, and had an ice cream which was nice. Then me, my cousin, nana and granddad went on Gold Mine. It was pretty good and was cool how it went over river caves, and through the café.
Next up was my 70th coaster, Zipper Dipper! Was a fun little ride probably more airtime than rollercoaster, not a lot of room in the car though haha.
After that we went to do Grand National on the right lift hill side this time. Queue was about the same with the slow loading, and it was much rougher this time. I put my hands up this time and they came straight back down after the first drop. Lots of pain at the bottom of the drops and wasn’t enjoyable at all. Don’t know how I could have experienced such different things on each side.
Next we went to get a drink next to Wild Mouse so did that next. Now this was brilliant, it definitely lives up to its name. I couldn’t believe you just have a seatbelt, I didn’t find it rough though, just fun. The airtime on the drops was immense, and the corners where you just get sent out your seat are brilliant. Great ride, loved it. Me on the Wild Mouse:
It was now time to get a soaking as we headed to Valhalla. But we were prepared and wore macs for the first time ever and I’m glad I did. We got on and I couldn’t believe the amount of water at the bottom of the boat. Overall, the ride was fantastic, the drops were great and the effects were brilliant. Just my feet were soaked, so I was glad I wore a mac.
By this time we had about an hour and a half left until closing to get on the Big One and the other two Steeplechases. So we thought we better do the Big One, seeing as my cousin hadn’t been on it before and had been building up to it all day.
We got in the queue which was probably joint longest of the day with Valhalla, which wasn’t surprising. So we got on near the front and headed up the lift hill. I was speaking to him all the way up to keep him occupied as he was a bit scared of the height.
Then we reached the top and experienced the great drop, a bit rougher than I remembered. The rest was a bit bumpy, but just good for the height of it and everything that goes with it. We also got the ORP:
By now everyone was ready to go but I had to get the other two Steeplechases so got on both in about 10 minutes then headed out at the end of a great day.
We then went to a chip shop and had a really nice tea to end a brilliant day.
So overall I think PBB has some good rides but half of them are a bit too bumpy, which makes them hard to enjoy. To be honest I think the place needs a tidy up as a lot of it is dirty and messy. It needs to be ran a bit better aswell, as ride ops just don’t care at all, didn’t even check restraints half the time. It is a good park, but the rides are average and nothing is amazing. There is loads to do though, which made the day go really quick and we had a great day overall with 10 new coasters for me!
Ride count:
Grand National (Left)
Grand National (Right)
Roller Coaster
Infusion (Front row)
Avalanche (Front row)
Irn-Bru Revolution
Steeplechase (Green)
Steeplechase (Red)
Steeplechase (Yellow)
Gold Mine
Valhalla
Pepsi Max Big One
Zipper Dipper
River Caves
Monorail
Wild Mouse
So, we set off at about 9:30am to meet a traffic jam on the motorway which we had to make our way round taking up some time. Seeing as we had aimed to get there for opening at 10:30am, it wasn’t looking like we were going to get there at that time. So, after getting a different way we finally got there at 11:30am. We parked the car and walked down to the entrance.
We had pre-booked our wristbands and I found it confusing how it said park entrance, but then you had to go into a different building to get your tickets, was a bit confusing and didn’t seem to be run very well, which was a continuing theme throughout the day.
Still we finally got in at about 12pm, and me and my cousin headed off to the first ride, Grand National. Loading was really slow the ride ops just don’t look bothered to fill empty seats or anything, loading bays are narrow and just bad, especially with only 1 train running on each side aswell. As for the ride, sat near the back, I rode the left lift hill side first and thought it was great. Little bit bumpy but not too bad to ruin it, lots of airtime coming down the drops, great ride, and we won. Hard to photo but got some shots around the back:
Next up was River Caves which most of us went on, was a fun little boat ride even though the boats rock like crazy haha. Nice little drop at the end aswell. Us on it:
By now it was dinner time so we ate our sandwiches which we had brought with us, and sat on the benches next to the monorail which was our next ride. Was good to see all the park and got some good photos, my sister took some of them.
Now I can’t remember the order that well, but I think we did Infusion next which was loading much quicker than Grand National which meant the queue went quicker, it wasn’t that long anyway.
I couldn’t really remember what it was like but I remembered I hated the restraints which I still do. As for the ride, got front row, it was a little bit ear bashing, but it was really forceful and a fun ride, especially over water. I have only done the one SLC, but I think it looks one of the better ones with all the water. Also, got ORP, as you see it cousin left, me right:
Next up was Irn-Bru Revolution. We got up to the top and it’s crazy how the whole station wobbles when it launches, and ride-ops were just riding it themselves on loads of goes, when there were empty seats. And one got on and swapped with another one on the other end which was cool.
As for the ride the drop took me by surprise, especially backwards, and the loop backwards was brilliant very forceful. Really good ride overall.
Next was Avalanche which I didn’t think would be that good as I remember Schweizer Bobbahn (Europa) not being very good and I thought this wouldn’t be either. But I got front car by myself and it was fantastic, really fun ride. Probably the smoothest aswell which was probably why I liked it so much.
Next was Steeplechase, red side first, god I never expected this to hurt so much. The seatbelt dug into me on some turns which meant parts of it weren’t very enjoyable, but some of it was quite fun.
Seeing as Big Dipper is closed, Roller Coaster was open and I had heard good things about this so expected it too be quite good. Well I was wrong, no airtime whatsoever was quite bumpy aswell and there was really slow loading which just makes the queue bigger which is annoying. I didn’t know there were brakes in the tunnel either and wasn’t holding on and the restraint went straight in me, not good. So overall, ok ride, doesn’t really do anything though.
We all met up then as my mum, sister, nana and granddad had been doing smaller rides, and had an ice cream which was nice. Then me, my cousin, nana and granddad went on Gold Mine. It was pretty good and was cool how it went over river caves, and through the café.
Next up was my 70th coaster, Zipper Dipper! Was a fun little ride probably more airtime than rollercoaster, not a lot of room in the car though haha.
After that we went to do Grand National on the right lift hill side this time. Queue was about the same with the slow loading, and it was much rougher this time. I put my hands up this time and they came straight back down after the first drop. Lots of pain at the bottom of the drops and wasn’t enjoyable at all. Don’t know how I could have experienced such different things on each side.
Next we went to get a drink next to Wild Mouse so did that next. Now this was brilliant, it definitely lives up to its name. I couldn’t believe you just have a seatbelt, I didn’t find it rough though, just fun. The airtime on the drops was immense, and the corners where you just get sent out your seat are brilliant. Great ride, loved it. Me on the Wild Mouse:
It was now time to get a soaking as we headed to Valhalla. But we were prepared and wore macs for the first time ever and I’m glad I did. We got on and I couldn’t believe the amount of water at the bottom of the boat. Overall, the ride was fantastic, the drops were great and the effects were brilliant. Just my feet were soaked, so I was glad I wore a mac.
By this time we had about an hour and a half left until closing to get on the Big One and the other two Steeplechases. So we thought we better do the Big One, seeing as my cousin hadn’t been on it before and had been building up to it all day.
We got in the queue which was probably joint longest of the day with Valhalla, which wasn’t surprising. So we got on near the front and headed up the lift hill. I was speaking to him all the way up to keep him occupied as he was a bit scared of the height.
Then we reached the top and experienced the great drop, a bit rougher than I remembered. The rest was a bit bumpy, but just good for the height of it and everything that goes with it. We also got the ORP:
By now everyone was ready to go but I had to get the other two Steeplechases so got on both in about 10 minutes then headed out at the end of a great day.
We then went to a chip shop and had a really nice tea to end a brilliant day.
So overall I think PBB has some good rides but half of them are a bit too bumpy, which makes them hard to enjoy. To be honest I think the place needs a tidy up as a lot of it is dirty and messy. It needs to be ran a bit better aswell, as ride ops just don’t care at all, didn’t even check restraints half the time. It is a good park, but the rides are average and nothing is amazing. There is loads to do though, which made the day go really quick and we had a great day overall with 10 new coasters for me!
Ride count:
Grand National (Left)
Grand National (Right)
Roller Coaster
Infusion (Front row)
Avalanche (Front row)
Irn-Bru Revolution
Steeplechase (Green)
Steeplechase (Red)
Steeplechase (Yellow)
Gold Mine
Valhalla
Pepsi Max Big One
Zipper Dipper
River Caves
Monorail
Wild Mouse
(of the new rides i went on) 
