Thoughts on Hyde Park Winter Wonderland?

[Squrmyweesl]

So, what are everyone's thoughts on the ride lineup? It doesn't seem to change much from year to year, nothing new this time AFAIK - so for me the only coasters worth riding are Munich Looping, Wilde Maus XXL (the terrifying untrimmed daddy of all wild mice) and perhaps more controversially, Euro Coaster. But without the Looping, I probably wouldn't go at all.

Also many flat rides, some huge - are there any that you enjoy? I don't really trust tall flats at fairgrounds but might check out the Mondial turbine Blizzard this year, it looks pretty wild but also potentially very nauseating. Maybe on an empty stomach...

IMO, pros of HPWW as a whole are:
- Location
- Unusually large ride offering for a temporary funfair
- Surprise rare credit - one of only two Reverchon 'gliding' inverted wild mouse coasters ever made (Euro Coaster)
- ...Uh.

Cons:
- Needing to book a ticket these days, sometimes with a £5 - £7.50 fee depending on day/time, just to get in
- Ridiculous food/drink prices even for a London event, and it's not good food
- Charmless atmosphere
- No wristbands available, individual ride prices pretty high - though this does seem justified for something like the Looping given the showmen had to transport and construct 900 tonnes of giant steel meccano for a pretty short operating run
- Same rides every year
- Very overcrowded at peak times

 

[Will]

Overpriced and hellishly busy.

I've done it in a group of CFers a few times, but I confess I've never particularly enjoyed it - I'm glad I ticked off Munich Looping though and if Hollenblitz came to town, I'd be straight down there.

I did a VERY big spinning booster type thing last year which I confess scared the crap out of me.

 

[emoo]

I've not done OLYMPIA Looping for a few years now as an annoying amount has already been spent riding both here and in Europe. Plus those queues have been off putting even if I'm in the mood to spend another tenner + on literally the best traveling coaster in so many metrics.

A similar ride line up each time is fine, that's a theme park. The thing we like. Adding a cred here and there is the biggest draw right now other than bar hopping (the rotating ones make me so happy) and seeing some cool lights.

I'd be more into it if I wasn't alone trying to dash through the slow moving clump of people randomly darting into my chosen path without looking.

Grumbles aside its pretty spectacular that London gets a genuinely huge event each year rivalling Europe and outdoing most with the funfair.

 

[Squrmyweesl]

I did a VERY big spinning booster type thing last year which I confess scared the crap out of me.

Haha, yeah that was probably Blizzard - it does look terrifying, but the way it's driven by the fans on each end is so cool. Did you find it caused any motion sickness? (If that's something you ever get on rides)

 

[Will]

^
I think it was the one called Airborne. I did need a sit down afterwards...

 

[Smithy]

We turned up last year as we were in London for the day and got caught out by the need to pre-book tickets. As soon as we saw you had to pay, we turned round and went on our way.

I get it, it got to the stage where they couldn't handle the numbers that would turn up particularly on evenings and weekends, but after I'd got all the creds my only real interest in visiting was to wander around, take in the atmosphere and maybe get the odd thing or ride here and there.

Wouldn't be surprised to see it gone within the next few years as it starts to price itself out of the market.

 

[JoshC.]

It's not really my thing.

Then again, as a whole, London isn't really my thing. I live in Surrey. I can get to London Waterloo in just over 40 minutes, door to door, but maybe go into London once or twice a year. It's expensive and busy and generally just eurgh.

Winter Wonderland is much the same in that regard.

I've only ever been 4 times, and each time I've never really enjoy it that and much, and have resented the high costs. I think I've got all the creds that are there, and there's nothing drawing me back. Also, as someone who doesn't like spinning rides, many of the flat rides are a flat-out no. I'm sure I'll return at some point when the time gets to it, but right now, nah.

At the same time, it is a good thing to have, as mentioned above. It's a big fair, which in terms of ride line up, rivals the biggest and best out there. So it's a major plus for industry.

I'm slightly surprised the entrance upcharge has remained (it was introduced under the guise of a Covid regulation), but I guess for now it's still working. I think as an event it's reached its peak in terms of size and numbers and profitability, but I expect it to remain at that level for many years to come yet.

 

[Niles]

Last year I went off peak and looking they still do these days free entry, also with paid entry days if you book enough attractions before hand you can also get in free so i dont mind it so much, if i do go i try to go when its quiet.

Last year i thought it was fine, did the Starflyer because i love a high one, picked up a cred i did not have and did Dr Archibald Vr ride which was.....megh. This year there is nothing to bring me back, costs for each ride are a bit high but a new intresting coaster would bring me back, something like Drifting coaster, Hollenblitz, Alpina bahn, and i would go.

Also i believe Winter wonderland have a contract till 2032 so as long as the people come its here for a while.

 

[Squrmyweesl]

Last year i thought it was fine, did the Starflyer because i love a high one, picked up a cred i did not have and did Dr Archibald Vr ride which was.....megh. This year there is nothing to bring me back, costs for each ride are a bit high but a new intresting coaster would bring me back, something like Drifting coaster, Hollenblitz, Alpina bahn, and i would go.

Oh God, Dr Archibald... I hated that ride! It fools you with the amazing steampunk owl facade out front, makes the ride itself even more of a letdown. Never again

 

[Matt N]

I must admit that I don’t really get the hype myself, based on the one time I went.

I went to the 2019 event in January 2020, and while I had a nice time and was glad I went, it’s not somewhere I’d rush back to. It’s undeniably impressive, but not really my sort of thing.

Olympia Looping is a very impressive coaster and a true feat of engineering, but I controversially didn’t really rate it as an actual ride experience. The other coasters there are just different permutations of wild mouse coasters, a ride style which I don’t personally rate at all. As a fan of a drop tower, HangOver was admittedly very good, but I’m not generally big on flat rides other than that, so not a lot else there really appeals to me.

I also to remember it being very expensive; I think 7 rides cost something like £60, and this was back in 2019. I understand why it’s expensive, but from my personal standpoint, I can get into a permanent theme park that I’d likely get more out of for quite a bit less money.

I don’t deny that it’s brilliant that we have an event like Winter Wonderland in the UK, but it’s not really my cup of tea and it’s not somewhere I’m clamouring to go back to nearly 5 years on from my visit. I might go back if they got another of the big names in the travelling coaster world there (e.g. Alpina Bahn, Hollenblitz), but unless that happens, I don’t see myself returning any time soon.

 

[Squrmyweesl]

Olympia Looping is a very impressive coaster and a true feat of engineering, but I controversially didn’t really rate it as an actual ride experience. The other coasters there are just different permutations of wild mouse coasters, a ride style which I don’t personally rate at all. As a fan of a drop tower, HangOver was admittedly very good, but I’m not generally big on flat rides other than that, so not a lot else there really appeals to me.

Yeah, I'm not really into wild mice either so it's a shame the lineup isn't a bit more varied - I didn't actually enjoy Wilde Maus XXL that much, those insanely fast hairpins at that elevation are quite aaargh, but it does have more going for it than most of that type. Shame you didn't enjoy the Looping... I do personally, but it was the first inverting coaster I ever rode so it'll be interesting to see how it compares now after doing lots of other ones. It must be getting quite old now, so if it's still running well it'll be impressive!

They did used to get a Pinfari called Thriller/Alpine Thriller which wasn't a wild mouse, it was a sort of moderately-sized, aggressive sit-down thing which I just remember being unexpectedly fast and brutal, like a family coaster for people who hate their families. I liked it, apparently it's been scrapped now though.

Totally agree that most theme parks would offer better value, but with most of those being shut here at this time of year it's nice to have an option!

 

[Rob Coasters]

It cements my "I'm not massively fond of revisiting parks when there's nothing new to try out" view. How do you have some of the biggest rides on the travelling market and I live an hour away and I can't muster up the will to go ASAP? I wish the lineup changed a little bit more, but this is now obviously difficult with Brexit, so lately the event's become more of the same thing with maybe one new ride. Everything there I've ridden to death now at this point, and with international options now being vastly on the cards, I've quickly gone from "at least three or even four visits a year" to "once is fine".

It has some of my all time favourite flat rides but the lack of 'new', combined with an expanded portfolio of options to scratch my ride itch, causes my visits to become ever more infrequent.

 

[roomraider]

There's a new (for me) coaster there this year with Time Machine so will probably pop down.

But I'm pretty lucky that I can go during the day on most weekdays so I can pop down about 11am, not only do you get in for free but it's normally pretty dead. So can get in ride whatever I want with no queues, grab a bratwurst and a beer and then leave.

I can understand why people hate it though. But thanks to the above I usually have a great time there

 

[owenstreet7]

In my view, I find Hyde Park Winter Wonderland expensive as it's pay per ride and the price each ride is extortionate. There's no option for a all day wristband which would be helpful (although has it's challenges).

I also find that most of the coasters other than Olympia Looping is some variation of a Wild Mouse coaster and most of them are from Reverchon.

I'd like to see the line up get shaken up some years so there's more variety. I'd love to see Hollenblitz and Alpina Bahn come one season alongside Olympia. Even one of the other Schwarzkopf travelling coasters would work a treat. I'd also think a Gerstlauer Eurofighter if they do travelling models could be fantastic for Hyde Park.

 

[Fleetwood_Mack]

I've been every year since Olympia made her debut. There were a couple of instances where I even went alone whilst passing through London, rode the big O a few times then left. Probably giving it a miss this year though, which is entirely down to cost. Never been that arsed about the other rides, though I did the Euro Coaster and XL Wild Mouse with my other halfs nephews one year, they were okay. We did a Top Scan too, but I don't think it was run on a *much* better setting than Samurai. I can't do most flat rides these days as anything that spins leaves me feeling sick and needing to sit down for a while. Embarrassingly, I had to take a time out at Thorpe Park this year after riding Vortex and Zodiac back to back. Gettin' old, innit.

I'd like to go again as the old dame Olympia is more than worthy of the hype. But it will be those instances of "I'm in London with some time to kill, I'll just pop over and have a ride or three" again, rather than doing the whole experience with the crowds and extortionate prices for food & drink.

Has anyone else noticed that the general opinion of the Olympia Looping has gone down since appearing in London? Enthusiasts used to gush over it to no end when it was some rare, exotic cred. Now that she appears in London every year, and every basic Becky like me that couldn't afford to chase it around Europe before can ride it... much more "hardened" enthusiasts seem to be turning their noses up at it and saying stuff like "well, actually, I think it's rather overrated". This certainly isn't aimed at anyone here, just something I've noticed in the community as a whole that tickles me

 

[FistedColossus]

£8-£10 for some of the most basic coasters in Europe is absolutely bonkers. As is £11 for Olympia Looping.

Haven't been there since paid entry became a thing but used to always go and spend a few hours eating/drinking in the Bavarian village.

When weighing it all up I can get flights and Wintertraum tickets for the same price as a few hours at Winter Wonderland.

 

[Howie]

At the risk of sounding like a typical tight-arsed northerner, which I totally am by the way, it's just too expensive innit. I mean, if you actually wanna do stuff, or buy stuff, or eat stuff while you're there, it's gonna cost you a small fortune. Could get a day trip to Plopsaland for less money.
I've been twice, spent most of the time just walking round going "How f***ing much?"
It's a good event, I'm glad I've experienced it, but I've got everything I need from it and won't be going back anytime soon, if ever.

 

[Hixee]

I went back in *checks notes* 2016(!!!) as work were paying for me to be in London already, and it was a chance to ride Olympia Looping (perhaps for the first time at Winter Wonderland...?).

Haven't felt any desire to go back since. Too expensive, busy and faffy for little gain for me.

 

[Squrmyweesl]

Well... I just popped in at about 1:30pm (free entry), and it wasn't dead but certainly not overcrowded, actually quite pleasant.

Got two rides on the distinguished looping lady, including back row, and to me she seemed to be running pretty well, with the odd charming jolt here and there! The drops seemed less intense than when I was a very green rider, but still lots of fun, and the loops hit hard. It's always a surprise how long it goes on for in that small footprint. The ops were being a bit stern but did allow me to wait for the rows I wanted after a bit of back-and-forth.

But the bad news is - the price has now gone up again, it's now £12 a pop! I do appreciate that it's a pain in the arse to bring it over here but that really feels like pushing it a bit far. (EDIT - just been informed that you can sometimes pre-book it for £11 still)

Also spotted this comical food offering. £18.50?! OK, most of the prices didn't seem to be quite this shameless but some were close!

 

[Squrmyweesl]

£8-£10 for some of the most basic coasters in Europe is absolutely bonkers. As is £11 for Olympia Looping.

Haven't been there since paid entry became a thing but used to always go and spend a few hours eating/drinking in the Bavarian village.

When weighing it all up I can get flights and Wintertraum tickets for the same price as a few hours at Winter Wonderland.

Discovered that it's now £12 for the Looping today

Have you been to Wintertraum? Was it atmospheric/busy? Didn't realise they were open over Christmas...