Archive for RCCGB FORUM Message Board for Members of the Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain to discuss club events and all things theme park related.
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RobinA
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Drayton Manor and West Midlands Safari ParkWent back to Drayton Manor on Friday, as promised to my daughter, Kelly, when she knew I was going with the club to the Loopathon. She does not like roller coasters but is a big fan of Thomas Land, (I actually won her a Thomas cuddly toy by lobbing 2 balls in a barrel back in July).
Weather had been promising to be iffy but in the end was nearly dry all day but a little cold. We arrived late Thursday night so that we would be in the park on Friday when all the kids should have been at school, the exact opposite of when I went in July and was hopeful for a quiet park, not nice for the accountants at Drayton but great for us.
The day was going to be centred around Kelly and I was hoping I would get permission to ride a few roller coasters later in the day. We strolled in the park and we saw a ride which looked like a monorail going out over the water so we went to investigate. This turned out to be Buffalo Roller Coaster. It did not look too wild so my Kelly and my wife, Molly, went on to my utter amazement. I reassured Kelly and she just about coped with it, although she is wary about going on again. Molly really hated it but did not scream in case she worried Kelly.
From there, a ride on the train and then down to Thomas Land for a ride down to the farm and dinner. Back to Thomas Land and I went on the Troublesome Trucks roller coaster which is quite good. Then onto Bertie the Bus followed by Diesels Locomotion Mayhem. Into the Thomas Shop to buy a few gifts and then I went onto Maestrom. Kelly wanted another ride around the park so Molly and Kelly went off on the train and I went onto 'G Force'. Not sure what to make off being upside down, lost my bearings a little (as well as my marble since the start of this year). The second time sat in the front. From there I went onto Shockwave. Straight up the stairs and straight onto the front row, no waiting - heaven. This is a superb ride, really enjoyable. Came off and then went on 4 more times, 3 further times in the front and 1 at the back. I must say this is one of the best rides I have been on. The Nemesis's at Alton Towers and Thorpe Park are probable top due to the amount of action going on throughout the ride but this is definitely next for me. Back onto Maestrom whilst Molly and Kelly come back from the farm and then onto Diesel Mayhem again before a stroll back through the zoo, which I did not find before.
From Drayton we went down to West Midland Safari Park, near Bewdley. It was a really dirty night and it took us 2½ hours to get there, including a trip down a lane no wide than my camper van, as I was towing my car it was very worrying. (Good old TomTom's !!) Arrived about 8.00 and settled down for the night. Saturday morning drove over to the Safari Park, and after going there back in March and really enjoying it we hoped for more of the same. It did not disappoint. Really busy with cars but you can go at your own pace and it took just under 2 hours to go round. We then went for dinner in the Amusement park. They have 3 roller coasters, however, after 'G Force' and Shockwave did not appeal (to my shame) and even more so when it cost £3.50 to go on once. It was quite busy in the park as the weather was great, no jumpers or coats required. Where this park scores over Longleat is the fact you can go round the park again if you wish, which you can't do so at Longleat without paying again. Also with their massive number of animals, including white tigers (Kellys' favorites) and white lions it takes some beating. When we went around again people were feeding the animals (not the lions and tigers). I felt sorry for one guy who was feeding the zebras and he must have had his fingers sticking up and the zebra took a bite and would not let go. He really had to pull his hand away and Molly saw blood and broken skin. It was not funny but I laughed but more from the shock of it than anything else. The man was in shock I think as I kept looking down at his hand (probably counting his fingers) All in all a great day out which I can recommend.
Back home now, quote sad as this is probably the last time we will get away in my camper van this year. I don't wish to wish my life away (I've already used a fair bit) but roll on Blackpool.
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bluea61
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Re: Drayton Manor and West Midlands Safari Park | RobinA wrote: | | I must say this is one of the best rides I have been on. The Nemesis's at Alton Towers and Thorpe Park are probable top due to the amount of action going on throughout the ride but this is definitely next for me. |
Shockwave is a cool ride, and the only Standup in Europe. I was suprised at Loppathon just how good it was, better than I remember!
Sounds like you had a good time, I think I've been down that country lane near West Midlands. My TomTom seems to take me down all those sort of roads. 
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Happy Helen
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Re: Drayton Manor and West Midlands Safari Park | bluea61 wrote: | | RobinA wrote: | | I must say this is one of the best rides I have been on. The Nemesis's at Alton Towers and Thorpe Park are probable top due to the amount of action going on throughout the ride but this is definitely next for me. |
Shockwave is a cool ride, and the only Standup in Europe. I was suprised at Loppathon just how good it was, better than I remember!
Sounds like you had a good time, I think I've been down that country lane near West Midlands. My TomTom seems to take me down all those sort of roads. |
I wouldn't be a bit suprised there Steve, as I recently brought a sat nav and it is supposed to give the quickest routes, which is great if you don't know a certain place very well, but sometimes they take you down all sorts of roads like country lanes, which are a lot of especially coming back from places like Bournemouth.
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Death
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Re: Drayton Manor and West Midlands Safari Park | bluea61 wrote: | | Sounds like you had a good time, I think I've been down that country lane near West Midlands. My TomTom seems to take me down all those sort of roads. |
| Happy Helen wrote: | | I wouldn't be a bit suprised there Steve, as I recently brought a sat nav and it is supposed to give the quickest routes, which is great if you don't know a certain place very well, but sometimes they take you down all sorts of roads like country lanes, which are a lot of especially coming back from places like Bournemouth. |
The owner of the B&B that I used at Loopathon (Which is sited well off the beaten path, about a mile down a single-track country lane) said that a lot of people had been using the road past there in more recent times, mainly as a result of sat-nav map updates and more people finding the route. 
Although I don't have an issue with it in principle, I do wish sat-nav providers would avoid using such roads except when they directly serve a point of origin or destination. Country roads run through quiet and pleasant places, but the more people who use them, the busier and more polluted each road will become.  
In the case of the road I mentioned above, they've already started having issues with boy racers using it at most inappropriate speeds en-route to the Towers - And that's something that didn't happen before the sat-nav came along... 
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