Drayton Manor - Sat 15th March 2008

Coaster Police · Drayton Manor - Sat 15th March 2008

Our first UK theme park trip of the new season was Saturday 15th March at Drayton Manor.

We arrived at 10:15 ready for the public opening of Thomas Land at 10:30. A small boy (presumably called Thomas) opened the area at about 10:28 and the crowd was let in on-time at 10:30. The first activity which took place was the new Thomas train which was waiting in the newly built Knapford station. Thomas was uncoupled from the 4 new coaches, shunted forward and turned on the new turntable infront of the crowd. A smoke machine has been installed under the track where the engine stops to add the effect of steam coming from the engine.

We then went straight to the troublesome trucks coaster. The access uses platform 2 of the new Knapford station as the queue line, while trains load up from platform 1. This is a very good use of space, and the newly built station looks excellent. Very well and authentically built. Having a railway background, I was very impressed with the attention to detail, including the platform announcements, and fading steam train sounds as the train pulls away into the distance.

Meanwhile, back on troublesome trucks, we were the first "public" riders, managing to get the front seat. The coaster is very smooth. It coasts for a good way out of the station down some bendy track until it reaches the tyre style lift hill. It's very smooth all the way round and quite quick for a kiddie coaster resulting in some damage to the ear drums by the younger riders aboard. The landscaping and themeing is excellent, all finished and very effective. Well done DMP!

Now our new coaster is scratched we went elsewhere. The whole of Thomas land is very well themed and impressive. There were lots of kids about and as promised, all rides can be done by adults as well.

Once done here we went off for a dose of all the other rides, Shockwave, G-Force, Maelstrom, Buffalo Coaster, Apocalypse etc. All rides were open with the exception of "The Haunting" which was down for maintenance.

The park was not that busy really, and there were no queue's for any rides with everything being almost walk on. There seemed to be an excess amount of staff about (6 in one coffee shop) but there's alot of new season training going on, that said, I guess the first day of work, they will all be there and only start taking sickies and bunking off later in the season!

The park was generally very tidy with alot of the staff gainfully employed in sweeping up winter leaves and generally getting things tidy. Some painting has been done. The grotty blue wall by the viewing area of the first drop from Stormforce has been repainted blue with the Drayton Manor logo applied, although strangeley the new paint seems to stop 3/4 of the way along the wall, and the lower walls have not been painted. Did they run out of paint? A shame really as the new bit looks quite smart. Also some dubious yellow gloss paint has been applied to the train on Shockwave covering all the Drayton Manor branding. It looks a bit sloppy with paint drips like it's just been slapped on.

However, a very good day was has, a new coaster scratched and the weather held off until 4 when it started raining, by which time we were ready to go back south anyway. Overall i am impressed with the new Thomas Land (so much work completed since walking round in the mud at Loopathon 07), as seem the kids as it seemed to be the busiest area of the park all day. The little cafe at the zoo end of the railway has been Thomas themed with the history of Thomas etc in light up wall boxes round the cafe.

Next weekend we're off along the south coast to Hayling Island to find the old DMP Super Dragon, and find the new coaster at Littlehampton!

Pics on website from this trip at:- http://mdw.fotopic.net/c1476519.html

stealth fan

Great to hear the new area delivers what was to be expected. What day are you going to Hayling? Might be there aswell.

Coaster Police

It's penciled in for Saturday. Havn't made the final arrangements yet. Just need to get the gen on whether the new Littlehampton Coaster will be open. I'll let you know nearer the end of the week on here.

stealth fan

That would be great, although I have noticed they have'nt put super Dragon at Hayling on Coastercounter yet.

Coaster Police

I gave up using that a year or so ago, as it always seemed out of date and didn't cover travelling coasters (not sure if it does now - i must take a look)

I use www.coaster-count.com now as it's a much better site with alot more detail and maps and cool stuff like that, and up-to-date. They have the Super Dragon in already as "Construction" status and it'll go live to "Operating" when it opens at easter.