Rogue
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Oakwood FutureThought it might be interesting to have a thread with regard to the future of Oakwood now it is under the ownership of Aspro.
What changes would you like to see?
What things do you NOT want for the park?
This is what we know already
| Quote: | Carlos Marina in the latest issue of 'Attractions Management' magazine has been interviewed on the recent rapid growth of Aspro Ocio over
the last few years. In the interview Oakwood is put at the fore-front of Aspro Ocio's recent developments and reveals that they've "embarked
on a new phase of the park's future where reinforced security and state of the art attractions will play an essential role |
| Quote: | The new owner's of Oakwood Theme Park have made their next change to the business. This year's opening times have been altered
and now involves the park opening until early November, but also restricting opening days to weekends during parts of September and
October |
| Quote: | Oakwood from this August will not be offering visitors to the park a discounted entry rate after 5:30pm. From here forward After Dark is no
more, but the park will still be open until 10pm in the evening throughout August. Fireworks will still be on offer at the end of the night
with outdoor entertainment, but there will be no water fountains or indoor show from here forward |
So discuss what you would like to happen with the park?
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coaster-andy
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I think that the time is right for the park to move ahead with the idea of another wooden coaster.
If I remember this was what they wanted to add again as Megaphobia was a great addition to this park.
I am not fussed what type but it would put the park at the top again. I like the park but I want something a little more exciting to travel that far at the moment in time.
I just don't think this is a park that is a huge steel coaster park it is a family park with some great fun rides.
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Magic
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Clean, fully functioning toilets would be a good start.
Other than that the park needs lots of new rides. It's stood still for too long. I'd like to see a new dark ride, preferably a shoot em up, ideally an IE Park/ Heimo model along the lines of Adventures of Spiderman at Niagara Falls.
A new roller coaster that isn't as extreme as Speed and not as rough as Megafobia, perhaps a launched Maure or a Zamperla Motocoaster. Both of them look the part, are highly re-rideable, mid budget and marketable.
The Hydro area needs a support ride or two, perhaps a Splash Battle and Wave swinger with water effects. Both are family friendly.
The Bunny train ride needs updating. Keep it as a ride for younger guests but bring it a bit more up to date. Add a kiddie ride or two in this area. Maybe use the bunnies as the key theme and characters for the area.
Since Aspro own an aquarium brand add one to the park as a 2nd gate. Taking advantage of the Bluestones development next door so as to make it into a resort.
Add a laser quest to CC2000 and incorporate a park entry ticket to include CC2000. Put in a shuttle train from CC2000 to the park front gate. This will encourage people to spend longer in the park and increase secondary spend within the park. Also market CC2000 to locals as a party venue.
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bluea61
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Some nice ideas Magic, I like the idea of the resort using an Aquarium and the shuttle.
I feel that more support attractions to bulk the place out a bit are needed. They already have three good sized coasters but some more good flats would suit the place. As for what I don't know but they would need to be on the family side of things but thrilling enough for everybody else.
Also get ride of Bounce! Replace it with a good S&S prehaps the same as Pleasure Island's small one as this really packs a punch of Airtime.
I think a new coaster would be good but more medium term after the place is filled out.
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Coaster Toaster
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I like the way that they are moving forward.
But they do need a better selection of flats which have been said.
Up by hydro i reckon a water ride like the one at legoland (wave surfer i think) with water cannons on the side which spectators can operate to wet people on the ride.
Disko coaster over by speed as it would fit nicely into the area due to the bright colours of speed and that most diskos are bright as well.
A breakdance or afterburner would fit in nicely down by the pirate ship near to where the penalty shoot out is.
A big wheel may also be suited some where in the park.
Reasons for the rides they are suited for family whilst being thrilling enough for teenagers
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smiler
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A big wheel will good in that park I think as the view from top of megafobia are great on a clear day. A nice little wooden coaster would be nice. Get ride of pirate ship  and bring a cage style ride there great fun
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coaster-andy
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The flat ride idea is a good one as that was my gripe before not enough flat rides.
A darn good dark ride would be cool something interactive shoot everything that moves.
The lack of flat rides is a problem as trying to fill out a whole day when is quite was hard.
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sueysue
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How about a nostalgia section - a big Carousel with organ music, Caterpillar, Dodgems.
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c anderson
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A nice dark ride and a Phoenix coaster would be great
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nemesis scribe
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Hmmmmm a 'Top Thrill Fobia' would be cool??
Or . . .
Millenium 'fobia' Force
Or . . . 
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Boozytwin1
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I've often thought a big wheel on the island in the lake near Megafobia would be ideal. It could light up in the evenings giving it a proper amusement park feel... It does not have to be the biggest wheel, just a nice size to fit the area.
What are they doing to that island by the way...?? The bridge from megafobia had been taken down when we were there for Mega Glow Mania...
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bluea61
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| sueysue wrote: | | How about a nostalgia section - a big Carousel with organ music, Caterpillar, Dodgems. |
Take a trip to Folly Farm, they have some of the best classic rides I've seen. The skid was our favourite by far.
The big wheel would be cool, especially if the height is enough to get up above the tree line and see the surrounding view.
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Rough Rider
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There's only one thing that needs to be put in Oaky...........
A "Racing Woodie" like Lightning Racer..............or the Nash.
or even better............(here it comes Magic)
A " Rattler" look and ride a-like
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USfriends
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So we are back to that, are we Ryan......
How about a feel like Rattler ride?
Put you in a box of rocks, and roll it down a hill! 
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Graboy
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Tenby...[quote="bluea61"] | sueysue wrote: | | Take a trip to Folly Farm, they have some of the best classic rides I've seen. The skid was our favourite by far.. |
Off on Holiday next week and planning to visit Folly Farm, although mainly for the kids. I know they've got (the biggest UK indoor ?), some classic rides but I'm not expecting much. However, I might stumble upon a treat from what you're saying (?).
Really looking forward to Oakwood though. Never been before. Want to see if Megafobia is as good as people reckon. I prefer wood, and the Nash is my favourite, followed by the Mouse, so I really hope it does live up to its reputation!
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JamesC
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I think Oakwood should build another woodie.
Megafobia is so popular with the public, and it is also one of the main reasons American coaster enthusiasts come over here, so can you imagine what a second woodie would do? It would be like the Holiday World of the UK! And besides, we need more wood in this country!
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stealth fan
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| JamesC wrote: | I think Oakwood should build another woodie.
Megafobia is so popular with the public, and it is also one of the main reasons American coaster enthusiasts come over here, so can you imagine what a second woodie would do? It would be like the Holiday World of the UK! And besides, we need more wood in this country! |
I agree with you totally there James. We seem to have more wood torn down or burnt down in the Uk than built.
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Happy Helen
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I would love to see a dark ride at Oakwood.
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Magic
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The trouble with wood is that it's not seen in the same way in the UK as it is in the US and Europe. The general public here see woodies as old, dated and rickety. Until a major UK park adds one and the public are reintroduced to the joys of wooden coasters I don't think that opinion will change.
Sadly Oakwood is too far off the radar to make any significant impact on that impression. If Oakwood built another woodie it wouldn't attract hordes of extra visitors. Sure Megafobia made an impact but that's because it was the parks first major coaster.
Whilst another woodie will send global coaster enthusiasts hurtling to the park, 5000 of us going there doesn't keep a park from going bust.
I'd like to see Oakwood become the UK Holiday World but until public perception of wooden coasters change that won't happen
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nemesis scribe
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| Magic wrote: | The trouble with wood is that it's not seen in the same way in the UK as it is in the US and Europe. The general public here see woodies as old, dated and rickety. Until a major UK park adds one and the public are reintroduced to the joys of wooden coasters I don't think that opinion will change.
Sadly Oakwood is too far off the radar to make any significant impact on that impression. If Oakwood built another woodie it wouldn't attract hordes of extra visitors. Sure Megafobia made an impact but that's because it was the parks first major coaster.
Whilst another woodie will send global coaster enthusiasts hurtling to the park, 5000 of us going there doesn't keep a park from going bust.
I'd like to see Oakwood become the UK Holiday World but until public perception of wooden coasters change that won't happen |
Thats exactly what i was going to write  . . .
The truth hurts, but that the true reality of Oakwood at this present time and future.
AD 
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bluea61
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Re: Tenby... | Graboy wrote: | | Off on Holiday next week and planning to visit Folly Farm, although mainly for the kids. I know they've got (the biggest UK indoor ?), some classic rides but I'm not expecting much. However, I might stumble upon a treat from what you're saying (?). |
The farm yard section I didn't think was up to much. Kiddies will probably love it, but we weren't that impressed. The rides are fantastic, and its worth going just for them. They range between 1-2 tokens which are 50p each.
As for Oakwood, I agree with the above a Woodie would be nice but its neer going to pull visitors from across the country in the sort of numbers say AT does. They need to build up the support rides to warrant another coaster.
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Steven Burns
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| Happy Helen wrote: | | I would love to see a dark ride at Oakwood. |
We would all like to see dark rides. But if we could see them, they would be light and not dark isn't it
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Graboy
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Re: Tenby...Thanks Steve!
Folly Farm was great and I managed to take my Son (aged 2), on his first rides. Of course, I felt like a prat sitting beside him on the small carousel  But he loved the mini-waltzers; chip off the old block as the faster it spun, the more he giggled! Also got him on the dodgems, traditional horse carousel and a couple of other things. They've got it just right there - no problem with the Welsh weather. A great collection indoors and it was good to see some of the older classic rides like the Cakewalk etc...Cost me a fortune in 50p's though
As for Oakwood, well I was looking forward to visiting this legendary place and it certainly lived up to its reputation. Another first was getting my Son on a ferris wheel, before moving onto Megafobia. In all honesty, my first ride was disappointing. I set on the second row and came off thinking "And this is supposed to be up there at the top?! This is supposed to rival 'the Nash'?!" However, on my second ride, I sat right at the back and can't believe the difference it made. That first drop was intense. Another ride confirmed my faith and now Megafobia is a classic woodie in my book (I also got to meet one Gentleman from the club on the ride too).
Next it was Speed: No Limits. One thing I've found these last couple of years is how much frightened I am becoming with regards to rides. Not the 'enjoying fright' adrenaline type stuff but the uncomfortable 'I really don't like this' feeling. I bottled it a couple of times and stood in the empty queue-line, looking at the vertical ascent. I don't know but I felt really insecure thinking about ascending in that position (got this thing about falling back and to some degree, I'm always similarly pleased once the PMBO gets up there). For some reason, it's a fear that's grown with age and illogically, with experience...Anyway, like most of these things, the fear was worse the experience, and I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. In fact, it's now one of my favourite steelies. Again, that first drop was intense! To me, this ride is what 'Oblivion' should have been...
Next was onto 'Bounce'. Now I'm the kind of guy that really has a love / hate relationship with tower rides. I love 'Ice Blast', yet bottled it during the BB earlier this year, despite going on numerous times previously. I love the overlooked 'Venom' at WM Safari Park, but it scares the life out of me. Bounce, I found, was a great ride that offered enough thrill without the extremity. OK, it's not the tallest etc..., but I like the fact that it's different - operating as first a shot tower and then drop tower. And unlike 'Venom', it seems to drop on pure gravity rather than 'pressured-drop'.
Another first and I'm proud to announce my Son's first roller-coaster: Treetops Coaster. He seemed to enjoy it but remained a little indifferent...ha! Let's see what the future has for him This is a better than average family coaster, set in a wonderful, natural environment.
Finally, it was onto 'Hydro'. The irony of going on a 'walk-on' day is that sometimes, there aren't enough numbers to operate the ride. Luckily it was only a 10 minute wait and we were on. Ascending, my mind was on that poor girl who lost her life, that I wasn't really paying much attention to the ride until the drop...But what a drop! And what a splash! My only complaint was that this was over far too quickly and could do with a couple more drops or other features etc...
So that was my first trip to Oakwood. Yes, I will be back on a regular basis and by the looks of it, there's plenty of land for expansion. Oakwood's rides have seriously dented my 'top five' charts. Here's to the future!
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frosty
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I share the same problem with lift hills and especially vertical lifts (Farenheight being my first vertical lift coaster) but once the ride starts I find it enjoyable. After riding Meggy many times during the ERS and not really enjoying it due to the rain, I never got to ride Speed this time around.
The increasing height and potentially getting stuck further up lift hill's is my main concern, but as time has gone on I just go for it and put on a brave face - or not as those around me will testify.
For all those brave souls that have ridden the rides on top of the Stratosphere tower - I salute you, especially as at least once people where stuck 900 feet up facing the ground for 2 hours!
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