Flamingoland - trip report now posted - birthday

YAY. Im off to flamingoland in six days for my birthday, and i cant wait. I know alot of you would think flamingolands crap but never mind. I will be posting a trip report and getting lots of pics and maybe even a video if my dad finally buys this video camera.[:)]But i doubt he will.

I had a choice of going to either Flamingoland, Drayton Manor, or Alton towers for my birthday. I go to Alton lots so i decided i would go to Flamingoland. Ive never been before, the parks growing rapidly now, and i want to say goodbye to their 2 classic schwarzkopf coasters magnum force ( http://www.ukrides.info/flmag.htm ) and Bullet ( http://www.ukrides.info/flbullet.htm ) although Bullet may not be running. [V] I also want to ride their new Vekoma motorbike called Velocity.

http://www.ukrides.info/flamingoland.htm look at this guide to Flamingoland and tell me what i should take pics of, and video if i can. [:D]

[Dirk_Ermen]

well, 6days is alot. Why not 3days drayton and 3days flamingo? but if your going 6 days: Picture everything! Every detail in the park, every trashcan, every support, every screw [:D] you probably understand what i mean [;)] Also if possible, Shoot lot's of video. [:)]

He is going n 6 days time, not for 6 days Dirk [;)]

I've never had the will to go to Flamingo Land myself, but shoiuld be a niceday out

^^^ I didnt want to go to Flamingoland until i heard that magnum Force and Bullet were going. They are supposed to be pretty good, and i didnt want to miss my chance of riding some decent schwarcopf coasters!!! Im also looking forward to cliff hanger which is the tallest shot N drops in the country. Although i will be nervous, S&S shot N drops are the only actual rides that have made me really nervous before riding. Apart from a Shot N drop at Lincoln Christmas market, but i was nervous then cos it sounded like it was gonna break. I dont know who that one was made by.

Dirk im going in 6 days like Edge said, not for 6 days.

[gouldy]

I think you'd be pretty bored after 6 days at any British park, hardly many rides at any of them is there

Jpe, you should take pictures of every single square centimetre of the park , sure you'd have like 20 billion photos and most of them would be pretty damn boring, who cares, at least you wouldn't miss anything . Nah seriously though, just take pictures of anything that looks like a decent photo opportunity [:)]

^ He said he'll be leaving in 6 days, not going there for six days.

[gouldy]

yes, I gathered that I was joking about Dirks mistake.

Sorry didn't catch that[dorkhat]. It would be funny for him to take a picture of everything in the park.

^^ Until i realised how much it would cost me on memory cards for my digital camera.

Im just gonna take pics of decent thrill rides, the lost river, and some themeing at the park (IF i can find any )

[gouldy]

are you suggesting that the lost river isn't a decent thrill ride? how ever could you possibly suggest such a thing [:P]

^yes. [:D] Although it makes a big splash and looks nice.

YOU are not permitted to use any photos in this post!!!!!




Well, i went to flamingoland today so its time for me to post a trip report. [:D] Here goes:


I got to flamingoland at about 11 am. This was my first time at flamingoland so i didnt know what to expect from some of their rides. The skyline was dominated by Cliffhanger, a large S&S shot and drop at the back of the park, and by the 2 schwarzkopf coasters Magnum Force and bullet. I had heard alot about these two coasters, very forceful, and very good apparently. I approached the park gates and there was a sign saying Velocity would not be operating that day and neither would the Lost river. I was annoyed that Velocity, the parks new Vekoma motorbike wasnt open, but it has been down for the last few weeks so it was no surprise.

When i entered the park i headed straight for Bullet. Apparently it keeps closing early so i wanted to get my ride.

>>>>>BULLET<<<<<

As soon as i got right up to Bullet i noticed its alot bigger than i ever imagined, and alot bigger than you think when looking in photos. Well i got straight on, the seats arent the comfiest but their alright, i remember thinking how open the restraints felt. Just a lap bar and a bar over each shoulder. But who cares about that anyway. The car slowly travelled forwards through the crooked station and stopped. You dont know what the hell to expect now as never have i been on a backward launch straight into a 70 degree spike!!!! Well it isnt a powerful launch but that doesnt stop it being amazingly thrilling. I was back seat, and i recommend it. Suddenly you just find yourself looking right at the ground 100 foot in the air. You suddenly loose speed and its an extremely weird feeling, its like airtime but your still being pushed right into the back of your seat. You then suddenly drop, rapdly through the station and into a large turn, and a great element. At this point i knew this ride was special. Straight into the loop, with huge forces. This ride along with Magnum Force attack the track like no other rides i know. You travel so fast through really tight turns. As soon as you leave the loop you turn and go up another very steep incline and feel yourself losing speed and then you just drop backwards and repeat the process. The ride is short, but awesome from the very start to the very finish. Its sad that i have only had one ride on it and it will be leaving very soon. It is extremely thrilling. Now i had huge expectations for Magnum force.

Photos of Bullet i took:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/ ... 005044.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/ ... 005081.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/ ... 005001.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/ ... 005002.jpg
(notice how big people are compared to the ride. Its alot bigger than you expect)

>>>>>Magnum Force<<<<<

Again when you see Magnum Force its alot bigger than you think. Your eyes instantly look at those large, and quite circular loops. The noise of the train attacking the track is astounding. I joined the queue looking up at the famous trademark near vertical twisting drops of Schwarzkopf rides. They looked stunning. As i got further in the queue i remember the smell of sick wafting through the queue. There was no sick around, i think just after all the years all the entrance and exit ramps smell of it. LOL. As i boarded the train again i noticed the strange restraints. It was a bit different to the restraints on Bullet. These were a lap bar, and like matierial that came over your shoulders like the seatbelts in a racing car. In the station it made me feel quite vulnerable and open but once the rie got going it felt extremely safe and VERY comfortable. The lift hill was a fast curving one, which seemed to go up and up and up. The drop is breathtaking, awesome. I loved it, You go from feeling your normal weight, to slightly lighter and then you feel a slight lateral surge and huge positive Gs right at the bottom. Then a huge curving incline. Now time for the loops. The first two occured one right after the other, and were quite forceful, but not anything really forceful. Another right curving upward hill, and a MCBR and down again, giving some slight lats and then some positives not to many. Then BANG, into a tight 3rd loop and WOW, i have never felt Gs like it. Awesome. My hands had been up all this time, but through this loop they were pushed right down because of the huge force. I remember this vividly. This loop was just breathtaking. The speed you went through it was crazy and very disorientating. We were soon heading out of the last loop and into helixes and a few hills. here you really feel like your hands are going to hit the supports they are so close. The train dodging everything so fast giving good airtime and huge sudden bursts of great laterals. Then its suddenly all over with a harsh brake run. Thats THE best ride i have experienced apart from nemesis and Rita at Alton Towers. It never let up, just crazy all the way through. Quite like Bullet but a whole lot longer. I would have to ride this again that day and i will probably go searching for it at a German Fair when im older as it is returning to germany next year. I thought it was a great ride.

Pics of Magnum Force i took:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/ ... 005076.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/ ... 005075.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/ ... 005056.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/ ... ercopy.jpg
(Im using the last one as my desktop wallpaper)


>>>>>VELOCITY<<<<<

After Magnum Force i headed over to take a few pics of Velocity and look at it for a while. It looked great. While i was at this side of the park i decide to ride Corkscrew, a Vekoma corkscrew the same as the one at Alton Towers but quite alot smoother. YAY no ear bashing. As we went round the speed builder turn at the top i noticed something flash across red track below me where velocity was. I blinked. VELOCITY WAS TESTING. MAN, i have never been so eager to get off a coaster. I couldnt wait until that damn corkscrew had finished. As soon as it had i ran to Velocity, and watched it going and took some pics and stuff. After watching it test for quite a long time i went and lingered around the station, waiting for a sign of it opening or them letting just a few people on. It seemed alot of people had had the same idea as there was a huge crowd formed arund the ride. After about 20 mins of waiting they opened the queueline and there was a mad rush. It was so weird, people pushing and shoving to get on a coaster, ive never seen that before. When i got on the ride, i put my restraint down and though it was quite uncomfortable. It is slightly uncomfortable for guys, but after a bit of fidgeting to get comfy its fine. LOL. The launch was alot more powerful than i expected it to be. It took a while but there was still a definate power to it. Still nothing on Ritas that i have ridden a few times now. But still powerful. Maybe it was becaue of the strange position that it felt more powerful. I dont know. Anyway we picked up alot of speed and rushed over the first hill, it was an awesome feeling, You could feel you would come out of your set there if it wasnt for the restraints. Down into a swooping right turn. Im going to have to use the word forceful again. It was alot more forceful than i had expected. I was pushed down in my motorbike ([lol]) Theres was lots of good turns and twists. Really quite forceful and it had a very good feeling of speed. It was quite smooth aswell, it needs a few months to settle slightly but it was still smooth. It was a very good ride, and i cant wait to rid eit again. It was more fun than scary though. It wasnt the type of thrilling ride i like, but still fun. [:D] Very very nice addition to the park. After purchasing my photo i decided to go to the ride i had been most nervous about.......

PICS of velocity i took:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/ ... 005026.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/ ... 005025.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/ ... 005020.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/ ... 005013.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/ ... 005012.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/ ... 005010.jpg

>>>>>CLIFF HANGER<<<<<

Im slightly iffy about these rides. Cliff hanger is the largest tower ride in the UK apparently. But i think its about the height of apocalypse at Drayton Manor. Well actually maybe a bit taller i dont know. Its supposed to be 54 metres which is 180 foot approximately, and i dont know how high Apocalypse is. Anyway. I had heard alot about cliff hanger, forceful again comes up. Much more forceful than Ice blast at BPB and Volcanic Impact (what was Volcanic Eruption) at FI. I joined the queue anyway dispite my nerves. In fact i think if a ride can make you nervous its a very good ride anyway. Its the whole point in this type of ride. I got talking to quite a few people in the queue aswell, as you do, and as i was on my own for this ride, 2 people said i could sit with them. We boarded the car and i felt the nerves a bit. Eeeek. We slowly rose up and then went down slightly, then up slightly and locked about 6 foot off the floor. It doesnt help that the ride is made so many people are watching you. Then a voice palys through the speakers saying please keep your head against the head rest etc. It says this a few times. All the while the nerves building slightly. You can here that loud hissing noise aswell as the repeating warning coming through the sound system and you know your gonna go any second but when...........???? BANG your off, upwards upwards, upwards (well your still trying to go upwards but the cars going down now). Theres alot of airtime up there. Then down down down, your floating out of your seat all the way. Then a few nice bounces, and on a space shot it would be over by now. But on the S&S shot on drops you have a bit left yet. Your slowly taken upwards and higher and higher, and then the car suddenly slows down and stops. Your left thinking your at the top, but then suddenly the car takes you higher again and finally slows down for a second time and comes to a halt. I must say you can see alot from up there, i could have stayed up there all day, it was a wonderful feeling and view. After about 15 seconds, you suddenly feel your seat leave from beneath you, and you accelerate all the way to the bottom. I do actually love theses rides now. I think they are awesome, but its just the wait before.

Pics of Cliff Hanger i took:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/ ... 005045.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/ ... 005036.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/ ... 005034.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/ ... 005032.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/ ... 005031.jpg

>>>>>Navigator<<<<<

After cliff hanger i went and got some food, and then repeated a few rides, and went on some other flats that i do not rate that much. The only one worth mentioning is the Zamperla Disko called Navigator. It was alot of fun, and occasionally when you were right at the top facing upwards you got the feeling that the car was going to continue over the edge of the track. That was a nice feature. It was a fun ride, not to thrilling though but still good.

I had a few re rides on Magnum Force and would have had a re ride on Bullet but it had indeed closed. My parents wanted to go to the zoo so we spent an hour at flamingoland zoo aswell. I dont like zoos like that, neither do my parents really, they are quite cruel when they have little space.

All in all it was a good day with a few great rides. I do think flamingoland is seriously under rated. Although i hope their new Vekoma SLC next year is going to be goo, as losing Magnum Force and Bullet is pretty risky. Anyway here is my new top 5 list of coaster rides, and non coaster thrill rides:

Top 5 coasters ever ridden:
1. Nemesis - Alton Towers
2. Rita - Alton Towers
3. Magnum Force - Flamingoland
4. Bullet - Flamingoland
5. Oblivion
(6. Shockwave - Drayton Manor [:D])

Top 5 thill rides ever ridden:
1. Cliff Hanger - Flamingoland
2. Ripsaw - Alton Towers
3. Eagles claw - Lightwater valley
4. Hyper Blaster - Pleasure Island
5. Alakazam - Pleasure Island

That took a while to write. LOL.
BTW i have a low quality video aswell.

I speak for myself and Gouldy here, what about pictures of your sister?

Anyways nice report, wasted a good 10 minutes of my life reading it though

Navigator Is a little scary coz u think u r gonna fly off. ur nearly vertical. cliffhanger is one scary ride. I was almost ****tin maself. Bullet is class. so is magnum. I've Went On The Lost River ride.... Its Pretty Good. i like the drop. u get very wet. but the water looks like pee. The Circulator is good. Its the only ride of its kind in europe or summit innit. Tidal Wave is good 2. Is The Wild mouse at Flamingo Land the same as the one in hersheypark? And Im Sure the Flamingo Land Corkscrew Is Different 2 the Alton Towers one. Tell Me If Im Wrong. I Havent been on Velocity... Any good? I Have A Recreation Of The Bullet for RCT3 but its a bit wierd on the loop as it was made on RCT2 and imported... The Loop clashes with the station but ppl seem 2 like it. Tell Me If I Shud Post It

Edge, my sister wasnt there. BTW where do i post the video? It isnt THAT great quality but its viewable easilly. It will be my last poor quality vid anyway as my dads buying a video camera. So now i can video with that instead of with my digital camera.

Weedood

The corkscrew at Flamingoland is the exact same model as the at Alton Towers. Velocity was pretty good. Read the paragraph i posted on Velocity to here what i thought.