What a brilliant series, I’ve watched all four back to back after spending the last two Saturdays in Blackpool. I’ve always wanted to know more about the history of the park, a genuinely fascinating insight into how it’s changed 👏👏👏
This entire series from Thorpe to Alton and then Blackpool has been great, I hope Chris covers some smaller parks in the uk’s history’s or maybe some abroad parks too, I’ve loved learning more about my favourite places with this series, you’ve always got even more detail than Reddit or wikis than I can find on my own and it’s all presented in such a nice smooth calming manor that makes be feel safe and secure, Chris might not be my dad but he’s definitely my coaster dad, big love as always fella, absolutely love the content, let’s smash that 10k subs by the end of the year because you deserves it 🙌👌💜
Great series Chris, these videos deserve lots more views than they have, genuinely interesting and enjoyable, I appreciate the hard work that goes in to these, I can imagine it's quite time consuming. How about a series on Southport pleasureland in the future? It was a decent little park back in the 80s and 90s
Chris you did well with this series , enjoyed watching both , the Jeffrey Thompson years are like Strawberries and cream, the Amanda Thompson years are like Lumpy Custard and Jelly .
The summer season pass was a great option for my kids to attend over the summer holidays and most of there friends had one as well. Cheaper than a summer club
Brilliant video Chris and absolutely agree with your views on free entry. The park is now safe and secure which it certainly was not in the 90s. Also love the reimagined Valhalla. Amanda's tweets make me howl.
Great set of videos, thoroughly enjoyed them, even watching the Amanda one wasn't too painful😂. I even love your background music, it just adds to the atmosphere. Well done. 👌
Amazing video (as always). Really loved this series. Can’t wait for more ‘the history of’ episodes for other parks. Drayton Manor would be very interesting! Thanks for all the effort you put into making these 😊
Just found your vids today! 😮 i grew up in Blackpool, my grandad used to drink with Geoff Thompson. He used to give him free tickets for us grandkids. These videos are awesome 🤩
Really enjoyed your history over the four parts,Chris. Some points, 1. Surely a mistake to remove the iconic log flume , by far the best ive been on 2, They have to re introduce the non rider pass, say £10 to give you access to the park and maybe the train and a couple of smaller rides, like it used to be. 3. Would be great if you had an interview with Amanda for the channel, not sure if you could approach her/ the park. Finally, my suggestion for the next is Chessington, be interesting to look back to the days when it was was just a zoo. Great channel, keep it up.
@@coaster_dadwill be jumping on tomorrow to vote. I hope you're right about pleasure beach pulling something out of the bag for next season as last week was an awful day. Big one shut all day and we broke down on Wallace and gromit half way round 😂
Another great video mate and a great series 😊👍. I remember riding the wild mouse just before they got rid of it with my dad. Happy memories but what a wild ride 😂🫣
That Infusion advert is brilliant! Revolution pretty good as well. Joyriding a roller coaster at 4am hahahahaa thats brilliant! Little legends. Enso has to come down to a Fiver, ive been to the park 6 times in the last 2 years and yet to go on it. 15 quid is rippin it.
The raggity state of the grandnational really is crazy. It’s always been like that and my mam claims her back problems started after riding it 🤣 I remember going with high school when I was 11 and I took a bag on with me and it was like a snap sort of bag and it came undone on the ride! All my things came out, some things fell out but we rescued the important things 🤣 also remember going the year after and my tiny at that time phone fell out of my pocket on the steeplechase 😭🤣 got it back because I started crying but it had apparently fallen in a bush 🤣 amazing series, have watched these one after another all night pahaha.
Another great one. My first ride ever on Valhalla was last year in October, i think its a ride i would havd loved when younger but being 50 at the time I didn't relish driving from Blackpool to Derby completely soggy. Icon I say is still the best coaster in the UK, I've been it many times but only managed one ride on Hyperia due to long ass ques. Icon is so smooth while I didn't find Hyperia smooth at all, interested to hear your thoughts when you eventually get on it.
The short term season passes have been available and visible on site for at least a year... I saw them when I bought my 2024 season pass at the end of '23... and I just double checked, they are still there... Spring (29th March - 31st of May) is £99 ... Summer (July-August) is £99 and Autumn (October-November) is £111.11
the monorail track thats in situ still in the park is due to having power for the park still goes through the cables so i believe, i could be wrong on that fact but thats just what i had heard thats why they are still there
It’s definitely on my list. I’ve got a poll coming out tomorrow to ask which one next. So I’ll tackle them in the order people want. But I will def do Chessington for sure 🙂
The problem with tall coasters and wind isn't the fact they're tall, it is just layout dependant. If you make an airtime ride you have no chance of stalling as it crests at speed. If you build a stupid slow cresting, forceless arrow hyper then yeah it's going to rollback in a breeze
Think pleasure beach also need to reassess disability access... As someone with autism and ADHD, I struggle to wait in line and whilst the 'time slot' scheme is good, I've heard you can't go on another ride whilst waiting for a time slot and so you have to wait around which for people with ADHD doesn't really work! Plus I've also heard it's the same system as the speedy pass which to be honest I don't think is right at all... The scheme is there for a reason and if there are a certain amount of speedy pass holders riding a popular ride along with a certain amount of guests who struggle to queue, it's going to be be pointless because that queue will be longer! I'm hoping I'm wrong but that's how it comes across... Anyway, another great video and look forward to more!
@@coaster_dad again I hope it wrong and I don’t think disabled people deserve special treatment… In the previous video I commented that I thought the disabled people were in the wrong and that I was on the side of the park! This “new” system just screams ‘if you got the money….’ Which I don’t think is fair at all! Sorry for rambling but it’s like your fast track video on Alton towers, the waiting time difference was insane but it also came with a price tag!
Loved this series---found some old camcorder videos from the 90's from the pleasure beach need to have a proper look what was good was the 2 i have looked at it was dark and one had the spin doctor on---Did a charity thing years ago were we went to 6 uk parks in 2 days on a minibus and finished on the Big one they stopped the ride for photo's we were all dressed as star wars characters----Not been to a theme park for around 15 years till blackpool this year and this year went to thorpe park for the first time was that good went again 3 days later
Maybe you could do some tier lists on your favourite or least favourite attractions, or, similar to that alphebetical ride order thingy majig you did at PB.
Funny you should say that, I do have another alphabetical one in the works, but a race against another youtuber 😁 And I was planning to do a tier list/ranking video.
Thanks for a brilliant series. You mentioned the Pleasure Beach fan club events. I presume you've seen the email drop by now about the Alice in Wonderland walkthrough in September. I've been to all the events so far but I'm gutted I won't be able to get to this one (Flying out to Orlando that day so it's not all bad) Wondered if you were thinking of going and doing a video on it?
I love Pleasure Beach and think Merlin parks could learn a lot in some ways - especially food and drink options. I still think it is great value for money (£35 in advance). I think people are way too harsh. During my visits, all rides have been open and none closed down. I still think Icon is the best coaster in the UK and is way better than Hyperia and WAY smoother! I hope they make the right choice for their next coaster.
We had 6 children, whom we used to take to Blackpool half a dozen or more times per year. We used to walk through, spend in the arcades, and buy ride ticket books, as we went. We used to eat in the cafes and restaurants. This stupid woman even buggered up the introduction of the £5 entry fee. They announced that they were going to introduce the fee the year before they actually did. We NEVER entered the park, as a family, again. Those 6 children now have 6 wives/partners PLUS a total of 11 kids. Only one couple (2 kids) have EVER been in the Pleasure Beach, since then. Amanda Thompson deserves a statue, at the entrance to each of the Merlin Theme Parks
Really enjoyed the series. Haven't been since 2021 probably won't go back now. Am I making this up or was there an American football themed bumper cars there
I think the new heights is like you said is the giro swing as it would be the first in the UK and the new coaster would also be first coaster in the UK like the RMC coaster but probably wouldn't fit in the foot print of the Grand Prix so maybe a single rail coaster 😁😁😁😁
I think free entry and pay-per-ride is definitely past its time, can't see it working at all for the park. However I think some sort of no rides entry is needed, maybe about £10-15 since there are attractions other than just the rides, and having it free could make security a lot harder for them!
I liked bling too but its fairground flooring etc did make it look tacky. I remember rollercoaster with no restraints and you were sunk well into the seats to prevent falling out etc. As for grand national the older trains were like big dippers which are 100x more comfortable than the current. I hope infusion gets new trains or at least restraints soon as the bashing stops me going on it.
The Dodgers now are closed is no trains on the Dodge and tutor now there's no calls or anything on the track anymore so I don't know what they're doing with that now
Set the council announced a £3 million project to get built a big project near treasure Island that was a new sea life centre a new indoor roller coasters a flying theatre and everything that is still getting built today there will just waiting to get planning mission to knock down the police station in Blackpool now but Blackpool pleasure beach closed against this project by the council but they never won it some Mandy Thompson is in charge post against this project lost by the council so now it Amanda Thompson doesn't know what to do with a park anymore is a Blackpool pleasure beach this project goes ahead by the council she'll lose revenue and nobody will go back to Blackpool pleasure beach
The new ferris wheel who's going to get bills but it was not going to go into Blackpool tours pleasure beach it was going to get built on the pier the council already paid for all this new ferris wheel to get built on the North pier not far from pleasure beach so the most I had agreement to store the parts there or space but there is a new ferris wheel coming to Blackpool the biggest one in Blackpool
The "seasonal" season passes have been available to buy on the website the whole of this year. (£99 i think) Not sure how you say they haven't happened?
@@coaster_dad It seems to have been a bit of a strange strategy. At £99 the valid dates were a bit unusual and for only £70 more i feel the full season pass is a brilliant price especially if you are a frequent visitor.
Whilst I'm not a general fan of Amanda's reign, mostly because I don't believe she shares her dads genuine enthusiasm and passion for the rides and prefers the add-on attractions ie hotels, ice shows etc but there have been some significant positive changes.. For example Nickelodeon land! For me, focus needs to be put on making pleasure beach unique from other theme parks by having iconic rides such as the big one, grand national etc and keeping them running smooth so that guests will want to ride them over again rather than riding once and needing a chiropractor!
@@coaster_dad Tbf I’ve not been since 2004(?) but I’ve been closely following on social media… Hoping to go some point next year but I’m already very nervous about infusion and despite not having any issues prior, the grand national!
Yeah pleasure beach used to have a railway with a nice Victorian bridge but it got taken down after the log flute that's where it used to run across the lake where the lottery needs to go but then took it all up when I can't got built
Many Thanks for the hard work you put into these history vidoes. Would love it if you did flamingo land and lightwater valley. With BPB I do think they need to lower entry prices and as for free entry I understand why people want this but don't think it would work personally think they should have a non rider entry fee for about £5/£10
Thank you. I’ve got a poll out tomorrow to pick the next park. I’m sure I’ll do most if not all of the ones on the list. Just trying to work out which order to do them. As for price yeah I agree. I have a video coming out with some ideas to get the park profitable again and ultimately lead to more investment!
I walked past the pleasure beach last Friday evening and the place was dead, I actually thought it was closed but then heard a ride and some screams. As a child, we always walked around the area as it was free to do so, so many kids will have this memory, sadly not today. Now they have this stupid gate entrance, it’s killed the atmosphere, what was once a lively part of Blackpool is no more. PS My trip to Blackpool was the first in about 25 years and walked to the top of the lights and back, it felt to me that so much money has been spent on the promenade, they forgot about the state of the place 1 road back, not a pretty site upon my arrival. Anyway, back to the theme park, I’ll not be spending a penny (£50 on the day) whilst they continue a gate entrance.
The Beast simulator was there in the 90s it's was situated next to The Greatest Show on Earth and opposite Tokaydo Express. If my memory serves there was also a bucking bronco next to it where the former Go-Karts entrance used to be by Steeple Chase. 🤔
The formula 1 car you filmed was on the big one he was in the grand Prix at the time at the station but I don't know where it's gone now I don't know they took it away or strapped it now I don't know
@@nathanconnolly2817 The car on the Big One and the one in the Grand Prix station are not the same one, but I would like to see them keep it. Gutted when they painted over the Jordan livery
The guy who was injured in 2014 on the Grand National had a progressive spinal condition which makes the spine and neck entirely fused. The spine can't move at all and as a result becomes brittle and can snap like a twig. He shouldn't have been on the ride. The Grand National has always been rough and his spine simply snapped. Thankfully he did survive, though I believe he was then a paraplegic after that. I have the same spine condition. I don't go on rollercoasters at all now though I would dearly love to. The guy probably didn't know how much of a risk he was taking.
Excellent series and well done on making the Amanda years seem not too bad. However, her statements earlier this year reveal her total contempt for park enthusiasts and the unwillingness to address the cost issue is appalling. A little bit of effective PR could help immensely especially as their promotional videos are very good.
Brilliant video, have been waiting all week for this! This is definitely a niche that you are meant for, thanks for all the research. I think BPB is in that awkward situation, losing money therefore cutting costs, however, investment is the only way to survive in the long term! However, if you have no money to invest......
Thank you. I can see me doing many more parks in the future 🙂 and yeah I agree. I’ve got a video coming about how the park can get more money to invest but in a way that we all win!
BPB deserves more Amanda has run the park into uhhh something… I mean needing to take loans for new investments (Intamin gyro swing isn’t that expensive 😭😭 I don’t think)is crazy
It's crazy to think in 20 years the only decision on the park I agree with Amanda on is Icon and even that is only just above average in my opinion🤣🤣🤣 Good god, honestly, this series really has opened my eyes to her horrible management style / decision making. I'm really starting to think my positive outlook for the park is completely misguided. She's told that many lies and done so many nasty things to damage my faith in her, I have no idea why I'm trusting her now all of a sudden 🤷♂🤷♂🤷♂
It is easy to compare to her predecessors. Times are different and what worked in the past probably wouldn’t work now. Im not defending or criticising her , just how I see it. I am optimistic about the future. I just hope not to be let down 🤞
Amanda gets a lot of flak. Go back to 2004 and she had to tough out many things which could have threatened the park's very existence. Of course two major fires, the passing of the Chairman and MD as well as them being family...can't imagine what it was like for her. The world has changed immeasureably since in many ways, sometimes I feel thankful we at least still have a Pleasure Beach. I do wonder if the future lies with a family company, or is it fair to the park to maybe let go? I like to try think positive and that the park we see today is one in transition and better times will come. I don't understand the current strategy of eradicating the word 'Blackpool' from the park, you are never going to change the fact that they go hand in hand and surely for tourism purposes, they work better in tandem. The pricing structure, yeah baffles me. Its gone from being decent value to all customers to only a certain group, i.e me visiting on my own, £40 is decent value for a day. If I was visiting with a non rider and 3 children...maybe less so. Nice series of videos. Well done 👏
I wholeheartedly agree. I can’t imagine being in her shoes and it’s easy to look on from the outside and think the solutions are simple, but really we don’t know all the facts. Like you I’m glad to still be able to visit. And also trying to be optimistic about the future. Keeping those fingers crossed 🤞🤞
If you can't get to spinning I don't blame you for disliking sky force! Once you crack the technique though it becimes great fun to try and one-up yourself. I usually get around 40 in. Im trying to get going faster to beat it next time! Getting the first loop in is the hardest part, once you're over you simply hold your positon and you'll spin continuously until you move the wings! You have to swing just a few times left to right. Once you're almost over, the only way to tip it is to stop trying to swing back the other way, so that's when you start to hold your position instead of switching the wings back to the other direction.
Has I have said before I think that Amanda should take of the payment on the pleasure Beach ⛱ because a lot of families cannot afford it. And it spoils it for the children sorry about that.
The big one in Blackpool what they're going to build is going to cost too much money they have to build a special pier and the couldn't get planning to get it long enough to build it through the council everything else is greed with but it's just to pay it on the shrimp of the steel at the time and it didn't know it and the wind on the weather in Blackpool
Mid section is best on national Red arrows infusion crap I think she would bring reel back Wild maus XXL should be at park then off to Winter wonderland If the park has free admission look at how prater does it Fires insurance or inside job Andy Highgate should do rides Amanda does shows
@@coaster_dad I spoke to him at Valhalla preview The reel was so good Mack could make or in house Did Amanda watch the videos We did overnight coach then did illuminations Park was busy long queues for space invader
The days of free entry was awful. It was full of a toxic combination of drunks and rampaging gangs of lads causing mayhem. On the flip side, it’s silly not to have a non-rider pass. Amanda gets a bad press, partly after her appearance in an old documentary on her running the ice show and her management style was a little sharp. However, she has brought PB into the modern age with the park, which used to be a bit rough and ready, looking pristine. The hotels are top notch and you’ve got to love her Tweets! Hope the PB stays in the family. I noticed from the video it was £32 in 2011 and I paid £36 this year. Talking about money and the uplift for Enzo. We go on holiday on Royal Caribbean and they would charge an uplift for fresh air if they could! I can see the resort being leaning towards to the cruise experience, stay, eat, play, be entertained.
Yes Amanda was thrown in the deep end.. For all the tragic and wrong reasons But I think most of us are still wondering, when she will make a decent fist of things... The new trains/brakes on the Nash ruined it from day one IMO. Bling was so overated.. (A poor man's mondial top scan.) You can scrap the none looping red Arrows training machine also for me. Pile of Junk. Infusion.... Typical hang and bang, but I'd keep it, with a train swap obviously...
Her father and grandmother would hate what she's done to the place, now it's all about getting as much money out of people as possible.No value for money
Yes Blackpool Pleasure Beach would be terrible with free entry. In the maccies nextdoor a kid had a pocket knife and was showing it off. Dont get me started on late night riding. It would be like the Walking Dead with those people who fancy a little drink. 😂
I so hope Pleasure Beach does never sell up, and most of all they do not sell to that shit company Merlin, they will defo ruin the park and all its history
I went on the 4D cinema, it had different short CGI films I think, we got the haunted house one. It was cool but nothing crazy, there were rats that ran under the camera and the leg ticklers kicked in.
What a brilliant series, I’ve watched all four back to back after spending the last two Saturdays in Blackpool. I’ve always wanted to know more about the history of the park, a genuinely fascinating insight into how it’s changed 👏👏👏
There’s a ton of history huh! 😀
This entire series from Thorpe to Alton and then Blackpool has been great, I hope Chris covers some smaller parks in the uk’s history’s or maybe some abroad parks too, I’ve loved learning more about my favourite places with this series, you’ve always got even more detail than Reddit or wikis than I can find on my own and it’s all presented in such a nice smooth calming manor that makes be feel safe and secure, Chris might not be my dad but he’s definitely my coaster dad, big love as always fella, absolutely love the content, let’s smash that 10k subs by the end of the year because you deserves it 🙌👌💜
Aw thank you so much. That means a lot 🥹
Great series Chris, these videos deserve lots more views than they have, genuinely interesting and enjoyable, I appreciate the hard work that goes in to these, I can imagine it's quite time consuming. How about a series on Southport pleasureland in the future? It was a decent little park back in the 80s and 90s
Thank you very much. They do take a few months to find all the info. I am looking at what park to do next. That one can be added to the list 😀
Would love something on Morecombe Frontier Land.
i could, nt watch it anymore than 25 mins way too many adds inserted thats how vids dont get many views
Chris you did well with this series , enjoyed watching both , the Jeffrey Thompson years are like Strawberries and cream, the Amanda Thompson years are like Lumpy Custard and Jelly .
Glad you enjoyed. As for Amanda 🙄🙈
The summer season pass was a great option for my kids to attend over the summer holidays and most of there friends had one as well. Cheaper than a summer club
great video, you are quickly becoming my favourite theme park youtuber.
Wow that means a lot! Thank you so much!
Brilliant video Chris and absolutely agree with your views on free entry. The park is now safe and secure which it certainly was not in the 90s. Also love the reimagined Valhalla. Amanda's tweets make me howl.
Thank you. Yeah an odd tweet for sure 😉
Great set of videos, thoroughly enjoyed them, even watching the Amanda one wasn't too painful😂. I even love your background music, it just adds to the atmosphere. Well done. 👌
Thank you. Much appreciated 😀
History of Alton Towers is a must. Split into different owners. This series has been amazing 🎉🎉555
Towers was the first series I did. But split by decade 😀 and then I did Thorpe Park
The work you have done on these videos is tremendous!! Really enjoyed the series. The will defo get the traffic they deserve. Super work!!
Thank you so much, that means a lot 😁
@@coaster_dad seriously thank you for your hard work. Loved the series
Amazing video (as always). Really loved this series. Can’t wait for more ‘the history of’ episodes for other parks. Drayton Manor would be very interesting! Thanks for all the effort you put into making these 😊
Thank you. Definitely more of these to come. Just takes a few months to put together. 😀
The bling was fab!!!
I need to track it down. I’m sure it’s on the travelling circuit now
@@coaster_dad mellors group bought it for fantasy island was meant to open in 2020 but its still in storage hopefully it opens one day
Just found your vids today! 😮 i grew up in Blackpool, my grandad used to drink with Geoff Thompson. He used to give him free tickets for us grandkids.
These videos are awesome 🤩
Thank you so much. Glad you enjoyed. It’s a park I always hold dear as it was my childhood park (even though it’s 3 hours away 😂)
Great put together series
Thank you 😀
Another brilliant installmemt. I've loved this series!
Thank you very much 😀
Really enjoyed your history over the four parts,Chris.
Some points,
1. Surely a mistake to remove the iconic log flume , by far the best ive been on
2, They have to re introduce the non rider pass, say £10 to give you access to the park and maybe the train and a couple of smaller rides, like it used to be.
3. Would be great if you had an interview with Amanda for the channel, not sure if you could approach her/ the park.
Finally, my suggestion for the next is Chessington, be interesting to look back to the days when it was was just a zoo.
Great channel, keep it up.
Thank you. Would be interesting to see if she’d do an interview. I know Sean from Lift Hills and Thrills has been trying.
Fantastic series this Chris 👏 👌🏼 loved every minute of it 😊 triggered some really good memories along the way pal 👏👍😀
Thank you so much. Glad you enjoyed. It’s looking like the next park may be Camelot. But I’m sure I’ll do many many of these series.
It’s been very interesting watching these videos. Thankyou
You’re welcome. Glad you enjoyed 😀
Fantastic series C Dad. Thanks for your time and effort.
You're welcome, glad you enjoyed 😁
Thanks for this series Chris
You’re welcome. Hope you enjoyed. Trying to decide what park to tackle next…. 🤔
Top quality again pal can't wait for the next park you choose
Me too. I’m letting you guys choose in a poll tomorrow 😀
@@coaster_dadwill be jumping on tomorrow to vote. I hope you're right about pleasure beach pulling something out of the bag for next season as last week was an awful day. Big one shut all day and we broke down on Wallace and gromit half way round 😂
Another great video mate and a great series 😊👍. I remember riding the wild mouse just before they got rid of it with my dad. Happy memories but what a wild ride 😂🫣
Thank you! And yeah it was very wild!
Love this series
Thank you 🙏
I vividly remember riding the big dipper the weekend before the crash and we got 2 laps as the brakes failed on the break run and in the station!
🙈
That Infusion advert is brilliant! Revolution pretty good as well.
Joyriding a roller coaster at 4am hahahahaa thats brilliant! Little legends.
Enso has to come down to a Fiver, ive been to the park 6 times in the last 2 years and yet to go on it. 15 quid is rippin it.
It’s interesting looking back on them huh 😀
Ayyy this was uploaded while I was at the park!
Hope you had a good visit 😀
Nickelodeon land is one of the best areas for youngsters, so much variety. And the IPs work.
The raggity state of the grandnational really is crazy. It’s always been like that and my mam claims her back problems started after riding it 🤣 I remember going with high school when I was 11 and I took a bag on with me and it was like a snap sort of bag and it came undone on the ride! All my things came out, some things fell out but we rescued the important things 🤣 also remember going the year after and my tiny at that time phone fell out of my pocket on the steeplechase 😭🤣 got it back because I started crying but it had apparently fallen in a bush 🤣 amazing series, have watched these one after another all night pahaha.
Thank you. Really glad you enjoyed 😀
This video in a nutshell: icon was built….
😂😂😂 sssssh I need the watch time
😂
So true
THAT SPECSAVERS AD LOL
I did like that one 😂
Another great one. My first ride ever on Valhalla was last year in October, i think its a ride i would havd loved when younger but being 50 at the time I didn't relish driving from Blackpool to Derby completely soggy. Icon I say is still the best coaster in the UK, I've been it many times but only managed one ride on Hyperia due to long ass ques. Icon is so smooth while I didn't find Hyperia smooth at all, interested to hear your thoughts when you eventually get on it.
Yeah I’m curious about Hyperia. Mostly positive reviews from most, but I have heard others say it’s over hyped 🤷♂️
All very interesting
It’s got a lot of interesting stories huh. 😀
@@coaster_dad for sure :)
The short term season passes have been available and visible on site for at least a year... I saw them when I bought my 2024 season pass at the end of '23... and I just double checked, they are still there... Spring (29th March - 31st of May) is £99 ... Summer (July-August) is £99 and Autumn (October-November) is £111.11
Oh. I didn’t think they happened 🙈
Ive worked the big dipper great fun the ride is very strictly ran if you like your job you do not make errors
🙈
Went past yesterday and it was lovely sunny day and it looked deserted well the place itself. Blackpool didn’t look that busy for the school holidays.
That’s a sad sight 😔
Apline rally is sat sun opening only as well as the small carousel next door
Ah. Thanks for sharing 😀
the monorail track thats in situ still in the park is due to having power for the park still goes through the cables so i believe, i could be wrong on that fact but thats just what i had heard thats why they are still there
Fair enough 🙂
I think you could cover the History of Chessington World of Adventures. The UK's first true theme park
It’s definitely on my list. I’ve got a poll coming out tomorrow to ask which one next. So I’ll tackle them in the order people want. But I will def do Chessington for sure 🙂
The problem with tall coasters and wind isn't the fact they're tall, it is just layout dependant. If you make an airtime ride you have no chance of stalling as it crests at speed. If you build a stupid slow cresting, forceless arrow hyper then yeah it's going to rollback in a breeze
🙈 here's hoping for a modern ride then that's not impacted by the weather 😁
I loved playing big one buckle up.
It looked interesting 🙂
@@coaster_dad It was brilliant. I was gutted that a minority ruined it for the rest of us.
Aye always the way. Same reason I don’t think free entry would ever work again. To many trouble makers nowadays 😔
@@coaster_dad A sensible entry fee is fine.
Think pleasure beach also need to reassess disability access... As someone with autism and ADHD, I struggle to wait in line and whilst the 'time slot' scheme is good, I've heard you can't go on another ride whilst waiting for a time slot and so you have to wait around which for people with ADHD doesn't really work! Plus I've also heard it's the same system as the speedy pass which to be honest I don't think is right at all... The scheme is there for a reason and if there are a certain amount of speedy pass holders riding a popular ride along with a certain amount of guests who struggle to queue, it's going to be be pointless because that queue will be longer! I'm hoping I'm wrong but that's how it comes across... Anyway, another great video and look forward to more!
Thank you. And yeah that does sound odd. Not something I have any experience of but def sounds strange
@@coaster_dad again I hope it wrong and I don’t think disabled people deserve special treatment… In the previous video I commented that I thought the disabled people were in the wrong and that I was on the side of the park! This “new” system just screams ‘if you got the money….’ Which I don’t think is fair at all! Sorry for rambling but it’s like your fast track video on Alton towers, the waiting time difference was insane but it also came with a price tag!
Loved this series---found some old camcorder videos from the 90's from the pleasure beach need to have a proper look what was good was the 2 i have looked at it was dark and one had the spin doctor on---Did a charity thing years ago were we went to 6 uk parks in 2 days on a minibus and finished on the Big one they stopped the ride for photo's we were all dressed as star wars characters----Not been to a theme park for around 15 years till blackpool this year and this year went to thorpe park for the first time was that good went again 3 days later
Thank you. That sounds really interesting with the costumes. Also Thorpe is amazing! 😀
Maybe you could do some tier lists on your favourite or least favourite attractions, or, similar to that alphebetical ride order thingy majig you did at PB.
Funny you should say that, I do have another alphabetical one in the works, but a race against another youtuber 😁 And I was planning to do a tier list/ranking video.
Thanks for a brilliant series. You mentioned the Pleasure Beach fan club events. I presume you've seen the email drop by now about the Alice in Wonderland walkthrough in September. I've been to all the events so far but I'm gutted I won't be able to get to this one (Flying out to Orlando that day so it's not all bad) Wondered if you were thinking of going and doing a video on it?
Ooooo missed that one. I’ll need to chek
Sadly I can’t go. Scott from Your Experience guide has an event at Emerald Park the same day 😔 so I’ll be in Dublin
I love Pleasure Beach and think Merlin parks could learn a lot in some ways - especially food and drink options. I still think it is great value for money (£35 in advance). I think people are way too harsh. During my visits, all rides have been open and none closed down. I still think Icon is the best coaster in the UK and is way better than Hyperia and WAY smoother! I hope they make the right choice for their next coaster.
Yeah I’m really keen to hear what they have planned 😀
We had 6 children, whom we used to take to Blackpool half a dozen or more times per year.
We used to walk through, spend in the arcades, and buy ride ticket books, as we went. We used to eat in the cafes and restaurants.
This stupid woman even buggered up the introduction of the £5 entry fee.
They announced that they were going to introduce the fee the year before they actually did.
We NEVER entered the park, as a family, again.
Those 6 children now have 6 wives/partners PLUS a total of 11 kids. Only one couple (2 kids) have EVER been in the Pleasure Beach, since then.
Amanda Thompson deserves a statue, at the entrance to each of the Merlin Theme Parks
🙈
Really enjoyed the series. Haven't been since 2021 probably won't go back now. Am I making this up or was there an American football themed bumper cars there
Yeah there used to be. A long time ago. Was called Super Bowl
I think the new heights is like you said is the giro swing as it would be the first in the UK and the new coaster would also be first coaster in the UK like the RMC coaster but probably wouldn't fit in the foot print of the Grand Prix so maybe a single rail coaster 😁😁😁😁
I’d take that! 😀
@coaster_dad and you could have the single rail coaster themed to Grand Prix in honour of it lol sorry mind going crazy with ideas 💡 😁😁😁
I have done 65 flips and about 73 on a VERY windy day on red arrows.
Jesus. You must have staggered off it 😂
@@coaster_dad love sky force!!! just need to go on the outside seats (1.3.6.8.12)
I think free entry and pay-per-ride is definitely past its time, can't see it working at all for the park. However I think some sort of no rides entry is needed, maybe about £10-15 since there are attractions other than just the rides, and having it free could make security a lot harder for them!
Agree. I’ve got a video coming out soon where I discuss various options. But pretty much what you said 🙂
I’m pretty sure the zierer ride is called a zierer star shape
I was close 😂
If you mean bling I thought that was a top scan.
Correct
I liked bling too but its fairground flooring etc did make it look tacky. I remember rollercoaster with no restraints and you were sunk well into the seats to prevent falling out etc. As for grand national the older trains were like big dippers which are 100x more comfortable than the current. I hope infusion gets new trains or at least restraints soon as the bashing stops me going on it.
Yup. Needs something for sure
we need an episode about jr's time at pb
He does look like an interesting character
The Dodgers now are closed is no trains on the Dodge and tutor now there's no calls or anything on the track anymore so I don't know what they're doing with that now
Set the council announced a £3 million project to get built a big project near treasure Island that was a new sea life centre a new indoor roller coasters a flying theatre and everything that is still getting built today there will just waiting to get planning mission to knock down the police station in Blackpool now but Blackpool pleasure beach closed against this project by the council but they never won it some Mandy Thompson is in charge post against this project lost by the council so now it Amanda Thompson doesn't know what to do with a park anymore is a Blackpool pleasure beach this project goes ahead by the council she'll lose revenue and nobody will go back to Blackpool pleasure beach
The new ferris wheel who's going to get bills but it was not going to go into Blackpool tours pleasure beach it was going to get built on the pier the council already paid for all this new ferris wheel to get built on the North pier not far from pleasure beach so the most I had agreement to store the parts there or space but there is a new ferris wheel coming to Blackpool the biggest one in Blackpool
Hope can do Drayton Manor history park
It’s on my list. I have a poll coming out tomorrow and based on that I’ll pick which park I do first 😀
The "seasonal" season passes have been available to buy on the website the whole of this year. (£99 i think) Not sure how you say they haven't happened?
Yeah I got that one wrong. I dunno how I missed it either 🙈
@@coaster_dad It seems to have been a bit of a strange strategy. At £99 the valid dates were a bit unusual and for only £70 more i feel the full season pass is a brilliant price especially if you are a frequent visitor.
@stevenw75 yeah that’s a fair point. I mean I always get the full year. But odd there’s not much cheaper 🤔
Whilst I'm not a general fan of Amanda's reign, mostly because I don't believe she shares her dads genuine enthusiasm and passion for the rides and prefers the add-on attractions ie hotels, ice shows etc but there have been some significant positive changes.. For example Nickelodeon land! For me, focus needs to be put on making pleasure beach unique from other theme parks by having iconic rides such as the big one, grand national etc and keeping them running smooth so that guests will want to ride them over again rather than riding once and needing a chiropractor!
Fair. I def need a chiropractor after most visits 😂
@@coaster_dad Tbf I’ve not been since 2004(?) but I’ve been closely following on social media… Hoping to go some point next year but I’m already very nervous about infusion and despite not having any issues prior, the grand national!
think the highest i got was 40 something on the rolls... just need to throw your weight about... though a windy day helps :)
Nice. 40 more than me 😂
Yeah pleasure beach used to have a railway with a nice Victorian bridge but it got taken down after the log flute that's where it used to run across the lake where the lottery needs to go but then took it all up when I can't got built
Many Thanks for the hard work you put into these history vidoes. Would love it if you did flamingo land and lightwater valley. With BPB I do think they need to lower entry prices and as for free entry I understand why people want this but don't think it would work personally think they should have a non rider entry fee for about £5/£10
Thank you. I’ve got a poll out tomorrow to pick the next park. I’m sure I’ll do most if not all of the ones on the list. Just trying to work out which order to do them. As for price yeah I agree. I have a video coming out with some ideas to get the park profitable again and ultimately lead to more investment!
I walked past the pleasure beach last Friday evening and the place was dead, I actually thought it was closed but then heard a ride and some screams. As a child, we always walked around the area as it was free to do so, so many kids will have this memory, sadly not today. Now they have this stupid gate entrance, it’s killed the atmosphere, what was once a lively part of Blackpool is no more.
PS My trip to Blackpool was the first in about 25 years and walked to the top of the lights and back, it felt to me that so much money has been spent on the promenade, they forgot about the state of the place 1 road back, not a pretty site upon my arrival.
Anyway, back to the theme park, I’ll not be spending a penny (£50 on the day) whilst they continue a gate entrance.
Aye it’s changed a hell of a lot 😔
The beast was in the 1980d
It's a doron simulator like those raf ones
The Beast simulator was there in the 90s it's was situated next to The Greatest Show on Earth and opposite Tokaydo Express. If my memory serves there was also a bucking bronco next to it where the former Go-Karts entrance used to be by Steeple Chase. 🤔
I did see the bucking bronco on my travels so I think you’re right 🙂
Get the concrete pads are on the seafront for the big roller coaster they're still there but their project never got built
They should have built the bigger one.
The formula 1 car you filmed was on the big one he was in the grand Prix at the time at the station but I don't know where it's gone now I don't know they took it away or strapped it now I don't know
@@nathanconnolly2817 No they didn't.
@@nathanconnolly2817 The car on the Big One and the one in the Grand Prix station are not the same one, but I would like to see them keep it. Gutted when they painted over the Jordan livery
Myth.
I like Infusion because it throws you about. That's its appeal to me.
It definitely does that 😂
The guy who was injured in 2014 on the Grand National had a progressive spinal condition which makes the spine and neck entirely fused. The spine can't move at all and as a result becomes brittle and can snap like a twig.
He shouldn't have been on the ride. The Grand National has always been rough and his spine simply snapped. Thankfully he did survive, though I believe he was then a paraplegic after that.
I have the same spine condition. I don't go on rollercoasters at all now though I would dearly love to. The guy probably didn't know how much of a risk he was taking.
Wow. Thats crazy to think. And a shame you’re unable to enjoy the coaster now 😔
Thank you for a terrific mini series
I think an entry fee for the park is fair, say a tenner?
I asked that question recently and it does seem many would agree with you.
With central too what will go in that
Excellent series and well done on making the Amanda years seem not too bad. However, her statements earlier this year reveal her total contempt for park enthusiasts and the unwillingness to address the cost issue is appalling. A little bit of effective PR could help immensely especially as their promotional videos are very good.
Thank you. And yeah if there’s one criticism I’d agree with it’s the way Amanda communicates 🙈
Can you do flamingo land next?
It’s on the list!
@ thanks. Here are the owners of flamingo land. Edwin Pentland hick. Don robins. Robert gibb. And Gordon gibb
Icon is ok was expecting a little more with the layout launches are good juts left me wanting more and not getting it
I’m the other way round. I love the layout and how it interacts but much though I do love Mack rides, their launches aren’t as punchy as others. 🙂
@@coaster_dad except for Voltron!😃
Still not got on that one but super excited to get out there!
Brilliant video, have been waiting all week for this! This is definitely a niche that you are meant for, thanks for all the research. I think BPB is in that awkward situation, losing money therefore cutting costs, however, investment is the only way to survive in the long term! However, if you have no money to invest......
Thank you. I can see me doing many more parks in the future 🙂 and yeah I agree. I’ve got a video coming about how the park can get more money to invest but in a way that we all win!
BPB deserves more Amanda has run the park into uhhh something… I mean needing to take loans for new investments (Intamin gyro swing isn’t that expensive 😭😭 I don’t think)is crazy
You say that. I hear the load was £2m. And it’s not uncommon. I’m trying to be optimistic. 🤞
Infusion was significantly better in it's TraumaTizer days
I didn’t go on it. But I can imagine. SLCs don’t age well
@@coaster_dad don't get me wrong, it was never B&M style glass smooth, but it did get significantly worse as soon as it was placed in BPB.
It's crazy to think in 20 years the only decision on the park I agree with Amanda on is Icon and even that is only just above average in my opinion🤣🤣🤣 Good god, honestly, this series really has opened my eyes to her horrible management style / decision making. I'm really starting to think my positive outlook for the park is completely misguided. She's told that many lies and done so many nasty things to damage my faith in her, I have no idea why I'm trusting her now all of a sudden 🤷♂🤷♂🤷♂
It is easy to compare to her predecessors. Times are different and what worked in the past probably wouldn’t work now. Im not defending or criticising her , just how I see it. I am optimistic about the future. I just hope not to be let down 🤞
Infusion is great fun im sure enthusiasts just bloody moan about it because the last enthusiasts moaned about it.
I go on it once a year and each time I tell myself never again…. Then I go on again 😂😂😂
Stupid question re the engineers working on the ice blast
Why does nobody shout "Whatcha doing?" Then the speculation would end 😂
lol. I’d be amazed if the told us 😉
Also. I have a question I'm surprised was never asked but I'll ask at your next q*a x
Amanda gets a lot of flak. Go back to 2004 and she had to tough out many things which could have threatened the park's very existence. Of course two major fires, the passing of the Chairman and MD as well as them being family...can't imagine what it was like for her.
The world has changed immeasureably since in many ways, sometimes I feel thankful we at least still have a Pleasure Beach. I do wonder if the future lies with a family company, or is it fair to the park to maybe let go?
I like to try think positive and that the park we see today is one in transition and better times will come. I don't understand the current strategy of eradicating the word 'Blackpool' from the park, you are never going to change the fact that they go hand in hand and surely for tourism purposes, they work better in tandem.
The pricing structure, yeah baffles me. Its gone from being decent value to all customers to only a certain group, i.e me visiting on my own, £40 is decent value for a day. If I was visiting with a non rider and 3 children...maybe less so.
Nice series of videos. Well done 👏
I wholeheartedly agree. I can’t imagine being in her shoes and it’s easy to look on from the outside and think the solutions are simple, but really we don’t know all the facts. Like you I’m glad to still be able to visit. And also trying to be optimistic about the future. Keeping those fingers crossed 🤞🤞
Well said, her ownership coincided with foreign travel becoming affordable for the masses, which had a huge impact on seaside towns.
The best would be Sell to Merlin and as a standalone, not on the Merlin Pass
Given the trouble Merlin is in right now, closing venues and laying off staff, that ain’t gonna happen 😔
If you can't get to spinning I don't blame you for disliking sky force! Once you crack the technique though it becimes great fun to try and one-up yourself. I usually get around 40 in. Im trying to get going faster to beat it next time!
Getting the first loop in is the hardest part, once you're over you simply hold your positon and you'll spin continuously until you move the wings!
You have to swing just a few times left to right. Once you're almost over, the only way to tip it is to stop trying to swing back the other way, so that's when you start to hold your position instead of switching the wings back to the other direction.
40, wow. I bet you’re dizzy after that 😂
@coaster_dad Tye crazy thing is it's very rarely the highest number of spins! Last time I was beaten by a 47!
amanda thompson the joker geoffrey thompson and mum spinning in the grave what see has done to this park
😔
Has I have said before I think that Amanda should take of the payment on the pleasure Beach ⛱ because a lot of families cannot afford it. And it spoils it for the children sorry about that.
*sigh* amanda.....
🙈
The big one in Blackpool what they're going to build is going to cost too much money they have to build a special pier and the couldn't get planning to get it long enough to build it through the council everything else is greed with but it's just to pay it on the shrimp of the steel at the time and it didn't know it and the wind on the weather in Blackpool
Interesting
Mid section is best on national
Red arrows infusion crap
I think she would bring reel back
Wild maus XXL should be at park then off to Winter wonderland
If the park has free admission look at how prater does it
Fires insurance or inside job
Andy Highgate should do rides Amanda does shows
Yeah I have a lot of time for Andy, he's a top bloke!
@@coaster_dad I spoke to him at Valhalla preview
The reel was so good
Mack could make or in house
Did Amanda watch the videos
We did overnight coach then did illuminations
Park was busy long queues for space invader
The days of free entry was awful. It was full of a toxic combination of drunks and rampaging gangs of lads causing mayhem.
On the flip side, it’s silly not to have a non-rider pass.
Amanda gets a bad press, partly after her appearance in an old documentary on her running the ice show and her management style was a little sharp.
However, she has brought PB into the modern age with the park, which used to be a bit rough and ready, looking pristine.
The hotels are top notch and you’ve got to love her Tweets!
Hope the PB stays in the family.
I noticed from the video it was £32 in 2011 and I paid £36 this year.
Talking about money and the uplift for Enzo. We go on holiday on Royal Caribbean and they would charge an uplift for fresh air if they could!
I can see the resort being leaning towards to the cruise experience, stay, eat, play, be entertained.
Aye I don’t think free would ever work. But there’s plenty other options! 😀
Lockdown killed off her enthusiasm and the valhalla delay
She was getting a load of abuse she doesnt tweet as much she used to respond
I’m sure she’s feeling it. I just want the park to do well 😔
Yes Amanda was thrown in the deep end..
For all the tragic and wrong reasons
But I think most of us are still wondering, when she will make a decent fist of things...
The new trains/brakes on the Nash ruined it from day one IMO.
Bling was so overated..
(A poor man's mondial top scan.)
You can scrap the none looping red Arrows training machine also for me. Pile of Junk.
Infusion....
Typical hang and bang, but I'd keep it, with a train swap obviously...
Nick streak has a b an m train
Really? Doesn’t look like any B&M I’ve seen 🤔
Her father and grandmother would hate what she's done to the place, now it's all about getting as much money out of people as possible.No value for money
😔
Yes Blackpool Pleasure Beach would be terrible with free entry. In the maccies nextdoor a kid had a pocket knife and was showing it off. Dont get me started on late night riding. It would be like the Walking Dead with those people who fancy a little drink. 😂
😂🙈
I so hope Pleasure Beach does never sell up, and most of all they do not sell to that shit company Merlin, they will defo ruin the park and all its history
Aye I agree with that. Keep it family and hopefully it’ll be around for many many years to come 🤞
I went on the 4D cinema, it had different short CGI films I think, we got the haunted house one. It was cool but nothing crazy, there were rats that ran under the camera and the leg ticklers kicked in.
Interesting. Thanks for the info 🙂