Author's product rating: 
| Advantages: |
A good day out for all |
| Disadvantages: |
Parking isn't too great |
| Recommend to potential buyers: |
yes |
I live close to Southend-on-Sea so I have visited Adventure Island lots of times.
Adventure Island is situated on Southend sea front. You do not have to pay a fee to enter Adventure Island but you do have to pay to go on the rides. This is a really good idea, although you can get some riff raff that hang around inside because they haven't got anything better to do!!
You can purchase wristbands which enable you to use the rides, unlimited, all day.
The prices are as follows...
Mini bands (for children under 1 metre tall) - £7.00 (£10.00 on peak - which run through the summer holidays).
Junior bands (between 1 - 1.2 metres) - £12.00 (£15 on peak - which run through the summer holidays).
Big adventure bands (adult) - £16.00 (£20.00 on peak - which run through the summer holidays).
All wristbands are half price after 6pm.
If you're not keen on buying a wristband (If you don't plan to stay all day or don't plan to ride many rides) you can pay per ride. Each ride costs about £3 to ride.
Adventure Island opens their gates at 11am and close at 8pm off peak and 11am to 11pm on peak.
You can reach adventure island easily by car, it is well signed up. Just follow the signs to the sea front. Southend Victoria and Southend Central train stations are also a short walk away from the the park.
Here's my low down on the rides..
RIDES FOR ADULTS (BIG ADVENTURE BANDS)
Archelon - A massssive turtle with swings hanging off of it. It spins very high up in the air. It's not too scary but I would miss this out if you're not too fond of heights!
Tidal Wave - Two slides, one green, one blue and you ride them in rubber dingys! Twisty, bumpy and WET! A good ride but you have to climb up loads of stairs to get to the top..
Vortex - This ride spins you in the air and fast. You very almost go upside down! It's alot of fun but don't eat before riding!
Skydrop - This ride is basically a big row of seats which get lifted high up in the air and then dropped right back down to the bottom at a great speed! I personally never found this ride too scary but a friend of mine screams her head off every time she has ever been on it!
Scorpion - Much like Vortex. This ride spins you in the air. You should deffinatley give this one a go.
Dragons Claw - Not for the weak! You'll go round and round and upside down..and then you'll do it all over again!
Ramba Zamba - This isn't very scary but it is alot of fun! You sit on individual seats facing outwards. The ride sways backwards and fowards and spins around..
Rage - it's brand new for 2007 and looks excellent. I haven't been on it yet though unfortunatley.
RIDES FOR KIDS (JUNIOR BANDS)
The Dragon - Spinning ride, which goes backwards too!
Sk8borda - This is one of the strangest rides I've seen! You sit on a giant skateboard and ride up and down on a half pipe!
Cow Jump - A long row of seats which goes around and around!
Mighty Mini-Mega - This is a rollar coaster suitable for the little ones.
Barnstormer - This is again a rollar coaster suitable for the little ones.
Pharaohs Fury - This is a fun, spinny ride suitable for juniors and adults.
RIDES FOR TOTS (MINI BANDS)
Crooked House - This is a walk around attraction. Adults are welcome inside.
Flying Jumbos - Spin and fly in the air on an elephant!
Sea Serpent - A big curly wirly slide which you ride on in a sack!
Jungle Express - A nice little train ride!
Beelzee Bob's Trail - This is a ghost train..but a cute version! It's suitable for older kids and adults too. Oh and you'll absolutley love the photo that they take of you on this ride.
Lighthouse Slip - It's basically a helter skelter. Mind those elbows!
Big Wheel - aah, the big wheel, a firm family favourite! You get great views from up there too.
Choo Choo Train - A small train that goes round and round.
Drop n Smile - This is a mini version of SkyDrop (see above).
There are also Pay-as-you-Play attractions which cost between £3.00-£3.50 (wristbands not permitted) which include go karting, wall climbing, dodgems and adventure golf.
The beach is either side of the park so you can go there any time and have a dip, a sunbathe or a picnic!
There are plenty of places to eat at Adventure Island including the Jungle Jive Cafe, which is a nice but overpriced fast food resturant. They also sometimes put on shows for kids outside!
You can also eat at the Hotdog and Burger Bar or buy some yummy treats at the Candy Cottage.
Eating inside the park can be quite expensive so you can always eat along one of the seafront stalls..
I would deffinatley recommend going here if you have kids or if you're a teenager - it's a great day out. Try and make it on a warm day too to get the most out of it.
This product has not yet been reviewed. 
