Hi there, its been a while but im back with plenty to say!!! Its been a busy past few months having ...
Hi there, its been a while but im back with plenty to say!!! Its been a busy past few months having moved house several times and another move on the way havent had much time for reviews but hopefully im back to stay for good this time!
Member since:03.11.2003
Reviews:6
Members who trust:1
This summer I went on holiday to Flamingo Land and had one of the best holidays of my life and so I would like to share my experiences of the park in the hopes that others will too enjoy it in the way that I did. The park itself is located in North Yorkshire about 20mins from Scarborough and Whitby. It is a family run theme park with an extensive zoo and holiday village. It is possible to just visit the park for the day however I would strongly point out the fact that I stayed there for two weeks in a caravan and I still did not manage to do everything!
~The Zoo~ Flamingo Land originally started out as a small zoo with guess what? Flamingos as the main attraction. However to day there are many different animals ranging from tigers to polar bears to Shetland ponies. You really can spend a whole day here. Throughout the day they feed the animals and you can go along and watch. I recommend the penguin feed because they are sooo cute! Along with all the main animals there is a superb bird walk with birds ranging from the colourful parrots to the enormous Condors. There are also two brilliant shows on throughout the day. The best of these is the Sea lion show staring Benson the daddy! This show is proclaimed as the best sea lion show in the country, it really is funny. Also there is the parrot show which is also really worth a watch they ride bikes and everything. At the end of both shows there is the opportunity to talk to the trainers and ask any questions you like. These shows are a real hit with the kids. The zoo has also had several new arrivals in 2003 including the first rhino every to be born at the park. Also new in recent year is and underwater experience called the deep. This is where you go into an are along side several of the aquatic animals tanks so that you can see them underwater, this is also a favourite of the kids but be warned it can get quiet busy and there are limited windows so it’s best to get there early. There is a reptile house which includes a huge alligator, very scary! Allot of the attractions in the zoo area are really educational definitely worth a visit. There is currently a 5 year development taking place to expand the zoo this includes bringing in new species all the time so keep your eyes peeled for new faces! The zoo has two separate monorails which take you around the main areas of the zoo so that you can see the animals from the best view. One monorail goes around Monkey Island, the polar bear, the meercats and other animals in the area. The second is the longer one which takes you to the big cats, the buffalos and the other larger animals. There
is a train which incorporates the animals but it also visits several points in the park. This is a good way to get into the zoo and it gives you great views of the baby rhino, the hippos, the giraffes and lots of other animals. The zoo itself has over 1,000 animals and has the largest flock of flamingos in the country (hence the name!) Also there is the option to adopt one of the animals in the zoo! The zoo really is a really nice way to spend a day.
~The Main Park~ The main park is where most of the action is this is where all of the rides and entertainment is. There several large rides which I will now tell you about. My favourite and the most recent addition to the park is
THE WHITE KNUCKLE RIDES
CLIFFHANGER. This ride is not for the fainthearted. You are shot up a 120ft tower at over 4gs. When you reach the top you are left hanging there for what seems like forever the you are dropped back down to earth before being shot up again but don’t worry you only go half way up the second time! The best thing about this ride is the amazing views at the top although admittedly most people have there eyes shut at this point.
THE BULLET. This is my second favourite ride in the whole park but it is definitely the most powerful. Not for the weak stomach! At first site the Bullet looks like a fairly tame ride as it only had a small track with one loop. However when you see it running you realise how fast is goes. Huge G forges are created on this ride, so much so that it can only operate for a few hours a day before they have to close to release track pressure. So be sure to check out the entrance to the ride to see when it opens because this is one you really don’t want to miss. You are pulled backward out of the station up a huge lift hill. Then you are not only released but pushed back down you then speed through the loop only to go up the other side of the ride, then to do it all over the other way around. The Bullet was voted one of the best rollercoaster’s in the UK, big favourite of mine!
MAGNUM FORCE This is the only triple loop rollercoaster in Europe. Sponsored by Walls, the ride is a huge addition to the park. It really does explain itself, from the station you are taken up the lift hill then down a small drop taking you up another even bigger lift hill, from here the views of the park are almost as good as those on cliff hanger! You are then dropped down a very steep hill and into the first two loops, then the track circles round for a few seconds before you reach the final loop, then round the rest of the track before coming back to the station. The loops themselves are larger than normal and the forces you feel when you are going round them are huge. The harnesses that you wear on the ride are not the usual pull down restraints, but they are much more like seat belts over both shoulders and around the waist. The harnesses are adjustable but must be tight, which causes them to chafe a little. Because of this I would recommend that when on this ride you cover your shoulders with a T-shirt or coat if you are wearing a sleeveless top! This is a great ride and although the ques can sometimes look quite long the move really quickly because of the number and size of the cars that are on the track.
TERRORISER I have never been on anything like this ride in my life! It’s very hard to describe as it is so original. The parks website describes it as "The UK’s only ride combining the death-defying plunging sensation of a rollercoaster with the bone-shaking spinning of a waltzer." You sit in cages that each holds four people. The cages are all mounted on to a giant swinging arm. The arm spins you round and round before it starts to swing back and forth, soon the arm is going 360degres into the air and you find yourself looking down on the station whilst hanging upside down. Not only that but the carriages themselves rotate. This leaves endless possibilities and each time the ride is different. A warning that you can be on this ride for some time. Definitely a one worth watching before you go on it. Very short ques as lots of people can get on the ride itself and not many dare to go on it when they have seen the faces of those on the ride! If you want a thrill this is the ride to go on.
TOP GUN Themed on the film staring Tom Cruise, this ride allows YOU to take control. You sit in a mini Jet plane that can hold either 1 or 2 people in which you have the usual type of harness with a hip bar as well. The cars are all attached to a central arm. When the ride starts the cars are lifted up and begin to spin around. This is where you take over! Between the two seats in the car is a joystick, push the joystick to the left and the car rotates to the left, hold it down for longer and you spin upside down. The same works to the right, with a little skill you can hold the sick for long enough to hang upside down. For safety measures there are time limits to how long you can continuously hold yourself upside down and a limit to how many revolutions you can do in a row. If you reach the limit the car is reset to the right way up and you can start again. When the ride is over all cars a reset and brought to the ground. Be careful who you go on this ride with in case they take control! I find that if you rotate to the opposite side from which your sitting the sensation is not so strong (e.g. if your on the left of the car push the stick to the right). You used to be able to move the car in and out but this has been recently disabled. Never a long queue as large numbers can go on the ride at once.
BLOOMBERGS TOMB OF TERROR This is a haunted house with a difference! This one is REALLY scare so be warned the only recommend 16s or over on it but over 12s are allowed with parents but this is NOT a good idea. Basically you enter the ride and get put into groups of about 8. You are then shown a video of the story of Bloomberg’s. Then you enter a lift which takes you to the ride. You then walk round the ride to the end. Sounds easy? Well on your little walk you are repeatedly attacked by the likes of Freddy from Nightmare on Elm Street, Hannibal etc. It’s dark and there are a lot of nasty sound effects. The groups are all sent on different groups. The worst thing is the characters are real people, if you scream they will target you and follow you, and if you don’t scream they will make you. I screamed my head off and suffered for it. I won’t give too much away but think about this one before you go on it.
CORCKSCREW The original type of corkscrew. This ride contains two corkscrews and a long track. Not much to say about this one as it is fairly self explanatory. Sometimes opens later than the other rides. Average ques.
WARNING All of the above rides are the biggest rides in the park and because of safety there are height (or age) restrictions on each of them. I am not sure of the actual limit but it is around 1m30cm but check on the day as they vary.
OTHER (NOT SO SCARY) RIDES! Other rides include Thunder Mountain, The spin drier, The Flamingo Star, swinging chairs, a log flume, dodgems and a good old carousel. There is plenty to do for the more timid.
KIDDIES RIDES There is so much for the kids to do at the park (even big kids!) The best of the kid’s areas in my opinion is the Little Monsters area. Home to Frankie and his friends. The area includes one really cute ghost train. Somewhat like Toyland tours at Alton towers it is a train ride through several scenes of the monsters getting up to mischief! This is a real favourite for the kids so the ques are a little long at time but in the queue area there’s a lot to look (and laugh) at. This ride is a chance for an on-ride photo. The photos are good quality at an affordable price (around £4) and you can have it put on key rings and magnets etc. Also there is a little monsters show for the kids featuring all the monsters and some fun light and sound effects. Shows run throughout the day. Nearby there is an Exploratorium which has lots of fun science things for kids and adults! No queue or wait for this one you can just walk in, good for when it’s raining. Outside of the Monsters area are several rides for the kids which are scattered around the park. One great element of the park is that for the majority of the White Knuckle rides there are similar rides suitable for the kids. For example by the Cliffhanger there is a Frog Hopper which is the same idea as the Cliffhanger but in much smaller proportions. This keeps the kids really happy! During the day shows are run in buildings surrounding the main courtyard featuring Professor Bubbles who is the parks mascot, these are a real laugh and worth seeing. They fill up quickly though so it’s best to get there early.
~Accommodation~ If you decide that one day is not enough to see and do everything, then you should consider staying at the Holliday Village at the park. The Village has lots of good facilities like an indoor pool and spa, a gym, and tenniscourts. The Village has its own spar and there is a separated reception who will deal with any problems. There are also plenty of places to eat out including a Chinese, a good old chippy, and a pizza bar. Also there is an amusement building with pool tables, air hockey etc. There are several ways that you can stay at the park. The first of which is to go to the campsite. Caravans, mobile homes, and tents are all welcome. Prices are around £35 a night for a family of four. However if you are staying in the campsite area then entrance to the park is not included and is charged at the normal rate. Because of this I would recommend the second option. This is staying on the main area of the holiday camp. Here you stay in one of the large, well equipped static caravans (all caravans sleep 6 people). Prices range from £380 to £680 for a weeks rent of the caravan (prices vary depending on the time of the year) and this includes entrance to the park during the day and in the evening when the park is only open to those staying at the park (only certain facilities are open in the evening). Also included are the park facilities such as the swimming pool. When staying in the caravans you are given a wrist band that gives you easy access to the park and all the other facilities. The caravans have all the basic amenities such as a colour TV, fully equipped kitchen, vacuum cleaner etc. However towels and linen are not provided so you would have to take your own. The final option is to buy your own caravan and rent a space at the park. By doing this you can access the park as much as you want throughout the year. With Your site you are given 8 pass cards for yourself and anyone else you would like to stay with you. This pass acts as a year round wrist band allowing you unlimited access to the park all day and at night, and to the facilities in the Village. The cost of renting a caravan for the year is £3000 but there is an initial payment to buy the caravan (prices vary depending on size)
~Prices~ Park Entrance - £14.50 for adults and children over 3 (children under 3 are free), £7.25 for OAPs or £54 for a family of four (consisting of 2adults 2children under 12) These prices include entrance to the park and to the zoo.
Well I hope that this review has helped you, I really do think this is one of the best attractions in the UK, unlike the larger, more well known parks the ques are short whilst the rides remain really exciting. Staying at the park is really good value for money and the staff are really helpful. Also the surrounding area has lots to offer so if you do want to get off the park for a while youll have pleanty of things to choose from. One last piece of advice is if you are at the park on a Sunday head to the Garden Cafe in the Zoo area because they do a brilliant Sunday dinner for around £4!
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Jan 10th, 2004
(Jan 11th, 2004)
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