If I’m honest I can’t quite believe I’m sitting here writing this blog post. The future of Shockwave was always something I feared given the pattern of the thrills leaving Drayton Manor. Yet here we are actually writing about the long future of this classic coaster. Isn’t that the best kind of news, hey?
So, yesterday the news broke that Shockwave will be undergoing some adaptations for the 2024 season & the stand-up element will be coming to the end of its life end of this season. You have until parks close for winter to experience & enjoy this feature before it becomes history. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing by any means it’s sad because of the iconic title it held for the UK with it being the ONLY stand-up we had here but also on a personal sentiment too as it was my first ever thrill rollercoaster but the fact the coaster stays is the best news. But it’s always better to see change than a complete loss. 
Shockwave is acquiring a brand new name, theme & train. This is really exciting and marks a fresh chapter of life for the coaster particularly given it’s the 30th birthday next season meaning 30 is the start of a new era for this coaster. As for the precise details of the transformations they aren’t particularly apparent as of yet other than the new train will mean a lower height restriction. This is sticking true to their new demographic with the park leaning more towards the family yet still nourishing those fun-like thrills too.
This news came as a tremendous shock as it came out of nowhere but has made me so enthusiastic about the future of the park. To see their iconic coaster hanging around but receiving some love & a new look to match the park’s persistent shift in style is fab. I’m excited to see how this evolution comes on and the differences between what we have always known to what we’ll be introduced to. The park sticking authentic to its new vision but not bypassing its history is lovely. I guess the new trains will be sitting down in some form which again hands over a whole new experience for us guests to see this coaster from and without a doubt it’ll no doubt iron out those niggles we all found with the existing carriages (at least you men can enjoy it after all this time😂). A new theme well that’s just intriguing given there’s never really been a theme but the park has demonstrated how good they can do with theming in recent years so I’m excited to see what kind of path this will be taken down & a new name does honour the end of what we knew but that’s the best move as you don’t want people to visit that haven’t heard the news then be disappointed it’s no longer a stand-up. Drayton Manor has shown their potential already & next season is going to elevate this to new heights in my opinion. I’m excited and just know the future is just as the park merits and that’s luminous, optimistic and THE park to visit!
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What are your thoughts on these upcoming changes? Are you excited or sad to see the stand-up element leave the park?
Thank you so much for reading!