UK theme parks offer a vast majority of rollercoasters & some of them even have flat rides, although not all. However, there’s 3 ride types I’d just LOVE to see more of across them that in my opinion simply would add that extra bit of joy to them. Of course, this is MY opinion and I’d love to hear yours!
Indoor Rides:
I ain’t fussy on the exact ride type as long as it’s heavily themed, decent storyline to follow, longer than 2 minutes and just inside a building. The UK isn’t usually blessed with weather it’s always either wet & bleak or as this summer has demonstrated too hot to function. Having that indoor dark ride with a decent capacity would lift up any theme park experience. Somewhere to have a break from your feet & get immersed in a different world. Some of my favourite theme examples are Bubbleworks at Chessington & The Curse at Alton Manor. Both are contrasting ends of the themed range yet both work or worked beautifully. All theme parks in my opinion need at least 2 dark rides of some form whether that be a boat, rollercoaster or trackless. The more the merrier.
Outdoor Boat Ride:
If you visited Drayton Manor during the early naughties you’d recall Excalibur the outdoor boat ride. It was a reasonable duration and took you through different scenes primarily if not fully outdoors with hoods on the boats. This is the kind of thing I’m referring to. A bit of water, a boat & some form of story to get guests lost within the magic of. Nothing over the top in terms of theming or even near the scale of a Jungle Cruise-like experience. Just a nice straightforward slow boat ride amongst the outdoors with a roof on the boat to help it be open & enjoyable in all weathers for guests. Themed to a safari, jungle, or something along those lines. Multiple boats so the throughput is kept to a minimum nothing too high cost to operate or too complicated.
Gyro Swings:
Every park needs one. I’m yet to experience the latest to join the very minimum line-up, of course, Aviktas (postpartum misery of no intense rides for a little while). However, they are just the best type of flat ride in my opinion and always have been at that too. Every single one of them I’ve endured has always been memorable and bursting with so much fulfilment. The butterflies as you swing towards the ground and the intensity of the push as you head towards the sky. Simply perfection if you ask me. Not too much to ask to theme or style pop something on the join of the supports at the top and a bit of decor around the queue line & surrounding areas you are sorted. They often seat a generous number of guests at one time and the sad truth is they never last longer than a couple of minutes if you are lucky with the cycle. But they are simply an embodiment. An easy way to pack a punch without going too far above and beyond with intricate ideas to do so. They are perfection and every single theme park needs one to boost the bliss in their line-up.
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What are the 3 rides you think more theme parks need in the UK? Call me intrigued to hear your thoughts!
Let’s speak again soon!
