We’d like to begin with saying a huge thank you to each & every person who’s participated in this collaboration. Words can’t describe how much we appreciate everyone’s time and work. All links to these incredible bloggers, YouTube channels & pages will be left below their paragraphs. We’ve already shared our thoughts & opinions so we’ll leave the link here. Hope you all enjoy this blog and if you haven’t already checked out our Wickerman special the link will be left here.
Coaster Bot;
Icon is really solid roller coaster with a mixture of everything. It has some fantastic ejector airtime, moments of intense force, and hangtime here and there. The launches might not be the most thrilling but the rides snappy and unique layout more than makes up for it!
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Pleasure Beach Experience
ICON for me is a special roller coaster, following the construction from the first markings on the ground through to its first train of riders was filled with fun times, the suspense and hype around the whole project was amazing. ICON is airtime filled, well paced and just what Blackpool Pleasure Beach needed to get the public and enthusiasts interested in the park again, my favourite aspect of the ride has to be the airtime hill after the first launch although I do wish it was a bit quicker over there!
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Cupcakes & Coasters:
Boom, launch! And…oh, that was confusing because I expected the exhilaration of the thrill of the launch but it didn’t come. Hmm. OK, what about this then, airtime hill. I braced myself to be flung Helix style from my seat, but again nothing. Ah. Oh, what about some sexy transitions? Well actually the speed we were going at meant it was more of a frolic around Steeplechase than anything. Oh…
AH, here we go, dive down into the misty tunnel with a fabulous punch of airtime immediately followed by the chug of the second launch. There’s the exhilaration I was after. Yes! And then ooh hang-timey inversion – not for me but cool for those who like that kind of thing. And what’s this? Sideways airtime hill? I’ll have some of that thank you very much! And then…oh, OK, more pootling. And brake run. Damn.
We rode twice more, this time opting for a seat closer to the front and when the thing had had a chance to warm up a little. And it definitely improves as it warms up. The launch had more of a kick, the airtime was more powerful, the transitions racier, the hang time less hang-timey. But I could not for the life of me shake that shadow of gutting disappointment cast by my initial ride.
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Airtime John:
Icon is currently my 2nd fave coaster. I first rode during the boarding pass day, before opening and have never been so excited that morning. Its such a FUN ride! Conplate contrast To wicker man, minimal (no) theming, but feels elegant and just a lovely looking ride. It Always makes me smile. Inlove intearcting with other rides-its a buzz!
The soundtrack is truly epic! really gets my blood pumping! Beautiful, gelegant looking station inside, and i love the MACK trains and restraints. Its so damn filmable also, so when vlogging, i always end up with tons of icon footage and nowt else! haha
The ride is smooth, and (for me) really forcefull at times, i really get that tingle in me feet. I am due to ride Helix in July for 1st time and No doubt it may be a superior ride, but ICON for personal reasons will always be close to my heart.
I am so lucky to have it 50mins from my house!!
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Theme Park Worldwide:
Blackpool Pleasure Beach was long overdue a new roller coaster and it was clear when space started to be created on the site of the former Tom Sawyer bridge, that something big was coming. When we first saw the layout for ICON, it was amazing to see the size of the proposed coaster along with how much land it would cover around the South side of the park.
It was also clear that this ride would be very different to anything else in the UK with it featuring a double launch along with exposed trains that feature just a lap bar. It was great to follow the construction of this ride and also create a video series all about it on my YouTube channel, Theme Park Worldwide.
When the ride was complete it was great to finally have a MACK launch coaster here in the UK and as much as the theme of the ride is light, the area around the attraction is well landscaped with a great atmosphere. ICON takes you on a journey across the south side of the park and that’s what really makes this coaster my favourite in the UK. The close interactions with The Big One, Big Dipper, Steeplechase and other rides really add to the overall experience. This is a great roller coaster that is also suitable for smaller guests who meet the lower height restriction, opening it up to more riders looking for a light thrill. The second part of the layout is also quite intense with some great elements and interaction with the queue-line and landscape.
Overall ICON delivered more than what I was expecting and I feel very lucky to have this quality ride within a short distance of where I’m based. This coaster is so much more than just a launch coaster; in fact, the launches are one of the weaker parts of the ride. It’s the air-time, intensity and interactions that make this in my opinion, the best roller coaster in the UK.
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Thrill Rides Photography:
Icon opening for me was a big step for the park in moving it forward to match some of the bigger parks across Europe some of the park was dated. And it was a massive upgrade for the park which I think it needed to get people from Europe and America to come over and visit the park. While I’m not a massive fan of mack rides I really enjoyed this coaster. Well 3 quarters of it. I feel the last quarter is a bit of a waste and so much more could have been done to it.
At opening I sat on the ride for 10 rides without getting off and I did enjoy it and it does get faster as the day goes on. So a top tip do it later in the day. It amazing how it mixes with other rides in the park and they have used the space so well. Especially the first part of the ride. I’m so happy its put Blackpool on the map and it’s a great investment for the park.
Well done Blackpool Pleasure Beach
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Springy Tales:
I can’t believe Icon is turning 1 year old already! It holds a special place in the heart for us after extensively covering the final stages of its construction in early 2018, right through to the official launch being our first ever theme park media event. The ride itself is one of the best in the country and has shown the general public that a coaster doesn’t necessarily have to be the tallest/fastest/loopiest to be a fantastic ride.
Icon’s success has been a bit of a ‘slow burner’ – it didn’t necessarily have an immediate impact on visitor numbers at the Pleasure Beach, from my anecdotal experience at least. However more people are now hearing about how good the ride is and it is fantastic to hear first-time riders talking about how much they enjoyed it as they walk out of the station. Fingers crossed this continues to build and the park gets the success it deserves on the back of such a great investment.
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The Joy Sequence:
One of the things I remember most about Icon when I first visited it in 2018 was how “brand new” and modern it looked. Its geometrically-perfect big grey track exposing all its magnetic fins and shiny drive tyres to the public, makes it really stand out in the park next to all the more vintage hardware we’re used to seeing on the other rides and creates an enticing contrast.
I was immediately and pleasantly surprised by the amount of theming (or as Amanda Thompson describes it, ‘styled not themed’). It’s got its own soundtrack, voiceover character, striking oriental decoration and sculptures which stretch from its entrance gate, queue line, station, following it wherever it goes from the back of the park to the area outside Sky Force. The coaster is described as being woven into the fabric of the earth by the TV ad, it has its own shop of themed merch, and even its trains are designed to represent a scaly creature. The only thing keeping it from being completely themed as far as I’m concerned is the presence a storyline, but I’m happy with that being left open to our individual interpretations.
One of my favourite elements of the ride is actually the use of mist. Giant plumes of thick wet fog fill the tunnels that it launches through, causing riders to temporarily be blinded to what’s ahead before emerging out and up into the sky, leaving your face and hands pretty wet and it’s all fabulously disorientating. It also makes the ride seriously entertaining to stand and watch when you’re not on it.
Another highlight of the coaster for me is just after the first inversion and right before the second launch just as it throws you out of your seat and down into another pit of fog, it really does feel like you’re plummeted down deep into the cold and wet unknown before riding out into a very punchy second launch.
Whether it’s the pebble landscaping, the little rock fountains or the perfectly timed reverberated “Icon” voice that stamps its mark on you as the first launch begins, I really think every little detail and quality has been considered to ensure this roller coaster is the full package – a thrilling and enjoyable experience that has everyone smiling and screaming all the way around.
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It’s been incredible working alongside these incredible content creators and we’d recommend checking each & everyone of them out. We just want to say a massive thank you to everyone who’s participated & everyone who’s reading this! We hope you’ve all enjoyed this blog & make sure to check everyone out above!