The year begins to draw to a close and I feel as if us UK folk have been treated to a rather treat-filled year of new rides, some of which were delayed from 2020 but others were purposely built for this year. Therefore, I thought I’d sit and put together my personal top 10 from this season & have a little chin wag over each of them with you guys!
10 – Roller Disco – Alton Towers:
By all means, these aren’t the best kind of Waltzers I have encountered. Yet it’s a space filled and it has this characteristic that is enough to lift your mood when nearby it. It’s one more ride to filter the queues out and that alone makes it worthy of this list.
9 – Funk’n’Fly – Alton Towers:
Slightly vile in all honesty. It knocked me sick that one time riding it. But even so, this area again has been vacant for years and this added Ride has allowed the area to fill that bit more alive again. It also looks gorgeous at night too.
8 – Mixtape – Alton Towers:
This is oddly fun. It also has the most epic soundtrack just like the other 2 retro squad rides. I feel the Ora shrouding these rides is perfect and enables the park to shine even through temporary feeling rides. I find it moderately tough to imagine X Sector without this little gem sitting under Oblivions brake run.
7 – Wave Swinger – Drayton Manor:
A real fun & sweet ride and it’s filled the space of a huge rollercoaster which was a staple. But although it’s on a different hierarchy to what had once sat in its area it’s lovely to see space filled. It is perfect for the whole family to ride & or the ride, it looks so charming with its little seashell style of the theme.
6 – Gangsta Granny – Alton Towers:
I spoke of in a recent blog post how I was super hyped for this area & ride more specifically and with that in mind, I perhaps had too high of expectations for what was about to be provided. Given the space & what that location once was, it’s so great how this ride has come together. It delivers silly humour yet super fun style of a ride for the whole family to enjoy. It is perhaps not a ride which I must ride every visit but it is one I do enjoy when I do experience it.
5 – Cyclonator – Paultons Park:
I love Gyro Swings and all of the small individual issues aside this is a fab ride. The forces you feel between each of the swings is insane. It’s one of those rides which if it was easier to hop onto it could be the best flat ride in the country yet that small issue is something that dampens it for me. But that’s not to say the ride cycle itself isn’t super fun.
4 – River Rapids – Drayton Manor:
The sheer proportion of joy this brought to me is unbelievable. I love all things water ride related as a whole anyway and these were my favourite rapids in the UK before their closure. The outstanding work that has been done is amazing. Heading around this ride now you’d never know what little theming it once had. As much as they are gentler in comparison to before they are equally as enjoyable if not more with those strengthened characteristics & effects. I’ll forever be grateful to have them back again.
3 – Croc Drop – Chessington World of Adventures:
Before experiencing Croc, I did fall in love with Magma. I found Croc Drop was a slow burner for me it took me a fair few rides to conclude the way I adore the thing. I found the audio and theming were terrific & something I fell in love with instantly. But the ride experience at first was underwhelming until I experienced a few other cycles which delivered more of a pleasure-like feeling to it.
2 – Storm Chaser – Paultons Park:
It was one of my most anticipated rides for a few years now & it certainly did not disappoint. It is a lot more intense than it looks off-ride which is always a bonus. I found the surrounding landscaping was incredible. The restraints and carriages were pretty comfortable and the throughputs were fab. There’s not much to not enjoy about this coaster. Long story short it really was a pleasant surprise.
1 – Flight of the Skylion – Legoland Windsor:
Effortlessly the best UK dark ride. It is one of the most stunning experiences I’ve ever had on a ride and it truly left me speechless afterwards. Every time I ride it just gets me feeling that tad bit sentimental with the sheer astonishment it delivers. It’s our first-ever flying theatre and I never did expect it to be quite so special. I love each of the characters that are a part of its story and I could sit here for days talking about how I feel about this ride. If you haven’t already checked it out, please add it to your list for next season as it’ll not dissatisfy you at all.
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What are your favourite fresh for 2021 rides that you have experienced? Let us know in the comments or across our socials!
Thank you so much for reading & I can’t wait to read to all about your favourites!
