{"id":9047,"date":"2021-09-24T08:00:14","date_gmt":"2021-09-24T08:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.coastersonthecoast.co.uk\/?p=9047"},"modified":"2025-06-12T20:04:56","modified_gmt":"2025-06-12T20:04:56","slug":"area-review-tornado-springs-paultons-park-ad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.coastersonthecoast.co.uk\/?p=9047","title":{"rendered":"Area Review | Tornado Springs – Paultons Park #AD"},"content":{"rendered":"

An area which we followed closely during its construction & were super excited to experience in 2020. But the world has different plans and unfortunately, the area got postponed until this year. Given its long-awaited opening, we knew it was a must-visit for us this year after all it\u2019s a slow-burning process of growing our coaster count too, just an added win that Storm Chaser is the headliner act! I\u2019m a lover of themed areas as well, so my attention was always peaked after its concept art got published all those moons ago. Without me rambling on anymore, let\u2019s get into discussing my opinions on the area, shall we?<\/p>\n

Entrance & Theming:<\/h2>\n

As you approach from afar it\u2019s obvious how beautifully themed this area is going to be. The entrance facade in itself is so nicely themed it really does feel as if you are about to enter a little American western town. To your left, there is Storm Chaser whizzing by & to your right is Al Driving School with this gorgeously themed building which is a pattern that follows onto every single building in the area. There is so much to take in & look at everywhere yet it still looks effortlessly realistic amongst these rides & backdrops. I think it\u2019s significant to take your time around this area, so no bit of theming gets overlooked or neglected.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/h2>\n

Shops & Restaurant & Eateries:<\/h2>\n

As I spoke of above there is not a section of the area without theming it continues onto & into those buildings that are getting used as well such as Restaurants etc. Personally, we did not eat at the park due to saving money for our wedding next year, so I can\u2019t unfortunately comment on the eateries.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Storm Chaser:<\/h2>\n

Headliner attraction is of course, Storm Chaser. Let\u2019s begin with the first encounter you have with the ride which is, of course, the queue line & station. Both of which were remarkably well-themed with subtle theming props & elements that strengthened together to create the perfect a more impressive experience immediately. The carriages & restraints were a lot better than we had expected. We found the restraints particularly forgiving and it did help there is a little bar on the side of the carriage to imply where your restraint is sat whether it\u2019s in the red or green. If you are someone who is apprehensive about fitting onto this coaster, I\u2019m pretty sure it caters for all body shapes & sizes reasonably well.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

So, this was our first time riding a Mack spinning rollercoaster which left us fairly unsure as to what to expect. Although I found our carriage on both rides we have done to not particularly spin all that greatly (that\u2019s not an unfavourable thing) it was still pretty incredible. We found the height quite unexpected as off-ride it doesn\u2019t look all that tall in comparison to how feels whilst heading down the first drop. It\u2019s safe to say it was a lot more intense than we had anticipated it to be for a ride that looks relatively tame from afar. The downward helix is the fundamental element that stands out for me. The main thing I found could have been better in length. During our first ride, we found it felt as if it came to an end a little too promptly. But as for the ride experience itself, it is so much fun and brilliant for the entire family to enjoy. Those smaller added touches within the ride area itself do enhance the overall experience as there is constantly something to catch a glimpse of and uncover as your whizz around the track.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Something we didn\u2019t predict to be all that amazing was throughputs yet the park has blown this out of the water. The staff were outstanding at assuring the ride operated with the smallest queue possible the entire day, in fact during our visit it was basically walk on all day (it was a Saturday as well). The train was hitting the brake run and the second was heading out of the station. It certainly has the best throughput across the park & one of the best in the UK too.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Cyclonator:<\/h2>\n

Tornado Springs have a persistent theme of remarkable theming & planting surrounding their rides & Cyclonator is certainly no different in that aspect. I\u2019ll start of talking about one of the personal topics I found with this ride which was getting on & off. I am 5\u201d3 which I know is reasonably small therefore getting into the seat took a while given there was no step available for smaller people like myself to use to get onboard. The staff member was brilliant at trying to help those who needed it yet unfortunately that wasn’t enough after around 5 minutes I managed to get myself on. Getting off was equally as challenging but definitely a little scarier. The seat is relatively more elevated than the platform meaning there\u2019s a huge gap between your feet leaving the floor to your bum sitting on the seat. It\u2019s an area where developments are desired to ensure all guests over the minimum height restrictions advertise can climb onboard comfortably.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

This is a Zamperla Gyro Swing therefore the restraints are somewhat similar to Air Race meaning they are automatic and you can place them over your body at the position you\u2019d like. Which for me meant I had a minimum amount of airtime after been pretty squished into my seat. However, those hiccup aside the ride itself is a lot of fun. The height is immense and quite terrifying when facing downwards. It\u2019s a brilliant addition to the park for those itching for a thrill and those who are wanting to take steps towards bigger rides in general.<\/p>\n

Other Family Attractions:<\/h2>\n

The other family attractions are more or less marketed towards the younger audience and attracted decent length queues, therefore, we opted to avoid instead of adding more of a queue. We have previously experienced the water slides; Buffalo Falls. It\u2019s always lovely to see a pre-existing ride get incorporated into a brand new area given it a lease of life. Other family attractions included Windmill Towers, Play areas & Als Driving School Academy. As I have mentioned several times throughout every single ride & attraction is so beautifully themed that they all feel so at home amongst this area. It\u2019s the perfect area for every member of the family to enjoy.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Landscaping & Audio :<\/h2>\n

I know I\u2019ve spoken about the theming above but the landscaping in regards to greenery and planting is absolutely stunning. There is not an area that has not got some kind of beauty from flowers etc. As for the audio, it is a brilliant well-suited piece that ties the area together perfectly!\"\"<\/p>\n

Overall:<\/h2>\n

It is easily one of the best-themed areas at any UK theme park there is so little attention to detail things to spot throughout your visit you need to spend a lot of time amongst the area to spot it all. Of course, next season will see phase 2 open with its brand new Junior Rollercoaster which will ensure the area is fully catered for every age range possible. The entire area incorporates story-telling, humour and a genuine feeling of you are in this town for real so effortlessly. It is the perfect area to join the lineup across the UK with its bright, life-like theming & joyful atmosphere. Tornado Springs is definitely a striking area that will bring all the family together to enjoy some fab rides & atmosphere. It is beautiful in every aspect we had hoped it would be.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\n

Have you checked out Tornado Springs yet? If so, what is your favourite part of the area?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Thank you so much for reading!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

An area which we followed closely during its construction & were super excited to experience in 2020. But the world has different plans and unfortunately, the area got postponed until this year. Given its long-awaited opening, we knew it was a must-visit for us this year after all it\u2019s a slow-burning process of growing our coaster count too, just an added win that Storm Chaser is the headliner act! I\u2019m a lover of themed areas as well, so my attention was always peaked after its concept art got published all those moons ago. Without me rambling on anymore, let\u2019s get into discussing my opinions on the area, shall we? Entrance & Theming: As you approach from afar it\u2019s obvious how beautifully themed this area is going to be. The entrance facade in itself is so nicely themed it really does feel as if you are about to enter a little American western town. To your left, there is Storm Chaser whizzing by & to your right is Al Driving School with this gorgeously themed building which is a pattern that follows onto every single building in the area. There is so much to take in & look at everywhere yet it still looks effortlessly realistic amongst these rides & backdrops. I think it\u2019s significant to take your time around this area, so no bit of theming gets overlooked or neglected. Shops & Restaurant & Eateries: As I spoke of above there is not a section of the area without theming it continues onto & into those buildings that are getting used as well such as Restaurants etc. Personally, we did not eat at the park due to saving money for our wedding next year, so I can\u2019t unfortunately comment on the eateries. Storm Chaser: Headliner attraction is of course, Storm Chaser. Let\u2019s begin with the first encounter you have with the ride which is, of course, the queue line & station. Both of which were remarkably well-themed with subtle theming props & elements that strengthened together to create the perfect a more impressive experience immediately. The carriages & restraints were a lot better than we had expected. We found the restraints particularly forgiving and it did help there is a little bar on the side of the carriage to imply where your restraint is sat whether it\u2019s in the red or green. If you are someone who is apprehensive about fitting onto this coaster, I\u2019m pretty sure it caters for all body shapes & sizes reasonably well. So, this was our first time riding a Mack spinning rollercoaster which left us fairly unsure as to what to expect. Although I found our carriage on both rides we have done to not particularly spin all that greatly (that\u2019s not an unfavourable thing) it was still pretty incredible. We found the height quite unexpected as off-ride it doesn\u2019t look all that tall in comparison to how feels whilst heading down the first drop. It\u2019s safe to say it was a lot more intense than we had anticipated it to be for a ride that looks relatively tame from afar. The downward helix is the fundamental element that stands out for me. The main thing I found could have been better in length. During our first ride, we found it felt as if it came to an end a little too promptly. But as for the ride experience itself, it is so much fun and brilliant for the entire family to enjoy. Those smaller added touches within the ride area itself do enhance the overall experience as there is constantly something to catch a glimpse of and uncover as your whizz around the track. Something we didn\u2019t predict to be all that amazing was throughputs yet the park has blown this out of the water. The staff were outstanding at assuring the ride operated with the smallest queue possible the entire day, in fact during our visit it was basically walk on all day (it was a Saturday as well). The train was hitting the brake run and the second was heading out of the station. It certainly has the best throughput across the park & one of the best in the UK too. Cyclonator: Tornado Springs have a persistent theme of remarkable theming & planting surrounding their rides & Cyclonator is certainly no different in that aspect. I\u2019ll start of talking about one of the personal topics I found with this ride which was getting on & off. I am 5\u201d3 which I know is reasonably small therefore getting into the seat took a while given there was no step available for smaller people like myself to use to get onboard. The staff member was brilliant at trying to help those who needed it yet unfortunately that wasn’t enough after around 5 minutes I managed to get myself on. Getting off was equally as challenging but definitely a little scarier. The seat is relatively more elevated than the platform meaning there\u2019s a huge gap between your feet leaving the floor to your bum sitting on the seat. It\u2019s an area where developments are desired to ensure all guests over the minimum height restrictions advertise can climb onboard comfortably. This is a Zamperla Gyro Swing therefore the restraints are somewhat similar to Air Race meaning they are automatic and you can place them over your body at the position you\u2019d like. Which for me meant I had a minimum amount of airtime after been pretty squished into my seat. However, those hiccup aside the ride itself is a lot of fun. The height is immense and quite terrifying when facing downwards. It\u2019s a brilliant addition to the park for those itching for a thrill and those who are wanting to take steps towards bigger rides in general. Other Family Attractions: The other family attractions are more or less marketed towards the younger audience and attracted decent length queues, therefore, we opted to avoid instead of adding more of a queue. We have previously experienced the water slides; Buffalo Falls. It\u2019s always lovely to see a pre-existing ride get incorporated into a brand new area given it a lease of life. Other family attractions included Windmill Towers, Play areas & Als Driving School Academy. As I have mentioned several times throughout every single ride & attraction is so beautifully themed that they all feel so at home amongst this area. It\u2019s the perfect area for every member of the family to enjoy. Landscaping & Audio : I know I\u2019ve spoken about the theming above but the landscaping in regards to greenery and planting is absolutely stunning. There is not an area that has not got some kind of beauty from flowers etc. As for the audio, it is a brilliant well-suited piece that ties the area together perfectly! Overall: It is easily one of the best-themed areas at any UK theme park there is so little attention to detail things to spot throughout your visit you need to spend a lot of time amongst the area to spot it all. Of course, next season will see phase 2 open with its brand new Junior Rollercoaster which will ensure the area is fully catered for every age range possible. The entire area incorporates story-telling, humour and a genuine feeling of you are in this town for real so effortlessly. It is the perfect area to join the lineup across the UK with its bright, life-like theming & joyful atmosphere. Tornado Springs is definitely a striking area that will bring all the family together to enjoy some fab rides & atmosphere. It is beautiful in every aspect we had hoped it would be. Have you checked out Tornado Springs yet? If so, what is your favourite part of the area? Thank you so much for reading!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9060,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[5053,5054],"tags":[715,686,3448,3266,3017,1416,155,656,681,3138,3446,661,680,3169,448],"class_list":["post-9047","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-theme-parks","category-themed-attractions","tag-ad","tag-american-theme","tag-american-western-theme","tag-area-review","tag-family-audience","tag-family-days-out","tag-family-fun","tag-gifted","tag-paultons-park","tag-paultons-park-tornado-springs","tag-route-83","tag-themed-area","tag-tornado-springs","tag-uk-family-theme-park","tag-uk-theme-park"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.coastersonthecoast.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/FDBC80E4-0F73-45A3-AFB0-AC3703868CEA-scaled.jpeg?fit=2560%2C1920&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pb4qDv-2lV","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.coastersonthecoast.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9047","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.coastersonthecoast.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.coastersonthecoast.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.coastersonthecoast.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.coastersonthecoast.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9047"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.coastersonthecoast.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9047\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9072,"href":"https:\/\/www.coastersonthecoast.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9047\/revisions\/9072"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.coastersonthecoast.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9060"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.coastersonthecoast.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9047"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.coastersonthecoast.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9047"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.coastersonthecoast.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9047"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}