G-Force Magazine - UK Theme Park News & Features
UK Theme Park Industry News & Features
A visit to a theme park with your family can be an expensive day out. As you spend your day within the confines of the park, you realise that very little is free and the number of opportunities to spend money seems to increase each season. With this in mind, here's a quick checklist to ensure you do everything in your power to have the best day at the best price. Pick Your Park For a country … [Read more...]
I remember standing in the queue for Oblivion during its inaugural season asking those who were with me "Do you think coasters will ever go beyond vertical?". The response was a resounding "No, that'd be ridiculous", but I suspected that it wouldn't be long before a manufacturer would go one better than Oblivion. After all, the dive machine hadn't even hit the 90-degree mark at this stage. I … [Read more...]
The world of today is built on brands - among the best known are Coca Cola, McDonalds, Microsoft and Disney. Theme parks across the world are introducing a new type of brand at a rapid rate, namely intellectual properties from TV series. In 2011, parks across the UK will introduce more brands to customers than ever before. Pleasure Beach, Blackpool will welcome Spongebob and friends to the resort … [Read more...]
It is the investment that Blackpool and Pleasure Beach fans have been waiting for. Pleasure Beach Blackpool have started the demolition of Beaver Creek children’s theme park, to make way for Nickelodeon Land. The new land will cover 6 acres and include 14 rides, nine brand new additions and five refurbished rides, plus a stage, eateries & gift shops. Nickelodeon Land will cost … [Read more...]
If we were to take each of the past 20 years as a song and then compile our greatest hits - 2010 probably wouldn't have made the track list. As the country (and much of the world) drags itself out of the economic downturn, there were some nice changes and additions to various parks and also the sad loss of others. Alton Towers certainly won the column-inches war with their new 'Pyscocoaster' … [Read more...]
The history of roller coasters and theme parks in general is of great interest to me. I recently rode The Scenic Railway at Luna Park, Melbourne. It's strange to think that something built the same year as Titanic is still the park's premier attraction, thrilling thousands of people each year. The new era of looping roller coasters sent a shockwave (or two!) through the industry. Over the … [Read more...]
Apocalypse, Drayton Manor (Intamin, 2000) I've said it before and I'll say it again, Apocalypse is the scariest ride in the UK. While many rides try to create fear among riders with elaborate pre-shows and other theatrical means, the staging of Apocalypse is simple. There are no video presentations, live actors or a complicated back-story. The fear felt on Apocalypse is very real. Since its … [Read More...]
