Weymouth Sealife Adventure Park & Tower

[Khanage]

A recent trip down to Weymouth took me, armed with my MAP, down to the Sea Life Park. I have been a few times before but not since about 2004.

The park has been improved immensely since my last visit. In general the place is very clean and tidy with lots of sea-life on show including sea turtles, crocs, sharks, crabs, rays, otters and seals with some fascinating talks from the enthusiastic members of staff there. Being mainly an outdoor attraction in recent years it has become more of a park with rides aimed towards the younger generation. Over the past few years a small area of the park which once had a small, slow spinning ride for kids now includes a Zamperla Rockin' Tug, a frog hopper type ride, a tipping water bucket, a mini pirate ship for very small people and a spinning type ride.

This year they have installed a mini log flume from ABC Engineering in Switzerland. The boats are themed like crocodiles and the ride takes you through a crocodile enclosure and has one drop. It is very small and aimed toward young children but I did actually quite enjoy it.

All in all quite a nice few hours out for anyone in the area. It is more of a summer attraction as it is mainly outdoors but worth the trip. Anyone been?

[ThrillJunkie]

Been past this attraction many times in the last year (the pub opposite is very good )

I've always been put off this park becuase of the high admission price and the fact that the park is so small but the pirate golf which is part of the attraction is very good.

[Crofty]

Just found this on the BBC News website and couldn't find it mentioned anywhere.

The company are planning a 173ft structure on Weymouths Harbour much like the ones found in Europa Park and Seaworld.

[url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-13684734" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-13684734[/url]

Plan inages can be found Here

I had a little chuckle when I noticed the queueline features 'Photo opportunity' and associated collection point and of course a few Vending machines.

Another reason to push the annual pass price up I assume. i'm not really bothered if it gets the go ahead or not, I sort of hope it doesn't. I think it's also a little late to be planning applications for the olympics? If they really wanted to do something then shouldn't they have put it forward sooner?

[Sam]

[quote=""Crofty""]Another reason to push the annual pass price up I assume. i'm not really bothered if it gets the go ahead or not, I sort of hope it doesn't. I think it's also a little late to be planning applications for the olympics? If they really wanted to do something then shouldn't they have put it forward sooner?[/quote]
Unlike some of the nicer bespoke observation attractions (Spinnaker Towers, London Eye) this looks just to be an off-the-shelf clone. Who makes Europa's, Mack? I can't imagine it taking more than one or two months to build, if that.

Though I agree with you, if it adds more to the MAP prices for another boring attraction, then I hope it doesn't get approved.

[DiogoJ42]

](*,)

MERLIN, IF YOU ARE READING THIS...

We don't want any of this 3rd rate naff tourist rubbish. If you concentrated on what you already have, you wouldn't be in the situation you now find yourself in.

[oldgitBEN]

the highlight of this is obviously the branding wall.

[Adz]

I much prefer this one that's being built in Brighton.

[ThrillJunkieUK2]

Although this attraction is an off the shelf, non inspiring attraction I hope this gets the go ahead.

I know this location. pretty much and the only thing on that "pier" is 2 huge car parks and a cafe which are owned by the ferry company that runs trips to the Isle of Wight and there's an old falling down Pavilion near by so this would be a positive step to attracting tourists to the town.

I noticed it didn't state whether this attraction was going to be a permanent attraction or just put there for the Olympic's. The Weymouth Sealife Centre is pretty good so I hope they can do the same with this attraction (especially now Weymouth has lost it's only coaster, lol)

[Sam]

[quote=""RideRater""]Council approves Weymouth Eye land leasing

Proposed observation tower the Weymouth Eye has moved a step closer to reality as the leasing of its site was agreed by Weymouth and Portland Borough Council.

Merlin Entertainments have yet to obtain planning permision for the 53-metre structure, with construction needing to begin next month if it is to be ready for the 2012 Olympic Games – during which Weymouth will host sailing events.

Under the proposed timescale, the tower would be erected in March 2012, with testing taking place in June and the public opening coming in July, shortly before the start of the Olympics.

A spokesman for Merlin Entertainments said: “We are obviously pleased with the council’s decision but planning is key, without that nothing happens. It is very important to us because without it we will have to rethink our plans.”

“It’s out of our hands now but obviously we need to start the project in August in order to have it ready for the Olympics. It’s not an Olympic project – we see it as a long term project – but the boost of having it open for the Games has a strong influence on us doing it.”[/quote]
[url=http://riderater.co.uk/?p=612" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;]http://riderater.co.uk/?p=612[/url]

[Khanage]

I personally like the idea of this observation tower. As a very regular visitor to Weymouth over the past 15 years I have seen lots of things change but nothing compared to what is going on right now. Weymouth is a building site!

I visited just last week and obviously there is a lot going on in terms of updating the town, promenade, beach kiosks and changing every roundabout to traffic light controlled crossroads (I have no idea the reasoning behind this idea). The Asda, Morrisons and M&S are all undergoing extensions and/or refurbishment and the esplanade is current a mess with street-lighting being changed and building works of new platforms on the beach.

Weymouth attracts a lot of tourists from July to September and obviously a lot more will come for the Olympic weeks. Even after the Olympics the Weymouth Eye will attract loads of visitors as the views across the bay are outstanding and I would imagine the weekly firework display would be stunning from that viewpoint.

Anyway, I would personally welcome the tower, I'm not sure how the locals will feel about it as it will be visible from a long way away and the fact that their town is already being transformed and some of the original Victorian elements are being removed, which is a real shame. I'll be interested to see if this gets permission.

[Islander]

Planning has now been approved:

[quote=""Blooloop""]Merlin Entertainments is delighted that the Planning Committee has accepted our plan for an exciting new observation tower (as part of the Festival Pier redevelopment).

This is obviously an attraction we believe both Weymouth residents, and visitors to the town will enjoy for many years to come. However agreement today also means that we can complete the project in time for the 2012 Olympics. An exciting new attraction at a time when Weymouth will not only welcome many thousands of new visitors for the events themselves, but also will be showcased to the world.

Craig Dunkerley, General Manager of Merlin’s SEA LIFE attraction in Weymouth – and who will also be responsible for the new tower attraction; said after the meeting. “This is great news. We believe that the tower will be a must do attraction in Weymouth. The 360° panoramic views it will provide will be magnificent and leave lasting memories of Weymouth for everyone who visits. We are also confident that it will prove an economic catalyst, helping to keep people in the town longer, and benefitting many other businesses.”

Work on the tower is expected to begin in November.[/quote]
Source

[Coke]

Another Annual Pass rise will be around the corner then...

[timj]

So how will this work?

Will there be lifts taking people to a fixed tower top or will it be like the Morecambe polo (and Brighton?) and the tower head comes down to the ground?

cheers

Tim

[Tom G]

The entire gondola/capsule/pod thing will raise and lower, it will slowly rotate 360 degrees.

The pod is currently under construction in Germany: http://www.weymouthpeople.co.uk/Glass-E ... story.html

According to a source in The Sun, the pod will also include a freefall drop setting, similar to the Extremis drop ride at the London Dungeon.

[Sam]

[quote=""Tom G""]According to a source in The Sun, the pod will also include a freefall drop setting, similar to the Extremis drop ride at the London Dungeon.[/quote]
Joking, right?

[Tom G]

I'm afraid so.

[ThrillJunkie]

Just found some new updates on the Weymouth Tower which can be found here:
http://www.heart.co.uk/dorset/news/loca ... completed/

Sounds like the gondola is finished and the tower has started it's construction. They think the tower will be complete by the end of March.

Also it looks like Merlin are looking for a company to sponsor the new attraction:
http://www.merlinsponsorship.com/sponso ... uth-tower/

Any want want to guess what company (if any) will take this offer? Knowing Merlin it will be worth a lot of money so I can't see any local business getting it.

Other attractions Merlin are looking for sponsors for include:
The driving school at Alton Towers (bye bye Peugeot)
The Fire Academy at LEGOLAND Windsor

[Ritadz]

This explains why Alton had to cut opening hours, to help fund some crappy observation tower.

And yet again M£rlin are building a new attraction down South, do us Northerners not deserve attractions to make MAPs better value for money? We've got Blackpool, York Dungeons and Sealife Scarborough, and that's it.

[Joe Koopa]

And yet again M£rlin are building a new attraction down South, do us Northerners not deserve attractions to make MAPs better value for money? We've got Blackpool, York Dungeons and Sealife Scarborough, and that's it.

I think you'll find that this and two sea life sanctuaries are the only Merlin-owned attractions in the South-West. It's the South-East that's getting all the love!

I still don't see the real point of this investment. Weymouth is hardly Blackpool, and as nice a surrounding area as it is, it seems to me that the tower won't last long. I can't see anyone wanting to use it post-olympics.

[ThrillJunkie]

I passed Weymouth yesterday evening and thought I'd grab some shots of the new tower. Here it is:




Looks interesting so far. I'm thinking could that big white structure thing in the first photo sit on the top of the tower when it's complete?