MINI MEET: PBB - Saturday 25th Feb

Been to an attraction recently? Planning a trip? Tell us about it here or get some hints and tips for your next visit.
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John
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Sorry about the fairly late notice regarding this one, I'm not massively organised :P

Date: Saturday, 25th February 2012

Venue: Pleasure Beach Blackpool

Meeting Point: 10am, outside main entrance

PBB is home of the UK's tallest coaster, the only mobius coaster in Europe, the most wooden coasters in the world and a huge range of classic dark rides, and with wristbands at £16 when booked online during WOW weekends it's the perfect time to visit Europe's greatest amusement park!

Rides are open from 10.30-5.00.  All rides should be operating except Valhalla and Revolution which are both undergoing long-term maintenance.

After ride close it's time to hit the pier(s) - with the Break Dance on South Pier the pick of the rides, not forgetting the self-operated Top Spin - recreate your favourite Ripsaw program, or just go for as many spins as possible.

OPTIONAL - stay overnight and visit the Merlinpool attractions and/or the Sandcastle waterpark.

Sign up below.

Who's going:

1. John
2. Vik
3. Sam
4. Adam James
5. Jordan
6. Badgy
7. Bear
8. Dar

Maybe:

Spike
DanB
Last edited by John on Thu Feb 23, 2012 6:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.
AstroDan

You sound like a salesman :P

I may/may not be there. Depends on my funds, sadly I am not paid until the 29th February so am unsure.
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Vik
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As already mentioned, I shall be going.  Just for the day mind, can't really afford to stay overnight as well.
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Adam James
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Pleasure Beach? Can't really say no can I..  :P

Don't think I'll be staying over as it's not too far from home - however if there is a spare space in someones room i'd be more than happy to share :)
Dean

I'm up for this..... Oh wait Val's having some new windows put in, i'll wait till she's back open... :-)
Dan77

Can't as much as i would love to. im other wise "busy"
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Spike
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Location: Curled up in Nemmies claws. Sound asleep and purring like a kitten.

I shall try to be their for Mandy Land on Saturday and get my first coaster fix, depending on funds. If not I shall be there Sunday if you're doing Merlinpool.

What's wrong with the Rev?
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MY HAND IS A DOLPHIN!!! >:O
*Honest Cint!*
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Adam James
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Spike wrote: I shall try to be their for Mandy Land on Saturday and get my first coaster fix, depending on funds. If not I shall be there Sunday if you're doing Merlinpool.

What's wrong with the Rev?
Not entirely sure, but I believe it's more for a cosmetic touch-up than anything mechanically.  :)
Jordan

I will be there, I have an annual pass to collect and I love a good day at Blackpool :)
Bear

I'll have a think...
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Badgy
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I've been allowed out again :)

So will be in attendance.

Usual suspects feel free to PM for lifts :lol:

Badgy
WANTED - Schroedingers Cat - Dead or Alive!
AstroDan

Just so you know - definitely not doing this. Paid Car Tax and renewed my MAP this month and not paid again till the 29th, on which date I want to spend money booking summer holiday flights. Have fun!

Sorry guys.
Bear

Totally attending now, Dar and father in tow.
Dar

As much as Bear's post makes it look like we're only going because you aren't AstwoDan, I'd like to categorically state that that's the exact reason! ;)
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Sam
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John, are you going from Manc or Birmingham? Driving? :)
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John
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I was considering driving from Stockport, will make that a definite if you need a lift :D
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Sam
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John wrote: I was considering driving from Stockport, will make that a definite if you need a lift :D
If you could! :D
Ellie

Would love to come to this but im unable to get there. So have fun :-)
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Vik
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What!  NO trip reports??  :shock:

Mine  :-

BEST DAY EVA!

:D

And not a keyboard in sight....
Last edited by Vik on Sat Mar 03, 2012 11:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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John
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I wrote one on PBB but never got round to doing one on here...

PBB trips are always great fun and last week was no exception.  The day started off in the standard fashion with rides on Flying Machines and Derby Racer whilst waiting for people to arrive and everything else to open.  Low capacity rides were targeted first including Ice Blast (which after a great season last year was running really badly  with virtually no airtime), Nick Streak and Avatar Airbender, with a couple of other Nick land rides done while we were in that area.  Once again Dioego's Rainforest Rescue proved a unintentional high thrill ride. EPIC SPINNING!

We did the coasters at the south end of the park before lunch.  Avalanche felt much faster after riding EP's at new year.  We raced each other on Steeplechase which was on 2 lanes (which was enough given the queue).  PMBO was average as ever.  We had lunch at the big pizza kitchen in Nick land.  It's pretty similar to Explorer's at Towers, but quite a bit more expensive at £9.45 including drinks refills.

After lunch it was back up to the north park for Nash, Mouse and a couple of dark rides.  Mouse was amazing, I discovered that by leaning into the corners you can reduce the amount the car leans over - this means the upstop wheels don't slow it down so much and it flies round the track!  The mouse queue line has been opened out with the removal of the windows between the queue and exit path, making the area much less claustrophobic - great move by the park. 

Onto Nash, which sadly wasn't racing at all with the blue train leagues ahead of red.  Sadly we got red both times, and with only 2 trains (giving a throughput roughly 360/hour) the queue was dire - slower than Air on 1 train at Feb half term  :shock:

River caves has seen the gold mine/cafe section enclosed - this has allowed the ride to operate while construction work goes on overhead, sadly it looks an absolute mess.  Hopefully they'll tidy it up a bit if it's going to be like this all season.  Bubble tubes in various colours have been added to the ocean scene.  For some reason they were sending boats round in pairs (people on the 2nd boat had to get out through the disabled entrance on the onload side).

There were a few other general improvements park-wide.  The ramp up to the PMBO station has had the handrails replaced/re-varnished, work has been done inside the Steeplechase station and there is another train in the new colour scheme on Avalanche, as well as the obvious changes to Rev and Valerie.

After ride close we headed to the pier to ride the break dance but it was closed.  So we left.  The end.


Ride count:

Nash, PMBO, Mouse, Nick Streak and Avalanche x2 each
Big Dipper, Steeplechase, River Caves, Flying Machines, Derby Racer, Ice Blast, Dodgems, Blue Flyer, Avatar Airbender, Diego's Rainforest Rescue, Alice Ride
Total = 21

Highlights
* high capacity on most rides
* seeing lots of improvements park wide
* mouse running great
* rides running after closing time (queues closed slightly before the time, but not enough for the rides to shut early)

Lowlights
- low capacity on Nash & getting stuck with the slower train both times - I need to get better at judging the queue
- getting split up on PMBO due to speedy pass users :roll:

Best day eva?  Not for me - that would be at Europa ;)
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