Adventure Island

[furie]

I can't remember about the first point - sorry.

I think they do a pay per ride system, but I can't guarantee it - I bought wristbands the day I went.

The park is small and quirky. It's good fun, but there's nothing there really outstanding thrill wise. Rage is okay, it's fun enough for what it is.

Over the Hill, the new dark ride is supposedly excellent though.

I had fun there for about an hour and a half - then the rain drove us out. It was torrential. In that time we'd been on everything though. However, if it's nice, then you can probably get value from re-rides and having a more relaxed time of it

[ThrillJunkie]

I believe (don't quote me on this) you can ride all day with a wristband.

The park do (or did last year) operate a token system but to my memory worked out quite expensive so to get value for money go wristband. But i do believe not every ride is available to wristband wearers.

The park itself is really well presented and looks good with small themed areas (jungle, pirate, western) scattered around the park. The park is home to many flat rides that you would expect to find at any fair ground (Archelon, Scorpion, Vortex) but is also home to some very fun and more rare flat rides such as Dragons Claw, Ramba Zamba, Sky Drop.

The park is home to only 4 coasters. Green Scream which is a family coaster set above the park, Barnstormer a children's coaster, Mighty Mini Mega which offers a good ride but little G's and of course the main attraction Rage which is the single best ride in the park.

I would say the park is definitely worth a visit. I spent around 4hrs on the park before the rain set in and we headed home.

Sadly i noticed there's no new attraction for 2009 apart from Over The Hill which opened late last year.

[furie]

The park has some brilliantly over the top and obscure/demented theming too by the way. For such a small park, it's fab!

[Dr Pop Rocket]

[quote=""Dara""]I was having a look at the Adventure Island site and there were a few things i was unsure about.

Firstly, half price wristband after 6pm are advertised. If you buy a wristband before 6pm at the higher price, will it still be valid for use after 6pm? So in other words, can a wristband bought before 6pm be used on rides before AND after 6, or does it stop being valid at 6pm?

Another thing i wasn't sure about is do you have to have a wristband to get on to the rides? Do they have a token or pay per ride system for people who don't want to do many rides? I know the park is free entry, but the website only seems to advertise wristbands.

Finally i was just generally wondering what the park is like. I only really want to go for Rage, but have never been so wondered what it's like.[/quote]

If you purchase a wristband before 6pm it is valid for the entire day until closing. So you do not have to purchase a new wristband after 6pm. So long as you do not remove your wristband you can leave and re-enter the park throughout day.

With regards to individual ride tickets, the park does operate a pay by ride scheme. Tickets are £1.60 each with the 22 Junior and Mini rides being one ticket each and the 10 Big Adventure rides being 2 tickets each. If you're planning on going on a few rides it is far better value to get a wristband, if you are planning on coming during the day book online to save up to £5 off the Big Adventure Wristband. (Tickets and Wristbands cannot be used for Adventure Golf, Dodgems or AI-Karting)

As for the park, my view is rather biased, but personally I feel it is a well presented little park that will certainly keep most people amused for a few hours. If you're spending an entire day in Southend, I'd suggest coming down in the morning and spending a few hours at the park then enjoy the other activities in Southend (Sea-Life, Arcades, Beach, Shopping Centre, Kursaal) then go back to the park in the evening, the park is very vibrant at night with a fantastic atmosphere.

Be sure to pop over to Customer Services and say Hi if you visit.

George

[Anonymous]

TBH, Adventure Island is just that, considering the space they have, there are some good rides tucked in and around the park.

I still need to get down and do "Over The Hill" especially as it was effectively my job passed onto me from George. Still not seen the finished article. /shame

[Dr Pop Rocket]

Hi All,

Just a few updates from sunny Southend, as that is all I ever post about. :P

- Adventure Island has had record visitor numbers this year, with a 13% increase in visitor numbers and a total of 2 million people passing through the parks gates. A lot of people have been taking "staycations" this year which seems to be benefiting most parks. Full Story

- Lights Fantastic has proved a success with Tribute Acts every Friday night for the past 6 weeks to enhance the family entertainment, on top of this with any purchase of a wristband visitors received a voucher for a free hot drink and donut within the park.

- The first of three Saturday nights of laser spectaculars was this past Saturday, drawing large crowds. You can see a short clip here. There will be more Laser and Firework shows on the 31st October and the 7th November. Visitors on the 31st October will also see the park transformed for Halloween, with a Trick or Treat Zone in the Dock & Quay area of the park as well as park wide theming and audio changes.

- Adventure Island's sister attraction the Sea-Life Adventure is to undergo a £1million face lift, full story here.

- Finally Johnny Vegas visited the park this past Sunday, had a nice chat with him and got a photo (As seen below), he said he shall be returning so I look forward to his next visit!



If you're ever in Southend remember to pop in at Customer Services and say Hello.

George

[Terra]

Just found the advertisement yesterday, and thought of you guys. For anyone who is interested in getting free rail travel to Adventure Island Southend, click the following link:

[url=http://www.adventureisland.co.uk/railoffer.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;]http://www.adventureisland.co.uk/railoffer.php[/url]

That should explain all Happy TTF'ing.

- Lewis

[Sam]

[quote=""Southend Echo""]New rollercoaster planned for Southend seafront

SOUTHEND businessman Philip Miller has revealed plans for a major investment in his seafront theme park.

Mr Miller, owner of Adventure Island, Sea-Life Adventure, the Sands bistro and the Three Shells Beach cafe has just signed a contract for a new rollercoaster and also wants to open another restaurant.

He said investment in the seafront, including the new £7million City Beach development, would help to encourage more people to take a holiday in the town.

He said: “I am Southend born and bred and I love this town. That is why it makes it easy to keep reinvesting in our businesses. We are here for the long haul and not to make a fast buck.

He added: “We have to make sure we offer visitors unrivalled value for money and a wealth of experiences to ensure they want to come back to Southend again and again.

Mr Miller said the location and style of his new projects had yet to be finalised.

He praised the City Beach scheme, which includes bold new lighting and a landscaped public area with a water fountain, improved access to the beach, new footpaths and cycle facilities.

Mr Miller added the roadworks for the project are “a price worth paying for how fantastic City Beach will be once it is completed in March 2011”.

He said: “The council is doing a great job in improving the town for the future.”[/quote]

[Tom G]

It doesn't say that. It isn't very clear at all to be honest, and he doesn't mention the new coaster in the quotes.

[meames]

The 2011 park map shows the new coaster within AI, with an additional flat ride near Green Scream

[url=http://z6.invisionfree.com/advislguide/ ... wtopic=800" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;]http://z6.invisionfree.com/advislguide/ ... wtopic=800[/url]

[Tom G]

Unless I've misread, is the other new thing called Time Machine? Maybe it's a cinema of some kind?

[DiogoJ42]

Uh oh... "Water Fountain"!?!?!?!?!?
Mandy, you've been rumbled!

[Hurri]

The Time Machine is going to be a new thrill ride, built by the park's workshop team. So it's another completely unique addition to Adventure Island's lineup.

The new coaster is a Zamperla Speedy Coaster like Circus Coaster at Luna Park, it's a kiddie ride. But it's still a credit!

[meames]

Really looking forward to seeing that ride - maybe another lllllloooonnnnnggggg drive to Southend for me again next year

[Sam]

[quote=""Tom G""]It doesn't say that. It isn't very clear at all to be honest, and he doesn't mention the new coaster in the quotes.[/quote]
Right you are, apologies! Original post amended, I misread it.

[quote=""Hurri""]The Time Machine is going to be a new thrill ride, built by the park's workshop team. So it's another completely unique addition to Adventure Island's lineup.

The new coaster is a Zamperla Speedy Coaster like Circus Coaster at Luna Park, it's a kiddie ride. But it's still a credit![/quote]
Which looks like this...



Not too shabby at all! Is The Time Machine going to be a dark ride?

[ReZourceman]

Time Machine sounds bad ass.

What other examples are their of in-house made thrill rides (anywhere?)

[DiogoJ42]

Well, that kiddy coaster looks better than Beastie. :mrgreen:

[Airtime]

Just thinking the same DiogoJ. Wouldn't mind if it replaced Beastie...

ReZourceman. I'm sure Fireball is in-house and I read somewhere it's was supposed to be thrilling although it turned out to be pretty much a kids ride. And One of there dark rides, Over The Hill is in-house, which is really good IMO.


Fireball.

[meames]

Fireball was really good the 1st time I went on it, I don't know if it was faster or just our car was heavier on one side, but it really flipped out when coming back down and was great fun - last time I went on it last year it was just lame.

[AstroDan]

How many crappy kiddie coasters does one park want!?

Mighty Mini Mega, Green Scream, Barnstormer and now this!?

I did them all and whilst there is perhaps place for a couple of them, such a line up of kiddie coasters just seems pointless.