Side article brief (not final)
If the magazine has enough space, I will create a side article about some of the uk's family parks. The UK isn't just about the thrills! It has parks for the younger audiences too! Family parks feature smaller coasters with no inversions (it doesn't go upside down). They are often less intense but still provide a fun experience for both kids and adults. A lot of enthusiasts think family parks aren't important, but actually family parks can provide the same amount of fun, entertainment, theming and thrills as a larger park. For many enthusiasts, family parks are what got them into roller coasters to begin with. For me, I used to visit Chessington world of adventures when I was little. I was amazed by the highly detailed areas and the fantastic attractions, such as Dragon's fury, the Maurer Sohne steel spinning coaster which tips you vertically and spins you round in a spiral motion. Dragon's fury is currently Chessington's newest roller coaster which opened in 2004 (so really it isn't that new at all) along side Spinball Whizzer which opened the same year at Alton towers. In this article, we will be going over some of the UK's best family attractions!
Dragon's fury is just one of many attractions at Chessington world of adventures resort. It is hugely popular among adventurers (the park likes to call visitors that). Land of the dragons (where dragon's fury is) opened in 2004, next to Beano land (now Wild Asia) and Pirate's Cove. This image shows the ride's iconic vertical hill, which is very famous among it's type. While the ride itself has little theming, it is still very clear what theme it is trying to present. You are a daring adventurer who stole some precious treasure from the ferocious dragon. Unfortunately you didn't manage to escape in time and now have to face the Dragon's Fury! Fun fact! The soundtrack used for Dragons fury is the same as the game Kingdom hearts 2 in the section called home of the dragons, themed to Mulan.
Frazzle the dragon, the iconic animatronic situated just outside the ride's entrance. If you try and take the dragon's treasure, you'll have to face its burning fury! Frazzle has lived at the park for many years and was even there before dragon's fury came into existence. Frazzle once used to be a rose red colour and was placed in a temple structure rather than a cave. However, when Land of the Dragons came along, Frazzle was given a new coat of paint, but after all these years, Frazzle has started to show his age.
Sit back! Hold tight! The vampire is taking flight! Vampire is by far the best attraction at Chessington, a must ride for anyone wanting to visit a UK family park. Vampire is Chessington's Arrow Dynamics/Vekoma suspended coaster. Despite Vampire being almost 31 years old, it still feels fresh and fangtastic! (get it?). The roller coaster first opened in 1990 and was one of the first of its kind in UK. Suspended coasters were still very new at the time so Vampire became very famous and put the park on the map. It was only until 1994, when Nemesis at Alton towers opened. Nemesis was the world's second Bolliger and Mabillard inverted coaster after Batman the Ride at Six flags Great America. Nemesis completely blew Vampire out of the water with its death defying near misses and intense inversions, it's fair to say, Vampire was out of its league.
The ride takes you on a flight through the thick forest, just like a bat taking flight. It is situated in the Transylvania area along side the iconic but now retired Bubbleworks, a dark water ride. in 2017, Bubbleworks was rethemed to The Gruffalo River ride adventure. The Vampire station sees you in a mysterious castle, with ancient torches and a large organ, where an animatronic organ player can be seen. The station has many more spooky props and lighting to help set the atmosphere. over the years, more competition has popped up such as Infusion, a Vekoma SLC located at Blackpool pleasure beach or flight of the Pterosaur, another Vekoma located at Paultons park. Despite that, even after all these years, Vampire is still considered a classic and is beloved by many for its excellent theming and high thrills. It may not have any inversions but it still gives you a good fright!
Fly through caves or past dinosaurs as you are blasted into the forgotten kingdom with the ferocious Pterosaur!
This is flight of Pterosaur at Paultons park which was the previously mentioned Vekoma. So far it is the newest coaster on this list as it opened in 2016 along with a family boomerang called Velociraptor. Unlike many of its kind, Velociraptor uses lap bars instead of the traditional over the shoulder restraints that most suspended coasters use. Flight of the Pterosaur is often compared to Vampire at Chessington world of adventures as they are both family oriented suspended coasters, but Pterosaur is benefitted by the comfortable restraints and overall smoother experience. Lets just say, this dinosaur has a bite!
From one dragon to another, The Dragon at Legoland Windsor resort is a blast! Though not as intense as the previous three entries, The Dragon entertains you with many fantastic and highly detailed Lego models. built to look like people from the middle ages, oh and don't forget the huge red dragon, who is protecting his treasure from all intruders who dare to face him. The ride has been operating since 1998 and was manufactured by W.G.H Transportation Engineering. The ride features two lift hills and mostly consists of small bunny hills and long curved tracks. However a large majority of the ride is a slow trip through a castle, where you visit the previously mentioned Lego models and the large dragon which is the centre piece of the ride. The website claims that the Dragon is the highest thrill ride at the park despite being the tamest on this list! All that said and done, the Dragon is the perfect ride for children, with its slower speed but amazing theming!
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