2018 is now behind us and here at UK Theme Parks we had one of our busiest years! With a lot of the UK covered, local parks and more fairs since we’ve done since 2004 we had a lot to look back on. With many visits come many highs and lows.
Now is the time to list the best and the worst of 2018, its easy to list the worst as many people experience and remember bad days over good days, however we really want to highlight some amazing experiences and rides we had last year.
With those comes some low lights, struggling parks, poor operations and quite often simply just bad days by the places we give money to. For some, I have included what my two children also think of 2018 and whilst we don’t expect everyone to agree head over to our Facebook page or You Tube channel and leave yours to, we would love to hear it!
Best of 2018
Best Staff – ADVENTURE ISLAND, always without saying a park where i always feels the staff want to work and do a great job.
Best Value – BLACKPOOL PLEASURE BEACH, we just feel price vs what you get is great value.
Best Operations – PAULTON’S PARK, well organised, well structured theme park.
Best Live Show – HOWLOWEEN LIVE (Chessington) A really interactive fun attention grabbing show.
Eldest Best Show – HOWLOWEEN LIVE
Youngest Best Show – PIRATES OF ZANZIBAR
Best Kept Theme Park – PAULTON’S PARK, just stunning attention to detail, clean and a pleasure to visit.
Eldest Best Kept – LIGHTWATER VALLEY
Youngest Best Kept – LIGHTWATER VALLEY
Best New Ride – ICON (Blackpool Pleasure Beach) The planning of ICON feels a cut above Wickerman for us, something fun, thrilling but not to over the top in terms of “Horror Theme” Knowing Wickerman could have been better swayed us.
Eldest Best Ride – ICON
Youngest Best Ride – ICON
Favourite Theme Park – PAULTON’S PARK, it may not be filled with thrill rides but the way they set up the park makes it a pleasure to visit. Sound investment, well organised, well themed its a pleasure to visit.
ELDEST Favourite Theme Park – BLACKPOOL PLEASURE BEACH
Youngest Best Theme Park – CHESSINGTON WORLD OF ADVENTURES
Worst of 2018
With some amazing experience come some bad ones to, this isn’t to say we dislike the park (accept in one case) or that they offer bad rides and shows. Competition is this climate is high and as seen by so many closures over the years you can’t rest on an old reputation for long, people become wise.
Worst Operations – FLAMINGO LAND, really wasn’t close for the size of the park. Slow loading, cut capacity, not filling seats, warm drinks, poor service for us it had no competition at the size and price.
Worst Value Theme Park – SOUTHPORT PLEASURELAND, again when it comes to cost a no wristband option makes Southport a nightmare for a full day out,