Lesser known UK theme park by the seaside to launch brand new rollercoaster this year
WITH some of the world’s most exciting theme parks in the UK, the smaller ones often don’t get mentioned as much as they ought to.
However, one in a popular seaside town will be welcoming visitors this year with a brand new ride.
Fantasy Island in Ingoldmells, near Skegness, was home to the Spinning Coaster, a favourite among visitors.
However, this year that ride is due to be ramped up and turned into a “Spinning Mouse XXL”, with the original track set to be expanded to include two extra drops.
Theme park fans are excited about the news, with attraction bloggers Theme Park Freaks labelling it an “interesting project”.
They wrote: “It won’t be just any roller coaster, but a brand new Spinning Mouse XXL.”
Other rollercoaster fans have been getting excited about it too, including Diary of a Rollercoaster Girl.
She wrote on her Facebook page: “With all the talk of Hyperia, Drayton’s new coaster and Nemesis Reborn, it’s easy to forget about other developments happening around the UK!
“Including the brand new Spinning Mouse XXL that’s ready to get built up at Fantasy Island!”
While Fantasy Island fans are getting excited about the ride, the new addition could also enhance the experience for people at London’s Winter Wonderland.
During the winter, the original spinning coaster was taken to the Christmas-themed attraction in Hyde Park, where it was used as the indoor Ice Mountain Coaster.
Theme Park Freaks suggests: “The new Spinning Mouse XXL may go to Winter Wonderland in London during the winter months.
“Here it could be transformed into the Ice Mountain XXL, the XXL version of the well-known indoor coaster.”
Whether or not that will happen remains to be seen.
Nevertheless, excitement is growing at Fantasy Island, with insider Island Quest providing updates on its progress via its Facebook page.
Earlier this year, they wrote that it would be found at the back of the park, once it reopens for the spring and summer months.
They added: “The name is yet to be revealed but it’s nice to see the park’s brought a firm favourite back!”
Other rides and attractions at Fantasy Island include bigger rollercoasters like The Odyssey, which has several inversions and high speeds of 62mph, and The Millennium, containing two vertical loops and a sidewinder.
There are plenty of other rides and attractions for youngsters and those less interested in thrill-seeking too.
The park will start opening again on March 16 this year.
Elsewhere, theme park fans are looking forward to some other exciting new experiences opening around the country.
Minifigure Speedway, Legoland
Work is underway on a brand new ride at Legoland, set to open this year.
The Minifigure Speedway will be the world’s first LEGO-themed duelling rollercoaster.
Passengers will go both forwards and backwards, as well as race between the Team Legends and Allstars, led by a Minifigure captain.
Shockwave, Drayton Manor
Staffordshire’s second-favourite theme park, Drayton Manor, will be converting the current Shockwave rollercoaster into a new “family thrill coaster” in 2024.
The park’s managing director, Victoria Lynn, said that it would be a departure from the resort’s focus on attractions for children, and could even be seen as one of the best rides in the country.
“Drop tower ride,” Adventure Island
Southend’s Adventure Island has revealed plans for a new ride opening next year.
An official opening date for the un-named attraction hasn’t been revealed yet, but it is expected to be launched this year.
Meanwhile, the UK’s tallest and fastest rollercoaster is set to open at Thorpe Park this year.
And this iconic ride is getting a revamp ahead of its relaunch this year.