I’d originally planned to head over to the tower on Monday next week, but the weather was looking unfavorable, so at the advice of Thing I swapped to yesterday at the very last minute. I sent a message to the “Wollercoaster Fwiends” Facebook chat just to let everyone know I was heading over there (sort of knowing I’d be on a solo trip at such short notice) and sorted my pre-book. Even though I’ve got a Merlin card I do have to pre-book, although to be honest you can do it on the day if you need to. It’s just so they can manage numbers for really busy times (fireworks & scarefest).
I arrived at the towers and did my usual coffee, but as I saw the busyness of the carpark I decided to splash out and get myself a fastpass. The price really does make you “eek” as it’s £135! Definitely something for very special occasions!
I headed to Wicker Man but was disappointed to find the ride was delayed opening due to sunlight hitting a critical camera head on and blinding it. Critical cameras are mandatory to the operation of the ride.
A quandary – do I remain and wait, or head elsewhere? I knew it’d only be 20 minutes until the sun moved far enough to unblind the camera – but hey I had a fastpass, so I moved on.
So I continued my way around the park, my path for the morning being:
X Sector -> Dark Forest -> Mutiny Bay -> Forbidden Valley
As I passed the gardens I took my obligatory Gardens shot.
I then stopped at the Phalanx Coffee Shop in Forbidden Valley for my dinner. Of course, I had a doughnut! Not my usual though – I opted for a rather nice Rolos bases one. Yes those are PVC jeans. No I’m not mad, they are awesome.
After a few additional rides in Forbidden Valley I then returned – via Wicker Man & Spinball to spend the last hour of the day in X Sector. I rarely finish in X Sector but yesterday felt different. I’m glad I did as I caught a photo of a solar halo over Smiler, almost perfectly aligned with one of it’s 14 inversions. I also met a new rollercoaster friend as we exchanged photos and videos (more later)
The final ride of the day was marked with a breakdown. Whilst we were sitting on the brake run a train Infront got a stuck restraint and it was game over for the ride for that day. After about 15 minutes we were all manually released and guided off the ride – but to sweeten the deal they had reopened Oblivion for us all and we got a bonus ride after hours – including the people who had been waiting in the queue line!
No ride photo from this last ride sadly as the photo booth had been closed.
Finally, up via Towers Trading and down to the hotel for my usual coffee – at which point I met up with my new rollercoaster friend – and it turned out he’s another Kris (with a K) and he also has flesh tunnel piercings! Bruddas from anudda mudda!
His wife Sarah had taken some video of us on Smiler so we walked down to the hotel together (they had a booking for the Rollercoaster Restaurant later) and we chatted for an hour or so whilst sharing media.
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