Sun Jul 26, 2015 5:30 pm
Lacking anything better to do this weekend, I went up to Fantasy Island to try out a couple of roller coasters that had been on my list for some time: Millennium and Jubilee Odyssey.
Fantasy Island was opened in 1995 as something to do for the unfortunate masses that holiday in the area. It consists of a number of attractions for all ages, including rides, children's' entertainment, and an oppressive shopping market. The overall feel of the place is not great.
Millennium
Millennium is a Vekoma MK-1200 with a custom layout, opened in 1999 to celebrate the upcoming millennium. At 56 mph it is the seventh fastest roller coaster in the UK, and is also the fourth highest in the UK and features an astonishingly tall loop.
The ride experience overall was good; it was very smooth, probably thanks to the new trains, and there was little in the way of queue. It's not a particularly thrilling roller coaster, but a nice experience all the same.
Jubilee Odyssey
Odyssey is a Vekoma SLC with a custom layout, built in 2002. The layout is broadly similar to Infusion at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, however it has been stretched upward to make the ride 167' feet tall, making it the third tallest roller coaster in the UK after the Pepsi Max Big One and Stealth. The first drop is 141', during which the train collects an impressive 65 mph - making it slightly faster than Rita Queen of Speed.
Odyssey was closed most of the day due to winds, opening around 5:00pm. Just like Millennium there was little in the way of a queue. The ride experience itself is pretty intense, and also a little bit painful - like its other SLC brethren, Odyssey is a bit of an earbasher.
Other Rides
While waiting for Odyssey to open, I rode some of the flat rides at the park. They are, by and large, travelling funfair rides that have been erected on the site on a semi-permanent basis. Some effort has gone into theming the rides, which makes their overall appearance better, however the layout is a bit chaotic to say the least.
I rode a number of other rides, but three were particularly noteworthy.
Volcano
Volcano is a 200' tall S&S Power Space Shot. The ride experience is pretty standard for a ride of this type, and there is a great view from the top of the Lincolnshire coastline. Overall very enjoyable and not at all scary.
Fantasy Mouse
I have a soft spot for wild mouse roller coasters. Fantasy Mouse is steel mouse with spinning cars, like a cross between Alton Mouse and a Waltzer. In fact, the layout is identical to the Alton Mouse. Approximately half way around the course the spinning mechanism on the cars unlocks just before a meandering section of flat turns and they spin wildly.
The Beast
The Beast is a Mondial Top Scan, another ride that I have a soft spot for. Expecting an experience similar to Samurai at Thorpe Park, I was in for a big surprise! The Beast is a fair bit quicker than Samurai, the result of which is being hurled off into the sky feet first on more than one occasion. This is not a ride for the faint hearted and I came away feeling a little green around the gills.
Verdict
I might go to Fantasy Island again at some point, but it's not worth the 2 hour journey when I could get to Blackpool, Flamingo Land or Lightwater Valley in the same time.