PAULTONS PARK EXTENDS PARTNERSHIP WITH ATTRACTIONS.IO TO PROVIDE IN-APP SOCIAL DISTANCING SOLUTION

 BY GABRIELLE

Paultons Park has broadened its partnership with mobile app platform Attractions.io to bring a new social distancing functionality to the park’s guest-facing app. The update will help the popular family theme park in Hampshire reopen safely as soon as government guidance allows the industry to begin opening.

The new functionality on the app comprises of virtual queuing and extended mobile food ordering capabilities designed to eliminate the need for guests to have to queue for rides and refreshments. Visitors can already import tickets into the app, which prevents the need to queue at the entrance of the park, helping Paultons Park overcome the social distancing challenges of the post-COVID world.

Rob Griffiths, head of marketing at Paultons Park, described how the app will be a crucial part of the safe reopening of the site. “The app already helps visitors make the most of their day out and delivers ongoing improvements to guest satisfaction. This made it the obvious solution to build upon, equipping our visitors with a tool that not only helps keep them safe but also improves their experience,” said Griffiths.

The updated app is expected to go live in the next few weeks.

LAUNCH OF TORNADO SPRINGS AT PAULTONS PARK POSTPONED TO 2021

BY GABRIELLE


Paultons Park theme park in Hampshire has announced that the launch of its new themed land ‘Tornado Springs’ will be postponed until Easter 2021.

The land, which stretches for four acres and is home to many family attractions including Peppa Pig World, was due to launch on May 19 this year. Due to unprecedented challenges in the wake of the COVID-19 lockdown, the opening of the themed land has been put on hold until next year.

Tornado Springs is designed in an American style, based on a fictional town in 1950’s Midwest USA. The land boasts more than seven new rides and attractions and will be Paulton Park’s fifth themed land.

Richard Mancey, managing director of Paultons Park, commented on the postponed of the launch of the new land: “The decision to delay the opening of Tornado Springs to 2021 has been very difficult to make, particularly as so many of our guests have been eagerly looking forward to enjoying the new rides and attractions.

“We know how disappointing this postponement will be, to both our guests and our staff. After eighteen months of hard work it is very hard to accept that the attraction will not open this year, particularly when it is so close to completion. However, with no work taking place on site at present and with no clear idea of when the specialist contractors from several European countries will be able to recommence work, we felt that this was our only option.

“Everyone who has been involved in bringing Tornado Springs to life has poured their heart and soul into creating a truly spectacular experience, so rest assured it will be worth the wait,” Mancey added.

COUNTDOWN BEGINS FOR NEW THEMED AREA TORNADO SPRINGS AT PAULTONS PARK

BY GABRIELLE

MK Themed Attractions, the award-winning theming experts, have been busy of late, preparing Paultons Park in Hampshire for its new Tornado Springs area.

The immersive themed area is due to open in May 2020.

Covering the 5000 sq. mt. area in paint and producing approximately 500 props, MK Themed Attractions has been gradually transforming the area from bricks and wall constructions to a heavy themed immersive experience designed to resemble American in the 1950s.

A principle element of the theming are tornados, which regularly hit the harsh environment and weather conditions of Tornados Springs.

James Mancey, operations director at Paultons Park, spoke about the progress on the new area. “We are really excited to finally see all the months of planning and preparation starting and come together and are very much looking forward to progressing on to the final part of the development.

“MK Themed Attractions is now here on site to add the attention to detail and quality of finish that will add the magic to bring Tornado Springs to life,” said Mancey.

As well as the transformation of the themed area, new rides are being installed in the park.

Casper Damkier, technical manager at MK Themed Attractions, commented: “We are at the moment installing props and theming for the indoor queuing areas including the new Spinning Coaster.

“It’s a great milestone of the project that we are finally able to start decorating the area after focusing on the artistic painting of the project,” Damkier added.

PAULTONS PARK NAMED NUMBER ONE UK THEME PARK BY TRIPADVISOR

BY GABRIELLE

Paultons Park in Romsey, Hampshire, has been named the UK’s best theme park. The accolade is based on reviews left by visitors on TripAdvisor, which were collated for the Travellers’ Choice Amusement & Waterparks 2019 list.

TripAdvisor looked at the number of reviews left for the UK’s different theme parks and waterparks, as well as the ratings given to each resort.

The poll also looked at the best waterparks and theme parks worldwide.

Hot on Paulton Park’s heels was the Milky Way Adventure Park in Devon, which features both indoor and outdoor attractions. Blackpool Pleasure Beach got the third spot, followed by Clifton Park in Rotherham.

Sundown Adventureland in Retford is the fifth best theme park in the UK according to TripAdvisor reviews, followed by Adventure Island in Southend-on-Sea.

Exeter’s Crealy Family Theme Park came in seventh place, Brighton Palace Pier won eight spot, followed by Harbour Park in Littlehampton in ninth.

Alton Towers was listed as the tenth most popular theme park in the UK based on TripAdvisor reviews.

Around the world, Universal’s Islands of Adventure in Orlando was voted as the best theme park around the world by travellers.

NEW AMERICANA-THEMED WORLD TORNADO SPRINGS COMING TO PAULTONS PARK

BY GABRIELLE

A new, multi-million-pound themed world known as Tornado Springs is coming to Paultons Park in Hampshire.

The world is based on a 1950s’ American Midwest desert resort town theme and is due to open in May 2020.

The new four-acre land will feature a series of new rides and attractions, including the only rollercoaster of its kind in the UK, a free-spinning ride with 20-metre heights, known as the Storm Chaser.

The themed park will also be home to a Gyro Swing spinning pendulum ride, the Cyclonator. The ride is centred on an invention to scythe crops that’s powered by the wind as has been made by the characters of Tornado Springs.

Another highlight is Al’s Auto Academy, a garage-themed driving school ride with Windmill Tower drop rides, electric cars, a Buffalo Falls water raft ride and Trekking Tractors.

James Mancey, operations director of Paultons Park, commented on the new land:

“We are extremely excited to bring Tornado Springs to the public next May. The new themed world represents the single largest and most ambitious investment in the future of Paultons Park since we opened in 1983. The Tornado Springs concept is unique to Paultons Park and will significantly extend our capacity to entertain and delight children of all ages.

“We felt that the theming of Tornado Springs was a natural fit with the traditional family values with which Paultons Park is synonymous.

“We’ve coupled the vibrant appeal and charm of the 1950’s era with best-in-class rides and attractions to create a truly unique world which, in association with our existing fantastic themed lands, will stand head and shoulders above any other family attraction in the UK,” Mancey added.