As of now I don’t know whether Pirate Adventure is returning next year. There’s a lot of work going on in and around the area. I’ll wait until September before giving my opinion. If Pirate Adventure is returning I anticipate an official announcement in or before September.
Pirate Adventure
- Thread starter Harry
- Start date
I grew up visiting the park from the late 80’s so I seen the park change so much some for the better and some even worst.
Pirate adventure was my 1st major dark ride as I never went to Florida to 3 years later in 1993. Even the Jungle Cruise and Jungle palladium was only available to go on at Drayton Manor in the uk.
I was 9 when it opened and my sister was 7 and the queue was always by the entrance. It was very popular and if it don’t come back as a pirate boat ride I’m glad my daughter got to ride it in Oct 2014 shame she was 2 at the time.
As for the building itself outside it’s not been touched since the start of the season when they put the temporary wood up. All they done since is move the rest of the Ivy off the tower part. With the park now open to September every day you won’t see much more work done to the building to then.
Pirate adventure was my 1st major dark ride as I never went to Florida to 3 years later in 1993. Even the Jungle Cruise and Jungle palladium was only available to go on at Drayton Manor in the uk.
I was 9 when it opened and my sister was 7 and the queue was always by the entrance. It was very popular and if it don’t come back as a pirate boat ride I’m glad my daughter got to ride it in Oct 2014 shame she was 2 at the time.
As for the building itself outside it’s not been touched since the start of the season when they put the temporary wood up. All they done since is move the rest of the Ivy off the tower part. With the park now open to September every day you won’t see much more work done to the building to then.
Themeparksandy1981 does Your Daughter remember going on Pirate Adventure? The age of 2 is a crazy age as some People remember things and others don’t.
She remembers bits but there’s many videos on you tube of the ride. I do keep looking for a 2015 video uploaded to see the improvements they made to the lighting in the ride.
Themeparksandy1981 hopefully in the near future you’ll be able to take your Daughter on Pirate Adventure again. I half expecting an announcement in September about Pirate Adventure next year. The ride is still there as is a few scenes. The main thing that would need doing is purchasing new theming. In comparison to recent enhancements carried out by Drayton Manor the return of Pirate Adventure would be cheap.
Elise
Administrator
If anything, Pirate Adventure's site would be likely when the park focus on that central part of the park as the next big redevelopment project.
PA would be considered a "Major investment" due to the size of the building and the surrounding area inclusion in the project.
If anything, I would say the area will be considered for development in the next 2-3 years (minimum) as they will do a few smaller developments in the next few years (Whilst Looping give some larger funding toward other parks - e.g Pleasurewood who are waiting for their turn)
All parks would love to do everything in one go, but financially that isn't possible (A statement I heard from another park director, non Drayton)
The area and site for PA will get a development, it may not be soon, but it will be worth the wait I assure you.
PA would be considered a "Major investment" due to the size of the building and the surrounding area inclusion in the project.
If anything, I would say the area will be considered for development in the next 2-3 years (minimum) as they will do a few smaller developments in the next few years (Whilst Looping give some larger funding toward other parks - e.g Pleasurewood who are waiting for their turn)
All parks would love to do everything in one go, but financially that isn't possible (A statement I heard from another park director, non Drayton)
The area and site for PA will get a development, it may not be soon, but it will be worth the wait I assure you.
Pleasure wood will at best get a 2nd hand ride.
Outside the school holidays they only open weekends only.
I do think they will start in the closed season taking it back to the show building as it is in a bad state and dangerous.
Next year will see the frontier falls area finished off and a new flat ride on the Flying Dutchman site.
Outside the school holidays they only open weekends only.
I do think they will start in the closed season taking it back to the show building as it is in a bad state and dangerous.
Next year will see the frontier falls area finished off and a new flat ride on the Flying Dutchman site.
Themeparksandy1981 you never knew Pirate Adventure may become part of Frontier Falls.
Elise
Administrator
Frontier Falls is contained by the area it is in. It won't expand down the park that far. As far as FF goes, it's pretty much finished as an "area" with remaining work to finish theming / rethemes of existing items in the area. (Including a sign to welcome you to the area/street)
The pirate section of the park will remain its own area either in the existing or a new theme when the time comes in a few years time (I'm saying 2026 as the earliest possible)
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Cowboys vs pirates vs Vikings
I can foresee Pirate Adventure being relaunched as a Ride themed to the Wild West. The Ride system could remain the same,but rather than scenes of Pirates you could have Cowboys and Wild West Scenes. This would tie the Ride in with Frontier Falls.
Ok so let’s say they do extend the Wild West theme and pirate adventure was themed to cowboys how would you also fit in the arcades, Restaurant, Fun foods, Castle of dreams, Dodgems, Jolly Buccaneer and the Bounty?
I can assure you that will not happen.
Ok here's a left field idea.
Everyone is thinking about Frontier Falls and an expansion because its the latest development but...
What if Vikings was the expanded area instead? You wouldn't have to move Flying Dutchman, Jolly buccanneer and Bounty could possibly be rethemed quite easily too.
If you also whack up a load of conifers for theming then these can easily be absorbed into any Christmas event.
If you turn Pirates adventure building into something similar to the Jorvik type ride then you can quite easily take school trips in over the closed period as an educational experience alongside the zoo. Heck even the zoo could become themed...(wolves, lynx, reindeer in the viking area . coyote, prairie dogs, snakes in the Frontier Falls). Long boat replica on the lake perhaps.
Accelerator you could them turn properly into a time travel ride. Enclose the exit area and have a load of dry ice smoke as you come out a load of buzzy van der graff generators and plasma balls when you go in.
My usual 10% bottom line fee applies...
Everyone is thinking about Frontier Falls and an expansion because its the latest development but...
What if Vikings was the expanded area instead? You wouldn't have to move Flying Dutchman, Jolly buccanneer and Bounty could possibly be rethemed quite easily too.
If you also whack up a load of conifers for theming then these can easily be absorbed into any Christmas event.
If you turn Pirates adventure building into something similar to the Jorvik type ride then you can quite easily take school trips in over the closed period as an educational experience alongside the zoo. Heck even the zoo could become themed...(wolves, lynx, reindeer in the viking area . coyote, prairie dogs, snakes in the Frontier Falls). Long boat replica on the lake perhaps.
Accelerator you could them turn properly into a time travel ride. Enclose the exit area and have a load of dry ice smoke as you come out a load of buzzy van der graff generators and plasma balls when you go in.
My usual 10% bottom line fee applies...
Some interesting thoughts and news of trains leaving park. Also gives DT a big shout out as a lot speculation comes from DT. Hopefully will be a reimagination with 10 years SBNO coming up. Perhaps move away from pirates as a fantasy theme as Themeparksandy1981 suggested elsewhere. Would be a shame if it was demolished but rules on water rides requiring clean water now where as maybe updated ride would get round those rules. I'm no expert but new fantasy area with pirates and princesses in fantasy area could work well
Really good video nice to mention Drayton talk.Some really good ideas and lots of good effort and evidence being put in and explained.
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Elise
Administrator
A lovely shoutout from Sean there (thanks Sean! Really appreciate that
) He has a lot of great points in the video and a bit more of a look into things mentioned here.
I do think it will be the next "key" area of investments but we would need to wait a bit for the return on investment from this years work before they consider the next "Major" movements.
I do like the fantasy idea. Give me a fantasy forest themed dark ride anyday. Love a bit of magic and mystery.
