Pirate Adventure
- Thread starter Harry
- Start date
Hard to say if it will return or and I will say if its reopening next year than work will start later in the year but that's not guaranteed but the queue line is all in tact apparently
Ride Entrance it was very creepy having a breeze blow through a currently SBNO attraction especially with a pirate smell
I think Drayton Manor will see visitor numbers accelerate next season (2025),if Pirate Adventure is returning. The ride is Englands version of the Pirates Of The Caribbean rides at the Disney Theme Parks. I’d certainly do my best to visit Drayton Manor if the rumours are true.
Personally I feel that these rumours are based on fact as multiple people have said the same rumour. If these rumours had been stated by one Person I wouldn’t trust them. The fact multiple unconnected sources have stated the rumours fills me with optimism. Furthermore Drayton Manor staff have hinted towards Pirate Adventure returning next season. I think if staff members are talking about the rides return there must be truth behind the rumours. In the past year the Boats that took guests around Pirate Adventure have been sent to Mack so they can be refreshed. Another note worthy point is that Mack Boxes have been seen behind the Pirate Adventure building. Furthermore people in high-visibility jackets have been spotted within the building. Moreover building work in preparation for the relaunch of Pirate Adventure has been seen and heard both the interior and exterior of Pirate Adventure.
I wonder if Pirate Adventure returns it’ll be part of an overall makeover of this area at Drayton Manor. If the entire area is being given TLC I can envisage The Flying Dutchman being relocated to the area from Frontier Falls. It’s been long speculated that The Flying Dutchman is being relocated within Drayton Manor. If a relocation is in the pipeline for The Flying Dutchman it would be logical for this to occur in tandem with the return of Pirate Adventure and overhaul of Pirate Cove. The Flying Dutchman is already themed to Pirates so a relocation wouldn’t need to include a retheme. There were rumours floating around about The Flying Dutchman being added to Vikings. With the heavily rum return of Pirate Adventure and the rides existing theme it would make thematical sense to add The Flying Dutchman to Pirate Cove. A relocation of The Flying Dutchman to Vickings would mean retheming the ride and unnecessary financial expense. if the return of Pirate Adventure is part of an overall overhaul of Pirate Cove adding The Flying Dutchman would widen the ride lineup of the area. Pirate Cove would definitely need further capacity than currently,because Pirate Adventure would rise the popularity of the area. When Splash Canyon reopened as The Adventure Cove Rapids the wider Adventure Cove area became hectic. This is evidence that reopening a fan favourite can be just as popular if not more than opening a brand new ride. The return of Pirate Adventure and refresh of Pirate Cove would make chronological senice. . Since being owned by The Looping Group every few years an area of Drayton Manor has been refreshed with the reopening or refresh of an existing ride. If The Flying Dutchman is relocated to Pirate Cove it could be renamed and marketed as a new ride. The relocation of The Flying Dutchman would free up space in Frontier Falls for a new ride. As the location has already held a ride little to no ground work would be needed. In theory this would allow a new ride to be added to Frontier Falls next year. Should this happen Drayton Manor could advertise the resurrection of Pirate Adventure,the overall overhaul of the surrounding area,the refurbished and relocated Flying Dutchman in addition to a brand new ride in Frontier Falls. This would provide Drayton Manor with the opportunity to promote a few additional attractions next year.
Ultimately if Pirate Adventure is returning next year do you think it’ll return under the same name,or receive a new name like Splash Canyon did when it reopened as The Adventure Cove Rapids?
Personally I feel that these rumours are based on fact as multiple people have said the same rumour. If these rumours had been stated by one Person I wouldn’t trust them. The fact multiple unconnected sources have stated the rumours fills me with optimism. Furthermore Drayton Manor staff have hinted towards Pirate Adventure returning next season. I think if staff members are talking about the rides return there must be truth behind the rumours. In the past year the Boats that took guests around Pirate Adventure have been sent to Mack so they can be refreshed. Another note worthy point is that Mack Boxes have been seen behind the Pirate Adventure building. Furthermore people in high-visibility jackets have been spotted within the building. Moreover building work in preparation for the relaunch of Pirate Adventure has been seen and heard both the interior and exterior of Pirate Adventure.
I wonder if Pirate Adventure returns it’ll be part of an overall makeover of this area at Drayton Manor. If the entire area is being given TLC I can envisage The Flying Dutchman being relocated to the area from Frontier Falls. It’s been long speculated that The Flying Dutchman is being relocated within Drayton Manor. If a relocation is in the pipeline for The Flying Dutchman it would be logical for this to occur in tandem with the return of Pirate Adventure and overhaul of Pirate Cove. The Flying Dutchman is already themed to Pirates so a relocation wouldn’t need to include a retheme. There were rumours floating around about The Flying Dutchman being added to Vikings. With the heavily rum return of Pirate Adventure and the rides existing theme it would make thematical sense to add The Flying Dutchman to Pirate Cove. A relocation of The Flying Dutchman to Vickings would mean retheming the ride and unnecessary financial expense. if the return of Pirate Adventure is part of an overall overhaul of Pirate Cove adding The Flying Dutchman would widen the ride lineup of the area. Pirate Cove would definitely need further capacity than currently,because Pirate Adventure would rise the popularity of the area. When Splash Canyon reopened as The Adventure Cove Rapids the wider Adventure Cove area became hectic. This is evidence that reopening a fan favourite can be just as popular if not more than opening a brand new ride. The return of Pirate Adventure and refresh of Pirate Cove would make chronological senice. . Since being owned by The Looping Group every few years an area of Drayton Manor has been refreshed with the reopening or refresh of an existing ride. If The Flying Dutchman is relocated to Pirate Cove it could be renamed and marketed as a new ride. The relocation of The Flying Dutchman would free up space in Frontier Falls for a new ride. As the location has already held a ride little to no ground work would be needed. In theory this would allow a new ride to be added to Frontier Falls next year. Should this happen Drayton Manor could advertise the resurrection of Pirate Adventure,the overall overhaul of the surrounding area,the refurbished and relocated Flying Dutchman in addition to a brand new ride in Frontier Falls. This would provide Drayton Manor with the opportunity to promote a few additional attractions next year.
Ultimately if Pirate Adventure is returning next year do you think it’ll return under the same name,or receive a new name like Splash Canyon did when it reopened as The Adventure Cove Rapids?
Onw issue relocating Flying Dutchman to Pirates Cove ain't a whole lot of space where Pirates Cove is the area isn't officially known as Pirates Cove either but would be cool to see area made over as its right by the front entrance one of the first things you see a big abandoned Facade not a great lookk
You have made some very good points. Until now the 5 year plan has been spot on, but to plan 5 years into the future is a big step and you need to adapt to the times.
The park has in the past few years invested heavily over the last few years with no new rides this year, but there has been investment in some of the existing rides. I noticed three rides particularly has seen vast improvements in their appearance. Jolly buccaneer, Storm force 10 and the wave. The improvements to these help to create a park that people want to come back to.
I think the relocation of the flying dutchman this year was something we wanted to see but to leave an empty space would leave a mess, so probably best to wait. The improvements around the pirate cove area over the past couple of years has seen some subtle improvements over the last few years. Looping have looked at the rides for inspiration to the themed areas in Adventure cove and frontier falls. I would like to see carousel incorporated into adventure cove and the fact that we have dodgems ahoy, bounty and jolly buccaneer. This does seem to suggest that maybe a pirate themed area. I personally think that re-opening pirate adventure as the ride that it was would be a mistake given that the props have largely gone. Maybe a new story or theme to it whilst having the link to the past. I know a lot simpler but drunken barrels was transformed into blasting barrels. So maybe instead of this theme, a story where the ride sees pirates trying to escape in a family themed way but not cheesy. I think if it is done well and the ride is reliable it will draw more people to the park with a strong line up of family thrill.
There has been attempts over the last few years to preserve the building. It would be a wasted opportunity if they did not finish this area of the park as it is the only area not rethemed by looping group.
It was a great ride and could be again.
I personally think flying dutchman needs to be retired.
Ciaran
Administrator
Personally, I disagree. Unless something catastrophic happens, such as damage to the structural integrity of the central column, or a total failure of the hydraulic pump that lifts it, I can't see any reason to remove a ride which contributes throughput to the park. I can't imagine it being too hard or costly to maintain and it's always been a reliable ride. It's also nice to preserve the history of the park as it's one of the oldest rides there now.
appears that the refurbishment and reopening of Pirate Adventure is pending for next year (2025). Last year Theme Park Guide published the following article.
themeparkguide.co.uk
Drayton Manor 2025 Pirate Adventure Reopening | Theme Park Guide
Could Drayton Manor’s next big project be reopening a classic Drayton Manor dark ride?Pirate Adventure closed in 2015 as a believed cost-cutting mea
themeparkguide.co.uk
I seem to remember you got slightly wetter on the drop towards the end of the rides life for some reason.It was inbetween to my memory - you wouldn't come off soaked , but the drop would get you wet to a degree - more a small splash
I also remember the last time I went on it the ride attendant was standing to the side of the boat and pushing it with his foot to get it moving!
Great memories of the ride. Really hope it is coming back in some form.
If they filled the boats as if I remember there was 5 rows with 4 in a row so a maximum of 20 per boat. So I remember getting splashed when you sat on the ends.
Back in the day when they sold Wristbands and tickets. My mum would Always buy us wristbands and get tickets for her self as she loved the pirate adventure but hated the drop but she would close her eyes.
She would also go on Splash Canyon, The jungle Cruise and watch the Jungle Palladium show.
It was truly the uk version of Disneyland.
Back in the day when they sold Wristbands and tickets. My mum would Always buy us wristbands and get tickets for her self as she loved the pirate adventure but hated the drop but she would close her eyes.
She would also go on Splash Canyon, The jungle Cruise and watch the Jungle Palladium show.
It was truly the uk version of Disneyland.
I think the likelihood of the Flying Dutchman being removed increased considerably when they brought in the Wave Swinger.
That being said the FD does have a quick turnaround and raltively high capacity. There is a need in any park to have somehting you can get on without another hour of queuing - The value of the FD may have gone down with the Wave Swinger's introduction but it went up when they brought in Loki and the limited throughput.
I don't think I trust this source because a lot of those rides did not happen
Victoria Lynn did say in an interview that a new 5 year plan we been put in place so it maybe published soon.
Just wondering where you got this version of the 5 year plan from?
From a website on google saying dmp 5 year investment plan