Flamingo Land - half-term fun!

Flamingo Land near Malton really has something for everyone in the family and with October half term and Halloween looming its proving a popular choice especially with the amazing half price family ticket at £75.

The super new thrill ride: SIK

Flamingo Land near Malton really has something for everyone in the family and with October half term and Halloween looming its proving a popular choice especially with the amazing half price family ticket at £75.

I went along to Flamingo Land yesterday (Tuesday)  having taken advantage of the offer of half price tickets via Jorvik Radio vouchers (sorry all sold out now!).

Left: Anthony, Louise and Matthew Colman   Right: Matthew having fun with a laser rifle

I went with my brother Anthony, his wife Louise and their son Matthew (14).  I knew before I even got there I would not be tempted in anyway to go on any ride - yes Im a scaredycat - hate heights or motion but I knew my nephew would want to go on everything and he didnt disappoint.  But  I love the atmosphere of theme parks.

They say the park has something for everyone and yes it does.  From tots to my age group (lets say "mature").  Its set on a massive site.  We got there at 11am on a beautifully sunny day.  We had to park on the grass as the large car park was already full.  But it did not seem very crowded once inside.  As the day went on queues did get longer at the most of the rides but waiting time was never more than about 10 minutes.   

Matthew headed straight for the Cliff Hangar thrill ride!   Its only 180 ft high or 54.86 metres (makes it sound better). Its a vertical drop ride launching and dropping you and saying you need "nerves of steel".

Cliff Hangar ride

He could not convince his mother or father to join him.  You could see the body tension in everyone on the ride - matthew said as the ride climbed up on take off he felt as if his body was being dragged back down.  He looked like he was saying a prayer to keep him safe as it climbed right to the top getting ready to bring them straight down at quite a speed.  Legs look tense, hands were all gripping their bar but by the time the ride descended for the final time everyone was relaxed and waving their arms about.  I thought Matthew look paler when he got off but he was having none of that but his sports watch told us his heart rate went up to 120! Not for the feint hearted that ride but there was worse (or better) depending which way you view it.

Louise did succumb and joined Matthew on the Flip Flop ride which swings and rotates at the same time with a maxium height of 78 ft/23.77metres.  She didnt look quite the same when she got off but says she has been on worse.  

Flip Flop ride

You also have the Jumali,  Mumbo Jumbo and the Hero thrill rides and there is a brand new SIK (should have a c in the middle of that) 10 inversion roller coaster ride with a 101ft reach travelling at 54 mph.  As with all the thrill rides everyone was queuing for it although the queues did move quite quickly.  Matthew never waited more than 10 minutes to get on a ride.

The rides were well supervised and safety checks carried out each time before a ride departed  making sure everyone strapped in properly, etc - I know because Matthew went on several of the rides a second and third time and each time the standard of checks was identical.

There are plenty of other rides in the park other than the thrill ones, to suit all ages and family rides plus the zoo.  You can get around the theme park on a scenic ride, or the zoo monorail as well as the people mover which is high up and gives you a "tree like perspective".

We visited the zoo and saw the Sea Lion show.  Its a must - Merlin is soo clever and entertaining.

The park is vast I was exhausted but exhiliarated.  The crowds were all happy, relaxed and certainly enjoying a family fun day out.  There are plenty of places to sit and relax and eat.   

There is so much more going on at the Theme Park that its hard to capture it all for you.  Go to: Home - Flamingo Land Resort and you will see the enormous amount of activities and fun that the park is laying on for visitors now and for the future.