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Blackpool Pleasure Beach | Icon | Mack Multi-Launch

There seem to be varying opinions on this, I don't know what to believe! I guess I'll just have to wait and see, but until then I look forward to hearing more diverse opinions posted here. Perhaps when more members add their input we will get more of an accurate picture of what to expect, then the big question can finally be answered - just when will this topic be unpinned?
 
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=2004834699767259
For those who don't know, this is what wisteria looks like:-
Wisteria_at_the_Vyne.jpg
 
Pokemaniac said:
I seem to recall Helix had the same issue. When I went to the Gothenburg CF live in 2014, I arrived sometime around noon after the entire group had already ridden Helix and found it "all right". Later in the day, around four I believe, most of the group went to experience the haunted house, while myself and two others decided to go ride Helix. Expectations weren't that high among the other two, who had ridden it earlier and found a re-ride slightly preferable to the upcharge and long lines of the haunted house. I only had that one ride to go off of, and was blown away. It was clear that the others felt a definite improvement as well. I had to leave shortly after for the train back to Oslo, but after the other CFers had ridden Helix in the evening, trip reports suddenly called it the best coaster in the park and then some. It seems like warming up can do a world of difference.
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Yeah, I remember that. Helix was OK first thing, decidedly better by that afternoon ride, and then amazing at night.

henryjwillis said:
Is the difference between Helix's morning and afternoon rides less pronounced now then?
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It's interesting how Helix has changed over time. When I went back in 2016, the park opened early afternoon. By mid afternoon, Helix was running incredibly well, and I never had a bad ride on it that day. Obviously an anecdote isn't necessarily indicative of a trend, but it was definitely better from the off than I remembered it. If Icon behaves similarly, I'm all for it.

BBooth2 said:
See this having to wait for a coaster to warm up before it's good is just awful, how will it perform in winter, its been 24 degrees lately.
I understand the whole science of it, but it can't be a mediocre ride in the morning, then the best in the UK in the afternoon!

I need to ride it a second time, I just realy wasn't blown away during my first ride, and it annoys me I can't feel the same way everyone else does
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How our opinion of rides changes as the ride warms up is certainly interesting. I suppose it's going to take a while for us to get a feel for how it runs at different times and under different circumstances.

I can't say I'm particularly enthused by rides that just don't deliver unless conditions are exceptionally good, but as long as the base ride experience is at least good, I don't mind if it takes the ride a little while to reach its full potential. I was a little concerned, but I'm relieved to hear some more positive reviews on the ride starting to come through now.
 
I haven't ridden Icon yet (missed the opening by ~14 hours due to a planning screw up) but it sounds like Taron in the need for it to warm up. On my last trip to Phantasialand I was on maybe the 4th or 5th train of the day for Taron. To say it was slow was an understatement, Raik was more intense. RAIK! I gave it a few hours then it was back to it's old, blistering, bonkers self. I assumed the warming up thing was only for Intamins but by the sounds of it Mack LSM coasters also suffer from it.
 
ATI said:
How tf have you manged 41 rides over 3 days? I struggled getting 10 today! I need to ride Shambhala again though, to be sure of my rankings.
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3 rides before it opened to the public, 19 rides on opening day, then numerous rides over Saturday and today.

By half 6 the ride was running ridiculously well.


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owentaylor121 said:
After 41 rides on Icon I can firmly say I’ve got a new No.1 coaster. After 6 years Shambhala has finally been beaten.
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Wow. This thread has been something of a rollercoaster this week (cue applause). So it IS really that good as long as it gets going? That cheers me up. August 18th I'll be home for a sesh. I'm sneaking in some Dulux white gloss to do some illegal repainting of the Rollercoaster, and maybe just helping out with the National and Big Dipper.
 
Glad to hear you liked it @owentaylor121! Out of interest, what did you think to Icon @ATI? These positive reviews are definitely instilling faith in me that this might be my top UK coaster or that it might even top Mako as my overall number 1. Who can say until August, though? Even if it isn't either of these things, however, then I'm sure it will be a fantastic ride that I'll really like!
 
Icon is definitely my number 2, and is the best coaster in the UK once it warms up. In the morning it was pretty meh, but after lunch it really started to fly! Definitely the best airtime on any coaster in the UK. However I have a few critiques:-
  • The rattle. The rattle is really noticeable, and can get quite annoying.
  • The queue line doesn't have any bins so it was filled with litter.
  • Some of the landscaping is unfinished, but I think it will be within the next few weeks.
But aside from that, there are a lot more pros, and just to name a few:-
  • The airtime is insane, and the inversions are fun.
  • It is a long ride.
  • It has some surprisingly intense moments.
  • The first launch is better than expected.
  • The landscaping and mist looks nice and adds to the ride.
But overall, I absolutely loved this thing. Also, operations were top notch, never had to wait more than 20mins for any of my 10 rides. I don't think I could disagree more with @nadroJ's review. I looks forward to returning to the park in a few days!
 
ATI said:
Icon is definitely my number 2, and is the best coaster in the UK once it warms up. In the morning it was pretty meh, but after lunch it really started to fly! Definitely the best airtime on any coaster in the UK. However I have a few critiques:-
  • The rattle. The rattle is really noticeable, and can get quite annoying.
  • The queue line doesn't have any bins so it was filled with litter.
  • Some of the landscaping is unfinished, but I think it will be within the next few weeks.
But aside from that, there are a lot more pros, and just to name a few:-
  • The airtime is insane, and the inversions are fun.
  • It is a long ride.
  • It has some surprisingly intense moments.
  • The first launch is better than expected.
  • The landscaping and mist looks nice and adds to the ride.
But overall, I absolutely loved this thing. Also, operations were top notch, never had to wait more than 20mins for any of my 10 rides. I don't think I could disagree more with @nadroJ's review. I looks forward to returning to the park in a few days!
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Great stuff! Thanks @ATI!
 
nadroJ said:
Looking forward to riding again next month so I can write a retraction haha!
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Did you only ride it early on in the day? If so, I can understand your disappointment. But having seen reviews such as yours, I lowered my expectations so I wouldn't be disappointed, which helped me enjoy it more when it hauled later in the day.
 
^ You’ve also not got the same level of experience. You’ve got to remember, Jordan had been on a lot more rides and has more to stack it up against!
 
Can't wait to see Icon on one of the late night weekends. I reckon the low light and running all day will really enhance the experience.
 
ATI said:
Did you only ride it early on in the day? If so, I can understand your disappointment. But having seen reviews such as yours, I lowered my expectations so I wouldn't be disappointed, which helped me enjoy it more when it hauled later in the day.
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I rode it once at around midday, then a couple more times around 1PM. We went to ride again later in the day but it'd already closed.
 
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