TalTheMajestic
Roller Poster
Time for a new-to-me park, Paultons Park! Went with my friend Tom (@Coasterfreck ), who also hadn't been before. Apologies in advance for the length of this trip report 
Tom and I arrived approx. 9:20am. You get a nice view of some coasters while in the car park, and we also got to see Drakon testing!
After passing the turnstiles we then collected the pre-booked queue assist pass - one downside of the queue assist here is because I'm a mobility aid user they said I require a carer to ride with me, meaning I'm unable to use queue assist if I ever go to this park alone. This is despite me being able to evacuate independently, and not requiring a carer at any other park I've been to. It also results in added cost as I do not qualify for an Essential Companion ticket.
Then came the wait in the hold gardens - at Paultons turnstiles open at 9:30, but because rides do not open until 10 you are held at certain points within the park (similar to Thorpe). While waiting we were also able to see Storm Chaser testing, which was cool as I've not seen a coaster like that before.
10am, and entry time! Unlike Thorpe where everyone is sprinting to get first train of day on their favourite rides, it was a calm leisurely stroll to our first ride of the day - this was a welcomed change, as I have almost been knocked over on several occasions being bumped into while people are sprinting towards rides at Thorpe. We had initially planned to go on Farmyard Flier first, but this had a delayed opening so we started with Storm Chaser instead.
Storm Chaser - 8/10 first ride, 9/10 second ride, 8.5/10 overall
My first spinning coaster with multiple cars, we also got first train of the day. There is a wheelchair lift available but I used the stairs because there weren't that many. It was slightly less spinny than I expected (I'm used to Spinball Whizzer), but was still fun. It was also strange but in a good way to see other people while I was spinning. Was excited to see what it was like once it had warmed up. After riding it later in the day, my ranking increased because it had a lot more speed and spin, felt more exciting.
After Storm Chaser we did Cat-O-Pillar coaster - didn't bother using queue assist for this one because it was walk on.
Cat-O-Pillar Coaster - 5/10
Knew I would enjoy this one less than Storm Chaser because it's a family coaster rather than a thrill coaster, but there was a surprising pop of airtime at the first drop which was enjoyable. Otherwise neutral about this coaster - it's good for beginners but a bit boring if you're used to more exciting stuff.
After Cat-O-Pillar, we saw that Farmyard Flier had opened, so headed over there for our next ride.
Farmyard Flier - 3/10
Least favourite so far - surprisingly rough. I banged the back of my head on the headrest twice which caused me to have a slight headache. Would have been a 1 or 2 without good theming.
After Farmyard Flier, I did Cyclonator via main queue since I couldn't use the queue assist solo (Tom doesn't do that type of ride) - this was walk on anyway though.
Cyclonator - 1/10
First flat ride of the day, expectations were high as I love other swinging rides like it. However, it definitely fell short of those expectations. The loading time was extremely long (longer than I've experienced on Maelstrom at Drayton Manor previously) due to only having 1 staff member, meaning they were having to count number of guests as well as directing people to seats and ensuring previous cycle had fully unloaded. Me being one of the first to be loaded definitely did not help with how long the wait felt. The seat was also uncomfortable (dug into my hips, definitely designed for smaller bottoms) and my shoulders were touching the restraint despite me only being 5ft8. It also locked in a position I was unable to breathe deeply. Only not a 0 because the swinging itself was good.
Unfortunately, a combination of my ride seat facing the sun and the extended wait between me sitting down and the ride dispatching (Tom managed to do 2 rides on Storm Chaser and boarded Farmyard Flyer ready to ride in the time I was waiting) caused me to overheat, so next up was a trip to First Aid!
First Aid - 11/10
At Paultons, the First Aid room is staffed by Registered Nurses rather than First Aiders. I think this enhanced the level of care I received, because they had more awareness of how my medical conditions (both diagnosed and queried) affect my ability to cope in the heat. When I've gone to First Aid at other parks I've always had to explain what my conditions are as well as how they affect me, and it was really nice to not have to do that. Seeing how well having RNs in the first aid room worked, I think other parks would benefit from having at least one on-site nurse/paramedic/etc to assist in cases with more medically complex individuals, as having an increased understanding of various medical conditions could prevent unnecessary escalation to emergency services.
After spending approx. 25 mins in the first aid room recovering, we headed to Lost Kingdom to continue getting rides in. First up was Flight of the Pterosaur.
Flight of The Pterosaur 10/10
Flight of The Pterosaur initially reminded me of Vampire because of the train style, but I loved it so much more. Unlike Vampire, it was extremely smooth, felt like I was flying. The seat was extremely comfortable along with the lap bar restraint, and the ride was speedier than I expected. Solid 10/10.
After our flight, we went to Sky Swinger as I was wanting to do another flat ride.
Sky Swinger 6/10
I did this ride to relax as I always enjoy a flat ride to break up coaster streaks. The queue was very low as I only needed a single seat, resulting in me getting on straight away (majority of people were queueing for double seats), chose a seat in the shade in case loading took a while - thankfully it was quick. The staff for this ride were particularly lovely too.
After I rode Sky Swinger, we went to Dino Chase for our next coaster ride.
Dino Chase 7/10
The train design for this was adorable, which adds a bonus point to my ranking lol. It was surprisingly fast for such a low height restriction too, which made it very fun. Same ranking for row 3 and front row, didn't make much difference to the ride experience apart from having some of the Dino head in the on-ride photo.
After Dino Chase, we spent some time relaxing due to being timed out. We then did a re-ride of Dino Chase via main queue as it was walk on. This decision was rewarded by us getting front row!
After our Dino Chase re-ride we went to Velociraptor for our next coaster ride.
Velociraptor 7/10
I like Boomerang coasters because they give the unique experience of riding backwards for part of the ride, which I love. The seats were very comfortable with plenty of legroom, and there was a nice level of speed (although I would have enjoyed it more if it went faster). We also got a great view of Serpents Curse from the top of the lift hill pre-drop.
After Velociraptor it was finally time for us to visit Valgard. The theming in this area was incredible - you can tell Paultons has put a lot of effort into it which has definitely paid off! First stop in this area was Paulton's first inverting coaster, Drakon. Used main queue due to a very low queue time, which meant we got front row.
Drakon - 9.5/10 for first ride, 8.5 for third ride, 9/10 overall
Amazing theming, favourite part is the stall inversion about halfway through. Only thing stopping it being a 10 from me is the roughness, but that's unfortunately part of riding a Eurofighter. Definitely a lot better than Saw. There was also a bench to sit on in the queue assist waiting area, which I think should be a thing in more RAP queues (even just a fold down seat would be helpful for individuals who struggle to stand for extended periods of time). Unfortunately you do miss some of the theming elements sat on the back row, particularly the inside back seats.
After Drakon we briefly exited Valgard to ride Edge for spinny time. I know a lot of people don't count that model of ride as a coaster, but I do because of the airtime hump making it feel like a coaster (for example, Kong at West Midlands Safari Park wouldn't count despite being the same style of ride).
Edge - 9/10
I have loved every version of this ride I have ridden, so was expecting to love this too, which I did. One thing that confused me about this ride was that it has a seatbelt for your legs, which I didn't initially like as I didn't feel it was necessary. However, by the end of the ride I loved the fact it had a seatbelt because it gave my hips the stability they are often missing on rides. My hip joints frequently shift during rides, which can cause me pain, so it was amazing to not experience this. Only thing stopping this from being a 10 was the fact the back restraint came up very fast and whacked me right in the kidney area, which hurt.
After Edge, we returned to Valgard for our final new coaster credit of the day, Raven (formerly named Cobra).
Raven - 10/10
This was definitely my favourite ride of the day. The theming was amazing (as it was for the rest of Valgard), the speed and banking were phenomenal as was the interaction with Drakon, and I loved the adrenaline rush getting so close to the ground gave me. It felt like I was in a race car. I was laughing from excitement the whole way through. It probably ties for my favourite non-inverting coaster with Wickerman (they're brilliant in different ways)
After Raven, we split off again. Tom did a re-ride of Drakon, while I satisfied my flat ride cravings with Vild Swing.
Vild Swing 6/10
I've never done a ride like this before, so I didn't really know what to expect. However, I really enjoyed it. The jerking movement as you go up reminded me of Flight of the Sky Lion at Legoland too. The main drawback for me was that I couldn't look to the side to get a different point of view, as there was a solid panel on each edge.
We then broke for lunch at Wild Forest, where we both had paninis with chips. The allergy process for this restaurant was extremely simple, which I loved. The food also tasted amazing, and gave me the energy I needed for the rest of the day. It also wasn't too expensive (for a theme park), costing less than £20 including an upgrade to sweet potato fries, a packet of Pombears and a 500ml bottle of Pepsi Max cherry.
After lunch, it was time for more rides, including re-rides. Tom split off to do an extra ride of Storm Chaser, while I did Ghostly Manor via main queue (again due to being unable to use queue assist solo, fortunately main queue time was only 10 minutes otherwise I would have had to give it a miss)
Ghostly Manor 8/10
I had heard good things about this, so my expectations were high going in. The theming throughout the queue line was brilliant, establishing the story well. The ride itself was also extremely fun, and I got the highest score of the people in my car with a score of 97,900 (so close yet so far from 98,000)
After Ghostly Manor, had a re-ride on Storm Chaser, then Cat-O-Pillar.
On route to Lost Kingdom, we bumped into one of Tom's friends who is a Paultons ride op while they were on their way to their break, and managed to have a (very) brief chat with them which was an added bonus to an already fun day!
Then came a re-ride of Velociraptor (row 2, so close yet so far from the front), then a re-ride of Flight of the Pterosaur. We then did Dino Tour, which was recommended by Tom's ride op friend as a hidden gem which is easily missed if you're focusing on coasters.
Dino Tour 7/10
This was a good opportunity to relax, and admire the animatronics utilised within the ride theming. Definitely aimed more at younger children, but was still enjoyable as someone who is a child at heart, particularly someone who grew up loving Jurassic Park!
After Dino Tour, we then re-rode Raven, and finished the day with a re-ride on Drakon. Due to utilising queue assist this time, we were placed on the back row, which unfortunately meant we missed some of the theming elements due to being unable to see them. We decided to do eyes closed due to not being able to see the theming anyway, which I found fun but Tom quickly regretted.
Overall impression - the park was very well kept and clean, with great theming throughout. Parking was also included in the entry price, which I wish was a thing at other parks as sometimes travelling via public transport isn't feasible for several reasons. All the staff we encountered were lovely, and you could tell they genuinely enjoyed working there rather than just doing it for a paycheck. Having RNs in the first aid room was extremely useful as I didn't have to explain how my medical conditions affect me, which was also helpful in reducing my stress levels (stress can worsen my symptoms).
Queue times remained low throughout the day (longest I saw all day were 25 minutes for Drakon and the same for Ghostly Manor), and queue assist waiting times were also very short. Also, wheelchair users do not need to pre-book queue assist, which means they are not forced to miss out if queue assist booking is full (like they do at Merlin parks)
Only two areas for improvement for me - the first is being able to utilise the queue assist alone if you are a mobility aid user who does not require a carer, as this would have enabled me to do rides with a longer queue time alone (for example, Ghostly Manor's queue time went up to 25 minutes while I was waiting to ride, thankfully my wait was only slightly above the advertised 10 when I entered). The second would be having the ability to re-ride major rides via queue assist, as with their current system you are only able to do major attractions once unless you utilise main queues for subsequent rides (unsure if this is the case for wheelchair users or not as their queue assist process is different).
Paultons gets an 8/10 from me, and I look forward to visiting again next year to ride Serpent's Curse - my first water coaster! I absolutely love water rides, particularly when it's hot, so definitely looking forward to this
Tom and I arrived approx. 9:20am. You get a nice view of some coasters while in the car park, and we also got to see Drakon testing!
After passing the turnstiles we then collected the pre-booked queue assist pass - one downside of the queue assist here is because I'm a mobility aid user they said I require a carer to ride with me, meaning I'm unable to use queue assist if I ever go to this park alone. This is despite me being able to evacuate independently, and not requiring a carer at any other park I've been to. It also results in added cost as I do not qualify for an Essential Companion ticket.
Then came the wait in the hold gardens - at Paultons turnstiles open at 9:30, but because rides do not open until 10 you are held at certain points within the park (similar to Thorpe). While waiting we were also able to see Storm Chaser testing, which was cool as I've not seen a coaster like that before.
10am, and entry time! Unlike Thorpe where everyone is sprinting to get first train of day on their favourite rides, it was a calm leisurely stroll to our first ride of the day - this was a welcomed change, as I have almost been knocked over on several occasions being bumped into while people are sprinting towards rides at Thorpe. We had initially planned to go on Farmyard Flier first, but this had a delayed opening so we started with Storm Chaser instead.
Storm Chaser - 8/10 first ride, 9/10 second ride, 8.5/10 overall
My first spinning coaster with multiple cars, we also got first train of the day. There is a wheelchair lift available but I used the stairs because there weren't that many. It was slightly less spinny than I expected (I'm used to Spinball Whizzer), but was still fun. It was also strange but in a good way to see other people while I was spinning. Was excited to see what it was like once it had warmed up. After riding it later in the day, my ranking increased because it had a lot more speed and spin, felt more exciting.
After Storm Chaser we did Cat-O-Pillar coaster - didn't bother using queue assist for this one because it was walk on.
Cat-O-Pillar Coaster - 5/10
Knew I would enjoy this one less than Storm Chaser because it's a family coaster rather than a thrill coaster, but there was a surprising pop of airtime at the first drop which was enjoyable. Otherwise neutral about this coaster - it's good for beginners but a bit boring if you're used to more exciting stuff.
After Cat-O-Pillar, we saw that Farmyard Flier had opened, so headed over there for our next ride.
Farmyard Flier - 3/10
Least favourite so far - surprisingly rough. I banged the back of my head on the headrest twice which caused me to have a slight headache. Would have been a 1 or 2 without good theming.
After Farmyard Flier, I did Cyclonator via main queue since I couldn't use the queue assist solo (Tom doesn't do that type of ride) - this was walk on anyway though.
Cyclonator - 1/10
First flat ride of the day, expectations were high as I love other swinging rides like it. However, it definitely fell short of those expectations. The loading time was extremely long (longer than I've experienced on Maelstrom at Drayton Manor previously) due to only having 1 staff member, meaning they were having to count number of guests as well as directing people to seats and ensuring previous cycle had fully unloaded. Me being one of the first to be loaded definitely did not help with how long the wait felt. The seat was also uncomfortable (dug into my hips, definitely designed for smaller bottoms) and my shoulders were touching the restraint despite me only being 5ft8. It also locked in a position I was unable to breathe deeply. Only not a 0 because the swinging itself was good.
Unfortunately, a combination of my ride seat facing the sun and the extended wait between me sitting down and the ride dispatching (Tom managed to do 2 rides on Storm Chaser and boarded Farmyard Flyer ready to ride in the time I was waiting) caused me to overheat, so next up was a trip to First Aid!
First Aid - 11/10
At Paultons, the First Aid room is staffed by Registered Nurses rather than First Aiders. I think this enhanced the level of care I received, because they had more awareness of how my medical conditions (both diagnosed and queried) affect my ability to cope in the heat. When I've gone to First Aid at other parks I've always had to explain what my conditions are as well as how they affect me, and it was really nice to not have to do that. Seeing how well having RNs in the first aid room worked, I think other parks would benefit from having at least one on-site nurse/paramedic/etc to assist in cases with more medically complex individuals, as having an increased understanding of various medical conditions could prevent unnecessary escalation to emergency services.
After spending approx. 25 mins in the first aid room recovering, we headed to Lost Kingdom to continue getting rides in. First up was Flight of the Pterosaur.
Flight of The Pterosaur 10/10
Flight of The Pterosaur initially reminded me of Vampire because of the train style, but I loved it so much more. Unlike Vampire, it was extremely smooth, felt like I was flying. The seat was extremely comfortable along with the lap bar restraint, and the ride was speedier than I expected. Solid 10/10.
After our flight, we went to Sky Swinger as I was wanting to do another flat ride.
Sky Swinger 6/10
I did this ride to relax as I always enjoy a flat ride to break up coaster streaks. The queue was very low as I only needed a single seat, resulting in me getting on straight away (majority of people were queueing for double seats), chose a seat in the shade in case loading took a while - thankfully it was quick. The staff for this ride were particularly lovely too.
After I rode Sky Swinger, we went to Dino Chase for our next coaster ride.
Dino Chase 7/10
The train design for this was adorable, which adds a bonus point to my ranking lol. It was surprisingly fast for such a low height restriction too, which made it very fun. Same ranking for row 3 and front row, didn't make much difference to the ride experience apart from having some of the Dino head in the on-ride photo.
After Dino Chase, we spent some time relaxing due to being timed out. We then did a re-ride of Dino Chase via main queue as it was walk on. This decision was rewarded by us getting front row!
After our Dino Chase re-ride we went to Velociraptor for our next coaster ride.
Velociraptor 7/10
I like Boomerang coasters because they give the unique experience of riding backwards for part of the ride, which I love. The seats were very comfortable with plenty of legroom, and there was a nice level of speed (although I would have enjoyed it more if it went faster). We also got a great view of Serpents Curse from the top of the lift hill pre-drop.
After Velociraptor it was finally time for us to visit Valgard. The theming in this area was incredible - you can tell Paultons has put a lot of effort into it which has definitely paid off! First stop in this area was Paulton's first inverting coaster, Drakon. Used main queue due to a very low queue time, which meant we got front row.
Drakon - 9.5/10 for first ride, 8.5 for third ride, 9/10 overall
Amazing theming, favourite part is the stall inversion about halfway through. Only thing stopping it being a 10 from me is the roughness, but that's unfortunately part of riding a Eurofighter. Definitely a lot better than Saw. There was also a bench to sit on in the queue assist waiting area, which I think should be a thing in more RAP queues (even just a fold down seat would be helpful for individuals who struggle to stand for extended periods of time). Unfortunately you do miss some of the theming elements sat on the back row, particularly the inside back seats.
After Drakon we briefly exited Valgard to ride Edge for spinny time. I know a lot of people don't count that model of ride as a coaster, but I do because of the airtime hump making it feel like a coaster (for example, Kong at West Midlands Safari Park wouldn't count despite being the same style of ride).
Edge - 9/10
I have loved every version of this ride I have ridden, so was expecting to love this too, which I did. One thing that confused me about this ride was that it has a seatbelt for your legs, which I didn't initially like as I didn't feel it was necessary. However, by the end of the ride I loved the fact it had a seatbelt because it gave my hips the stability they are often missing on rides. My hip joints frequently shift during rides, which can cause me pain, so it was amazing to not experience this. Only thing stopping this from being a 10 was the fact the back restraint came up very fast and whacked me right in the kidney area, which hurt.
After Edge, we returned to Valgard for our final new coaster credit of the day, Raven (formerly named Cobra).
Raven - 10/10
This was definitely my favourite ride of the day. The theming was amazing (as it was for the rest of Valgard), the speed and banking were phenomenal as was the interaction with Drakon, and I loved the adrenaline rush getting so close to the ground gave me. It felt like I was in a race car. I was laughing from excitement the whole way through. It probably ties for my favourite non-inverting coaster with Wickerman (they're brilliant in different ways)
After Raven, we split off again. Tom did a re-ride of Drakon, while I satisfied my flat ride cravings with Vild Swing.
Vild Swing 6/10
I've never done a ride like this before, so I didn't really know what to expect. However, I really enjoyed it. The jerking movement as you go up reminded me of Flight of the Sky Lion at Legoland too. The main drawback for me was that I couldn't look to the side to get a different point of view, as there was a solid panel on each edge.
We then broke for lunch at Wild Forest, where we both had paninis with chips. The allergy process for this restaurant was extremely simple, which I loved. The food also tasted amazing, and gave me the energy I needed for the rest of the day. It also wasn't too expensive (for a theme park), costing less than £20 including an upgrade to sweet potato fries, a packet of Pombears and a 500ml bottle of Pepsi Max cherry.
After lunch, it was time for more rides, including re-rides. Tom split off to do an extra ride of Storm Chaser, while I did Ghostly Manor via main queue (again due to being unable to use queue assist solo, fortunately main queue time was only 10 minutes otherwise I would have had to give it a miss)
Ghostly Manor 8/10
I had heard good things about this, so my expectations were high going in. The theming throughout the queue line was brilliant, establishing the story well. The ride itself was also extremely fun, and I got the highest score of the people in my car with a score of 97,900 (so close yet so far from 98,000)
After Ghostly Manor, had a re-ride on Storm Chaser, then Cat-O-Pillar.
On route to Lost Kingdom, we bumped into one of Tom's friends who is a Paultons ride op while they were on their way to their break, and managed to have a (very) brief chat with them which was an added bonus to an already fun day!
Then came a re-ride of Velociraptor (row 2, so close yet so far from the front), then a re-ride of Flight of the Pterosaur. We then did Dino Tour, which was recommended by Tom's ride op friend as a hidden gem which is easily missed if you're focusing on coasters.
Dino Tour 7/10
This was a good opportunity to relax, and admire the animatronics utilised within the ride theming. Definitely aimed more at younger children, but was still enjoyable as someone who is a child at heart, particularly someone who grew up loving Jurassic Park!
After Dino Tour, we then re-rode Raven, and finished the day with a re-ride on Drakon. Due to utilising queue assist this time, we were placed on the back row, which unfortunately meant we missed some of the theming elements due to being unable to see them. We decided to do eyes closed due to not being able to see the theming anyway, which I found fun but Tom quickly regretted.
Overall impression - the park was very well kept and clean, with great theming throughout. Parking was also included in the entry price, which I wish was a thing at other parks as sometimes travelling via public transport isn't feasible for several reasons. All the staff we encountered were lovely, and you could tell they genuinely enjoyed working there rather than just doing it for a paycheck. Having RNs in the first aid room was extremely useful as I didn't have to explain how my medical conditions affect me, which was also helpful in reducing my stress levels (stress can worsen my symptoms).
Queue times remained low throughout the day (longest I saw all day were 25 minutes for Drakon and the same for Ghostly Manor), and queue assist waiting times were also very short. Also, wheelchair users do not need to pre-book queue assist, which means they are not forced to miss out if queue assist booking is full (like they do at Merlin parks)
Only two areas for improvement for me - the first is being able to utilise the queue assist alone if you are a mobility aid user who does not require a carer, as this would have enabled me to do rides with a longer queue time alone (for example, Ghostly Manor's queue time went up to 25 minutes while I was waiting to ride, thankfully my wait was only slightly above the advertised 10 when I entered). The second would be having the ability to re-ride major rides via queue assist, as with their current system you are only able to do major attractions once unless you utilise main queues for subsequent rides (unsure if this is the case for wheelchair users or not as their queue assist process is different).
Paultons gets an 8/10 from me, and I look forward to visiting again next year to ride Serpent's Curse - my first water coaster! I absolutely love water rides, particularly when it's hot, so definitely looking forward to this
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