Dreamland can be viable without major rides.

[lutonlad]

There is a funpark local to us in kettering that is called Wicksteed Park. This park boasts beauitifull landscaped grounds with scope for at least 50 major rides, yet the operators chose to keep the greenbelt and just have a handfull of rides with petrol go karts and a plain rollercoaster as the major rides. The rest of the rides are children orientated and the park has survived for many years without the need for such attractions. Another park that springs to mind is gullivers land in Milton Keynes, also children orientated. So Without major rides and proper promotion and advertising dreamland will be viable. Take a look at the wicksteed park website and look at the park map. Only 60% of the land is currently being used.

http://www.wicksteedpark.co.uk
http://www.wicksteedpark.co.uk/document ... layout.jpg

lutonlad

[vince69619]

You may well be right that smaller rides can make a viable park, but larger rides increase the catchment area.

As I have said before, to get to Dreamland I have to drive past Thorpe Park and Chessington. Now given the fond memories I have of Dreamland, I would pass these two attractions if Dreamland has some decent rides.

In late August we will be off to the Great Dorset Steam Fair, where a big wheel the size of the one at Margate today, along with a log flume and rollercoaster will be onsite for the week.

I don't go for the rides, they are a bonus, but if a show like that can put up rides like this for one week, Dreamland can do it with the right operator (his name is Phillip Miller).

Vince.

[dreamland]

i have to say that on that website wicksteed park the music is ace

[Jim Douglas Jr.]

Looks like a nice place to visit.
Greenspace restored, Dreamland could be a similar place... a place people could come for the day, or just for lunch.

[furie]

I'm a big fan of visiting parks just for the "visit". The rides just add to the day, but it doesn't matter how good they are.

Gullivers in Warrington is another example of park with few rides, worth visiting for the sake of it, as is Paultons park in Southampton.

Gullivers I think is a prime example as it is a park with a simple woodie, then a whole bunch of other rides "chucked" in (actually that's a little unfair as they've done a cracking job theming the place).

However, it shows that with a little effort and investment, a park can compete directly with the likes of Blackpool, Southport and Alton Towers (Gullivers Warrington sits in the catchment of all three).

All you need is to offer something different to the public, and Dreamland has that potential.

The question is, do you attack the public with a thrill based park and take on the mighty Tussauds, or make it a lovely place to visit and capture the massive family market that is out there?

As it is now, Webbs are doing the best thing. They're never going to be able to make it a lovely place to visit, but with good rides like a Booster and the Zipper, they'll be getting people through the door. As we know though, long term this isn't going to make anybody rich, or Dreamland any more famous.