Pirate Adventure

[Elise]

Question was Pirates Adventure much of a soaker like StormForce 10 level or River Rapids level, could be in-between

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

 

[The Hedgenator]

appears that the refurbishment and reopening of Pirate Adventure is pending for next year (2025). Last year Theme Park Guide published the following article.

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

 

[remlap]

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 seem to remember you got slightly wetter on the drop towards the end of the rides life for some reason.

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.

 

[Themeparksandy1981]

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.

 

[RustyShackleford]

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.

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.