Spencer's Outdoor Adventure Play

Harry

Member
273
 
Looks like this area has closed permanently. From the website

Ride Availability​

We’ve provided the information on this page to help you to plan your fun-filled day at Drayton Manor.

For the most up to date information on ride availability, download our app ahead of your visit as ride closures are subject to change.

The health and safety of our guests is our number one priority, so sometimes we may have to temporarily close a ride during adverse weather conditions.

Please note that Spencer's Outdoor Play Area is no longer available.
 
It's showing its age now in my opinion and with Tidal Towers to compare it to, it either needs some love & tlc or removal.

Its a large space up that side of the park which has needed development for some time. Everything around Ms Kyndleys is closed (minus the open zoo enclosures & Dino trail) so its a welcome development spot. Ideal for a minor development after this years big investments.
(As much as I would hate for the loss of Bryansworks. Hoping they spare it )
 
I think it would be good to see something happen down this end of the park. Its not really suited to theme park rides given it is close to the houses, but if you look at WMSP walkthrough areas there are a number of options. I hope they keep the dino trail and possibly expand on it. The safari park has land of the living dinosaurs, ice age and discovery trail as add ons to the drive through and theme park.

I would suggest something to fit in with the zoo would be ideal. There has previously been talk of aquariums, but that would be expensive. I'm sure someone could come up with something cost effective. The play park here has been a little odd since the removal of the Thomas attractions from this end of the park. It wasn't great. Even an outdoor obstacle course with say a monkey theme would be better although I'm hoping for more of an attraction.
 
Been honest except the boring wooden train at the entrance you wouldn’t know it was supposed to be themed to Thomas land. The whole thing needs digging up and an all weather flooring installed.
This is the 1 installed in America
 
Elise seems often to be "in the know" when it comes to park developments so I will always bow to her judgement but I can well imagine that the outdoor play area is a proper quagmire with all the rain recently and it is probably not safe.

Whilst Tidal Towers shows the appreciation of the need for kids play areas I do wonder whether they have fully appreciated just how much kids love physical play - especially when they may have been stood around in queues for a lot of the time. Anyone who has ever tried to get a four year old off a swing to let someone else have a go, or even worse - actually go home, will testify just how much physical play is craved by some kids.

The actual Spencer front piece has never really been that popular but all the ups and downs and slides are always buzzing about. .
 
Had a wonder down there on sunday, overall nothing changed there, the whole things looked grubby, grass is very uneven and I think for safety reasons not up to the standard and given it is in an area where there isn't a lot now, think they need to look at something new here. Slightly off topic, but it doesn't now fit the area given only thomas thing down there is the thomas station. Hopefully they will add something. Some kids looked disappointed they couldn't play on here. The sign says updating the experience. I can't see it opening for the christmas event, perhaps for the new season next year?

I am with Elise a new attraction to add value to the zoo are around it. Perhaps fantasy or at least something to the into the zoo!
 
Such a shame this has gone as my kids really enjoyed it, but agree the flooring and general area has looked neglected for some time.
There's a huge amount of disused land in this area, when you include the barely-visited animal paddocks and the unused car parking area. That's not even including the unused lake. Massive opportunity for expansion given the rail station is there. Money permitting, I would relocate or remove the dodgems, open up a circular lake walk, and develop the old car park, animal paddocks, and land where the Thomas exhibition used to be, into a brand new land akin to the likes of Bewilderwood.
 
Such a shame this has gone as my kids really enjoyed it, but agree the flooring and general area has looked neglected for some time.
There's a huge amount of disused land in this area, when you include the barely-visited animal paddocks and the unused car parking area. That's not even including the unused lake. Massive opportunity for expansion given the rail station is there. Money permitting, I would relocate or remove the dodgems, open up a circular lake walk, and develop the old car park, animal paddocks, and land where the Thomas exhibition used to be, into a brand new land akin to the likes of Bewilderwood.
i didn’t really visit it that much in my days at Drayton, but honestly i wasn’t expecting it to be removed,
 
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