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The Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I went to one of Europe's biggest theme parks with more than 40 attractions and record-breaking rollercoasters
WITH my eyes screwed tightly shut, I brace myself for the plummet. Suddenly, I'm being hurled an agonising 76 metres down a sheer drop, approaching terrifying speeds of 83mph before being thrown through a helix loop. 4 4 When it's all over, I can barely recall what had just happened. This is Shambhala, one of Europe's best hypercoasters, found at PortAventura World on Spain's sizzling Costa Dorada. The theme park is celebrating its 30th birthday this year but, judging from the spine-tingling ride I'd just been on, the park is far from slowing down. In fact, it is positively thirty and thriving. Boasting some of Europe's fastest and most exciting thrill rides, top-class waterpark Caribe Aquatic, Ferrari Land, and five on-site 4H and 5H hotels, this was a birthday party invite I couldn't turn down. With GCSEs done and dusted and school out for summer, teens Poppy and Charlie were raring to let their hair down. Armed with our Unlimited Express Passes (an essential extra if you want to hit every one of the park's biggest rides, among more than 40 attractions), we literally hit the ground running. And it was the best £54(ish) we could have spent. In under an hour we had been left rattled racing each other on wooden coaster Stampida, cooled off in the Grand Canyon Rapids and been blown away by multi-dimensional dark ride Uncharted and eight-loop coaster Dragon Khan. Luckily the park is not just bold, it's also beautiful, with lush landscaping across the six themed lands of Mexico, Polynesia, China, Far West, Mediterranea and SesamoAventura, where we could recover from the adrenaline rush and soaring temperatures. Martin Lewis warns about strict passport rule that could see you board your flight - only to get sent home on arrival My favourite was the Far West, where I could live out some of the Westerns I spent my childhood watching with my dad, moseying like outlaws through town and shooting targets, before picking out costumes in the Saloon Bar for a hilarious photo memento. Even the teens threw themselves into the dressing-up box, donning petticoats as saloon girls. Their adrenaline highlights were Shambhala and Red Force. After happily watching them ride the former three times in succession, they finally persuaded me to strap my creaky, menopausal bones in. I think I was actually transported out of my body and into the mythical kingdom of Shambhala for the duration of the ride. So when it came to visiting Ferrari Land, a must-see for petrolheads and F1 fans, I decided to get my kicks on terra firma by speeding round the Maranello Grand Race track in a mini toy race car, while the girls tackled the legendary Red Force alone. 4 As the tallest and fastest rollercoaster in Europe, it did not disappoint. Carts climb 112 metres before plummeting at a 90- degree angle, with an incredible launch system that reaches 111mph. For the first time in two days, my hyper-excited giggling girls were left absolutely speechless. All this adrenaline-fuelled fun can build up quite the appetite, and thankfully — unlike many UK theme parks — the dining options are varied and excellent. We enjoyed a leisurely lunch overlooking the Mediterranean harbour at Raco de Mar — feasting on melon and parma ham, burrata, truffle cannelloni, crispy calamari and mussels served in a delicious sauce. Electrifying twist The park has plenty of quality fast food, too, if you're keen to maximise ride time, but we were more than happy to have a break from the heat and adrenaline. Another great lunch and dinner spot can be found in the Far West, at The Iron Horse restaurant. There's a special 30th Anniversary burger on the menu that completely steals the show. The excellent grub wasn't limited to the theme park either. We'd opted for half-board at the 4H Wild West-themed Gold River Hotel and took full advantage of the vast buffet breakfast each morning. Dinner was also excellent, with fresh seafood and grill options. The dining hall can get quite busy, but we managed to find a lovely, quiet spot to eat outside each night. Aside from the food, the hotel itself is a non-stop Wild West adventure from the breathtaking atrium to the surrounding cabin accommodation brilliantly disguised as a frontier town. Anyone staying at one of the theme park hotels also gets private early access to the park and tickets to the main park and Ferrari Land are included in the price of your stay. You may not need early access, though, thanks to PortAventura's extended opening hours for the anniversary, which means the park remains accessible until 11.30pm. I'd barely finished my dinner before the girls were dragging me back to hit the rides again. The park is totally transformed after dark, with each world glowing against the night sky. Hurtling through darkness on rollercoasters adds an electrifying twist. Of course, it wouldn't be a 30th birthday bash without fireworks, either. And the nightly spectacular Fiesta Aventura is guaranteed to wow, featuring a fabulous illuminated parade, a spectacular drone display and fireworks extravaganza. It was the perfect end to one hell of a wild ride.
Daily Mail
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Europe's newest theme park finally opens - but guests aren't happy with rides and ticket prices
Europe's latest theme park opening - which is hoping to rival the likes of Thorpe Park and Disneyland Paris - has finally welcomed its first thrill-seekers, after a month-long delay in opening. Fairytale-themed Hossoland had been due to open in the village of Brojce on Pola nd's northern coast on May 31st - but last-minute delays have seen it lose four vital weeks in the lucrative summer season. Now though, the doors have officially opened and the verdict is in on the park, which spans 400,000sq m and boasts 50 rides and attractions across four themed lands. Some have said Hossoland, which centres around a lighthouse and is inspired by local Baltic legends and fairytales, should have been more ambitious - particularly in how many big thrill rides there are. While Poland's biggest theme park, Energylandia, has 18 rollercoasters, there are just four at Hossoland, with one critic wasping: This is supposed to be competition for Energylandia? 4 rollercoasters?' Another added: 'But do you plan something more hardcore for adults? Me and my 15-year-old son are waiting impatiently.' GhostRider, a steel coaster, was set to be one of the park's standout attractions - but that now doesn't seem to be on the menu anytime soon. The new rollercoaster, which cost several million pounds, was supposed to stretch 53m in the air taking guests on a thrilling ride at speeds of 72mph. Some griped over the £34 adult entry price, with one saying tickets 'aren't cheap either'. Others defended the new park, saying that while it appears to be aimed at younger children, new rides were still being built. There has been plenty of excitement on the park's social media sites too though, with many theme park goers impressed and others saying they're keen to visit this summer. One person wrote on the park's official Instagram site: 'I was there today I'll say yes... MEGA! I liked the most on the roller coaster in the dragon zone.' Another added: 'Really one of the most beautiful entrances. Not getting over it. Bravo'. The four lands include the Dragon Valley of the Mines, the Land of the Vikings, the Kingdom of Baltambrya and Mermaid City. Karen Hovsepyan, vice president of the park's operator Hosso Group, previously told Planet Attractions: 'Hossoland will be the only amusement park of such a large scale on the Polish coast. 'It will certainly become a recognisable symbol and a frequently visited place in this region.' It's hoped that the park will soon attract one million tourists per year. The closest airport to Hoosoland is Szczecin and Brits can book direct flights with Ryanair from both Liverpool and London. Hossoland is then about a one hour drive from the airport. The park is also under three hours drive from Berlin. Last week, it was revealed that a former theme park could be transformed into hundreds of homes 15 years after the site was closed and left to rot. A planning application has been submitted to turn the former Camelot Theme Park in Charnock Richard, Lancashire into 350 homes. The park closed in 2012 after nearly 30 years and has been empty ever since, aside from occasional use for immersive Halloween events and laser tag. Story Homes has submitted the application to turn the site into housing, with 50 per cent proposed to be affordable housing for local people, The Bolton News reported. The homes would include a range of sizes for first-time buyers, families and older couples looking to downsize. During the height of its popularity, Camelot was one of the north west's most prominent tourist attractions, featuring a range of offerings like the amusement ride Excalibur 2, and hosting live jousting in an arena. Inspired by the legend of King Arthur, the ill-fated park was boarded up after being open to the public for nearly 30 years. Owners Knights Leisure said bad weather contributed to low visitor numbers - and so the decision was made to shut the park down, with over 150 staff losing their jobs. The amusement park was home to the legendary Knightmare roller coaster - the structure of which remained standing tall even after it was shut down and was only dismantled in 2020. Other famous rides at the medieval-themed park included the Dragon Flyer, Caterpillar Capers, The Galleon and Pendragon's Plunge.
Telegraph
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Get set, go: exciting new theme park experiences await in the US
After a tension-building climb, Valravn prepares to drop. And not just any drop – this behemoth of a rollercoaster plummets 223ft at a staggering 90-degree angle. It's just one of the highlights at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. For thrill-seekers, the self-styled rollercoaster capital of the world is a compulsory stop on a road trip from New York to Chicago – but for theme park-lovers heading elsewhere in the US, there are scores of incredible options to choose from. Some are about the adrenalin rushes, some major in nostalgia and old-time atmospherics and others provide immersive storytelling. Crucially, the US's theme parks are always evolving to bring something new, different and exciting. This year's new openings and anniversary celebrations, however, offer a bumper crop for those ready to ride… High octane thrills In Ohio, Cedar Point's newest test of nerve is the innovative tilt coaster Siren's Curse. After climbing a 160ft-tall lift hill, Siren's Curse comes to a halt at a dead end, then tilts directly downwards to connect to the rest of the track. Cedar Point is also unleashing Top Thrill 2 – the world's highest rollercoaster, which shoots up a 420ft-high tower, then descends at a whopping 120mph. New thrill coasters elsewhere include the Wrath of Rakshasa at Six Flags Great America between Chicago and Milwaukee. This starts with a climb to 180ft, then a few seconds of white-knuckle suspense, hanging over a precipice. Once released, the Wrath of Rakshasa drops at high speed before launching into five upside-down inversions. At the Kings Dominion theme park just north of Richmond, Virginia, wing coaster Rapterra is the new lure. This one is all about the sensation of dangling legs as the ride swoops, dives and twists at speeds of up to 65mph and reaches heights of up to 145ft. In New Jersey, meanwhile, Six Flags Great Adventure has unveiled The Flash: Vertical Velocity. The point of difference here is that you're sent one way through the loops and turns, then climb a dead-end track and drop down to do it all again, only this time backwards. Movie magic The Flash: Vertical Velocity is a tie-in to the DC Extended Universe movies, which shouldn't come as much of a surprise given that the US's theme parks are a magnet for film fans. Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, is the best-known of the movie-linked parks. Its new offerings for 2025 include the light-adorned floats of the Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away after-dark parade. There are also two new shows in the Hollywood Studios section of the complex. The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure provides the wholesome fun, while Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After indulges the darker side with Cruella de Vil and Maleficent et al. But the biggest big screen boost in 2025 comes courtesy of nearby Universal Orlando, in the shape of the newly opened Universal Epic Universe. Experiences here include magical time-travelling adventures in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, as well as Dark Universe, an area dedicated to scary movie characters such as Dracula and Frankenstein's monster. The spooky Curse of the Werewolf rollercoaster is a highlight not to be missed. The park also appeals to gamers, with family-friendly rides at Super Nintendo World based around Mario, Yoshi and other Nintendo favourites. The classics reimagined The great American theme park experience isn't all about the new, however. Several long-standing parks brim with pedigree, charm and tangible heritage. Of these, the original Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, set the template for the modern theme park. It celebrates its 70th anniversary this year with a series of new launches. These include the Tapestry of Happiness show that takes a journey through that 70-year history and the animated projections, lights and fireworks of the Paint the Night parade. In Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, another classic theme park is celebrating a birthday too. Dollywood – founded by country music legend Dolly Parton – is hosting a series of festivals and live music concerts for its 40th anniversary, while the new Dolly Parton Experience offers a warm look at the Jolene singer's life and hits.
