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DAY OF THE KNIGHTS: PART FIVE
by Gary Radice
Article
: Added October 2005
LAND OF THE BRAVE
 
Just bordering this area of the park was The Dungeons of Doom. Hey, themagiceye LOVES ghost trains but to be honest if you are going to have a ghost train, dress it up like one from the outside.
 
There was a rather long queue of people waiting outside of an equally large tent. This would not have made for a good picture (hence there isn't one!).
 
Where was the anticipation? The build up of fear? The feelings of menace that a ride like this calls out for? Well, nowhere. themagiceye remembers the now defunct Mad Monk's Monastery ghost train from its one and only other visit to this park many moons ago. If memory serves themagiceye right, that ride was poor to average.

Dungeons of Doom is better than the Mad Monk's Monestary but it isn't a great ride. 5/10

Now if they had had slam doors and a skeleton beckoning riders... 

themagiceye rode The Rack next (minimum ride height is 1.2m). Its bark is definitely worse than its bite.

Excalibur 2 caters well for the spin n' spew enthusiasts out there but themagiceye does not count itself in that number.

And the best was last. First up: 

Whirlwind (minimum height 1.2m to ride), a spinning coaster that was very disorientating. Everyone who rode it within earshot of themagiceye LOVED this ride. It was built in 1999 and travelled the German fair circuit under the name 'Cyberspace' before coming to Camelot in 2003. The Cyberspace was 50/50 owned by Bruch and Kaiser.

Eventually themagiceye got to ride Gauntlet (minimum height 1.3m to ride). Operating for approximately four years at the park this old coaster was once named The Loop and situated at Margate's Dreamland. themagiceye and family liked it, although the 31 foot loop section proved to be a bit of a stress on this old geezer's neck area. Great to see it operating though and very popular with park visitors on the day.

To sum up, it was a great day out. Not your Alton Towers but it was just a great family day. The goats should be advertised as an attraction in themselves. Great shows with serious horsemanship skills on show and  - for themagiceye anyway - the park's major selling point.

Sidestalls (like everywhere) cost more but towards the end of the day themagiceye heard some stall owners offering up things like "2 throws for the price of 1", etc. This 'skinflint' would advise to wait until then to get your sovereign's worth.

There is some serious walking to be done up hills and from the car park. Take note if you have problems in this area.

A great family atmosphere on the day themagiceye was there. Would themagiceye go back? Yes. Definitely.

Hopefully rumours about the park closing (which to be fair have been circulating for a few years now) remain just that...

 


The Rack.


Excalibur 2.


Whirlwind.


Whirlwind.


Gauntlet.

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