Family coasters need love too (legitimate)

The Swarm, Icon, The Smiler, Stealth etc. All of these are thrill coasters and get all the credit from the coaster community so why don’t family coasters get the same recognition? I mean, you have Wicker Man but despite the 1.2 height restriction, the whole backstory and pre show aren’t really child friendly and it’s actually kind of intense.

Here in the UK we have some amazing family rides such as Nickelodeon Streak at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Flight of the Pterosaur at Paultons Park and Octonauts at Alton Towers. The question I want to know is ‘Why are they consistently ignored?’ Okay, okay I know they don’t have the same level of thrill or inversions but they are a lot of fun. My current favourite is Troublesome Trucks at Drayton Manor because it’s straight to the point enjoyable, plus that downward helix at the start is brilliant. I know it’s not a long ride (though it does go through 2 laps) but it is themed brilliantly and caters for nearly all the family. Even Accelerator (Vekoma family boomerang) is fun.

Theres also a bunch of powered family coasters around the UK such as the Runaway Mine Train at Alton Towers and that is a fantastic ride. My only problem with that ride is the classic lap bar which I found to be a little uncomfortable compared to newer restraints.

I love thrilling rides but there’s something about family coasters i gravitate to. They aren’t overly forceful, too fast or too high and I’ll be honest, I’m a little afraid of heights. Family coasters offer to a broader age range which caters for those that are anxious about huge rides or aren’t tall enough.

With the huge choice of family coasters across the UK I find some of them incredibly underrated. Even Bolliger and Mabillard have constructed an inverted family coaster and I would personally love to see one installed at a UK Park. Either Thorpe Park or Alton Towers could construct one using the Nemesis brand. It could even follow on from the Nemesis Sub Terra storyline with the coaster as the child of Nemesis….maybe. Just a thought.

To conclude… Family coasters need love too.