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originally posted on 9/16/2024

Photo: Jo Pools. View full-sized image.

The second annual ACE Europe regional week-long motorcoach tour was scheduled to dovetail easily with the later-starting ACE Journey to Central Europe excursion, with Summerfest staying on the United Kingdom side of the English Channel. While the official start date was July 28, the fun began the week earlier on the trip’s WhatsApp forum, where folks shared their pretrip activities along with tips for getting around London and the initial hotel check-in. This information was augmented by the extensive trip book provided by the ACE Europe team.

On Friday, the Noteboom Tours coach departed its Netherlands headquarters with a stop to pick up travelers before the ferry channel crossing. At Heathrow, individuals made their way to the Best Western hotel, where the lobby soon became a gathering place for excited enthusiasts anxiously waiting for the adventure to begin. The coach arrived on schedule, greetings were exchanged and room keys distributed before dinner.

ACE Europe Regional Representative Jo Pools was integral in the planning of the trip and achieved a major milestone in the process.
Photo: William F. Buckley Jr. View full-sized image.

Jo Pools, ACE Europe regional representative, and Ralf Haan, assistant regional representative, were the onboard leaders for the trip and did an excellent job answering questions along with planning the schedule. Greeting everyone at the hotel was Hjälmar Sinke, the assistant regional representative based in the United Kingdom. Throughout the trip the ACE Europe team was helpful to all and exceeded expectations for hospitality.

Attendees gather for a photo before entering the first park on the trip, Chessington World of Adventures.
Photo: Jo Pools. View full-sized image.

Saturday morning, attendees awoke, boarded the bilevel coach and were off early for the first park, Chessington World of Adventures (Chessington, Greater London, England). Beginning as a zoo in 1931, the park transitioned to Tussard’s management and began adding rides in 1987. Now a Merlin Entertainments park, it is the smaller sister of nearby Thorpe and Alton Towers. However, Chessington has installed rides for families with children, and the ride lineup reflects that focus without many “high-thrill” experiences.

Vampire, an Arrow Dynamics suspended coaster, has long been a favorite at Chessington World of Adventures.
Photo: Jo Pools. View full-sized image.

After entering the park, it was announced that Dragon’s Fury, a Maurer custom spinner, was down, so most headed to Vampire, an Arrow suspended design that was renovated using Vekoma suspended seating. Discussion in the WhatsApp group focused on one-time fast passes and suggestions for avoiding long lines — also when the spinner opened (and quickly closed), which it did multiple times during the day.

For many, the park’s recent B&M installation, Mandrell Mayhem, was a new experience.
Photo: Jo Pools. View full-sized image.

Photo: Jamey Franks. View full-sized image.

A group buffet lunch was enjoyed in the zoo’s cafeteria, where discussions focused on experiencing “don’t miss” attractions along with strategies for getting on the spinner (only a handful made it before it closed for the day). The afternoon ended with ERT on the new Bolliger & Mabillard shuttle wing coaster, Mandrell Mayhem. Attendees headed to the second hotel of the trip with smiles on their faces, tempted by the sight of Thorpe Park’s (Chertsey, Surrey, England) Hyperia coaster along the way (the last park of the trip).

The Tornado Springs spinning coaster at Paultons Park was a hit with attendees.
Photo: Sue Yekel. View full-sized image.

The next morning the destination was Paultons Park (Romsey, Hampshire, England), another of the United Kingdom’s family-focused parks. Although the park dates back to 1086, the amusements began in 1979. This was trip T-shirt day, so everyone wore their black T-shirts for a coffee discussion with park management followed by first rides on the new Tornado Springs spinning coaster. Afterward, the remainder of the park, including an extensive Peppa Pig land, was ours to explore. Again, a group lunch gave everyone the opportunity to swap tips for enjoying the park. At closing, a photo was taken before heading to the bus for the next hotel.

Nemesis Reborn is an example of a recent trend of parks investing large amounts of money in their popular and iconic steel coasters.
Photo: Jo Pools. View full-sized image.

Photo: Sue Yekel. View full-sized image.

Alton Towers (Alton, Staffordshire, England) was the destination for Day 3. The legendary resort’s quick queue systems were a topic of discussion, and probably most attendees took advantage of one of the options prior to arrival. With the sky ride down for maintenance this year, the park required a lot of walking to experience everything. But ACEers would not be denied! After the queue emptied out, ERT was enjoyed on the Great Coasters International, Inc. woodie, Wicker Man, for an hour that was memorable for the enthusiasm of the attendees riding and also the ride operators!

Ikon is a recent addition to Pleasure Beach Resort’s impressive roller coaster lineup.
Photo: Jo Pools. View full-sized image.

Photo: Jo Pools. View full-sized image.

When it comes to wood coasters, Wicker Man’s theming is in a league of its own.

Upon leaving, the bus headed to the coast and Pleasure Beach Resort (Blackpool, Lancashire, England) for a two-night stay at the Big Blue Hotel with magnificent coaster landscapes out the windows. On Day 4, ERT was moved from The Big One to Ikon, the newest coaster at the park. High winds pestered the hypercoaster and prevented it from operating most of the day, but the Ikon rides were a great consolation prize, and the back row was released for rotation during the final 30 minutes of ERT (usually an upcharge).

ACE Roller Coaster Landmark plaques were presented to Pleasure Beach Resort for its Grand National and Big Dipper.
Photo: Jo Pools. View full-sized image.

Photo: Jo Pools. View full-sized image.

Lunch vouchers for unlimited pizza were included in the schedule, but what was more important was the presentation of the first ACE Roller Coaster Landmark plaques in the United Kingdom to both Grand National and Big Dipper. A ceremony was held with the park’s managers on a restaurant terrace surrounded by coaster tracks. The park thanked everyone with a champagne toast as the weather began to turn “English,” that is, rainy. The rain did not deter ERT after the park closed. Rides in the on-and-off rain on Grand National included full trains for most of the enthusiastic session until a “last ride” was finally called. The park then generously opened up a store for 30 minutes, and wallets were opened for some serious souvenir shopping before heading upstairs for a few drinks and a dinner buffet.

Attendees gather outside Gulliver’s Warrington for a brief visit and an opportunity to experience Antelope, its wood coaster.
Photo: Jo Pools. View full-sized image.

Photo: Jo Pools. View full-sized image.

ACE Immediate Past President Robert Ulrich enjoys the Gulliver’s Warrington Grand Prix Racers.
Photo: Jo Pools. View full-sized image.

Day 5 started by checking out and heading to Gulliver’s Warrington (Cheshire, England). Attendees were allowed into the park before it opened to the public. First, one ride for everyone was offered on the unique SBF Grand Prix Racers. Next were a few rides on the home-built woodie, Antelope, followed by rides on Wriggler, a wacky worm. As the park opened to a large number of school groups, the ACE group left for the second park of the day.

Drayton Manor provided ACEers an opportunity to enjoy four roller coasters and a unique collection of other rides.
Photo: Jo Pools. View full-sized image.

That park was Drayton Manor (Drayton Bassett, Staffordshire, England), where at the group lunch fast passes were distributed (which would be needed). An eclectic group of unique rides included a Thomas Town area, but attendees were a week too early for the new Intamin family launch coaster. Still, there were four other coasters and many great attractions to enjoy.

Fantasy Island holds the distinction of having two massive custom Vekoma coasters — a standard looper and an inverted model.
Photo: Patrick Kaak. View full-sized image.

Day 6 began with a drive to the coast for Fantasy Island (Ingoldmells, Lincolnshire, England), where the park knew the coaster enthusiasts wanted to experience every coaster. Fantasy Island graciously opened up the custom Vekoma suspended looping coaster only for the Summerfest group that morning. High winds at the coast often close this ride, but attendees scored one ride each before the park opened to the public. There was plenty of time to explore the park’s attractions before eating lunch and leaving for the second park of the day.

Rockin Roller is one of four roller coasters at picturesque Botton’s Pleasure Beach.
Photo: Sue Yekel. View full-sized image.

Botton’s Pleasure Beach (Skegness, Lincolnshire, England) is a classic but small seaside amusement park. With a custom spinning coaster, the only inverted wacky worm and more, it was a great afternoon under the English sun. However, a long drive was ahead to get back to the metro London suburbs. So, in the Summerfest tradition, ACE Europe Bingo Bus was repeated, with prizes from parks and manufacturers going to the winners.

Thorpe Park’s new-for-2024 Hyperia was one of the most anticipated roller coasters of the trip.
Photo: William F. Buckley Jr. View full-sized image.

Photo: William F. Buckley Jr. View full-sized image.

The final day’s destination was Thorpe Park. Upon entering and agreeing not to disclose what was presented, attendees heard from the park how its latest attraction, a Mack hypercoaster named Hyperia, developed, including the what, where and why for the tallest coaster in the United Kingdom. As the meeting ended to “find our fearless,” the English rains arrived and remained on and off most of the day. However, the park’s attractions stayed open. The day ended with ERT in the rain. The park’s staff expected everyone would ride once and get off, but the 30 minutes featured full Hyperia trains, to the amazement of the park employees.

At the end of the day, attendees returned to the hotel and enjoyed a final group dinner before check-out in the morning. Some left in the early morning for flights elsewhere, the ACE international trip riders stayed on the coach for a ferry crossing and drop off at the headquarters hotel in Amsterdam and the final few dropped off the coach and went home.

With the second annual Summerfest tour complete, the ACE Europe region is planning a trip through northern Scandinavia next year (Viking 2), along with future trips in 2026 and beyond. These shorter, small trips will be a great tradition for U.S. ACEers wanting to visit European parks in the future.

— Robert Ulrich, Immediate Past ACE President

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