Blackpool Pleasure Beach Journey to Hell is back for 2021 and we bring you our best to worst of the 9 zones on offer at this years Halloween event.
Let’s jump straight in shall we with the best experience at Blackpool Pleasure Beach Journey to Hell in 2021.
For me, the event was a mixed bag with heavy room for improvement. It certainly felt as though the money had been invested in other areas (most likely Valhalla / Big One re-track) with not much heavy investment taking place in this particular event.
Opening more rides in the dark Journey to Hell 2021 felt like Pleasure Beach late-night riding with a few low-budget Halloween extras and whilst the costumes (and acting for the most part) were on point it was sadly way short of the mark for what you’d expect from one of the UK’s best theme parks.
1. Blind Faith
Riding ICON Blindfolded is an incredible experience. With brand new audio on the first launch and with the ride absolutely flying through its layout after being warmed up by the public all day this is an experience I could do over and over again. Absolutely loved it!
2. Day of the Dead Ghost Train
Whilst many of these ride experiences were just the same ride blindfolded or in the dark like the Pleasure Beach Late Night Riding events the effort was made outside of the ghost train with some Dia De Los Muertos theming.
The Mexican Day of the Dead festival had characters hanging around outside the Ghost Train all dressed up with some skull theming and Mexican festival music.
A great little atmosphere outside of the Ghost Train queue line but a shame that no extra effort was made such as musical performers, a few floats or additional lighting to turn it into a more festive atmosphere.
You only need to watch the introduction of James Bond Spectre to get a good idea of how simple decorations can create an incredible atmosphere.
The Ghost Train itself was completely unchanged. No Day of the Dead theming, nothing.
A bitter disappointment in that regard but it doesn’t take anything away from the fact that the Ghost Train is already a fantastic standalone ride but not theming it to what the zone was actually about is so lazy.
3. The Big Dark Abyss
Riding the Big One is already a daunting experience. Riding it in complete darkness is something else.
Thankfully the Big One is located in Blackpool so the Blackpool illuminations and street lighting, not to mention the Blackpool Tower in the distance all provide some stunning night light viewing.
I didn’t particularly see the horror aspect of this ride in any way shape or form but it’s a new ride to add to the line-up and a first for me.
Big One was running insanely quick at night and I had the best ride ever on the front row.
4. Hell Tunnels
Just the experience of exploring underneath Blackpool Pleasure Beach is a joy in itself let alone when the tunnels are filled with sets, actors and scares.
I thoroughly enjoyed walking through Hell Tunnels but it was just that. Walking.
There wasn’t any jump scares of note that we got on our run-through but the ambience in there is already wonderfully creepy.
We stumbled through Santas Grotto from last years Christmas event and it hadn’t been removed, all signs were still in place and it felt a little lazy just leaving everything out like that.
With the event been underwhelming, to say the least outside of the rides that Pleasure Beach already have and already use at nighttime, this was the strongest zone by a country mile and in all honesty, it wasn’t all that strong.
More actors, more detailed sets, more atmosphere and ambience all needed in those tunnels. You have the perfect set there and it was poorly executed in every way shape and form.
At least clear out Santas Grotto before you let us in there unless we’re going to be chased by Gremlins wearing santa hats.
5. The Legend of the Cursed River Caves
A ridiculously weak effort when it comes to turning the wonderful River Caves ride into a horror experience as they just turned the lights off and placed four actors inside to scream when you sailed on past.
A nice little soundtrack follows you on your journey but with the ride being so long you’re just going on a ride… in the dark.
It became ever so boring.
No fog across the water, no actor in the boat with you telling you about ‘the legend’ of the caves.
Once again, a poor and lazy effort using rides they already have to create extra zones that haven’t been given the effort or attention to be themed properly or used in a way to create a horror experience.
6. Scare Maze
A hedge maze themed with a few bedsheets and some cotton wool cobwebs from The Range, Scare Maze was an abysmal addition to the 2021 line-up.
Plague Doctors were dotted in the maze who would just point or repeat the same lines over and over.
We encountered around 4 actors throughout our run-through but for the most part we were just walking through the maze at night with the bedsheets being used to block off the areas that you could get lost.
How about just letting us in the actual maze with the dead-ends providing chilling encounters with characters?
Instantly improved.
As far as logistics and organisation it was as smooth as clockwork and the creativity for the costumes is wonderful.
Everything else was laughable.
I’m sorry to be so honest but I went to Waterworld in Stoke for a Halloween event and their scare maze (all 45 seconds of it) was better than anything I’d seen at Journey to Hell and it was made by the young staff members there (mostly teenagers).
Blackpool certainly needs to step up its game as Journey to Hell back in 2019 had bad reviews and I can only imagine the public not being huge fans of this year’s event either.
7. Valley of the Carnevil Freaks
We walked through an open area consisting of a handful of clowns.
No in your face scare zone experiences just a few grunts and gestures with a fake hammer or a knife and 50 seconds later we were heading towards the next event.
The lighting certainly set the mood but with a lack of set pieces, it shouldn’t have been added to the list of ‘zones’ something as small scale as that should just automatically be a part of the event and should never be classed as a zone.
It would be the equivalent of Alton Towers adding each of their roaming character groups around the park as individual attractions…
eek.
8. The Pledge Dark Magic
A few foul-mouthed girls followed by a nervous magician and a magic trick and we were out the door.
Granted the trick was cool (I do love a good magic trick) but the acting was absolutely awful and with little kids in attendance during the press night the foul language was uncalled for.
9. Hells Gate
I’ve left this last as I didn’t experience it during the event.
I was told that Hells Gate would consist of the firebreathers that we saw located in another part of the park.
The firebreathers were great but once again labelling them as a ‘zone’ is a cheeky way of making the park look as though it has more going on than it actually does.
In reality Journey to Hell had two zones (Hell Tunnels and Scare Maze) 4 rides and lots of roaming actors.
What did you like best about your Pleasure Beach Journey to Hell 2021 experience?
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