A brand new VIP experience was put online by Pleasure Beach Resort as guests could go behind-the-scenes for the first ever time of the brand new reimagining of Valhalla but at the cost of £250 there were certainly some discussions about the tour the moment it was put on sale, the question is, was it worth it?
There are theme park rides—and then there are experiences that push the limits of storytelling, engineering, and sheer spectacle. Valhalla at Pleasure Beach Resort is a testament to how a dark ride should be delivered and after a recent reimagining it’s certainly always been something of interest to me to explore.
For me, the reimagining has improved the ride exponentially in terms of reliability but there are still a few niggles that bug me when it comes to the ride such as the boat drainage issues where guests have to climb into boats already full of inches of water and some of the scenes within the ride have been downgraded somewhat to me such as the once infamous ice room which no resembles a rather jazzy and sparkly viking room, a very strange design choice but my own personal thoughts aside the tour was alway going to be of interest as there haven’t been many people to experience the inner workings of the ride and only 9 of us in the world currently (who aren’t staff members) have experienced this reimagining tour.
This behind the scenes adventure was originally meant to be for 10 people but for some reason one person couldn’t make it so the tour became even more personal as the incredible staff members certainly made this 3+ hour experience worth it.
As we arrived we were greeted by a Viking, the very same man who graces all of the rides posters and marketing materials and after a quick photo-op we were taken into Loki’s viking bar for a talk about the experience, sign some documents and then have creative director of the ride Adam Slevin discuss the reimagining and he would also be coming with us for a tour around Valhalla.
Having Adam’s insights was certainly a more premium addition to the experience and certainly gave it that premium feel getting first-hand knowledge from a man who actually redesigned the very ride we were touring, that was pretty cool indeed!
All Access Experience
When I say this is an all access experience I really meant it, we climbed the lift hills, saw all the back-stage areas, all the brains of the ride, the operators booth and even walked across VERY high gantry’s for a truly unique look at the ride.
Yes, this part of the experience was terrifying but it was one of the most breathtaking elements of the tour as the water was fast flowing beneath our feet as you you get a bird’s-eye view of the scenes that thrill riders from a completely new perspective.
These towering walkways offer a rare thrill—not just of height, but of exclusivity. You’re walking where only engineers and elite technicians tread.
The sheer size and scale of the ride is damn impressive as Valhalla actually goes between two buildings with a connecting drop linking the two together.
My brain was in overload as to how this thing was created as even the tubing for all the misting effects goes around the entire circumference of the ride was confusing me, let alone all of the sensors, animatronics, trigger effects, fire effects and all of the machines that control all of this and the computers that load the audio and more for the ride.
The staff themselves said because of how old the ride is now, it’s at a level of complexity that just isn’t designed anymore, arguably one of the most complex dark rides in Europe they said and after the tour I’m heavily inclined to agree with them.
The guides, who are deeply knowledgeable and enthusiastic, take time to explain how each element functions, often revealing quirky facts or insider stories. For example, we learned how even minor adjustments in temperature or air pressure can influence the effectiveness of a scene, and how the ride was adapted and evolved during the reimagining to make it more reliable.
Maintenance Mode
With the ride firmly in maintenance mode you are walking around with the lights on through several scenes including newly designed scenes for the reimagining, you’re getting up close and personal to the theming details and set pieces, learning things along the way like the trees in the Valhalla forest scene were actually used in Game of Thrones, a very unusual detail but a detail all the same.
Seeing the figures and craftsmanship up close and personal certainly gives you a better appreciation of the ride when you go back on it and the park did provide speedy passes for the ride for those who wanted to go on it but with everyone planning other things throughout their day there wasn’t many takers.
Valhalla is one of the wettest water rides in the world and I don’t think anyone brought spare clothing to save them from the sheer drenching they would encounter once boarding.
You need a scuba suit for that thing!
A Viking’s Feast: The Grand Finale
After over 90 mins exploring the ride from the inside out, guests are ushered to a hidden event space styled as a Viking banquet hall in Lokis as a long table full of bread, grapes, chicken, ribs and steins awaited us.
Alcohol and soft drinks were unlimited in the time we were there so I took it upon myself to order alcohol by the stein full! I was certainly recouping that £250 spend and it certainly felt like the in-depth tour, exclusivity and this rare opportunity was feeling much more premium than other events Pleasure Beach Resort do but they really do smash it with their events, they’re the best in the country with these fan events for a reason.
The centerpiece: full roasted chickens served per person, flanked by herbed stuffing, crispy seasoned chips and fresh bread certainly set the scene as our quite lovely group sat down and discussed the experience we just had.
The vibe is relaxed and joyful. You’re seated among fellow adventurers, sharing stories of the tour and the ride, with food worthy of Valhalla itself.
Mementos and Farewell
As the experience concludes, guests receive high-quality souvenirs to commemorate the journey. A handmade Valhalla keyring in a lovely chest, a drinks coaster, certificate and postcards were given out to guests.
I loved the handmade Valhalla keyring that was such a nice touch but the certificate I thought was a cop-out as Amanda Thompson’s signature had been photocopied onto the certificate. There’s only 10 of these certificates, a real signature for a VIP experience like this wouldn’t have taken longer than 60 seconds. That was a nice small touch completely overlooked.
I did also feel for the price a Valhalla hoodie or similar would have been a nice item to throw in there for folks maybe in a custom Valhalla shopping bag along with the custom Valhalla tour coaster etc.
But maybe that’s just my wishful thinking!
Valhalla Behind the Scenes Final Thoughts
This VIP behind-the-scenes tour of Valhalla is more than just a backstage pass. It’s an expertly crafted deep dive into the alchemy of storytelling, engineering, and experience design. You witness how myths are built—not just with narrative and costume, but with pumps, flame rigs, fans, and wire.
Staff were so damn lovely that I could purchase that experience all over again just to spend time with them needing out over the ride just as much as the people who had paid for the tour, the enthusiasm and passion they have for the ride was clear to see and after seeing how everything works I for one won’t be complaining about an effect being off ever again.
Valhalla is a complex and complicated machine, a legend in a world where dark rides are becoming simpler by the year. Valhalla stands as a true legend in its own right and to be given the opportunity to experience something like that, so exclusive and so rare, well… it was priceless.
Fans may have complained at the price but it’s completely subjective. They sold out within minutes for a reason, the demand is there and people will pay for that special experience regardless of the cost.
An incredible event that I kind of hope doesn’t happen again so it feels even more exclusive for those who were lucky enough to grab a ticket to do it.
