The Big One — Attraction in Great Britain

This review is for those who like their coasters. I chickened out of riding it when I was a child. I’m a bit of a coaster nerd now with almost no fear of them and have been raring to go again. Finally did it on my recent visit and went on three times.

Yes it’s getting old and is a bit bumpy in places and the compressions at the bottom of the dips can be brutal. I had heard the ride was tame after the first drop, not every moment is super thrilling, but the ride is still enjoyable.

The first drop though…if the train hit a braking run at the base and returned to the station…. the ride would still be worth it. I sat on the back row in the left seat anticipating this would give me the most intense drop. Being so far behind the centre of the train, it would already be accelerating down before I crested the lift hill. I wasn’t wrong. I couldn’t really process the sensations as I was whipped over the top, but it was fast and intense and I felt genuine fear on a rollercoaster for the first time in years.

Riding it in strong rain is definitely worth trying, yes it hurts, but it’s quite the experience.

If you want to enjoy the views, sit right at the front which I managed to do just before it closed. You get a lot of time to admire them at the top of the lift hill as the middle of the train catches up. Also if you’re not a massive thrill seeker this will take the sting out of the tail of the drop

The head chopper elements really do leave you doubting if you’re hands will still be attached if you leave them on the air.

Maybe familiarity breeds contempt and the Big One is underrated these days, but I think it’s still a solid ride, with the first drop when seated at the back of the train being one of the most fantastic coaster experiences I’ve ever had.

If you want to enjoy the views sit near the front. But for those who love it, sit at...

Wow, what a disappointment! The Big One should be renamed The Big Letdown! We queued from 9:35am as we got into the park early and wanted to be as near to the top of the queue as possible for ride opening. Testing was ongoing so it looked good. Icon was testing next door and we could see full trains of riders running around by 10:10am. But not The Big One. A train stopped on the lift hill and was left there for ages, then it moved and more test trains with staff on board ran the course then another empty train was parked on the lift hill. This was Tuesday 19th July, the hottest day EVER in the UK and we were left queueing until 11:05am with no shade and no announcements by the team to tell us what was happening. Major black mark to the park for that. They clearly don't care about their guests at all, suffering in that blistering heat. When we finally got to ride we got a midtrain row and it was so BLAND. Whilst it was fast, there was no airtime whatsoever and it was rickety and rough. What a disappointment!! Taller doesn't mean better, and The Big One is truly The...

Ok so I’ll give this 3 stars and I’ll explain why…

Ok so to start with the positives the ride is great fun I strongly reccomend the back as you get thrown, and I mean thrown out of your seat it’s always fun putting your hands up and speeding down the drop.

Also, the option of being allowed to queue for the front row is amazing that’s where the positives end I’m afraid.

I know this is a classic arrow dynamics coaster however it is very rough ut will hurt you will hit the brake run and say thank god it’s over after the drop and up the first hill the pain starts, also the layout is sort of boring but you can’t complain about that technology has improved as seen in ICON.

Where this coaster looses 2 and it could be more stars is from the staff. The staff don’t want to be there and are being rude to customers shouting at them. Also is an issue with people vaping at least Alton towers have controlled the vaping now pleasure beach don’t care. Disappointing visit I will leave a review of the whole park experience but I wanted to leave a review of this Icon...