Tickets were provided for purposes of this review
At the weekend we went to Oakwood Theme Park to enjoy some Spooktacular fun. Oakwood is always an exciting attraction to visit but it’s even more thrilling than usual during this special event. The park is decorated for Halloween and there are extra activities including the award winning “Witch Hunt”. Take a look at our day:
Visit Oakwood Theme Park
Oakwood Theme Park, Canaston Bridge, Narberth (SA67 8DE) is located just off the A4075 in Pembrokeshire, South West Wales. As we approach the signs, flags and grand entrance I still feel the same excitement that I felt when I came here as a child.
The car park is free and there are plenty of spaces available. Dog kennels are also provided (£5 deposit).
Tickets
There is currently a special offer running while Spooktacular is on. You can get a “Fright For Four” pass for £80 (£20 each). Additional standard passes are £33.15 (£30.15 each online) ages 13 + ; junior passes: £22.50 (£20.25 online) ages 3-12 and concessions: £25.50 (£22.95 online). Entry is free for under 3’s and carers (with proof).
We were greeted by friendly staff on arrival and we hopped on the first ride of the day- the land train!
Scary Clowns
We arrived at the train station to this sight of scary clowns! Some of us in our family were definitely more scared than others but it was all good spooky, Halloween fun.
Bob Sleigh
As well as the special Spooktacular attractions we also wanted to go on all of our traditional favourite family rides, starting off with the Bob Sleigh. It’s such good fun (although I never really like the “going up” part) but it’s all worth it as the sledge hurtles down the track. Over 8’s can ride alone, but as you can see from the photo, it’s fun to pair up with an older sibling too.
Megafobia
Now, I like to go on the rides in a certain order to build up my fear factor (which is constantly decreasing since having kids!). Ideally I’d ride Treetops Rollercoaster first, followed by the Pirate Ship and then onto Megafobia and Speed. Megafobia is our older kids favourite ride so as soon as they spotted it they had to run to the ride and they went on it a few times over the course of the day.
Megafobia is a wooden roller-coaster renowned by roller-coaster enthusiasts over the world (at one point it held the impressive “best wooden roller-coaster in the world” accolade).
Sit at the front to fully experience the drop and enjoy this creaky, bone shaker of a ride. Remember it goes faster on a rainy day!
Speed
Bar Vertigo, I would say Speed is Oakwood’s scariest ride. I find the ascent most terrifying, my belly leaps out as we descend the beyond vertical drop and then I can finally relax and enjoy the plunge, loops, rolls and twists on the fastest ride in Wales.
The Pirate Ship
The Pirate Ship is a great family ride. If you love the feeling you get in your belly when you go really high on the swings, you’ll love this. It makes me feel really weak!
Half rides are usually available on the hour for younger children but ask on the day if you’re not sure.
Target Air Rifle
The kids always enjoy the Target Air Rifle practice too. They paid £5 for 20 shots each.
Caitlyn even got to wear a “pirate eye patch”! As you can see they were deep in concentration.
They all hit their targets. While we were in the covered “Go Sport” area it poured with rain. Luckily these showers passed and once we were outdoors it was dry again so we picked the perfect time to do an indoor activity. There is also a huge indoor play area and arcade area if it rains during your visit.
Treetops Rollercoaster
Treetops was Izzy’s favourite ride of the day (you can’t see her but she’s sat next to Dave in the photo). It’s a great roller-coaster suitable for all the family. Set in the treetops, you’ll twist, bend and drop through the tree canopy – keep your head and arms in at all times!
Spooky Street
A walk around Spooky Street is a must this Halloween Half Term. There are lots of pumpkins and spooky things to see.
Pumpkin Trail
During Spooktacular, there is a Pumpkin Trail. Register between 11.15- 11.45 in Spooky Street.
Here, you will find The Creepy Crawler, Spooky 3D, Witches Brew (teacups) and the Cauldons (trampolines). I love how this area has been spookified since we last visited it.
The three main Spooktacular Attractions, Witch Hunt, Hide Run and Clowning Around are on at particular times of the day. This information will be on your welcome map so keep an eye on the time so you get to take part in them all.
Witch Hunt
Witch Hunt, is a live-action scare maze. It was recently awarded the ‘Best out of season attraction’ at this year’s iconic SCARE Awards, which celebrate the very best in the scare industry. This attraction is the first of its kind in Wales – it features live actors and strobe lighting as thrill seekers are taken on a terrifying experience through a dark, disorientating maze filled with a range of frightening creatures and characters along the way.
I’m terrified of live action walk-throughs. I still haven’t fully recovered from Pasaje Del Terror in Blackpool and I went on that years ago! I also like to watch rides before I decide to go on them and of course you can’t take a peek at these rides. But I went on this and it was good fun. A lady we’d never met before ended up going ahead of us and I thought she was so brave as she had to find the way and encountered most of the “surprises” for us, bless her! I could not have done that but going through with other people to follow was doable (I’m such a scaredy cat!).
The kids let off some energy jumping on the Cauldrons (trampolines).
James and the Giant Peach ride is now “The Creepy Crawler” and the Peach has turned into a pumpkin- how spooky! Sadly the ride wasn’t running when we were in Spooky Street but we’ll go on during our next visit.
Hide Run
Hide Run is another live action maze.
Voted our most popular Spooktacular attraction in 2017 and 2018, Hide. Run. returns with a revamped layout and challenge. This unique attraction sees participants try to evade our blood eating zombies, in a time based challenge to escape the maze. The last few years have been merely a warm up. It’s time to let the games begin…
I clearly watch too many zombie films and have been in too many huge , exhausting mazes so I convinced myself that this would be too scary for me. I honestly imagined having to run really far, being exhausted and all while being chased by zombies- terrifying! I’m glad to say that it wasn’t like that at all. It’s a theme park not a horror movie so of course there will be more fun and thrills than real blood, sweat and tears (phew!).
It was also really fun to watch. Look at Danny loving life running away from a zombie! He left the rest of the riders behind!
Here they come! Again followed by a zombie! Come on Dave and Caitlyn don’t let them get you!
Danny escapes…
Followed by Dave and Caitlyn with a chainsaw wielding zombie just behind them. It was close!
Initially I thought this would be aimed at older teens and adults but can see it’s great for families too (depending on personal zombie fear levels of course. You need to make a decision based on your own child.).
Clowning Around
Roll Up, Roll Up, the circus is in town! And the clowns cannot wait to meet you!! Step inside this world of fun but don’t get caught Clowning Around! Who doesn’t love to be entertained by the circus clowns, especially when they are as sinister and hungry as ours….
The girls didn’t fancy Clowning Around (IT posters have a lot to answer for!) so Dave and Danny braved the clowns alone. It sounded like quite an energetic “walk through” with climbing and crawling. They came out energised and laughing so I think they enjoyed!
Back we went to Spooky Street for Spooky 3D, a ghost train ride.
Caitlyn and Izzy went on Witches Brew, a teacups ride.
Dizzy Disk
The kids spotted a new ride, Dizzy Disk so wanted a go.
It’s a bit like a pirate ship that spins- it looked fun!
Neverland
As the older kids had been on their favourite big rides and we’d completed all the Spooktacular Walk-Throughs we decided to go to Neverland so Izzy could go on lots of rides before heading home. We flew “second to the right, and straight on till morning” and we were there.
Neverland is the best place in the park for younger children and young families. However, don’t skip this out if you’ve come for thrills as you’ll also find Skull Rock, a log flume ride here (currently it’s closed but look out for it in 2020).
Take a walk through The Darling Family home. Wander through their bedroom where they dream of magic and adventure before Peter Pan brings magic into their lives.
The girls had fun learning to fly at Tinks Flying School”
“I’ll teach you to jump on the wind’s back, and then away we go!” A sprinkle of fairy dust and they took to the air.
We explored London’s past on a black cab ride, passing Big Ben, Nelson’s Column and the stone lions of Trafalgar Square.
So come with me, where dreams are born, and time is never planned. Just think of happy things, and your heart will fly on wings, forever, in Never Never Land.
Then we took the train back to the car park, happy and tired after a fun family day out.
There is so much to do at Oakwood Theme Park, we tried to fit in as much as we could but there is so much more we would have liked to have done and to show you. We’ll go on the water rides, such as Snake River Falls when we visit in warmer weather. It’s a fulfilling day out and well worth the money for the quality of rides and special attractions, especially this Halloween and Half Term. When you visit, I recommend you plan the rides each member of the family/group most want to go on so even if you don’t get to do everything, you’ve all been on your favourites! If you want to keep on coming back Season Passes are available too.
We brought a picnic with us during this visit but there are also food and drink facilities around the park. When we do buy food we usually go to Woody’s Burger Bar. There are also toilet facilities around the park so you never have to walk too far. Staff were friendly, welcoming and helpful at all times. We must give a special thank you to the “Spooktacular” Cast Members for making the visit so fun! Some of the rides have photo opportunities- look out for the camera symbol next to attractions on the map. There is a special offer to get unlimited digital photos of your visit for £22.50 (usually £8 each).There are also shops where you can stop and buy a souvenir.
Have you visited Oakwood Theme Park before? Will you be visiting Spooktacular?
Spooktacular: 19-20 Oct weekend and everyday during half term 26 Oct-2 Nov
Pin for later:
Read more here: https://www.evans-crittens.com/2017/07/oakwood-theme-park-review-competition.html
Never been to this theme park – hope to soon
Looks like a great fun family day out. I especially like the look of the live action mazes.
The Bobsleighs my fave
Megafobia looks great fun !
Love rollercoaster rides
Lots of activities for all ages