We got to explore the Wallace and Gromit movie ride at Blackpool Pleasure Beach this past week as we take you behind the scenes of this lovable British dark ride.
Costing £5.25 million the Wallace and Gromit Thrill-O-Matic ride opened in 2013 after an extensive refurbishment of The Gold Mine dark ride which stood before it which opened in 1971 and closed in 2011.
The ride is based off the Wallace and Gromit Films and working alongside Aardman Animations (the creators of Wallace and Gromit) Blackpool Pleasure Beach conjured up a 4-minute dark ride where guests can explore scenes from the various movies.
A Grand Day Out, The Wrong Trousers, A Close Shave, The Curse of the Were-Rabbit and A Matter of Loaf and Death are all of the Wallace and Gromit movies explored within this experience as you travel through themed sets depicting iconic scenes from each movie.
The ride ends with a trip into the gift shop absolutely packed full of Wallace and Gromit merchandise including T-Shirts, Mugs, Hoodies, Keyrings and Plush Dolls.
As part of the park’s first Blackpool Pleasure Beach fan club event guests popped on hard hats and ventured into this beloved movie-themed dark ride.
What instantly stood out to me throughout this walkthrough was just how much goes underappreciated in the ride. Certain props are dimly lit due to show lighting and others are hidden completely with how the train traverses through them.
From start to finish, there were at least 10 props that I’d never even spotted before and it’s a shame that certain show conditions hide some of these quite wonderful pieces of animated movie history.
Considering the original gold mine ride was built in the 70s you’re walking through history and with narrow walkways and traversing around certain beams it was certainly a challenge to navigate, but a fun challenge!
Just cruising past these scenes in a ride vehicle (modelled after a giant slipper) you underestimate the depth of the scenes until you walk through them. There’s lots of space to walk around, take photos and really take in everything in the area and it’s only up close you can spot some hidden details and easter eggs.
Seeing a Blackpool Tower magazine on one of the sets was a nice little easter egg that no one would spot just being on the ride and passing by, the creators have put some heart and effort into the attraction.
Combined with the sound effects, lighting and even smell pods in places the ride is truly a wonderful experience but it was a unique experience entirely walking around the sets with the lights on allowing you to see just how things operate and how the experience is created.
A nice fun fact about fans being used to blow towards riders to give them the impression of them travelling faster in the dark was certainly a little snipped of information I would never have known otherwise.
Another little gem was from an old ride at the Pleasure Beach called Space Invader where the park had lots of sci-fi props delivered. One such prop was a Han Solo in carbonite model but it was rethemed with a cowboy hat to match certain western styles of theming. It was essentially Indiana Jones in Carbonite and it was simply hidden under a black cloth (after the IP expired) within the ride and is still there to this day!
After we traversed the assault course (I mean the ride layout) it was clear to see the love that has gone into this attraction. A real homage to the movies and a ride that certainly doesn’t get the love it deserves from the younger generations.
This exclusive walkthrough really hammered home a greater appreciation for the ride and others around the park. During the same event, we were able to go underneath the vintage carousel Derby Racer ride at the park and the work that goes into it. I was blown away! It’s just this added appreciation for the work the park does to keep these rides operating and thrilling guests all year round.
A ride which such prestigious British history that can be celebrated for many years to come. This new Blackpool Pleasure Beach fan club really is giving me a heightened respect for all of the rides at the park and I only wish other parks followed suit so they can be shown in a new light and experienced in a new way.
Watch the normal run-through of the ride with this Wallace and Gromit Thrill-O-Matic POV HERE
If you’d like to watch the full vlog of the behind-the-scenes Wallace and Gromit experience you can view it on our sister site Lift Hills and Thrills below. If you’re not subscribed to the channel please make sure you do so for all theme park and attraction-related content!
Find out more about the Blackpool Pleasure Beach fan club event on the official website at
https://www.blackpoolpleasurebeach.com/pleasure-beach-fan-club/
