ECC Trips
From time to time during the year, members of the European Coaster Club are invited to participate in trips to ride roller coasters and other thrill rides all over England and the rest of Europe.
A trip will normally spend one or more days at a park and include food and at least one ERS (Exclusive Ride Session, where a ride is given over for a period, usually an hour, for the exclusive use of ECC trip-goers). Sometimes, some "extras" can also be arranged, such as a "behind the scenes" tour. The detailed trip invitations (issued a few weeks before the trip) explain what each trip includes.
On this page you will find reports written by Club members about trips they have enjoyed and information about forthcoming Club events. If you like what you read why not join the European Coaster Club now and you'll be invited along to the next Club trip!
As usual, all ECC members will receive detailed printed invitations to all Club events by post, but if you have any questions about Club trips or suggestions for future events, please email the trips team
Of course, all the trip photos are available in the Photo Gallery
Future Trips
If you're interested in what trips we are planning for the future, please see our Future Trips Schedule where we list all our planned trips, no matter what their status.
South Korea & Japan 2009
5 - 20 September 2009
After the hugely successful 2005 trip to Japan, it was only a matter of time before we returned. We wanted to visit the south of Japan, and in doing so we realised it would make sense to include parks in South Korea. This includes Everland, which is home to T Express, the Intamin coaster that recently topped the Internet Wooden Coaster Poll. In Japan we'll hit a lot of parks that weren't on the 2005 trip, plus just a few that were.
Invites and Application forms for this trip have been emailed to the PDF list and will be included with the next issue of First Drop. You can also download a copy from the PDF Library.
Deadline for applications: Friday 20th March 2009
Daily Trip Reports
Italy 2009
Saturday 18 - Wednesday 22 July 2009
With so much happening in mainland Europe right now, we've decided this year to do a small trip to Italy in the same year as the big South Korea/Japan trip. The trip will take in three parks, and two of the ever-popular alpine coasters.
Park-wise we'll go to Movieland, that is now home to Europe's only original Intamin Freefall ride – see FD81 for more on this ride. Gardaland is now home to a new Vekoma mine train, on top of its large selection of other coasters. Finally there's Mirabilandia, which for 2009 is adding a large Intamin multi-looping Rocket Coaster. All told there are some great new rides in Italy, making it a very interesting destination in 2009.
Invites and Application forms for this trip have been emailed to the PDF list and will be included with the next issue of First Drop. You can also download a copy from the PDF Library.
Trip reports
Thorpe Park 2009
Friday 4th September
Another FREE trip to Thorpe Park!! We will be able to enjoy a end-of-day ERS on Saw-The Ride. Just book your place with us, get yourself into the park, and enjoy the ERS for free!
Application forms for this trip were sent out with First Drop 84 and must be returned by Friday 28th August.
Ghouls and Ghosters 2009
Saturday 24th October
Our third annual Halloween trip will take place at Alton Tower's Scarefest. The following will be included in the trip price:
- Use of Towers Suite all day. (With a bar if required......!!)
- Join Hotel guests during Early Ride Time from 9am until 10am.
- Q and A session with Scarefest organiser.
- Meet the Terror of the Towers actors during an exclusive photo session.
- Buffet lunch in the Towers Suite.
- 1 hour Scare School. Learn how to become a scare actor.
- Group entry to at least one pay-extra maze.
- Enjoy the park until 9pm.
Application forms for this trip were sent out with First Drop 84 and must be returned by Friday 16th October.
Oakwood Overnighter 11
Friday 31st July - Sunday 2nd August
For this year’s Oakwood Overnighter we have managed to bring back an old favourite - the Hydro ERS. We had to stop this a few years ago due to its opening in the afternoon, but the park has agreed to get it ready for us in the morning. To make the ERS more memorable, and who can forget those in 2003 and 2005, we will be awarding a prize for whoever dresses in the most "interesting" way for the ERS.
For those new to the Club and the event, the trip is called the “Oakwood Overnighter” because those who are willing to can camp in the park itself. We create a full camp site (with toilets, water, lights and a large screen video) on a field within the park. This means that you don’t have to seek out accommodations after a potentially long drive down.
Photo gallery
Flamingo Land 2009
Saturday 10 October 2009
It seems that no year goes by without Flamingo Land adding a new ride of some sort, and 2009 is no exception. Since our last trip to the park in 2005, three more roller coasters have debuted, including this year the record breaking Mumbo Jumbo.
To this end we will be having an Exclusive Ride Session (ERS) on two of these new coasters: Kumali, the 2006 Vekoma Suspended Looping Coaster, as well of course as Mumbo Jumbo.
We have also arranged a meal at the park’s Pizza/Pasta buffet, where we can all get together during our day at the park.
It should be a great day out at a park that is not afraid to invest regularly in new coasters, something that it deserves to be praised for and therefore supported by every one of us. We look forward to seeing many of you there in October.
Trip photos
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