The tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world...
...12 years ago. The Pepsi Max Big One was one of the first Hyper Coasters in the world, and is probably still recognized, 12 years later, by the general UK public as the world's tallest roller coaster. At just over 210ft tall, it is still a monster, even by today's standards. No matter how rough it is, how dull the layout is, and how little airtime you get, one thing still shines through - this is one amazing experience - an experience amplified if ridden at night.
The construction of the Big One took sixteen months in total. The 2,600-tonne coaster was built in sections in nearby Bolton and stored at Blackpool Airport before it was erected. the Airport is the largest open space near to the Pleasure Beach where it could be stored! As it's near the seafront and exposed to the lovely Blackpool weather, five coats of paint give it all the protection it needs. The £12 million investment proved to be a good gamble as the Big One produced a 25% increase in turnover in it's first season of operation!
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Reviews & Comments
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Force Factor Average Member Rating Out of Ten
Actual Rating: 8.175
Members Who Have Been on and Rated The Big One: (63) Ratings in Brackets
I am sick of people saying this ride is 'over-rated' or commenting that it is a poor ride. This coaster, along with Nemesis at AT are the trademark coasters for Britain. There aren't many people in this Nation who haven't heard of the 'Worlds tallest, fastest roller coaster.' Sure, the ride has lost its records to bigger rides, but that doesnt make it any worse than when it had that crown. Its still a fast, peppy and visually stunning ride steeped in history (it made way for other coasters built in the States and started the race to build the biggest coaster in parks like Cedar Point) and no matter what people say about it, the Big One will always be the most famous rollercoaster in Britain. We should all be proud of that.
Jubby
Posts: 17 Location:
This ride is well over rated and realy expensive, i do like it but its way two long, maybee it should have being a drop
Adrenline-Junkie
Posts: 4 Location: Kettering, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom
I agree with coastermac.. this is the only hypercoaster ive ever been on, and its fab... It wud b abit betta if it was a stright drop rather than 1 that twists, bt its still a great ride.. 8/10
coastermac
Posts: 18 Location: Ye olde York
Love it, probably because it's my first hypercoaster, but still a terrifying first drop. Great ride.
MsIsly
Posts: 130 Location: In heaven, obviously not...
I love the curve and the big dipper cross over!
no1 dragster fan
Posts: 0 Location:
you get an absolutely fantastic rush on the first drop and then it get's quite boring.
DjTommyB
Posts: 1399 Location: Lincolnshire
I actually quite liked this ride!
divvie_dave
Posts: 238 Location: St. Neots, Cambs
Its a "alright" ride, other than the first drop, theres nothing that spectacular here. Especially after riding other coasters out there, this ride is just tall, thats all it has going for it.,Dave
Griffonfreak!
Posts: 21 Location: Virginia,USA
WOW!
broken_scars
Posts: 10 Location:
loved it!
oblivionAT64
Posts: 40 Location: Stoke-On-Trent UK
Awesome ride but i amost fell otu of it :S lol
thesnail
Posts: 2 Location:
This is a great ride. I went on it twice yesterday and both were intense.
It broke down at the very end on my second go so I had to wait ages for them
to fix the lap bars.
matty cooke
Posts: 0 Location:
wat a fat ride the best and highest ive been on.
vaugc002
Posts: 25 Location:
always wanted to ride, but still haven't managed too, looks good for the uk lol
the mean bean
Posts: 48 Location: a chair
Very overrated, no air whatsoever, a boring layout and grumpy ride ops. It does have good points though, a few headchoppers, blinding speed and the feeling of "Oh God this is high" on the lift hill. The ride ops really do need some training, I was sat next to an empty seat and the op leaft the seat belt open so down the drop the buckle slapped me in the chin.
*Mittens*
Posts: 2 Location: Bucks/Berks, UK
i was a fearless kid 'coz i went on this when i was like 8 or 10 and sat at the front with my arms up...now over 10 yrs later im abit more anxious but i cant wait to go back on it and go on it again! you never forget that first drop though...its insane!
A-Kid
Posts: 2231 Location: West Sussex
I give it a 8/10. Really bumpy and hurt my back. Still, it was fun.
the_big_bad_onion
Posts: 0 Location:
been on this a few times over the years, its always a must if you're going to Blackpool. But i find after the first drop it just slows right down and becomes average, which is a shame because it could have been so much more, and is probably the most famous of any British coaster
Dom
Posts: 504 Location: York
First time round, it was pretty good, great views for miles around, getting up 200 ft and feeling the wind, then twisting down and great speed at the bottom of the first drop, the wind in your face, fab. First hill, I got no air which was disappointing, but speed picks up again before the turnaround, and the two forceful hills before the MCBR are good. Great finale, and coming up into the break run, you get a shake and get thrown to one side. 8, being generous.
Rush
Posts: 1150 Location: Reading
I actually found it quite fun, the drop is ace and although the layout is pretty bad, it's filled with head choppers and it vibrates a lot. The helix is utter toss though.
big-one27
Posts: 20 Location: Barnsley, England
10/10 my favourite rollercoaster in europe but not my fave in the world, it could have more airtime and that would be awsome, but the hangtime on the front seat is pretty funny/scary
chris10218
Posts: 0 Location:
10/10 I THINK BEST IVE BEEN ON
pmbo99
Posts: 0 Location:
good ride, i like the roughness and the track layout 8/10
scotlandrulz
Posts: 521 Location: Stirling, Scotland
first drop was good but after that the ride is boring as hell. did not feel any airtime at all on first drop and i was at the back. a boring layout let's it down. 6/10
Furious baco
Posts: 52 Location:
great ride. The first drop is brilliant and a little scary but once you have been down it the ride is fine.
Bethii.
Posts: 0 Location:
Best ride.
utd 4 lyf
Posts: 0 Location:
great ride best ride at blackpool by far
Gefferson
Posts: 5 Location: UK
This is a ride i would really like to go.
dan_da_man
Posts: 10 Location:
Without doubt the best coaster at Blackpool Awsome first drop
CoasterKing
Posts: 264 Location: Barrow-In-Furness, Cumbria
REVIEW- The Big One really is an ironic coaster, primally because it is the first coaster you are likely to think of when the words 'Pleasure Beach' are even mentioned. It is also the first coaster you will see often from a large distance from the park. The ride really isn't as scary as people make out, it is just very tall. As you approach the ride, you might tell yourself 'NO WAY!' but trust me, no trip to Pleasure Beach is complete without a ride on the Big One, so drag yourself into the queue past the turnstile! I have to admit that whilst in the queueline for my very first go on the ride, I was indeed crapping myself- who wouldn't!! But it all comes out ok in the end. After a while of fiddling around trying to fit your belt to to right size, you and your shiny silver arrow train are off, dipping a little and making a right turn into the famous giant Pepsi Max can which is lit with strobe lights. Then you hit the 200ft climb to the skies. I have to agree in saying the lift hill really is tense and the fact it is taken at a achingly slow pace doesn't help either- all you can do is sit and wait for the dreadded top to come. When it does, you have a brief second to look out over the promenade or beach (I wouldn't reccomend looking down at the drop) before the train catapults at top speed, jolting sideways then falling downwards. The first drop IS ferocious and offers a strange sensation in the stomach. The G's also become negative for a few brief moments. The rest of the ride is based upon fairly tame but high-speed traingle topped hills and slowly taken helixes before the ending which is a cool dive underground before hitting the breakrun. One downside to the ride is the use in trim breaks, which are so powerful they almost stop the train before a strangely slow helix which offers nothing but the feeling you are going to tip right out of the car. Other than that the rest of the ride is OK, but it is merely the first drop which deserves credit on this ride. That drop alone is what makes the Big One so ironic. I would deffinatley reccomend a ride on this if you haven't already so, if only for the first drop. The first time you go on it you will probably find it extremely scary, but afterwards you will want to re-ride and it becomes obvious the ride isn't so bad after all.
zpbbre
Posts: 0 Location:
Great first drop makes up for an average ride overall
m3
Posts: 22 Location: England
i love this ride. one of the best i've ever been on
*vIcKi*C*
Posts: 0 Location:
Not gonna Lie. It took some guts for me to get on this ride. But it was an A+++! A total Adrenaline rush going through the pepsi can and going up the hill. It was also suprisingly fast getting up the hill. And i was sat at the front so i was slowly edged over the edge. And what a heart stopper!
Shawzee
Posts: 14 Location: Middlesbrough. Uk
Adore this ride, best at the plesure beach by far! The first drop is worth 10 by itelf
Dj Rellik
Posts: 0 Location:
This coaster is immense. would be better if some loops were added in2 it.
MegasusLikesBigCoasters
Posts: 0 Location:
This ride was not as good as i thought , without the first drop the ride is nothing . It was fast though and had a couple of other cool drops . *7*
Patrick
Posts: 1613 Location: Leicestershire, England
This was average, Rough and didn't give airtime. But I still rate it a 7, Because it was great looking over the top 200 ft up.
Fishy
Posts: 16 Location:
Great ride, Not as ood as Goliath at La Ronde, Well thats a B&M. But great ride, Not much airtime but brilliant still. 8/10
rollgeek2020
Posts: 8 Location: northallerton uk
love it coz it fun and it speed
Stealth.thorpe
Posts: 1007 Location: Shenley Brook End, MK
Has a good first drop, but it's fairly boring and dull after the drop, also it hurts when your restraints are pulled down even a tiny bit too much, bruised legs to show for after that. 7/10
airbabe101
Posts: 1007 Location: Shenley Brook End, MK
Amazing, the view from the top was great, the drop was great, first time it almost didn't make it over the first hill, soaring through the helix looking over people, then back down past infusion. The bit running to the small break run is far too rough for me, nicely gathers speed again and ends lovely.
nemmie
Posts: 0 Location:
Has no airtime but first drop is great. Only been on it once sat at the back
Jewls1993
Posts: 475 Location: Ipswich
Vibraty and High=good fun!
themepark_sonic
Posts: 422 Location:
Its overated if you ask me. Theres little airtime. The first drop is great but after that theres nothing that amazing. It still a good ride but overated
buzoo
Posts: 19 Location: Hove, UK
Originally i was just having a browse on this site for my pending visit to USA in june - but was absolutly horrified that this ride was so low in the rankings - i had to sign up and post a comment. It has to be one of the longest rides in good ol' Blighty and is a non-stop thrill throughout. a Classic!
rollermonkey
Posts: 22 Location: Yokosuka, Japan
The back row's the place to be on the first drop, no matter how many times they retool and reprofile it. After that? Well, it was decent when I rode for the first time some 6 years ago, but awfully boring when I got back last summer.
Steven
Posts: 671 Location: Nr Brighton
Totaly unique ride. Second best on my list. Brilliant in pitch blackness all ride and park lights turned off except the red ones and the one which show you how to get out of the park. (Last ride of the night very back row) I'm a lucky git :twisted:
Pierre
Posts: 2898 Location: Middlesbrough LIKE
It was running like a dream when I rode it this year, lets hope it keeps up.
~
Posts: 2 Location: in a bin duhh
This ride is so good that i have to go on it 6 times everytime i go.Personally i think that the first drop seems really slow but actually its goin fast you don't feel the speed of it
