This morning I was lucky enough to experience Icon alongside other invited guests and VIP boarding pass holders prior to the official opening this Friday.
It's fair to say that I was ecstatic upon finishing the ride.
Firstly, the entrance plaza, queue line and station are very well done. They provide excellent views of the coaster and the audio quality inside the station is top class. We were each limited to only a single ride, I ended up sitting in row 2.
The launches are what you would expect from a Mack coaster, not as forceful as an Intamin; fortunately that's where the bad news ends.
The ride delivers from beginning to end, it has ejector airtime, floater airtime, hangtime, some good positive G Forces and plenty of snappy transitions, many of which fling you from side to side during airtime.
Highlights include the first hill, which provided some amazing ejector air at the front of the train, the heartline roll (made all the better by those great Mack lap restraints) and also the stengel dive which is taken at a really high speed.
There ride is also nice and long, it doesn't feel over too quickly.
Overall, a thoroughly amazing coaster! I found myself screaming "Wow" and "Yes" many times throughout the layout. Only one other coaster has ever done this for me.
If you are ever anywhere near Blackpool Pleasure Beach, get to the park and ride ICON!