The Odyssey at Fantasy Island — Underrated Thrill or Over-hyped?

The facts

Before diving into opinion, the hard data on The Odyssey:

• It opened in 2002 (then known as “Jubilee Odyssey”) and was built by Vekoma with a custom Suspended Looping Coaster (SLC) layout.
• Height: 167 ft (51 m) — making it among the tallest in the UK and the tallest SLC of its kind.
• Speed: approx 62–63 mph, length around 2,924 ft, with five inversions.
• It cost £28 million — at the time, one of the most expensive coaster investments in the UK.
• The park’s own site describes it as “a truly terrifying experience … not a Skegness rollercoaster for the faint hearted!”

So: in engineering and scale terms, The Odyssey is a major ride by any UK standard. The question is: is it underrated (i.e. deserves more credit) or overrated (i.e. doesn’t live up to its potential)?

Arguments for it being underrated

1. Scale & uniqueness – Many coaster fans will admit they don’t know The Odyssey well, yet it packs serious stats: significant height, speed and five inversions. That alone makes it worthy of attention. For a seaside-park ride, that’s rare.
2. Custom layout – Unlike many SLCs which reuse standard layouts, The Odyssey’s custom design gives it something more distinct.
3. Thrill value for enthusiasts – On coaster forums you’ll find fans praising its first drop and intensity: “The first drop on Odyssey is one of my favourite elements on any coaster. So underrated.”
4. Less queue / less hype = hidden gem – Because it’s at a smaller park and perhaps overshadowed by the “big name” UK parks, it can feel like a ride you discover rather than one everyone talks about — a “secret” thrill for those in the know.

Arguments that it isn’t underrated — and perhaps over-hyped / flawed

1. Rough ride experience – One of the most common criticisms: the ride is rough, particularly by modern standards or compared to smoother coasters. For example: “Odyssey is super rough but the first drop is insane.”
   And:
   “Honestly the only good part … the whip and intensity is admittedly very good. But … It is also unforgivably rough.”
   The “unforgivably rough” is a strong phrase for a ride that wants to deliver a major thrill.
2. Inconsistency & maintenance / operation issues – Some reviews point out that the ride isn’t always open (wind closures etc) and sometimes reliability is a concern, which reduces its “day out” value. For example: “Major rides (Odyssey …) closed all day.”
3. Niche appeal – Because of its intensity and roughness, it may be less accessible to many park visitors (families, less experienced riders) which limits its broad ranking. Many theme park rankings don’t emphasise it, so while coaster enthusiasts may “get it”, general audiences might not.
4. Competition & expectations – Being a large ride in a smaller park raises expectations. If it doesn’t match the polish or smoothness of a top-tier attraction (or if the park experience overall is more fairground-style than “major theme park”), then the ride suffers by comparison. One review: “Odyssey is a head banger though.”

Our verdict

Yes — I lean towards saying The Odyssey is underrated — if you’re a coaster enthusiast, understand what to expect, and embrace intensity over comfort, it offers a strong experience that deserves more recognition. Here’s why:

• Many major UK coaster round-ups skip it or treat it as a “should do” rather than a “must do”, which I feel undervalues the sheer scale and inversion count.
• The ride’s flaws (roughness, wind sensitivity) shouldn’t completely overshadow what it does do: provide hard hits, big drops, a sizeable layout in a less-famous setting.
• For the “right rider” — someone seeking adrenaline, doesn’t mind a rough ride, comes to appreciate the layout rather than compare to the silky smooth hyper-coasters — it stands out as a worthwhile asset.

However — caveats matter. If you’re visiting with younger kids, seeking comfort, want smooth transitions, or are comparing to the very top coasters worldwide, The Odyssey may disappoint relative to those high bars. So in that sense, it’s perhaps “underrated” in the thrill-community but “over-hyped” for generic family audiences.

Tips if you ride it

• Pick morning – wind is less likely to have shut it down early.
• Brace for roughness – mind your head position, hold tight; treat it as an intense ride rather than casual fun.
• Ride in back row if possible – extra whip on the drop.
• Pair it with Millennium (in the same park) – for comparing different experiences at Fantasy Island.
• Lower expectations of comfort and polish – if you go expecting a smooth, theme-park flagship style ride, you’ll likely be frustrated. Go expecting raw intensity.

In the grand scheme of UK roller coasters, The Odyssey deserves a bit more respect than it often gets. It may not be flawless, but for the thrill-seeker who values height, speed, inversions and a little roughness for character, it qualifies as an underrated ride. For the average family visitor? It might be still “good” but not flawless — so appreciate it for what it is rather than what it isn’t.