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Team Blog

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A Californian Trip - Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

As some of you may know, I've been over in California for two weeks embracing the west coast. In that time Chris and I visited five new theme parks and went on some of the most well known rides out there. So to start off with; Six Flags Discovery Kingdom I don’t know many people that have been to this park so for me, it would live or die based on how my trip was to go. The day started relatively badly. A heavy hangover from the Eurovision celebrating the night before meant some hangover c
  • Mark9

Drop it like it's hot.

In 2012, I was assigned to write a feature for Colossus's tenth birthday. The article itself was my best work if I don't say so myself. It was my intention that I would be able to do a similar piece when it came to 2003's blisteringly hot but underwhelmingly* tepid Nemesis Inferno in 2013. But this did not happen. No matter what I wrote, constructed or thought about, inspiration abandoned me and I just couldn't put together a piece that would do Inferno justice. And the problem comes down to one
  • Mark9

2013 - A Retrospective

2013 has not been the grandest years for theme parks in the country, more like a cheap table wine that you pick up for cheap at Tescos. From obvious budget cuts and rides standing but not operating for an entire year at Chessington too The Smiler trying to throw everything and the kitchen sink at passers by, it is clear that the Uk industry has stagnated somewhat in 2013. And yet, shockingly and surprisingly, despite not adding anything substantial, Thorpe Park has come out as the clear winn
  • Mark9

Closed Season Part 2

Italy   With the exception of Gardaland, Italy is a relative unknown in the rollercoaster world. Despite the country containing two of the best rollercoasters in Europe, its relative distance from the UK and distance between parks always means Italy is a difficult nut to crack. Baring in mind, I last did a theme park road trip there in 2011 and the developments that have occurred in the last five years, there is now, no reason not to visit this fantastic country.   We started
  • Mark9

Here's the... 'thing'... with Inferno.

Thorpe Park's fiery B&M inverted Coaster débuted at the park in 2003, setting alight Thorpe Park's reputation as a haven for thrill-seekers around the country, alerting anyone who'd listen that Alton Towers had a new rival in the world of boundary-bulging thrill ride technologies. First came the record-breaking Colossus, but the year after saw a far darker, more ominous figure emerge out of the tropical undergrowth of Calypso Quay... Of course, with the ten year mark creeping it's way into v

2014:- A Mark9 love affair.

So another year passes and it only seems right to look back on 12 months of fun, thrills and excitement, in a way that only Mark9 can. So where do we start? January 2014 - Disneyland Paris Ok, sure, this trip only featured one new ride (Peter Pans Flight fact fans) but it also marked the occasion where I somehow managed 42 hours of consciousness, the trip where I took a nap during cinemagique and where Jamie fell asleep eating food in Hyperion. Yes there was fatigue and short tempers but it wa
  • Mark9

Glitz and Glamour

Yes I know what you're thinking, another Europa Park/Disneyland Paris trip report from Mark9. I was blown away by Europa Park in 2010 and 2013 and surely this trip can't be any different. And how could I possibly compete with the three blog wonder of Matt Creek's comprehensive Disneyland trip reports. Well... this is a report with a little bit of difference (Or at least I hope so, this is all on the fly so might just end up me complimenting every aspect of Europa Park). Nonetheless, I hope this
  • Mark9

Nemesis Inferno 10th Birthday Celebration ERT Event

It's been a long time coming, but then you have been getting a lot of trips recently However FINALLY the Trip report Part 1 of 5 for the Nemesis Inferno ERT event has come to hit a web page near you! On our 7th Adventure of the year - I wonder what new stories will come about and old stories that make a slight return...... THORPE PARK know we hold events so they have so kindly made a sign for us for a meeting point To Start this event off J.S217 would like to say Hi We start off this
  • AJ

The Official TPM Chessington Meet

Hello all you TPM Explorers as we take you down into the magical Chessington where many stories and memories were formed for Part 1 of 5 of the official trip report. It was a fantastic day and it was so lovely to see all the new faces and I have to say probably one of the nicest crowds we have had so far this year. Thank you for your patience whilst I've been slaving away at the office, so without further ado, it's what a few of you have all been waiting for - The Official Chessington Trip Re
  • AJ

Oh Blast..

Some rides hit you right in the gut with their immediacy in impressing you. Over the years I've done countless rides and things like The Hollywood Hotel Tower of Terror or Katun will give that immediate buzz from the get go. From ride to ride, you come away with the immense feeling of doing something at the top of the tree. Some rides take a little longer; it's why I never judge a ride solely on the first go. On this list are things like Rush, Thirteen and one that is rapidly becoming one of m
  • Mark9

2015- A look back

If 2014 was a year with new rollercoasters left, right and centre, then 2015 was like returning to old friends and sharing a big hug. This was a first for me. Not a single new park in 2015 and only two rollercoasters to my name. Why was this? I wish I knew but my priorities seemed to be tried and tested parks rather then venturing out into the unknown in a quest too boost a coaster count. To start the year, it took till May to visit my first theme park of the year; the amazing Europa Park. We a
  • Mark9

Phantasialand in October

It's been a long 14 years since my first trip to Phantasialand and despite my love affair with the park when I visited in 2006, It hadn't been a park on my radar to revisit. All it took though was a read of Benin's August trip report, some willing volunteers with the cash and just like that, it was off to Germany. For those that have never been, getting to the park is as easy as pie and incredibly cheap. I heartedly recommend it, despite having to fly on Easyjet at 7:05 in the morning as the tra
  • Mark9

Official TPM Alton Towers Trip

Once upon a time a couple of months ago, TPM ventured to the outer whelms of the Northern Hemisphere to an alien species where people's speak a different accent in a land named Alton Towers. There was much excitement and amazement that these Maniacs were for the first time ever having an official overnight stay. So what adventures and situations will we see unfold in the upcoming 5 part adventure? It's 10th episode you know On Arrival TPM came across this huge mansion - where it was decided
  • AJ

Why 2003 will always remain Thorpe Park's best ever season.

In 2012, Thorpe Park is a maelstrom. It is a giant, it is a behemoth it is, put it simply a hit. Seated within its small grounds lies coaster after coaster and some of the most well known flat rides around. Top scans, Afterburners, giant swings, drop towers, sky swats. It even has some pretty nifty water rides in Loggers Leap and Tidal Wave. The Swarm surely secures Thorpe Park at the very top of the theme park tree. And yet, a part of me always harkens back to the days where Colossus and Neme
  • Mark9

Closed Season Part 1

The dreaded closed season. A time when the ride games return, the silly season occurs with people making the same jokes about Colossus being repainted or Rumba being rethemed. Just be glad the Intamin aquatrax joke hasn't reared its ugly head. I like to think of closed season as a time of opportunity, a start of planning trips for 2017 and I thought I'd just put together a few blogs to maybe, inspire.   Denmark. A road trip around Denmark is surprisingly easy. Start your trip in C
  • Mark9

The Official Thorpe Park Opening Meet 2013

Right I've finished my project at work so FINALLY I can give you PART 1 of 5 of the trip report. Kudos To Phill to keep it going whilst I have been busy! There was too much choice regarding photos this time around to narrow it down to 50, which made it very difficult to choose the best one's for the TPM Adventurers story! So I hope we got a few of the best. Sorry for those I may not have included but I have tried my best. So let us begin - what will we find out in the first part of the open m
  • AJ

The Official TPM Legoland Meet

After a major delay to this wonderful world of the Legoland adventurers trip to Windsor from work/social/ and more meet reasons. Part 1 of 5 of the Official Legoland report is finally here Thank you all for your patience. So before the day begins for us to enter the world of Legoland we needed to visit Princess Cornflakes in his pink Tower After he approved us Darkadder312 needed a trip to the crazy Legoland Hotel Toilets But before the adventure could properly begin we were stopped
  • AJ

Maniacs Brave The Bloody Valentine Tour - 19/10/2013

Double, Double, Toil and Trouble, the next trip report has come, which will make your blood bubble. But what tales will unfold as some of you grow stubble, well come on sit down before you get a nubble Camera, Set, Action! For the TPM Crew: Pumpkin Man, Peaj, TNJonny, StevenVig, James & Co, Ryan, Mr. Fish, Han30, J.S217 & ScaryCoasterBoy Plus this will be the last Official Meet before this gem gets taken into the movie land of the Angry Birds The Queue Line's await and du
  • AJ

Disneyland Paris, Day 1. A Mark9 perspective.

Qui a besoin du monde, quand tout ce que vous avez besoin est une terre When choosing the trips for 2013 there was two that were outright yes's and two that came about quite by chance. Disneyland Paris was not an all and all winner, in fact Chris and I were putting off Disney until our California trip next May. However with Disney extending their 20th Anniversary celebrations and with Chris feeling a little Disney craving, we decided to go for Paris even with no Ratatouille. After a speedy 2 an
  • Mark9

Liseberg - A Mark9 perspective.

To break up the flow of Benin Germany trip reports ( ), I've written a little something about my trip to Liseberg. Anyone who follows me on twitter or Facebook, probably knows what's coming. Alas, this will be a more detailed account of my trip. So I'm just going to start with, great park. It features a good selection of flat rides, a well paced fun rapids ride and a very peculiar log flume. There's not many parks which have four very re-rideable roller coasters and Liseberg arguably has thre
  • Mark9

Disneyland Paris, Day two. Into the Parc. Part One.

Having been given a breakfast slot for 9:45, we decided to skip a bit of continental and headed into the park around 9:00 instead. Seeing a main street so empty is an experience you'll rarely get so we took the opportunity to get some photos and get some coffee from one of the various outlets along Main Street. I'll never get tired of the Castle/Main Street view. LOOK AT THE THEME! We also approve of buying food and getting tickets for free coffee later in the day. One thing I really not
  • Mark9

The Official Stealth Ice Cream Photo Shoot Trip Report

TPM Maniacs - Good Day finally at long last the first part of the official Stealth Ice Cream Photoshoot has arrived! It was a nice warm summers day with lots of faces to be included who partook in the day. But enough with the 'once upon a time' malarkey! You want pictures so here they are... It was 7AM in the morning and no these mad individuals haven't got the opening time wrong - They are models, for that Stealth photo shoot... So sing it with me - 'As there is No Business Like SNOW Bus
  • AJ

25 things that are better then Tornado at Bakken

Tornado at Bakken is one of the worst rollercoasters I have ever had the misfortune of riding. It is so atrociously bad that it made me wonder what 25 things are better then it. Here is what I came up with and I hope you enjoy reading. 1. Being kicked in the testicles 2. Going to the Dentist 3. Riding Furius Baco none stop for an hour 4. Crashing your car into a wall 5. Being mugged 6. Having to endure a queueline at PortAventura 7. Driving in Italy 8. Being sick after a heavy night out
  • Mark9

Disneyland Paris - Day Three. Studios Park

Day started with a 15 minute queue for breakfast. This was slightly chaotic with hundreds of people going for breakfast at the same time, a lot of people coming an hour early and not being turned away. Wouldn't happen at Towers From there it was on to Studios Park, our first stop Crush's Coaster. We didn't arrive dead on ten so when we got to Crush, the queue was already displayed at 60 minutes. We decided to bite the bullet and just go for it. This was the only ride where we saw a queue line
  • Mark9

Disneyland Paris, Day two. Into the Parc. Part Two

Big Thunder is the quintessential family roller coaster. Mildly fast, full of variety and not too many large drops to scare kids. The general consensus is that Paris's version is the best of the four. While I can only compare to Florida, I'd go as far as agreeing with aspects of that opinion. The only real part where Paris falls down is its queue line. There seems to be various ways that the ride is run and none of them seem that great. On the first day for example, fastpass was available but th
  • Mark9

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