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Good news - definitely will be going on the Friday. I wonder how many people will be trying to get last in the queue at 8pm to try and get a night ride 😆

10am-8pm opening now confirmed for 24th & 25th May.

And we have some new POVS of the almost complete (and updated) Alpen Express & Wildwasserbahn. I can pinpoint the start and the end of where the Diamond Mine used to be in the Alpen video. it still isn’t complete, but what they have done is still astounding, especially when a park on the edge of Greater London still has a similar ride SBNO.

They've confirmed tonight it'll be testing for the first time next week. Also, this below suggests we're getting extending opening hours for opening day/weekend which would be nice.

Wonder how much someone could claim if that went wrong... Unsure. We can see during the human rider video that there's still one train on the track. But that doesn't mean they haven't switched and cycled out. I believe the park said on their passholder group that the tops just came loose; these things happen. Equally, it is also just a great way to empty them haha

Great news. I was wondering if anyone knew if the second train has tested yet? Also I've seen some videos of the trains going around with the water dummies 'open', letting all the water come out around the circuit. Does anyone know what would be the purpose of this? I'm assuming simply that it's easier to empty the water this way than take the dummy out of the seat and tip it over! But wondered if there was another reason?

Will be part of the testing process. Look like important staff people. Probably aiming to stick their arms out to make sure the reach envelope is good.

Wow that’s really good to hear for an off peak day. I assume this is all in prep for the onslaught for the rest of the year when Hyperia opens? I’m assuming some of these staff will go to that now that they’ve done some similar work on the other rides? Things are really looking up at Thorpe

Night time POV Looks insane, will easily be the best coaster on park now

Hyperia has had its first riders today - didn't expect that!

It’s the starting section of the film and the bit with the race where they figure out they have to drive backwards to win. It’s not especially long and rather underwhelming in my opinion. The effects don’t seem thoroughly thought out, it’s a lot of there’s this action so play the same effect we did last time, if that makes sense…

Another park I'd never visited was Flamingoland, so I visited on Friday for the first time. Where I can, I always try to visit theme parks when they're quiet so I've seen a lot of quiet theme parks (BPB the day before for example) but never have I ever seen a park so dead before. According to staff, there was less than 100 people on park? It honestly felt like there was more staff than guests on park. Most of the rides I had on Sik I had the train to myself. I only got my ticket the day before as it was a last minute visit, but this cost me £56. I believe if you book over 7 days in advance its £44.50, pricey for a UK theme park. First impressions of the park were good, it looked fairly well kept and it was actually much bigger than I expected. The park was open 10-5, and the only advertised closure was Flip Flop, however this actually opened for the first time this season which was a nice surprise. Was running terribly though, long cycle but was hardly reaching 90 degrees. Certainly didn't have that KMG power. I'll list the main coasters in the order I rated them worst to best; 5. Hero - Had already done one of these at Prater Vienna so I knew exactly what to expect. Nothing else needs to be said. 4. Velocity - Heard a lot of good things about this but I really didn't enjoy it, found the restraints to be really uncomfy. Punchy launch but I was in pain for most of the layout so didn't particularly enjoy this. 3. Mumbo Jumbo - Always been a fan of S&S Flats so was nice to finally give one of there coasters a go. Its a solid coaster, although them restraints were fine on Slammer they aren't the best on a coaster like this but it's still a fun coaster and I didn't find it to be particularly uncomfy. 2. Kumali - After finally getting to ride as I needed to wait for a minimum of 6 to ride definitely the best SLC I've done. Some really good force in places and is really impressive to look at, and not as rough as the others I've done. Unfortunately the staff were only letting us sit near the front so didn't get a chance to sit anywhere near the back. 1. Sik - I've always had a soft spot for Colossus, so I've been really wanting to get on this to see how it compares. It's really good fun, definitely feels much quicker than Colossus. They've also finished it off really well, it looks good off ride and the station is great. Its even got a single rider queue and pre loading information screens. The only thing I didn't like about it is the heartline rolls with them restraints, they really dig into your thighs. Intamins new lap bar trains are much better. I had some lunch which was reasonably priced and good quality and a walk around the zoo which was nice, and there was also a couple of flats I particularly wanted to get on. I heard Pterodactyl was particularly intense, and even though I've done one more than double the height in Vienna this was more intense. It was very windy so I'm surprised it was even operating to be honest. Cliff Hanger was another one I'd heard good things about. It was nothing special, although it was only running on 'shot' setting so didn't get a drop on it. I'm more of a fan of drop towers myself so that was a shame. After getting on everything I wanted to get on multiple times, I went back to Sik for some re-rides and left the park before 2pm, much earlier than planned but had a long drive ahead and had done everything I wanted. Overall it's a nice park, with a good selection of coasters, flats and a good zoo. I just can't believe they have the park open daily 10 - 5, with every ride fully staffed for there to be less than 100 people on park. Whilst walking round the zoo I saw a peter rabbit character standing around with a few staff for a meet and greet, not 1 person had turned up to it. Some rides I didn't see a single rider on the whole time I was there. Doesn't seem viable for them to be open on these days but can't complain!

Yeah its good to see them well prepared. Meanwhile Chessington can't even open all of their rides on a weekday 😆

Question about the 4d experience, is it a new film or just the movie shortened down? Curious as its opened and theres been minimal buzz about it

Honestly that's great to hear there's more staff. More hosts normally mean faster operations.

Had my first visit this season yesterday. Everything open expect rumba which was a planned closure. Ops were brilliant for an off peak weekday. All major coasters on 2 trains. They seemed really overstaffed. I guess they no longer staff for peak/off peak but it just seemed really excessive? - 4+ staff checking restraints on Colossus and Inferno + staff batching even though they were struggling to fill the trains most of the day - Vortex, Samurai and Detty had 3 hosts - Staff at all the coasters merge points even though they didn't have queues all day Was great to see some Hyperia testing in the afternoon too!

Saw it today folded up down the side of the ride, so I imagine that'll put it back on soon. Was running well today. Anyone know why they continuously cycle it empty when they don't have the minimum of 15 people to ride? Never seen them do that before.

I think I've mentioned this before but I would love them to get rid of all the beach area and Storm Surge and build a new coaster in this place. Have it so when you walk out of the dome you pass under a zero-g roll or something like that; Gatekeeper style. I know it's a total Planet Coaster feeling idea but I think it would be great 😂

I have a monthly one for £20.99 which started Aug last year. I took a year off from parks the year prior and before that I had a Merlin pass since 2013 - started with Merlin Membership standard pass then they phased out the pay monthly ones so I moved to Platinum. The year before I took a break I had a Gold annual pass which never scanned and was a pain at Thorpes turnstiles. I now have platinum pay monthly and when I’m out of my contract I will either move to a Gold monthly pass or take some more time off. Back in 2002/2003 I had a Tussauds off peak 2 park pass for Chessie and Thorpe on off peak days - cost £35 and got a lot of use out of it. I live in Surrey so am only about 25 miles from Thorpe, Lego and Chessie but don’t actually visit a huge amount currently

Best new Mack coaster of 2024 POV.

I think some new flat rides would be a great idea, especially as they work well to support the coasters and some are no doubt coming towards their end of their lives. Vortex & Detonator will be 25 in a couple years. Another new coaster in the future would be great, but maybe in a number of years when Hyperia settles in. A modern water ride could work too. Put it where the beach and depth charge are or maybe as a replacement for Rumba. A dark ride doesn’t seem a necessity really especially given the park’s current identity and how disastrous the Ghost Train has been.

Might as well continue that red area to bin off the beach and Depth Charge. That area could definitely be used as an entertainments hub almost and the proximity to the 'hotel' would allow for some overnight stuff to occur outside in the summer. No doubt some of the flats will be coming to end of life soon. But much like Towers an actual replacement for Loggers wouldn't go amiss. Chiapas for all! Or they replace Rumba with the nonsense Bellwaerde have recently opened.

I agree with what's been said really - a new flat of some sort on Slammer's site would be great. A dark ride to replace the stupid Ghost Train would be good too. I understand the shop in there (which is brand new) is now empty? I wonder if it's flopping (again)... Ghost Train replacement might be on the cards at some point? I guess it depends on how the numbers look when Hyperia opens. Coasters really are the crowd-pleasers for Thorpe, so maybe another coaster in the next 4 years? There's plenty of space for one over on the very expensive bit of land they created behind Stealth ages ago! However, what I'd REALLY like to see! Personally, in the longer-term, I'd like to see Walking Dead and the entire pyramid building disappear, along with Slammer, the megastore and Storm Surge. That would clear a lot of tacky dated crap from the centre of the park, for a pretty big ride and central area there. I think it would make a nice central plaza with either a coaster or a big water ride, with shops/restaurants. Whatever happens, I think we will see some serious investment across Merlin over the next few years if Universal gets the go ahead. They're already investing heavily in Thorpe (finally) with all the sparkle improvements and Hyperia. With the new brand they've also promised a vibrant new future, so hopefully this is a sign of great things to come.

Would love to see a new flat on Slammer’s site next year. I expect with Hyperia being right next to Slammer they’d want to do something soon with that area to compliment it.

They've confirmed Slammer is being removed this closed reason - what are the chances we get a new flat ride there? Or do you reckon we're getting a new picnic area? Would love for them to get a new modern water ride. Get rid of Rumba. Worst rapids in the UK by a mile. Can't really see that happening though unfortunately. I personally don't think we'll see another dark ride until they finally decide to sack off the ghost train and use that building. But who knows. I really hope we're past the days of permanent scare attractions and actor led experiences 🤞