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Showing content with the highest reputation on 01/16/22 in all areas

  1. JoshC.

    Legoland

    Now here's something out of no where: Legoland have shared a glimpse into the future, stating their intent to apply for plans for an adventure golf course, with a "new roller coaster investment" on the horizon too: https://www.windsorobserver.co.uk/news/19849032.legoland-windsor-plans-build-new-adventure-golf-course/ They're citing the potential threat of London Resort a reason for these investments: An adventure golf course will certainly add to the park and resort in a worthwhile way. I honestly think that more and more resort parks should have adventure gold courses - compared to most theme park attractions, even a good quality one is only a comparatively small investment. They are low cost in maintenance, cheap to operate in terms of staffing and you can justifiably upcharge for it. Plus, I think a Lego-themed mini golf just sounds like a great idea. The "new coaster investment" is interesting. I've heard rumblings of a B&M going to Windsor. Personally, I think that's just rumours coming from people seeing the Legolands in China and putting 2 and 2 together to get 5. And I would have laughed the idea out the window a year ago. But with Chessington getting a B&M, and obviously multiple B&Ms in the Chinese Legoland parks looking likely, it's not the craziest suggestion right now. Legoland Windsor has many planning obstacles, and they're low on usable space. Even with the focus on the younger market, they do need another family coaster imo. Their recent dark ride additions have been very 'for all the family' orientated, so having a new coaster catering for that market isn't out of the question. But yeah, will be very interesting to see what they do. I do wonder if there have been an internal shift in philosophy about the likelihood of London Resort, given it's been quoted as a need for investment multiple times. Again, my opinion would be that they're still not worried about it, and still pretty sceptical that it will ever open, but there's certainly no harm in them playing off it to push through new investments. Out of all the UK Merlin parks, Legoland has seen some of the most consistent and well thought-out additions over the last 7-10 years really, so this isn't anything new. But it's good it continue under the changes at the top of Merlin (even if it's not a surprise!).
    1 point
  2. I think mine are quite similar to @Martin Doyle Roller coasters I like more than most The Big One - Obvious first choice is obvious. It has mixed opinions across enthusiasts, I've been told so many times that I "shouldn't" like it, but after hundreds of rides on it I'm still buzzing and grinning from ear to ear when it hits the brake run. I adore this coaster because it has so much character. Everything about it from the sound of the lift hill, the raucous nature of it, the 'unconventional' transitions, the way it slams you about, it's just incredible. The first drop is still the best first drop I have ever ridden and I love the rest of the layout because it whizzes along at height and slams you into the turns, dips, banked hill crests, and I love the dives under its own and other ride's structures. Going over the hill behind Skyforce then diving under Big Dipper and being slammed out of your seat into the MCBR is one of my favourite compilation of elements of any coaster. Also - for better or for worse, the experience changes so much depending on the weather. In 2021 it seemed to run better than ever, to the point where on a late night riding it was running so fast and wild, that it was the best ride I've ever had on it and one of the best I've had on any coaster. It genuinely felt like they'd put an engine in the back of the train or something, it was absolutely wild. So with all of that in mind. I appreciate why it's not for everyone - to some people it's an archaic coaster with old tech - and that's fine! But to me, it's an incredible feat of engineering, represents Geoffrey Thompson's amazing ambition and is a staple of the roller coaster industry. Most importantly though, to me, it's still a phenomenal ride when pitched against modern coasters. I'd describe it as 'timeless.' Grand National - Again, predictable one from me. Grand National is one of my favourite roller coasters of all time and like The Big One, still firmly sits in my top 10 despite me having been to various parks worldwide. It's an absolutely wild coaster, packed full of insane amounts of airtime, laterals, unpredictability and really has that wild out-of-control feeling. I love the layout of this ride, the way it gets more and more intense as it goes - the first big turnaround is quite calm, but by the last few you get these insane forces that really throw you across from one side of the seat to the other. I have never, ever found this ride rough, it's absolutely mental but in the best way possible. On top of that, factoring in its age and incredible history, it's a ride I have such a massive appreciation for and again - still stands up as one of the most intense, extreme rides out there. Steeplechase - A ride that I feel doesn't get the credit it deserves. It's not the most thrilling or big ride out there but it's so unique and different. Being able to race two other lanes, sat on a horse on roller coaster track is just brilliant fun, and I also like how well the first half is landscaped and integrated with its surroundings. Then the second half is fun with the interactions with Big Dipper, The Big One and Icon, and again it's just a ride that's so different and fun. Nemesis Inferno - I joke that it's the only coaster at Thorpe I enjoy but I do enjoy it a lot. It doesn't have to be "as good as Nemesis" to be good! Inferno is decent in the morning but by the evening it's a wild, raucous blitz through inversions, forceful dives and turnarounds, and I just hit the brake run absolutely buzzing every time. An extremely underrated ride in my opinion. Roller coasters I like less than most Icon - again, similar to above. Icon is a ride I tried so hard to appreciate when it first opened at BPB, it had so much promise and the layout is very cleverly integrated with the park's other rides. Also being a PB fan it was something I wanted to support. Having ridden it enough times for the "new factor" to have worn off, I just really don't like it. I don't think it's a terrible coaster so to speak, but it just doesn't do anything for me. I find the pacing of it to be terrible, and a couple of decent elements don't save that. Perhaps if the layout was taken faster it would be much more effective, but as it is, it just seems to meander round and also has the worst "finale" of any modern coaster. It's also a huge shame that the elements that elevate it - mist, soundtrack, lighting - don't always work. Almost every other major coaster at BPB slams into the brakes and leaves me grinning, Icon crawls into the brakes with a couple of boring s-turns, a dodgy airtime hill and the least effective near miss of the ride. It's not even in my top 5 rides at Pleasure Beach, let alone the UK. Such a bitter disappointment, but I'm glad that others seem to enjoy it more than me. Oblivion - It's a masterclass in how to build up suspense through its theming - oh wait, no it's not, because the theming is broken and tampered with beyond repair. It has a great first drop, but they forgot to build the rest of the layout. It's like if Big One had its first drop and then went into the brake run, and it was built after?! No, I appreciate elements of it were good, but those elements are knackered and the ride just doesn't hold up for me. As much as the drop is good, a drop and a turn into the brakes do not make a good coaster. Stealth - Similar issue to above, it's half the height of rides that existed before it and doesn't do anything ambitious or new. It's like a diet Top Thrill Dragster and didn't even beat UK height records when it was built.
    1 point
  3. Coaster I like more than most Grand National. Yes its rough and shaky as anything.....but what did people expect from a roller coaster well over 80 years old!!?? I find it good solid fun whenever I go to pleasure beach and its just an absolute classic. Big one. Sticking to the Pleasure beach, Big one may be a bumpy as heck coaster with little to no airtime but it has one of the best first drops I have experienced and is also just fun. A night ride on it is also legendary Coasters I like less than most Wodan. Now I do like Wodan, but I just feel it pales compared to other GCI coasters. Its airtime is not as good as that on Mystic Timbers and it also doesnt feel as rapid or as out of control as Troy. So whilst I like the ride, it just leaves me feeling short changed compared to the two I have just mentioned. Icon. Now this ride is GOOD for the Uk market. I however just find it to be 10 percent decent elements and 90 percent slowly plodding around doing nothing. I can absolutely see why some adore this ride given its smoothness and interactions with the rides around it. I just want something more out of control,eventful and intense. This delivers none of that.
    1 point
  4. Work on removing platform 15 looks to have started. The front of the train has been removed along with the fake light. towards the end of platform 15 the fake train setup as also been deconstructed. https://themeparkguide.co.uk/news-page/Thorpe-Park-2022-Closed-Season-Insight
    1 point
  5. Some new concept art has emerged of a very Joris En De Draak looking dueling woodie.
    1 point
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