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Naturally because I've posted today that it's been closed for ages, it's re-opened today. Currently has a queue which stretches almost to the Teacups!

I had the same thought, but can't be sure either way. Still digging around to find out. Over Fright Nights it closes at dusk in any case. Rumba is an interesting one at the moment. It's been closed for an extended period of time, and that's sort of flown under the radar. Many of my recent visits it's just been sat there, although on Thursday it was testing, with staff in all Watcher positions. Saturday again it was dormant. Two weeks to get it back open. Thorpe did say earlier in the year, on the Facebook passholder group, that it's a seasonal attraction. I guess it makes sense; it's a staff intensive attraction that is out the way and will have a low ridership in autumn. A different kettle of fish to, say, Tidal Wave, which though expensive to run and has low autumnal ridership, is very prominent. Too prominent to close. Remember in 2020 when Rumba was 'transformed' for Oktoberfest into the Oompah Rapids? That feels a lifetime ago, and now it's closed for basically the whole event. The park need to do something with it. Realistically, the park lack a mid-level water ride; one that gets you wet, but not too wet. Rumba and Storm Surge are rides on water, but barely get you wet. Updating Rumba, with new boats and effects, could work. The other option would be the scrap it entirely and put a new ride there. With some work, they could create a closed water system there and put in a new water ride (new gen log flume with restraints?), but it won't be cheap. The issue for Thorpe right now is they still have Slammer SBNO, next to the big new thing, they've got flat rides which are nearing 25 years old, they've got an elephant in Ghost Train, which surely can't operate as is until the end of the decade, and coasters seem to be the main draw to the park. Where in all that do they fit in a Rumba replacement? So the bigger question is: do they drag our Rumba as much as possible, rolling the proverbial turd in a bit of glitter, or do they take the hit and SBNO-it, hiding it behind a few extra trees? Neither is ideal, but it feels like we're leaning more towards the latter.

100% doable I'm sure on the app to put exact opening times for each ride on them. However I think having a very open ended "it MIGHT close early" is more of an issue. Either say it WILL close say 30 minutes prior to advertised park closing time or just close it at that point and damn the consequences. Giving such vague wiggle room can cause issues. Thorpe's communication back on my May visit (the day they didn't tell anyone in the park about Hyperia being closed until letting people in) still irks me. Now THAT was terrible communication, and probably part of that is out of fear of backlash that the big new thing wasn't open, but making it worse by not communicating properly to those visiting on park (social media posts, especially whilst people are travelling or already there don't help much). Fear of bad PR often leads to it moreso than clear and open communication. Must've been a reason why the early closure announcement was only made in the Hyperia area after all.

This is so lovely Matt ❤️ Brought back fond memories of my Grandad Keep making memories Matt. I hope you’ve got an ORP with him!

This aged very nicely over 11 years…