Marc

I run windows 10.. can download a copy of 10 from here https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10 - then youll just need to buy your product key... im fairly sure i've not activated my copy atall tbf!

Nope - it partitions your hard drive (think of it like separating your hard drive into more than one) one partition will have windows one will have osx, when you boot your mac you hit the command key and boot into widows, its completely independent of OSX - only resource it will take away from OSX is hard drive space.

Applicaions > Utilities > Bootcamp assistant - will need a copy of windows though!

Just Bootcamp and stick windows on it - my Mac runs planet coaster fine!

Apart from insult to injury take it as positives - until they announce it's being removed then we can only assume it will reopen at some point in the future. Who knows what will happen - hopefully something concrete is announced soon either way!

I agree in an ideal world it would be - but let's say for arguments sake it would cost x amount to keep it open and they had plans to remove it within 5 years then it makes sense why they don't spend on it - there are obviously reasons behind its closure but as you say we don't know them!

If loggers leap is removed and a new ride opens in its place, it has then been redeveloped. This is not rollercoaster tycoon, you can right click on loggers leap, delete it and place a new ride in its place over night, ideas need to be thought up, plans drawn up this is before they even apply for any permission needed but is all part of a re-development process.

Dont worry - I doubt you'll match derby being the worse team in history!

Eclipse?

Have played it a little bit its realy good, find the coaster builder a little tough to get used to but will no doubt get there!

Nemesis Inferno (9)Rocky Express (1)The Swarm (5)Tidal Wave (5) Swarm + Rocky -

I'd guess if it comes to the point they are announcing its full closure they would like to have something new to announce which will take its place - to be fair they could have a decent coaster going off over the lake which would really bring the area back to life!

I meant the Mack flumes in Merlin parks - I seem to remember at the same time as Flume and Loggers closing Another one also closed in one of the Merlin European parks but that maybe wrong. I expect if they feel the ride is worth it they will invest in the work it needs (Slammer and Samurai are good examples of rides which they invest in, both of which would have likely closed at many other parks!) - Personally I hope they do - although I expect enthusiasts views on if a ride is worth keeping and the parks maybe different!

Really looking forward to when imascore release some of this track!

I don't think that Merlin don't care - Merlin are just a much bigger company who have more to worry about, it's much different to the family run parks, I expect each Merlin park is allocated a budget for things like that and it's spent as seen fit. I do also think more gets done that people realise, park signage for example over the past few years every ride has had new restriction boards, Stealths had a new sign and had one of its trains completely refurbished with all the black vinyls being replaced, also During stealths closure the steps were all repainted, the photo / ride baggage had its green edging repainted - quite often its easy to not notice these things. It would be nice for all the queues across the park to get a lick of paint over the closed season then very much continue in the same direction as they have been, we've seen Tidals and Infernos effects fixed over the past few years both of which have been dead since the Tussauds days (although infernos are still inconsistent). Would be great to see the Colossus pit tidied up and working again actually!

The problem with effects like the shower is people stand up to try and avoid them which obviously is dangerous. I do agree the ride needs a spruce up though!

Loggers leap was just one of 3 Mack log flumes which Merlin closed for this year (Beleve one in Europe closed too?) - loggers leap had also had significant work over the past 4/5 years, I don't think it's anything to do with "cheaped out maintanance"

The majority of ride staff are seasonal - the cuts sound like they are from permanent jobs so unlikely it would be related.

Honestly I do get where your coming from - but at the same time I genuinely believe the cuts they made overall would have no difference to the parks attendances this year and will have provided a much needed cost saving. Look at it this way, each year parks add new rides, as new rides are added, the attendances grow year on year - great. But what happens when suddenly them attendances fall, the park suddenly has significant more capacty than is required for its anticipated gate figure - it is unfortunately for us , very sensible for the business to readjust its offering. I've no doubt in 3/4 years when the smiler incident is at the back of everyone's mind and all the rides have reopened (and more added) people will come to accept the cuts were at some point needed.

Yes - we know that - we are fortunate enough to be wel educated about the subject, we know the rides are safe, we know what happened was a terrible accident which won't happen again - problem is not everyone else does. Its not "common knowledge" when I talk to my family saying I'm going to Alton towers they don't say why would you go there hex and Charlie are closed, they bring up the smiler incident. you clearly are unable to look past your own vendetta against Merlin and are unable to see the huge impact the Smiler incident has had on all the parks, and will unfortunately continue to have for a while yet. The cuts, of course, do not help. But in the grand scheme of things they will make very little difference.

Point is you still went, Coaster Jamie who stated if they went ahead with the plans to close the rides would not visit, still did. The vast majority of our parks guests don't do an awful lot of research - most of them will simply turn up on the day without any idea rides have closed - it's hardly great but I'm certian had the rides been open visitor numbers would be no different to what they were.

Its just the platform 15 train - the remaining track was removed this year!

I imagine visitor numbers would be very similar with or without the closed rides - unfortunately things like this take time to recover from, even more so with the constant press attention they seem to attract!

Whilst there's not much going on just yet a quick update from today! http://www.thorpeparkmania.co.uk/news/12-11-2016/Closed+Season+Update+2016

Just because Merlin (who them selves are in debts) make a profit does not mean there is a bottomless pit of money for their resort theme parks. My thoughts go out to those affected by this news - it's not a nice situation for anyone, hopefully they are able to find new roles within or outside merlin quickly.