Sheepie

Hey Briony! What a beautiful name. ;)Welcome to the forums. Don't worry about not having much theme park knowledge.... everybody has to start off somewhere and I'm sure you'll learn a lot whilst you're here.Enjoy the ride..... yeah that sounded cringey, ignore that.

Apology accepted... ;)Remember there is no need to rush your posts, take your time. People appreciate high quality posts. Such as the one Seb responded to you when he answered your question.

Remember guys, there's this awesome new way of communicating. You can debate with each other without swapping insults. Isn't that amazing? :DDebate away, just keep it clean.

Just a quick note to all members:If you have a problem with a post, please use the report button and do not try to moderate the forums yourself. If you'd really like to help then the report button is honestly the best way to do it.Also, insults to other members will not be tolerated and such posts will be deleted. Repeating such behaviour will provide you with a lovely warn for you.If you do not have anything constructive to say regarding someone's question then please refrain from posting any sarcastic comments, these do not help anybody and you end up looking like a bit of a wally. ;)On that note, I hope someone can answer Rollercoaster's question, unfortunately, I'm unable to.

I'm sorry but that's a hilarious typo! It would certainly be a nice touch but if I had to choose I would rather money be put towards something else.

http://www.youtube.com/user/SkulkerUJ#p/a/u/2/2h3hVrootIg This was just posted on their Facebook page. The video is 4 years old, but nice bit of promo! I knew what was coming but it still urr.... well, it was very effective!

It's certainly a very impressive piece of scenery and it's great to see it out on park where it deserves to be. I'm not convinced on its positioning as I'm yet to see it in person. I do have some nit-picking that I could go on about as I'm a fanboy, but I'll save that until after I've actually seen it in its home!

I'm glad you enjoyed Sea World. It really is a change of pace which is usually welcome compared to the frantic nature of the Disney parks. I'm not a fan of Kraken mainly for its concrete surroundings and relatively lazy landscaping. Manta on the other hand is a true, world class attraction.I remember watching interviews with Manta's creative team saying how the rode several flying coasters around the world, including Air, and I think I remember them saying how they wanted to combine the beauty and serenity of Air whilst having Tatsu's killer thrill element; so perhaps you could say that it was very deliberate for you to notice the change in pace after that pretzel loop. I'm interested to see if my views on it change after riding it this summer.Which version of Shamu did you see, Mark? Was it "Believe" or "One Ocean"? One Ocean has literally just been introduced so there may be quite a bit of tweaking to the show after guests feedback. I must admit, from watching clips of it on Youtube, it does seem a little repetitive!I totally agree with you with the Americans investing their emotions in the experiences over there. They get it... they love the whole showmanship of it all and I always get goosebumps at the end of a ride over there. I love it. It's a totally different culture.... I've noticed in recent years people have started clapping at the end of our attractions too. Whether that is a slow change in our own culture or they were just glad to get off is another question. Imagine it though if all guests were like that? How awesome would it make you feel and how good would it make ride operators and attendants feel to be part of that experience with guests? Euphoric I bet! I'm rambling now... woopsie!

Sounds like you had a great day Luke! Good to hear about Inferno's tunnel effects still existing. I have a strange obsession over that ride.

Let's all just take a deep breath, have a slice of cake and discuss the weather.... Nah really, calm down guys, this should be a positive experience!Personal opinion, yeah I think it's fake, but also I don't really care. It's enjoyable to see all the hype and goose chases from the Les guy, and to also see a world and narrative forming on the official one. I personally think the "fake" one posts too much and gets on my nerves a little though! :)My favourite stage of construction is always when we start seeing scenic stuff going in, and any interviews we get from those wonderful studios people! Eee

Only on TPM would we be analysing signs for the cause of their wear and tear.We must uncover the truth!LC12.net.

I've just re-read your trip report from the beginning Mark. I get the sense that you were somewhat overwhelmed over there and you can tell in the way you're writing your reports; you've got major holiday blues.Orlando is a weird one. If you're doing a theme park holiday there, there really isn't another holiday quite like it and it's definately full on. You get so caught up in this little bubble whilst you're out there, I find myself sort of losing sense of the "real world". I find it's very easy to get caught up in the fantasy of it all whilst you're out there which is why it has such a big impact and is a shock to the system when you arrive back home and return to the relative mundaneness of every day life.What I really want to know is... what did you really think of your holiday? Would you go back and how much weight did you put on!? :blush:Also, did you cry in Philarmagic? I did... it's a fantastic show.Keep posting your trip reports Mark, really enjoying reading them! When I go I'm going to write down my thoughts for each day on a note pad and effectively do a report after each day and then type it up when I return!

They are indeed railway signs. They used to be under the station name for "Staines"; informing people that it was the station they needed to get off at.As far as working at the parks, I'd keep checking The Merlin Careers page, here. It's a pretty orgasmic site and will provide you with lots of information about all of the possible jobs on offer across the company. Quick tip- if you click on the specific attraction you're interested in, they often list jobs there that don't always appear on the main vacancy page.Welcome to the forums btw; always nice to have new members. Enjoy your stay with us!

That's great customer service there and isn't something the park had to do. A nice gesture from Thorpe!

First review of Cheetah Hunt now online. This pretty much confirms my thoughts about this ride being a family attraction. A very fair review I thought. Check it out!Edit: memorable lines from the review...."Although it's not scary, it is incredibly cool. It zips smoothly at 60 mph, which is only a bit slower than SheiKra. It never loops, but there is a high heartline roll (like a corkscrew) and a 130-foot drop that can catch your breath good.""Photos and videos will be available for purchase upon exit. And although all you coaster zombies might look bored in those snapshots, the rest of us will be grinning (and purring) just fine."

I'm starting to seriously look into planning a Europa Park trip. I'm fed up of the rubbish the UK has to offer.The problem is though, I don't really know where to start. I wouldn't know the best way to travel, where to stay, where to buy park tickets and all the general things in order to get the trip organised.I wouldn't go until next year, but I'd like to start seriously looking into things now. Any advice guys?

Other than the one where guests have said things, I've had some of the show effects start working in the sarcophagus scene (the on where the spike is and the animatronic mummy on the platform that spins round). This was a long time after the ride and show had been e-stopped, we're talking hours. We were doing a deep clean of the ride and were just doing one last walk of the track. When some of those show pieces started moving, me and my friend literally legged it round the rest of the ride, sort of screaming, but sort of cracking up at the same time at each other.Also- the ride is on two main levels due to the various slopes around the ride (you could argue three at one point but it's complicated). I was walking around the ride again, after ride close, and I heard footsteps from above. I looked into the firepit scene and saw torch light illuminating the walls, and the footsteps got closer. Now, bearing in mind that I had let my ride attendants go early and I stayed behind to do evening checks... the ride was locked from every entrance and there was no possible way in which anybody could get in. I got pretty freaked out and decided to call it a night! :)In reality I loved Herman though, and I hope he liked me for looking after his ride!

Can I clarify a couple of things about Saw- The Ride's audio?Am I right in thinking that there are three main tracks? The area theme, the queue theme, and then the interior queue theme?I just found the area theme on Youtube, anyway.

Sure!Herman was part of the team who were installing the ride system for 5th Dimension. It is believed that whilst working on the top of the "ramp" section, where the rolling ball now is, he fell tragically to his death (though some say he later died in hospital).There is actually a plaque in memory of him in the spot where he died, underneath the track for the ramp section.There have been many stories about Herman over the years, saying that he now haunts the ride and teases ride operators who walk the track every morning and evening. When I worked there I did have a couple of odd experiences, and I know that a couple of attendants used to get particularly upset whilst walking through certain parts of the ride.I have also had guests come up to me and complain about a "disturbing effect" at the end of the ride, where they described a ghostly projection staring at them. Creeped me out that one!

This is a beautiful acoustic set from Adele back from February. It's gorgeous.Adele Acoustic Set

The new Hi Def sample looks incredible for Spiderman, loving the detail on the costume and the stars in the sky, I think this will push the ride back in front of Forbidden Journey for most immersive experience. Despicable Me- whilst not surprising and has been expected. It's great to have it officially announced and I'm sure it'll be an awesome attraction for Universal. I hope that the ride also captures the emotion that the film does, it's definately a film with a lot of heart!

Here's what was said at the latest board meeting with Merlin Senior Mangement:"Oh, our profits are severely down this year for our UK attractions, what's happening!?!""Well I have absolutely no idea, that has shocked me if I'm being honest, we have invested heavily this season. Sheeet, wha are we going to do?""Well we've contacted our theme parks resorts, and they have said that if we reduce their budgets any more, they're going to have to make several staff redundant and lay off hundreds of front line staff"."Yes, that's what we did at Chessington a couple of years ago, remember?""Oh, yeah, so what do you suggest?""Well, we've looked at our figures and have noted that a large proportion of our Annual Pass holders who visit us, are much less likely to spend on park"."Right, so you're saying we better raise those prices quick!""Yes! And plus they're getting a really good deal as it is, we need their money, for our shareholders and for our own reputation, they can spare an extra few quid"."Agreed, plus, we deserve the extra profits from them after the fuss they made about the car parking fee. Do they not realise I need my second home and three holidays a year?""Right so that's settled then, Annual Pass prices increased. I'll leave that with you lot then whilst I'm away, my family are off to Disney.""Oh really, I hope you enjoy yourselves, though have you been on Expedition Everest?""Yeah, but it's no where near as good as our Thirteen"."Yeah exactly!".This wouldn't surprise me, instead of seriously looking at where the company is going wrong, they just raise prices and expect people to not make a fuss because they know people will still buy them.

Correct, Josh! The original layout for the outside section included a block section after the Immelmann Turn, a overbanked turn, another block section before the dive loop. I believe the air time hill is much better than the proposed layout.

I think it's a fine balance Keith. As you say, some people are perfect down the PA, but it can be inconsistent and when that happens, it ruins the atmosphere and honesty I think it just feels tacky.It's great to have interaction, but it should always be faithful to the theme of the attraction. Having a pre-recorded announcement would ensure consistency and always be faithful to the theme. A ride like Vampire is a show, especially in that theatrical station where it is set up as a piece of theatre and then having a human voice which actually interferes with the music and general production, breaks the magic, for me.It does work on Runaway because it's staged in a way that makes the operator a prominence in the experience, having the control cabin centre stage. I did personally love the interaction, as that was a main part of my job that made it enjoyable and it was a big focus from park management. On a creative outlook though, it doesn't work. However, if the ride operators were dressed in costumes and became characters, their speech and banter would become relevant.

^ I think that would be overkill on the theme. It works so well in the station as it accompanies the lighting, set design which provides a suitable atmosphere in the station. I would love to see some ambience in the queue at some point though, that way it can be kept relatively quiet and isn't so intrusive on the queueing experience.It's a shame that it's so quiet, It really does need to be louder, much louder. It should fill the station, though it should not be ruined by an operator's voice IMO, they need some pre-recorded, themed announcements in there.