Sheepie

Holly I don't mind buying you lunch the following day if that helps at all. We won't leave you out!

Awesome news Mr Nine!Just to keep on track of the hotel/ meal situation on the 10th...Michaela, Mark, Ian, Will, Skunky, Tommy, Chris, Dan, Ellie and myself, with the possibility of Holly as well. I also quickly saw on Facebook that you were considering booking a room Mark... which would equal things out as I assume Michaela would join you both.Sounding good guys!

Welcome Rob! It's awesome to get another "northerner" on here! I loved your 'Gods in the sky' comment, though I don't think you have much to fear, as long as you're sensible! :DI'm sure we'll see you about. Happy posting times!

That's something I was going to do for everyone nearer the time, one step ahead of you there Dan. *Pokes tongue*

I'm so happy you can both make it, Noob if there's anything I can do to make your first meet more enjoyable then please let me know.

I'm sure someone will have their Magic Pass Chris. I don't have an AP either. There are a couple of people who I know will but we'll do that privately off of here in case any of the Merlin peoples are watching. :DSad to hear you can't make it Josh. But I can understand where you're coming from! If this one is a success, I'm sure there'll be another Chessie meet in the future. Plus there are the Thorpe ones in May and August, too! Plenty of opportunities for you to come.

Biggest cuddle ever coming your way Dan!

^ Haha, you actually have to stay now and have no choice in the matter!

I'm really pleased to hear that Chessington has received a lot of attention over the closed season. My main point was that these things should be happening along side things such as new attractions and re-themes. This is no criticism of the park, but rather Merlin/ Blackstone for not approving the funding for things to receive the green light.When I said it felt like the place had gone backwards this year, I was, of course, referring to the addition of Fastrack to some of the rides. I've gone on about it for a while, but I really cannot defend this operations facepalm.I think some of the management and TLs can be a bit naive and optimistic at times with their throughputs. I remember a couple of years ago, a TL telling me that you could easily get over 500 people an hour on Rameses. Yes, you can, if the ride only goes around once. But at times it could take 10 minutes for the ride to be loaded, ride cycle, letting people off, second ride cycle, unload and then reload. That a maximum of 240 people an hour, without considering any problems. You could get that to over 300 if you had a batcher and a wicked ride team. Basically, the team leaders are under pressure, who put extra pressure on the front line staff who work on the rides every single day and to an extent, know the rides better than anyone else.My long winded point is, do operations REALLY know what they're letting themselves in for with Fastrack on some of these rides that struggle to cope with their standby queue?

That is precisely how I feel about Saw. I do enjoy aspects of the ride but I would enjoy it more if it didn't feel like I was a brain haemorrhage in the making. You could tell from the concept art that the creative team did indeed intend the interior portion of the queue to be darker. With little shafts of light coming through the separate planks of wood. The most disappointing aspect of the ride was actually the interior queue and the first block section. It has moments of genius such as the shot guns as you enter the building and (when it was working to full effect) the first drop with swinging blades and strobe lit spikes with a slight UV tint on them. The body is also a great ending to the indoor section.For me, the ride feels like a series of missed opportunities, creative wise at least. There's no denying that it is one of the most intense coasters I've been on. Although it pushes the envelope of what is enjoyable for me.

Oh that sucks Benin!Are you able to do both? Spend the first few hours with us for instance and then spend the rest of the day with your friend's meet?You will be missed Benin, that's for sure.

Just to remind you guys, there are less than two weeks until the meet. Hope you're all looking forward to it as much as I am. If you're still thinking about coming, have any questions, or if there is anything we can help you with then please feel free to post here.As far as I know, the people who are staying over at the Premier Inn Chessington on Sunday 10th are, Me, Ian, Mark, Michaela, Ellie, Dan, Tommy and Chris. With the possibility of Will, Holly and Skunky. This is as far as I'm aware, until told otherwise.Anyone is welcome to come along and stay, let us know so we can book rooms. We're planning on having a meal at the Monkey Puzzle, also on Sunday 10th, come down and join us!Take care everyone!

This is an Anti- Rant.Men.

I agree Mark, especially your point about the park at least looking like it's had things done to it. I feel as though the park have gone back a step this year. Of course, I say this without taking a trip there myself yet, but to me it seems the park have genuinely scraped the barrel in terms of where to spend the little money they had this year.There are parts that look good, such as signage and Buccaneer, as well as other very minor things. I know Bubbles had a fair sum of money spent on it this year, but sadly this didn't go too far as it seems to have been spent on fixing something that had been left for so long that it had become beyond repair. So instead of trying to improve the attraction, the money was spent trying to drag the attraction back from slipping further into the pit of despair. I really love it when theme parks concentrate on the little details. But when there are major flaws and issues with aspects of the park such as operations and the serious dilapidation of some of the attractions, these smaller things are just a drop in the ocean. Tussauds neglected the park so much, I feel as though it's going to take nothing less than a huge amount of money to put things right again.

I'm sorry to hear you had a disappointing trip Benin. I have to say, the three ex-Tussauds parks have really drawn a short straw this season compared with other Merlin attractions across the board. All three have disappointed me in some respects. Particularly Alton and Chessington, as I have high expectations from them both.When you see things the level of creativity going into attractions such as Raptor, it does make me feel kind of bitter, as we've yet to see that standard in any of our UK parks.Chessington in particular, need investment, not only to ease queues with higher capacity rides but also to create the buzz, excitement and brilliant atmosphere across the park. When I visited last year in April, the whole atmosphere of the place lifted and was buzzing, I put that mainly down to Wild Asia; quality investments rejuvenate older areas of the park. Plus it makes staff excited about their place of work and enthusiastic about working there.The effects of refurbishing some of the more worse for wear attractions are invaluable and will change they way staff and guests view the attraction as a whole.

Another update for you. A prequel (I'd call it a prologue but pfftt) to the first story of the new series aired yesterday. It's brilliant, creepy and has made me feel as though I need to keep looking behind me. Brilliant ambient music too. Moff reusing some ideas here, but it works so effectively! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekzglkLEJFI&feature=related Also, just noticed, the second episode is called Day of the Moon. Could this also be another link with the Library two parter? Dr Moon, Silence in the Library, astronauts, River Song. Moff does love his word play.

I know Tommy! I'm disappointed. I see no reason why it was deleted. I would understand if there was a specific reason why it was deleted but it took me absolutely ages to write up the behind the scenes stuff and personal experiences of the Terror Tomb. I would at least like it back so I could re-read it. It sounds pathetic but Chessington was a huge part of my childhood.

Where has my post gone from a year or so ago about Forbidden Tomb/ Tomb Blaster stuff? I was looking around and wanted to read it for nostalgic value and it seems to have disappeared.

Ah man, as if we weren't spoiled enough. The whole development is looking phenomenal. That some of the best landscaping I've seen Merlin do, even in those Tussauds glory days. I'm extremely impressed.*Off to watch again*

This sounds so pathetic, but I'm so excited at having two weeks of home- aloneness over the Easter break. Actually cannot wait!