Mer

Better get on it Matt, you only have until next August to do it.

I’ll be there 😁

@Matt N blimey that was a pretty vivid and detailed dream!
 
The only theme park related one I can remember was going to Thorpe on a really windy day and Stealth had blown over so it was essentially flat - it still had a big queue which confused me!

Hey all,
 
A while since we last had a meet up in 2019!
 
As noted in the topic title the date has been set for Saturday 13th August 2022.
 
Meet from 9:30am - 10am in the dome outside Vibes. I recommend arriving nice and early if you can as security can sometimes take a while to get through and we will not be able to wait too long. I will be checking my Direct Messages (DM) every 15 mins for the first hour for late arrivals to get in touch and arrange meet up, but be aware we may be in a queue or on a ride.
 
Nearer the time I will recommend a time to book "Carnival in Trailers: Breakout at Bozo’s" so that we can try to get a time slot for the whole group.
 
Other than that a very simple, chilled out day riding the rides and catching up with everyone. Should be fun!
 
The TPM meets are always great fun and the idea is to go round as a group getting to know each other, have fun and spend time with people who share the same interests. If you have never been to a meet before don't feel put off, we were all there once. Once you get there you'll feel a part of the group straight away. If you have any queries drop me a message or comment below.
 
Please confirm attendance below or DM me.
 
 

I would be up for a catch up - you free before 22nd July at all?  It’s been ages since I last saw you 

Sorry to hear of your mishap, I hope you had your arms up on that theatre ride.
 
Perhaps if you suggest a couple of dates, there would be someone happy to partner up? Good luck.

2021 Edition Part two.
 
The other day, someone said Steel Vengeance was over-rated. I'm going to stand out here, shout to the world that if you decide to refer to something as over-rated then you have no critical discourse whatsoever and you need to pick up a thesaurus and learn some new descriptive language. Saying something is over-rated is the laziest critique anyone can possibly muster up because it requires no explanation and only looks to disregard peoples opinion. It says to others, 'sure you like a ride but thats only because you're following the crowd. No, I am the only true oracle, the only one that can see past the rose tinted glasses of hype and I stand before you now to tell you that you're a blind sheeple. Follow me, I declare that Steel vengeance/Taron/Nemesis/anything people quite like isn't as good as you think it is'.
 
Under-rated is different. There are so many attractions out there (Alpina Blitz at Nigloland for example) that fall completely under the radar and deserve to be spoken about more. The term under-rated is actually quite nice because it can be used to inspire people to try something or go somewhere they wouldn't necessarily go to without the recommendation. 
 
Over-rated is an awful awful phrase and looks to just belittle others viewpoints and enjoyment. 

Got an email about this two weeks ago and kept forgetting to post here - Tulleys now have a drive-in cinema 😄 https://tulleysdriveincinema.co.uk
 
Great idea! 
 
 

Ah okay. I assumed it has been closed for a while. Damn though.
 
Lol just like how Loggers Leap was a "longer term project". No its just lazy, when a independent park in Blackpool is starting to look better than you, you know you've really fu**ed up. It is sub-standard, and should not be the standard going forward for UK parks.
 
Remember people like parks that look good, Phantasialand and Europa are highly regarded for a reason. Even amusement parks make effort to keep their park tidy and professional, both Six Flags parks I have been to are much prettier and well kept than this. It is the same as having your retail store untidy and dirty, just because it doesn't affect you directly. Walking past it is going to leave a weird taste in people's mouths, because people like things that look good.

Okay, so it has little impact on anyone's day. But it's a theme park for goodness sake. This looks like something you see whilst walking down a back alley in Staines. No level of enjoyment whatsoever. And this is off a main walkway in the park.
 
I think there's a wider issue though. This is opposite Ghost Train, which will inevitably be closed all year. You've also got Walking Dead just a bit further down, a ride which will likely be closed for a while. And the other end of the pathway, you've got Jungle Escape, another experience that will be closed for a good while. In the centre of the park, you have a complete dead zone. Of course, it's not Thorpe's fault everything round there is closed, but this doesn't help. 
 
It might be part of a redevelopment, but it begs the question why do that now? I honestly can't think of any other theme park I've been to that would leave a guest-facing wall looking that glaring bland.

I have said this time and time again. A fan forum will almost certainly reflect the current state of what it is dedicated to which in this case is Thorpe Park.
 
If Thorpe Park was performing and delivering to its potential, this forum would reflect that with members getting real excited about the place.
 
As it is, the park has been a shadow of its old self for a few years now to the point where many who once loved it are now staying away as they are fed up. So ofcourse this forum reflects that.
 
It would be nice to see positivity.....but when the park is leaving little to find positives in, its hardly surprising that you see more constructive criticism on here

Those measures are an utter utter nonsense.
 
They are taking the physical spacing aspect of the advice without thinking about the reason for it or why it is effective. A 2m physical gap does not create some magical barrier the virus can not cross, it is just a workable compromise to total isolation which makes infection from one person to another less likely in every day situations like passing or talking in the street. Once you start moving at speed through each others space a small distance like that becomes meaningless; anything containing the virus expelled by someone in front will be showered over someone sitting two or four or six rows behind, they may as well be sitting in each others lap.
 
It's so ineffective they may as well just fully open and accept the risk, or remain closed and properly mitigate the risk. Giving a false sense of safety is the worst possible thing to do.

Seeing as there won’t be any meets for a while, I think TPM should have social distancing parties/virtual get-togethers on something like Skype or Zoom 😄

Or even just a big group chat? ☺️

Seeing as there won’t be any meets for a while, I think TPM should have social distancing parties/virtual get-togethers on something like Skype or Zoom 😄

Or even just a big group chat? ☺️

5) Thorpe Park TPM meet 2013. There was something just so special about this trip. Whether it was the fact it was snowing, freezing cold, the most awesome people on a trip or just everything put together I don't know but it was just brilliant. To Peaj and Dara riding Tidal Wave and being drenched for the rest of the day or sitting in Calypso BBQ with hot chocolates and coffees. 
 
4) Disneyland Paris Fandaze 2018. The end of the 25th anniversary celebration really but this was a trip where many rare characters made an appearance as well as meeting the (at the time) CEO of Disneyland Paris, Catherine Powell. It was a long day but a fantastic one.
 
 
3) Europa Park 2006. I met my future husband on this trip so it has many, many special memories for me. Travelling through Rust to the Lidl from the Tipi village. Getting drunk in a field and several of us falling into a lake. Getting on Silver Star for the first time. Travelling the diamond mine and avoiding the bears, seeing the metal dragon. Such a great trip.
 
 
2) Walt Disney World 2011. When building up to Florida, it was Universal and Seaworld that I wanted and craved. But once the trip was over it was the Disney parks that captured my heart. This was the trip where my boyfriend and I were chosen to be in the Jammin' Jungle Parade which was utterly wonderful. I'll need forget this amazing trip.
 
 
1) Chessington 1998. I wasn't an enthusiast of any kind, I was just really obsessed with them. I used to draw pictures of the Vampire with its classic bat trains all the time. This was a trip long time coming and I remember sitting outside the Bubbleworks, eating my McDonalds and looking up and watching this beautiful train swoop through Transylvania. It caught my attention and has shaped my theme park life really. To this day I love the Arrow suspended rides but Chessington is where it all started.

Has to be my first trip to Cedar Point in 2018
 
The park was on my bucket list for well over ten years and did NOT disappoint. Years of the place being hyped up and it lived right up to it. Then there's the small matter of Steel Vengeance simply blowing every other coaster I've been on clean out of the water. 
 
First time to Florida was also highly memorable!!

With none of us likely to visit a park in current situations, I decided to create a new thread to Try and keep things upbeat. 
 
What are everyone’s most memorable theme park visits? Where did you go to and what made that place or trip so special? Be as specific as you like, make a list. Was it the circumstances or the atmosphere that made it so?
 
I’ll make a start.
 
5/ Blackpool Pleasure Beach September 2014
I had just gone through a Bumpy time of family related health issues, so this trip couldn’t have come at a better time. Blackpool was TPM’s most ambitious meet-up to date and the park proved to be my first major non-Merlin Park at the time. 
 
many of my Blackpool trips have had somewhat special circumstances, but none more than this one which really pushed the boat out for me on both a progressive and social level. 
 
4/ Cedar Point- August 2018
For years it had been a goal of mine to get out to the states and this was the trip to do just that. Cedar Point is easily my favourite amusement park, from it’s selection of modern and traditional attractions, not to mention beautiful location. But one of the things that made this trip stand out was  seeing how remarkably different American culture is. Long roads going for miles, vast landscapes and flags on pretty much every street.
 
3/  Chessington -April 2013
The trip that started it all, and one of the most important of all time. This was the first trip with the TPM community. The one which would pave the road for future meets and trips to come. Getting to meet so many different enthusiasts was simply amazing and further helped build my already strong interests in theme parks and other attractions.  
 
2/ Phantasialand- September 2016
Any visit to Phantasialand is memorable full stop, especially this visit. Given the circumstances of my personal life then, I wouldn’t be forgetting this trip anytime soon. I was simply blown away  by this  place and everything it had to offer (excluding Temple and that Wakoblando). Taron was definitely something to remember too,
 
1/ Disneyland Paris- April 2015
I don’t think any trip ever has (or ever will) reach the Crazy excitement levels seen here. At that point of time I was crazily obsessed about visiting Disneyland Paris. So much, I even made a several part series known as Disney and the Creek.
 
April 2015 was when the dream finally came true, thanks to Peaj (and a handful of TPMers). Everything from the trip was truly memorable, from the ‘chest belting’ singalongs during the journey to that last Earl of Sandwich before leaving. Not only were the parks truly magical, but everything during the whole visit was so memorable. I’ll never forget that.
 

Dear TPM members
 
It is with regret that I announce the cancellation of all TPM meets for the foreseeable future.
 
However, it is only fair that we think of the health and safety of all our members and the general public. 
 
Once things calm down we will come up with a new plan. 
 
Let's hope we get through this crisis sooner rather than later and can all enjoy social events and the one thing we all love, visiting theme parks! 
 
Thank you for your understanding. 
 
Matt
 
 
  Quote

My older sister works in retail and someone went into where she works, purchased whatever and then declared she was off home to self isolate as her husband has been tested positive - it’s idiots like that with zero respect or care for others that are making this situation far worse.  If the parks open on Saturday I’ll eat both my cats - I mean, that may happen anyway thanks to the selfish gits striping supermarkets bare.  Times like this I’m ashamed of how humans behave - pure greed and lack of consideration for others

"Proximity - Where close proximity between guests and staff is necessary, for example in checking ride harnesses, we will keep this to a minimum and operate in line with the latest guidance.  This might mean that some rides and attractions may not be available during your visit. We ask you to also avoid cash transactions if possible."

with this statement it would seem like every single ride with restraints would be closed then? cosnidering the staff lean over the train to check restraints ect? 
 
unless they're gonna use a pole with a hook lol 

And in doing so has almost killed a fair few industries.
 
Absolute nonsense to tell people to not go out to these places but not say what's in place to help these businesses out with the lack of trade.
 
Literally only do so to ensure that the Tory friendly insurance companies don't have to pay out millions to ensure businesses don't go under and people end jobless.
 
Awful.

Baden Württemberg, Germany, goes into lockdown until 15th June.
 
Expect Rulantica and Europa Park to be closed until that date for the time being
 
https://www.regioactive.de/news/2020/03/16/baden-wuerttemberg-verbietet-veranstaltungen-bis-voraussichtlich-mitte-juni-Gp9wYDtPGW

Ordinary influenza takes at least 7000 people each year, and that's only the UK. Stay aware, stay clean, stay safe. If they start enforcing two metre spaces in queues, that means some of us will suffer standing in the North Sea.

I never feel like political discussions go down well on the internet, no less a theme park forum, but oh well...
I'm completely anti-conservative, and anti-Boris. But I have to say that when watching the press conference yesterday where Boris and the experts discussed what they were doing and why, I completely got it. Impossible to know, of course, if they're the right decisions, and there's still - in my mind - questions that should be asked about the legitimacy of the research done (as far as I know, the research they quote isn't publicly available, which leaves some doubt in mind as to whether they actually are just plucking things out of thin air). If we take things at face value, though, it's hard for me to reasonably say what they're doing is wrong. 
 
Some of Boris' wording wasn't great (further still since it can be taken out of context), but there's not much that can be done. I really hope we don't live to regret the action take so far though, of course.
 
I personally never feel that making comparisons to other countries is a good idea. Especially since we're on an island, which drastically alters how this could spread. And also, just because other countries are doing things in a certain way, it still doesn't mean it's the right way.
Death rates might be tiny, but there's likely still a number of children catching the virus. They just might not be showing symptoms, or recovering very quickly. The greater issue is that children can catch it and pass it on to others (especially since children are less well adept to cleaning their hands thoroughly, or catching sprays from coughs and sneezes), increasing the spread to adults and, in particular, those at greater risks.
Drastic and melodramatic? No. This is a severe situation. And the media are just responding to what the public want - as much information as possible.
 
The bigger issue is that social media is spreading false information, people are panicking, etc. That's where all of the major issues stem from.
If, as modelled, there are 10,000 people in the UK who have / have had coronavirus currently, that's about 1 in 700 people at the moment. On average, about 1 in 2500 people get seriously injured in a car crash in the UK every year. 
 
In other words, you are MUCH more likely to catch coronavirus than you are to be seriously injured in a car crash. That's not to scare anyone, but it's the truth.
 
 
As I say, I never think political discussions go down well, and this is probably steering the conversation in the wrong direction. It's impossible to know if what any country has done is right or wrong. But what is obvious is that we're in this for the long haul. A vaccine realistically won't be ready till next year. The virus spreads very easily. It's not clear if you're immune after catching it, or how long for. The worst is yet to come. 
 
As the general public, all we can do is do out best to look after ourselves, follow the advice and apply common sense. No one wants to be isolated any longer than necessary, and no one wants to see the country crumble. Hopefully we won't see that, and whatever happens in the days and weeks ahead will help reduce the impact for everyone. 

I can' tell you how much enjoyment I get from people moaning at Chessington for not having enough rides open or being really busy when the February half term event is called
 
Animal Adventures.