Will

Well, I'm going next year in April-Early/2nd week in May so I'll be able to tell you how good it is. As the students and kids won't be out of US schools till end of May and are back in school in March, it won't be busy at all. What with the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and HRRR.

I just got back from holiday this morning and I am not as jet-lacked as I thought I would be.

Good to see you back

Well that don't matter because it is better phrased - where it makes sense. I've asked a question and I'm grateful people are answering it.Flamingo Land, I will retract my comments from and will look forward to one-day visiting it. I just don't think that most of the non-Merlin parks are doing a good job.I feel that they either need to do what FL/AI are doing or get an investor or sell to Merlin. Merlin SO FAR have done a good job but they got a way ahead of them. As for the other parks, they need to step up the game.LWV, Oakwood and Drayton need to defo step up their game and invest in new rides - they could have gotten ride of the Buffalo Coaster and replaced it with a inexpensive Gerst/Maurer Launch Coaster to name one possible coaster.

Do they have a lot of space? Can they get more space & expand?

Flamingo Land and Paultons are doing very well - I'll keep an eye on Adventure Island. From what I've seen AI seems a bit carnival but Ill do a bit of browsing.

I love the comments this topic is getting compared to the comments from my version on the TTF topic - mass gang-up and slaughter on me purely unedited. I get them bullying me because my opinion didn't match what they wanted or agreed with.These comments are my own - I haven't rode Mumbo Jumbo and no I don't plan to unless I am down at that area for an other reason. I admire the fact that they are climbing up the ladder but I would wish that they don't have to invest in a compact coaster but something solid that will pave the way for smarter decisions.Kumali, even though it looks short (POV video) its quite remarkable but I feel that additions such as velocity is a poor-effort despite the fact that its a first in the UK. I would have personally would like a Gerstlauer/Mark launch coaster that is relatively inexpensive compared to Intamin to name one.I appreciate the fact that all of you here - answered the question on whether you thought our industry is going the drain w/o mass ganging-up.

No - we're not that sad (not trying to say anybody is). But I can't wait till this new coaster opens.

TPDan kinda hit the nail on the head here - I have noticed that people (not me) can't even say things within reason without getting shouted at or heavily criticised.If someone has an opinion, it would be probably for the best interests if the person were to say IMO, so others don't slaughter him/her.CWoA's fastrack, is something I like - I get for £7 a ride on their best rides excl Rattlesnake & RR, it's really good and good-value for money.

Are other British Theme Parks going down the drain?Alton: The place is supposed to be number 1 and they cant even get half the things they want right. The Flume, Enterprise and Submission are crap, Gloomy Wood and Katanga Canyon haven't seen development in ages. Adventure Land is crap and UG Land have major theme clashes. Oblivion, Nemesis and AIR are the only things they got right.I love Alton Towers, so this is heartbreaking that they had effin locals being so damn out of order - don't they realise that they are keeping the local town from going bust.Other Merlin Parks:CWoA: No new ride or coaster since 2004 - 6 years (assuming 2010 is our year) But I love the 2009 developments.Thorpe: Concreate island with carnival and un-themed rides. No landscaping, rides always breakdown, queues always with chavs running aroundOther UK Parks:Drayton Manor: Don't get me started one car for G-Force? And they're wanting a hotel with waterpark? :(BPB: Cramped ridesOakwood: No new ridesLWV: No new rides since forever and their latest attempt is a fibre-glass river rapids.All the other parks in the UK are either crap or gone/going soon into adminstration/bankruptcy that Paultons, Adventure Island and Flamingo land are a few of the only non-Merlin British parks that seem to be doing things right.The £1 Million Pound question is:Are other British Theme Parks going down the drain? With the recession and everything that has been happening, especially to Camelot, I can realistically see LWV, Oakwood and Drayton Manor going bust with Merlin Ent buying them. What are your thoughts?

The ride was falling apart & had high maintenance costs. I hope that Thorpe replaces the ride with something that is good and leaves a good impression.Areas or rides that could be replaced:XNWOOctopus GardensThe BeachTime Voyagers

On a sadder note, I have been told that my 2009 application form for Chessington Food & Beverage has been unsuccessful and I won't be joining the F&B Crew. I was quite shocked that I wasn't successful because I loved working at CWoA F&B and I was quite sure that because I have been trained and have the experience that they would choose me over someone new that they would have to spend money to train.In addition, that I was told many times that I did a good job and had brilliant customer service - one point, I was asked to leave the team that I was in (Transylvania/Pirate's Cove) and to come to another team because I had good customer service. So yeah, I am feeling quite low - I actually think I must have done something wrong. With my next action being that I email n phoned for feedback to which I should get that by Fri/Mon.

I'm going on the 14th March

I bet if Alton Towers were a person, they'd be some profitable saint

WOW!I bet Alton are incredibly happy or sad. What do you think? Happy of course :rolleyes:I do wonder why Alton is gaving free entry to Camelot pre-booked families as in what is in it for them.Alton would loose money from the people who they are letting in free (Camelot) unless Alton (Merlin Ent) has bought Camelot - which makes sense in giving free entry. The reason why I don't get it that they're two different companies and even in the recession, Alton wouldn't want to loose money.Maybe Alton are being sympathetic and are extending a hand of friendship?

*Note to RSPCA & Various pet stores* Forbid Chris Denny from buying animalsMy parents both had dogs but our house is not nearly as big as theirs was. And I'm not responsible enough and we don't have enough time. Mum works in Harrods so she can be quite busy and my Dad is over-seas working whilst Sis has a full-time job and goes to see b/f on weekend, so we don't have enough time for pets.But my mum has Arthritis on both knees that is random and she said that when she quits (25 yrs of working at Harrods) because of her knees, then we'll get a dog and a cat - which is in 1-2 yrs time.

^^Like I got "other" things to do - nah I'm going on holiday so I need to get new work doneBut I'll come to March 14th meet-up

5 things I hate:1) I hate narcissists (people who love themselves)/self-obessed AND arrogant people. 2) I hate girls who wear so much make-up - a lil' is fine3) I hate people who are snoobish/stuck-up4) I hate guy who boost about everything - a lil' is fine:When they say that they can get any girl they want and x can't. And that girls are *Derogative Comment*. Two letters begins with a H or when they girls are easy.5) I hate it in general when people are fake and e.g. they pretend they are your friend and they're not because they be B*n about you behind your back. Only happened to me a few times - because I get told everything inc gossip about others but a lot to my friends.*) I hate in general when people who use racism or bully people to make themselves look good - I saw this on some documentary on Channel 4 - quite anger-generating watching parents talk about their sons/daughters who committed suicide.

Ahhh! didn't see it from this view

Obv not - when the ride opens, it will probs look amazing (^)

About bloody time - thank god for some well-deserved recognition. James is one of the nice ones (ladies) here :)I thought people meant the first pic not the first pic via date. Looks really interesting and want to see more

She? someone needs to visit St Catherine's Docks again :)Some weird reason - station and the ride looks nice in the snow.

I actually do wonder...really? :PWhen I first went to Feb 13/14th meet-up, I didn't know anyone and yes, I did get a few dirty looks and stares. heheBut the most important thing, is to be nice and take the time to talk to people and then they'll loosen up. And when I meet people and I get people saying "Oh there's Will RUN!!!" - I know they care and look forward to see me (Just Joking)We're not that bad but actually good - and if you take a chance n come to the meet-ups you'll be thinking hmm not too shabbyHope you come

See I have Aspergers (Mild Autism) but I wouldn't consider it a disability but more of a difficulty. But it depends how severe.If any of you remember the film "Mercury Rising" (Bruce Willis) features an autitsic child who is targeted by assassins after cracking a top secret government code.Anyway...he has it at the highest pointBack to me - I don't ask for a disabled pass because I never thought it was classified etcAnd when people who don't have it as bad as I do, it takes the piss.Wouldn't you (anyone) agree?

I meant me as a guest - maybe I should have made that out