JoshC.

In an unsurprising move, Heide Park are getting a Peppa Pig Land this year: https://www.heide-park.de/peppa-pig-land.html It'll feature 4 rides / attractions. Expected cut and paste job from Merlin I guess.

Interesting quote from the updated minisite... Perhaps not a surprise, though this is the first time they've really driven home the safety idea. Also, regarding the world's first, it's stupid - Galactica level stupid - but I guess their logic is how they've focused on the word 'fused'. I guess they're going to go with the idea of if there's enough fire effects, faux-fire effects, etc, that's a fusion, as opposed to just other wooden coasters which stick a flamethrower effect near a wooden coaster. As I say, Galactica level world first, but I did anyone expect any less? Also, some excerpts from the Press Release: Genuinely think they should just focus on first UK woodie more than the world first. But some of those points are just so yawn-worthy and copy and paste from other PRs...

The promo art is gorgeous The world's first is: The world's first rollercoaster experience fusing wood and fire I mean, it's not really, but okay. They're also using the 'first UK woodie in 21 years' angle which is nice. In honesty, this is exactly what I expected. It looks fun, the coaster won't be anything special, but I'm sure it'll do the job and fill the gap. I'm a little concerned that they seem to be focusing on the older end of the target market - let's hope it works out for them! Details here - https://www.wickerman.com/story-so-far/wicker-man-announced-as-latest-ground-breaking-rollercoaster-experience

So I did Tussauds for the first time ever today. The whole concept never really appealed to me, and the added effort of going to it specifically meant I'd never done it, and the majority of the IPs aren't things that interest me. Some 'review' things are the shows / ride... Alien So we arrived at Tussauds for opening (10am), but Alien didn't open till 10:30. Annoying since it's at the start of thing. It's an alright little scare attraction, made me jump once, and some good theming. Given the space they had, they've done well with it. Not sure I would ever want to pay extra for it though. Not worth that. Sherlock Holmes Experience This was fun, nice and interactive (perhaps too interactive, verging on awkwardness). I enjoyed it though, and the end of the story made me chuckle and I thought it was quite clever. Not sure I would ever want to pay extra for it though. Not worth that. Though I'd be more willing to pay extra for it over Alien due to the length of it (even though I'm more a scare fan). Spirit of London I liked this. Some good scenes (I loved the plague stuff), and just good fun in general, with a nice little charm to it. I was disappointed that some of the animatronics weren't working - in particular the carousel. Bit poor when someone who's never been can notice what's not working. Marvel 4D Again, I liked this, even though I'm not a Marvel fan. Though I haven't done many, this is one of many favourite 4D films (probably only bested by Pirates 4D). It was fun, had humour and a good story. The effects were good and used well, and in general I just really enjoyed it. The end of the story was a bit weird and too cheesey - why are they thanking us and saying we were great and the real heroes when we literally did nothing? So yeah, all in all, it's a nice little thing. Glad I ticked it off the list and made a bit more use out of my Merlin Annual Pass. But it's not my thing, and never in a million years would I have paid for it, or any of the add ons...

List can be found here: https://www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1389506 THE CASINO AT BLACKPOOL PLEASURE BEACH Heritage Category: Listing Grade: II The Big Dipper Heritage Category: Listing Grade: II Sir Hiram Maxim's Captive Flying Machine Heritage Category: Listing Grade: II The Grand National Heritage Category: Listing Grade: II Noah's Ark Heritage Category: Listing Grade: II Blue Flyer rollercoaster (originally the Zipper Dipper) Heritage Category: Listing Grade: II (NB - I've totally just copied this post from member 'davidm' on Coasterforce - credit to him for creating the easy to read list)

Well that's one piece of history I'm never going to get to experience... Having not been to Blackpool, I have no sentimental attachment to the thing and I'll in no way miss it as a result. But I'm still disappointed that I'll miss out on it. I guess with H&S becoming more and more prevalent in the UK, and people being more 'complainy' these days, it was always going to be a matter of time before it went from what I heard of the experience. Still a massive shame... Also below is a statement the park gave to the European Coaster Club:

The main reason it spent 2 seasons SBNO was because they wanted to sell it and didn't want to spend the money maintaining it. But no one wanted it, so I guess they had to spend the money to convince someone to buy it. I'm surprised they didn't just send it to one of their smaller parks, or even the new Polish Plopsa park opening this year.. Glad I got them for the cred count. They're meh at best, though you do get some nice freedom on the upper body which is uncommon on suspended/inverted coasters. Looopings only mention that the park plan on replacing they're indoor boat ride with a new indoor ride in the next few years (god knows why, it's fine and charming imo - and the park needs another dark ridd), so it doesn't seem like the space occupied by these will be put to use for anything of note. Bit of a shame.

I wouldn't mind one of the new Mack spinning coasters a la Time Traveller either. Certainly would plug a hole and fit the unique for Europe bill.. Though if we're being realistic, it'll probably just end being the S&S free spin...

Lastest rumours suggest that Walibi are now planning their new coaster to open in 2020, instead of 2019. I doubt it's a coincidence that this comes off the back of Efteling saying that their big new area featuring a coaster is coming in 2020. Surprising really, as I'd have thought the park would want to avoid essentially competing with Efteling, and instead have a year where they've got the big new for the Netherlands. Unless they're planning on just riding off of Efteling's popularity to try and get more foreigners visit..

Was one them how there was literally a cabin in the woods? But ooh, I completely missed them.. Some of the walls were similar, but nothing that jumped out at me. Something to look for this year then...

But 'world's first totally dedicated backwards wooden roller coaster' has such a nice ring to it... [/sarcasm] I imagine it'll be some tacked on world first to do with the theme, theming structure or something similar. First Wicker Man ride or something (they did it with Gruffalo, so I wouldn't put it past them).

Eventually the Pizza Pasta building will be extended so many times that it encloses Colossus, meaning that they won't need to repaint it

Thorpe submitted plans to extend the Pizza Pasta building again. The outdoor area will be enclosed, and a new smaller outdoor area will be set up near the entrance. I'm too lazy to faff about getting the pictures from Facebook in here whilst on my phone, so check out the TPM FB page for pictures if you're that way inclined / don't believe me...

I certainly hope they will...

Excuse the crude drawing attached, but I believe the development is taking place somewhere in the red region, with the yellow line being the road Timber is talking about. If memory serves me correctly, that's an important road which links to a couple of the hotels, so rerouting it is essential. It would mark a significant development for the park, as it's the first time in a very long time the actual park has expanded in the size (and at 8 hectares, this new zone is quite big!). So it'll be very interesting to see what they do with a complete blank slate. Both of those might sound out of character, but then again, people said the same thing about Baron when that was first coming out. But Efteling were apparently impressed with B&M, Baron filled a gap and gave a wider audience a reason to visit. So another 'big coaster' (even if it's more a big family coaster) certainly seems to be where the park should turn to next. A launch coaster would be a very good choice in my books. Doesn't have to have powerful launches, but a solid length, weave in and out of theming, etc. Certainly could fit the bill for an Efteling style coaster.

Bugger my bad; blame the tiredness... Although, all major coasters in Poland have OTSRs, so not necessarily completely out the realm of possibility this'll have OTSRs. Highly unlikely though, of course

Energylandia have said on their Facebook that Hyperion will open with the rest of the park on April 2nd! They've also posted more concept art, showing riders wearing OTSR... Hopefully not indicative of the real thing... Edit: Facebook translation is actually unclear. The Facebook post might be saying Hyperion opens in 2018 season, which starts April 2nd. Much confusion. Standby for clarification...

A generic Alton Towers hotel advert is now referring to SW8 as a "world first roller coaster opening in Spring". This is the first time that SW8 has been marketed as a world first (and I think the first time it's actually been marketed as a coaster), with most key advertising calling it a "world class experience".

This'll be fun... 1) Nemesis Inferno 2) The Swarm 3) Stealth 4) X 5) Tidal Wave 6) Depth Charge 7) Rocky Express 8) Detonator 9) Rumba Rapids 10) Rush 11) Dodgems 12) Quantum 13) Flying Fish 14) Storm in a Teacup 15) Mr Monkey's Banana Ride 16) Samurai 17) Vortex 18) Timber Tug Boat 19) Angry Birds 4D Experience 20) Zodiac 21) I'm a Celebrity 22) Storm Surge 23) Saw - The Ride 24) Lumber Jump 25) Derren Brown's Ghost Train: Rise of the Demon 26) Colossus If anyone thinks we're doing a Chessington or Alton ride game though, think again...

Not today satan Nemesis Inferno (8) The Swarm (2) Nemesis Inferno - Swarm +

Yes Nemesis Inferno (8) Stealth (0) The Swarm (7) Swarm + Stealth - Reset Nemesis Inferno (5) The Swarm (5)

Didn't want to do this, but... Nemesis Inferno (6) Stealth (8) The Swarm (6) X (0) Swarm + X - Reset Nemesis Inferno (5) Stealth (5) The Swarm (5)

Depth Charge (5) Nemesis Inferno (5) Stealth (5) The Swarm (5) Tidal Wave (4) X (6) DC + Tidal -

Beginning of a new year, which means a whole new season of theme parks is just round the corner... So, what theme parks are you thinking of visiting in 2018? What trips have you got planned, are in the middle of planning or still umming and ahhing over? Discuss away... For me... UK: -Merlin quartet as standard -First visit to Blackpool (because Icon) -First visit to Paulton's (probably) -First visits to Lightwater Valley and Flamingo Land (maybe) Europe: -Phantasialand (multiple visits, first of which is in a couple of weeks) -Denmark trip (all major parks and maybe a couple of smaller ones) -Poland (Energylandia and Legendia hopefully, so long as Hyperion opens in time) -Toverland (hopefully, for Avalon / Fenix) -Maybe something for Halloween (I'd like to do one of the Walibi parks, or something Belgian) That's all I have planned for now, so it'll be an exciting year for me. Though who knows what else could pop up...