JoshC.

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...

Depth Charge (6) Nemesis Inferno (6) Rocky Express (3) Stealth (4) The Swarm (5) Tidal Wave (5) X (6) Rocky + Tidal -

Depth Charge (3)Detonator: Bombs Away (4)Nemesis Inferno (7)Rocky Express (5)Stealth (5)The Swarm (5)Tidal Wave (5)X (7) Detonator + Tidal Wave -

Depth Charge (5)Detonator: Bombs Away (5)Nemesis Inferno (5)Rocky Express (5)Rumba Rapids (0)Stealth (6)The Swarm (5)Tidal Wave (6)X (8) Rumba Rapids - Detonator + Rumbye Scores reset... Depth Charge (5)Detonator: Bombs Away (5)Nemesis Inferno (5)Rocky Express (5)Stealth (5)The Swarm (5)Tidal Wave (5)X (5)

Depth Charge (5)Detonator: Bombs Away (3)Nemesis Inferno (5)Rocky Express (5)Rumba Rapids (2)Stealth (6)The Swarm (5)Tidal Wave (6)X (8) Rumba Rapids - Detonator + I don't think so...

It's an..interesting idea actually. VR would be a good way to make X more appealing for the thrill audience. Certainly more appealing than just sticking barbed wire everywhere and sticking a creepy soundtrack on it. And it then means that younger audiences could still ride it, maybe without even seeing one zombie if they kept them all in the 'virtual world'. It wouldn't be the best way to create a Walking Dead coaster, but then again, X isn't the best ride for a Walking Dead overlay. So yeah, there's potential there...

Depth Charge (5)Detonator: Bombs Away (4)Nemesis Inferno (5)Rocky Express (5)Rumba Rapids (3)Stealth (6)The Swarm (5)Tidal Wave (5)X (7) Detonator + Rumba - Sorry LC

Depth Charge (5)Detonator: Bombs Away (5)Nemesis Inferno (5)Rocky Express (5)Rumba Rapids (4)Stealth (6)The Swarm (5)Tidal Wave (5)X (5) Depth Charge + Rumba Rapids - Like seriously, how is Rumba still here. Poor show guys...

I wouldn't go telling the Wicker Man anything personal, he can be rather two-faced... [Unsure on source]

Neat little promo for Fenix: I seem to be in the minority who doesn't think it looks ugly, but I'm disappointed it looks like it'll be a 90 degree turn then a 180 degree twist, rather than a turn and twist at the same time.

From that perspective, it makes the wicker man statue look a lot less impressive and inspiring than I was expecting. I'm sure it'll still look good from ground level, but still a bit of a shame to me.

I do think Gerstlauer's dodgy reputation is undeserved (especially with UK enthusiasts, which has some of the rougher examples). But, Van Helsing aside, every Gerstlauer I've done is either rough in its own right, rough in certain rows, or inconsistent with the rides they give. So even if I enjoy some of their rides (like Saw and Anubis), you can't be guaranteed a good ride. Some of the more well received Gerstlauers don't seem to have these problem though. At least with Intamin, if it's right, it's always right. And they do seem to be getting things right more (especially now they've seemed to get lap bar restraints sorted and their OTSRs are a thing of the past). Going forward, I'd much prefer to see an Intamin which has a good chance of always being good than a Gerstlauer that's got a better chance of only being good half the time.

What are you classing as the Big 5? B&M, Intamin, Mack, Gerstlauer and Vekoma? If so, I'd argue Intamin are better than Gerstlauer. I could list many more major appealing Intamin rides than Gerst ones (the two you mention above, Flying Aces, Skyrush, some of their Chinese coasters such as Soaring with Dragon, hopefully Hyperion..). Gerst have a couple (their infinity models are doing well, as are their bobsled), but I still think they have a lot of generally disappointing or rough rides. At the very least, I'd rather see a large Intamin than a large Gerstlauer come to the UK. Maybe that's another unpopular opinion on my behalf though, that deep down I do like Intamin...when they do things right...

In a deviation from previous years, the Annual Pass sale will be starting on January 1st, as opposed to today. No word yet on pricing.

Have some Mack goodness, courtesy of the park themselves...

-Movie Park Germany is a decent park -Walibi Holland is a decent park -Currently, Vekoma is a more exciting manufacturer than B&M, and I'd rather see one of their products over a B&M in the UK -I don't get the fuss over RMC. In particular, their single track coasters look so meh -Dreamflight (Efteling) is average, and my least favourite dark ride at the park

It's ludicrous how much detail and thought is in there. Especially the names of books being references to general stuff - it shows just how much fun the designers had too. It's good as well that the overall quality is high as well. In all things entertainment, it's easy to focus on all the little details, creating all these references and in jokes, that you lose track of the bigger picture and the overall product then doesn't work. But with Symbolica everything works, and the added hidden layers are just massive bonuses.

Base of supports not good enough for anyone here? Maybe the bottom of the track bring installed will set your whistle a bit more... A gentle reminder that this is going to be enclosed by a tunnel too...

Depth Charge (5)Detonator: Bombs Away (4)Flying Fish (5)King Pig's Wild Hog Dodgems (5)Mr. Monkey's Banana Ride (5)Nemesis Inferno (5)Quantum (5)Rocky Express (5)Rumba Rapids (5)Rush (7)Samurai (2)Stealth (5)Storm In A Teacup (5)The Swarm (5)Tidal Wave (6)X (6) Detonator + Samurai -

And for anyone who's planning on wasting their time trying to read the symbols, it says 'Feed the Flames' at the bottom

For any Doubting Debras over the name, an announcement is due on 8th January, which will no doubt include a teaser video, name release, etc.

Visited the park for the Winter Tail event (Christmas treat for my baby brother - wouldn't dream of thinking of going if he wasn't Gruffalo-obsessed for the record). Perhaps unsurprisingly, it's not the best event. The ride line up of Gruffalo, Adventure Tree, Tiny Truckers, Treetop Hoppers, Hocus Pocus and Amazu hardly sets the world on fire. All the Christmas stuff requires tickets, even though it's all included for free - seems very faffy. I guess it's to stop people going in multiple timrs, but frankly for the cost (£20 for AP holders, £25 without), if my brother wanted to decorate a second Gruffalo cookie, why on earth can't he... The Father Christmas set up used Trick or Treat wood as per, which meant there's about 5 or 6 different Father Christmases, and it wasn't disguised very well. The presents given to the child consisted of a choice of some cheap, discontinued Chessington tat (a basketball, a notepad, a small teddy or some stickers), none of which were wrapped up, which is very much a substandard grotto. Adults got a free hot drink (which was easily the most watered down hot chocolate I've ever had) and gingerbread cookie. So yeah, not a great event. My brother enjoyed it enough (mostly because he got to ride Gruffalo far too many times), but that doesn't excuse the poor standard. Not that I think anyone else on here is in the target market for this, but yeah, avoid.

Wonder if there was anything about construction going vertical...or burgundy-coloured passports... (From the park's Facebook)

If a video of a guy talking in Polish in front of some track is your sort of thing, then boy have I got an early Christmas present for you... Don't understand a word of Polish so no idea what the guy is saying, but yay, more track.