JoshC.

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...

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.