JoshC.

Or just standard closed season maintenance.

Seems like any new destinations for Ghost Train will still include demons if that edited concept art at the end is anything to go by.

Cracking banter guys

To be fair, Thorpe do probably have the best flat ride collection in the country, so they'd naturally dominate anyways. Don't worry though pluk, Time Machine did receive some love! Must admit I was surprised at the lack of votes Skyforce received for Best Flat though... Can I also say how disappointed I am that Towers won Best UK Park. Says something about our expectations of parks if we think the best one in the country is one that closes down several attractions, adds cheap VR to a coaster that didn't need it, and tarts things up as a knee jerk reaction...

Walk on during the day; 20 odd minute wait to get into Winter Wonderland itself mind.

So yesterday's meet was the first time I'd actually done the London Dungeons, and I have to say that I was disappointed by it. Far too many dark spaces, no doubt there to go for the whole 'ooh it's creepy because it's dark and you can't see' vibe, when all it is is boring. Came across as a bit too disjointed as well which was a shame. And I really didn't get / like the Ripper Pub scene; like why are you going all supernatural, ghost haunting, on us? Drop Dead was really disappointing too. I liked the boat ride though, so that's something.

Did Olympia yesterday during the day. It was only running 2 trains; 1 running and 1 in the station loading, so no awesome looking train interaction. As a coaster, I found it very average. The 2nd and 3rd loops provided decent force, but everything else was very standard, quite repetitive and just quite...meh really. The shoulder restraints are awful too and did provide some discomfort, which is a shame. However, it's still a marvel in its own right. For a travelling coaster it's very impressive; it's hard to believe that it is a coaster which wasn't stood there 6 weeks ago, and won't be stood there in 6 weeks time. In that respect, it's nothing short of outstanding. But as a coaster, it's meh.

The Member Awards are now up, and all winning members have been tagged - congratulations to all! Thank you for your patience. Except Mat; clearly all that bag holding has made you an impatient moo... Oh, and thanks for all the votes guys!

Looks like we'll have to introduce a 'Most Disappointing TPM Moment' award next year...

People of TPM, the time has come! The votes have been counted and verified, after some delay. And so the time has come to reveal the winners... PARK AWARDS Best UK Park 1) Alton Towers (22) 2) Thorpe Park (14) 3) Paulton's Park (5) Best UK Coaster 1) Nemesis (8) 2) The Smiler (7) 3) The Swarm (6) Best UK Flat 1) Slammer (16) 2) Rush (12) 3) Samurai (8) Best UK Water 1) Valhalla (20) 2) Tidal Wave (13) 3) Congo River Rapids (4) Best UK Dark 1) Derren Brown's Ghost Train (13) 2) Valhalla (8) 3) Duel (7) Best Themed UK Experience 1) Derren Brown's Ghost Train (14) 2) London Dungeons (4) 3=) Valhalla (3) 3=) Lost Kingdom (3) Worst UK Ride 1) Storm Surge (16) 2) Derren Brown's Ghost Train (11) 3) Colossus (3) Best International Park 1) Europa Park (16) 2) Phantasialand (8) 3) Islands of Adventure (5) Best International Coaster 1) Helix, Liseberg (8) 2) Shambhala, Port Aventura (6) 3) Taron, Phantasialand (5) Best New-For-2016 Attraction 1) Taron / Klugheim (16) 2) DBGT (6) 3) Lost Kingdom (5) Best International Themed Experience 1) Tower of Terror (7) 2) Klugheim (3) 3) Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (2) Most Uncomfortable Ride 1) Colossus (8) 2) Furius Baco (6) 3) Saw - The Ride (3) Most Disappointing Merlin Moment 2016 1) Derren Brown's Ghost Train - various reasons, from late opening, 12p ticket issues, general ride experience / availability... (26) 2) Loggers Leap closure (5) 3) Multiple ride closures (4) Best-Looking New-for-2017 Attraction 1) Symbolica (7) 2=) Ferrari Land, PA (4) 2=) Gruffalo attraction at Chessington (4) 2=) Volcano Bay (4) 2=) Mystic Timbers (4) 2=) "There's actually new stuff for 2017?" (4) Best Manufacturer 1) B&M (22) 2) Mack (21) 3) Intamin (6) MEMBER AWARDS Best Member 1) @BaronC. 2) @Matt Creek 3=) @Phill Pritchard 3=) @Wumbamillio Best Team Member 1) @Marc 2) @Peaj 3=) @Mark9 3=) @pluk Best New Member 1) @Josh3103 2) @Stuntman707 3) @Roodie Best Quality Posts 1) @BaronC. 2) @Wumbamillio 3) @Ian-S Best TPM Meet 1) Blackpool 2) Europa Park 3) Fright Nights Most Knowledgeable Member 1) @Wumbamillio 2=) @Marc 2=) @BaronC. 3) @Benin Most Dedicated 1) @Marc 2=) @Matt Creek 2=) @BaronC. 3) @Benin Most Sarcastic (aka 'Benin's Sarcasm Award') 1) @Benin 2) @Matt Creek 3) @wegloo Most Likely to be Banned in 2017 1) @Cornflakes 2) @Coaster Jamie 3) @ChessingtonSam Funniest Member 1) @pluk 2) @wegloo 3) @Matt Creek Biggest Fanboy/girl 1) @BaronC. 2) @Matt Creek 3=) @ChessingtonSam 3=) @Coaster Jamie Sexiest Male 1) @Matt Creek 2) @alexander 3) @Peaj Sexiest Female 1) @Amarghh 2=) @terrortomb 2=) @Matt Creek 3) @Mer Storm Surge Award 1) @Coaster Jamie 2) @ChessingtonSam 3) @Matt Creek Cutest Couple 1) @Ryan and @Amarghh 2) @Mitchada04 and @J.S217 3) @Marc and @Mr. Fish Member You'd Like to See More Of 1) @Jart 2) @Han30 3=) @Coaster Jamie 3=) @Phill Pritchard 3=) @David B

Unfortunately I spontaneously combusted during today, so there will be a delay in the posting of the results. Tomorrow evening maybe. It is at this time we see true TPMers (The Patient Members).

As expected, Plopsaland have gotten a new environmental permit with no issues. Saucey - http://www.looopings.nl/weblog/6652/Plopsaland-krijgt-nieuwe-milieuvergunning-maar-wel-onder-voorwaarden.html

24 hours (and maybe a couple of minutes) to go! Assuming I don't get a high influx of votes at 7:59 tomorrow evening and I don't spontaneously combust, results will be posted tomorrow evening...

Better article for those interested: http://www.diarimes.com/noticies/camp_tarragona/2016/12/14/un_incendi_afecta_ferrari_land_12502_1093.html It appears the fire affected a theatre and a 25m high replica of the Campanile Tower that are in the area. Eyewitnesses suggest that the Tower might have to be knocked down Fire is now put out and no one is injured. It's not believed to be a terrorist attack despite some local's concerns / rumours. The rides themselves are okay. An official statement from the park: Rough translation (found on TST): EDIT: Here's a recent-ish picture from pa-community... The buildings on the right are the ones affected. As said, the Tower is 25m (82ft) high, as there's rumours that may not survive. The white building was also rumoured to be a flying theatre, though no clue how much tech was in there. And apparently one of the S&S towers might have been damaged..

Found a brief news article - http://www.ara.cat/societat/Incendi-Ferrari-Land-Port-Aventura_0_1705029713.html In Spanish and the translation via Google isn't great for me. Hope no one is injured!

Snazzy photo update: Source: http://www.looopings.nl/weblog/6638/Fotos-zo-ligt-de-Goliath-in-Walibi-Holland-er-nu-bij.html I really like the blue over the green! Though in some ways, the green and blue combo works really really; shame they couldn't do some Lost Gravity style design.

These puns are causing an increase in keyboard Warios by the looks of it. I still don't see any basis for claiming the area will be lacking detail, and be basic or boring other than going off the "Nintendo games aren't as detailed as other games", which seems like a stretch of a comparison to me.

Ah yes, my mistake - all the other Merlin RockNTugs are Zierer. Though they have the same capacity and theoretical throughput, so I'd guess any differences are purely just down to how the manufacturers design the vehicle. Many of the rides you suggest have similar issues to the ones spotted at Thorpe though surely? Only a couple of them are truly designed for theme park environments, and many of them could still be seen on the travelling circuit. Though yes, there are some rides you mention that do fit the bill! I guess the crux of all the discussion so far has been that people's opinions of these rides are hinging on whether or not they're themed to fit in with wherever they're going (again, assuming they'll be at Thorpe). And I guess that's something we'll have to just wait and see on. However, I do personally think that the rides themselves are attractions which Thorpe needed anyway, so in terms of the actual ride experiences, we're gaining a positive!

How you can judge that from a piece of concept art is beyond me.

That'd be because it is just a fence! The ride is on the outskirts of the park and faces towards the local area. Seems like a fence will be enough to repel the sound back, and away from locals. So it won't have the same effect as a tunnel, but hopefully a similar one.

Sound barrier complete it seems... Source: http://www.looopings.nl/weblog/6618/Plopsaland-verstopt-houten-achtbaan-achter-enorme-schutting.html Not the prettiest looking view from the car park, but I guess could potentially make the experience a bit more fun?

As has been said by others, there's plenty of rides at theme parks which can be said to not be 'permanent theme park rides', and are in effect fair rides. Samurai, Detonator, Zodiac, Teacups, Vortex... are all rides which could essentially be fair rides, or variations thereof. And for the Rockin' Tug, made by Zamperla, it is offered as a park model, and seems to be all of the same size. I still don't get this criticism though. As I said, if Thorpe want to really go into the 'family' market, I really think at some point they are going to need low-key family / kid rides to the line up. What sort of rides could they add which are to be "expected" of a permanent theme park of Thorpe's quality? Honest question, which I'd love answers to, as I can't really think of any... If the criticism is because of how they are looking at the moment, then that just seems pointless, since the rides haven't been installed, themed, styled, etc etc. If they're installed how they look in the Old Town area, then I agree that critique is justified; at this stage, it isn't though. I always hear this line from several people; people saying that either OG could have stayed, or something else other than Storm Surge could have replaced it. Yet I never see anyone give any suggestions of what the replacement could have been. So again, I'm curious what people think should have gone there. It's like people saying Thorpe need new flat rides - all well and good saying it, but what could they install that would actually add to the line up. I agree that at this stage it hasn't been rethemed. But my point is that Thorpe have actively decided to market the area as Old Town, and it just makes no sense to me for them to actively give an area a new name and vague theme if they're going to completely change it in a year or two. If they were going to do that, surely just keep the Canada Creek name and leave it as it is till the retheme? The direction they're going is Old Town, so it just feels silly for people to cling onto blind faith of it being 'rethemed'. I'd say that they started to focus purely on the thrill market from around 2009/2010. 2010 was when the horrid fat heads came about, along with the 'subtle' innuendos (anyone remember the KFC shark being advertised as 'THORPE PARK'S BIG NEW ERECTION' on Facebook), to the in-your-face stuff (hardcore roller coaster porn video on YouTube...). Dark, dark times. I'd be surprised if Rocky left; Closed Season pictures from TPM and TPG make it out like standard closed season work is going on with the ride, which obviously wouldn't be happening if the ride was being removed.

That 'drift racers' ride (ie the Mario Kart Experience) sounds awesome; hope that happens! <3

Less than a week to go! If you haven't voted, then vote! Or don't, I don't care tbh

Working on the assumption that these rides are going to be installed at Thorpe, I think they're a...nice addition? Regardless of how hard Thorpe tried to push away the family market, it simply did not work. Families still came to visit, including families with young children. It's difficult for Thorpe in some sense - they were almost saying "DON'T COME TO THORPE PARK IF YOU HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN", yet people didn't listen. I guess that was one of the reasons why they had to revert back to actively advertising to families; they were coming anyway. Things like ABL and IAC have at least helped expand the offering a bit more, even if it's not what the park should be doing to become a park suitable for all the family. These rides add a bit more for younger children to do. And I mean *younger* children - don't forget that kids as young as 2 are 0.9m tall and able to ride such rides. And there's enough 2 year olds visiting the park (if you don't believe me, keep an eye out on your next visit, you will see a lot more toddlers than you expect!) to warrant some form of rides which could appeal to them. The trouble with the current 0.9m line up is that they are all rides which are either too high, too fast or too rough for many parents to want to take their young children on them. A RockNTug and Jumping Frog are rides which are proven to have more ridership from younger visitors, whilst not being too popular; see the equivalents at Chessington, Towers, etc. I've seen these sorts of comments on a lot of forums, and it always confuses me. People say the park needs more family rides, more children rides, etc, but when they're added in, people say that's not the sort of stuff they should be adding? I just don't get what people want - what sort of small family rides should a park on Thorpe's scale be adding so that it is not labelled as pathetic, shocking or what? NB: If people are talking about the theming of the rides, please read below. I agree Thorpe's sense of direction can be seen as confusing, as can their general 'brand'. Hopefully this is something that can be worked on over the next year or two. However, I think many over-exaggerate the removal of so many family rides. In the last 10 years, they've removed MHFS, CRC, CCR, Octopus Gardens without like-for-like replacements (ie - no attractions of a similar target market replaced them eventually, hence why I'm not including Time Voyagers). And maybe Loggers Leap, but let's take Thorpe's word for it for the moment. Of those rides, how many of them were "family" rides, in the sense of rides that all the family could enjoy? At a push, you could say CRC and CCR. People talking of the removal of the OG rides as a loss is ridiculous in my opinion; they were rides which arguably would have been out of place at Legoland. So keeping them at Thorpe would surely be daft. These rides are ones which are able to produce a slight thrill for adults, whilst still being very entertaining for young children. And I think we can agree that whatever Thorpe's direction, brand, market, is, it is something where they want people to have a 'thrill', and not sit idly by, and that reflects in all of their attractions. And there's nothing wrong with that I guess, even if it's not the norm. I always feel like people are bashing their head against a brick wall with a retheme of the area - they've already put some focus on turning Canada Creek into Old Town, and that should develop in the future. So, in effect, a retheme has already happened, and I can't see one happening again any time soon. I think the big thing for these rides is whether they're themed to fit within the surrounding area. Again, assuming they're going in the Old Town area, if they're left as they are and just plonked down, that really puts a negative side to these rides - they will look totally out of place, feel really cheap and tacky, and justify a lot of hatred towards them, unfortunately. If, however, they are (re)themed, and there's some attempt to make them look part of the surrounding area, then it can make them feel a lot more complete, and belong in the area. And it would then create a nice little area which younger families can enjoy, and inject some real energy into that part of the park. Of course, this is still far from an ideal scenario. I'm sure we'd all love the area to have an open Loggers Leap, or a large-scale attraction replacing it, along with new rides which are highly themed and feel natural in the area. We all know the park are crying out for a major family attraction, be that a coaster with a 1.2m height restriction to appeals to all, or a log flume on the scale of Chiapas or something. But the ideal situation isn't always what we get...far from it sometimes. But regardless of any of that, I do think that if the park are serious about becoming a place that welcomes families, these sorts of attractions would be needed sooner or later. Now of course we play the waiting game to see if these are actually staying at Thorpe, and if they are, where they're going, if they're being themed, etc. etc.