JoshC.

It would very difficult, perhaps impossible?, for a computer to predict queue times. The maths behind queuing times is quite complicated, and there's too many variables for a computer to do any better than what a human could do I reckon. As for a remark about queue times being 1.7-2.1 times longer with one train compared to two: IF this is true, then this shows that Thorpe are pretty decent on one train operation; one would expect queue times to be at least twice as long on half the number of trains..

Aren't the number of spins counted automatically on these rides? Or is that just at one specific park (that I can't remember the name of now...) EDIT: Beaten to it; nice to know it does indeed count automatically!

I agree - I'm not sure if they were just less prominent last year, but I only caught a glimpse of last year's roaming actors from afar, which was a bit unlucky. In previous years, I always seemed to bump into them. I think that's another reason why a scare zone would be a good idea, along with roaming actors. A scare zone would provide guaranteed contact with actors outside a maze environment, whilst the roaming actors' purpose would not be lost.

Along with this comes some teasing for the geeks, with the Phalanx Control Twitter account (last used in advertised Sub Terra), now becoming activate again - https://twitter.com/PhalanxControl Another Twitter account, Phalanx Archive, has also been made - https://twitter.com/PhalanxArchive. Phalanx Control has tweeted the account, calling it an intruder, and the official Towers Twitter also told TowersStreet that it is an "intruder", the Phalanx Control is for "official communication". So it is possibly a fake account (we know how much some love people love to fake advertise for Towers!), but it could all be part of a story to tease us geeks all the more. Note how Phalanx Archive is a lot more active and has posted reference to SW8... --- On a more Scarefest-orientated note, a bit of a wild idea, but could the Sub Species maze be located IN Sub Terra? The maze is clearly themed around Phalanx and surely must go in Forbidden Valley. But space is quite a premium there. So, given how Sub Terra isn't a wholly popular attraction these days, could Towers have decided to close the ride down for Scarefest, not use the ride system, and instead turn the building into a maze location? It would fit in with the original idea that ScareTour were first given (sewer-dwelling people, etc), especially if they could make it safe for people to travel to the lower regions of Sub Terra's ride area. It would make for an interesting maze, with a decent length, and could also be easily converted into the escape game now mentioned, what with the different rooms and scenes. I know it's a wild idea and I'm likely barking up the wrong bush, but it does seem to fit.

Sounds brilliant and it's great to see the park offering such experiences. But at £99pp (and even £80 with AP discount), it's just too steep. Not all that surprising, but when you consider that there's similar things for cheaper (Twisted Attractions in Birmingham currently offer an hour long escape game for £18pp), it's hard to justify such a steep price.

MBV is definitely returning, just relocated. Where exactly is not known yet. If be surprised if there was left over space in the WC16 building for a maze on the future as well, since the vast majority of the queue seems to be outside

Happened at Thorpe in 2007 for a short period of time. I think that was introduced before Merlin were in charge though, and only lasted a few months. I can't remember of other parks stated charging though!

I've no problem with lifetime Fastrack so long as it's incredibly limited and not for sale (which, by the "money can't buy" thing, I think this is). It's not that surprising that they're trying to make them a thing though. By just being a decent park?

Was expecting someone to play the "Slammer is unique" card.The thing is, if Thorpe are pumping money into Slammer because it's unique, why aren't they advertising it so? If its uniqueness is such a good thing, tell people about it and make them want to ride it!

Love how they've already got benches and bins ready; made me chuckle for some reason! Remember Chiapas opened a year late though! I assume that's why they're doing everything so early though; not wanting to take any chances and whatnot.

If Thorpe can spend the time and effort on doing Slammer up every year, even with it being closed for several months each season, then I don't see why they can't do the same for Samurai to be perfectly honest, even if it means just taking the hit and getting an entirely new model.

SRQs are a good move so long as they can be handled properly. The trouble with many of Thorpe's queues is that it makes it difficult to have a SRQ that works efficiently and doesn't hamper operations. Having SRQ on filler rides is fine (especially if they're testing popularity for them to be installed on future additions), but I can't see SRQ going onto any of the major coasters any time soon without some relatively big queue line changes.

Absolutely no chance of any outdoor section to the ride. The plans show it to be totally indoors, and Thorpe have to stick to those plans pretty much by the letter. Do remember that this is still one of the largest dark rides in the UK in terms of floorspace, and it's got a pretty decent volume to it as well! This is by no means a small building. No; there's real details about the sizes of anything inside the building really. Given the size of the building though, they could quite easily put it into a small section of the building (possibly even over two floors) and it not have any real effect. I'm sure they'll have used the space cleverly enough though!

Yes

Like what? You can't just say something like that and leave us hanging, surely!

It's been a while since there was a silly Merlin PR stunt, so here's one for you... (From Chessington's Facebook)

Double post, but t'is important. Another photo, from the same source as Chaz... It's going up quick!

With regards to construction and secrecy, I guess it depends on the ride system and just how secret the park want to keep the project. Since the site is easily viewed from the likes of Inferno and Storm Surge, they'd have to cover the top of the building as well if they wanted to keep the inside of the building totally secret. But then again, if the ride hardware doesn't give away anything in particular, then I guess construction of the inside can easily go ahead.

Where have Alton / Merlin criticised Paramount over their hotel space, just out of interest?

Ooh, nice updates guys! It's interesting that you feel like this the most drawn-out construction at Thorpe. Maybe it's because I haven't visited as often this year compared to other years when major construction was happening at Thorpe, but this feels a lot more pacey to me! Being able to look at it from pretty much every angle, see deconstruction and groundwork take place quite up close has made it feel less drawn-out, especially compared to recent major projects. in saying that though, I'm not so sure we'll see a March launch. I just feel like if Thorpe really do want to keep this a secret (which does seem to be the case), they're not going to be able to do anything substantial of the inside until after the park closes. And I'm not entirely sure if the closed season could be long enough to construct, theme, test and finish off that much of a ride!

Oh God, don't let the papers find out, please don't let the papers find out.

Was also like it today - apparently someone damaged the slide or something? Would explain why it was closed a couple of days ago, and the park have seemingly taken the decision that it's better to have the attraction with no cyclone finale instead of not having it open at all. Must make the attraction feel quite incomplete though!

You've NEVER seen Swarm get an hour queue in the afternoon?

With all due respect, a graph - presumably - showing average wait times of all rides is ludicrous. Alton Towers has many more rides and attractions than Thorpe (almost double), of which many have shorter wait times anyway. Thorpe have less rides and they tend to have longer queues. The average wait time for queues at a park is no indication of how busy a park. To use it to compare two different parks is even worse and doesn't make any sense to be honest. EDIT: Thinking about it, how exactly do you calculate an average queue time for a week?

Mark literally just said what I was going to say - first week or two of summer holidays are the quietest and usually the best time to go between June-August. The park has been busier in the past couple of months, and will no doubt get busier. If anything, articles like this could hopefully act as a bit of free advertising for the park.