JoshC.

Go here: http://planning.runnymede.gov.uk/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/GeneralSearch.aspx In the Site Address, search 'Thorpe Park' (Okay, sometimes linking the result it works, sometimes it doesn't, but it's worth a try). You get taken HERE The first few (at time of writing, 5) applications are ones that are permanently there for some reason. After that, it goes in date order, with the most recent ones being displayed first.

Morals guys:

Actually want to build on this - if we compare the plans to real life, so far, everything that has been said to be in the plans has been included. It will probably come as little solace to those who moaned that the plans have been rubbish all along, but it's a good sign in my opinion. With Thorpe's projects in recent year, not everything from the plans has come to life. Stealth's grandstand queue, Fish's lack of scenery, Saw had more exterior theming around the building, Swarm had a car embedding in the church and more that I've probably forgotten about. Indeed, it's a general thing across the Merlin parks it seems. It's a good sign to see that everything they planned came to fruition, which would imply no budget cuts and everything went smoothly. Just something for everyone to bare in mind I think.

The Smiler sent me to marmalise you with 6 mind manipulations: -The Inoculator -The Tickler -The Flasher -The Giggler -The Hypnotiser and finally, the infamous, not-included-in-the-final ride: -THE BANNER.

Clearly Jason was a fan of not having lap bars on the Dodgems...

I'm worried that Jack's account may have been hacked... I thought Inferno was Jack's favourite ever coaster? Jack </3 Inferno.

Leamington Spa / Chertsey / Coventry (in order of the length of time I'll actually be there this year.. )

I think it would be depend on whether Mark's got a voucher for a renewal of a Pass, or a voucher for an entirely new one. If it's a voucher for an entirely new one, I think it's unlikely that he'll be able to get the time 'added on' because it would technically be a new pass, even if it's with the same details. Would be interesting to see what Merlin say though; I've been in the position once or twice where I had to cash in my MAP voucher from the January sale (when they had expiry dates) before my old MAP ran out, and I always assumed I wouldn't be able to get the couple of weeks extra chucked on the end.

So...I gave a revision lecture today to First Years! It was really nice as the stresses and strains of uni, and specifically revision, have been getting to me the past few weeks (and I mean REALLY getting to me). So to have something something different to do was very fun. It also worked out nicely since the module I went over is essentially background knowledge for one of the exams I'm doing in a few weeks time, so was nice to have that grounded in. Talking in front of 200 people (and making a fool of yourself by saying a question is easy then getting it wrong...) was strangely enjoyable! And now back to revision for my 5 remaining exams...

My guess would be it's an attempt to make it quirky and slightly different. Firstly, it's 'War has Evolved'. Evolved, not 3volved. It is an E turned 180 degrees. You can see from other letters used in the graffiti that they are capable of drawing curves. So it was a '3', it would be drawn like one. It's quite like it's an upside down E and not a 3. Sorry to be pedantic, but it's one of those really annoying niggles that just grates me a little bit Anyways, that I can imagine is done to make things stand out a bit more. With Swarm, and specifically the billboard, there's a lot to take in. By seeing a single letter not in the right direction, it draws you to it a bit more. It adds a very small amount of quirkiness to it. It was certainly the first detail I noticed on the billboard when I saw it for the first time in real life, and it made me smile. The Angry Birds graffiti is different, due to it being less subtle. Just going to throw this out there - maybe it was a Rovio decision. Maybe they said they wanted the pigs to have scrawled graffiti and make it seem like they can't spell? Maybe it's a way of wanting to hate the pigs more, because they are just so annoying. Maybe it is just s style thing because Thorpe have found out younger children like this sort of thing? I dunno, but there's plenty of valid reasons Thorpe could have done this. I'm not a fan of it, but - to go for the old cliché - there'll be method in the madness. I do think a comparison between this and Swarm's graffiti isn't really valid, and to say how this "is testament to how poor every new investment is becoming" is just, in my opinion, not fair.

You can tell there's been thought as to making it feel quirky and funny, but at the moment, it seems like something that sounded good on paper but hasn't worked in reality. Will wait and see, as more could be added / it could fit in well with the film. At this stage, it's by least favourite part of the area though..

Is going to be riding Banix at Liseberg soon!

The boat thing was a joke by the way I agree about the IP being a big issue. It definitely not as popular as it used to be for a variety of reasons (other games coming through, saturation of the market, etc.), so I think a lot of people are focusing on that. I'm still a bit wary of the choice, but I reckon that since we've got an Angry Birds film coming in 2016, the brand isn't dead yet and we could well see a new surge in popularity of the IP soon. Some of the IP choices Merlin have gone for recently have been a bit weird, but I think that Thorpe made wise choices with their IPs (Saw is a very defining franchise in horror films and I think all the Fright Nights IPs were good calls). Angry Birds is more a 'We'll have to wait and see' in my opinion. The Merlin debate is an interesting one, and I think some questions of how they spend their money should be raised. From an enthusiast perspective, I don't want to let Merlin's sometimes unusual ways of dealing with money affect my view of some of their rides. Perhaps crudely, knowing the budgets of things, I think to myself 'Well, given they had this much to work with, they've done well / not well / whatever is appropriate'. Of course, from a non-enthusiast perspective, it's a completely different ball game. However, in the eyes of the park, when they are still shifting between markets, maybe as long as non-enthusiasts who are in the family market are at least happy with the park, then they're on the right track. Baby steps, I guess.

Just as a bit of a reverse to this - how are parks meant to know how to improve when some people blindly attack them over everything? Not accusing anyone of course, as this is a general point, but some people do it. Angry Birds Land isn't perfect, but I do think some people are being unnecessarily critical of the area, simply because they don't like the idea. Oh, and didn't you moan about the boat link between the Thorpe Hotel and main park?

Think it's always had it. Has been used in the past for The Carnival of the Bizarre and Barry and Stuart during Fright Night shows.

The sheer monstrous look of this ugly thing of course...

Can someone pass me the sick bucket please?

This is an interesting point actually. Thorpe had that condition enforced upon them when the council approved the extension of the Crash Pad's stay until 2024, saying that there "shall not be any more than 250 bedrooms available...at any one time", with the reason given being "to prevent over development". However, since (presumably) Spring 2018 shall be the finished first phase, there would likely be only 150 rooms in the 'Thorpe Park Hotel' at the time. This would mean the park can then have both Shark Hotel and Thorpe Hotel at once (offering a cheaper alternative and a more expensive one) until the second phase is complete and the final 100 rooms are added in. This is particularly good for the park since full funding for the hotel - which I would guess would mean for the second phase - is unlikely to be available until 2020. The way I could see it working out is like this: -Now until 2018 - Thorpe Shark Hotel is the only hotel on site, with up to 184 rooms. -Spring 2018 - Thorpe Park Hotel opens with 150 rooms. Thorpe Shark Hotel remains open with up to 100 rooms (which I believe is about how many they have at the moment? ). -By 2024 (though possibly earlier) - Thorpe Park Hotel is completely finished, and Thorpe Shark is removed. It's been a very, very long haul for Thorpe, and I doubt they even anticipated it would take so long. However, what should be kept in mind is that not all the delays have been down to Thorpe - yeah, there's been the cost, but there's been logistical troubles and concerns raised by the council / other parties involved. However, these plans are the real deal. These give a lot more design detail then any other plans for the hotel (in fact, for most other planning applications in general - it's not often you see 2 pages of plans on the council's website y'know!) and have to be handed over to RBC in early June. This IS happening!

Picture from SP's Facebook. These are going to look mighty cool when finished I reckon!

The plans do state that the dodgem cars will have a 'vinyl graphic' on them (linky - http://62.254.5.209/AnitePublicDocs/00141833.pdf ). I would have thought they have had done it off site, but I see no reason why they still can't be added on now (or even the Merlin-way of finishing it off a couple of weeks after opening... ).

^Was literally just about to post that. It looks pretty swish in my opinion. Here's that that 2018, 12 whole years after the original plans were submitted, will finally be the year the Thorpe Park Hotel is finally open!

Interesting post on the MAP Facebook page... 'Preview' for Angry Birds 4D...

Your avatar is of you on Talocon at Bantasialand.

Looks like a fun ride, but wouldn't want that manufacturer at Thorpe. Thorpe and Merlin can afford better (and probably have good work relationships with the best), and that ride looks like it could develop a terrible rattle in a few years. In other words - yes to the style of ride (air time, twisty, etc.), no the the manufacturer.

Probably worth stating that I've read CBEEBIES Land is costing £8million. EDIT: Sorry, only just seen this: It fits in a darn site better with Inferno than with Birds fired at each other! Errr...How? Wording it like that, a drop tower doesn't fit in with either theme! But the idea of explosions fits in better with Angry Birds (black bird with it's explosion special power, the TNT blocks, etc.) than with a volcano.