JoshC.

Oh-err. Where was that announced? If that's the case, then that would mean in theory only one trains has the two rows turned backwards / operational. I think it was said that there's no necessary extras (such as buying / booking a ticket) to go backwards, so that would be strange. Hopefully, for a 'backwards' queue, they'll just scrap the front row system (which was just a bit pointless to start with really) and modify that a bit.

I don't see why Thorpe would install Extremis? Having Detonator on park, they already have a brilliant drop ride. Granted, a ride like Extremis would offer a different type of drop, but they are fundamentally the same thing; something like Sub Terra could work at Thorpe if there's enough emphasis on everything other than the ride system, but the use of Extremis wouldn't work for Thorpe. To be honest, neither of those rides seem suited to any of the Merlin parks in my opinion. Better to use them at one of the Dungeons, or just sell 'em on.

The park have released some photos of work ongoing maintainenance on the rides. Notice the work for the billboard. By far my favourite!

Seems as though the Android version is available now!

Reasons why iOS is better than Android: -The Smiler game has been released on iOS, but not yet Android. That is all. Can't wait to play though - most people have said it's fun. EDIT: Just to be clear, this post is meant to being criticising Apple, not praising it. Everything else about Android is superior. [/end controversial and pointless phone superiority discussion]

Really really enjoying the current series of Being Human at the moment. I'm seriously impressed this series. Last series had far too much focus on a central plot line and just didn't deviate from it. This series has done much better, giving a central plot which is slowly developing into something more and more interesting, whilst still having enough substance in each individual episode. Really glad that it doesn't feel like they're milking yet, despite being in its fifth series and having none of the original cast. Can't wait to see how it develops!

Ah, my mistake, was getting my facts mixed up. The press release back in October said Smiler will be 3x the length of Oblivion, 3x the ride time of Rita and 10km/h faster than Air. Sorry 'bout that!

Announced by AT's Twitter. Wednesday release it is then.

Will be interesting to see how this goes. There's been enough experience with the Wingrider now from B&M and Merlin to know what works for Wingriders. Something of a similar scale to Raptor would be great, and the Transylvania theme would go down a treat and has plenty of potential with the wingrider concept. I look forward to the development of this!

Hey there - welcome to the forums! If you just scroll over the 'Rides' tab at the top of the website, it still lists X as an extreme thrill, but if go on the Full Ride Listing (http://www.thorpepark.com/rides/full-ride-listing.aspx), it lists it as Thrilling and Fun. So it could be just a transitional phase at the moment if you will. As for the description, I think it has changed again, or at the very least tweaked a bit. Hopefully they don't try and create a 'scary' ride, but just something whih is completely random and weird, which seems like the direction they're taking. Fingers crossed!

Doesn't have to be scary to be good though. I'd also argue that the ride (like Chessington) is marketed at families with people of all ages, not young children. I guess what happens in the cave depends on the story of the attraction. Seems as though we're on safari, and a tree cuts our route off, so we go through a cave that an African tribe has said is dangerous. Have some ancient ritual / chanting and a waterfall in there, and it'd be good. Couple of other effects and it would create a superb ending I think

It's going to mimick a safari pretty much - plenty of people would be interested in that! As for the trucks, I believe they're actually ex-army lorries with 5.8 litre engines. Can't see them wanting to waste fuel by going too slowly.

The length is 1170m; so 3 times the length of Air. If the new No Limits recreation is wholly accurate, then the outdoor section is about 110 seconds, which would still leave about 55 seconds of ride time indoors. Definitely has to be onride pre show(s) for that to happen.

I don't. Maybe you should set one up to see who agrees with you?

And the condoms!

I've no idea what discourse analysis is, but it I can rant about mathematical analysis. Seem like, uni + anything with the word analysis = bad.

Gah, go back to uni on the 20th; can't make any of those dates I'm afraid!

I was under the impression it was more than one.

£70?! *faints over-dramatically* Don't get me wrong, collecting maps isn't a bad thing, I do it myself, at there are some maps which are just beautiful. But I'd never really go to the 'extreme' of buying or selling them really. Or if there ever was one I particularly wanted, I would not pay much money for it. As for paying £13 for the 1998 map, well fair enough, each to their own, but I don't think I could ever value any map at that high a cost; for me, they're more 'sentimental' items. I think I may have a spare 2001 map if you're interested Mr 9?

Dunno whether this is happening for others, but when I try to full screen a Youtube video on the forums, it never works? I can full screen if I got to the video on Youtube fine; just have the issue on the forums. Any help?

Only the 2007 ones are worth any money; they cost 50p for a large part time of the season if memory serves me correctly. Don't quite get why people would sell maps though. They're pretty much worthless (monetary-wise), and if you no longer wanted them, then recycle them or give them to someone who may be interested (to be honest, if you collect theme park maps, you're likely to know someone else who does, even if it's through something like these forums).

"I'm gonna get high!" "Oh, so that's why you're going to Stealth?" "...yeah...Stealth..."

That would be the old site of Treasure Island; an attraction from the 80s/early 90s. I think they connected a long bit of land from there to somewhere near the Maintainance Building a few years back and sorted out a 'pathway' on Treasure Island, so I assume that they could use it more as a service route for easy access to other side of the park whilst it's open. Not too sure on that though. Ride and track delivers I think come through the service gate just to the right of the park (Staines-way), and are stored in various areas. For example, Storm Surge was stored in the staff car park for a while, and some of Swarm's track and supports were placed near the Maintainence Building. Again, though, not 100% sure!

The farm area has now been partially flooded due to the infilling of islands for the likes of Swarm; it's been the park's designated 'flood zone' if you will for ages now. All of the buildings that are there remain as they are Grade I listed I think, but they've probably just been left there really. I remember some pictures were posted a year or two back, and a fair amount had been flooded; more than I was expecting (I've had a look for the pictures, but can't seem to find them unfortunately). The farm closed during the 2006 season due to declining popularity not making it viable. The park were changing target audience and I guess the farm didn't suit people then. The direction they're heading now, thrillseekers, just has no place for a farm, so I can't see it being brought back. I doubt there's any plans to use the area for any investment now; it is very close to Thorpe so there's noise issues to consider and such. I don't think any more infilling is planned either, so it'll probably just stay how it is. The CCR track was all removed slowly but surely, so it's not as easy to bring back connections to the area either. As RideAddict has said, if you go down Monk's Walk by the side of the park, there's opportunities to see it still. Though all you'll probably see are some old buildings, overgrown grass and a bit more water than before.