JoshC.

Love the trip report Peaj! It was really great to read it, and made me even more disappointed I missed it. I look forward to this special announcement as well...

We do indeed Sids.. In the MTDP documents submitted in 2010, it only allowed Island C to go up to 50m (and that was the only island located for the 2015 coaster). Islands A and E (island E being where the Snoozeboxes are going) were marked as potential locations for the 2015 coasters, and had 40m as their maximum height. In the planning application for The Swarm, this was said: (Sorry it's a bit skewed; the paragraph was spread over two pages ) In the Snoozebox application, this was stated: (Sorry for not cropping this or anything; as you can see, I screen-capped it last year and couldn't be bothered to do so before putting it on Photobucket) So, it is "likely" that the "2015 coaster" could be 50m tall. This makes me think that it's possible that the way Thorpe wrote it in the MTDP was that they originally planned the 2012 coaster to be 50m, and the "2015" one to be 40m, but changed their mind. So, in fact, the location has nothing to do with it, it's just coincidental because Swarm was only considered for one island. At least, that's how I read it. Either way, the high points of the coasters on all the islands have already been carefully marked (they were highlighted on the MTDP in 2010) to create minimal visual impact for surrounding areas, so I don't think there should be any problems interchanging the maximum heights. I've always had issues with the way the Snoozebox application was worded with regards to the "2015 coaster", though. It only specifies that the "(2015) coaster on Area E may not built until 2016" now. However, as the Snoozeboxes will be there during the 2015 season, there wouldn't build a 2016 coaster on island E, otherwise those staying in the Snoozeboxes are staying on a construction site. So that would mean it would be built in 2016, and likely open in 2017 (or, pushing it and with an early application, mid-way through 2016, seeing how Snoozebox have to go by February 2016). So, it is still possible the "2015 coaster" could be built for the 2015 season, and simply just be built on island A (which seems more logically anyway); at least, that's what I gather from it. Saying that though, I have heard many rumours here and there that, regardless of where it's going, it won't open until 2016 anyway, due to Snoozebox, like you've said Sid. Anyway, to go back to the original point, I believe the next roller coaster will be able to go up to 50m, according to some planning applications (though not the MTDP.. XD)

Nevertheless, the "2015 coaster" can, according to the MTDP, go up to about 50m (just over 160ft). Interesting that you call 2007 and 2010 (I'm ignoring 2004 because I personally don't think the 3 year investment strategy started / came apparent until 2006) "small investment years". Whilst I don't disagree that what they've added in those years haven't been particularly large, the years after them have seen even smaller investments (Time Voyagers and Storm Surge). So, really, 2007 and 2010 should more be medium investments, and yet we've only ever got these "small investments". Even though I've always thought about it, the way you worded it here makes me realise just how long the park hasn't had a large non-major year, and is due one soon. (Just to say, I don't think a large non-major year requires a larger ride, but something like a year dedicated to spruce ups in which a fair bit is spent). With the surprises the park have in store, will be interesting to see just how much they are investing in the actual theme park this year..

Okay, shoot me for double posting in the same day or whatever, but it's worth it imo...

Yeah thanks Dan - was going to do that now actually.. Submission, Sub Terra and Th13teen should've been a bit higher in my opinion and Nemesis is the Number 1 at Alton, but other than that, the results are largely reflective of my opinions!

Experience the evolution? First thoughts are possibly alien-related (aliens could involve once they land here), so Swarm related. Could well be Vengeance becoming a Swarm bolt on, X retheme to become a Swarm bolt on or something similar. Or it could a nudge at the evolution of X in general, and some sort of nightcluby theme? Basically - it could still be anything that's be rumoured. YAY!

This could well come in handy at some point in the future..

This.

Air (3) Nemesis (7) Oblivion (5) Nemesis + Air - Nawwww, no Hex

Air (4) Hex: The Legend Of The Towers (4) Nemesis (5) Oblivion (7) Hex + Air -

Air (5) Hex: The Legend Of The Towers (3) Nemesis (6) Oblivion (6) Hex + Air -

Do not even joke about that!

Air (5) Duel - The Haunted House Strikes Back (4) Hex: The Legend Of The Towers (5) Nemesis (6) Oblivion (5) Hex + Duel -

Air (5) Duel - The Haunted House Strikes Back (5) Hex: The Legend Of The Towers (5) Nemesis (7) Oblivion (5) The Gardens (3) Nemesis + Gardens - Aww, no Sub Terra any more. Could have at least kicked Duel out before it..

Air (6) Duel - The Haunted House Strikes Back (4) Hex: The Legend Of The Towers (6) Nemesis (8) Nemesis: Sub-Terra (2) Oblivion (5) Runaway Mine Train (1) The Gardens (8) Sub Terra + RMT - The minus would go to The Gardens, but saving Sub Terra and knocking out something else is more important at this stage.. XD

I think that the way Alton's planning permission works is they have a General Development Order (not entirely sure if that's right?) so that they don't actually need to apply for planning permission for any coasters in the main park, as long as they meet the pre-agreed conditions in the GDO. The planning permission was more for the construction of the station building and large theming, I think.So, in theory, it is possible that the layout we've seen on the plans could differ to the layout we get. There are a couple of things which lead people to think this is the case, such as the track crossing bits of theming / itself on the plans and the rumours that what we've got was not the original plan for SW7. Personally, I don't think the track will change dramatically / at all, but the hole for the interlocking batwing / cobra roll is a lot deeper than shown on the plans, so possibly the track is too? There's been the rumours of the 'actual' SW7 being pushed back till SW8 due to technical issues or something, hence why we've got this unexpected coaster. I've heard rumours that trick track was meant to be involved, possibly what TT had mentioned, and then that had issues, which has resulted in the delay we've got now. Really and truly, this project is a complete mystery, and my goodness I'm loving it.. Personally, I think that SW7 is the first coaster to feature invisible track, and most of the coaster has already been built...

Air (6) Duel - The Haunted House Strikes Back (5) Hex: The Legend Of The Towers (6) Nemesis (6) Nemesis: Sub-Terra (3) Oblivion (5) Runaway Mine Train (4) The Gardens (5) Sub Terra + Gardens - "If I wanted to look at grass, I'd go to a Garden Centre"

I'd be very interested to see where / when they posted that. I know that rides aren't paid in one lump sum, but for them to publicly say 'We're in debt after building Swarm' (maybe not those words, but to a similar effect), would but rather silly of them (could spark fears that 'Thorpe Park' is in debt and may not open or whatever with all the stupid rumours that happen on the internet..)

Air (5) Duel - The Haunted House Strikes Back (4) Hex: The Legend Of The Towers (6) Nemesis (6) Nemesis: Sub-Terra (6) Oblivion (5) Runaway Mine Train (5) The Gardens (3) Th13teen (2) Th13teen (+1) The Gardens (-1) Standard choice for me. EDIT:

Back here again...

His turn is just reversing Benin's decision, and is quicker to say so than the quote thing.. My go.. Air (5) Duel - The Haunted House Strikes Back (4) Hex: The Legend Of The Towers (6) Nemesis (6) Nemesis: Sub-Terra (6) Oblivion (5) Runaway Mine Train (5) The Gardens (1) Th13teen (4) Th13teen (+1) Gardens (-1) (Includes pluk's go!)

The Swarm backwards rumours said that only the back two rows would be turned backwards. Hence, it could reduce throughput because many people would want to go backwards, but then there's only 2 rows, which can cause huge complications. A bit similar to how Single Rider Queues can reduce throughput if they're not run properly I guess, except to a greater extreme. It just seems so ridiculously unlikely I don't know why we're even considered it.. (Then again, whenever I say something like that, I've always found that thing actually happens, so I have no idea what to think.. ) As for this big announcement, would it really be the return of CCR? I mean, they're announcing it on Facebook (and likely Twitter) to their millions of fans - would they take that opportunity to advertise a ride re-opening that doesn't directly fit their target market? Personally, I don't think so - they're going to use this opportunity to announce something bigger than that, and something that hasn't already been announced (ie - it won't be The Crash Pad, though I guess it could be something special about them).

Air (5) Duel - The Haunted House Strikes Back (4) Hex: The Legend Of The Towers (6) Nemesis (6) Nemesis: Sub-Terra (6) Oblivion (5) Runaway Mine Train (5) The Gardens (1) Th13teen (4) Th13teen + Gardens -

Gonna need some more members playing to settle this one...

Air (5) Duel - The Haunted House Strikes Back (4) Hex: The Legend Of The Towers (6) Nemesis (5) Nemesis: Sub-Terra (6) Oblivion (5) Runaway Mine Train (5) The Gardens (3) Th13teen (3) Th13teen + Gardens - If you go down to the woods today, you better knock The Gardens out of the competition first...