JoshC.

The thing is, everyone will have different views. You may like them, others may not. Bottom line is, they've become less popular (as Benin rightly pointed out, when was the last one built?) and parks are less inclined to build one now. Chances of LC12 being a stand up are unlikely, so, y'know..

I think the problem I've had with Thorpe in more recent years is their direction. I honestly can't stand all the pop music and the other things that Thorpe have added, that are seen to be the 'cool thing' to 'young' people. I like the rides, I like the scenery (though they may not be a lot) and I like going there. I just can't stand some of the decisions they make.But of course, the decisions they have made are probably one of the reasons why they are doing so well. They have a defined audience which they've done well at appealing to. They're getting busier and more popularity, yes, and they're adding many rides (I won't say they're better, as that's a matter of judgement, not fact) and that's amazing for any park. If anyone can name me any park that's added at least one attraction each year since 1998 (and in the past 24 years, only had 1 year where they haven't added a new attraction), then please do. In that sense, Thorpe are phenomenal.I personally would go as far to say that Thorpe is one of the better parks in Europe, on paper. So why does it fail when it matters? The theming and effects is one let down. Rumba Rapids for example. Short layout, but the chance to get people really rather wet. Yet in fails miserably. Theming isn't exactly the best either. Staff is another one. They're not the happiest nor the most entertaining - they're just there as if they're working in a supermarket, with the same old same old going on. I could go on..I think it would be unrealistic to say anything is perfect, and Thorpe just isn't perfect. I think we all know that, and so do Thorpe and Merlin. And because Thorpe isn't perfect and because it has it's flaws, I will happily criticize it and still go, as long as I enjoy it.

^ Totally agree. She's had some catchy pop songs, wears 'different' (some may argue unique, but meh) clothes and becomes a sensation. Personally, I don't really like her songs - they're not my 'thing'. She's just another artist doing her thing the way she thinks is best. People like her for one reason or another, and that's fair enough, but I don't see what all this 'she's a God / legend / icon' who-har is about...

The 'old' Thorpe was simply amazing. Sure, not the best park, not the best themed, nor the bets presented, etc. etc. But it had a charm to it that I'll always remember. The train ride to Thorpe Farm, gazing behind the rides, looking across the lake and Treasure Island, hearing the stories from my of what used to be. Thorpe Farm itself was also amazing. Got to love Pot Bellies as well; delicious! And of course the jetties to and from Model World. Must admit, I really do miss all of that, along with the old Flying Fish.Got quite a lot of Rangers related stuff too! Money boxes, book ends, toys, little finger puppet type things and of course photos with them all. I liked all the related rides as well - especially Mr Rabbit's Tropical Travels - that was always a must for me. Whilst we're round there, Wicked Witch Haunt and Pirates 4D were also great, if not a little scary for me. There's so much more that I have to say about the Old Thorpe really, probably too much rambling though. In short, I totally loved the Old Thorpe. (Unfortunately, I don't have any Ranger related music )

To be fair, I think we all sort of expect something to go on over closed season. I was just saying that visible things to the rides is quiet this time round.

^ No...Just that in comparison to previous closed seasons, it's been quiet...

Zodiac has been deconstructed (ie had pods taken off). Not much else in the way of winter maintainance to be seen. Samurai still has its pods, Rush still has its arms, no scaffolding to be seen...Quiet closed season really...

Ah right, thanks for that

Sorry if this sounds stupid, but I thought the European equivalent of the ADIPS (there is one different?), was much stricter than the ADIPS? So how on earth does Europa get away with that sort of thing.Or is it more a Merlin thing?

^When the name was stated, it was said to either be X-Raptor or Raptor. I actually prefer just Raptor..And a very nice video too..

Totally agree with this!The last time I used Fastrack was in 2009 (a friend gave me her complementary pass for Saw because they wouldn't return before it expired). I have had... one, maybe two, bad trips out of nearly 50 since then. The last time I bought Fastrack was, oh, never. Simply put, not using Fastrack hasn't meant I have had bad days. Yes, I've haf bad days, but not because of Fastrack...

^Someone obviously can't read...

I may never have actually known him, but he seemed like a great guy. RIP Cjw.My condolences to his family and all of his friends on the forum.

Excuse me!? I do not see how you can say that at all...2010 season, cost was £4 (with 17.5% VAT). Pre-VAT, that works out as about £3.40. With 20% VAT, it works out at about £4.10. If you check here: http://www.thorpepark.com/prices/tickets.aspx?tabname=fastrack you can see that prices have risen before you even take into account VAT. Take Stealth again, 2010 - pre VAT was £3.40, now it's £5.00. Just shows how much the prices have gone up - nothing to do with VAT at all.

Quoting this because it is true. Why Thorpe are going to this extreme price in the first place is a bit mind boggling, but hopefully it acts as a deterrence.

Seems to be a very quiet closed season really. Slammer hasn't had it's scaffolding for what seems to be the first time, the four major coasters are probably fine, and Storm Surge is hardly the greatest piece of construction ot occur. I haven't even seen Rush's arm taken off. Hopefully we're looking at more spruce up this closed season..

I understand want to go back on CCR. But quoting a post that's over 2 years old? Seriously..

This. The queue for Colossus can be extraordinarily long and can be as painful as the ride itself sometimes. I'd never wait more than 20 minutes for it personally, and I rarely see that...

Meh, it's not that different to May / June time for me. Revision and school work, and pretend the places don't exist for the majority of the time.

Looks like we live in a world where a teenager can be told off for pulling a leaf of a tree...

Operations have already resumed... Between yesterday and about 10 days ago, more work has gone on.

Vertical Construction started mid-December, so not a while really.The only update that can be given is that vertical construction is continuing.

Dan, I think there's been a misunderstanding between us.I agree he should go for the job in the summer. It's what I adviced him to do in my very first post about all this. But everything just seems to have diverged between loads of things. In short, what I'm saying: work on GCSEs and wait till summer for the job. :PAnd yeah, I was wrong. I didn't think about personal situations for everyone and all that. All I can say to that is I was wrong and I'm sorry. I just feel that people are having a go at me for the fact my mum was able to give me money..

I totally agree that money shouldn't be an issue if you love what you do. But if you're in it just for the money, Chessie or Thorpe wouldn't be my first choice.. Granted, I was a bit narrow minded at first (ie, not considering what he wants to di with his life, etc.) but I still think that the more time you have to focus on GCSEs the better, which I would feel would be not taking a part time job. As for the whole education vs working after compulsory school argument, well, whatever you choose to do, good GCSEs are prefrable, even if it just ends up as a safety net. I find that quite offensive. Yeah, when I was at school, I lived off my mum. She gave me £10 a week, which was for me to buy what I needed / wanted (excluding breakfast lunch and dinner and school clothes). Yeah, I could have done with a bit more, and when I hit 16 I did talk about getting a job. But eventually I decided against to concentrate more on my GCSEs. Personally, I feel if I had had gotten a job, I would not have coped. Now, if I wasn't going to college, in the big wide world of work I would have gone. But instead, I went to college. Decided not to get a job till I settle into the workload and I probably won't get a job till summer. My EMA covers my travel costs, gets me lunch and what I need each week with a little bit leftover. My mum doesn't give mr money any - at my request - because I feel I have enough. So really, I don't need the money. I don't see the point in getting a job that will not relate to my future ambitions for a bit of extra money.So I do apolgise if my mum giving me some money for a couple of years is so wrong.

Yes, we have been talking about summer jobs, but not JUST summer jobs. I think that in general, summer jobs ARE good things - I've never said they're not. Whenever a friend of mine has looked for a summer job, they've always gotten one. So yeah, for me to say there's plenty of summer jobs is wrong, but I've never known anyone who's been looking for a summer job to not eventually get one...And yeah, I am lucky. And, for the record, my mum doesn't have money to toss around, but she actually went out of her way moreso than was probably required so that I could have some money and concentrate on school work primarily.