JoshC.

I don't think H&S would allow it to be honest. Some areas are rather small and dark, and it could be deemed unsafe more towards to the actors more than anyone else to be honest.

I agree it's a terrible film, but it still draws people in and gives people a break. I think it's pretty pointless personally, but in every other aspect, it's just fine.

Very convenient that you say Thorpe only need what they are considering of getting to get the number one spot. To be honest, plonking new rides won't make any park great. They're only half the story. The experience is the other half. And if Thorpe continue with their bare thrill ideology, then they won't get to number one, no matter how good the new rides are...

Personally, I think Paulton's is leaning towards Chessie and could well do so even more in the future. But that's just my take on it.

The thing is, the kids lap it up and love it. Yeah, the place may feel like an advert to anyone over a certain age, but as long as the kids love, Lego are doing perfectly well.I'd personally think that comparing Paulton's to Lego is wrong - it's more of a Chessie 'rival' if you will..

I agree about the lack of theming be sad, though the Human BBQ thing (and the cage inside the BBQ ) was very nice - shame it's not on the big signs.Also agree with the music thing. I 'get' the whole idea of it being a 'whole different park after dark' or however it was marketed. But that's just it; that's how it WAS marketed. I'd prefer a whole day of FN music setting the mood rather than a sudden change.Very much disagree with the Terror Zone. I found it very enjoyable, much more maze like than I expected too. Yes, it's short - but it's a walk through. Wouldn't want it any longer to be honest. Smoke machine under Saw Police car was amazing - loved the burning flesh like smell.Glad you had a good trip, even if it wasn't because the park was on top form.

I think the area by Vampire you mentioned is closed off due to Hocus Pocus preparations. ;)And yes, Bayun Maximus is amazing!

So, the big twist in X Factor was each judge being given a Wild Card...Who'd have thunk it ey?

Well, here's my TR.Got there near to 3; disappointed that slightly that normal music plays before 4. Still in 2 minds about Saw Alive being open all day, but hey-ho - sure it'll prove a good decision on busy times.First off was Rush. Fun as ever, but it was taking AGES to unload. Was stuck in the seat for at least 30 seconds before they even bothered to release. Queue was just under 10 mins. Tried Vortex, but after 5 mins and of waiting and the floor not even being lowered, left the queue.Headed over to Samurai and did Saw as they were both surprisingly short. Now, maze time. Couldn't be bothered with Alive due to time restraints.Hellgate first. Disappointing. Nice theming and love the soundtrack before you go in the maze, but if you look at the scares, they weren't there. Nice to see the spinning tunnel though. Asylum. Was alright I s'pose, but not enough actors to be classed as any good. Found the light and sound effect was getting boring with no actors there to interact. The actual experience was still good, but the scares were poor.Se7en. T'was good. Not as good as last year, with a couple of the middle scenes being poor, but the first and last 2 were very good. Decent scares and the smell in the gluttony(?) room was amazing!The Curse. Terrible. Little scares and too predictable. Soundtrack added little and the maze seemed amateur-ish with the odd good theming. In order of quality:Se7enAsylumHellgateThe CurseDead End. Best way to sum it up: Dead Good. What people have trouble with I do not know. I did it just before half 6 I think (had to leave at 7) when it was still light-ish and every actor made me jump to some extent. The theming is odd and may not be appreciated by the public, yes. The smoke effects were very good and made it disorientating and hard to see. Actors made full use of surroundings and props. Did it a second time and still thoroughly enjoyed it - especially one of the actors recognising me and picking on me all the more! ;)Only problem is the fact it could become congested and take away its charm. However, I think it was amazing and by far the best attraction of the night!Music I heard sounded good too. ;)Hope I can go again soon to more experience the rides in the dark, and maybe the odd maze.

I'm sorry, I thought Halloween Hocus Pocus started on the 22nd!

Vekoma, the manufacturer, call it a family coaster (sometimes referred to as an enigma; the track style). The only reason that warrants to high height restrictions is the fact that the trains are programmed to be backwards (as far as I know). The park advertise it as a thrill ride due to the high restriction.Do get your facts write before you criticise members for taking the tine to write and relatively long and detailed reply..

I think it means that if you live in a council house and are violent, you're a chav. So, if you're getting angry over that, then it probably means you yourself are a chav :(But yeah, that acryonim is utter rubbish and, to be honest, what some define as a chav will be different to what others say. Simple as that.

You base that on one family though. There's not one family in the UK that go to Thorpe.

The thing which you do not understand is that families still go to Thorpe, despite all advertising. No matter what view you take, they still go.You're basing it on a business / enthusiast view, comparing investments, etc. I have a basic understanding of what the parks have done, and what their intentions were. You seem to forget that families of all ages still go to Thorpe park, and they don't think about it the way you are.

I find it very ironic how you have said to everyone to take your enthusiast hat off, and yet you still look at things with it on yourself. It's contradiction.The GP won't think about who the park are aiming towards, they will just go for a fun day - and you don't seem to comprehend that.

So...A family wants to go to Thorpe park. And that happens a lot - loads of families still do go. However, everyone is unable to enjoy the day because the park should only target the teen market. After all, if Chessie are only down the road, then the family can split up and go to two different parks. Yeah, makes really good sense. As you have said, the park isn't designed for the enthusiast - the GP make up a greater deal of the target market. And, if Thorpe just target the teens, and a family go there, the family will:Not have as much fun.Feel unwelcomed.Struggle to keep younger kids entertained.So on and on.And they aren't going to think 'Oh, well Thorpe's a business and they're designed to a particular market so it's our fault for bringing kids here', are they?

^^Use a bit of logic. He's saying it's wrong to generalise everyone inro two groups... This actually upsets me.When people feel they cannot share their view in case they're shot down, or out of fear that they'd be accused of being 'wrong' or narrow minded ir something.I have found many of your opinions very fair judged and interesting and just as thoughtful as many others' for what it's worth Bill.

I full agree with everything that AstroDan, Air Dan, plain old Dan (though, if you want to be pedantic, the park have added a new 'attraction' per se since 1998 ) and James6 have said. ;)It's rather typical at how 'some' people have resorted to insulting others, and not even sticking to their main point, just because people disagree with them. And that's typical TPM.

The thing I don't understand is why you're comparing two completely different parks. Thorpe is much bigger, much more popular and much busier than the park you work for. Yes, from a business side they are the same, but the day you seen Thorpe having rides virtually a walk on on one carriage will be a very sad day for the company. Yeah, t'is Chance.

Firstly, any need for all the question marks - just looks immature. Secondly, if you read back, you'll realise the VERY FIRST thing I said regarding this matter was thinking it was regarding maintenance. Quote is here: Finally, what has that point got to do with your main point about saving money during the season?

Here's a question for everyone...How much extra would it cost to run a second on, say Stealth?I've heard Rita's launches cost about 23p, so slightly more than that (I'd assume) to launch Stealth - and then just the motors in the station? For guest satisfaction to be increased, is it really that much more of a cost? I'd say no..

I find it very ironic how you pull the business card yet in the 2011 topic you say "This is The Nations Thrill Capital. We would prefer a forceful flat ride or small intense coater. not Depth Charge in a round dinghy that twists." So, if the park "aint guna lose money they do not need to", then why would would spend money on a forceful flat when they'll be just a successful for getting the cheap round dinghies? In my eyes, this is the only reasonable 'excuse' the park can have. To be honest, I wouldn't put it down to laziness - I'd put it down to maintenance (this of course without knowing the real reason). But just letting a queue build on one train makes the queuing experience worse, and decreases guest satisfaction - one of the key priorities of any theme park! Thorpe used to, when they were a lot quieter. I doubt they do that any more, or only do it rarely. As for the second comment there, excuse me? What facts has Dan not got exactly? And Paultons is a very different park to Thorpe - comparing the two on operations is like comparing Waitrose to a small, simple non-chained supermarket. The business card that people pull always annoys me. Yes, the park is a business. But does that mean they have to compromise guest satisfaction? No.

The way I see it is simple. Anyone goes on a day like today, poor weather, all kids at school, people at uni, people at work, etc etc - most people would expect it to be quiet. So, you queue up needlessly for 20 minutes when that could easily be 5. At any park, guest satisfaction is a key priority. And a 20 minute queue on one train is far worse than a 20 minute queue on two trains. It's just like the Fastrack effect - stop start, stop start. Makes the queue feel a lot more painful.Also, with the case of Stealth, the train gets in the onload station at around the same time the other train is on the airtime hill (I think). So having two trains isn't going to increase the capacity to the extent that a queue will become nothing. The GP don't think about the cost of running a ride - they think about queuing as quickly as possible so they can do as many rides as possible. I personally hate the idea of one train operation, especially at a park as popular as Thorpe. It just makes the queue feel slower and, if a second train is put on the track, it feels just as bad when they send it round for test runs. It's a lose-lose situation in my eyes.

I wonder if they only want to operate on one train to help ensure that they don't have issues on any major coasters for FN; which would be even worse?

Will probably make it quieter.