JoshC.
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Everything posted by JoshC.
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No idea. Assuming it's something that is coming back this year, it'll probably appear at some point shortly around the start of season. Your best bet is to email the park though and find out. Given its premium nature it's possible they may not be considering bringing it back, so an email might encourage them to bring it back!
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Actually a pretty cool idea tbf. Something that requires work from the NHS / government to implement properly of course, but it would certainly minimise people fraudulently taking advantage of schemes designed to help disabled people (in all walks of life). Would work well with a tiered system too imo. I don't envision a card system like that being implemented officially any time soon, which is a shame as it'd be decent.
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I'm fairly certain at one point Thorpe trialled the idea of only 1 carer, with 2 in special circumstances (might have been around 2010/11?). Wasn't successful, as I think in the end most people made cases to have more than 1 carer that the park couldn't reasonably refute. A tiered system would be interesting. Certainly could solve some of the issues that the system has these days. Obviously there'd be other issues which arise and I could see a PR backlash, but it could still work..
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Having a medically trained person checking the documentation is all well and good in theory, but any half-decent GP in the country will write a strong enough letter to convince someone else that they're in need of a Ride Access Pass. There's obviously the other issue of having enough medically trained staff to check the documentation at a busier park, whilst also being available to tend to any medical emergencies. Presumably at Paultons it is just a member of the First Aid team who only needs a basic First Aid course to work there (though likely has an interest in First Aid and is studying other medical courses), rather than a qualified 'nurse'? Nurses don't get paid enough as it is, I can't imagine how little a theme park nurse would be paid!
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Coaster Count ran a poll to find out users' favourite rides: https://coaster-count.com/page/poll Steel Top 10: 1. Steel Vengeance (Cedar Point) 2. Fury 325 (Carowinds) 3. Taron (Phantasialand) 4. Taiga (Linnanmaki) 5. Zadra (Energylandia) 6. Hakugei (Nagashima Spa Land) 7. Helix (Liseberg) 8. Shambhala (Port Aventura) 9. Maverick (Cedar Point) 10. Untamed (Walibi Holland) Wood Top 10: 1. Wildfire (Kolmarden) 2. El Toro (Six Flags Great Adventure) 3. Lightning Rod (Dollywood) 4. Voyage (Holiday World) 5. Wood Coaster (Knight Valley) 6. Troy (Toverland) 7. Boulder Dash (Lake Compounce) 8. T Express (Everland) 9. Phoenix (Knoebels) 10. Wodan (Europa Park) Pretty fair and reasonable results in my opinion. Some nice stats breakdowns available on the site too, being able to break it down by country and so forth!
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I know some people like to act like the people who run the park are idiots, but I'm sure you know that no one thinks this...right? I'm not for one second suggesting that you should have an answer, but I want to bring up a fair point: what can they do to fix it? People on forums and within the community are quick to pipe up when they have an idea which they think works for pretty much anything theme park related, but I don't think I've ever seen a half-reasonable / implementable solution on how to improve the system for RAP users, and ensure that only people who truly need it use it. Getting staff to understand, explain, run the system properly is a start. But that's truly only the beginning.
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I know that at one point over the past couple of years, Thorpe considered linking the scanners they use for Fastrack in with the RAP system. The idea being that you would have a card, staff would scan it, and it would let them know when the card could next be used. The system itself couldn't be linked together properly, so didn't work out. Another major issue is that the park's queue times are rarely accurate. So even if they had that system correct, the incorrect queue times would mess with the system. AND even then, most staff checking RAP won't have access to the displayed queue time, which is why they don't bother signing it / give wildly incorrect estimates. Better training needs to be given to the staff there really. As well as greater accountability for making it work.
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That image was used to signify 'the road to 2020', since 2020 was meant to be the next big investment. The picture is of the Meydan Bridge in Dubai, and was just generic 'futuristic' because it was looking at the future. It had no significance for the rides they were considering, or the themes they were considering. I agree that the Galactica retheme did well for Towers and it might have convinced Merlin to keep that sort of style in mind. With Black Mirror, they've got a solid idea with that tbf
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This new system doesn't sound particularly different to the old one. As I've said before, Merlin have backed themselves into a corner. If they tighten up their policy of who qualifies for a RAP, they'll have hundreds of angry guests complaining they no long qualify, with many no doubt going to the press with stories of 'Theme park says I'm no longer disabled enough to get access to rides' or something. Keep it as it is and the system doesn't get any better, but they'll be less escalated complaints. In other words, until Merlin are ready to soak up a massively negative, delicate PR storm, they won't change the system.
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I passed my PhD Upgrade today! It now means I'm well on track to finish my PhD in the next two years (and be able to put Dr in front on my name!!)
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-How many ways can they dress up the idea of 'ride our 6 best rides and get a pop badge'? -"Random roller coaster replays"? Are they suggesting you'll get multiple laps on a roller coaster? Sounds like a silly idea? -"Detonation delays"? You mean, like how Detonator always runs? -SuperCharged Summer sounds...naff? -Food stuff sounds alright though. Hopefully their efforts for this year have gone into improving the park. Because these events sound like they've been knocked up in 5 minutes by someone who's never visited a theme park before...
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Now that's an IP I could get behind!! Kudos. I wanted to try something similar but am too lazy; expertly pulled off! I feel like this point is raised every single time an IP comes to the park. Frankly, I don't think it works for a park to focus solely on IPs unless they're HUGE names with an overarching connection. Islands of Adventure works because of this. The one in Dubai has that appeal because of this. Thorpe with its mash of Walking Dead/Black Mirror/Derren Brown/Angry Birds/Saw? Not so much. Sure, there's stuff which will appeal to people, but its a very scattergun approach, but at the same time in a narrow market. I'm just not sure that can work long term. IPs don't drive traffic towards the park. IPs don't drive traffic to any parks. Well executed IPs drive traffic towards the park. That's why Saw worked. That's why Thomas Land worked. That's why Peppa Pig World worked. CBeebies Land too. That's why Angry Birds, I'm a Celeb, Derren Brown and The Walking Dead didn't work: they weren't executed well enough. Maybe Thorpe will execute this well. It's a relevant IP with a good premise and a strong following. But if they do, it'll only be their 6th permanent IP attraction in 11 years that's been well executed. Hardly strong indication that IPs are good for the park. --- As I've said, not really my thing, since I haven't watched Black Mirror. Concept could be interesting, and it could work for the masses if done right. Some other things I think should be thrown out there: -The idea of a Black Mirror attraction was toyed around with since summer last year I believe. It's hardly a last minute thing. -This is intended to open at start of season (remember, Thorpe opens around the end of March) -I don't believe there are meant to be live actors
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Description of the experience from the park:
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Believe this is taking place in Living Nightmare space, and will be a multi route experience with some special effects. Really doesn't interest me. But I guess it could be alright if it's your thing..
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It's progressing well and looks beautiful. Apparently this is being done completely in-house too, which is amazing.
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Testing is apparently going well with Fly, with 2 trains making regular circuits around the track: https://www.phantafriends.de/topic/1873-neu-20xx-fly-diskussion/?do=findComment&comment=148004 It's expected that, similar to Taron, the ride will be able to run 4 trains. But still progress all the same.
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In the last ten years, Phantasialand has only seen six new rides, two if which are "off the shelf" family rides. They've only seen 1 retheme too, Thorpe have seen many. Quantity means nothing.
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Because Legoland Japan and Legoland Dubai are getting all the visitors and making all the money? (spoilers: they're not)
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I don't know what you're talking about... (thanks!)
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Decided to be a negative so-and-so and have come up with my 10 most-hated coasters (from least most-hated to most most-hated)... 10. Kirnu, Linnanmäki Intamin's first Zac Spin coaster. It's awful. 9. Shockwave, Drayton Manor Intamin stand up. It wasn't awful the first time I rode it. Second time I was worried I'd be castrated. Never again. 8. Tornado, Hellendoorn An almost 30 year old Vekoma sit down looper didn't sound appealing. Funnily enough, it wasn't. When I rode it, operator offered the group I was in a ride at the back because it's better there. I politely refused. 7. Boomerang, Bellewaerde One of the first Vekoma Boomerangs. Not the worst Boomerang I've done, but still, nope. 6. Vampire, Walibi Belgium The first SLC to appear on the list. It's painful, so so painful. 5. Cobra, Walibi Belgium Another Vekoma Boomerang. It's crazy how a coasters with the exact same layout can feel different, but this is just less appealing than Bellewaerde's one. Even crazier thing is I can tolerate (and kinda enjoy) Walbi Holland's Boomerang... 4. Hero, Flamingo Land Whoever thought of putting people in a flying cage needs their head checking. 3. Ukko, Linnanmäki A Maurer Sky Loop. The sheer pressure your head experiences when you're being hung upside waiting for the train to disconnect from the lift chain is actually one of the most uncomfortable moments I've ever experienced in my life. 2. MP Express, Movie Park Germany Another SLC! This one looks ugly, sounds ugly and smells ugly (not even kidding, the stench of manure is overpowering somehow). It also rides terribly. 1. El Condor, Walibi Holland Another SLC? Whodathunkit! It's the first SLC too. And it's just dreadful from the moment you sit in the seat until about 2 hours later when the headache finally subsides. Why couldn't Vekoma have stopped after this one? --- Looking at it it's actually a boring list since all but Shockwave are off-the-shelf models. Near inclusions were Colossus (Thorpe), Smiler (Towers), Viking Roller Coaster (Energylandia) and Tulireki (Linnanmäki).
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Nice idea for an event I wonder if it'll be popular, given how previous club events have been received over the past year or two, along with it being before the season starts. Then again, being before start of season might help, what with it being an early chance for night rides too
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This is a bit of a weird stance no? Sweden is Europe, sure, but it's a bit more detached from the mainland. You say Icon is a novelty because the UK doesn't have anything like it, but Helix is the same because Sweden doesn't have anything like it (and until last year, no where in Scandinavia did). I get the whole "there's greater competition in mainland Europe" argument, and that definitely helps improve quality from those parks. But it's very odd to say you have a not-positive reaction for a coaster because it's surrounded by other good coasters? This is a very common thing in Europe. The closing time for the park is when the rides stop running. So if closing time is 11pm and a ride has a 30min queue at 10.20, the ride staff will get ready to shut the queue at 10.30. Obviously not an exact science and it relies on staff being good at knowing how long a queue is and keeping guests informed of those times (easier said than done), but most people will understand that. Admittedly it's becoming less common now in my experiences, but this is an complaint I've seen from a lot of UK people who are used to the 'closing time is when the queues close' logic, who don't realise that this isn't so much the norm.
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Certainly used to. I expect the lack of use these days is due to overzealous internal H&S more than anything else tbf
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I think this is the thing with Helix, and probably all Mack launch coasters (at the very least, all Mack launch coasters I've done). Helix shouldn't really be thought of as a 'launch coaster'. It is a coaster that happens to feature launches. They are not there as a way of making you go very fast very quickly. They are there as a way to maintain and/or build up slight speed in unnatural positions of the layout (ie: flat / inclines upwards). There's nothing wrong with that. It's good. But it certainly can make it underwhelming if that's not what you're wanting / expecting. Helix's layout more than makes up for it in my mind (and clearly in the majority of people's mind too!). Plus the location, length and such really adds to it. But I think there is a managing expectations vibe to it as well, given it was the first 'modern' multi launch coaster and really burst onto the scene in that sense. It says a lot the most powerful Mack launch coaster I've done is probably Pulsar: a ride which is regarded by Mack as 'a coaster with a launch', rather than a 'launch coaster'!
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I guess the issue with steps / stools is that the point is you need to be able to get in / out of the seat in case of an emergency. If there's a time sensitive reason to get people out the ride, they don't want to have the additional responsibility of getting a step to get someone out.
