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JoshC.

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Posts posted by JoshC.

  1. 34 minutes ago, Benin said:

    No mention of the food? The food is fab, especially the pancakes :wub: 

    I was a bit disappointed by the food on my last visit; Polle's was particularly disappointing to the point where I didn't eat a dessert from there...

     

    But all my other experiences with the food on park had been flipping good tbf. 

  2. The park has more thrilling rides than, for example, Chessington does, easily. 

     

    Between Baron, Joris, Flying Dutchman, Vogel Rok and Python, they've got a strong quintet of attractions which is fantastic for any family park. It seems weaker due to the UK bias towards thrill rides, and Efteling's want for more traditional experiences.

     

    Of course, if pure thrills are what you are after, the overall spend it takes to do the park will put it lower down the list. But it's definitely a park worth it.

  3. Installment the second...

     

     

    Some facts (with Robin Hood's in brackets)...

    Length: 1085m (1005m)

    Speed: 57.2mph (49.7mph)

    Height: 120ft (105ft)

     

    The drop out of the station goes into a 45 degree outward bank turn, which is now built (but I can't seem to put a picture of it in..)

     

  4. The restrictions changed last year, where the park decided to be more strict following long-term considerations after the Smiler incident.

     

    Each ride has operating conditions set out by the manufacturer. In many cases, these aren't strict and have several variables related to them (a ride running for 10 hours straight is not going to stall the second the temperature goes 0.1C below the recommended temperature, for example). Merlin are now following these recommendations strictly though.

     

    Following them strictly means that if the temperature does go below 0.1C or whatever, even for a second, the park stop running the ride, and require the temperature to be at the minimum operating temperature for a set period of time thereafter. It's a ridiculous system, as with something as complex as rides, a flat cut off condition - bar for extremes - is a bad idea.

     

    So the conditions aren't new, but how the park view them is.

  5. Tbf Linnanmäki looks like a solid enough park as it is, just lacked the killer ride. Taiga should take it from a 'visit one day park' to a 'let's plan a trip specifically for this' park for a fair few European enthusiasts.

     

    Keep forgetting Walibi RA is getting their Gerst next year. It's slipped under the radar somewhat after the initial buzz. It's got a non-launched semi-shuttle ending, featuring a switch track to get you back to the station, I believe. Still not sure how I feel about that fad..

  6. 18 minutes ago, TPC said:

    If Walking Dead: the Ride doesn't win best UK coaster, I will be convinced these awards are fake 

    *Checks votes*

     

    I see you've yet to vote, so make sure you do otherwise it may not win... ;)

  7. Gardaland bring back Sequoia Adventure after a couple of years being SBNO

     

    Heide Park bring back Colossos after a couple of years being SBNO.

     

    Alton Towers bring back the CATCF space into use after a couple of years being SBNO.

     

    Chessington bring (back) a 3D glasses maze after a couple of years (of 3D glasses) being SBNO.

     

    Your move Thorpe? ;)

  8. Well this is what no one expected...

     

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    Dt2dcHFXcAAygHC.jpg

     

    Not even a duelling coaster investment, but a new Vekoma Suspended Thrill Coaster and Junior Boomerang. The STC features an inversion, and should be the first to open in Europe (an STC is rumoured to open somewhere in the world in 2020).

     

    The STC looks fun, and combined with the potential interaction of the Boomerang, it'll be fab to ride imo.

  9. 14 minutes ago, Marley said:

    There is money, tons of it. They are the second biggest entertainments company in the world after all. Too busy maximizing profits.

    Sorry, I didn't make myself clear.

     

    There's not enough money being given to the park to invest in cleaning these parts of the park.

  10. 8 hours ago, Ivsetti said:

    The Swarm, just like the park as a whole, compared to the world is very very bad. It is the worst B&M winged coaster on the planet. It's 5 custom elements put together by an amateur which B&M reluctantly decided to smoothen into something passing a ride purely because Thorpe Park had the money. Its drop probably wasn't even designed by Thorpe Park considering how many other rides have it. And it shows. It's the single good element on there. 

    The first inversion was designed between Thorpe and B&M. Merlin and B&M still have a good working relationship even now thanks to the work they did together at Towers with Secret Weapons. The reason the wing over drop has been mimicked on most wing coasters is because it looks iconic and makes the best use of the seating arrangement.

     

    8 hours ago, Ivsetti said:

     

    And the theming. The theming is also "good". Nice. So ask Joe Public what the ride's about? "Uhhh.....?" IDK? Correct. The only people that know it's meant to be an alien invasion are the ones who've researched this online. So it's not good theming. It's confusing theming.

    Personally I think enthusiasts sometimes overstate the importance of a ride's story. You use Swarm as an example, but the exact same could be said of Nemesis at Towers. And if we look further afield, Taron at Phantasialand for example. These rides have stories attached to them, but no one will really know what they are unless you look online. And arguably Swarm does it's storytelling best since it spells the story out in the queue...

    8 hours ago, Ivsetti said:

     

    A similar story is seen on Nemesis Inferno - the worst B&M Invert on the planet. And Saw - the most painful Gerstlaeur Eurofighter. Colossus - A below average coaster.

    These sorts of hyoerbole (along with your Swarm one) means nothing. I'm guessing you haven't ridden every wing, invert, Eurofighter, etc. for starters. And even if they are the worst examples of their respective types, does it matter that much if they're good rides in their own right?

     

    8 hours ago, Ivsetti said:

    This is also important to become an extremely well-known brand that is noted for its excellent operations because soon they will be having a competitor that will threaten all Merlin parks in the UK - The London Resort - opening in a mere decade which will be worth and raking in billions (I.e. truly international level), not the millions that Thorpe Park currently operates at. Then people will really see how short-changed they've been by Merlin parks for the last 2 decades. 

     

    Haha, not going to lie, but it still makes me laugh when people think this will happen. It's experienced so many delays, the cost of it keeps rising, and management has changed hands so many times. It's not going to happen.

    8 hours ago, Ivsetti said:

     

    Merlin have stated IP's is their future. The next coaster WILL have an IP. It WON'T have a good layout. NO ONE IN THE WORLD that comes to Thorpe Park from outside the UK considers ANY of  Thorpe Park's rollercoasters any good.

    Can I have Saturday's lottery numbers please, since you seem to own a crystal ball?

    8 hours ago, Ivsetti said:

     

    The Wickerman's layout was going to be worse than it currently was were it not for the expert guidance of John Wardley pulled in at the last minute. Who after not being initially included for the SW8 project probably refused to work for the 2020 coaster. Who is currently the best rollercoaster designer at Merlin. Whose Thorpe Park rides have been consistently deemed average or below by the GP (Colossus and Nemesis Inferno).

    John Wardley is retired. Wickerman is a different ball game because Wardley had fought for so long to get a wooden coaster at Towers for so long, and still has contact with many people who work for Merlin. It would have perhaps been more a gesture of courtesy to, in the early planning phase, contact him to say "we're planning a wooden coaster, and we'd love your input". He was contacted too late for him to do anything of note.

     

    He wouldn't be involved in any future projects for Thorpe. He's retired. He didn't have as much involvement with Thorpe as he did with Towers. There's no reason for him to be involved.

    8 hours ago, Ivsetti said:

    I say all this in anticipation so that we as a community don't become disappointed. I look forward to being proven wrong in the future by Thorpe Park and Merlin. I look forward to a stunning world-class coaster in 2020 that will take Thorpe Park off the "nation's thrill capital" map and place it on the international map. I look forward to it, but don't expect it. And neither should any of you.

    Thorpe don't plan on being an international park though. None of Merlin's parks do. I don't agree with that - Merlin should absolutely try to make Thorpe more of an international destination given its location. But for whatever reason, they don't want to. So why you'd consider that thought I don't know.

     

    Doesn't mean they can't still add high quality additions. Don't see why it needs to be "world-class" though. As long as it's good quality and good fun, does it matter if it's a Top 10 ride or whatever? Not really.

     

    Sounds like you're just setting yourself up to be disappointed to be honest.

  11. It's the most wonderful time of the year - it's the Thorpe Park Mania Awards!

     

    Once again, we are using SurveyMonkey to collect the results.  If you've never used it before, don't worry - it's dead easy!

     

    We've condensed things down a bit this year, to spice up the competition...

     

    PARK AWARDS:

    -Best UK Park

    -Best UK Coaster

    -Best UK Flat Ride

    -Best UK Water Ride

    -Best UK Dark Ride

    -Worst UK Ride

     

    -Best International Park

    -Best International Coaster

    -Best New-for-2018 Attraction (can be in the UK)

    -Most Disappointing Merlin Moment 2018

    -Best Looking Attraction for 2019

    -Best Manufacturer

     

    FORUM AWARDS:

    -Best Member

    -Best Team Member

    -Best Quality Posts

     

    -Most Knowledgeable Member

    -Most Dedicated Member

    -Most Sarcastic Member

    -Most Likely to be Banned in 2018

     

    -Funniest Member

    -Biggest Fanboy/girl

    -Sexiest Male

    -Sexiest Female

    -Storm Surge Award

    -Member you'd like to see more of

     

    And here's some clarifications in case any of the above are confusing...

    • You don't have to vote for all the categories if you don't want!
    • Please you forum usernames rather than real names - makes things easier
    • For the park awards, feel free to vote for parks / rides you like the look of the best (especially the case of International Awards, where members might not have been on many / any foreign rides).
    • Storm Surge Award:  Vote for the member who you think reminds you of Storm Surge or should be awarded a Storm Surge for their efforts in TPM.
    • Member you'd like to see more of Award:  Vote for the member who you'd like to see post on the forums more often / see at meets / generally get to know a bit better!

     

    These are of course meant to be a bit of fun, so just enjoy the ride!  

     

    Link is HERE and an alternative can be found here

     

    Voting will close Sunday 23rd December, 8pm, with winners announced at a point after.

     

    Get those votes coming in!

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  12. 27 minutes ago, Ivsetti said:

    1,436 likes. I don't go on the Insta a lot but that does seem like a fair amount of likes. I'm not sure why they posted it but I'm guessing they're advertising the boat company - maybe they have a link other than they're next to each other or something else like that.

    Still showing 2 likes for me, so must be having some trouble viewing things my end.

     

    As for cleaning, to clear things up...

     

    The park will jetwash all pathways on park during the entire closed season  They do this during the season too (before the park opens for the day usually), but only in areas which are majorly dirty. This is done by the park's usual on site cleaning team.

     

    They don't clean buildings, rides, etc. The main reason for this is because it requires different equipment, different training, etc. Ultimately this boils down to not enough money being available to be invested in cleaning these parts of the park.

  13. It's a good video and I'm looking forward to there being more.

     

    But the social media accounts are very dodgy still. Like yesterday, posting a video on Instagram of a water-skier, which only served a purpose of "look at us, we're on a boat". And at time of writing, it's got a measly two likes.

     

    With their social media, it certainly seems like they take the approach of 'if we throw enough darts, we'll eventually hit the bullseye".

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