The move is rather interesting considering Eastern Express have just expanded into Dark Forest in Alton Towers, another outside brand. Maybe it was easier to have outside companies!
Europa Park had two guests go up the exit path for Silver Star whilst I was waiting for backrow this time last year. The staff member held us back and let them on. They were literally the only two guests I saw use the facility though, so certainly must have strict rules to get it.
And coasters went down to one train in the evening (except for maybe Colossus), leading to Inferno and Stealth to have 45 - 60 minute queues later into the evening (then for me to get to the front and them both break down again!!!!!)
Agree with Jamie. Certainly my worst visit in quite some time. Got on 5 rides all day due to numerous break downs. I was very unfortunate to have it happen after queueing some time and always when at the front of the queue.
At one point nine rides were unavailable!
Inferno in particular was suffering badly and stopped many times at the start of the brake run. Haven't seen so many issues on Inferno since its issues in opening year.
You missed Rush off of the list above just to add more ammunition!
On a more positive note the eXpo event was great. Well done to Phill for that, you did a fantastic job.
Awesome video of CWoA in 1997. Some good footage of rides and areas, with Vampire, Bubbleworks, Dragon River and Terror Tomb looking good in particular.
They should simply do what Adventure Island do. They say for example...
Opens at 11am, closes between 4pm and 8pm. Then they announce the closing time at the entrance and on their website about midday/1pm.
It doesn't fit with the heritage/vintage idea at all, but I don't believe that alone could bring in the number of visitors they need to survive in the long term. Much of the feedback was that there were not enough thrilling rides and let's be honest there aren't many thrilling vintage rides out there. So I guess they have no choice. This will be better for the park in the long run.
For those wishing to visit from 4pm on the 10pm closing time dates in August the park have evening only tickets for just a tenner making it one of the cheapest theme park tickets available (if not the cheapest) in the UK. Thats a true bargain and can see the late night evenings being very popular now. Even £15 would have been a bargain!
I second that after also being at the park yesterday. The staff who had the unfortunate job of being outside were all friendly, smiling and not complaining or fussing.
Exactly what I meant. My point essentially being that there's actually less storage there than all of the other 2 train Merlin Coasters and this runs 3 or 4 trains most of the time.