Mattgwise

Didn't see any pictures as such, but this video shows the fire fighter using the equipment. http://youtu.be/eFbyERgUnJo

Except the queue line audio let me guess?

Video of the valleyed train being rescued https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=D-iJKhpHF9s

Ok then but have to say since the change have never heard pop music play on any of my visits since 2010. Like you say though might be due to the noise the ride itself makes.

It has had a sonic soundtrack. Had voices of the characters and ring sound effects. I have heard it on all my visits since it was rethemed. Two sources to back this up also... This page on towersstreet mentions Sonic Spinball as having one of the most Annoying soundtracks on park due to the sonic voices etc: http://www.towersstreet.com/wiki/Alton_Towers_Music_Database#Adventure_Land This website actually has loads of the announcements and voices: http://www.sonicwrecks.com/dep/gamesounds/altontowers/

It always had a playlist of general songs up until it was Sonic Spinball, although often you couldn't hear it due to the loudness of the ride. When it changed to Sonic Spinball it had a sonic themed soundtrack. Maybe they have reverted back to the original tracklist.

Maybe they are planning to do something with Logger's Leap next year. Someone asked on facebook if they plan to replace the dark section and this is the response from Thorpe Park: "Glad you had fun and enjoyed X - we think it's fab too! Watch this space re. Logger's Leap... we'll let you know if we have any plans to change this for next year" Does this hint at a full retheme/refurb or just a replacement of the tunnel?

Get rid of it and put knightmare in it's place! If only!

It looks so open still. Surprised weeds and rubbish hasn't grown through the tracked area. I always think when crossing into Canada Creek that a train is going to go by. Hopefully one day it will happen. Have they still got the trains?

Sorry made it sound like I was saying the dispatch times were quick due to the fastrack. I purely meant for them to be two separate points, So firstly I was praising the efficiency of staff despite the place being empty and meant as a second point that next to no fasttrack was used. Which I guess is obvious seeing as the park was so empty for a half term.

Lost City was playing chart music, but am sure I could hear the ambiance at Zodiac. Saw is still dead, has been for a good year and half now, it really ruins the atmosphere.

Ride operation (loading/dispatching etc) so much more efficiently today with next to no fasttrack ticket holders.

All rides played correct music, Colossus still high pitched and Stealth area slightly high pitched. I personally don't think this will ever be rectified now. Shame the piano loading theme has been ditched from Samurai again. Was so much nicer hearing that last year.

Today had two rides in same seat, front left. The first time it was quite rough, jolted at the bottom of drop and hurt my head. This is for me is the first ever time I've experienced the jolt. On my second ride I did not feel the jolt at all and wasn't too rough. Bizarre.

Just got back from Thorpe Park. Was a brilliant day despite the awful heavy rain pouring down for most of the day.This meant minimal queues. Longest I queued all day was about 20 minutes for Nemesis Inferno and Saw. Stealth was on 1 train so may have been about 30 minutes but had a priority pass from previous visit so didn't queue. Later on in the day got to walk on all rides and even stayed on for rerides on Rumba and Detonator. Think I now prefer rainy days to sunny days when it is so much quieter Storm Surge was initially closed but reopened later on, Saw closed briefly about 1pm and Slammer closed twice temporarily but was a strange situation as both times the ride was operating normally with guests and queue line closed, then nothing happened for 10 mins and it reopened again. All other main coasters ran perfectly from what I saw with two trains and quick dispatching (amazing how much quicker things are without fastrackers) Was strange to see almost all rides closed and shut down by about 6:02pm. Ride Count from 12pm to 6pm: Colossus x 1 Stealth x1 Saw x3 Nemesis Inferno x3 Detonator x4 SIAT x2 Rumba Rapids x3 Swarm x2 X x2 Slammer x2 Samurai x2 Vortex x2 Rush x7 Quantum x1

Maybe it was done for the bank holiday weekend and to coincide with the roller disco evening event. Who knows, they can't seem to make their minds up at the moment. Anyway am visiting the park tomorrow so will report back, whether its as mentioned two posts above or changed back.

I think all these hybrid coasters look vile! Ride experience on them looks awesome though!

Nice report. I also went here for the first time last summer and am already eager to return, although will probably wait until next year now. Fantastic park and run so well.

And like my post about Whirlwind a few posts up, that particular topscan is not programmed as sophisticatedly as Thorpe's as it does not lower pods in the same position as it started in, So I guess it won't give the zeroing problems. Does anyone know if there even are any other topscans other than Thorpe's Samurai that lower the ride with the pods in the same position?

As much as I would also like them to replace Samurai, a few points: 1. Whirlwind at Lightwater is only into it's third season so will of course be running better (like chessington where it was relatively new) 2. Samurai is programmed to lower with the pods in the same position they started in, whereas most other topscans, including Whirlwind do not have this programmed into the ride and will lower in any position therefore not requiring it to be positioned perfectly before lowering. 3. I doubt Whirlwind gets through as many cycles as Samurai in a single day as Lightwater Valley is much quieter compared to Thorpe Park.

Have to agree with you on the music front. It did seem quiet inside the ride but my goodness was it vibrating like crazy in the Colossus queue so can see why they probably won't turn it up anymore than it currently is. The building would probably fall down if it was turned up anymore!

Yep I am aware of that (Ouchie!!! I don't fancy that either) and I think the sign entering the station mentions flipflops and high heels being the exception, but am sure the announcement says to keep shoes on without mentioning the exception. Of course I could have misheard as the announcement was unclear due to high level of bass and background noise.

There is actually now an automated announcement that plays after dispatch theme finishes telling guests to keep shoes on.

I disagree with you actually. Three or four years ago I'd have agreed but last couple of years for me except slammer and the odd few short shutdowns, rides have been pretty reliable.

It must be a recent change then due to be implemented very soon. Doubt it would be a price for peak days as the sign was a permanent one. Bet the ticket prices probably go up a pound as well as that usually happens on a yearly basis a few months into the season.