Mattgwise

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.

Car parking was £4 today but upon entering the car park the sign said £5, So I would imagine the price will be going up momentarily unless the sign has said that all season but perhaps actually a mistake.

It really is silly. Opening times are an important factor for most and I think that extra hour would make more people who think twice about going actually go!

HAHAHA!! I thought for a few seconds, "what's he on about" then saw the picture of the scaffolding!!!! Hilarious

So another to add to the list of rides that broke down today that I did'nt see. Wasn't a reliable day at all. This has happened with me on the ride too, must say at first it was awesome but then it got a bit much for most. Did add an entertainment factor to the ride though, and ever since the cycle has seemed insanely short!

Year I would say buy a new one too. Everyone says they aren't designed to run constantly in theme park environments, but thinking about it. It was opened originally in 1999 and its only been the last 4 or 5 years its started to bugger about, so they could buy a new one and have it last at least another ten years, maybe longer as after all in 1999 topscans were relatively new meaning they are probably built better now. It is a very popular ride at Thorpe Park and I always here people talk about it.

Quick report on today. Park obviously fairly busy due to bank holiday weekend but have seen it busier. Longest queue I saw was 80 mins for Saw The ride. Ride reliability was not great today. Tidal Wave didn't even open, Samurai had issues and was closed virtually all day (See Samurai Thread). Slammer was closed from 5:15pm, Storm Surge broke down, Saw The ride either broke down or had cleaning to be done for about half hour, sadly no one was informed in the queue due to the speakers being still dead for second year in a row. (surely this could have been sorted in the closed season!) Colossus team were dreadful today although some of it was the ususal restraint not locking on larger people problem resulting in not 2, 3 or 4 but 5 restraint rechecks at one point, They seriously only managed to dispatch 8 trains in nearly 30 minutes at around 5pm, resulting in queue with a fasttrack ticket taking 40 minutes from the joining point!!!! I was impressed with the changes on X and the ride seemed more worthwhile, faster and forceful without the stops on Blocks 1 and 2, although heard people saying "why have we stopped/" on third block as it stops for quite some time. The park could have done with staying open another hour though as didn't get on as many rides as planned to. I went to collect my complimentary fasttrack tickets from a previous complaint last year and as I was about to show the email and give my details, the guy said not to worry and that he believed me so gave me the tickets without me having to give the details. Fantastic as they are still sitting there and waiting for me for next time as well (Not so good) Ride Count from 11:30 til close X x1 Nemesis Inferno x1 Quantum x1 Stealth x1 (fastracked) Saw The Ride x1 Colossus x1 (Fasttracked - although took 40 minutes) Rumba Rapids x1 Swarm x1 Wow, one of my lowest ride counts, but was with some very slow people who liked to stop for photos, snacks and cigarettes etc!

No Siren closing track or end of day music today, just switched to the Noise at around 6:10pm.

Only managed to open for about an hour today. They tried to reopen it a few times after several test cycles but each time after around 1 or 2 cycles with people it stopped again. It spent most of the day slowly rotating in the loading position, and engineers were clearly trying to sort it most of the day.

Awesome news, Have always wanted to try one of those since seeing it open at Luna Park a few years ago. They look really fun. Wonder what it will replace?

And Slammer still gets interrupted by the Colossus music. Wasn't there recently an upgrade to the system?

Good Ol days when it didn't faff pulling into the station and could be dispatched in 25 seconds with three trains.

I believe there is a small chance his name is Jake.

Any kind of E-Stop or fault will cause it to stop vertical. It works exactly the same as a standard lift hill

Ermm Storm Surge anyone!!! At least Oakwood have bothered. Done a better job than Merlin by the looks of it too!

Yes that would be great, but they don't have to do the checks on the restraints with exception of a few of the newer coasters. Was hilarious when the runaway train equivalent there unloaded, loaded and dispatched in just over 20 seconds.

Dreadful, absolutely dreadful. If this was played ONCE followed by the end of day music it could work, well maybe. Haven't they already reverted back to end of day music anyway?

Surely there must be something the park can do to increase throughput on this ride. Surely there must be a way around the parking problem in the station with some major work. I know it's been like it since 2001 but I cannot understand why the ride stops three times along the station before reaching its final stop. And surely Chessington could contac Vekoma to send parts to sort out the third train, or even purchase a replacement. Or is it another reason it is no longer used?

Think both rides are supposed to require shoes but depends on the staff as I have personally seen Nemesis at AT stopped on the bottom part of the lift hill when someone wasn't wearing shoes and a staff member took the persons shoes up to them.

The dates have been released in terms of opening times but may be subject to change. Thorpe Park Fright Nights: Fri 11th Oct - Sun 13th Oct, Fri 18th Oct - Sun 20th Oct, Friday 25th Oct - Sat 2nd Nov Alton Towers Scarefest: Fri 18th Oct - Sun 3rd Nov

Last season I rode the rapids during end of june time. The usual rapids queueline/station theme was actually playing in the tunnel and out of all speakers around the ride. First time I had heard it. I guess it doesn't do it now. This video I found shows the theme clearly playing around the ride up until around the wave machine. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcEZZVJCF2o This is the hose in action. It lasted about a week.

So I guess that's the end of the "end of day music" track as well now.