Mattgwise

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.

I think his will simply be a wait and see game. It might, it might not.

Europa is simply awesome in every other way that you won't even think of the flat rides.

One drop. Those log flume aren't synchronised to drop at same time, that was a coincidence. It was the blocking system stopping the boats from getting too close to the one in front. It's standard and happens a lot on Fabbri / Reverchon models like the one at IX. Often happens on Brighton Pier's Flume which is the same type. Other manufacturers of log flumes will do this too if boats get to close, but this rarely happens. In Merlin theme parks I have only seen it stop boats on The flume as they often get too close

Yes it still jerks. Instead sending you slightly backwards instead of forwards as it did before. So there is still a backwards element after all!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy1agS8-7RQ

Well to be honest actually expect this to happen on a regular basis. Each cabin has a smoke detector which is connected to main fire alarm system and even a can of deodrant will trigger it and what with the ceiling being so low this is likely to happen very often. In the picture here you can see a smoke detector and how low they are http://content.maniahub.com/photo/Thorpe/Crash%20Pad%20Opening/DSC01178.JPG

What is it playing.. This... Or bubbleworks exterior music (station 06 - 11)? Or something else?

The pushing down of the restraint is the reason I get major cramp in my leg half way through the ride most of the time. Makes my ride agony!

Haha was hoping it would take a few more people until someone realised it was april fools. It would certainly be an appropriate sponsor though thats for sure.

The Smiler has a sponsor. Colgate!!! Well certainly fits in with the "Smile" theme. http://old.towerstimes.co.uk/news/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1364777224&archive=&start_from=&ucat=1,11&

The water in the cup game happened on a visit in the summer on Vortex also many seasons ago. The water didn't last long!