Mattgwise

I have to totally agree with you, although I had a great time. I also felt the ambience to be worse.Lots of lights are gradually being turned into plain white lights as they break over time, like Quantum for example which used to look brilliant when green, the Saw area etc.I also preferred the music in previous years, this year the music was too rocky/dancy and didn't seem spooky in most places. Some of the music played in 2004 - 2007 was much better, it consisted of many midnight syndicate tracks and some film tracks like The ring, Gremlins and the epic Charlie and the Chocolate Factory intro music that was used on Rumba Rapids in 2005 . Even when Duel and Vampire themes were used the atmosphere was much better.I think Detonator and Asylum are the only two attractions which have kept the same Fright Night music.

If you have a look on my trip report a couple of posts back and go to the facebook link (have made album public) then you will see the actors that were roaming the park. I bumped into them on about three occassions. They were also pushing a massive Fright Nights birthday cake which was brilliant. This can also be seen in my pictures.Totally agree with you about the themeing. Aside from what you mentioned there was nothing. We have had in the past cobwebs in a couple of places, a dummy under Nemesis Inferno, Chalk on the floor of Rush. Fire effects at the entrance, Saw and the Arena, but this year just a few barrels. I thought there would have been a little more to celebrate the tenth anniversary.

Great trip to Thorpe Park today. See some photos at the bottom.The day started off very busy and the queue outside the park was insane and we arrived to the sign saying Slammer and Saw The Ride would be unavailable. Slammer of course was closed all day, it must be still awaiting a part as all was dead over at the ride. However Saw - The Ride opened around 11:30am.Once inside the park I was greeted to an exciting sight of a large support for The Swarm being put into place (couple of poor pictures in Swarm construction topic and facebook for those who can find it!!!!!Had a quick go on Depth Charge which had no queue (mainly because I wanted to see The Swarm sight. Then headed to Storm In A Tea Cup and had a tea cup that wouldn't turn much. Is it me or do these cups get stiffer every year? Next up was Rumba Rapids. Got soaked by the tunnel waterfall. Stealth was next which was advertised as 40 minutes but loading was extremely fast and trains were launched the fastest I have seen this year. We were on within 25 minutes.Next headed to our longest coaster wait of the day which was Nemesis Inferno at 45 minutes. (queue started just at the start of the cattlepen in the extension queue). Again must say dispatching was very quick with many trains dispatched before the other train reached the final brakes. Then had 12 slices of pizza at the Pizza Hut buffet.We decided we would head to Storm Surge but it was down and was for the next hour or so and had about 6 engineers at the top of the lift hill for about half hour, so decided to go on X:/No Way Out and within 5 minutes of queueing in the 15 minute or so queue they announced it would cease operation to clean up sick. Next headed to Vortex, which was very slow loading, a very short ride and had a member of staff who loved the sound of her own voice over the PA. Also worth noting that this has new queue line speakers which play the annoying lost city ambience (bird sounds). Then headed for Samurai and had a long 45 minute wait and was on one of the short and dull ride cycle (same every time). Next went for a beer as it was getting dark and noticed Vortex had a smoke machine this year which made it look awesome.Then headed for The Curse which I enjoyed more this year and it had a fair amount of actors in it. Next I wanted to try Experiment 10. We had our longest wait of the day of about an hour and ten minutes. This is such a cleverly done maze, actually has a plot to it and the way the maze operates is very different to the rest of the mazes. Well done Thorpe Park an excellent attraction. Seven was next and had a much shorter queue than previous years and like The Curse a fair amount of actors, although the smell in the second half of the maze is too much. Sadly did not go on Asylum as I was with a friend who had a bad experience in 2006 and refuses to go on.After that we went on Rush, Quantum, Saw - The Ride, Stealth (again) Nemesis Inferno (again), detonator, Storm Surge, X:/ No Way Out and Colossus all of which had 15 minute queues or less. I must add that the Dispatching on Colossus was very slow.This left 5 minutes to go so had a second go on Rush.I was not impressed with Audio this year as I personally found a lot of it more of a rock style than a Spooky style. Some of the tracks they used to play way back in around 2004 were much better. Also most of the flats were playing the Fright Nights music all day. From what I remembered the last three or four years most rides have had their usual themes during the day and changed in the evening, but only Stealth, Tidal Wave, Colossus, Nemesis Inferno and Saw seemed to play normal music during the day and then Fright Nights music from 4pm.Edit: Actually it wont let me add photos for some reason. Anyone know why as it lets me in the Swarm topic???...... ... But please click link to see them on my facebook profile. Sorry for poor quality I am hopeless with photos: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150406888230342.405186.701145341&type=1

Those are much better photos than the very amateur one I posted to facebook at around midday that nobody could see. Link and image below for proof that I did post it earlier! http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150406125565342&set=p.10150406125565342&type=1&theaterOne I posted at midday to facebook: A quick shot at around 6pm

Thanks for the credit but its actually one taken from Stealth platform that I posted to Thorpe park official at about 12ish and thorpe park mania page about 30 min ago. I cannot seem to upload here via iphoneEdit: the photo is present on both pages mebtioned above via the facebook iphone app but when I logged onvthrough safari on my iphone the photo is not there. Strange?!?! It is not as good as the other one posted but I will still upload tonight

It is definately there and have added to thorpe park mania page as well. Looka like the top of lift hill/beginning of inversion

Currently at the park and large supports are going up like crazy. three have been put up in the last hour and half. I have added a photo to Thorpe Park Official on Facebook.

I think what RobD possibly meant was that last year the audio was not great for the first weekend or two of Fright Nights (roughly from what I remember). The park seemed to play a two track loop around most of the park (a midnight syndicate and saw track) during the first week with a couple of rides playing usual music. It was then sorted so that the rides played their individual fright nights tracks.

I believe that the second walkway will appear just hadn't been put in at the time of the photo being taken. It would be pointless having a walkway on just one side.And I am sure that those brakes look the same as the first brake run on Raptor which stops the train so I would guess this will do the same but we will have to wait and see.

few photps from Theme Park Guide on facebook.

I actually think it has overall been very reliable this year. It has been open on all my visits.

Only thing I've heard is that it is waiting for a part. Dont know what in particular though.

http://www.londonnet.co.uk/news/2011/sep/thorpe-park-builds-rolly-polly-coaster-overweight.htmlHilarious, read the link above about "NEW" modified seating on Nemesis Inferno which has been in place for years!

No idea, but I thought the same the other day when riding it. The cycle seemed much shorter and I found it quite dissappointing after having to queue quite a while due to the slow loading due to staff chatting between rides. (literally left sat in the seat for more than 2 minutes waiting for them to finish chatting every cycle I queued).

WWTP hasn't played in Stealth queue since my visit in early august (3 visits). I don't think it is to do with the marketing of Swarm as that seems to have its own few temporary speakers, but I could be wrong.It is very boring queuing for Stealth without any music.I don't like the new Canada Creek playlist. Don't feel that enough of the songs are "country" enough.

Could they be thinking of making changes or even a retheme again? There is currently a survey on Chessington's Facebook page asking how they can improve Bubbleworks.

It was the first time it was noticeable this year, it did it for over a minute, which I agree is fun when on the ride (especially as everyone else thinks it is broken down) but when waiting in a 40 minute queue it gets kind of annoying.

I went on the first saturday of last years event and it was actually very quiet and we had ridden all rides by 3pm and then got on all 4 mazes by about 7:30pm. I even got 8 rerides (had to exit train and then walked straight through gate near the baggage hut) on Stealth at around 9:30pm which has never happened for me ever. I am planning to go the first saturday again this year.

I have never been able to hear any audio when I have ridden Storm Surge. Personally I think they should just play the Tidal Wave loop of WWTP radio

The red water cannons in the queue line were being used today, read earlier in the topic that they were removed, they must have been put back in, the black ones that charge people are also still there.

Great day overall at Thorpe Park today, was good atmosphere around the park. All rides were available but several small period ride closures throughout the day (Tidal Wave, Quantum, X\\ No Way Out and Loggers Leap) which were sorted out very quickly.Was an accident on the Battle Beams side attraction, guy was laying down and given oxygen by the on park first aid crew/paramedics, didnt manage to find out what happened as the four security guards that stood there were moving everyone along but they were with him a good half hour.Queue lines overall were not too bad. Longest queue I saw was 80 minutes for Storm Surge but generally for most rides queued between 15 mins and 40 mins. The longest I queued all day was 60 minutes for Saw. Nice to see preparation under way nice and early for Fright Nights with the Curse Marquee already up and Time Voyagers closed.Got on all rides with the exception of Storm Surge and Detonator.I do have two negative comments for the day:1.the chaos that everyone has to experience every day in the car park at the end of the day. It honestly took 30 minutes to get out of the car park. as it is so slow with the barriers and cars along the main road leading to them being blocked so you cannot get out onto it. They really need to rethink the layout of the car park as this has been a problem for two years now.2. The staff on Vortex around 4 o clock were letting the riders board the ride and then having a chat for at least two minutes before coming to get us to put arms out for the restraints to lower. This happened on every ride I saw whilst queueing and mine, which added a good 10 minutes to the queuing time.

I just love Samurai at the moment, it has seemed so much more forceful and intense the last few times ive been on it.Just thought id also mention that it was having problems finding its zero position (aligning itself to lower) today.

Have to agree with those saying it is rough, not enough leg room and come off with a bit of a headache. This happens every time for me and therefore takes away the pleasurable side of it. The only part I do enjoy if I havent got a major headache or cramp from the lack of leg room in the back section of a carriage are the inline twist. Definitely my least favourite major coaster at Thorpe.

The mazes usually open at 4pm and no they won't be open during the 5pm close days, these will just be standard days. The only maze that will be open will be the year round Saw Alive.

I haven't this year but I have been a fair few times in the past with it only on 1 train operation.