Paul

Just sent in my Work Experience applications to 12 different places, two of which were Chessington and THORPE PARK. I understand that THORPE PARK very rarely offer work experience placements, but it was worth a shot. I thought I'd get in there nice and early.... my work experience period isn't until July 2010.

I have so much coursework at the moment. Today, we were given back our music coursework (which should have been given back months ago), and now I have to re-do that, because the teacher was so late in giving it back to us!

No problem!Honestly, I'm not exaggerating about the Asylum. It is the single most terrifying experience that I have ever had in my life. When I ran out, all I could think is that I just wanted to get away from that man!Yes, Quantum @ 30 minutes shocked me too, the queue was out of the entrance.We did Colossus & Rush in the dark. We would have done Stealth but the ride closed just as we were about to board.

WARNING: THIS REPORT CONTAINS SPOILERS THAT MAY PROVE DETRIMENTAL TO FIRST-TIME VISITORS OF FRIGHT NIGHTS. Went to the park yesterday, and although it was incredibly busy, I still managed to have a fantastic day.Although I was half expecting it, it was quite ironic when SAW: The Ride broke down just after 4pm, hence not coming alive. We waited outside for around 20 minutes, but the ride didn't open until about an hour later. Stealth broke down around 12pm for around 10 minutes, but then eventually closed with technical difficulties at around 7.30pm, and remained closed for the rest of the day. We went on one maze, The Asylum. We started queueing around 3.05pm, and it was around 4.45pm when we got out of the maze. I have never done the Asylum before, and I can honestly say that it was one of the most terrifying things that I have ever experienced. The actors were so unbelievably good at their job, and the make up was so realistic. I've never been so scared as when the guy revved his chainsaw and charged towards us! I was incredibly impressed by the maze, and it gave me an adrenaline rush bigger than any of the rides in the park. The park was extremely busy, and despite staying until 10pm, we only managed 2 rides in the dark. Fright Nights is such an incredible event, and I really did enjoy it more than I expected. The mist/effects on Nemesis Inferno were incredible, they really added a lot to the ride experience. The smoke machine underneath the police car in the Saw plaza was great, I couldn't see anything for about 10 seconds, and I walked into a group of people on the other side. I've never seen the park at night before, and it really is spectacularly breathtaking. The maximum queue times for yesturday were as follows:SAW: 100 minutesStealth: 80 minutesColossus: 120 minutesNemesis Inferno: 90 minutesSlammer: 50 minutesRush: 60 minutesDetonator: 60 minutesVortex: 50 minutesZodiac: 40 minutesQuantum: 30 minutesSamurai: 60 minutesLoggers Leap: 30 minutesTidal Wave: 20 minutesRumba Rapids: 20 minutesStorm In A Teacup: 10 minutesX:/ No Way Out: 40 minutesFlying Fish: 10 minutesAsylum: 120 minutesCurse: 80 minutesSe7en: 90 minutesHellgate: 80 minutesMy ride count for yesturday was as follows:SAW: 1Colossus: 1 (Day) 1 (Night)Nemesis Inferno: 1Stealth: 1Detonator: 1Tidal Wave: 1Loggers Leap: 1Rush: 1 (Night)Slammer: 1Samurai: 1Asylum: 1(I didn't purchase any fastrack tickets, I queued in the main queue for all of these rides). As you can see, very long queues which resulted in a rather low ride count. Despite not getting on many rides, it was a very enjoyable, thrilling day.The best part in my opinion, was The Asylum. I couldn't stop thinking about it for the rest of the day, and the really well made-up actors stuck in my mind. I was at the back of the group, and the actors kept following me, which really freaked me out. Such a great, memorable experience. If I had a few more hours, I would have loved to have experience Nemesis Inferno in the dark. We would have ridden Stealth, if it hadn't of closed whilst we were in the queue-line, around 10 minutes from boarding. Overall, a great day. It was just a shame about the many long queues.

This is getting too confusing for me.... :)I'm going to get some sleep now, I'll let you guys fight over who answers! :(Night all!

TrainCar - You drive or Pay someone to drive for you?

StealthQueue 60 minutes for 1 ride on Nemesis Inferno at night at 5 degree temperatures, or Queue 0 minutes for 10 rides on Tidal Wave at night in 5 degree temperatures?EDIT: Magrathea: Mack Jezzerz: SAW

I'm going to listen out for the park-wide Billy announcement tomorrow, it sounds really great!

ChessingtonPort Aventura or THORPE PARK?

I think the plus/minus system is pointless. If you are getting a lot of minuses, it's nothing to worry about. I don't judge a person I don't know by the amount of minuses or plusses they have.

If you use any of the tips, make sure you use the arriving early tip as a priority! The amount of rides you can get with no queue at the start of the day is quite incredible. Stealth and Nemesis Inferno especially are usually walk-on until around 10.30am.

I know what you mean, and I do too often walk out of Vortex thinking that the ride experience lacked something. Despite this, I still can't see it leaving any time soon.

A great topic!I would definitely agree with your first tip, it will be your only chance to get a few rides with walk-ons or 5 minute queues. I would especially recommend going to Nemesis Inferno first. There aren't a great many ways of cutting queues after 12pm or so, because by now the park will be packed, and the queues are likely to remain pretty solid until 10pm. The only thing I would say, is that if you wish to ride Tidal Wave during the day and there is any queue at all, don't ride it. Wait until nightfall, when the Tidal Wave queue is very likely to fall to 0 minutes and remain so until 10pm. Don't do what I used to do, and keep walking round the park until you find a short queue. Go to a ride, and join the queue. Don't waste time walking aimlessly round the park when rides' queues are likely to remain the same. It is Fright Nights, so don't expect to get a very high ride count, unless of course you buy fastrack. Most of all, just enjoy the day! It will be incredibly busy, and you probably won't get on many rides, so just enjoy the atmosphere and the company you have! Make it a day not to forget!

A great topic, thanks James. Please don't be put off if some members are a bit forward with you at times for doing something wrong. Everyone makes mistakes, and we might just give friendly reminders once in a while. We're all friendly, and want you to have an enjoyable time on these forums!

I agree with most of your list, although I can't see Vortex leaving within the next 10 years. It's an iconic attraction for Thorpe Park, and was one of the first real "thrill" rides to arrive at the park. Since then it has been, and to this day still is a class attraction.

There are already existing topics discussion this information. Please check the forum before creating new topics.

The ride itself is exactly the same. There are actors around the queue lines, and sometimes actors in the inside trap. Apart from that, it's the same. To be honest, I think the changes made to the queue line experience don't fully justify the statement, "SAW The Ride Comes Alive!"But hey, it's just my opinion.

When did you get the job?

I hate to say it, but I think that the standards will slip after time. It all sounds amazing at the moment though, can't wait to see Nemesis Inferno at the weekend!

I haven't got the time right now to complete this, but I like the idea. I'll get round to doing it soon.

It's true. 3 hours for one queue sounds ridiculous, but at Fright Nights it really is achievable, quite easily.

You're right, it's mainly Vekoma.

I don't think it's a launched lift. I think it's just a normal speed lift hill, such as on Tami-Tami at Port Aventura. http://www.rcdb.com/763.htm?p=19983

Ok, just had a freaky moment. I just thought to find the music topic, and guess what, you posted in there on the same minute that I was looking for it, and this topic hasn't been used for a while! Spooky....Anyway, I'm listening to "What About Now" - Daughtry (The music used on X Factor when someone gets through! )

Wow, thanks for the information. As long as Rameses Revenge doesn't have a long queue then I won't have a problem!