MattyMoo

Look forward to the reviews. We found Big Top this year up to Tulley's standard if not better, so we can't wait for the 7th for our visit

I'd queue for Big Top first as the Living Dead mazes will probably have the bigger queues early on I would say the run through vid was very similar to my experience

Went on DBGTROTD last night for the 2nd time ever (my first ever ride was before it got the ROTD) Had a breakdown after 20 seconds in, sat there for 10 minutes or so before it restarted. My headset was glitchy, lots of headsets not working. I liked the dog We weren't rushed into the live action scene so were left to casually walk off the train and open the doors ourselves. The train in tunnel effect still isn't working. 2nd bit of VR is a lot better than before (which isn't difficult) but again my headset was glitchy. Final finale was quite clever, but as said elsewhere - the whole ride just doesn't seem to flow or make sense. Noticed that the hoodies were reduced in the gift shop, £9 down from £20 - there were other reduced items too but we were in a rush as that breakdown had taken up valuable time to ride something decent (Soz Stealth, I missed you)

I never even got to ride/break Stealth last night Blame Derren (expletive removed) Brown.

Yep agree with above - Big Top (x2) was amazing, we went in as a 3 and there was a good 5 minutes in between each of us coming out as we got lost! I literally could not get out of the strobe maze section, the dry ice was so disorientating as was the layout - people I was with literally vanished into thin air and then I was on my own! Took me a good 20 minutes before I was back to normal after Big Top (genuinely) - blew my mind, seriously impressed and intense. Saw Alive - an old classic, good throughout, not much more to say. Sanctum (x2) - OK in parts but not scary in the slightest, "scare zone" is more apt. Bit poor that Thorpe haven't put down some temporary flooring or woodchips in the queue area as that's going to get seriously muddy with rain. I fear people will feel a bit hard done by if the queue for this is big - which it will be! Living Nightmare (x2) - excellent themeing inside, great pre-show (though this could be improved if you were perhaps sprayed with water to signify the blood!) actors were decent, loved the bus bit (some chap ended up headbutting me on the way out of the maze by mistake, he misjudged his scare #compo). Platform 15 - never went on the original but this was alright - loved the new house bit, tunnel ending was pretty good and couldn't see a thing, but could've done with more actors. Felt more like a nice walk behind the scenes in parts Containment - never managed to have a go as it kept going down Manged 2 rides on Swarm and no other coasters as we were stuck on DBGTROTD for about 20 minutes which really messed up our plans. I didn't like this "ride" before in terms of the actual ride (themeing spot on though as previously said) and now despise it The second VR is a lot better but as always there were plenty of headsets out of use and mine was glitchy so you had to look a certain way for it to work properly. The ride went down about 20 seconds after leaving the station. New ending was OK but the whole ride just doesn't flow, doesn't make sense (even knowing the story) and just seems like a £30m white elephant to me - heck, Dezza B even draws one in chalk in the preshow I really worry about what they are going to do to this long term. Parkwide lighting was lush (although the lights kept going out around Colossus/Lost City....) - got some great photos. But yeah - tldr: Big Top is absolutely brilliant. Who needs an IP, Thorpe? PS. Watching the so-called "celebs" is hilarious. One in Fins was continually looking around to see if people were looking at her. I was, but for the wrong reasons Did anyone see anyone actually famous? Think I saw some TOWIE people in front of us when we left who had enjoyed the free bar... only proper celeb of sorts I saw was Chloe Jasmine off the old X Factor and Top Model. Oh and Jart of course. PPS. I found the secret room on SAW Alive - the actors dressing room. Whoops.

I will also be giving my 14 Facebook friends status updates during the night, as per the requirements of having entry to the press event. My advice to anyone going tonight is to make sure you ride Stealth early, just sayin'

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/chessington-pop-badges-meerkat-/192310070446?hash=item2cc692ccae:g:1zsAAOSw28pZv-4l Why would anyone pay £171 for a bit of yellow plastic with a sticker of a meerkat on it?

I'm avoiding the spoilers since it's my one and only visit to a Merlin park this year #truefan #MattyMoo4BestMemberInTPMAwards

I'm going on Saturday 7th Going VIP as we figure the re-runs of mazes are worth it.

That's a shame... we had a bit of confusion at the end as the door wouldn't open even though we had "escaped" but other than that, I thought it was a decent attraction.

Intrigued as to how Containment has changed - was genuinely impressed from experiencing it in 2015

They are actually rather good (from memory) - maybe that was the Maritime red ale talking but yes, I've had them a couple of times and have no complaints

Yep, looking forward to seeing the varying man bags all the "lads" from Love Island have. I am indeed going - I got a ticket because Merlin were sad that I hadn't visited any of their parks this year, and they wanted to rectify the situation Actual reason is: a friend of mine runs an attractions blog/website so thought he'd ask for tickets!

Whilst some close monorails, Paulton's opens a new one

I'm looking forward to going and dropping my complimentary kebab on Stealth, thus rendering it inoperable for the rest of the season as per MOS last year. I'm going to go and complain to guest services as soon as I arrive that I've managed to get a ticket to press night as I'm not even a proper enthusiast, and demand fastracks.

A bubble like no other.

Thanks Mega-Lite for your well wishes, I have 2 weeks to prepare myself. BaronC. - I only visit but once a year but when I do visit, I break Stealth <3

Looking forward to my first ride on Stealth - and visit to a Merlin park - this year on 28th September (Fingers crossed of course that Stealth behaves and is open...)

Sorry for double post but - it's Benin innit?

Cos Thorpe Park luv da BaNTs

RE: Circus World. I remember it, and remember going to the Circus when I was a teenager with a mate at Chessie because of the hot acrobats - did I just say that out loud? I remember the Clown Coaster with that drum - that I was convinced would give you an electric shock (not quite sure where that came from) and the Juggler, which looked straight out of a fairground with it's garish backdrop. Can't believe the casual slagging of original Bubbleworks, how very dare you Original Vamp, Bubbles and an awesomely themed McDonalds, thems were the days I tell ye! 59p for a burger inside a Merlin park, unbelivable scenes.

Looks like my source on the Bargain Hunt maze was incorrect, sorry guys.

Bring on the 28th ?

Hilarious that one of the press releases says "The living billboard which soaked unaware passing commuters in blood and guts this morning in London...." No it didn't. You'd get a lawsuit on your hands.

Can't say too much but the new maze is going to be a right bobby dazzler.