Merlinpixie

Hopefully I will be picking up the bath tub from the first scene and the big yellow poster from the queue line with the duck with cucumbers over the eyes on Sunday. Going to have to hire a van for them. I plan on keeping these not ebaying them. Mind you the wife isn't best pleased. What are you going to do with the bath tub she asks?! ?

This was posted on the Merlin annual pass group on Facebook just now: Went there today and it was closed got talking to member of staff on it as it used to b a ride I operated and was curious what problem was to see if it would open later. Apparently no pa working which they need to operate in building in case of evacuation and the bars on the train won't lock down. In programming for this ride if u try and send with the bars not shown as locked it won't move and the ride shuts itself down

Not sure re power cut. I could see the laser targets on through door of Tomb. Some water pumps still running on Falls. Unless there are seperate power supplies for the actual rides operation vs. Lights etc?

Bit of a shambles today at the park, Fury and Falls closed earlier in the day but then reopened but just before 5pm (park closed at 6pm today) this happened: Falls closed and needed to be evacuated Tomb also appeared to be evacuated as I saw people being led out upstairs fire exit Fury had also closed again and people stopped at various brake block points Truckers stopped, queue line emptied Toadies closed Griffins Gallion closed Then Black Bucanner and Ramesis also closed, the latter has scaffolding up Lots of unhappy people about.... They've only been open a couple of weeks, they'd better sort this out for high season!

I was at Chessington today and Gel Engineering were onsite in Bubbleworks where much banging could be heard from inside. I was hoping that this company might be related to improving animatronics etc but a google of their company indicates they are more mechanical/ lift hill related. So I think perhaps work is going on with the ride system itself rather than improvements to the actual ride models etc.

Does anybody know what building they are using for the Lost Tomb maze? Is there a building behind the shop facade or is it a temporary structure? I did glimpse what looked like a shipping container via the exit in shop but not been in the maze itself.

Went today, despite being very cold, had a bout 3 hours at the park, nice day out. Nice to have Bubbleworks open, few things have been fixed it seems, such as then tennis players on the right hand side as you come around the bend at the start, these haven't worked for years have they? Probably some other things as heard more pistons near the props then I remember = more things moving. Gruffalo show wasn't that good, but thankfully seems they have a new Madagascar show next year with the peguins....

Went today, didn't stay late, but I must say I did enjoy the Halloween Live Music singing contest (or whatever it was called) - my little boy (4 years old) loved it, he was scared of last years show on this set. The music was so catchy I've gone off home to download it! The 4 actors involved were superb. Going back next week to do some more grown up stuff like Haunted in the Hollows....

Popped in for a few hours this afternoon. Tomb Blaster open now but had 70 min queue (or so the sign said), skyway still shut, they have a sign screwed to skyway entrance saying closed, so I presume this is closed in the short term. Ramesis closed, but I could see whilst watching Madagasgar Live for the 100th time with my little boy, that they seemed to be testing it, saw it flipping away then it seemed to stop and it then appeared to lower itself as if on a safety return.

I went on this today, a number of the trains had broken lap bars which meant empty seats leaving the station. There was no music or audio up the boulder ramp, so all you could hear is the squeaky train, plus all the ceiling fans were on so the whole ride was lit up beautifully with sun light. I've noticed that when you go down the hill in the fire pit section, the train seems to move much faster than I remember, can the trains move at different speeds?

Thanks most informative!

Thanks for the info, had to read it several times to picture in my mind. Interesting to hear about the extra wings built as I was presuming the track design was exactly the same as Fifth Dimension, did they add to the track then to incorporate the snake pit scene? Also presume when you mention the spike scene that this is the scene with the mummy that spins in the revolving door and shoots at you? Having looked at the YouTube video recently of the terror tomb ride, it's amazing how many props and animatronics they took out for the tomb blaster re theme. The first scene as you leave the station prior to the ramp is dark and nonexistent now and why did they take out the actual props of the axe throwing zombies and replace with the shadows we now see...too scary? I appreciate why it was changed to shooting do give a re-ride aspect to the ride, but I do feel sad particularly on the final scene with the snake which is a bit boring when the train stops for a while and there is not much going on, a far cry from the guitar playing zombie previously. Thanks to electric bill for highlighting the original terror tomb music from graham smart which I recently purchased. I noticed the first track with the chickens in background was playing in the park on Sunday as ambient music by Ramases Revenge. Finally, I know this has been discussed previously and I know about Adbab and his relics around the vampire queue, but I wonder where the rest of the removed props are, I guess either taken when re themed or dumped! What a shame. I found some animatronics on ebay this weekend from the London Dungeon, would have bid on them but don't have space for an 8ft executioner figure!

Tomb Blaster is certainly one ride I would love to go behind the scenes of. I remember going on the fifth dimension when that was around and it's good to still the red and grey floor tiles on the floor as you enter and exit the ride to still remind me of the history of this ride. Couple of things have always intrigued me and I was wondering if anyone can enlighten me. Firstly what and where is the main 'control centre' which controls the actual ride animatronics and ride experience. Presume it's not all done from the control box visible in the train station? Secondly can anyone talk through the ride layout in the actual warehouse. As you go up the hill at the start you are obviously on the upper floor until you descend again in the fire pit scene. So what is on the lower level below the snake pit and revolving door scenes? Thanks!