Graeme

Yeah the cgi was badly out of sync too! I was on the third row on the far right

The park are planning that it'll be open on Friday if all goes well

I was lucky enough to be on the first public ride today. Worth noting first of all that it was only open for 3 hours due to animals getting cold. The entrance to the ride is pretty standard as per the current theme of the area...think bamboo etc. The queue line is a typical merlin cattle pen made from bamboo. Half way through the queue line you stop for a picture against a lion king type green screen. You are then shown into a room where you are seated and watch the per ride video about ACRE etc. A cartoon character then appears on screen (can't remember what animal it is) and this is voiced by a member of staff watching the room on a camera. The member of staff then picks people out and gets them to do monkey impressions etc, calling them by their name. The ride itself is basically a dirt track through the animals with no real landscaping but you do get quite close to some of them. The cave finale is a case that you get told in the video not to go into the cave and when you get to the rhinos there is a tree down so you have to go via the cave and at this point you lose contact with ACRE. In the cave, I think it tries to simulate a flood, I can see what they've tried here but don't really get it, you then exit the cave by literally going through a waterfall which makes for a cool finale. I can see what they've tried to do here but the area needs more vegetation and the animals need to be integrated with the ride more. Families seemed to enjoy the ride but its nowhere near a high standard. All in all its a nice edition but not great, I think it suits the audience it's aimed at, I do think the 1.1m restriction cuts out a lot of potential riders though. Can't link to the pictures on my Facebook but if you search Graeme Donaldson there are a few in my mobile uploads

I agree, I'm staying once and once only! Hopefully it'll give them an idea as to whether or not people will stay in it. My point is, just because enthusiasts won't, doesn't mean the target audience won't. I'm normally the first to start slating decisions like this but it doesn't really affect my experience, I just won't stay more than once! Besides...it's difficult to justify more than a day at a time at Thorpe anyway! Bell rock it isn't, cash cow...it could well be

Got my room for £75 with annual pass discount to see what it's all about. That's with breakfast for 2 people. We forget that this isn't aimed at theme park enthusiasts it's more for teens as this is the parks target audience. I bet they make a killing on it! We forget that theme parks or thrill parks are run as a business, it's not run for enthusiasts

I didn't see him once thank god!

I've booked to go with the mrs at the end of April just so we can say "we've done it" (no pun intended). They look better than I first thought, although it'd be seriously cramped for 4 people, just thank god the interior looks far better than the exterior!

The old x cars were more rectangular and didn't have the curved front with the hand rails on if I remember correctly. I think they're new not refurbs

Generally I like my bench jeans as they seem quite durable. Normally with an animal branded t shirt of some sort, although I've been getting into my superdry recently! Normally a pair of Cat boots or Adidas classics in my feet.

The swarm backwards was novel and that was about it. Before I rode I was optimistic about the ride experience it'd offer but it does kill the ride. I've ridden it at the back on both sides now but for me, the best seat is now the front right...especially with the billboard..love it!

I agree with the points you make in that post, I think it'll be a 4D for Alton. The way I see it is that they might be more than happy to hold the idea as their current wing riders are quite new and look to be selling well.

New for 2014...new tunnel on loggers leap. Will you brave it in the dark! ZOMG!!!!!!!

The smiler to me looks like it could be a headache inducing nightmare, just seems to be inversion after inversion with some very tight transitions. I hope they've profiled the track right so it isn't like this, otherwise "The Smiler" will be the most ironic name for a ride since Stealth! I'm not saying it will be an uncomfortable ride, I just hope they've learnt from Saw. Still looking forward to it though

Quite a bit more than some members on here...clearly!

It's the only way!

As above...exactly what I was going to post!

Double post.... The number is 08444 77 44 44 and an adult is £24

http://www.merlinannualpass.co.uk/for-passholders/perks.aspx Click the friends and family tab, it is cheaper

Fair point at the runaway mine trains, I should think before I post. It'd be nice if the announcements could be done with an actor in the voice of the vampire and at a reasonable volume?

A nice little "nod" to say "hey, don't forget about stealth"

Why do they need the P.A announcements though? No other coaster does except maybe for re checks...

Brush your teeth then

No mention of ERT though, thought this would be the perfect time to introduce it alongside crash pad!

No snow yesterday up there but still loads of track in the staff car park...far from complete!

Poseidon....that is all