Benin

As long as we get a complete layout for the next coaster.

Mornington Crescent. I win.

If it comes in without a min height restriction (obviously accompanied) then it'll fill a niche. Min 0.9m restriction and it doesn't really add anything. At least not in that area. If they were throwing it up by Dark Forest/Walliams World or Forbidden Valley then it could be an useful addition.

Could've ended the post there. It feels very pointless currently.

RIP in peace UK Disneyland.

Towers x3 Thorpe x2 Legoland x1 Efteling x1 (3 days) Plopsaland x1 Getting better. Next year Gullivers parks will be on the horizon with little one likely to hit the magical 0.9m mark. Thorpe only twice because Hyperia died. Which was a burdenous addition since had to take little one. Though she enjoyed watching the rides. Efteling at Christmas was lovely. Decent value stay especially compared to what Towers was charging. Europa already booked for next year.

F&B quality can't be worse than Merlin or PA. There's at least a Pizza Hut.

Visited yesterday (apparently no one else has since Creek?), wasn't a particularly great day unfortunately as RtH was closed (min 6 degrees needed to run, and was testing all day due to an issue with that train), the park was busy as hell (special shout to Circus Bumba being hell on earth), and understaffed with a number of eateries closed it was like being at a Merlin park. The stringent ride op didn't help as wouldn't let us (RAP user and carer) ride on the same train in different rows with the RAP, suggesting the lil one could ride with a complete stranger. Even more frustrating since we'd literally just ridden the Roller Skater moments before with no problem. Common sense required sometimes. Just a stark contrast from 3 days at Efteling really. Maybe next time.

Danse Macabre is so good. Faffy as all hell even with LEGIONS of staff and possibly could do with an indicator of the internal wait beyond the batching point. However, the ride system is wonderful. And the experience incredibly theatrical, which shows a lot of reverence to the original Spookslot whilst making something that is generally a better attraction (if going against the everyone can ride it thing that Efteling tends to have within reason). If it wasn't for the fact it has the longest queue on park (consistent 45 mins yesterday, and our added parent swap faffage as a result) I'd be riding it a lot more. Park looking gorgeous as ever for Christmas. And it's hilarious to me that my now 2 year old can pretty much do every ride there apart from creds and Macabre. Probably won't try the Rapids though since raining all day yesterday.

"Exciting" isn’t probably what an adult would be terming these plans.

http://www.instagram.com/p/DDze8PdtZIn/?igsh=c3I4cnJrbjh1bXVz Sod using links to that awful social media cesspit these days. Get some alternative embeds in lads. New kiddie/junior coaster being looked at for 2026. Good for cred whores (especially ones like me who now won't look dodgy when waiting for it), bad for those who wanted to go on Project Horizon.

Ah, we're back to that point in the Thorpe branding cycle.

Prices seem a bit more "normal" now. People really are idiots though.

They gotta pay for that Minecraft license somehow. And whatever nonsense they decide to tack onto Hyperia next year.

You sure you don't have £600 (starting bid) for an old Loggers boat? http://thorpepark.com/auction

Old stuff shifted out the shed to flog to goons with too much money. What you buying @JoshC.?

Short-termism triumphed. Like any investment broker such as Blackstone. Most parks tend to invest in the new stuff and maintenance. Probably tie it into a loss of engineering knowledge (an issue across the industry, not just theme parks) and maintenance needs a good budget. But they made these cutback decisions after Smiler and Covid. So I have little sympathy.

Cos Merlin panic when there's a bit of a "bad" season. Ignoring the external factors that directly effect park attendance, such as constant rain over the year, or a massive international event taking place nearby. Hyperia's later opening and unreliability won't have helped either.

Short answer is no. Long answer is noooooooooo. Think there were enough differences that it's not a "actually we'll put it here instead" situation. Although personally I thought having ANOTHER coaster wasn't the best idea for Towers anyway.

Dungeons being an upcharge was always going to put it at a disadvantage. Especially given the general cost to visit the parks these days. However to essentially have it mothballed into a Scarefest only building (most likely result) is a bit meh. Always enjoyed a ride on Charlie, even if it was a bit crap. If things were being replaced quickly then it wouldn't be a problem. Project Horizon has gone quiet so that corner of the park will continue to be a bit of a dead spot, and the lack of anything for kids too old for CBeebies but not at the height/level for Thirteen and others is just daft. Even if a 0.9m kid (I.e. my 2 year old) could go on Hex and Alty Mans, doesn't mean they are suitable attractions for the age content/theme wise. The RMT queues will continue to be insane. With us still being in the CBeebies age range we're still in a decent position to visit. But in a few years? Would be a different story.

https://www.altontowers.com/about-alton-towers/blog/winter-update/ Good start to 2025 then. 2 rides going with Dungeons also not coming back. But hey at least Ripsaw is being replaced.

All hail the Slammer Memorial Pit.

Only a year out. Thorpe have applied for permission to remove it. Finally. Rust in pieces.

Looks decent, though not sure about Eurostar stopping at Calais to get you back to London. Unsure if Eurotunnel does foot passengers either. Definitely goes from Brussels though, so can either double back on yourselves or swap Walibi & Plopsa days.

I'm not that bothered weirdly. But my early enthusiast days were at the time of Top Thrill Dragster so that to me was the more iconic of the 2. The method of the closure is very disappointing though. Is Amanda Thompson involved?