Benin

In other news, Phannyland have updated the look of their website, those who might remember the Jurassic World hype train will notice that it's the same design as that website... So it looks utter crap and difficult to actually navigate... A poor trend amongst websites atm... WE NEED THE INFO QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY GUYS!

There was a van and sommat else cut from Smiler... Plus the whole area down the bottom was meant to be able to accessed (and not the awful maze queue we see today)...

It was only testing cos HSE were trying to recreate the steps of the incident to see if it could be repeated... It hasn't been seen moving since that week... At least not when the park is open...

Doesn't sound like it, although it's probably only enthusiasts who are holding off any trips until Scenic has reopened... I would've gone already if they hadn't closed it that weekend recently...

Couple of things did get the boot... The jetty for one thing if I recall correctly... Granted they added the billboard (which is... ok, I guess? I dunno, it is very tacked on)... Also, Smiler got a lot of ideas cut from the budget as well... Including two theming elements...

Death is too leniant a punishment for attacking Mark9

If the attacker didn't pull a knife on you chances are it's a different person... Both deserve to be shot out of a cannon in to the sun mind...

It's sad that some people on here have never experienced some true top class rides... Go to DLP, ride ToT and Ratatouille, and then have your eyes opened by the joys of dark rides...

Biggest season ever, the optimism and hope is really at full pelt... Who'd thought that 5 years ago?

Are the UK public more excited about story driven rides though? Sub Terra (when open), hasn't seen a queue since it first opened... It's also not a great example of great storytelling, what with the poor ending... I like it, don't get me wrong, but if it were something the GP were after, it wouldn't be walk-on 99% of the time... Ghost isn't story based at all... It's a walkthrough of a Haunted House (with optional high quality Mirror Maze) with no real rhyme or reason behind why... It does have backstory dotted around, but it isn't expressly told to you via the ride itself... Sure there's the ride portion with the mad scientist, but this is pretty much done in about 5 seconds... Mystery Castle (the ride Ghost is quite obviously ripping off), does things a lot better in a story sense... Hex is about the only real example the UK has of a real story driven attraction (at a theme park)... It has that set introduction, middle and finale that all works well together, something most Madhouses do well anyway (some more than others obviously, a lot of Madhouses struggle because I'm an ignorant English person who doesn't understand the strange foreign tongues)... Remember when Merlin tacked on a story to Zufari? That worked out well for them didn't it? Given Smiler's popularity (prior to the crash), I would say that the GP are still after the big intense rides over story driven rides... I don't particularly think Merlin have the ability to produce a true world class dark ride when they're being run by accountants...

I think the best news is that you can have a cheeky Nandos before you fly at Gatwick South Terminal... Also Beaconsfield Services on the M40 (the one with the Spoons)...

Also, Merlin love an IP, whether it's actually good or not... It's certainly not outside the realms of possibility that we'll see an IP latched onto this... Especially as we know that dark rides aren't particularly easy to market with USPs, another Merlin favourite...

How much is being spent on the IP?

There is barely enough space to put a decent sized flat ride, let alone a Wacky Worm or anything bigger...

I would say the Saw to Swarm rise in costs was because B&M is expensive and Gerstlauer is cheap...

If the placing of the spot is to be believed, this would replace the crappy upcharge attractions by Peeking Heights... Preferably, they'd get rid of both the upcharge AND Peeking Heights...

"First new ride since Peeking Heights"? What awful reporting... Wouldn't get too excited, it's only gonna be a small flat of some form...

I'm sure there was an image of what the bus ride at Shrek looked like... If someone could produce it (either the planning version or an actual photo), then we can compare effectively... From what I can determine though it's just a simulator and doesn't move on a track forwards into a screen area...

FINALLY I can post this picture of Movie Park Germany's Immersive Tunnel! Notice the giant pit, something that doesn't appear in Thorpe's current construction site...

That people are returning is also part of the problem... I get people enjoy their visits to the park and stuff, but if you keep going (even if you complain every single time you do), then you're not helping things get better... Sad but true...

Secret dark ride is secretive... Expecting an IP then, or some form of strange sponsorship relation to the ride's MYSTERY...

So, having visited Tayto Park today, a few remarks: Currently, there isn't much around, but plenty of room for expansion, with plans afoot. Very busy today, which can only be considered a good thing. Factory Tour was disappointing unfortunately. Cu Chulainn, is fantastic, with only one real flaw in the overbanked turn being a bit iffy. However the layout is rather relentless, coupled with the Timberliners making it an airtime machine from start to finish. The first drop is unbelievably good in the back row to boot. Who've thought Ireland would produce one of the best coasters the British Isles have seen in years? Hopefully the bright future will go full force, because there is tonnes of potential awaiting this park once they find their feet.

Let's be realistic Mark, if it's better than Valhalla then you can start buying people pints

Shame, but the amount of kids you'd see climbing over them makes it no surprise at all...

Never argue with a maths student on numbers...