Benin

Hansa love their twisty vertical drops... 2016 is so far away

Another test, with the holding brake included (not that anyone cares)...

That Rush would be at the end of it's 'lifespan' after 10 years is also a strange claim to make... Zodiac is about the same age now (since it's the one from Drayton) as well... As Dan says, an extra week (bearing in mind there'll be some time for maintenance AFTER half term as well) is not going to make all 4 Lost City flats suddenly die and need replacing... Of course though, if the parks hadn't been so badly treated during the DIC years, then maybe the rides being knackered wouldn't be an issue...

One would expect/hope there are a few more filler rides to be added to that list, the 4 lost city flats near the entrance for example, and Inferno and Det as well should come in... As a line up if all those things were open, would mean only 3 big rides shut, 2 of which would be down to the chill factor potentially being a problem... Have to see won't we?

Saw's gimmick did/does work, but the ride itself is gooseberry fool... Big difference to Mraws (and Swarm originally, though that's a lot more external reasoning, always hated how Swarm got the blame for a bad year)...

The same Six Flags which is calling these fairground "Ring of Fire" rides coasters? Six Flags are well known for their crappy gimmicks, certainly not a company I would look to emulate...

Onrefni? I'd rather not see one of the few non-gimmick coasters be turned into one... The sudden backwards rides gimmick is weird as well, and I don't think Namtab got a lot of good reviews either, beyond being "ok for the one off experience", much like Swarm really...

I.e. People weren't happy that the sale was only for new passes rather than renewals... Merlin didn't help this by only making it clear when you actually hit onto the website...

One would assume so, it's pretty much focused on the area as a whole, with a park as a bonus... Of course, the quality of the park could make Merlin stand up and take notice, even if their current stance towards it is a sort of "don't care" attitude, which is equally a dangerous mistake to make... Paramount will be very easy to advertise as well, especially with the BBC IPs added in as well... What would sound better to kids? Angry Birds or Dr Who? As for Paultons, they need some continued expansion/investment to reach the slightly wider audience that the likes of Lego and Chessie hit... For now it's still firmly within the 'local park' motif that a lot of high quality independent parks are at...

I can't figure why people are thinking the red lights are new, it's always had multiple coloured lights...

The indoor drop is always a highlight on the Eurofighters that have them; Mystery Mine's is good for the sheer starting point (I.e. straight into the drop out of the station, rather than turning a corner into it like Saw), and Fluch's drop propels you into a launch (after some random German storytime)... Fortunately for those two, they don't become awful after a solid start...

TRIPLE POST This is possibly the most gorgeous ride poster ever... I want it...

Dodgy testing video ahoy!

This month, Efteling's project team get to ride Krake...

So aside from Scorpion Express and Market Square's refurb, what else did the £8 million get the park? Honestly curious here... As from the outside, it looks like it's another example of the ridiculous cost of Merlin Studios... And I'm with Josh, Scorpion Express is lazy, the backdrop alone is the greatest flaw, 2d and doesn't even look like a mine (which is meant to be the story, abandoned mine)... It's not just at Chessie mind, both Swarm and Smiler also have lazy elements to the theming, it's just a Merlin wide issue instead...

Scrap standby queues, apart from the first half hour and the last hour(s)... Not a sensible decision... Besides, the assumption the rerides will just make enthusiasts happy is the sweeping under the rug issues we suffer from currently when it comes to Merlin...

Are we really considering Scorpion Express as a major investment? Low standards are low...

So, as always, Europa are doing a number of minor improvements to the park during off-season... They've posted a few pics of this work on FB: A man oversees their new Express Lane, which will essentially be a Travelator in the car park. The Kolombus ride in Spain is slightly gutted for a refurb. The base of Euro-Tower is getting a look-in. Don Quichotte restaurant also sees a gutting. The Italy area sees a repaint. As always, Mack prove time and time again that they know exactly the standard required from any park in the world...

Would appear that the layout in the image of the SFC is a clone of Kvasten at Grona Lund... A very good solid family coaster it is too, a suitable choice for the park...

Mack launch k pls... Couldn't care about Rapids, all the UK ones are dull...

If only they could improve operations, then this would be very good news...

Excellent choices from Paultons, one solid family coaster, and an unique one in a way for the south... More coasters than Chessie and Legoland with these too...

Is Tweenies still a thing? Octonauts already appear at Chessie and Sea-Lifes, I wouldn't be surprised if it was that tbh...

Bear in mind this coaster hasn't even officially been announced through the park... They'll just tack any marketing onto the back end of the CBeebies Land ad... "Now including a BRAND NEW roller-coaster for kids!" etc... Does it matter if that's all the advertising? Not really, this is not Smiler, or Nemesis, you don't see many other parks pushing new kids coasters UNLESS they're opening as part of an area...

Yeah later in the year, certainly there in October, it was cool, but Scorpions are dull creatures so it doesn't provide much...