Benin

I think at the moment, the 'secret element' isn't the same thing as say, Thirteen's drop section... Indeed, with the game and current construction showing lots of extra inversions, I feel that the World's First bit might just be the inversion record...

All rides and attractions are subject to availability... Difference between Chessie and Blackpool/Southend is the seasonal aspect, the other two keep on staff for Christmas, Chessie don't... Hence the ability to open rides is limited unless they change recruitment procedures... Then of course maintenance happening on-park... And the risk that actually, this is a one-off... It's a knife edge really...

No point comparing different parks as to how many rides they have open because location, park layout and potential popularity are all key indicators... Southend is essentially smaller, less 'complicated' rides (compared to the likes of Vampire, what's the most complex ride there? Rage) and also is in the middle of Southend, meaning it's in a decent interest of getting people in as there's not exactly much else to do there in Winter... The thing is it suffers from a similar situation to Towers, in that it's not particularly obvious to those who don't research (I.e. most guests) further into events... Therefore people go and assume the entire park is open (because the thought process is probably "oh it's cheap let's go")... Although with a name like Zoo Days, would you expect the rides to be open? And I doubt they expected to hit capacity at all this week...

FFS MURRAY!

It's a ZOO DAY... Capacity is therefore lower, and most attractions are still being worked on by engineering... Therefore there aren't many rides that can open, the colder weather as well doesn't help the machinery... Most guests (applies to Towers as well) cannot seem to comprehend this...

Another angle... If, IF this is combined with a launched lift hill, this could easily shape up to be a excellent ride...

Why hello there hype train...

That transition on the drop looks actually pretty crap... Like, eh?

ALL ABOARD THE WHEEL OF WIN!

I don't have an issue with the billboard addition... I have a problem with the awful photoshop image...

Ohhhh... Coming out on Wii U as well... Win...

Here's something Mraws related! That, is well and truly awful...

Intriguing... Could be a fair few pre-shows for this as well, with the "Initiation" sequence... EDIT - This video reveals a LOT about the ride actually... Such as indoor elements (I.e. I was right)... Also the logo If it doesn't move at the ride entrance I will be excessively disappointed...

Themed shed LOVE the doors to nowhere...

Yes, those responsible for the minimal investment max returns stuff the parks have had since last decade... Who actually introduced most of the things Merlin have taken full swing into (Fastrack, paid parking, etc)...

Vampire HATES the cold, seriously hates it... It's more of a question of would Chessie get the budget for having those rides open, rather than these rides should be open... Let alone winter maintenance needing to be done (which is the main reason why most of the rides are shut, though they could plan around this if there was the need)...

The first lift can be assumed to be a chain based one (though Gerst do use tyre lifts, those are family coasters)... Although it might not been a 'regular' lift hill, it could be Maverick style and launched with LSMs (which considering how awesome Gerst launches ARE, this would be an amazing thing)...

A lot of those quotes sound very 'bigging up the new ride' to be honest... Bit like Thirteen being every ride you ever dreamed of etc... Still, interesting, perhaps people are jumping to conclusions though, we'll find out once track goes up...

Or the first lift hill is a rolling launch a la Maverick... Like I hoped for... Which would be amazing... Gerstlauer launches

EFA (in regards to the park obviously, the toy is brill)...

Thorpe's changed the most in the last decade... 2002/2003 were fine years... 2005 was when it started going really, really downhill and resulted in the pit park you see today... As per usual, I believe a rant at DIC is required...

This is a rather unexpected turn of events for Chessie... Maybe people think Zufari is open? Or most of the park is open... Either way, it's interesting... As for opening more rides... Depends on what they can do... It's a surprise Seastorm isn't up but it might well be a year for such a winter of rebuilding for it... But really the only two areas I think they COULD open are Mexicana, 'Africa' and Forbidden Kingdom... But that in turn needs a budget, something Chessie rarely gets, and knowing the luck if they WERE to do that no-one would visit... Chessington road is ALWAYS busy as well, especially as it's half term, meaning it's getting both kids AND commuters... Nothing to see there...

I can add BA to my list of "never flying with them again" in case I encounter a rogue coaster enthusiast... My job is fab btw guys, I earn money (£19k a year) and spend most of my time on here as you might have noticed... #winning

I don't remember Original Source being as "in your face" as Dr Pepper... Both are crap sponsorships though... Thorpe is so American and Six Flags at times </3

Can't afford it what with Disney, Denmark and New York hotels to pay for this year