Benin

I know that feel, had to miss Palace/Villa in the admin season cos of Valentine's... Never again will I shun my true love for some individual...

That's fine, it's just the volume at which it's played is the issue (can be heard from batch gate, and causing the queue bars inside to physically vibrate </3)

All the engineers have to do is turn down the volume of the PA against the music... It's not even a case of ride staff loving the sound of their own voice (although it is an issue at times) but it's not their fault it's so bloody loud... It is a big problem though...

Wasn't that when it was being brought out for the first time of the year (Easter) and valleyed in the tunnel on the trims?

Fortunately Swarm's don't do this as badly as Raptor's... An improvement on the prototype!

Fanta? Dr Pepper surely?

Curious track piece is... Curious...

If I recall off the top of my head, it's a negatory...

Forever locked means they can seat people properly... Saw the BBQ a few times and ate there at the Chessie Conservation Evening a year or two back... Typical BBQ fare really... It never made sense with Chicken Co on park as well, the place isn't big enough to get away with it...

I don't think really anyone would care if Saw Alive was removed for good and the Belle returned to the education centre format... Of course, lack of a 'true' new ride (turning coaster cars around does not a decent investment make) could cause the park further low attendance issues...

Don't have to move it (assuming the curent existing queue doesn't change, which it doesn't have to, it's good enough as is really bar a bit more theming dotted around)... I think the 'official' reason for it's removal was that the ride couldn't cope with working with 3 trains... By this, I think they meant the staff can't due to the obscene amount of stacking that occurred the last few times I saw it on 3 trains...

Chessie's Fake Nando's is actually the worst Merlin food outlet in all the parks... Why they got rid of the pub for it I have no idea... It's absolute turd...

Surely the contract renewal will cost money as well? Hence why the ride is so poorly themed outside with those amazing 'props' from the film, cos all the money went on getting the name in? I've always questioned Merlin's choice of IPs though, what with Saw, Ice Age and Shrek (Towers Farm retheme idea that fortunately died before it happened) are all essentially dead or dying franchises with minimal lasting appeal, especially when you compare to what Drayton and Paultons have done with clever long lasting IPs... Maybe they were cheaper...

I'd be happier if they would run 3 trains again... Sigh, give me early 2008 operations again... Those were the days...

I've had some pretty awful times at Glass House (hour wait, forgotten orders, the infamous no salt of 2009)... It's improved recently though, like most Merlin outlets, should defo try it again Dan... (Though it's not a PATCH on Woodcutters <3)

If by update you mean get shiny new tvs then yes... Cannot change perfection...

Why would they have to remove the kiosk? No need either when it makes money...

1 - Dunno, didn't eat there, looked to be the same if not similar though... 2 - The usual repaint of the interior 3D effects making them look 3D after a year of wear and tear... At least they do it...

Could easily make the wall go along to the lockers... Boom, themed connected queueline... Themed entrance would be made of joy, but the odds on it happening are as ever, quite low... We can but dream...

It would be suicide for the park to deliberately close one of their biggest coasters for the busy period of October, especially as Fury cannot cope (and vice versa with Fury closing and the effect on Vamps)... Let alone closing Bubbles... As for the shop, don't get too excited, it's an awful mish mash of colours and whilst the empty look at the moment doesn't help, I dunno what good merch will do to it... The only thing left for Chessie to do with that area is gut out Bubbles and make it a decent darkride again... Same ride system, completely new theme and redo the exterior whilst they're at it... Piece of absolute turd thing it is and it gets worse every year...

It was playing... It was good... If URGH ROMANCE </3

Went yesterday, not toooo much to report on... Lots and lots of random bits of work seem to be on the agenda this year, Creaky Cafe looks really good, the green not as in your face as the pictures make it seem, inside it's a bit basic really but it's a definite improvement... The facade work in Translyvania is weird, allllll the way along the front up to the backside of Chips Ahoy... Interesting to see how that develops... Lots of old theming on the floor, tempting to take some home really Didn't see any work on Vampire's gate (indeed, a train was casually chilling down there though)... Zufari might be lucky to open in March, LOTS of dirt hills and such... But you can't see much from the Wanyama area because of this so... Not much to report because of the sheer lack of places to get to at the moment... Hocus Pocus has had the usual repaint of everything though, and Bubbles looks worse every year, nothing ever changes sometimes...

This There was also a trailer for Despicable Me 2... ALL ABOARD THE HYPE TRAIN!

To be fair, Storm Surge does look like a giant, multi-coloured, unthemed pile of turd... So that was rather accurate...

Groundwork takes the longest time to do... Especially looking at that little 'slot' section... Also, how black does Blivvy look?