Benin

Bit of a generalisation there, are we comparing that to Swarm? In which case of course Swarm will be deemed more interesting, cos we can see what's happening...I sense Sub Terra might be a surprise this year...

Why does it matter? :S

I said last year that Merlin are turning a corner...This proves it without a doubt, they've done back to the early Tussauds style, and it will pay dividends to how the parks begin to look in the future...It's almost a shame one side of the station will start looking like Inferno's volcano due to the lack of roof after a few times of heavy rain though... But I'd like them to put those gates on Vampire now please...

WHY IS CORKSCREW ON THE PROMO IMAGE?!*reports to trading standards*

Great news to wake up to!http://www.tvline.com/2012/02/community-season-3-return-date/#6seasonsandamovie

Pfft, it's no Flat Earth Society that's for certain...

Alcohol and rides in the UK is a lot different from the Germans though... Especially given the current state of not knowing the limit, least the Germans can handle it/are sensible with their intake...Couple of pints or Saw? WHAT gives the biggest headache?

DAT ASS

Looks cool... The Wing-Rider is certainly showing great versatility already...Will look even better when nature returns to the area...

They can't afford to do work?

First TR of the new year? Well be prepared for a slight wall of text as I didn't bother with pictures...So yesterday was the last day of Towers' Half Term opening, so a visit was arranged and an empty Sunday road led to a pleasant morning jaunt to the park...Transport from the car park this year was excellent, with the bus replacements being efficient and quick, good job there from Towers to ensure that the Monorail didn't fail on them like many times before...So into the park and straight to Nemesis, which unsurprisingly was suffering from the cold and running VERY slow... But she's still fab so no complaints really... The top end of Forbidden Valley is currently mostly construction for Sub Terra, with the Nemesis entrance shut off completely and the queue starting at the Fastrack merge point (which for re-rides is FAB)... Not that there was a queue of course, to say the park was dead would be an understatement... Walk-on B&Ms are my favourite kind...After 3 goes on Nemesis, we noticed Air was testing so wandered over a got a quick go on it... Again suffering from the cold, an even slower Air was a strange sensation to say the least...Walking back past the Sub Terra construction (which doesn't look too bad atm, the Stag for example, is brilliant), Duel was the next port of call, and I was surprised to see new lighting (and apparently) fewer LEDs being on... According to some, staff are aiming to improve the ride by only having targets on monsters and moving objects... Which is a good idea tbh and could easily improve the ride... Electric Bill's corridor has more old set pieces as well and looks very different without as many targets... Hopefully it'll look even better come opening, and maybe the Pillar Monster will return as well...Back in the cold and the first queue (of 5 minutes) on RMT, usual stuff really and it's weird without the Rapids being open how quiet and un-interactive the ride actually is... Oh well, moving onto more warmth and Sharkbait Reef...Good news, the rays are back (CHEERS!)! And are naturally much more entertaining with the other fish as well... The giant crab still sits above the area but, I don't care cos they're gone for good... Huzzah!Then to Blivvy, which was also walk on (and that was without using one of the four cars)... Still a brilliant ride, although some new tvs could be put into the first two areas with them and the mist back on... That area will look incredibly different next year though, I look forward to it...Next up was Hexy, which has got the curtain working again (woo!) and the music is back to being nice and loud in the vault (WOO!) still funny how the parking is failing, but it's not a major issue to me and I doubt many people even realise... Oh well, still an awesome dark ride...That was it really, meandered to the farm to see the baby ducks, failed to get the QR code working on my phone for Sub Terra's promotion, did Sharkbait Reef again as well as Air and Nemesis... It's good that the park has all it's good rides open at this time of year, and I'm looking forward to Sub Terra a fair bit at least...Roll on March!

Interesting article about the ride, including the explanation of the name...http://www.newsparcs.com/en/article/00005665-oziris_b_m_inverted_coaster_ready_to_immerse_parc_asterix_visitors_into_a_new_egyptian_universeInteresting points are:- 131ft high- 3280ft long- 56mph top speed- 5 inversions- 1600 pph- Based off two Asterix stories- Highly themed indoor queueline- 2 soundtracks (area and queue) both 75 minutes long - Retheme of the Zierer kiddie coaster

Nah, they just can't afford it...

I'm sorry, but exactly WHY would the staff NOT check the restraint systems during testing?That's just a silly statement to make, of COURSE they would... Testing a ride involves checking every aspect of it, and the water dummies aren't always going to be sitting in the train all the time are they?This is a B&M, not some dodgy Mauer Sohne Spinner lapbar or an Intamin... I would expect any breakdowns to be minimal and staff to be relatively prepared for opening weekend... I don't think Raptor suffered any severe problems, and whilst the restraints are akin to Air in design, the actual system is pretty normal and just as simple as Inferno or Blivvy's... So no problems there...DO NOT PANIC! They won't make the same mistake with Saw because a B&M's throughput doesn't need to be pushed to be of a decent level...EDIT - ^That's a common theme amongst all Inverts though, cos of all the oil and stuff... Sometimes a completely enclosed casing is just not possible in the design phase of it all due to maintenance and ease of access... Sometimes decisions have to be made in how to ensure certain aspects can be done quickly and simply...Swarm however will run MUCH better than Stealth and Saw did in their opening seasons... Mainly as it doesn't need to push hard for throughputs or attempt to blow itself up...

EVERYDAY I'M SHUFFLING

A days leave for the kids at school/college before the school holidays? I'm sure those wanting to do well in their exams want to do that...Towers is perfectly acceptable to do on a weekend if a trip is planned well... And a weekend/holiday are days that would suit the majority of people...For the record, I'd be anytime on this... Not at all fussed...

I would still imagine that not EVERYONE in Staines and beyond enjoy the so called music that is played at the entrance...

Dollywood's Wild Eagle

Oh GOD..."I've brought my iPod cos it has loads of different music on it and shows how my personality switches!"No love, it's because you forgot whatever you were meant to bring that was ACTUALLY interesting ¬¬

Not enough tbh, need MOAR Disney!

Don't think so cos they're much easier to access through public transport...

Considering Raptor barely had any issues and is as simple as a normal coaster I doubt Swarm will have much problem on opening...B&M

Hmmmmmmm just imagining the sexy floater time that'll be provided

Needs more details...Can MAP holders go? How much is it? How much of the park is open? etc...