Benin

You mean the ones on the first drop?Those were added on after the ride opened; I think they are magnetic even though each train seems to brake differently. They certainly look like magnets, can kinda of see them in this picture.http://www.flickr.com/photos/bluestripeleader/4718477790/#/photos/bluestripeleader/4718477790/lightbox/Surprisingly a hard thing to get pictures of that drop.

Dunno why it's pathetic, it's just most people think it's a diabolical ride because of the roughness and the numerous headaches some have received coming off it. Just opinion based off experiences. If that's pathetic, then what's the point in living?EDIT - Who wants to see what is possibly one of the WORST coaster concepts in the world? That apparently S&S are involved with? Just... URGH... It looks horribly designed, stupid throughput, mechanically over-the-top and just generally vile...

No-one's positive about trims ;)And B&M trims can just be as ride killing as some of Intamin's, and some of Intamin's can be just as erm... not as working as B&Ms ones (iSpeed being a good example here, didn't affect the ride at all, on the other side, Silver Star a few years back was quite frankly terrible because of the trim being on so high).Probably beause of the way in which Intamin use magnetic fins over the more mechanical ones that B&M use, but it's all dependent on how much they effect the ride, as of course each ride is different.At least this one can be turned down (or up if need be), magnetic ones can't, which is a main issue for rides like Thirteen.Blab over, the ride area looks so small and compact. Hopefully means a good atmosphere for non-riders and riders alike. Merlin are indeed learning well and are definitely seeming to go back to those early 90s Tussauds days for ride inspiration.

Did you not see the complaints about the fake turret and the position of the tank?

Daleks are the most terrifying creature known to man (and Timelord).

I might be going to hell, but sod it, that's some bloody funny stuff right there...Continuing my CATS ARE EPIC WIN theme...

I was pointed to this as well on Tuesday. Needless to say, it's discovery needs to be shared. SWEDISH STYLE!

It's the SWARM I tell you!

In perhaps the weirdest news story of the year, PETA are planning on sueing Sea World because they treat the whales like slaves, using the American Amendment what-not... Source...Quite simply, reminds me of a Weird Al Yankovic song...

WITCH! SHE'S A WITCH! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLdvo8J12jM

Gorgeous Raptor...9/10

No-one been to Chessie since August? Bout time for some Halloween mentions then...So I went to Chessie with the mob known as Coasterforce yesterday, after 3 years of not going with them for the annual Halloween meet-up due to several factors including uni and some annoying people, I found myself lacking a thing to do on Tuesday, so popped home solely for Chessie...The park never changes, even for Halloween, and it looked the same with all the usual cobwebs, witches, spiders and voodoo dolls we all saw last year (and for most of it, before as well), but it does look good and the fact they make an effort across the entire park for extra bits and bobs makes it more superior to Towers (which has theming in two areas) and Thorpe's nooses...The park itself was rather busy, and after an hour of faff, Vampire happened, and a 50 minute queue on two trains in half term is quite alright to me... Interaction from the Vampire in Black Forest Haunt and some of the peasant ones who walked through the entire queue was heavily approved of as well... Still the usual ride and mess around in the station though... Bubbleworks was next, and involved a mass dance in the station on the stairs... I forgot how often enthusiast groups get more insaner in larger numbers, and needless to say the staff were amused by the entire staircase dancing simultaneously...For some reason we did Seastorm then lunch... Me and John (of Italy trip fame) went off to the hotel, and both had the sausages and watched the Zebras... Such a tasty (and empty) restaurant during the day... Especially with the £10 for 2 courses deal they do... Noticed the new Fennec Foxes enclosure having netting around it... But they weren't to be seen which depressed me... Charlie was out though and all was well... Off to Dragon Falls!The trip consists of a Raffle (Faffle) were random theme park tat from many parks is given away... Always entertaining to see what gets given away, such as Greenwood mints, Vampire dummy, Gardaland dragon, and the best prize, a Rainbow Magicland mousemat and mouse set... I won something for the first time ever, which made me happy...After a jaunt on Falls, we headed towards Tomb Blaster, which was open yet closed, as apparently the 80 minute queue it had gained ( ) meant the staff wanted to put the 5th train on, so closed off the queue, got everyone through the queue and got it on... Surely the park should have been running such rides at full capacity already, considering it's half term? Oh well, Rameses was called upon to fill the void...As always with CF, something breaks down, and this time it was Rameses mid-cycle... After a LOT of faff and strange things going on, people got off, and we headed to Mexicana for a Runaway Train and Rattlesnake double bill... Nearly all of Rattle's queue theming is working again, but they need to redo the cave part of the queue... Because it is VILE...Light was falling, but we headed off to Wild Asia and the Tuk Tuks were first to be ridden as Swinger was closed due to sick (really?)... As Kobra's queue looked bleh and it was being unreliable, we elected for the new addition of the Krypt...This part of the review is in spoilers... After our journey, we headed back to the group and glowsticks! These are the big thing about this trip, and several hundreds of them appear every year... After faff with them, we headed to the Fury queue which was fast-moving and provided us with much entertainment... Fury itself was brilliant... Good spinning and just reminding how amazing it really is... Loved it...With only 15 minutes left, we legged it to Vampire (missing out on the annual Buccaneer in the dark, but for valid reasons this year) and enjoyed the dark queue atmosphere it always provides... The ride again was typical Vampire... I do really like it because it provides an extremely fun ride no matter what, even with the bumpiness... And the darkness as per all rides, really makes a difference...And that concludes my 2011 season... It was a very good end to the year for me, Chessie being it's usual self really and the group being entertaining... Although didn't do every ride (Tomb and Buccaneer) it was still a fab day out for me...Roll on next year then...And in case anyone cares, I have some pics up on the Book of Face HERE!!!

Construction fence in the zoo by Trail of the Kings entrance...All together now... "OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"

Still needs a refurb then

Or have the budget to fix it

It's hilarious yes (as is most of it to be honest), but it works as it's not meant to be scary, but an adventurous walkthrough...No idea about Black Forest and Hocus Pocus, I assume they're the same and hence Krypt will be the best attraction this year... Didn't have enough time today...

As predicted the park semi-emptied out today, with 20-30 minutes queues on the major rides after 6...Also, has no-one been on Krypt? If so, WHY IS NO-ONE GIVING IT CREDIT? I'll do a proper review tomoz (I WILL this time, promise), but seriously was a really good addition to the line up, shame about the faff involved by I heavily approve...

Seriously?Dear Mack, could you just do Chessie a favour and refurb it please?

3rd train is in pieces on the brake run...Potentially never to be used again

tests, and theming begins!

Random appearance on Young Apprentice... £3.80 for an ice cream? That's VERY Merlin

Exactly...Problem is, you shun away the families from coming, and you actually lose the most likely audience who will spend massively in comparison to the actual target market Thorpe have...Thorpe is literally going to turn into a massive themed funfair at the rate it's going tbh...

Might as well have a minimum height restriction at the park entrance nowadays.What's it now? Rapids, Teacups, Rocky Express, Carousel and Banana Boat? I know it doesn't fit the target market, but kids still get taken to Thorpe.CCR was always good for relaxing on at any rate, it had a role at Thorpe in being NOT an intense ride for about 5 minutes sit-down. sigh...

People who you don't speak to having a problem with you for no reason.That, and pointless lectures teaching us how to use a library and my FYP supervisor not being in.Urgh, just when I was feeling quite good about life again.