Benin

Seeing it from the M3/M25 junction today did make me more excited. Doubt any competition members would honestly believe they'd be the first riders. Public maybe, but given Merlin's love of a "celeb" night and the boy's club Thorpe is becoming was never gonna happen.

Presume because it IS half term it's meant that people have spread out the visits rather than the single weekend.

Thorpe apparently now selling one shot Fastrack separately from the hoops you originally needed to jump through. Poor decision if true. Guess as the first few days haven't completely sold out they need to make up the expected income streams.

Looking forward to my day at Legoland this Friday. Nothing else going on right?

Better to have all the information than not. Sensory issues are still fairly new to it all. Given the problems with RAP as well probably something that will be consistent across the board, and guess its no different to the standard safety boards stating the obvious either. There was also a video for the Accessibility side of Hyperia. Though I do wonder why they constantly told me to scan a QR code when I was watching it on my phone.

Replacement for the old 4D cinema was mentioned on the park's "Super Fan Day". https://ghostlymanor.co.uk/

The dreaded tarmac pathway appears again!

Depends when they open the gates. But if you're sad enough to wait overnight for this then ain't no helping those people. Seems a sensible plan at least. Sure it'll still be utter chaos and full of entitled people. Staff will need to be on point for it to be a success.

I'd like to see the unedited version. Bet it looks just as good without the shine.

Wouldn't be a Merlin project if it was finished on time would it?

I highly doubt a staff member is going to be arrested for child neglect of a 5 month old baby that suffered a cardiac arrest. Full story below: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-68962869

People buy any old tat from parks across the world with no story based nonsense.

An island like no other some might say.

The original video not being in HD wasn't the problem. Come back DBGT animation all is forgiven.

Did anyone else catch the promo video that Thorpe have already deleted? Aside from it being excessively random (Swarm got some complaints for not being particularly focused on the coaster so they do it worse) it really feels like their marketing recently is all over the shop.

Shambhala is probably a semi decent example of what parks can do to have a decent level of themeing yet let the ride speak for itself. It's like a budget version of Icon's station here.

Yet Thorpe have added that naff bit of LORE for whatever reason. Think if compared to Icon's station building the lack of themeing elements on this is far more noticeable in the wider context of the park. Was a good opportunity to tackle the area as a whole but seems to be mish-mashy as a lot of the old Canada Creek buildings haven't been touched? Unsure if anyone has documented as such.

It would help if the park could settle on a themed/unthemed direction for more than a season mind.

Depends if the park close it early (and actually communicate it properly unlike Towers did). Like hell I am staying that long at Thorpe though.

Will be part of the testing process. Look like important staff people. Probably aiming to stick their arms out to make sure the reach envelope is good.

Best new Mack coaster of 2024 POV.

Might as well continue that red area to bin off the beach and Depth Charge. That area could definitely be used as an entertainments hub almost and the proximity to the 'hotel' would allow for some overnight stuff to occur outside in the summer. No doubt some of the flats will be coming to end of life soon. But much like Towers an actual replacement for Loggers wouldn't go amiss. Chiapas for all! Or they replace Rumba with the nonsense Bellwaerde have recently opened.

Bit slow etc. Definitely will have a lot of wasted momentum going into the final brake run by looks of it.

God the capacity is gonna be crap.

And I've worked in project management. Zero surprise that some projects really push the limit in terms of targeted handover dates. Purely depends on what Mack says the required testing hours needed are. Which none of us are privy to (and any of those who are won't be able to divulge such information). Merlin have form for it too over the years. Even Nemesis is getting stuff added to it since opening officially.