Pitbull
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Posts posted by Pitbull
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Who went: My good self, Dan, Dan's sis and Evie
Park Open: 9.30am
Park Close: 6pmRide Count:
Swarm x2 (once in each direction)
Saw x2
Stealth x12
Colossus x3
Nemesis Inferno x3
Tidal Wave
Detonator
Vortex
X
Storm Surge
Loggers Leap x2
Rumba RapidsThe park was not overly busy, queues were generally around 20minutes at the longests, however some did sneak up to 40mins at times, however in most cases a ride with such a queue would have a quite one near by so with carefull planning these waiting times could be avoided.
A few key points:
The staff were spot on today, couldn't have done enough for us at any point. Opperations were also faultless, quickly reacting to the lines and adding a second trains to Inferno, Colossus and extra boats on Loggers.
X is interesting, I understand its not the finished product yet, and will be closing for a while so have further improvments made, not to mention the introduction of more trains.
The food at bar 360 was good, Evie and I enjoyed a sharing combo which was plenty, but to be gready we had chips each too lol. It was also good to have the southern sun back with us, meaning us meal could be enjoyed sat out with a beer
I really enjoy TP, and after a disapointing start to the season 90% of that was down to the weather, it appears things are back on track.
Ash
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The Ghost Train has had a new effect added to it now
Ash
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I'd suggest you ride the Streak, its somehow a smooth woodie, it'll change your opinion. If you do give the National a go (I recomend you do) head as far towards the front as you can.
Ash
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Valhalla, not running too bad to be fair to it, 8 boats, however they were going round mostly empty, clearly not many people were game for it in such conditions....it certainly wouldn't have been entertaining me had we not had a BPB virgin with us! All effects were working with exception of the snow, water tunnel (which I was greatfull for!) and the fire accross the final drop.
Pics!
It was rather dead!
Monorail has run its last :-(
Thrill-o-matic
Still quite
Funshine seems to be making a return!
This was once free....its now £1, and demand has dropped through the floor! If it doesn't open on a bank holiday things cant be looking too good for it!
Ash
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The Big One is a fun ride, however for me, thats all it is. I rank it below the woodies and Revolution, and to suggest that its better than all the coasters at AT and TP is laughable, but you are of course entitled to your opinion on the subject.
It would benifit if it included some drops rather than ramps during the course.
Ash
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Visit Date: 1st April (Easter Monday)
Park Open:10am
Park Closed: 8pmRides Closed: None
Ride Count:
Avalanche
Big Dipper x4
Big One x5
Grand National x5
Infusion
Revolution x4
Steeplechase
Valhalla
Wild Mouse x3
Thrill-o-matic
Alice In Wonderland
Derby Racer x2
Ghost Train
Pleasure Beach Express
River Caves
Nickelodeon Streak x4
Lost River
Krusty Krab Order UpOverall had a brilliant day, it was really good to get back to BPB, been far too long since I was there (about 6 weeks lol) I have posted in a seperate topic about the W&G Thrill-o-matic, and have nothing really to add about it here.
I am not going to go around the park in the order I did things or I'll be here at christmas, I'll just highlight a few key points.
I find the idea of running the Avalanche on 1 train on a bank holiday a sick joke, and dont think much of the Steeplechase alternating between 1-2 lanes either with a line well down the steps, these events lead to re-rides being put off the list of things to do.
The Streak in the morning had me worried it was going to roll-back, offering the worst ride I've ever had on this, even with the lighter trains used years ago it was never this slow. Fortunatly after a few hours the pace was improved and it was back to its normal form.
The Grand National, Wild Mouse and Big One were all on top form and the Revolution was running the best I've ever known it. It has recently had a lot of work done to the launch (shove?) but it feels a lot better for it.
The park was suprisingly quite, the queues I spoke of before were built up due to dire capacity rather than high demand, which is a shame as the park was faultless in all other areas. I am amazed they kept it open until 8pm, as the morning was very quite, and despite a busy period between 1-3pm, the ark emptied around 5pm and just got lifeless. Still, it lead to re-rides on the National before heading to the Big One for the final half an hour to make the most of the park in an illuminated state, as due to the clocks changing and the hours of business being less than impressive, thats likely to be it for night time riding till October! Well worth it though.
Ash
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Rode Thrill-o-matic yesterday....hmmm.
I'll start by admiting I have never watched Wallace and Gromit in my life, so I know nothing about the story(s)/adventures they get up to.
I thought a lot of effort had gone into making it work, however it lacks any consistant story throughout the ride, to someone like me, its all very randomly placed anomatronics with the same handfull of characters not really progressing at all.
The bueatie of the Gold Mine is it was a generic theme, it was set in the past as as such, never dated (something thats already set in the past will never look out of date, be it 1970, 2012 or 2060) I'll be amazed if this is still going in 20 years time. However, its meant to deal wih the parks customers TODAY not in 20years time, and that I think it will do well.
I rate the ride 7/10, around the same as I would have the Gold Mine, however my ridership on that attraction will drop considerabley. Where as the Gold Mine was a ride I did on almost every visit to the park, this will appear on my ride count about as often as Alice In wonderland (2-3 a year)
Ash -
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Having been on it several times last weekend, can I just say the new boats are running a LOT faster than the old ones did. On several occasions people came off the end of the chute and stright over the carpet, into the cash beams! Either its the new boats for noones deited since christmas!
Ash
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It is running faster, its on a park with the old Log Flume at BPB, I dont know where its picked up its intent from but its certainly up'd a gear or 3.
Ash
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Myself and 2 friends decided to visit TP yesterday. After a rather treturous drive down to the wrong side of the Watford Gap to pick Dan up, we headed to the T5 travelodge, where some alcoholic refreshments were consumed before bed. The next morning after a slight snow fall in the night, we headed to TP. The car park was almost deserted. I sorted my AP out and headed to the Swarm to meet Dan and Evie who had already gone into the park. From this point we stayed together for the day, despite the bitter cold and the rather rude snow flurrys that came every now and then, we had an enjoyable day (us and about 4 lears of clothes each)
X was closed of course due to the renovation, while Colossus, Saw and Rush failed to even test due to the conditions.
To the parks credit, they did really well at keeping the rest of the park open up until around 4pm at which point a decission was made to close most of the rides and offer a free return ticket for any day of the season up until Fright Nights, so in effect, the money we had paid went to the next visit, meaning all todays rides were free! That very quickly took the wind out of my sails, given it had not IMO got any colder that it was eariler in the day. However, with the Swarm breaking down, leaving only Stealth and Nemesis Inferno in terms of coasters to deal with the entire park (both on 1 train) they maybe thought that was asking too much, and it would avoid a length line of people at guest services if they offered the return tickets.
They did also give people the option to stay on park and enjoy what was still open, bizzarly this included all 5 water rides and a few flats.
We clocked up a respectable ride count anyway, and enjoyed plenty of food and hot drinks throughout the day and are now looking forward to a free return (for Dan and Evie at least!) at a warmer time!
Ride Count:
Swarm x2 (one of each direction)
Inferno x4
Stealth x5
Slammer
Loggers x3
Depth Charge x3
Storm Surge x2
Vortex
Detonator x2
Rapids
QuantumA few points I made, Nemesis wasn't at its best in the cold, Stealth however seemed to be running really well. The Swarm backwards...weird!
I will give both Storm Surge and Depth Charge some credit here, the new boats of DC are great and really fly off the end, some people ended up itting the airbags against the fence! They do really make the ride more fun. Storm Surge was also good, with us 3 lumps and 3 kids in, we had 2 of the best rides I've ever had on it.
I didn't bother with any more than 4 pictures due to the faff involved taking out my camera and removing my gloves to work it, that was far too much effort in that kind of temperature.
Ash
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Hey folks, I dont think I ever got to this topic before, so desite having my account for some time I may aswell contribute here, I've been about daily for a while, and the looks set to continue so here goes!
Real name's Ashley, Ash will do though, I'm the former mod on PBE (but we wont go into all that) lol I may have bumped into a few of you at your ERT on Swarm last year, some of you may have seen me before over at PBE too. Those that dont know me I'm 28 (feels more like 68 these days!) and I'm into just about every coaster in the country, my fav at Thorpe is an award thats shared between Stealth and Inferno, however I cant think of a bad coaster there.
I usually only manage 3-4 visits to TP a year, thats the problem with being a northerner lol.
Despite the name, I dont bite...honist
I'd also like to take this oppertunity to thank your site team/facebook team for helping me sort my account out a few weeks ago.
Ash
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Cheers! Looking good!
Ash
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Bringing it back to DC, does anyone have any pics of it from the preview day with the new boats?
Ash
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The problems I see with Thorpe's water rides/
Rumba Rapids/ too tame and bring since the 02 revamp and sponsor removal as the ride now lacks proper theming and interactive experiences.
Depth Charge/ Thorpe classic but over too quickly and can still get manic queues.
Tidal Wave/ excellently themed and atmospheric too, but unless its a hot day (which don't come too much nowadays), you come off completely drenched feeling very cold and unfomftable.
Loggers Leap/ the best water ride Thorpe has but the ride has been neglected and needs a paint up in places, a nice clean and a new tunnel.
Storm Surge/ serves no major purpose other than being a cross of depth and rumba with an appearance that appears to be a carbon copy of Tidals.
I would have to say the Rapids are the worst example of such a ride I have ever encountered, without a considerable re-theme I wouldn't really miss it if it were to close.
Depth Charge is a ride I do like, however why the lift that brings the boats up isn't on constantly (or at least until 4 boats are on the top, and another 4 are on the way up I dont get) I would also have people standing behind the chutes ready and waiting to get on like they do in water parks, it would speed up the line.
Tidal Wave I love, but agree with what you say, I avoid it unless its 30+ degrees! The theme and atmospher of the ride is second to none.
Loggers I agree is the best, and I'd love to see it smartened up somewhat.
Storm Surge, for a ride that has such a high number of boats on I would expect a much better throughput. Infact, contry to what I said a minute ago I would rather be on the rapids than this. All it does obstruct the route to X and as you say Matt, try at being Tidal Wave.
Ash
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I must admit I'd rather have Depth Charge over Storm Surge!
Ash
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I still think that whole area could be put to better use, however I can also see your point.
Ash
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If Depth Charge does go It should be for something better than a blasted fountain! This isn't Pleasure Beach were talking about!
Ash
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Indeed it can when its being fed a banquit of BS
Ash
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I was under the assmuption that ADIPS was the car tax for rides, e.g a requirement with an annual cost and expiry date?
So is it voluntary and not a requirement, can rides operate without them?
They are, Fred is mistaken.
It stands for Amusement Device Inspection Procedures Scheme, so dont tell me nobody knows what it means. I would guess I know a little more about the industry than you do thats all.
Ash
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Beastie finially gone?!?!
As for CCR, it depends if it has a valid ADIPS certificate if it can be re-opened for not. They are tax-disc size and are found on most ride opperators boxes but every ride requires on to open. They are re-issued every 12 month, which leads me to believe CCR if it hasn't cycled since it closed will NOT have one and as such will not be allowed to open until such time as its re-tested.
I know that back in 2009 when the Big Dipper crashed at Blackpool they only had a matter of weeks left on the RollerCoaster's ADIPS before it expired and had to quickly change there plans, as that was not meant to open that year, however with the Dipper down it did re-open.
Ash
Thorpe Park Trip Reports
in Your Planned Trips and Reports
Posted
Yup! Thats what you call Stealth abuse my friend, it is usually included on my visits to TP!
Ash