AstroDan

If the park has around 1/3 of its rides unavailable, then personally I think they ought not to open the park and instead concentrate on getting it ready to open properly. More often than not, these annual pass days seem to almost 'mock' the loyalty of annual pass holders with a sub-standard theme park operation at both Thorpe Park and Chessington. It certainly doesn't entice me down from the midlands.

As much as it delights me that Thorpe do Summer Nights, in the world where money is everything and the parks are squeezed for cash... it surprises me they stick with it given how empty the park is. They can't make much, surely?

I wish people would stop talking as if it is a 'Merlin' decision to run a ride on X number of trains... It is down to the individual park operational management. This is why Alton Towers and Thorpe Park often differ in terms of how many trains run on rides. It also infuriates me this terminology, which is only seen when discussion Blackpool, of a 'one train service'. No. It's no service. Just call it 'low capacity' and be done with it. If Nemesis (AT) was on 1 train I wouldn't gratify them with a 'one train service'. I would simply say it is on 'low capacity' whatever the reason. As for the situation in February - some folks need to get over it. They have barely had time to strip down trains fully over winter by the time half term rolls in. And looking at some rides, such as Air, those crafts take one hell of a stripping and are some of the most complex ride vehicles in the world.

Merlin have increased the gate prices by significantly more than inflation in order to offset their discounting habits. Fools.

I don't know, I think £30.00 for a theme park of Thorpe Park's standard is reasonable and appropriate. The park sees investment in major rides every 3-4 years and is one of the more major parks in the UK. Given the cost of wages in the UK are 15-20% higher than, say, Germany, I believe that £30.00 is the sort of price Merlin should be charging guests to visit the park. If you compare the cost of a day at a theme park at £30.00 with other activities - such as the cinema, football match or day out shopping - then £30.00 is fine. Any less and it becomes 'cheap' and any more it is a rip off. £30.00 sits about right. Merlin parks should not be 'cheap' because that devalues the value of the brand but at the same time, suggesting the park is worth £50 or £60.00 and it won't be seen as value in the public's eye - no matter what they pay.

As above - it is a resort, but I think they could do more 'resorty' things to make it feel more like one. Opening hours don't help although I appreciate they can't open late into the night, but at present, the theme park feels very detached from the hotels.

Thorpe Park should simply ban people from arriving on the day if it is that much of a problem. Or Merlin need to massively increase ride capacity in the park... which hasn't really been the case of late as development has slowed down. As Jamie says, if £60.00 is the 'standard' gate price on some of these days, people will think that TP is a £60 day out regardless of what has been paid. It only adds to the notion that theme parks are a 'rip off'. I also concern myself that those using vouchers are going to be quite shocked when they realise that £30.00 IS half price... frankly many people would probably assume that £30.00 was the FULL price!!!!

For the record, Europa-Park charge €42.50 (£30.50) whether you rock up at the gate or book online. The price... is the price. And if you want to go to EP, that is precisely the price you pay! Heaven Forbid. Europa-Park is the most popular park in Europe after Disneyland Paris so they must be doing something right. Why must Thorpe Park operate like this. Suggesting £60 figures just gives them a bad reputation.

Alton Towers has far more to do in terms of a 'resort' than most other parks in Europe... Obviously it is far from the best, but with a waterpark, spa, golf, high ropes course, theme park, hotels etc. there is actually a bigger variety than many of the bigger resorts - and certainly far more than anything like Thorpe, Chessington or LEGOLAND!

Europa-Park is €42.50 for one day, which is £30.50. This is the standard, walk-up ticket price. Disneyland Paris 1-day park hopper based on a walk up price is typically cheaper, too. The model that Merlin use in the UK is baffling and so different to what happens in Europe.

It isn't so much what MOST pay - it is the horrid psychological "Thorpe Park is a rip off" that ripples through the heads of guests around the country! £59.99 is obviously absurd - in fact, it could be the most expensive theme park outside of Disney or Universal property on Earth? I haven't the time to check obviously... Hilarious. Hopefully guest figures will plummet and I will have every ride to myself. Also - kids of 1.0m+ seem to have to pay standard rates? Bit harsh given they have practically nothing to do...

I don't generally think 1 train operation has been a major problem for Thorpe Park or Alton Towers this week apart from the odd hour here or there. Alton Towers, however, run the likes of Nemesis in main season pretty much never on 1 train - and we know Thorpe are far more likely to. However, overall - it hasn't been too bad. I still find both parks line-ups not padded out enough to really give you a day out at this time of year...

I get the impression that Chessington would be busy even if the park was just open to walk around and all the animals were vanished... It's no wonder Merlin don't invest in the park when the guests just come back regardless.

The coaster itself at Gardaland looks similar to Efteling. However, the theming at Efteling will be absolutely first class whereas at Gardaland it will probably be just about 'solid'. Efteling is a wonderful park but they always build very short rollercoasters - see DVH, Joris en de Draak and this. Personally I find Krake really quite boring at Heide-Park, but this does look better. I do not massively rate SheiKra however, but Griffon is outstanding (seems to offer more airtime and also has 2 inversions). I am willing to forego a larger ride though if it's presented like this - Efteling do know how to get it spot on.

The problem is, whilst Thorpe have made it perfectly clear that there are only a very small number of rides open, the fact is... there appears barely enough to do in the day. Most people will go to Thorpe Park for a day out. Yet, given the fact that they are on Facebook asking 'what the highest ride count is of the week' - and pushing out figures of 30-40 on Stealth alone... it suggests the park is literally, empty. And if a park is empty, people will do the rides available even quicker than they would if there had been a 10-15 minute wait. Now, I find myself getting a little bored by 2pm at Alton Towers during February (although a family would be better off, as the CBeebies rides and shows will keep them occupied for longer) - and rides open for my target market include Air, Nemesis, Blade, Duel, RMT, Sonic, Hex etc, open and an aquarium. My concern is that such is the limiting nature of what Thorpe are offering, that it may result in a poorly attended event and then something that doesn't return next time.

I obviously don't know what I am talking about then.

Oh I fully agree that it would be better that every ride at Alton Towers and Thorpe Park were open every weekend - but practically, it isn't going to happen. There is no way they would get every ride at Alton Towers or indeed Thorpe Park refurbished between November 10th and February 13th. It just isn't going to happen unless they employed triple the engineers/technicians.

Regarding the event fee vs Alton Towers being free; I am not sure that the Brainiac show thing stacks up... Alton Towers have shows by both Mr. Bloom and Mr. Tumble of CBeebies this half term (which they don't have ordinarily). This is a huge draw for the kids and they aren't charging AP holders extra... If Thorpe Park can't get guests in for it then the event simply shouldn't run - it doesn't take a business analyst to work that one out. Alton Towers had over 5,000 guests in the park on Saturday. Obviously it would be great if they did what BPB did and opened every ride, but then BPB are only opening weekends... and Alton Towers I know don't open a number of attractions at this time of year because the weather can be too cold for them to run properly. I presume it is similar with Thorpe Park. Rides in both parks are technically far more advanced than most rides in Blackpool.

It baffles me that they are charging passholders... especially given that Alton Towers do not and there is a fair bit more open at Alton Towers... Weird.

It doesn't sound anywhere near as busy as Alton Towers, although I guess with this being a new event it won't be. To offer a comparison, Nemesis had a 35 minute wait yesterday at its peak (on one train), with Spinball at 30 and CBeebies Land around 15-30. Air, which was running 2 trains however, was barely 5 minutes. Hopefully the event at Thorpe Park will be popular enough in order for them to develop it in future! I went down to TP back in the days of February events of the late 00s but it was awful... this does sound better, but the lack of rides open doesn't yet warrant the 2 hour drive for me.

Some other changes I noticed today around the park: - Corner Coffee is closed and is being refurbished ready for main season - Mutiny Bay Shoppe has been refurbished with a lot of new theming added. It looks great and adds to the other shops which have been improved in recent years. - Congo River Rapids is seeing a lot of work, with new queueline fencing and a new station roof. - New Octonauts characters in CBeebies Land were out today meeting kids - New music has been added to the playlist in CBeebies Land - There are new speakers on Towers Street and the sound is much better. - Some Nemesis 21 merchandise is available - A lot of trees have been cleared behind the Air brake run / behind Ripsaw / behind Burger Kitchen etc. in Forbidden Valley Obviously, a lot of the painting/general touch up work takes place between FHT and main season - so the park is looking far from its best. However, it was good to see a number of improvements as listed above.

I have to say, the new coaster looks like a pretty high build quality. The train is delightfully cute! Work was ongoing today and there are good views of it around Sonic Spinball. You wouldn't think it is a Zamperla when you see it. Trackwork looks good! Some further pics are on the TS Facebook page: www.facebook.com/towersstreet

This got cancelled like a year or so ago...!

There is no denying that IAC is a known brand and one which is watched by a lot of people. That said, it isn't really a brand of quality or depth. The question here is... did Thorpe Park feel that IAC was something THEY wanted for THEIR park... or was it more that they will take what they can get? I can't imagine the Thorpe Park development team sat down a couple of years ago 'now yes, let me think - we won't have much money in 2015 so let's just get a cheap jungle maze in themed around IAC'. Doubtful. What happened to the days of unique attractions which are designed by the in house teams at Merlin? Or are the Thorpe Park marketing department just not capable of delivery any more? The THORPE PARK name should be a brand big enough in itself to warrant a guests visit - not a fairly cheap/trashy ITV TV show.

The park re-opens tomorrow for the 9 day half term event, with the following attractions open between 10am and 4pm: Driving School Frog Hopper Gallopers Carousel Hex Sonic Spinball Get Set Go Treetop Adventure Postman Pat In the night garden magical boat ride Numtums Number Go Round Charlie & Lola Nina's Science Lab Tree Fu Tom Training Camp Sensory Garden Mr Bloom's Allotment Heave Ho! Sharkbait Reef by SEA LIFE Marauder's Mayhem Runaway Mine Train Duel Nemesis Blade Air