AstroDan

To an extent, although certainly with enthusiasts I have visited with, the general perception is that the attraction has already improved and, to my knoweldge, the ride feedback has also improved since opening - which is great news. Here's todays news article from TowersTimes News:

Hmm. Not sure I can say whether this or Oz'Iris look better! This does look excellent, I have to say. Aside from the theming which seems to be less than I originally expected, looks like a speed fest!

Great news (apart from those poor people visiting(. I await the improvements!

Just to back up Benin - the trains around EP run very well.

Alton Towers introduced a car parking charge quite a number of years ago now, which rises by £1 every 2 or 3 years. It currently costs £6.00 (has done since March 2011) which is very expensive, considering the very poor public transport option. To avoid paying the charge, just hang around in one of the hotel bars for an hour or so (drink lime and soda for 50p if you have to!) as then the barriers all rise, usually around 90 minutes after ride close. Most European parks charge between €4 and €10 for parking (£3.20 - £8.00) depending on location, with Astérix, Efteling and Disney being the worst offenders to my knowledge (Disney are actually well over €10). Add in the fact that Merlin have no money for their theme park operations at the moment (we see cost cutting across the division), it is no wonder they are trying to bleed more from guests with "stealth charges" effectively. Sad, but true.

www.booking.com Type Europa-Park - there are stacks of places in Rust.

I know people in a variety of roles (from basic ride staff to management) who work at Alton Towers, have worked at the park in the past, and the ride is receiving a mixed reaction - literally 50/50. Stand at the exit and you would find the same. Hence why it will be closing again soon for further work. The park are still not satisfied with it and REALLY want to make it work. I am not lying. *EDIT - the 50/50 is however an improvement on the opening week or two, so they are getting there.

We don't know. But Alton told us at the TT@10 event that the ride is "not yet signed off" and there is speculation that it is set for a 1 week closure "soon".

N:ST is not a huge hit. Feedback is extremely mixed. I quite enjoy it now, but the ride feedback is very 50/50. Thankfully there is more to come. Perhaps I am just snobby and totally unrealstic, but I don't like seeing extremely similar rides duplicated so quickly. It screams "lack of creativity" to me. Probably doesn't make business sense but hey, I will sit on my high horse

Alton Towers would detest it if the attraction was duplicated. They really would. At TT@10 on Saturday, Mark Kerrigan (Operations and Development Director) said that they were "still learning day by day" with Sub Terra, and that the attraction still hadn't been signed off as complete, and there is more to come. Given the luke warm reception (so far) received for the ride so far, it would seem incredulous that another park was already planning on a duplicate. Alton Towers' build unique and creative experiences, which he admitted "don't always work" - copying the ride closely would really not go down well with them.

It is being widely speculated that Nemesis: Sub Terra will be closed for around 1 week at some stage in the near future...

Please god. No. Alton Towers didn't just put a very unique and customized attraction in the form of Nemesis: Sub-Terra, which hasn't even been finished yet, in order for other Merlin parks to then just leach of it all. Surely a generic Merlin Scare Maze experience is more likely.

The Ropers don't really have much support from others in the area.

It is good that the parks are selecting things which have a minimal effect. But what is next?

Alton Towers should revert to the system of years ago. Woodland Walk opens at 8:45am for Hotel Guests and Annual Pass Holders. Make a nicer entrance for the Woodland Walk, add some signage about gardens and fastrack options etc. on the walk, ERT in Forbidden Valley on all rides in the area. The park opens at 9:30am for all, via Towers Street. There is a cordon at Gloomy Wood to prevent guests from going through to Forbidden Valley. At 10:00am, cordon is liften and all rides open. Where possible, other rides in the park open before 10:00am to alleviate any queuing.

Thorpe Park: Reduced opening hours, Saw Alive closed. Alton Towers: Reduced opening hours, food outlets hours cut. Chessington: Reduced opening hours, Wild Asia/Mystic East open at 11:30am Legoland: Reduced opening hours, cuts to events (I.e. laser event) Any more anyone can think of?

It's not a good idea, and I hope they return the old system ASAP. When they let all guests into the park at 9:30pm, you end up REALLY angering non ERT guests. They stand there at the ride entrance, watching people go on the rides with next to no queue.I have already heard of several cases of abuse being hurled at ERT guests. It's so uneasy.

I was there today - it was absolutely horrendous weather. The winds were causing some trees to lose large branches, and some trees were felled entirely in a controlled manner, in order to ensure public safety, Bins, signs and fencing was collapsing everywhere - and most of the major rides were unable to run. Air, Flume, Sonic Spinball, Enterprise, Oblivion, Twirling Toadstool, Rita and Th13teen remained closed all day (I believe Rita and Oblivion may have opened for 1/2 hour so first thing) with many other rides open intermittently. Park closure was called at 2:30pm, and all tickets are open dated until 1st November.

Efteling have added another trailer for Aquanura, which launches soon: Can't wait for this - I believe the debut show is to be streamed live on Efteling's Youtube! The whole show just oozes class.

I wouldn't say it is rushed. Initial plans for the ride were applied for in December, and work to put the application together will likely have begun several months earlier. All in all, I would say the process from start to finish will be around 18 months, with planning granted a full year before opening. Rita was far, far more "rushed" - in fact it was around 9 months from start to finish!

On Saturday, I was at CWOA and Trucks had the longest queue in the park.

Wild Mouse is pretty special. It's not in my top 10, but it's certainly a CRAZY experience.

Well there were robo arm plans, some strange flat ride plans and a major show plan. All of which would have been well themed, but an 8-looping coaster is pretty hard to beat, really. What really makes me positive about this move, is that the site of SW7 was not one of the sites identified in the Long Term Plan consultation a few years ago. So it almost feels like bonus coaster ground!

We're actually lucky that they never installed anything in there. Plans were drawn up several times for new rides within! None of which would have been as good as what is now being proposed.

Jesus. Have only just seen that Jumbo's pic. Gotta love Merlin, yet again!