AstroDan

The bottom line is, that it reduces the overall attraction capacity in the park. As much as this, and Time Voyagers are the sort of things that "nobody really cared for" - they still took capacity from other rides. And queues are a problem at Thorpe Park!

More purse string tightening from Merlin Entertainments at one of the UK parks. The park's "press release" is about as truthful as the rubbish Alton spouted when they first said Enterprise and Submission were to close. I guess they'll just ship the actors to KRAKE: Lebt.

I am afraid that seen as it is not my own video, that I cannot send it to you. Perhaps contact the guy on Youtube to find out the music?

Sub Terra's drop is considerably less impactful than Th13teens. My view, anyway. I have always viewed Th13teen's better than all Extremis' in Edinburgh and Blackpool also. London's appears more punchy.

The balance of guest feedback is now swinging more to good than bad (I have been told this). This compares with a massive swing to "bad" when it first opened. Perhaps on Friday things just didn't work, or there was something wrong.

Well, I tell you what - Alton are really working hard to make this work. And after a visit yesterday, I must say that the first wave of changes are already adding a lot to the experience. The exiting groups were massively more positive, with people noticeably more scared of the proceedings compared to the dire state of affairs back on 24th March. Changes which I have noted are: + Airport style scanners before the briefing room + Blackout curtains so that the briefing room is now dark + Plasma TV screens playing a briefing video. This ensures everyone understands where they are and what the story is. Great! + First lifts more motion and lights + Main show sequence is entirely different. Far, far better. Seeing the egg crack first works well. + Back pokers (fantastically violent!) and leg ticklers = lots of screaming! This works well with the wind, noise and water sprays! + Post show lifts now darker with more noise. Much more apprehension! The above really is a lot. So credit to AT. I believe more is on the way. I actually enjoyed N:ST yesterday. Smiling when I came out, rather than just being very, very disappointed! Bring on the next changes!

Wodan: Review (Note: I have avoided step by step detail of the queueline so as not to spoil the experience, although I have touched on some of the SFX used). So, Wodan opened and off we went to Europa-Park to ride it. I was reasonably grounded with my expectation from the physical ride hardware, mainly as the layout had never massively appealed to me (aside from a massive first drop) and the realisaion that "rubber wheels" were going to hinder the pace of the ride. As a big fan of Troy, I was fairly sure that this would not beat it. And, I was right. At least, I was right in terms of track and train. However - it's not one big competition and when taken as an attraction at Europa-Park, Wodan is well and truly spot on. It simply isn't the sort of ride you discuss on the basis of track and train. It is much, much more than that. Europa-Park have got a solid wooden coaster, with the best throughputs of any built by GCI, and dressed it up so incredibly, that it seems to dwarf most others in Europe, at least in terms of experience. Where Die Vliegende Hollander has a sensational queue/station and then a dour rollercoaster, Wodan ensures that the sensational queue is then followed by a genuinely fun and exciting experience. At least as high quality (and better in parts) as the queue for DVH at Efteling, you are treated to stunning views of the ride as you wait. With animatronics, mist, fire and projection mapping used in multiple places, it’s a feast for the eye. It’s definitely Europa-Park’s best themed project since Poseidon opened in 2000. Every inch of detail seems to be dealt with. Whether it’s waterfalls flowing down the grand entrance, mist enveloping guests, fire burning on a lake or hammers causing mini earthquakes under the ground - EP have got it. The statues in the station, whose heads turn to face arriving and departing trains add yet more mystery to it all. Music is also a key component of the experience which has been created by Mack Solutions. The Belarus Philharmonic Orchestra were used to record the rides soundtrack, and the triumphant yet eerie score which greets every train departing the station and eager guests in the queue ensures the atmosphere is red hot. Upon departing the station, a surprisingly high speed out banked corner comes before the lift hill. Passing the fire wolves at the top of the lift (who will breath fire in due course), the train picks up breathtaking pace before the first, massive, dive into the tunnel. What follows is a camelback, although airtime is limited, and then a fantastically fun increasingly banked corner which then dips under the entrance arch and into the banked station flythrough. The pace at this point is brilliant. Following the flythrough, the ride loses a lot of pace on the camelback, which sadly offers no airtime or any major thrill. However, the restbite is followed by a quick left hand dive down, and some fun dips and kinks before the Atlantica turnaround. The bunny hop over Atlantica again doesn’t deliver much by way of airtime, but there is then a very fun left hand dive into yet another tunnel, which causes a lot of screaming as the ride picks up some more pace. Some fun dips and dives follow, before the ride makes its way into the brakes. Overall - track and train - it’s a solid, good rollercoaster without being one of the worlds best. With just a little more pace on the camelbacks and in the final fifth of the ride, I feel Wodan would get masses more praise. However, I fear that the coaster junkies who will ride it expecting the next Troy or Prowler, may be left disappointed. What is for certain, though, is that the experience adds yet more value to an already packed theme park and one of the best themed ride experiences in Europe. It’s a sensational piece of artistry and one that Europa-Park should be very, very proud of. I think the following video sums it up very well indeed:

Some brief thoughts about Wodan, as I was at EP on 2,3 and 4th April. Track and Train: Good, but not amazing (when compared to say, Troy, this isn't as good but it's on a par with Joris - although 1st drop on Wodan is amazing) Theming: Outstanding - even by Europa-Park standards this is something special. As good as Poseidon and better in places. Really, this is such a complete package. It may not be as wild or fast as we'd have wished (rubber wheels for noise do not help) but the experience EP have delivered is sensational. The queue is a delight. I would happilly wait 1 hour for this. You queue inside the wooden structure, past lakes of fire and mist, amazing moving queue elements. The station is also brilliant, with moving statues which watch the train arrive and depart. They were continuing to programme the ride during my visit, and were working on making the lift a block section to aid faster dispatches. It really is a work of art. The music is fantastic, and timed with dispatches too. The entrance feature mists and has water flowing down it!

For any fans of Blue Fire, the ride has a new onboard theme for 2012 to replace the old one (which was a little cheap sounding if you ask me).You can sample both sections of it; the dark ride portion and the main outdoor section, here: http://www.imascore.com/de/neuer-onride-soundtrack-fur-blue-fire-megacoaster

There were rumours a few years ago about a Mega or Giga Coaster for Heide Park...

Spoiler AlertLadies and Gentlement... I give you...The Queueline:

And once again, it puts the sword to ANYTHING that Merlin could do and, indeed, the majority of theme parks.Wonderful. This weekend cannot come quickly enough!

If the young teens like it, then it effectively becomes Th13teen again. Thrill seekers find it a bit on the bland side, but perfect for groups with kids aged 9-12 or so.The difficulty is, whilst Th13teen was meant to be a family ride (regardless of marketing), this is clearly not.

Wodan Soundtrack: Making Of:

Much of the rides theming is yet to be completed, including the interior queueline areas and Viking Village beyond the main entrance arch. However, Wodan operated on low capacity for a soft opening day on Saturday, 24th March. The park was open for a buy out by a Swiss supermarket, and was open from 9:00am - 7:00pm, with Wodan available from 11:00am to 6:00pm. There were 24,000 on park (a medium to busy day for EP) and the ride had a queue of between 60 and 80 minutes. Here is some footage:

It is salvageable - as there is some good stuff in there, like some super theming.They could:- Add some extra SFX- Add a better scene at the bottom- Add something in the exit corridor (make it darker?)- Enhance the lifts

I believe that it is going to see some considerable change.As far as I am aware, Alton Towers are not happy.

Really cracking 4D this!The theming is really good for what it is, far more than I expected. The actual theatre looks great, too.

Painful? I rode it and yes, it had a few jolts - but it wasn't "painful" I didn't think.I thought it was bloody awesome actually.

My own full Review:

For the first time in 12 years, Europa-Park have an entirely new theme park map! http://www.epfans.info/parkplaene/2012_neu.jpg

Haha. The price for Legoland has always been a joke.

I would imagine that there have been a number of meetings in recent days...Clearly, when it comes to the budget cuts - things were getting so severe that the park could barely even operate at a minimal level.Thank god.They still set to save a fair bit though, with 1 hour saved through the summer holidays, and some 4:00pm's remaining later on in the season.

Following the feedback from guests via Facebook and no doubt their letter box, Alton Towers have reversed the decision to close at 4:00pm on many of the dates in 2012. Some still remain in September and October.Here's the article from TT:

People keep saying about how it's different in different seats, considerable. But - can you pick your rown or are you batched into a row? I know it was quiet today, but I worry that I will be forced into some average, middle seat.Quite a number of people I have read reviews of, are saying this is better than the original Nemesis at Alton - the coaster which is 18 years old and keeps being put in the top 10 in coaster polls worldwide.Is it really up there? I guess I'll find out on Saturday.