AstroDan

This is brilliant news.A worlds first coming to Alton Towers - but not just any worlds first. One with a decent layout - and with two sections of around 30-35 seconds each.Woop!

I thought that Blue Fire was pretty much the same as Rita, too.

You know, I still reckon that my first ride on Rita was the most impactful first ride on any coaster I have ever had.Of course, the ride has since dropped down my own personal rankings, but it really did make one hell of an impression on me back in May 2005.I had never experienced sheer adrenalin, like I did the first time I was launched on that coaster. I had never done an Intamin Accelerator before and it truly took my breath away.I remember getting to the end, out of breath, and declaring the most crazy rollercoaste ever ridden.How times change

Based on my views today, which by the way, can change slightly depending on my mood! 1. Nemesis, Alton Towers 2. Montu, Busch Gardens Africa 3. Black Mamba, Phantasialand 4. Blue Fire, Europa-Park 5. Kumba, Busch Gardens Africa 6. Fluch von Novgorod, Hansa-Park (bit of a fanboy vote this one, but the launch! the theming!) 7. Expedition Everest, Animal Kingdom 8. Troy, Toverland 9. Expedition Ge Force, Holiday Park 10. Tonnerre de Zeus, Parc Astérix Could Swarm threaten this? We shall see at the weekend!

Can I point out that the original plan was to have these 4pm closes and have Submission and Enterprise closed.However, someone, either at Alton or Merlin, has basically decided that they simply can not have thrill rides closed for an entire season, and plugged the cash void to pay for the staff required to run them. Also, Enterprise had already had a fairly hefty refurbishment over winter, so after all of that - they decided to open them.I have written a very balanced, but firm letter, to Merlin Entertainments about this issue - and hope others do the same, while not simply ranting at them.Alton Towers themselves, well - I feel for them. I really do. Their management have some brilliant ideas on things they wish to do - but they are massively constrained by strings from the top. This stops the park from genuinely heading to the next level, and is unfortunate.To sum up the confirmed and/or rumoured cuts at Alton for 2012:- Ride closed cut by 1 hour on 65 dates (although obviously some of these dates may be extended)- The "magic 5", that is rides closing 5 minutes after the advertised ride close time - scrapped.- A cut in "live entertainment shows" (although this isn't particularly serious, given one of the ex venues is still an attraction)- Selected food outlets opening during the lunchtime period only (rumoured, will see what happens come the start of the season)

It is not.Categorically, I am 100% certain that Alton Towers market/pitch themselves as a national theme park - with advertisements and releases across the UK.This is simply not the case for Thorpe Park or Chessington (Legoland is national - the brand demands it alone). Of course, that is not to say that people do not drive to London from the Midlands for a day at a theme park - but it is far less than the number of people travelling in the opposite direction.

Fair enough, but Alton is a national theme park. Thorpe is regional. Average journey times to Alton will be considerably longer, including many Scots who set out at 3:00am, for example. The park gets a lot more guests. The park has more rides. The park is gigantic in surface area compared to others in Britain.ERT is not available to all guests - and certainly not to the majority who use vouchers on the day.If 4:00pm was OK for most people, then all parks would close at that time. None do.

There is too much to do at Alton Towers, even on a quieter day, for them to close at 4:00pm.A quiet day at Alton - say 4 or 5,000 guests - is a massive number of guests compared to a quiet day at most parks, who manage to stay open until at least 5.00pm.There is the odd person claiming everyone moaning is pathetic, but I am sure if Thorpe announced they were closing at 4:00pm on 65 days of the year (it's 65, I have counted) - then you wouldn't be too happy at that.

God it's fast:

There are quite a lot of negative posts appearing on their Facebook wall now. Unlike the likes of Chessington and Thorpe, people travel from all over the UK to visit Alton Towers. For six hours, it's not worth the journey.

I presume these characters are just for the Premiere Screaming?Be great if they could stay. Th13teen managed to keep Wraiths for nearly the whole of the first season.

I can't believe how many of you were there today!So jealous of having to wait

It's better than Furius Baco, right? *Baco is truly terrible in every sense of the word.

I will be blunt here.The reviews are, to me, both surprising and greatly satisfying.I thought the reviews would be weak, I thought the layout looked weak and I thought the short duration would leave riders disappointed.I am now very excited to be riding it - I am trying to ignore the "up there with Nemesis and Black Mamba hype" as when I got off Rita for the 1st time I thought it was the best ride ever, but I am really, really looking forward to my visit next weekend.Seems like a job well done for Thorpe Park!!

I too would rather they should scrap ERT on school term time days. On these days, hotel guests should receive a free Fastrack Scream.Or just deal with all the cashflow problems by closing Chessington on term time days Tuesday/Wednesday. Sorted.

This is a really, really sad day.4:00pm for what is the biggest theme park in Britain, and our only proper resort, closing at pretty much the earliest of any park - large or small - in Britain.Merlin Entertainments giving with one hand, and taking with the other.Terrible

It is, quite simply - a sensational looking ride.It looks so fast.

There was no battle.Fordbidden Journey was, hands down, the best dark ride I have ever been on.Spiderman was superb. But no HP.

Another very good video of Wodan, this time from several angles:

Lack of discussion! So much development, including arrival of trains has been missed on here:1st test runs:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIqIiZlqRbU&feature=player_embedded

Their last coaster was before Blackpool added Infusion.That's embarassing in itself!

Silver Star fits perfectly down the middle of EP's car park - a simple out and back. Sure, it would be better if every inch was themed - but the car park was altered and adjusted so that the ride fitted perfectly. It isn't just "shoved" on 1/4 of the car park, with bays and the lot underneath.

Very good comments. You could add in the old Woody at Gt. Yarmouth, too.Stampida is a very rough wooden coaster, as is Gwazi. And Blackpool's are very old and appear rickety. Not to mention the Dipper had the accident. Very few people will have been on Megafobia, with it being tucked away in Wales, and in terms of a modern Wooden coaster - well. Barely anyone will have been on one.Such a shame.

A new promotional video from Mack Rides:http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=3344935431751

Yes, but that last turn is hardly going to do anything. It reminds me of Rita's last corner, after the brakes but you just sort of amble round at a slow-ish speed.