AstroDan

It is in a better place these days, and has improved. However, it has still not had ANY brand new, custom rollercoaster since 1994. They desperately need to invest in a big, crowd pulling coaster! Nick Land is great (although not as good as the Movie Park Germany version, in my view) - but they need more than a cute kids area with generic rides to really up their game.Some areas of the park remain disgusting.

Great report, and pictures.With regards to the signage in the gardens - these were hastily placed when the Skyride went down for 2 months. Now that the Skyride has re-opened, I guess they should remove them altogether but they haven't (yet) got round to it.

How on earth are B&M managing all this!?!

2011 (Terenzi) Horror Nights promo:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSH56MdBTVk&feature=player_embedded:D

Just fantastic to see this sort of communication for enthusiasts from EP. It's rare in Europe for this to happen, although it is more common in the States.Yet so many, many people have never been to EP! I say to anyone: Make it a priority next season.

Storm Force is a pretty good water ride. In the battle for the UK's best water ride, it's probably up there in the top few. But a Fabbri Evolution? Please.

Evolution at Great Yarmouth?! There's one also at Camelot, someone fell from it yesterday and nearly died. There's also one at Cleethorpes.A Fabbri Evolution voted better than Oblivion.My days.

I hate the way they all seem to be called Windseeker also...I am so glad we don't have this rolling out of generic attractions across the Merlin theme parks in Europe!

1. Nemesis, Alton Towers2, Stealth, Thorpe Park3. Knightmare, Camelot4. Megafobia, Oakwood5. Wild Mouse, Pleasure Beach6. Oblivion, Alton Towers7. Speed, Oakwood8. Apocalypse, Drayton Manor9. Valhalla, Pleasure Beach10. Flip Flop, Flamingoland:closedeyes:

Wouldn't be the first time they were using it on there...

6 rides in 6 hours? I wouldn't call that very much... but if you were taking it leisurely?

Have you been on Nemesis at Alton Towers? As if you have, I find it hard you'd rate it so poorly. I am not saying it would be top, but if you rate all the other B&M's in the UK so highly then I would like to know what it is about Nemesis that you dislike?

Indeed. Although Europa-Park do have a fair bit of space, they can't just plonk coasters wherever. Obviously all the coasters with exception to Alpenexpress and the Bobsleigh (but these are quieter anyway) are on the non-village side of the park. I actually love the way EP are totally integrating this coaster into the rest of the park. Linking it with Atlantica and Blue Fire is a great idea!

Trust me! I am insanely excited! EP is already my favourite theme park let alone adding this, and then the rumoured big dark ride in 2013! Not to mention the new hotel!!!Complete fanboy spazout here!ALL HAIL ROLAND!

Heide Park's KRAKE is pirate themed, loosely. So Merlin, coupled with the work both in Germany and at Alton, already have a lot of recent pirate-y experience to hand.

The first trailer for the new coaster...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILa-IaxT6Kc&feature=feeduThe words say:Aus den Tiefen der Nacht... - From the deep of the night...Aus dem Dunkel der Zeit... - From the darkness of time......stürzen mächtige Wesen... - ...are plunging powerful creatures…...aus den Hallen der Ewigkeit... - ...from the halls of eternity…...in die Welt der Lebenden. - ...in the World of the living.Die Zeit ist gekommen. - Time has come.Ein Mythos erwacht. - A myth is awakening.

Has appeared this week by Sales & Information, Mutiny Bay:

Looks fantastic but as others have said, seems an odd choice given their most recent installation (2008) is already a B&M Mega Coaster.

I heard that the voting ends at some stage on the bank holiday weekend. Unsure exactly, though.

I should imagine that most people in the midlands don't ever visit Thorpe Park and definitely do not visit Chessington. Legoland probably has the most pulling power (for family groups, at least) round here. Alton has a strong development plan for the coming years - with multiple attractions coming in 2012 and a major rollercoaster in 2013.Drayton Manor is the "regional" park for the midlands, much like is the case with TP and CWOA in the south, whilst Alton attracts those from across the UK.

You will be fine at this time of year, just avoid Saturday.The park is open till 7pm, and if you have ERT from 9-10 you can get a lot done then too.The park has bags of atmosphere when it's medium to busy. If it's dead, yes you can ride whore - but Alton loses the ambience.Summer is a great time to visit, extra entertainment, nice weather... why not explore the winding paths from the gardens into the valley? There's a lot off the beaten track.

Here's a promo for Volo Da Vinci, which has opened:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pw_Np6myq6E&feature=feeduAnd here's a link to the latest construction of the new for 2012 GCI Wooden Coaster which is moving very fast!http://www.chris-space.net/?incvar=bilder.php&path=news/2012/2011_07_26/And here's a link to the latest construction of the new for 2012 Hotel Bell Rock:http://www.chris-space.net/?incvar=bilder.php&path=news/2012/2011_07_26-hotel/

"GET BACK TO THE TOWERS! I WANT TO GO ON RITA!"

Photo prices have gone back to £8.

I fail to see how THORPE PARK can even threaten Alton Towers in any way other than the fact it has a higher proportion of thrill rides. The park is tiny compared to Alton, lacks any sort of beautiful landscape and doesn't have clearly defined areas. Alton Towers also offers a wider range of food, more entertainment and the resort hotels, golf and water park. The clientele target at THORPE PARK is also very limited to teens/young adults. Family parks breath a nicer atmosphere (CWOA, AT). Alton has a national target - it seeks to draw guests in from across the UK. THORPE PARK remains a fairly regional park, primarily for London and the South of England.THORPE PARK also has longer queues on average than Alton, due to the lesser throughputs and apparantly higher sales of fastrack. That said, THORPE PARK is much better this season, and I quite enjoyed myself when I visited in May.I think if you are only into theme parks for the thrill rides, then yes - THORPE PARK wins for you - but if you like theme parks for being theme parks, then Alton Towers is by quite a margin, the biggest force in the UK and it is for this reason that it attracts over 1million more guests a year than THORPE.