AstroDan

Rita will always be a popular ride - terribly executed. However, if Merlin were really THAT fussed, they would have used Th13teen to completely re-profile the ENTIRE area... instead it's still a hotch potch and badly laid out.

Here's an official video from the park showcasing all the new attractions for 2011. The park opened this morning for the new season with a ceremony at 9am.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHnuXffZx-Q&feature=channel_video_title

I don't really see how anybody can "hate" the ride... don't get me wrong, it's far from the best ride and certainly not up there with Alton's great coasters - but it's not exactly uncomfortable, has a unique feature, DOES create suprise amongst first time riders and is also pretty well themed.It certainly wasn't as good as it should have been, but I for one find it more bearable to ride than some of the countries other big rides. Saw gives me a bit of a headache, Cobra is just plain awful. Frankly bring on the next set of big rides at each of these parks.

That is disturbing!

I am going here next week for the first time! I am very much looking forward to it (and Heide-park, too!)

I still find comparing is only natural human nature. And if nobody ever did compare, like I said, surely you wouldn't get parks with 5million a year and those with practically no guests - because nobody would compare - they would just look up "theme parks" in a brochure and pick a random name and... go visit!I think it's also fair play to compare coasters... people naturally have their favourites and you only have favourites by comparing with others you have been on.I must confess that I would never have visited Efteling had it not been for other people telling me how good they had found it, because when I looked at the face of it, the park didn't seem to have that much. Yet it was awesome. Equally, some parks are well operated (EP) and some are terribly operated (forgive me, TP) - and comparing them makes you see faults and qualities of each park.

I disagree with you entirely.It is perfectly acceptable to compare parks. Like if I didn't compare, I would trundle off to Movie Park Germany for 2 days rather than one of the more major parks... It is human nature to compare and if we didn't, then competition between parks would not exist.In Florida, I compared between Disney Parks - and found some to be preferable to others. I would clearly look up what the park offered in terms of rides, theming and shows before I went and if it looked rubbish I would not go.If the general consensus was that Gardaland matched up to the European big boys such as those mentioned, I would probably consider going. Word of mouth is pretty vital... It is a pity rather than someone who has visiting the park posting a reply, the first person is merely criticizing for me asking a perfectly valid question. How about we never give opinions. Err...

How does the park compare with the likes of Efteling, Phantasialand, Europa-Park, PortAventura etc.?

What an odd debate this is.Surely it stands to reason that THORPE PARK discussion will massively dwarf discussion of other parks on here..? That doesn't mean people think any the less of rides in other parks, but this is a THORPE PARK forum and therefore that will always generate more talk!As for LC12, I am looking forward to seeing it go up over the next 12 months. Raptor looks very tasty, so this should be similar!

I guess, maybe there are other decent rides. I have just heard one or two negative reports about the place from some friends.Still, this isn't about the park - Raptor looks awesome.

I am going to wait before heading to Gardaland in all honesty. They haven't exactly got much else, to my knowledge, that appears anywhere near as good as Raptor and with one amazing ride and then nothing else particularly special... I can't really get that excited about the park as a whole.Hopefully Merlin plan on adding many major and well done attractions to compliment this - so it actually gets better. At the moment, for rides at least, Mirabilandia - with iSpeed and Katun - seems to me to be the better park to visit in Italy.Talking of Italy - the competition there at the moment is mind blowing. Obviously we have this which is amazing, Rainbow Magicland opening up, Mirabilandia with the likes of iSpeed and also Etnaland are getting a Mack Launched coaster soon, too!

If you ask for 8, they tend not to - as even with a small queue they don't use it. You will sometimes get it for last ride, though. If the queue is longer I always find it's best asking for 4 - as you get the loops... 7 is good, too.As a teacher, you can probably understand I am not often at a theme park on a week day in term time! Today was a blessing.

Brief report from today. I don't often write these anymore, but had a really fantastic time on park. Aside from one or two niggles, Alton was running very smoothly with all rides running at capacity from the word go. However, since the park was quiet (I presume sub 10k on park), some rides took shuttles/trains off later on - although some of these remained walk on. Th13teen went down to two trains but was walk on most of the day, Oblivion went to one station but was walk on. Only technical delays I was aware of was a short period on Air when it went down to one train but this was rectified and a very brief stop on Ripsaw... Ripsaw was running the rare programme 8 nearly all day - cue many rides and insanely high speed flyovers! The weather held out for most of the day too - with staff in good moods and lots of interaction. Had a good meal at Explorers Pizza Pasta - which wasn't too busy. Plus Points:+ High throughputs maintained regardless of queues being short, such as Nemesis on 2 all day.+ Very friendly and interactive staff+ Misters back on Oblivion for the first time this season+ Smoke on Nemesis Atomic Tours bus+ Minimal disruption caused by breakdownsMinus Points:- Selling of refil cups as soon as you walk through the turnstiles.- Some staff pushing restraints a little over zealously on Rita/Th13teen.- Re Ride policy. Damn annoying.Did more rides than in many years today, as follows:Sonic Spinball x 1Oblivion x 2Enterprise x 1Hex x1Twirling Toadstool x 1Rita x 3Th13teen x 5Nemesis x 4Ripsaw x 5Air x 1Duel x 1Rapids x 4RMT x 1Flume x 1

Still, it's an Air tunnel - could have had smoke and industrial gantries over it (think Blue Fire's dark ride?)

To be honest, seeing this ride just makes me more angry that we have had overhyped claptrap like Saw and Th13teen. But... when the likes of Gardaland and Heide Park are up against genuine top brass competition such as Mirabilandia, Rainbow Magicland, Hansa-Park, Phantasialand, EP etc... then is it any wonder? Looks like a cracking "experience" based coaster. Just what Gardaland needed as to be honest other than Raptor, none of their coasters look that great - I guess Mammut looks it but apprantly rides very badly for a Vekoma MK900-M.;)One thing - it has an Air tunnel! haha!

I have checked and:Europa-Park Tirol Log Flume increased its height restriction to 1.2m following the 2009 season. So it used to be lower.I am sure Alton Towers and Thorpe Park will alter in due course.

There has not been a Nemesis T Shirt on sale at Alton Towers for many seasons!

Oh I agree. And I did moan. But I enjoyed it while it lasted, watching it go up!That said, I am remaining grounded with this one. Of course, if they say it'll be a B&M then that will automatically equate to some level of quality.But what's being an enthusiast if you can't even get excited over £15-£20million developments.

To be honest... why not get swept away. It's exciting times when developments are going on. It's part of what keeps us fans ticking over

Ok - without reacting to your sarcasm - he was genuinely seen behind Air, with some engineers during the latter stages of the 2010 season.And Neilfever - I partly agree that Wardley's name is almost something of a brand, but given his contribution to Alton Towers over the years (mainly 1992-2002), he is something of a legend to AT fans as I am sure you will agree.

He has already been spotted at points around the Air car park!

Ride availabilty over the weekend has been good on everything except for... guess what... Th13teen!The ride ran fine on Saturday but was barely open for much time on Sunday as it kept suffering problems in spite of intensive work from Intamin and Alton Towers over the closed season. Hopefully these problems can be ironed out. It was running three trains, however.Overall - the park was far busier than they expected on Saturday, with some queue's reaching 45 minutes at times (Th13teen's slightly more) but today was a lot quieter, I didn't see a queue longer than 30 minutes.

And... to be fair...Gardaland has had its fair share of dross.Sequoia Adventure, anyone?

I was just about to suggest a sort of combo between Nemesis and Oblivion!

Does look excellent. The trains are also good. I hope it helps Gardaland get into shape, as I have heard mixed reports of the park up to now.Now for news on KRAKE, and then to Thorpe 2012 and Alton 2013!