Coaster

Very expensive, but again it's nice to see the park trying out new things.

Maybe, depending on how good it is. Still, that isn't always the case - I still can't put my finger on why The Swarm didn't attract a lot of people!

If it's new, people will want to ride it.

It would look very... different! I think it would have looked nice with yellow supports and black track.

It's not in comparison to anything - I just mean that the theming in the ride looked like it was in good condition when I rode it. Maybe not the best condition, but certainly better than a lot of Merlin owned dark rides (Bubbleworks springs to mind). Apart from the cave with the warehouse ceiling I thought that Pirate Adventure was pretty good to be fair.

I thought it was pretty good condition at the start of this month when I rode it.

NO! Please say you are joking!

This topic is fascinating - I find dreams really interesting! Sometimes I am aware of waking myself up in the dream, but I always forget my dreams a few days after I have them Think I'm going to write them down!

Neither did I - it's a shame that parks see fit to remove rides like this. Waltzer in the dark at Thorpe next year anyone?

They shouldn't have gotten rid of Black Revolver - who can go wrong with a waltzer in the dark?

I think they have mentioned that it might be, but I don't think it is confirmed yet.

Not the best lineup in the world, but it would be nice to see Thorpe do something similar next year!

Looking good so far!

Breaching health and safety rules in such a way is ridiculous, it's people like you who ruin our rides for everyone. (Anyone remember the restriction on Rumba Rapids last year because of people standing up?) What on earth went through your head to do an idiotic thing like that? This proves my point about the park not being strict enough - you should have been ejected from the park for doing that! Stupidity.

You're having me on!

Just thought I would throw it out there - Blackpool Pleasure Beach season passes are currently on sale for £89 (usually £189!) I don't know how long this will last for, but I just thought I would make it known. https://www.blackpoolpleasurebeach.com/book-online/season-pass/platinum+pass+2014/2761/ I've got mine ordered and am getting it for Christmas - I live over 5 hours away but am going to go to Blackpool for a week in April!

I think that they have had a great season this year! The atmosphere has improved on park definitely this year (apart from the chav-infested Fright Nights!), and I think that they are finally getting better at operation/maintenance at the park. Fright Nights was also very good this year as a whole, although consistency is still a bigger problem than it should be. What I would like to see next year: - The Swarm put back how it's meant to be - no backwards seats. - Effects on ALL rides maintained throughout the season, so that it's rare to see an effect broken (rather than the other way round in some cases!) - Operations improved further - one train operation only on dead/really, really quiet days. - A revamped park entrance. - Some of the rides cleaned up (Loggers Tunnel, Colossus Repaint etc...) - THE ENTRANCE THEME BACK! They have that piece of music, it's a crime not to use it! Maybe a small new attraction next year, as they have said on their website "We'll be back with MORE THRILLS in 2014." However I think that the above changes are more important than a new attraction next year, as much as I would like to see one.

I would really like a newly designed park entrance. Out with the temporary metal fences, in with a very nice new (possibly partially undercover) queuing system and the entrance theme back!

Okay, just asking!

After another season of rides (including some new ones) I have changed my views again! 1. Valhalla (Blackpool Pleasure Beach) Valhalla is like marmite - people either love or hate it. I have been a huge fan of it since I first rode it (at the age of 6), and it has been my favourite ride since. The huge combination of different elements plus a very good ride with some pretty forceful drops has kept it as my favourite ride all these years. 2. The Big One (BPB) A ride that also has mixed opinions, but personally I think that The Big One is a fantastic coaster offering speed, adrenaline and fun from start to finish. The insane forces of the first drop are yet to be rivaled on any other coaster! 3. Wild Mouse (BPB) I like rides that throw you around a lot, have some force to them and provide lots of airtime. Wild Mouse offers all of this and more, it is a mental coaster from start to finish with very few breaks from intensity and fear. It is the only wild mouse style ride that actually makes you feel like it could come off at any second (which is a good thing), just absolutely brilliant from start to finish. Always leaves me in a fit of laughter. 4. Grand National (BPB) Another brilliant coaster, the Grand National is very intense and has bags of airtime, speed and intensity. The competitive edge on this coaster means that you have another whole factor to occupy your mind, so on the corners instead of waiting for the next drop you are looking around seeing where the other train is. Sheer brilliance. 5. Megafobia (Oakwood) Megafobia is much enjoyed by me as it is a fantastic woodie with lots of different elements, and it's layout is very deceiving. The first drop is fantastic, as is the rest of the ride and in the back row it is absolute insanity from start to finish - one of the most intense coaster experiences around. 6. The Smiler (Alton Towers) Given my dislike of Saw: The Ride I feared that The Smiler may not live up to the hype for me. However, I was proved wrong as it is a fantastic coaster with lots of force behind it and a very good layout. The second airtime hill is a highlight. 7. Big Dipper (BPB) Last year I criticized the Dipper for not running as well as I have known it to - thankfully this year it was back to it's usual brilliant best and was actually the best I have ever seen it running. I like this coaster because it has a lot of surprises, such as banked drops and hidden tunnels that all add to an already brilliant layout. 8. Nemesis (AT) Nemesis is a very intense coaster and one that I really do enjoy. The back row is by far the best in my opinion, the force coming off the first corkscrew into the spiral is magnificent. I would rate the coaster higher, but the fact that they close off the back rows when the track is wet (the best time to ride) and don't allow immediate re-rides mean that I can't fully appreciate this coaster. 9. The Swarm (Thorpe Park) Last year this was much higher on my favourites list, but the farce of the backwards rows (plus the fact that I think it's awful backwards apart from the first drop) has somewhat ruined it for me. Still, in the forward rows it is still a fun coaster, that has aged well over the year and the new near miss is very good. Just a shame that they had to ruin it a year in. 10. Astro Storm (Fun City Brean) I enjoyed this when it was Space Invader at Blackpool, but I really like what Brean have done with it and it is much better now. The main coaster section is taken in pitch darkness, while the MCBR's, lift hill and break run are all very well themed, as well as a few other theming elements that light up as you go round. It's great fun and has a good re-rideability (I did it 51 times over two days).

May I ask how you know?

I know, but they should work out what gets the best scares and brief the actors to always do this. For example, the man following us with the gas mask in MBV was effective when he didn't have his helmet torch shining in your eyes, as you could actually see him. Also, sometimes he didn't even follow us.

Well Fright Nights 2013 was a big success (in my opinion) and a huge improvement on 2012. We saw two new mazes, a new scare zone and the return of their best maze (imo) which had improved greatly on previous years. For next year I would like to see them work on consistency - for example at times MBV was brilliant, whereas at other times it was poor. Overall a great year for Fright Nights, but in my opinion the best year of Fright Nights was 2011. Went to Fright Nights 5 times this year!

I must admit that before this year I never really rated Nemesis Inferno very highly - however this year it really has picked up some force and speed on the majority of the layout, which is particularly noticeable near the end of the day. Whilst still not one of my favourite coasters (and, in my opinion, not as good as Nemesis at Towers) I now really enjoy it when previously I wasn't fussed about getting on it.

Maybe they should have closed it. It wasn't just that - they were putting the restraints down on empty seats during the day when there was a queue etc as well. Seems like laziness to me...