Coaster

Missed Bob by a week

It seems G Force's future may be in question, but I've no idea what's true and what isn't.

PB is very hit and miss, I've had both amazing and atrocious days there this year in terms of ride operations. I struggle to get more than 10 rides in a day at Alton due to early closing times/lack of SRQ's etc - WM seems to be running more efficiently now though.

Rumba closed until next year supposedly?

Oh, they only offer the buffet on rare occasions?

That actually sounds amazing! I assume you can't gain access until the park/rides open though?

I'll defend the music, the choir is stunning and I absolutely love the chords used, unique "Icon" melody and the fact there are different tracks for the plaza, queueline/entrance, ambient queue track (in the second half of the queueline), dramatic station music and the exit/brake run loop. A shame PB can't or won't maintain it, though. I find Icon a fantastic coaster but it isn't anywhere near my favourite at BPB, I much prefer The Big One, Grand National, Dipper and of course Wild Mouse was better IMO (sorry @ChiapasC. ?). Icon seems to run much faster/more forceful on some days than others, and for me relies on the whole experience (audio, mist, lighting) rather than just the coaster itself... which is where the issues arise. It's still an engineering masterpiece to fit such a compact ride in that space, and purposefully interact with other rides too. Fully agree about FY4, it looks a complete mess and is nothing but a poor reminder of what used to be there. I do think that area is getting redeveloped though, and we may see Big changes over the next few years. Valhalla, can't argue with that, it's always broken (down 3 times over the summer for over a week each time, and now another extended period of closure) and the thematic elements/effects are nothing compared to the world class experience it used to be. I refuse to moan about National's operations anymore, purely because it's probably hanging by a thread at BPB and I don't want to give them any more reason to remove it. It isn't quite so bad now they've stopped loading Speedy Pass in the seats before the trains arrive in the air gates (yes... that did happen)! Again, agreed about the broken audio parkwide, PB radio barely plays anywhere anymore as the speakers are all broken/disconnected/switched off, many of the rides are missing their audio SFX (River Caves queue, Revolution, safety announcements on various rides are sometimes off!) and standards of thematic maintenance park-wide are poor. With that said, I still find it shocking that Icon is already in such a state when it's their brand new multi-million pound roller coaster, you'd think they would take some pride in their new investment but they don't care.

Yeah, however it's so typical of PB to install all these extras and then not bother with them after a few months. A shame as the soundtrack is stunning when it plays.

Did you actually read that seriously... ? Also easy for you to say considering (as far as I'm aware) you never rode it. I mean, the mist was on yesterday for some of the time, so it seems to be more a case of switching it on. Also the audio being off is just not good enough, Wicker Man manages to keep its queue audio working.

So much for Icon having themed audio, the queueline, exit stairs and brake run audio is all broken today and most was off yesterday too. Mist also off today, was intermittent yesterday. Valhalla closed all weekend (AGAIN!), Big One closed all day today... oh, and the Wild Mouse is closed all weekend. Park very busy yesterday yet still only a 7pm close despite all the issues. So much for improvements to operations once Icon opens, it's got worse.

I don't necessarily agree with this; Galactica for example, I much prefer the new music to the previous Air track. With Nemesis Inferno and Colossus on the other hand, the new music just feels less impressive, more generic and much less atmospheric than the old ones IMO.

"Copy the existing themes but not enough to class as copyright, oh and add the Thorpe Park sunset theme onto EVERYTHING"

I'd be interested to hear more, as IMO the original soundtracks were far better than the IMAScore ones.

Everything feels like it's been done to boast "look how many attractions we have this year" whilst quality isn't so much a priority. I hope I'm wrong.

I miss the old Fright Nights audio... and the old event. So much better than The Walking Dead or (insert IP here) theme on a loop.

Dunno, but thanks for your interest in my park visits.

They really are stretching the definition of a "maze" this year, it's beyond a joke. Just bring Asylum back tbh

Out of interest, does anyone know why the trees around Stealth/The Swarm were removed?

Is my memory failing me, or have Chessington not opened a new ride since 2013?

Bit of a downgrade, passholders night used to be the same night as press night and the park was open purely for those guests.

It appears that a ride at Gullivers stalled today, it looks as if the wheel bogies have sheered off leaving a carriage essentially hanging from the connections to the other carriages. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-45533601

Maybe nobody put their magic glasses on. In all seriousness I didn't realise it was only 2003, my CWOA history isn't very strong - what was there before?

I'm a Vulcan, get me out of here.

I'm not so sure on BPB's choice of image to advertise their Vampire Beach 2018 event; https://www.blackpoolpleasurebeach.com/whats-on/vampire-pleasure-beach/

HPH was one of the last bits of "old" Chessington left, and if it's now gone, then there isn't as much left.