Coaster

Went to Thorpe park today. (TUESDAY 10TH APRIL) Quite dissapointed after waiting nearly 4 HOURS for Swarm because they had sold too many Fast-track tickets and therefore they were letting more people from the fast-track queue than the main queue into the baggage drop off / batching area for the ride. The park was also PACKED although this is understandable because it is the school holidays. Was at the park all day (10am - 6pm) RIDECOUNT: The Swarm X2 (1st Time 1 hour 30 minutes, 2nd time almost 4 HOURS!!! (This is NOT a mistake or exaggeration sadly...) Stealth X1 (40 minutes) X:/ No way out X1 (20 - 25 minutes) Nemesis Inferno X1 (10 minutes (End of day)) Samurai X1 (30 Minutes) Quite pathetic for a full day at the park, but nevermind, I am a Merlin annual pass holder so I can go back whenever. They REALLY need to consider how many Fast - Track tickets they sell in a day for one ride though

What has even happened that has caused this new rule?

Is there any sign of fire effects yet on The Swarm?

Here is a short SPOILER review of Nemesis SUB TERRA. First off, DON'T expect a big drop ride. It is quite small although it does offer some airtime due it not having over the shoulder restraints. After watching a preview video you enter one of two elevators. This takes you down to the bottom (or simulates going down.) It is quite a good effect as the floor vibrates as well. Next you enter the ride chamber. The centerpiece of the drop ride is an egg which hatches half way through the ride. The drop ride is loud and also has lighting, water and other effects including darkness. It also has some very violent leg and back ticklers that simulate tentacles. The elevator to get you back to the top has a surprise in it. Half way through it goes dark and the lift rattles and shakes. Once you get out some members of the phalanx control (the made up police guards) chase you out. Overall it is a fun and scary (not for me but for some) experience but the drop ride is quite small.

Went for a whole day on the way back from a Week's holiday in Blackpool. (We left there early.) Saturday 7th April. RIDECOUNT: Thi3teen X4 Oblivion X2 Nemesis X2 Nemesis SUB TERRA X2 (Actually quite impressed with this!) Air X1 Duel X2 The flume X1 Congo river rapids X1 (Because at Alton towers you are still permitted to go on a truly dangerous rapids ride if you are over 12.) HIGHLIGHTS: - Not too busy at all, probably due to unhappy guests after the customer service recieved on the closure of the park on the 4th of April. - Getting on most of the rides that we wanted to - Enjoying Nemesis SUB TERRA (Don't expect a big drop ride but the special effects are really good!) LOWLIGHTS: - Not getting a go on Sonic spinball or Rita. - Leaving!!!

I went to Blackpool for a week and PLEASURE BEACH three times. (This ridecount is from the first sunday of the Easter holidays.) PLEASURE BEACH RIDECOUNT: Infusion X2 Big dipper X2 Steeplechase X1 The Big One X8 (Running very well) Avatar airbender X1 Nickelodeon streak x1 Blue flyer X1 Lost river X1 Ghost train X3 Wild mouse X2 Avalanche X1 Ice blast X1 Derby racer X1 River caves X1 Alice X1 An amazing day at my fave theme park, it's just a shame that my fave ride Valhalla was closed. I ALSO WENT TO SANDCASTLE WATERPARK: Duelling dragons X1 Sidewinder X2 Aztec falls X2 (Absoloutley fantastic!) Montezuma X2 Master Blaster X2 I WENT TO BLACKPOOL TOWER AS WELL As a Merlin annual pass holder, I could do everything more than once. Tower eye X2 (Amazing 4D cinema) Circus X1 (Very good) Tower dungeons X2 (I think this one is better than London's.) If you have not yet been to Pleasure beach Blackpool then I highly recommend it. Thanks for reading

They can't be serious ??? Me and my friends always go on this as a breather from the thrills

Just found this photo and I thought it might be interesting... (This picture is not mine, I found it on Google images.)

Thorpe park trip - Sunday 25th March. (My second visit of the 2012 season and first FULL day.)RIDECOUNT:The Swarm - 7Saw the ride - 1Saw Alive - 2Colossus - 1Nemesis inferno - 1X:/ No way out - 2Loggers Leap - 1Rumba Rapids - 1Zodiac - 2Highlights of the day -- The Swarm's queue being really short resulting in repeat rides! (4 in a row then 3 random throughout the day)- Some nice changes to the X:/ no way out queueline.- Just an enjoyable day spent at Thorpe park!- Miss Hippo's fungle safari being covered up.Lowlights of the day -- Chart music back at the entrance and in a silly pitch, also Detonator's audio has been changed and it is not as good now. (Old black hole music)- Storm surge stuck on chainlift all day, also rush closed and Stealth broke down.- No single rider on Stealth - Rumba rapids being back to how it was last year. (On premiere screaming it was really good, the tunnel was lit up and there were more water sprayers!)While this might seem negative I actually really enjoyed my day and I am going back again soon for a third time this season! (MAP holder)

Thank you so much

Is there a Thorpe park trip report page?Because I would like to post one.Thanks for help

Yeah that's what I thought as well, it seems silly to change it back in a way

I went today and I think it is a real shame that they have got the old Detonator audio back. I thought last year's one: http://youtu.be/BTBKpMqckPs was MUCH better and more dramatic than the one that they were using today: http://youtu.be/hn9Af9__jlsAnyway which one you prefer?

I really enjoyed it although I did get a bit of pain in my shoulders, none in my legs though.

BOO, it was much better walking in to the sound of their entrance theme than music that you can listen to anytime!(Well you can listen to the entrance theme online but you know what I mean...)

I didn't get one, might it still be arriving?

The entrance music was playing yesterday, but a slightly improved version! Also the Colossus music was the same theme but faster and a slightly higher pitch.I think that these changes are good, and I am SO GLAD that the entrance music is back!

No there were not any yesterday, great ride though!

That would be a great idea for Thorpe park to get one of, it would fit into the space well and everything. Also I can imagine that it would be quite good for the thrillseekers, and it is also quite good in that it would mean 2 new coasters in a row, something that we haven't seen since Inferno and Colossus!Also something like this would work well because it looks VERY intense and scary, which would put thrillseekers to the test!The seating arrangement flips over as the ride goes round. (I haven't been on one but I want to!)

Right, time for my review of The Swarm.I was lucky enough to experience The Swarm 3 times today, the first time with a 70 min queue, the second time with a 30-40 minute queue and the third time (very end) with about a 20 minute queue.COMPARING THE SIDES:Personally I prefered the left hand side of the train as I felt that it offered a more intense ride experience. I also thought that the first drop was actually scarier when you went under the drop than over the drop. The right hand side was still fun although the inclined loop was not as forceful as it was on the left, which on the left was the highlight of the ride for me.Ride elements:FIRST DROP -I thought that the first drop was very fun and enjoyable. It had a good mix of fear of going over the top with g-force once you were going downhill. Also going through the smoke under the plane wing was good as the train seemed to "Chop" Through it.ZERO G ROLL -This element was fun and it made your stomach go because of the way it slowed down at the top. In the front seat however the drop down from it was a little odd but it didn't really matter.INCLINED LOOP -On the left side I found this to be the highlight of the ride because it was fun and delivered good g-forces.]However on the right hand side this was fairly average however still a fun part of the ride. The corner after the inclined loop was also probably the most forceful part of the ride.CORKSCREW -This was a fun inversion which wasn't scary or very forceful yet was still very fun! It was also good because you got very close to the fire engine and you could touch the water!BARREL ROLL/INLINE TWISTThis was fun and a very good way to end the ride.THEMINGI thought the the theming of this ride was fantastic and very immersive and atmospheric. Also the tent didn't bother me and neither did being able to see the park because you can see the park from almost every other ride there. My personal favourite bit of theming was the near miss tower because it was a close call on ride and in the queue you actually go up that (if extended queue is on) and see the train go over you as well as a sound effect.I also thought that the queueline was quite entertaining compared to all the other queues for rides there as there was some scenery, theme music and a fake (but convincing) news channel on some tv's.OVERALLOverall The Swarm is my favourite ride at Thorpe park. I think that it is a great ride that is like four rides in one depending on sides and seats and it was quite extreme in my opinion. The thing that I really liked about this ride was the fact that it was extreme and intense as well as being SUPER SMOOTH! However the restraints did press on your shoulders at the end but it was not too painful.Thorpe park have got an amazing new ride for 2012 that will be enjoyed by many, and although it does have it's little problems (such as wrong timing of water effects and no fire currently) it is great fun and once these are fixed it will be perfect.THE SWARM - 8.5/10

I have now been on the Swarm and I was VERY impressed!Completley fantastic, forceful in places yet smooth!I WILL BE WRITING A FULL REVIEW OF THE SWARM HOPEFULLY LATER TODAY.RIDECOUNT:The Swarm x3Colossus x1Nemesis inferno x1Rumba rapids x1(I only went for half a day (second half))

I am sure it will at least be in the top 50.Also could someone please explain how the Front seat ticket thing works with The Swarm because I am a bit confused at the moment!

I think that it is all down to opinion but personally I think that the theming looks fantastic. To be honest with Saw the ride, after the rotating blades it just goes onto a random bit of land with no theming whatsoever. Saw seems like they built the very visible parts well themed (rotating blades), but after that they gave up because hidden theming would not really draw the public in.With the Swarm however the theming is consistent throughout (minus the final turn but it has only just opened.)I could be more picky about The Swarm but not much is perfect.I am going to go tomorrow with an open (but excited) mind because I think that if you go expecting the ride to beat your favourite ride or something similar then if it doesn't then it is a let down.The ONE thing that I think needs sorting quickly is the wrong timing of the first water splash (by the helicopter) because when that effect is timed right it is a great effect, but when it is timed wrong it looks a little bit silly.Even with these MINOR drawbacks I think that the ride looks great and I hope to get two rides on it tomorrow (one at the front right and one at the back left.)

I am going to the park tomorrow so I will be writing a review either later that day or on Sunday, please feel free to prompt me if I forget!

Thank you, great photos!Is the front seat any good or not?