Coaster

Unfortunately it was I was less than impressed to see it being used on PMBO and Avalanche, I don't think it should have been available for those coasters bearing in mind the (understandable) lower capacity.

If Thorpe was open in February with a (more-or-less) full ride lineup, I wouldn't be moaning about some of the coasters being one train. I see your point but no, the older rides require much more hefty maintenance (wood replacement on the woodies etc.), plus there's the sea salt which causes all manner of issues with the rides creating more extensive maintenance. Then there's also the fact that for some of their rides, there's no manufacturer to easily source parts for; it can't be easy to get parts for, say, a wooden Wild Mouse or an Arrow Dynamics Steeplechase. Your post; I've said Thorpe isn't relevant (in the context of your post above) because It's a completely different circumstance to Blackpool. Thorpe opens over a month later, when the main theme park season starts, so having one train operations is different - if they opened on a (near) full ride lineup in February I'd be cutting them some slack as far as capacity is concerned.

Because they have 14 weeks to complete their maintenance as opposed to the 19/20 weeks that other parks leave. They had all rides apart from three open, I'd much rather that than the park not open at all. Whether it's "main season" to you or not is irrelevant, that isn't how BPB operate. Wow Weekends is between February - March, then main season starts at the end of March when the park is open every day until November. If you don't like the way Pleasure Beach operate at this time of year then wait until the main theme park season starts, it's as simple as that. I find it amusing that those moaning about one train in February will be defending Thorpe when they open in March with half the rides shut and low capacity on those open.

Thorpe doesn't open until the end of March so is hardly relevant in this discussion. I'm baffled as to what you mean when you've said that it's a half term event Blackpool "hadn't tried to this level before"? They have opened at the beginning of February for years! It's not a "half term event" either, the park is open every weekend until full season starts at the end of March - but not during the week. Blackpool is far from perfect, I'll be the first to say that - just that in this case I think people are being harsh. Maybe better not to make assumptions over one discussion point?

If you read the post I was responding to, you'll see that I was being called out for not being positive about Merlin. However, since the parks are closed, there's nothing for me to say about them. That's all I meant.

What does previous years have to do with it? We're talking about this year! Pleasure Beach have had February weekend events for years, so I'm really not sure what your point is.

As I've already said, it isn't main season yet. If Pleasure Beach were operating like this during main season it would be an entirely different kettle of fish to a cold weekend in February when all the Merlin parks are closed (or, in the case of Chessington, have three rides open). I think it's too easy to underestimate the quick turnaround the park has during the winter, in comparison to other parks which open a whole month and a half later. Of course, it would have been much better if PMBO was on two trains, but to replace a lift chain and get it up and running so early in the year is still pretty good IMO. Maybe if the Merlin parks were actually open, I'd have something positive to say about them

I don't think it's a non-point, BPB leave themselves a shorter time period for winter maintenance than places like Thorpe so to expect everything on capacity is unrealistic. Other parks have issues such as this on their first weeks of opening, even taking into consideration the extra time they have to prepare. I remember Thorpe's half term event being much worse than BPB's Wow Weekends, with only one major coaster open at some points. Similarly, when Alton used to open during half term I remember hearing about Nemesis running one train with only three rows open! Today was frustrating at times with the low throughputs, but it is what I was expecting for February; and as said previously, I still really enjoyed my visit. If capacity was like this during main season it would be a completely different story IMO.

It's a relevant comparison, BPB are being slated over this but it's worth remembering that very few parks are actually open at this time of year. Blackpool has all rides open except for Wild Mouse (due to new brakes being fitted), Pleasure Beach Express (due to ongoing construction in the area) and Crazy Daizy teacups. As much as I agree that some of the queues today were too long/slow, I think that anyone turning up in February expecting everything to be running flat-out is being unrealistic. On another note, Valhalla was really good today!

Anyone know how the Merlin parks got on then? Oh wait... they're shut. I had a brilliant day at BPB today, regardless of one train. The reason(s) for PMBO being on one are that the second and third trains are/were still in maintenance and the lifthill has been replaced and therefore needs to be run-in. I'm just greatful that they've got it up and running so early in the year.

I don't see any need to change the themes for rides like Colossus and Inferno, both already have fantastic themes that suit the ride(s) perfectly.

The themes are covered in the dungeons but not in such a bizarre, "in-your-face" way. This was a very strange marketing campaign to say the least and I can see why there is a backlash.

Who's seen this?! https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/feb/15/london-dungeon-deletes-apologises-valentines-day-posts-branded-sexist-misogynistic?CMP=fb_gu I'm lost for words as to how as supposed "professional," family-oriented attraction thinks it's okay to post such things on social media.

The fact they're already having to change the themes for the stage and rides around it just shows what a mess that park is in. They have no sense of direction or long-term planning. Wish they'd try and build good, long-lasting rides or attractions rather than their obsession of IP's which they clearly value higher than the overall enjoyment of the park. Black Buccaneer looks better though.

Who knows when Stealth may open...

Experiment 10 was on another level compared to the mazes they have now, it's hard to describe but it created such a buzz when it opened. The entire maze was just so well done - the atmosphere in the gas chamber, fear of being locked in the containment rooms on your own and then the maze that followed was still very good. Unfortunately when it returned in 2012 everything had been tamed/ruined, and the "new ending" was lacklustre. I think that Thorpe's previous mazes (especially Asylum, E10, Hellgate) were far better than the ones they have now, but that's just my opinion.

They announced a date for DBGT and failed to get the ride open for it (twice!), why are they advertising March for this if it's been delayed? I honestly don't know why they announced an opening month for Gruffalo in the first place after last year's events.

If that's true, why are they still advertising March? Don't they ever learn?

Fright Nights needs to go back to its roots IMO, original-idea mazes, theming in the ride stations and more around the park and more creative use of parkwide audio. I honestly think that the event (as of 2016) has become one of the least enjoyable Halloween events in the country, the lineup is stale, crowd control is terrible and for the last two years the "big new scare attraction" has been a disappointment. Onto the mazes themselves. Saw Alive is dull IMO, it's been exactly the same for six years, it has become too predictable. Time for a replacement or major shake-up. Cabin is good in concept but has become stale, due to a lack of fresh ideas being added each year as well as a reduction in effects. I think a similar (but different) concept to Experiment 10 would work well whilst keeping a similar layout to what is there now. Big Top was great last year, I think it could do with a few minor improvements but apart from that leave it as it is. Blair Witch needs replacing, and just pretend Platform 15 never happened.

Hopefully Platform 15 won't return in any form, I've never known a "horror" attraction be so awful.

Pleasure Beach are hoping to have groundwork finished by the time the park opens full time at Easter, so it should hopefully be open from then onwards.

Latest Construction 2018 Update from BPB; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XYYXzLVDoU

I don't have an issue with them sharing the bigger jobs, or some of the smaller ones, but a red wall? Seriously? Great that they're doing these things but it'd be much more exciting to discover it when you're there rather than have it "marketed."

Good to see Rumba getting some attention, it definitely needs refreshing.

I think the difference is, this article is sharing some of the work that's been done - but not "promoting" it as such. Personally, I find it interesting to get an insight into the work that takes place over the winter, but not in such an in-your-face way as Towers Loving Care. Blackpool have always carried out cosmetic work to the park so it's not like it is only being done for promotion. Grand National needs new trains more than anything else, the current rolling stock are heavier than the ride was designed for hence the track is under much more strain than it would have been in the past. That said, it's one of my absolute favourite coasters and I'd be gutted if it were ever up for removal.