Coaster

I was lucky enough to experience the attraction today, would I be allowed to add a review here seeing as we weren't told to sign anything?

The stacking in the break run reasoning is, if true, a very poor excuse for reducing the throughput IMO as there are other less drastic measures that could be installed such as a sign - actually, I'm sure there is a new sign there saying "PLEASE REMAIN SEATED"? X is one of two coasters at the park accessible to people under 1.4 which means it's popular with families, they should be aiming for the highest throughput possible rather than cutting back on capacity.

Good news!

Why can't the UK build coasters like this? It looks great fun and actually lasts for more than a minute unlike most new coasters we see over here. https://youtu.be/nZgmsxldYHA It also proves that you don't need inversions.

You keep saying that like it's a good thing, but why should the standard bar be set as low as that?

But if there were safety concerns then how would hotel guests be allowed to ride? Surely no-one would?

Rides closed for this year are Hex, Sub Terra, CATCF, Driving School and Wobble World. The Flume is SBNO pending removal and Ripsaw has been removed. No sure how busy it will be, but it might being fairly busy due to school trips, will probably get quieter around 3pm though.

I find it interesting that when people say it won't be good they get ridiculed as "you can't judge before you've ridden it", yet when they say things like "I guarantee it will be the best thing Merlin have ever created" it doesn't get the same response though it's still an assumption without any foundation.

It does indeed, it ran 4 (or was it 5?) when it was X:/ No Way Out however since the stops were removed the maximum has been 3 - presumably due to it taking less time to go round the circuit. 2 trains can't be getting much more than 400pph which really isn't ideal.

Megafobia, Speed and Bounce have been closed for the best part of two weeks, fortunately Megafobia has reopened today after substantial track work but the other two remain closed. Park attendance is apparently down again so far this year and the current financial records are somewhat concerning. The park have apparrently purchased this. I hate to think of the state it could be in considering that it's coming from M&D's, and I really don't see how the park will benefit from an already-tired Pinfari. https://youtu.be/0Szu1IeXSAQ I'm really not sure what the future holds for Oakwood; it seems that the park has got to a point where it has some serious underlying issues, but no finances to improve them. I'd say this largely comes down to Aspro's complete lack of interest in the park - when the previous owners installed Megafobia, Speed and Drenched it must have been a risk but ultimately it paid off as they have two very good coasters which at the time brought in crowds. As far as I can remember Neverland is the only "new" investment Aspro have made, whilst the rest of the park has, to an extent, been left to decline. The ride availability is a serious issue now and I can only see the Pinfari adding to this, as it's likely to be maintenance heavy and their resources cannot cope as it is. It can't help matters that on the occasions when the park is busy, they cope badly with low capacity on the two big coasters. Sorry for the moan-y post but it's just saddening to see the park in this situation; I genuinely love the place, it used to be a fantastic park to visit and the atmosphere was electric during After Dark back before Aspro, but a lack of care combined with poor ride availability seems to be taking its toll. (Financial records in case anyone's interested: https://companycheck.co.uk/company/02042378/OAKWOOD-LEISURE-LIMITED/financial-accounts)

Any sign of the third train yet?

I genuinely prefer Golden Nugget to Tomb Blaster in its current state.

That's shocking, how on earth can an entire train derail? Surely even if one wheel assembly failed the train should still be partially attached?

Suddenly just remembered - where have the themed tills gone in Towers Trading?

Don't know that one but it would have been long enough to contact whoever does have access (which considering the park's nearby location to houses should have been a priority). The blame lies with BPB in my opinion. Obviously the idiots who did it are in the wrong, but this sort of incident should not be possible at all, the fact that they broke into the park unnoticed is bad enough, but actually operating a ride?! If correct procedures were followed it wouldn't happen and as mentioned the fact it went on for half an hour undetected is awful. On another note, I see the park have had a significant media backlash with articles on BBC & ITV news as well as several others.

Shocking that they were able to do that, they should not have been able to start the ride and it went unnoticed for half an hour?! Makes me wonder if they actually have security on site. I remember last year when the fountain music was left on all night - surely security would have heard it and switched it off?

That's not good! Assume this was during testing (as the RMC's are all closed at the moment)?

The thing that amused me about Buffalo coaster was that despite it being a long, slow coaster it went round twice! Coasters would be; - Rita at AT. Short yet completely dull, often runs badly and even with the new fences it's awfully presented. - Galactica at AT. I've never been a fan of Air but it was okay for a relax. IMO the VR completely defeats the point of the coaster as well as destroying throughputs. - Vampire at CWOA. Whilst a fan of Arrow coasters I really don't get all the fuss with this aside from the theme (and even that's diminished somewhat). As for non-coaster rides; - Kite Flyer at PWH. Hilarious, yet pointlessly uncomfortable and makes me dread going on Hero later this year! - Dragon's Claw at AI - just an uncomfortable headrush that left me feeling sick.

Not since April - great if it's been improved since then!

Yeah - things like Bad Wolf and Torchwood (before we knew what it was) worked really well as they were subtle, whereas the underlying stories they write now completely take over the episodes to the point where (IMO) they aren't entertaining to watch.

^ They sound quality isn't as good as it used to be.

^ IMO Capaldi is actually a very good Doctor, but the stories are awful. Completely agree about the unnecessary drawn-out stories.

Interesting that they've revealed this so early considering that it's usually around August that they reveal the lineup - I thought the Lionsgate contract was finished as of this year though? From the description it sounds like Platform 15 could be partly outside, maybe with some of it being located inside a mock-up train carriage? I can't say I'm enthusiastic about The Big Top returning after last year (terror of the curtains), Cabin in the Woods is good though.

No, absolutely not. Also, 'insider' do you actually read anyone's posts? Because I'm struggling to find anywhere I have said that I "deserve" to go on it before it's open, nor that I "expected" it to be open. I'm not repeating myself as it has been said several times but you seem to have missed that.

Smiler and Speed are brilliant IMO, not so keen on Saw though.