Coaster

Review - Fright Nights preview evening.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Overall, I had mixed feelings about this year's event. The mazes were, in general much better than last year although there were some flaws (although this is to be expected though on a preview evening).
There was one thing I was not happy about though, which will be mentioned in the review of that maze.
My Bloody Valentine
I really enjoyed this one. The actors were really good, and the Harry Warden actors were effectively using the layout to make it seem like they had followed you around the maze. The theming was brilliant in parts of the maze, particularly the first section and they really utilized it well. Lots of the props represented things from the films in subtle ways, and overall it really impressed me.
The main downside was lack of atmosphere in the queueline - the newly installed speakers were playing nothing! (However it was preview night, so hopefully this will change).
Overall I was very impressed with this maze
8/10
The Asylum
This was good, but as we were one of the first groups of the day in it (and it opened late) I don't think that the actors were quite ready for us. Still, we really enjoyed it and the new touches were very nice. There were quite a lot of new/altered scenes and props (which I have wanted in there for a long time!)
The new finale will be brilliant, however for our turn we saw the man go to get the chainsaw before he was ready for us so it ruined it, however it's early days yet and it will be brilliant!
7.5/10
Cabin In The Woods
Based on the bad experience we had in this, I didn't rate it very highly. I do however think that I might enjoy it more if I go in it again.
Firstly, in the queueline we had actors literally dribbling on us (as there are actors in the queue this year). I had dribble on my hand, and another man got really close to several woman with LOTS of dribble on his beard. This was unhygienic, dangerous (could enter cuts etc) and generally disgusting.
However, we decided to put this aside as we entered the maze. It started off really well, but they separated my brother (who is not the bravest of people) from me and he hated it after that. I did stress to the actor that they shouldn't split us up as while it didn't bother me, he really didn't like it. I know it's part of it, but it makes it hard to find groups again at the end etc and should only be done to adult groups.
Overall, despite some flaws I thought that the theming quality of the maze was quite high and I might give it another go (if the dribbling stops).
6.5/10
The Blair Witch Project
Quite frankly, awful. A walk through a darkened path (the only fear being of tripping up) with a few actors whispering stuff, then a woman screaming and bashing a wall in a hut at the end. Won't be going back for more of this one.
2/10 (Second point only for the large amount of fog used at the entrance )
I did enjoy this event, and I think it has given the park some flaws to fix before tomorrow's big launch of the event. I look forward to returning to the park on Sunday and experiencing it all again (minus TBWP and possibly CITW, and I would like to do Saw Alive as well as I haven't done it for a while now).
Final thoughts on the general park atmosphere:
The Good:
- Asylum's Queue-line music. That Bass!
- Theming in the dome and park entrance plaza
- New audio around the park
The Bad:
- No queueline music for Cabin in the Woods or My Bloody Valentine - this would really help the atmosphere and mood of people queuing up as without it everyone just looks bored and annoyed.
- NO theming whatsoever around the park. A real shame, however this is only the first night so it could be improved.
- Audio in mazes (Asylum in particular) could be louder.
- X music could be heard in parts of Cabin in the Woods
- The Blair Witch Project. Just, what?
The Ugly:
- The bodily fluids dribbled onto us in the CITW queueline. Not good.
Hope the park fix the problems (such as queueline music for the mazes and park-wide theming) because it will really make all the difference.

Review - Fright Nights preview evening.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Overall, I had mixed feelings about this year's event. The mazes were, in general much better than last year although there were some flaws (although this is to be expected though on a preview evening).
There was one thing I was not happy about though, which will be mentioned in the review of that maze.
My Bloody Valentine
I really enjoyed this one. The actors were really good, and the Harry Warden actors were effectively using the layout to make it seem like they had followed you around the maze. The theming was brilliant in parts of the maze, particularly the first section and they really utilized it well. Lots of the props represented things from the films in subtle ways, and overall it really impressed me.
The main downside was lack of atmosphere in the queueline - the newly installed speakers were playing nothing! (However it was preview night, so hopefully this will change).
Overall I was very impressed with this maze
8/10
The Asylum
This was good, but as we were one of the first groups of the day in it (and it opened late) I don't think that the actors were quite ready for us. Still, we really enjoyed it and the new touches were very nice. There were quite a lot of new/altered scenes and props (which I have wanted in there for a long time!)
The new finale will be brilliant, however for our turn we saw the man go to get the chainsaw before he was ready for us so it ruined it, however it's early days yet and it will be brilliant!
7.5/10
Cabin In The Woods
Based on the bad experience we had in this, I didn't rate it very highly. I do however think that I might enjoy it more if I go in it again.
Firstly, in the queueline we had actors literally dribbling on us (as there are actors in the queue this year). I had dribble on my hand, and another man got really close to several woman with LOTS of dribble on his beard. This was unhygienic, dangerous (could enter cuts etc) and generally disgusting.
However, we decided to put this aside as we entered the maze. It started off really well, but they separated my brother (who is not the bravest of people) from me and he hated it after that. I did stress to the actor that they shouldn't split us up as while it didn't bother me, he really didn't like it. I know it's part of it, but it makes it hard to find groups again at the end etc and should only be done to adult groups.
Overall, despite some flaws I thought that the theming quality of the maze was quite high and I might give it another go (if the dribbling stops).
6.5/10
The Blair Witch Project
Quite frankly, awful. A walk through a darkened path (the only fear being of tripping up) with a few actors whispering stuff, then a woman screaming and bashing a wall in a hut at the end. Won't be going back for more of this one.
2/10 (Second point only for the large amount of fog used at the entrance )
I did enjoy this event, and I think it has given the park some flaws to fix before tomorrow's big launch of the event. I look forward to returning to the park on Sunday and experiencing it all again (minus TBWP and possibly CITW, and I would like to do Saw Alive as well as I haven't done it for a while now).
Final thoughts on the general park atmosphere:
The Good:
- Asylum's Queue-line music. That Bass!
- Theming in the dome and park entrance plaza
- New audio around the park
The Bad:
- No queueline music for Cabin in the Woods or My Bloody Valentine - this would really help the atmosphere and mood of people queuing up as without it everyone just looks bored and annoyed.
- NO theming whatsoever around the park. A real shame, however this is only the first night so it could be improved.
- Audio in mazes (Asylum in particular) could be louder.
- X music could be heard in parts of Cabin in the Woods
- The Blair Witch Project. Just, what?
The Ugly:
- The bodily fluids dribbled onto us in the CITW queueline. Not good.
Hope the park fix the problems (such as queueline music for the mazes and park-wide theming) because it will really make all the difference.

I just want to walk the length of the Grand National now

Very good pictures. Thank you for capturing the event, it looks really good

Just a heads up to anyone who isn't going to the preview night tomorrow, Thorpe Nerd Live are going to be covering the event.
http://live.thorpenerd.com/

Very excited now after seeing those!

WTTP Stealthside is quite funny when stood in the plaza - I think that one of the speakers is out of time and it does effect it quite a lot in my opinion.

Managed to film the ride before it broke down on both days, sorry for the J.s217 voicebomb at the start

I LOVE that music, listening to it on the way home to get me in the fright nights mood

I don't think we know that actually!
It could just be the mazes, but I guess that it will be all of the rides that would be open from 6:30pm onwards on a normal FN date (so no Loggers, Rumba etc...)
Don't know though!

^That's exactly my thinking Josh, it's like they're trying to create Thorpe Park Memes or sommat...
It's random and non-sensical... Considering Fright Nights should be (and to a degree is) getting the big push at this moment in time, this things seem a bit of a waste of the 5 minutes it would take to create and post them...

If you recall, before you GET to the cabin, you have to pass through a mountain tunnel.
What you're looking at is not the exterior to the cabin itself

I agree, it's much better than Vortex!

Chessington seriously need to extend their hours...

I went on wipeout at brean leisure park which is a kmg ride similar, but a lot smaller, although it still holds 24 people - it span so much faster and went an awful lot higher as well... much more enjoyable!

Found the update
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.549180238470613.1073741834.163052343750073&type=1
Looks interesting, I can't make out if the fake brickwork is still there under Asylum's canopy (hope so).
Those picture confirm that My Bloody Valentine will have a queueline shop.

The first weekend on the Sunday is likely to be the quietest day.
(Based on the fact that the first weekend is always quietest and that Sundays are usually quieter than Saturdays).
Hope this helps
I'm visiting on both the preview evening and Sunday the 6th so it will be interesting to see which is busier.

Couldn't agree more, My favorite flat ride, and to be honest, it fits like the space that it's in perfectly, and it never has a que But Thorpe said they panned on getting it open on Fright nights, which they now say is very unlikely, So I'm pretty sure it'll open next year

If it is going, I really hope Thorpe don't leave it SBNO for the 2014 season, that area near Saw Island is bad enough with CCR remains and Saw Alive being derelict for most of the season!

Haha!
Queueline TV's are good. I like them - however I don't think that The Swarm's are very good really and that women's voice constantly talking for hours/ages really gets on my nerves.
Oblivion is an example of good queueline TV's - they actually build up tension you get breaks between them - they are not dotted around the whole queue so that you have to listen to them for the entire queue.

Don't make me laugh! The amount of effects broken on The Swarm this season is huge!
- Both water sprays are very rarely working
- Fire effect is barely ever on
- Sound effect of The Swarm noise on the staircase (church tower queueline building) has been switched off for most of this year
- Various water jets from fire engine broken
- Mist under plane wing is quite often switched off
- Queueline TV screens switched off quite often. (Would be pleased about this, but they still have the audio playing so it's just as annoying).
Saw is however more consistent, minus the hiccup with the lighting a few months back and of course the queueline audio.

To clarify, we will not be closing our major thrill rides at 8 or even 9pm.
All our most popular rides will stay open right through until 10pm.
The only rides that will close earlier will be those that have little to no demand in the evening, and will close depending on demand on the day.

It looks better without the stupid editing
Can't wait now!
One thing though - the description says they you'll enter the hospital first so why does it look like a mine tunnel at the entrance?

Not very happy about Loggers and Rumba closing at 5pm to be honest.