Coaster

I can think of a few examples where parks have kept/built up more trains than they need; up until 2020-ish, BPB would always have 3 trains in the station for Big One and 3 for Avalanche, even though those rides have not operated with 3 trains for well over 15 years in both cases.   I guess this is a slightly different case in that the rides were both designed for 3, but the park were still making more trains serviceable than they needed.  (Sadly this has stopped now - and as a result both run with one train much more often).
 
Also, the Roller Coaster at GYPB has 3 serviceable trains even though it very rarely runs more than one at a time.
 
Perhaps it comes down to whether a longer coaster with the ability to run 3 trains would have been ideal - then, if one was out of action, there would be 2 available by design.  I take onboard that buying a 3rd train without being able to run it would be expensive, but I do hope they are able to find a fix of some kind as the situation now is far from ideal.
 
 
 
 
I wasn't suggesting Thorpe had increased the Fastrack capacity; but more that it's likely that more people bought one to avoid the four hour queue, and going by the 60 minute Fastrack queue time, it did not seem that Thorpe had taken any measures to reduce the capacity to factor in the 1 train.  Therefore, they could have potentially sold more than usual despite not literally increasing the number of available Fastracks.

It is worth noting the time Hyperia had a 1 hour plus fastrack queue (what I’m aware of) was on the Friday where earlier that day the queue was evacuated and priority passes handed out.
 
I checked on the app and you couldn’t buy fastrack when it reopened.

The point; to prevent, or vastly reduce the frequency of, a situation where the most popular coaster in the park is running one train during one of the busiest periods of the year.  Having a 4 hour main queue and 60 min Fastrack queue on one train is ridiculous.
 
With the maintenance team being stretched; this is also a Merlin/industry issue, which the company needs to resolve through better terms to attract more employees.
 
I don’t think we should accept bare minimum because of another problem that is within the company's power to resolve - they are just choosing not to.

Thorpe really should have bought three trains to ensure that when one is unavailable, they still have two serviceable ones.
 
They cheaped out and guest experience has taken a massive hit during one of their busiest periods; but it's okay, because they've used it as an opportunity to sell more Fastrack.  And so continues the mediocrity.

Haven't decided yet after 4 rides, but it's very very good!

I found it disappointing that the queueline marshals were left to announce to everyone that the ride wouldn't open.
 
Why weren't management in attendance?  It felt really poor for them to hide away and let their front-line staff take so much abuse and shouting from guests; it wasn't nice.

Top tip. If you aren't in that queue for Hyperia super early, just go do everything else. We managed Stealth twice, Inferno, Rumba, Swarm, Flying fish (on a 5 lap special) and Quantum in an hour because the rest of the park is beyond dead. It helps that the rides were run to perfection. They were running Inferno and Stealth like there was a 90 minute queue out there. 
 
Hyperia. I don't think there's really any doubt that it is one of the best rides in Europe. I can't help wishing that it was just a little bit longer because the ending feels so abrupt and I personally wanted more of what Hyperia was giving. I also couldn't help wonder what its hourly capacity is and now much RAP was creating the queues today. We ended up waiting four hours but I know people waited over six hours for it. 
 
A few thoughts:-
 
- This felt like one of the most intense Mack rides built. That first drop and the pull out.. I don't grey out very often on rides so this came as surprise. It's far more intense then I thought it was going to be
- I'm very happy that we have a fully air time focused ride. There's four major ejector air time moments and all four deliver. The outer-bank turn was delicious and so unique. 
- Love the campy show. The picture online of the show going on whilst they evacuate Saw in the background - perfection. 
- Shame that the viewing area got cut. This ride demands to be looked at but there's not many areas to actually view the elements. There's pretty much the ride exit and some of the ride queue. The splashdown is purely for the audience that doesn't exist as they can't see it.
- Ride team were doing well with a brand new ride. Regularly sending trains just as the other one hit the break run. This will need to continue unabated because the demand for Hyperia is going to continue to be huge. 
- Not sure why they routed the queue line to go around the lift hill motor as its pretty loud and unpleasant. 
- Relatively reliable. It had three breakdowns whilst we waited in our four queue; but so did Colossus and that has no excuse at this point. 
- Park was very well organised with the queue. Fair play to them, it was well structured and messaging was very clear.
 
 
Of the three Merlin parks in 2024, Thorpe has had the biggest improvements with excellent operations across the board, fantastic refurbishments and upgrades (Samurai, Detonator, Stealth) and I think the rebrand has been a success to be honest. There's a consistency that had been missing and I think Hyperia is the perfect ride for this Thorpe Park. 
 
Looking forward to getting back in three weeks for a more normal trip. I hope everyone visiting over the next few weeks enjoys their ride on Hyperia as the future of rollercoasters really has properly arrived in the UK. It took long enough.
 
(Thoughts and prayers for Icon)

Don't worry, I'm not back, just briefly returning to the forum to highlight what I feel is a very important talking point.
 
In a recent government report, Merlin Entertainments have been listed as a company who have not paid minimum wage.  The company failed to pay minimum to 1,100 employees, equating to £43,000.
 
Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/over-500-companies-named-for-not-paying-minimum-wage
 
Ride Rater have published a further breakdown of all the available info:
 
https://riderater.co.uk/11561/merlin-entertainments-failed-to-pay-minimum-wage/
 
Flamingo Land are also named here for failing to pay 4 workers the minimum, following a previous report from Blackpool Pleasure Beach who had failed to pay 12 workers the minimum.
 
In 2018, the CEO of Merlin Entertainments took home a salary of £1,493,000.  In contrast, the £43,000 owed to 1,100 employees would have still left £1,450,000 for the CEO.  Staff rely on being paid at least the legal minimum to live off, to pay their bills.  It's shameful that this has been allowed to happen.
 
Source: https://www.erieri.com/executive/salary/nick-varney-8ydw
 
I feel that as enthusiasts/people with an interest in theme parks, we have to pay attention to this and demand better for the staff who make our hobby possible.

Don't worry, I'm not back, just briefly returning to the forum to highlight what I feel is a very important talking point.
 
In a recent government report, Merlin Entertainments have been listed as a company who have not paid minimum wage.  The company failed to pay minimum to 1,100 employees, equating to £43,000.
 
Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/over-500-companies-named-for-not-paying-minimum-wage
 
Ride Rater have published a further breakdown of all the available info:
 
https://riderater.co.uk/11561/merlin-entertainments-failed-to-pay-minimum-wage/
 
Flamingo Land are also named here for failing to pay 4 workers the minimum, following a previous report from Blackpool Pleasure Beach who had failed to pay 12 workers the minimum.
 
In 2018, the CEO of Merlin Entertainments took home a salary of £1,493,000.  In contrast, the £43,000 owed to 1,100 employees would have still left £1,450,000 for the CEO.  Staff rely on being paid at least the legal minimum to live off, to pay their bills.  It's shameful that this has been allowed to happen.
 
Source: https://www.erieri.com/executive/salary/nick-varney-8ydw
 
I feel that as enthusiasts/people with an interest in theme parks, we have to pay attention to this and demand better for the staff who make our hobby possible.

Don't worry, I'm not back, just briefly returning to the forum to highlight what I feel is a very important talking point.
 
In a recent government report, Merlin Entertainments have been listed as a company who have not paid minimum wage.  The company failed to pay minimum to 1,100 employees, equating to £43,000.
 
Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/over-500-companies-named-for-not-paying-minimum-wage
 
Ride Rater have published a further breakdown of all the available info:
 
https://riderater.co.uk/11561/merlin-entertainments-failed-to-pay-minimum-wage/
 
Flamingo Land are also named here for failing to pay 4 workers the minimum, following a previous report from Blackpool Pleasure Beach who had failed to pay 12 workers the minimum.
 
In 2018, the CEO of Merlin Entertainments took home a salary of £1,493,000.  In contrast, the £43,000 owed to 1,100 employees would have still left £1,450,000 for the CEO.  Staff rely on being paid at least the legal minimum to live off, to pay their bills.  It's shameful that this has been allowed to happen.
 
Source: https://www.erieri.com/executive/salary/nick-varney-8ydw
 
I feel that as enthusiasts/people with an interest in theme parks, we have to pay attention to this and demand better for the staff who make our hobby possible.

Don't worry, I'm not back, just briefly returning to the forum to highlight what I feel is a very important talking point.
 
In a recent government report, Merlin Entertainments have been listed as a company who have not paid minimum wage.  The company failed to pay minimum to 1,100 employees, equating to £43,000.
 
Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/over-500-companies-named-for-not-paying-minimum-wage
 
Ride Rater have published a further breakdown of all the available info:
 
https://riderater.co.uk/11561/merlin-entertainments-failed-to-pay-minimum-wage/
 
Flamingo Land are also named here for failing to pay 4 workers the minimum, following a previous report from Blackpool Pleasure Beach who had failed to pay 12 workers the minimum.
 
In 2018, the CEO of Merlin Entertainments took home a salary of £1,493,000.  In contrast, the £43,000 owed to 1,100 employees would have still left £1,450,000 for the CEO.  Staff rely on being paid at least the legal minimum to live off, to pay their bills.  It's shameful that this has been allowed to happen.
 
Source: https://www.erieri.com/executive/salary/nick-varney-8ydw
 
I feel that as enthusiasts/people with an interest in theme parks, we have to pay attention to this and demand better for the staff who make our hobby possible.

1966; the Doctor Who villain 'The Toymaker' dates back to a William Hartnell episode.
 
Filming for the 60th anniversary (where the same character is being brought back, 'reimagined') took place in May and June 2022.
 
Pictures from the filming were available in the public domain (many were posted to Twitter, YouTube etc) including photos of the shop facade and a sign inside the shop stating "Toymaker of the year".

Plot twist. Coaster Jamie is parm pap!! He makes his return after so long!!

Thorpe Park's new maze for 2023 has seemingly taken some inspiration from the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who.
 
The similarities are as follows:
 
1. Both 'villains' are called The Toymaker
 
2. Both operate out of a similar-looking toy emporium 
 
Whilst the DW 60th anniversary has not aired yet, The Toymaker as a character originated in the 60s, and filming took place for the 60th anniversary special back in May/June last year; meaning that the DW story was likely written and planned well ahead of Thorpe Park.
 
Interested to hear theories on this.  Has it taken inspiration, or purely a coincidence?

My views so far?  Exterior looks awful, station looks good.  Will reserve judgement on the ride until I've actually been on it.

Looks like Valhalla as a band entering Eurovision
 

Garbage. Absolutely garbage.

There is a new promo image for Valhalla in the Visit Blackpool 2023 guide.
 
In the politest way possible, I don't know what to make of this. 😂
 
Guide: https://www.visitblackpool.com/latest-news/destination-guide-2023-is-here/
 

There is a new promo image for Valhalla in the Visit Blackpool 2023 guide.
 
In the politest way possible, I don't know what to make of this. 😂
 
Guide: https://www.visitblackpool.com/latest-news/destination-guide-2023-is-here/
 

She should ask the Conservative MP's who frequent her hotels and ask them why theres so many hold ups from Europe these days. 

Considering the country is collapsing all around us, I think I could probably live with Exodus being delayed by a few months. 

Disgusting and the park should be ashamed letting a ride get in this condition! But hey they can hold things in place with chewing gum so it's all good I guess! Saves on the glue! 
 

Big One stalled today with guests on, due to high winds.
 
 
 
Curiously, this happened on the new section of track.

I just wanted to praise the way Nemesis Inferno looks at night during Fright Nights this year.
 
The mist was fully working at the weekend with a new orange light in the queueline, it looks incredible and the best I've seen it look after dark for years.
 
The ride itself was running very well by the evening, by far and away the best coaster experience at Thorpe in my opinion.
 

Lots of controversy this evening. They closed the ride well before park close claiming there isn't enough lighting in the area.