Liam T

I don't disapprove of this 'idea' of Air being converted to a VR Coaster, watching the videos and stuff they did at Europa Park, it looks like an exciting experience. I hope they do give riders the option to choose VR or normal riding, it's not the greatest landscaping ride in the world but it is the all time favourite AIR.

To put it across in my point of view, someone who travels nearly four hours there and four hours back to visit this theme park... I literally have no interest in experiencing this attraction unless it had a 10 minute queue, just like JoshC said, it's a filler attraction. I would wait 50 minutes for Stealth, not IAC... though I've not rode it, I suspect it won't be something that would leave a lasting impression on me for the entire day. It's just not something I would skip the likes of Stealth or Swarm for.

It's interesting to see that Scarefest has a real adult feel to it this year, I mean we have the family posters/entertainment but they're really pushing the scare mazes and extreme experiences this year... Could it be Alton trying to get thrill seekers back into the park? As many have been put off visiting this summer.

Just a thought... During Scarefest, they re-name the hotels (ATH = The Witches Haunt Inn & SLH = Patches Pumpkin Pad) and theme them to Halloween, do you think Alton has anything planned for the Enchanted Village? I hope so... It would look amazing to see the village all decorated for Halloween, maybe even pay homage to a very famous scare attraction that once resided on that field... I really hope they do!

Alton Towers. Fun story for you all, back in 2009, at school we had to do a project about Alton Towers (creating a new dark ride) which ended in a trip to Alton Towers, during this time my research about the park made me fall in love with it, reading about the history and discovering the fan sites just made something click, and when it came to my trip... it just solidified that it's an enthusiast life for me!

Heaven forbid a closed season without you Mr Allgood! As for Warehouse Cluster 16... it's very interesting to see that large pit looks like it's in the ride area!

Happy Birthday to Mr James 'Loggers Tunnel' Allgood, may all your birthday wishes come true on this fine day!

Well that looks bloody awful! I don't think any trees in the world will be able to hide the fact it looks like I'm staring at an industrial estate, not a theme park.

Was on-park today! Ride queues was below average for summer, but reaching 40 minutes for some thrills and not dropping under 30 minutes for Cbeebies Land is pretty good. All in all, the place seems to be getting back into the sync of things, Smiler needs a good clean before opening tho, filthy ride (that said, most of the park is starting to look tired).

My name changes have been wild... 'Sh'Boobie, Suzypoos, Assorted Spice'. But my favourite was 'Our Liam' because that was everyone calls me now... although I'll always be known as the one true Trolley Dolly!

I can only give my highest respect to Leah, Joe, Vicky & Daniel and the other 12 riders on that train. Leah & Vicky are showing true strength and a very speedy recovery, it's a shame something so out of the norm, had to happen to two wonderful young women. I hope now, The Mirror (and other press), leave the victims to have some time to themselves. I can only imagine having something so traumatic be so public must feel like so I hope the victims can continue a peaceful recovery. In regards of The Smiler, members of the public are so certain it will be closed down. It's so problematic and now very costly for Merlin but I'll be dammed if I see the ride close! It's still the statement ride at the top of Gerstlauer & Merlin's webpages... I would like the future of The Smiler to be a quiet reopening at the start of the new season... followed by some improvements a couple of seasons afterwards. Now plans for 'existing ride improvements' are a thing Merlin are willing to risk, here hoping they go back and give The Smiler the opening it deserved!

Make it a cocktail and we've got ourselves a deal Mr 9! In terms of excitement, I mean't because we've got no idea what it is... I'm not going in here expecting Transformers 2.0 UK edition, but I'm expecting something better than Sub-Terra.

Doing a little bit of research and thanks to Total Thorpe Park & Theme Park Guide images (credits to those lovely people), I've been able to tell which part of the building is currently being construction. This is part of the main ride area which strengthens my idea, it is an immersive tunnel experience or something of that sort. Note here the shape of the building: Is this part of the building here: So it's not the pre show... But whatever Thorpe is doing... It's going to be one of the most exciting dark ride projects not only in the UK... but Europe!

Exciting!! It's giving me very Ministry Of Joy (Smiler)/Big Brother vibes...

I'm very excited about this, it'll be completing that side of the resort and it looks like a gorgeous hotel! 3 hotels and a log cabin style accommodation will put Alton Towers in the forefront as a short break destination, something it needs right now. 2017 opening sounds ideal as SW8 is sounding like it'll be planned to open then (hopefully) it's my belief that theme park and accommodation do have separate budgets so I wouldn't be concerned about the park being neglected for more accommodation.

Alton Towers have today released their new marketing campaign, which seems to be replacing the 'Big Six' challenge. Its great to see the park moving forward!

Meanwhile at Island Beats...

Side note - How much are the drink during the MOS events? Like I'm expecting Merlin amounts but hopefully nothing too pricey!

Sometimes when I'm bored, I read through these again... Mo'Nique in the house.

Is there anything Alton Towers can do? From a legal point of view? I see a 50/50 spilt of people who don't care anymore/say the park needs closing down. It's best not to give THAT newspapers the bullets to fire you with, but unfortunately for Alton Towers it's under the spot light and its ride reliability isn't exactly 100% in the past month... let's just get this season over and done with (after Scarefest & Fireworks of course!) and start afresh in 2016.

Tickets booked! I'm also bringing a plus 1 down with me! It'll be their first time to Thorpe Park!

It was confirmed on Twitter via herself and a friend that she doesn't do dancing as a career, that's just something the media picked up on to make the story sound more dramatic. Thoughts are with friends, family and Vicky & Leah during this difficult time.

Excellent news! The people on Facebook are rejoicing though they may of left it a little too late in the day to inform some people... I'm glad Alton can once again be in operation and once the dust as settled, all the bad media will disappear. It seems all the four victims of the crash are in more stable conditions as-well, so good news all round! See you Thursday Alton!

There is alot of 'he said/she said' and it's far too early to point fingers at what caused this tragic accident. I'll be having alot of people question me at work tomorrow, so I'm not looking forward to having to re-live all this 'Daily Mail' garbage people have been fed, but that is the media these days. The 11 minutes wait to call 999 is confusing, I understand that guests/GP may not want to ring 999 as they assume the park have done it but I'm positive the decision to call 999 was made as soon as the full extent of the accident was noticeable. Still in shock as the coverage this has got, I'm hoping Alton Towers reopens on Saturday & Saw The Ride can return to normal operation soon. On a side note, I'm so pleased to read on forums here and there are being supportive to each other, to the park and to the victims affected on that day... I'm proud to know that in the darkest of situations, we can stand united to support one and other rather that finger point and blame... fingers crossed the investigation is concluded as soon as possible.

I'm just catching up with the news as I've been away for the past couple of days, sadden & shocked. My thoughts are with those all involved with yesterday incident, friends, families, workers... I stood disbelief when I received the text, it was only Sunday I was speaking about getting back on The Smiler, I'm very shaken by this. The media coverage has been disgusting, air helicopter zooming in on those poor helpless guest. Words cannot express how distressing this has been for the park, the families, the guest having the witness the incident, the community & Merlin. Lets hope the park can re-open as quickly as possible... as for the future of The Smiler.