pluk

Valencia, Christmas Fair, Smashing Jump injurers riders when power cut causes ride vehicles to lower aggressively. Isn't there one of these at winter Wonderland this year?

Gator coaster derails in Greece, mother and children injured, owner and operator arrested. Ooops.

It think it's great they are doing this, but for me the boat has been missed. The original scores for the older rides are 'my' Thorpe Park, and I'd love to have them, but the new ones do nothing for me and mean nothing to me. There's nothing wrong with them I suppose, it's just not of my time, and I don't think on the whole they are an improvement on what went before.

I always thought it was a great idea. I guess it couldn't make enough money to continue, because if it did it would have. I guess it is an issue of scale. If the acts weren't big enough to attract the crowds, which I think was the case on the whole, then it won't build up a following and be able to grow. But going in with a big (expensive) act and event is a much bigger risk. I think the way to make it work would be to try it on a bigger scale, mini festival maybe. What Dreamland do with By The Sea seems to work really well, and their line up this year was superb.

This is the most accurate and succinct review of Th13teen possible.

I don't know if BaronC has mentioned it all, but voting closes today.

Last entry struck from the record. Do keep up!

Yay, barbed wire. I know I can't get enough of the stuff when at a theme park.

I like it!

It's perfect money making - that buyers are riding before opening does not inconvenience other guests, like fastack does. There are no losers, only winners, including the park!

To be fair, I understand the general displeasure from people being asked to pay the same but receive less, and something called an 'annual pass' not really being a pass for a whole anum. On the other hand, they still represent great value and it's going to be better for all visitors if the crowds are better spread. Seems to be a bit of a marketing error really. Would make sense to offer something called an Off Peak annual pass, then premium and VIP.

No injuries fortunately, waltzer car comes of ride in Wales. Always a concern of mine when riding this sort of ride, never heard of it happening before though!

How dare they call a top scan Flying Circus and get me all excited about actual Flying Circus happening?! I imagine that thing is long dead? But still. A bit underwhelming overall after what was planned/rumoured, still an impressive set up though.

Thorpe Park x1 Adventure Island X2 Carter's Steam Fair x1 Errrr, that's about it. Damn.

Kind of missing the point there. The time that has gone means nothing, as we know nothing has been done. What's unrealistic is betting it open for next season as of now with only the rotting remains still standing.

Kind of decent as a ride overall though, because the peak of the incline, decelerating into it then falling back out of it, is a great feeling. But the launch itself seems to take an age and lacks thrill because of it. Also, no mention for Blue Fire? It might not be the most powerful or exiting launch, but it's still a wonderful smooth and comfortable but still punchy acceleration. What really makes it though is the sound it creates, fizzing and crackling down the track. Simply loveleh.

Launches are probably an area I'm a bit lacking in overall. Stealth is still my standard when it comes to launch, and I love it; I'd never get bored of that feeling. I may be a planenut of the future. I really enjoyed Karacho's launch, I think it was my first rolling launch, so that might be why. My all time favourite, probably through nostalgia but mostly because it was a really surprising and unusual thing at the time, is thunderlooper. Its gravity based technology clearly has nothing on the power of modern launches, but it had a hell of a feeling back then, and Montzoomas at Knott's Berry took me straight back to that moment the first time I powered into that loop. Wonderful. If we're going to talk about disappointing launches too, I'd go Superman at 6FMM. Looks so promising, feels so nothing.

Ah, that's a shame. Was that just a false rumour in the first place do we know, or has it pulled out for some reason?

Thought that sounded a bit odd, to fall between the gaps on a waltzer some floor would have to be missing. This was an old superbob. On any of those old raised round rides it is possible to go between the cars into the pit, but you'd normally have to be doing something quite silly to manage it!

When even the concept / promotion artwork doesn't make something look good you know in real life it really is going to be crap. So we've gone from those wonderful majestic drop surrounds, to a bare trough off of a warehouse roof through a small splash through tiger head at the bottom. Progress!

Don't know if too late, but I basically never get sick on rides. - I do sometimes get a bit of a light headed feeling which will occasionally last a couple of minutes after the ride. I once went through the mcbr on Goliath at 6FMM without it slowing and properly greyed out on the Felix if forever which follows, but I find that a wonderful feeling. - I've only once felt sick after a ride, and that was after Swarm photoshoot meet, where we all rode well into double figures in the freezing cold and rain. Was OK at the time, but once I was driving home I felt pretty ill and as if I had a bad hangover the next day. Maybe that shows everyone will have their level of tolerance their body will let itself be put through before it gives out some signs to stop!

I've not been frightnights this year, but it is startling how negative the comments on Facebook are, mostly about general operations, queue management and ride availability. I know people sometimes like a moan, but the negativity is so consistent there must be something to it. Has it been that bad this year? I should be going to services day after season officially ends, usually a much calmer way of experiencing frightnights...

I assume it's because, very sadly, SW8 doesn't look particularly interesting. The overhead pic from Tattem (?) airfield yesterday showed just how inconsequential the whole thing is.

Just had a promotion board at work, a competency based interview. Ballsed it right up, it was a proper car crash. My mind just went blank, there was nothing coming out. What really frustrates me is I already do the job, and have done for a couple of years very successfully, but that counts for nothing unless you can sit there and sell yourself. Madness. The worst bit is I just want to go out and get pissed now to drown my sorrows, but can't because I'm on an early tomorrow. Harumph.