pluk

There are a few of us in that rather depressing club!

The map does make it clear there is no sponsorship of the ride, MoS or otherwise. Which probably does not bode well for the amount of money spent on it.

But the problems you talk of Ian are ones of poor maintenance in the first place! It doesn't have to be like that - it can easily be an enclosed drop into something that isn't rotting. Considering it should be pitch black in there you can spray it with whatever you want to waterproof it. I don't doubt that as a structure it was finished and would had to have been removed to the extent it has been before replacing. The cost of building it again would have been insignificant in comparison to much of the other work that has been completed around the park (including painting a big building that doesn't even have anything inside it and messing about with what was already their newest and best ride). Remember, that tunnel was built by the original Thorpe with no practically no money at all because they realised that providing an experience and something a little different was worthwhile. Now the might of multi-billion pound Merlin can't be bothered. Admittedly I haven't seen it in person, but from the photos what they have done looks bizarre - the old entrance leading to nothing, an open lift and drop then into a hole in the ground with really obvious signs around you that there was a building there before. It would never have been designed like that and that is obvious to GP and geeks alike. It annoys me to say the GP don't care about the rides like we do. We are the GP, we just analyse things a bit more than the average guest - that doesn't mean we don't enjoy it just the same and for the same reasons. Money may be spent where it will bring the guests in, but that should include simply giving a good day in pleasant surroundings, not only on something big and shiny to put on the poster. People do notice this stuff.

The free mobile version works fine for me. I like it as long as I'm not trying to attach photos / videos or do mod stuff, then I can just flick to full version for a bit. No need to pay!

With the signage still in place it looks like a fastrack booth for depth charge. Which could work - jump on a boat at the bottom and get towed up while all the plebs clime the stairs!

Don't get too excited. I think it is much more likely that something they are waiting for hasn't turned up, not that they are still working on it.

Looks flat, out of place, unexciting, uninviting. Inside looks a bit garish. Such a shame when they could have done anything they wanted.

If that's what they plan what have they been doing for the last four months?!

What the hell is that figure in the distance?! Looks like a mummy roaming through?

From the live feed.. [pic not allowed - see here] Lookin' good like a pile of ugly crap.

Dislike. Thorpe suck so badly with some of their decisions. The only reason for this is they can't be bothered or don't want to spend the really small amount of money or effort required. At a time when they've thrown so much of both unnecessarily at The Swarm. Idiots.

Yes, but it should have less people in it as a % will join the backwards queue instead. The ride should have the same overall throughput, depends how popular the back row is - could be a huge queue for that and a relativly short one for forwards until everyone gets the novelty out of their system.

What I want? Wood, and lots of it. A new incarnation of the old cross valley plans, if at all possible, would be ideal giving them a nice marketable biggest drop in the world. I don't know what I think of these hybrids yet, not actually a wooden coaster at all in my eyes. If they turn out well then they could be worth a shot but I'd say they are more suited to Thorpe. What do I think we'll get? Revisiting the not ready B+M prototype is the obvious thought, which was probably a 4d development of the wingrider and probably for air carpark. I would be quite excited by this to say the least. If that is what it is would B+M be willing to hold onto the design for Alton for all those years though, considering they must have been close to realisation this time round? A huge indoor attraction along the lines of TAAO Spiderman would also be most welcome, but is probably too expensive still. That technology should come into reach at some point though.

Really like Shirt and Tie, didn't even realise it was him for a while. But the new one is dull, sounds like a music by numbers from his last outing. I'm not sure it even has a melody, if it has it hasn't managed to find its way in to my head yet and I've heard it a ton of times.

Excellent. What have they done with the queue line? Look like that is going to work?

Seriously? That version isn't more enjoyable for anyone. I was a child of Professor Burp, and it was enchanting and fun and exciting. Kids come off it now bored. There was nothing in the old one beyond cartoon stuff, that even the smallest child could possibly have found unnerving. A big glowing ball with teeth but a happy face gently rocking towards you is understood as not a real threat by even the youngest children.

I'm coming from Essex, anyone between there and Thorpe roughly along a13 / m25 who would like a lift a lift drop me a pm.

I've knot heard enough about it yet. Loggers tunnel going is poor. It is an actual ride experience change, and a change for the worse in quite a major way in my opinion.

Really interesting bit on 'The Planners', BBC2 right now - Chester zoo going through planning to try and get an expansion and ride approved.

Don't think anyone here has ridden, it may well be so. From POV's I doubt it but unless you've done both it's hard to say it is wrong. Wild Eagle though? Surely not!

Like I said, because that is what works for those parks. Whether it be contract or customer differences, they will have done it for a reason, and that reason ultimately is to make money. If you want a different burger bar 360, the BBQ and KFC all do other burgers. If you want something other than burgers there is huge choice on the park really.

Why the rage at Burger King? It's not like there's not plenty of other choices on ark if that's not what you fancy. They must be remaining because either they are under contract (which would cost Thorpe money to get out of) or because it works for them (makes Thorpe money). All about the Benjamins.

Well I don't understand this at all then. It's almost as if we've been lied to?! As much as I like reading these polls, they are utter nonsense. As TPR seem to hold so much sway and they have a vendetta against European rides the whole thing is skewed. One of the most complete coasters I've ridden is Big Thunder Mountain at DLPR (not in the top 100 and next to Dragons Fury(!)) and Oz'Iris is stunningly good (entering at a lowly 34), they are both patently better than a lot of the stuff above them. Goudurix coming plum last as the worst coaster in the world though? That I can agree with whole heartedly.

I'm not so sure I can agree with that. They always had the family in mind, in that they had something for everyone - the thrill along with the child and family attractions. There was a short time when they went through a period adding attractions predominantly for thrill seekers (Rameses, Samurai, Rattlesnake maybe), but it seemed to me that that was to get it from a childrens park to a family park. Always had a big zoo emphasis, originally had the circus with kiddie attractions, always had central area around toadies and carousel just for the young ones and none of this was removed to make way for the thrills. Original backbone of park after the fist few years development were runaway train, dragon river, 5th dimension, Bubbleworks and Vampire, none of which would be considered anything above family attractions even if they are at the thrilling end of that. As for Drayton, I wouldn't know how that developed as I first went about 8 years ago. What is comparable there to Chessington though is nothing has happened since then to attract me back. I'm sure what they've done is very good for who it is aimed at, but it's not for me. About time they added something thrilling for the big kids if you ask me. Like a woodie!