pluk

They have competition in the theme park industry, we have Merlin.

Boris reaction to badly judged German wave,

Exactly Benin. The big high g manoeuvres simply do not suit the flyer design, Air has it just about perfect. Fly to lie I find quite a powerful manoeuvre, the whole on your back section I find pleasingly intense, any more would be unpleasant. And this from someone who can't get enough of 6fmm's Goliath. There is of course the much berated tunnel, but for me the lowlight is the tin roof flypast. Lack of theming aside though I think the ride is solid and deserves nearly none of its criticism. The concept itself seems to be one which enthusiasts don't much care for, which is a shame.

From the 'best B+M' thread.... Just a sample, but it is pretty consistently down the bottom. Why does it get such a lack of love from the enthusiast community but is so consistently popular with the public? Are enthusiasts still that upset about the tunnel that we can't appreciate the solid ride going through it, or do you think the actual ride is not a very good one?

Back left outside for me, getting pulled under on the first drop is the weirdest sensation, and the station roll through feels a lot more intense to me on that side too. You can't go too far wrong, but the further from the centre the better it seems,

Absolutely!! The return of a wooden inversion has been an obvious outstanding worlds only (or first successful!) for so long, shame a UK park wasn't up to the challenge of snatching it away first.

Usually in the second half of the season they do a token collect for two free tickets (not bogof, actually free) with allocated dates. Not seen any sign of it yet, but I think they wait until after the summer holidays to avoid discouraging people from actually paying. Maybe they won't do it this year if they think The Swarm will keep em coming right through the season, but Alton did their free Sun tickets at the start of this year so it is still on the Merlin marketing list. Fingers crossed!

Please no. The sheer length of it is one of the things that makes this my favourite maze in the UK, especially the never ending strobes.

Flat bottom = not a climbing frame = no fence 'Real' bottom = just like a climbing frame = fence required This is the better of the two evils I'd say. Who knows what the underside of an ambulance looks like anyway?!

I visited in early September and also found a deserted park. The only queue was for X2 as it spent most of the day broken (still a common occurrence I understand). My highlights along with X2 were Salvation (amazing woodie) and Goliath (for the crazy never ending greyout inducing end). It is also home of the worlds first ever looping coaster which is nice one to have under your belt. Also loved Ninja, as I can't get enough of the inexplicably rare suspended coasters I wasn't so much of a fan of Tatsu though, it is big and impressive but just does not ride that well. Superman also does not live up to its size with a lacklustre launch. It is a great place to go though, along with Knotts Berry Farm, as long as you are after big thrills rather than escapism.

1 Nemesis - Well duh, it's Nemesis =2 Swarm - I probably prefer Air as an actual ride (layout) and flying possition, I think it is perfection of the type =2 Air - It's just a shame about its setting, the Swarms themeing and interaction push it ahead as an experience =2 Oblivion - Is so different to the others it is incomparable, but the drop is one hell of a drop and with the original tension building q line vids such a complete package 5) Inferno - Dull, poor, waste of opportunity (when compared to the rides here - still superior to plenty of others)

Pretty poor doesn't quite cover it really. How can anyone that works there have any respect for the management or any of the decisions they make or orders they give. It is pathetic.

Haha, I didn't even notice that. WTF is it doing there? Odd place to stop!

Pot luck unless you - ask for cycle 6. You may receive. - manage to hit the actual last ride of the day, they usually stick it on a better cycle then. Vid 1 is older than vid 2, you can tell by the lack of trees. Look at the difference in speed! I don't know if that is more to do with the cycle or to do with the ride slowly dying. That second video is one of a truly pathetic ride that shouldn't be bothered with.

That line sums it up for me. Every time it hits the breakrun I just think 'oh, here already', like not that much has just happened. It is hard to explain because when you look at what it does it should be good, but it just isn't. It doesn't have a feeling or pace or flow or something, I can't quite put my finger on it. And the speed it hits that breakrun is just a huge waste of potential energy, it could do so much more. It is probably the weakest B+M invert I have ridden, although that is like saying it is the least delicious Krispe Kreme I've eaten. It still is a good ride. Colossus on the other hand feels like it throws everything it possibly could at you, fulfilling its potential. And I find it neither rough or uncomfortable, even if the restraints and legroom are a little tight. I love it.

A colleague of mine has been shot by Peter Reeve. It seems he could be anywhere by now. Find this man, do not approach him. Dial 999. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-18778574

Has rep of 209. I could not have told you that yesterday!

Hopefully they paint magic dust to stop it self destructing.

Fugi-Q also have a launched Eurofighter, think there's a few others too. What I would consider a first would be a vertical launch (Wicked is not a vertical launch, no matter what anyone says), were SW7 to have one. I also think launching upwards would be a unique and exciting sensation and not just a gimmick for the sake of it, and would also be very marketable sitting next to oblivions 'vertical' drop. Taking the up and over peak of the vertical hill at some (obviously not loads) of speed, rather than just flopping over it like usual, would also be an experience like no other. Having said all that, I doubt a vertical launch is happening as it would be damn hard to get right, it looks like the shallow lift is a launch (would they really have two?) and would cost a bomb to power.

Corrected!!

Unless it was inside a big existing building, like a cinema. Then we would see nothing in plan form.

Both of those, especially Butlins, are really very small. Not worth visiting unless you happen to be there already really. Altons water park I've always thought was a massive wasted opportunity, they could have done anything they liked with it and all they did was that. Designed as a free add on to a hotel stay, now used as a paid 'destination', which it really does not warrant. At least Centre Parcs have started to do a bit of development. The new Elveden slide has now been unveiled and looks pretty good. Videos: http://www.centerparcs.co.uk/discover/news/newsplash.jsp?uri=/discover/news/index.jsp You know the name of the German park? I may be passing through Deutschland later this year!

They may not plan to permanently close it, does not mean they won't have to though. Depends what those engineers find.

http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/07/06/worker-fatally-struck-by-ride-at-montreals-la-ronde-amusement-park/ Park worker v's B+M train. B+M wins.

Really wish I could have made this my second meet, sounds like a great day. Well Jel. No way in this world I could have made it 11 on the trot though, I was sent round three times in about 2008 and that nearly killed me!!