pluk

Unless there is something about the track they want to hide for now. Like that third rail

Although what is there is done rather well, I think the water park is a massive missed opportunity for two reasons:- It just isn't big enough and does not have enough to do. It is not worthy of being a destination in itself and not worth missing the theme park for a day to visit (especially considering the price of the hotel for a night, it's not worth adding a further day to your trip for it either). - It is (generally and in my experience) only open when the theme park is. People would pay to go in the evening if it was open but it's not, so they can't. This is dumb.Those slightly more 'mature' members like myself from the South of England might remember an amazing water park near the Dartford river crossing called Fantaseas. It had rapids rides, a launch tower of about 10 flumes, lazy river, wave pool, multiple outdoor pools and loads of other little bits. People came from miles around and it was always insanely busy (unfortunately they built it on a disused rubbish dump, burnt the rubbish away from underneath and it fell down. Idiots). It is the sort of thing that would fit so well into Alton as it is squarely aimed at the thrills and family market. Imagine a flume based on every major Alton ride, could be epic.It feels to me like it was built as an add on perk for the hotel guests to get for free (in fact I think it might have been) which they've now decided to charge for and market as a theme park in the water, which it really is not. I would love to see it really heavily redeveloped as part of the inevitable third hotel plans into some sort of cross between Centre Parcs and Fantaseas, Alton would then really be a multi day stay destination in my eyes.

That really does look awful, what on earth are they trying to achieve with that train design?

I remember the giraffe house, which was in the hole currently occupied by the rattlesnake. This worked well as the viewing area was at the giraffes head height but I don't think it was really a big enough area for the animals.I love giraffes, they need to return. I'm sure they could live happily with the zebras wandering around Wagamamas.

The Swarm. I approve, it sounds kind of theatrical which I hope is how they are thinking in terms of theming\story\putting on a show - instead of dumping the hardware down and surrounding it with cattlepens in no sort of context.With the promo film being so full of explosions, fire and missiles I better be seeing some on ride pyroticnics when it's done. Excited.

I've not seen any, I think they do these deals at the end of the season when interest will be dropping off as the parks close. As ap day was months ago, and there is not anther one until next year, I really don't know what you are asking?

Weird but strangely beautiful pictures of the leftovers of the washed away 6 flags park..... http://www.lovethesepics.com/2011/05/creepy-crusty-crumbling-illegal-tour-of-abandoned-six-flags-new-orleans-75-pics/Did anyone go while it was open? Mega Zeph looks like it could have been fun.Strange how they seem to have managed to achieve the look Thorpe have been going for without even trying.

To be fair it's a long time since I've visited during the school holidays, so what are the average summer weekday queue lengths Astro?

Don't think this has been mentioned elsewhere.....skip to 6.50 for the good stuff making of... Wow. All this for what is just a small part of one attraction (and we get time voyagers!).

Surely the pathway the other side of depth charge will be made available too?

I wouldn't even dream of going this time of year.First weekday of Halloween will be my next visit; late opening, quiet park. Heaven.

Double post anarchyThis was announced todayhttp://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2011/07/29/sky-bbc-share-uk-f1-coverage-2012/I'm F****ng livid. Why can't Murdoch/Sky just do one and stop trying to take over the world and make it worse and worse as they go.

Yes, I think this sums it up.-Thorpe is for thrillseekers with not enough for children/families-Chessington is for children/families with not enough for thrillseekers And with that strategy they are never going to appeal to a wide enough audience to beat-Alton Towers which is for families but has enough to keep both children and thrillseekers more than happy.Unless the others change their direction and actively try to appeal to a wider market Alton Towers will always be no.1 (within Merlin anyway).

I love dodgems rides. I don't understand why they are not installed more frequently in themeparks, it's one of the few rides that are not essentially a swing, a spin or a set track. And wherever they are they always attract a big crowd.Shame these ones are quite slow though, damn target audience.

I didn't even know it was based on a book series! They weren't around when I was a kid, all my school books seemed to have been written a hundred years before by a man who wanted to put me in a coma. I've missed out there. Things seem to have moved on, these look great!

I remember a Noels House Party / My Blooby attraction at Pleasurewood Hills. A semi interactive show film shown in a castle.It was AWFUL!!!

The worlds 3rd 4d coaster, going up in China.http://vhcoasters.com/2011/07/25/vertical-construction-of-new-4d-coaster-continues/the lucky buggers.

Comparing such different offerings is going to be really hard, it's like me choosing between a week on my skis and a week on the beach - they are both holidays but but so different it's pretty much impossible to decide what I enjoy more.The overcrowding problem has very rarely affected me - I do not go when I expect it to be busy. Simple. I guess I'm lucky not to be tied to weekends and school holidays like a lot of people; I will now not be going anywhere near a themepark until September. But going on a summer Saturday and your asking for problems tbh.Overall I probably favour Alton, I find it more of an experience and a lot more of a relaxing place to be with a greater variety of ride styles. In general I find I get loads done at Alton, usually start at Oblivion and by lunch (13.30ish) I'll have done everything on that side of the park and forbidden valley too. Lunch at Katanga, the more relaxing rides in that area down to mutiny after lunch then back to whichever side of the park I feel like doing again. I'm not rushing about either. At Thorpe I'm usually a lot more aimless because everything is so close so I will flit about avoiding any waits and probably end up covering more ground than a day at Alton.Where I do occasionally have to queue I find them less arduous at Alton than Thorpe, just because it's a nicer place to be with generally nicer people and also because on quite days Thorpes attractions seem to be having a 'how low can we get the throughput down to?' competition between themselves whereas Alton make an effort no matter how busy it is.

Me too. I like the idea of pop/chart music in the carpark/entrance area, then a change across the bridge into the proper park music - like your leaving reality and into fantasy world and staying there all day.I've not heard the in park adverts though. If they are cutting across the ride music that's really bad. If they can afford/be bothered to make them 'themed' into where they are playing it's not to bad, but just blasting out generic ones would sound awful.

It may be a kids program, but horrible histories is flipping brilliant. I am a grown man watching CBBC!

and a rita one too

To be fair I fastforward the ads 90% of the time and I've still managed to see the tv one a few times. Slots are quite specificity chosen for target audience I guess, think it's been on during Chris Moyles Quiz Night a few times. I don't listen to commercial radio though, don't know if they are even running a campaign on there or not.

Hex behind the scenes..... Geek porn!

I don't know about that model, but when I plug my camera in to the computer to transfer the pics it charges the battery in the camera. Slowly, but it does do it. If you've still got the usb wire that might work?

Listen to that safety announcement ..... "Guests must have...... at least two functioning legs..... in order to ride"Clears up any confusion for all those three legged park visitors we're always seeing. Stupid Americans.