pluk

Do they update the selection of music throughout the season with new current tracks, or has it remained the same? Just curious.

I really really think we can stop saying 'omg Slammer has broke forever' every time it is down for 20 minutes, or even a day or two. It's beyond tedious.

I think I understand, I'll give it a go!

Thorpe Park should get a Top Spin like Chessington

An interacting family coaster and rapids combo on one site would solve many problems. Chessington needs some investment on that sort of scale, rather than the tinkering and half arsed efforts of recent years.

You'll have to check the terms and conditions on the ticket/deal to be certain, but a Bank Holiday is NOT considered to be a 'special event' if that is the only exclusion given.

It's not necessarily the ratios that need to change, just the accuracy of the queue times. As long as the displayed times are accurate people can make an informed choice on whether to join a queue or not, at a certain point most will decide it's not worth while and get an r&r or go elsewhere instead; the system is then self regulating and will work just fine. I don't know why Thorpe have always struggled to get an accurate queue time displayed, it's been quite a big problem for the last few years in my experience. For r&r to work it's one of the things simply have to get right.

Just keep your hands on the shoulders of the person in front of you, stops you accidently punching an actor if that's what you're worried about. A mate of mine got so scared in Saw Alive once he bit me on the shoulder, so it's not without its dangers!

Exactly. But if a park were operating like that you'd hope it was as a display of reassurance for the benefit of riders, not because it was required for actual safety - the underlying hardware should be safe without the bravado. Almost seems they are a bit scared of it being open, even with whatever it is they've put in place to stop it doing its extreme indefinite hangtime trick occasionally.

Nope.

Yes, the actors still touch you up a bit. Which is nice.

Well, that in itself is quite a major problem! As much as I love it, Slammer makes me a little uneasy nowadays. I get a vibe from the way it is run that Thorpe themselves are not at all confident in the contraption. It seems they are deliberately delaying between dispatches, they check everything before dispatch to a degree you don't normally see, and no operating ride should be having to close half way through every day for a scheduled check up. I'm not for a second suggesting they would operate an unsafe ride, but that they feel the need to treat it with such caution is ... odd. I can't think of another ride treated in a similar way.

First half looks spectacular, hope it keeps up enough momentum after the turnaround to stay nice and punchy till the end.

1 - Stealth. Never ever ever gets boring. 2 - Inferno. Keeps on improving with age. 3 - Swarm. Forwards only! Can only imagine how good those rear seats could be now. 4 - Slammer. Such an experience, when it's open. 5 - Colossus. Great ride let down by seating and restraints. 6 - Tidal Wave. Such a spectacle to watch and fun to ride. 7 - Detonator. Great punchy drop. 8 - X. Better than it has any right to be, immensely reridable. 9 - Dodgems. Much fun. 10 - Loggers. In such a sorry state, but still a decent flume. Would want to include Quantum, Samurai and Vortex, but they are all well beyond knackered to be of any use. I'm always surprised by the amount of rush love there is around, it's alright, but doesn't really do it for me.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-28871327 Train derails at Longleat. Oh dear.

Couple of good one liners... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-28838287 this years winner...

Wow! (ts facebook) If they don't add an extension of some sort this year they're mad! Need to spread those kids around.

Yeah, a one eyed bloke threatened to 'stab me up' each time I passed them on the switchback of the cattle-pen on Smiler last year after I stopped his (adult) daughters push by me like they just had a few hundred other people. I'm used to and mostly enjoy a bit of confrontation, but it's not for everyone or advisable! I wish the parks would strictly enforce these rules, just having a word or sending them to the back of the queue is not enough of a deterrent. It wouldn't take that many being thrown out before wotd got around that it's not worth even trying.

http://www.thelocal.de/20140815/child-dies-on-amusement-park-ride Strangely very little info on this barrel ride accident at Holiday Park Germany, but 'paramedics found the girl's body to be so badly mangled that they could only tell that the victim had died and was female'. Not clear if she was riding and was either ejected or her carriage broke free, or if she entered the ride area from off ride. Edit, google translated.. So sounds like she ended up in the ride area when she shouldn't have been somehow, rather than being an actual rider at the time.

For anyone interested in such things Walkers grab bags are currently carrying half price vouchers, which are much better than the bogofs that are everywhere in case you end up with an odd number.

BBC don't put ANY money, in fact they take it out with Alton to buying the rights from them. Anyway, I think you are mistaking next years Cbeebies expectations with the SW8 discussion here. I don't think there's any suggestion that SW8 will be Ceebies based, or for a number of years. If the last couple of efforts are anything to go by I doubt Alton themselves have the slightest clue what SW8 will be yet, so we'd have trouble guessing!

Nice little story from AI's facebook... Adventure Island 9 hrs · News Flash!! Drowning Naked Lady Saved @ Southends Three shells Beach This afternoon on the busy Three shells Beach a young women in distress was spotted by members of the public in the sea, 100 yards from the shore, in deep water. A member of the Adventure island security team nearby became aware of the developing danger, at risk to himself he entered the water and swimming against the tide,within minutes had reached her.Having taken control he brought her safely back to the Three Shells Beach where there was a spontaneous outburst of appreciation by other members of the public for the heroic actions of the Adventure Island security officer, the young women's family were on the beach and were very grateful for the safe return of their family member. The security guard said, "I was glad that I was in the right place at the right time and could use my skills picked up as a member of Southend lifeboat team to save the life of this young lady" LikeLike · · Share · 4886033

Just realised from looking through the website that Wisdome made Altons old Gravitron ride, which was an amazing contraption so all is forgiven for this monstrosity.

I've heard of them, can't think why though. I suspect from previous accidents!

I don't know the area, but looking on Google maps Lego is pretty screwed with its location looking at the surroundings and junctions. What it could realistically do to alleviate pressure on the surrounding road system without physically removing the traffic to different times of the day.