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Probably the most grim thing you'll read for a while... http://m.timesofindia.com/city/bhopal/Minor-girl-tears-scalp-in-a-freak-Ferris-wheel-accident/articleshow/39277478.cms I'm sure I remember a similar thing happening to a girl with freakishly long hair at either Thorpe or Chessington once, would have been 20 or 25 years ago. Might have been on Flying Fish but I can't remember. Anyone recall that?

Yeah, that's not what we're laughing at. It's the feet stomping response of Alvey that is funny. He's the one who has just used a picture of his crying daughter to publicly rant at a park, rather than visit guest services like everyone else nit in his position would. One presumes he would rather the staff menber knowingly put his daughter in danger by letting her ride when they suspect she is not tall enough? Nice.

So this wooden steel coaster is now open. But the biggest news of the day from the park is they've made Alveys daughter cry. This will, of course, not affect his or TPR's impartial views of Goliath...

They've described it as a 'theme park', that term pretty much universally means a place with rides including coasters. It'd be pretty hard to imagine them building this place without any!

This had gone waaay of topic, I've split off all the Paramount chat to the Paramount topic. As for next year, if there was anything either big(ish) or permanent on the way surely we'd have seen planning in by now?

Ah, you prefer it lighter then. The new set up certainly does make it darker, I think that's a good thing though!

Was once at Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach... Ride car... There's a vertical lift hill up the middle of that, the car was so claustrophobic and would smash you against the roof and sides with every movement. Every yelp of Robb here is entirely justified...

Just from the initial report I don't think so. They are the closest cables to riders, but they don't move. It states the cable that came into contact with them had 'slipped', suggesting it is a moving part (that go over those big guide wheels I guess), I just can't see how the cable right up there can reach riders without breaking, but I'm only guessing. (the dark grey wheels bellow the big red circles I mean, the cable goes round these from the drive to the ride) Anyone know where that cable would end up if it slipped

Screaming swing cable slip injures two. Can't rhink how that can happen without a cable breaking? http://www.cleveland.com/travel/index.ssf/2014/07/two_injured_in_ride_accident_a.html

Seems to do a fair bit of meandering, as do many wingriders, and if the theming is accurate in the vid it has nearly none of the near misses wingriders are so good at, but looks decent enough. B&M launch - about time!

I went on it the day after it originally opened and even all those years ago they made me and my mate sit opposites as we were the only ones. We are both quite fat though.

They sure do. Because bending is better than snapping, which is the alternative. Every big metal thing does this; coasters, rides, plane wings, etc etc etc

True!

It is true that Merlin cover so many basis it does afford them a level of protection if they get challenged in one area, but do they really believe that what they offer now would stand up against a real quality park without them needing to make massive changes? Deluded! If someone comes along and builds an actual resort Merlins 'resorts' would look rather weak.

I can't tell what you are saying here? General consensus seems to be -it is better when it's a bit darker -it is a bit darker in there this year the Did you prefer it last year because you like it lighter, or did you find it darker last year? Just curious since, as has been said, I've only heard good things about the changes.

I'd rarely/never visit AT more than once a year if that, I reride tonnes of stuff. Trust me ... I am normal. It will undoubtedly keep peeps happy they get to ERT Smiler, but it won't have any noticeable effect on queues later in the day, the queue will always find its natural limit people are prepared to wait, be that first ride or reride.

That's a very good point. The trio of X-Sector non kiddie rides sounds insufficient for everyone that isn't a small child, has Cbeebies really altered the attending demographic so much that it is the right ratio? Overall it's very good to have the busiest rides included though, how it should always be. Add Spinball and Hex (maybe at the expense of a couple of cbeebies bits?) and I think that'd be about right.

Is that paraphrased or an actual quote? If it is, then wow! Setting themselves up for a rather big fall me thinks. It may well have been the case that people have returned regardless of whatever mediocrity they've delivered to them previously, if some actual competition turns up that is sure to change. That attitude explains a lot about how they operate, they deserve to fail.

'bout bloody time! Looks pretty damn impressive, even if I have no idea what it (or anything Potter) is all about.

Summer hols start fairly quietly then steadily build up towards the end, although that theory can be undone by the weather.

Roller Coaster is a wonderful thing, I hope they manage to keep it going for ever. Other than that I can't say I'm GYPB's biggest fan, my memories and affections belong to the tiny but magical Joyland just along the seafront by the pier. SNAILS!

I was thinking the same sort of thing, combined with the seats swinging up (like a childs swing) then falling down when the chain slackens. Whatever the mechanics of it it's not hard to envisage quite a violent result if the ride stops very suddenly, even the seats on a normal chair-o-planes coming to a regular stop all clatter into each other. Elsewhere, a report following a HSE prosecution after a lad was thrown from a brand new Orbiter a couple of years ago. Unusually its the manufacturer and assessors prosecuted rather than the owner and operator. Reading between the lines it seems he simply slid out as the restraint wasn't actually designed to restrain, something of an oversight that!

Hollywood Studios getting all Frozen... Smokelogging aside, the Fireworks look pretty good. The show around it seems pretty poor though, lacks any point or narrative and just looks armature for Disney .

http://bangordailynews.com/2014/07/11/news/nation/tourists-fingertips-severed-on-disney-ride-officials-say/?ref=latest Uk tourist looses a pinkie and other finger tips on Pirates Florida. Listen to those safety announcements!

Root beer is like fizzy germolene. So rank. Loving the food based report!