pluk

If it didn't really hinder the actual queue then they didn't sell any! Fastrack does hinder the actual queue by exactly as many people that buy the tickets. I hate that we (ie the public) go along with this crap and let them get away with it. It's disgusting and there should be outrage!

Well if it is full of water dummies there's nowhere to sit. So I think 'no' would be a good guess!

The cost of flinging people through the air with your Vortex... $150,000,000

Technical Park Vortex

It seems Paramount isn't the only new park heading our way http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/11121960.__100m_historical_leisure_park_with_stunning_nightshow_planned_for_Auckland_Castle/?ref=var_0 OK, it's not in the same sort of scale, but it does sound interesting. Especially the show aspect. Anyone been to Puy du Fou?

Really, is that what needed the work? Reallocate the funds? 1) A park open all year has no choice, Chessington do. 2) haha. I guess that is a joke? That thing is sso decrepit it has needed one for years, like so much else at Chessington.

Press release. Quite a few things planed then!

Apologize? Oakwood in America now is it?

Personally (although it would be interesting to know) from a customer point of view I don't care why they've not built the proper hotel. The fact is they haven't. By that I mean it seems to be a fan site member trait to have a distinction between Thorpe and Merlin, like we should forgive Thorpe certain things because it is out of their control and Merlins fault. That's madness, they are one company and the same thing. I don't buy this 'testing the water' line either. Merlin run three other uk theme parks on a similar scale each with its own hotel that has been successful and required expansion. They know people want to stay at theme parks. For the first year or two id have agreed it might be just to get some rooms open while they got building, but now this is different. It's like they've realised that this is all they have to bother doing to take the money. It's just about good enough, not to worry if it's anything like as good as it could be.

Sorry Daniel, but that is just not true. They have full planning permission for the proper hotel and have had for a number of years, but Thorpe chose to do this instead.

From the second part of the amazing video ElectricBill found yesterday on 5th Dimension, this is best ever footage I've seen of the old finale lighting show. For those who never had the chance to ride it then, watch its awesomeness and see why the current one is so hated by me and others. How on earth do they make things so much worse during 'improvements'? http://youtu.be/po5ZFHDvdUk?t=15m49s

Just wow, so many memories. Thanks so much for finding and sharing ElectricBill.

Quite stunning. I have no idea, does it actually cost a lot to have the misters running properly, or is it just poor maintenance / something they can't be fussed with that causes it to be so frequently off or weak?

From the ones being used this seems to be actual junk, not just made to look like it! Green credentials and looks good.

I got my money back on a spectacular 5th place. Oh well, next year.

That Billy puppet pretty much sums up the ride for me. It's embarrassingly bad. The crossbow thing is done really poorly too, that something being fired across you trick has been done so much better elsewhere. I do enjoy the indoor section a lot though, shame there's not more of it.

I've got an inkling for The Rainbow Hunter. So it'll probably get shot then.

Who's your money on? Heard any tips? I'm still not decided...

Amazingly, they don't seem to have got to the bottom of the Cedar Point Rapids incident last summer. Some other details here I didn't hear at the time, it went back 187 feet and with enough force to damage the concrete trough. Amazing no one was hurt really. and also shows the importance of well maintained fully working anti roll back systems. http://www.sanduskyregister.com/article/cedar-point/5473601

While all these things are true, they are static costs. They do not increases with each purchase (internet costs might in a tiny way) so it all comes down to the actual numbers. I'd wager if it was a £1 digital download they'd sell a lot lot lot more than 10 times what they do now. Without the printing ink and paper costs that'd all be profit. On top of that the waves and waves of inevitable facebook posts of the pics would effectively be a tonne of free advertising. Win win win!

I'll add to mine 3) The moment, while watching the end of season laser and firework show at Chessington, when they announced as part of the show that Terror Tomb was replacing the Fifth Dimension next season and it dawned on me I had just been on my absolute favorite ride at the time ever for the very last time. A little bit of the 13 year old me died inside. To save ma having to think about the horror of it again it is on this old trip report.

?? Never heard anyone say that. It is fairly obvious the rear seat will be pulled over the top of the top hat by the train accelerating downwards. The airtime hill is a bit different though as the brakes engage before the back rows are fully over, but that braking itself does push you out of your seat a bit as well. The actual front is great for the view, but apart from that I prefer the back.

1) Parc Asterix existing. 2) Thorpe 2006, first week or so of the season (possibly even Stealth opening day, can't quite remember) about 80% of the park closed from about 11.00hrs because of a power cut in a massive never ending storm. They gave us all free return tickets on exit though, unheard of in those days when park tickets weren't thrown around like confetti.

Wow, looks like it really flies over them!

I'm sure it is very functional compared with what went before (I only ever saw it as a building site) which I'm sure is the main thing they were trying to achieve, but I plain don't like it as a theme park entrance. Unsurprisingly it has turned out a lot like the plans, which I thought looked like a shopping center and not really in keeping with the rest of the park or its surroundings. Hardly a gateway to a magical world, is it?