pluk

I've heard it's going to be called Crocodile Rock instead as that doesn't break any trademarks.
 
Laaaaaaa, la la la laaaaaa....

Sadly I ultimately think it's right that an open water system water ride does not have a significant amount of investment to keep it operational. It's not up to current regulations for a new build and I can see a time when they are health and safety'd out of existence.
 
What would be perfect for the park would be a new modern flume alongside and interacting with a family thrill coaster. 

3 Intamin prefabs in 7 posts, I like that!
 
I'm both extremely excited and extremely nervous to test out the Arrow/S&S 4D coasters. Can totally see why you'd pick X2, that sensation sounds incredible and evil at the same time!

Adventure Island
 
Errrr....
 
Billy Butlins Fairground, Bognor. 
 
Oh dear. Next year should be better, daughter is just about the magical 0.9 mark so kiddie credits ahoy.

Adventure Island
 
Errrr....
 
Billy Butlins Fairground, Bognor. 
 
Oh dear. Next year should be better, daughter is just about the magical 0.9 mark so kiddie credits ahoy.

So ugly.

I imagine next year will be a near repeat of this year. 
 
TWD, DBGTROTD, BM all closed.
Capacity issues elsewhere. 
 
If only they had a nice open space like a farm to relax in, a large capacity train ride to take you there, an event space like an arena where people could be spread over a large searing area, or a log flume where each riding group could have their own socially distanced ride vehicle. 

I imagine next year will be a near repeat of this year. 
 
TWD, DBGTROTD, BM all closed.
Capacity issues elsewhere. 
 
If only they had a nice open space like a farm to relax in, a large capacity train ride to take you there, an event space like an arena where people could be spread over a large searing area, or a log flume where each riding group could have their own socially distanced ride vehicle. 

I imagine next year will be a near repeat of this year. 
 
TWD, DBGTROTD, BM all closed.
Capacity issues elsewhere. 
 
If only they had a nice open space like a farm to relax in, a large capacity train ride to take you there, an event space like an arena where people could be spread over a large searing area, or a log flume where each riding group could have their own socially distanced ride vehicle. 

Heh, only just found this topic!
 
Hey, I'm Robert. I have 82 credits with my #1 being Olympia Looping, and my most ridden coaster is Stealth with 24 total rides on it. Throughout my time at parks I've blacked out on a Capriolo, broke down on two rides, waited two hours for a scare maze in pouring rain, chipped my tooth on an inflatable slide, and almost threw up on a Go Gator.
 
Might sound cliche but theme parks are truly one of my favourite things, and they're an absolute blast. I hope I hit 100 credits in the next two years, so I better get going at that

I have to be honest, I strongly disagree with this.
 
The Gruffalo River Ride Adventure is, for the most part, very well done and an improvement on the version of Bubbleworks that immediately preceded it, but only because that had fallen into poor condition.
 
Tiger Rock however, aside from the new show-piece tiger head, which already looks tired and dated, they completely ruined the theming after the first drop and the majority of other features now look out of place or in desperate need of a paint job.  I much preferred Dragon Falls.
 
Walking Dead: The Ride too, ruins the ride in my opinion.  It isn't suited to the hardware at all and it was much more enjoyable and fun to ride as X IMO.
 
Valhalla does not need to become a lifeless bland IP-driven investment, and I thoroughly hope it isn't in any way similar to Gruffalo, Tiger Rock or Walking Dead!

I mean, she wasn't really wearing it properly, so it was bound to fall. But it raises a great point of how many people actually know how to wear one properly, as you say.
 
From what I've seen at parks across Europe, and from people I've spoken to, you can easily wear masks on rides and have them stay in place the entire time. And let's not forget people have done this in Asia before coronavirus anyways.
 
It's not something that any park could really do. To commission such a study would be very expensive. It would be difficult to find people who could do this (ie - are properly qualified to give an opinion and conduct any research) as well as people who would (anyone who could would likely be putting their efforts into something which has wider appeal / more useful to the public).
 
Also, such a study would be insanely difficult. People are less likely to cough or sneeze whilst a roller coaster is in motion, so that means you need to focus on studying people's screams and breathing. It's less known how droplets spread during these situation, as generally speaking there's less droplets and they're less regularly spread out. You then need to take into account the speed of a ride, direction of travel, etc. As these things are ever-changing, it means you have to do millions more calculations compared to, say, how you'd model it for someone riding a bike.
 
As a result, any study that could be conducted would likely just reaffirm the benefits of wearing a mask (in that it would use the same ideas as in any other study of motion, from riding a bike to standing still), and demonstrate how a suitably fitted mask can stay on whilst riding a ride. And why bother with a study to show that?

I imagine next year will be a near repeat of this year. 
 
TWD, DBGTROTD, BM all closed.
Capacity issues elsewhere. 
 
If only they had a nice open space like a farm to relax in, a large capacity train ride to take you there, an event space like an arena where people could be spread over a large searing area, or a log flume where each riding group could have their own socially distanced ride vehicle. 

I imagine next year will be a near repeat of this year. 
 
TWD, DBGTROTD, BM all closed.
Capacity issues elsewhere. 
 
If only they had a nice open space like a farm to relax in, a large capacity train ride to take you there, an event space like an arena where people could be spread over a large searing area, or a log flume where each riding group could have their own socially distanced ride vehicle. 

I imagine next year will be a near repeat of this year. 
 
TWD, DBGTROTD, BM all closed.
Capacity issues elsewhere. 
 
If only they had a nice open space like a farm to relax in, a large capacity train ride to take you there, an event space like an arena where people could be spread over a large searing area, or a log flume where each riding group could have their own socially distanced ride vehicle. 

Yes, wooden coasters need more maintenance. But having to shut the ride down for multiple days multiple times throughout (half of) a season, and then having to spend a significant amount of money on further maintenance over a closed season is nor normal for a wooden coaster.

How potentially Covid-secure is the Black Mirror eXPEriEncE, does anyone know? My guess is "not very".... apologies if this isn't the correct thread for this but maybe discussion and speculation about 2021 season is acceptable! Going to be interesting how that pans out - if they can't open it, will they have a backup plan/something else new for 2021? One would assume not.
 
A lot can happen in 5 months... I do think next Spring/Summer is going to be different - not "normal" by any stretch... I guess the big next step is over-the-counter covid tests - in theory that could open up a lot of things...
 
What fate will DBGTROTD have next year? Am I right in saying that 2021 is the last year that the IP is valid before renewal? 
I would assume XTWDTR will remain shut whilst social distancing is a "thing" because of the fact each car needs to have 4 people.
 
I'm glad I got to visit Thorpe twice and Towers this year, was very much needed for a slice of some semblence of normality after a rollercoaster (LOL!!!) year.
 
And to conclude: I maintain that the loaded fries, hot dog and drink deal at Wilderness Bar & Restaurant is the best value on park. And if you told me at the start of the year that you'd be able to get a pint of Spaten at Thorpe Park, I'd tell ya to get outta Old Town and buy me a VIP Parking space.

Well this thread was a massive waste if time, wasn't it?! 😄😄
 
My plans for 2021
 
- maybe leave the house?

Looking forward to the 5th anniversary of DBGT next year, I'm sure the park has lots of plans in store for this much applauded and loved attraction that is, and forever will be, the future of theme parks ❤️

Meh, don't have a problem with this really. You have to store the boats somewhere, and it's largely impractical to create a workshop big enough for holding all boats of a log flume / rapids (especially when you consider you need room to work on the boats too). It doesn't do them any damage, and they'll be cleaned before opening. This sort of stuff doesn't look good out of context, but for the most part, it's never really seen in context. Rumba Rapids boats have almost always been left on the service during winter, and times when they're awaiting work, so that's not a Merlin thing.
 
Similar with leaving a train on a brake run if there's not enough room for both in the workshop: if work needs to be done to station track, there's not always another option. And again, it doesn't really do any damage.
 
It's the same for lots of theme parks, it's just you don't see it.
 
There's a million and one reasons why it could be the way it is. But the point is, it is the way it is and it looks terrible.
 
Also, don't buy the coronavirus reason. Here is the Gruffalo's board from opening day before the pandemic (ie: when most places were open) 

Source: https://live.themeparkguide.biz/?event=Chessington 2020 Preview Day&_ga=2.174020643.1630671449.1592582375-1327971191.1592582375
 
Sure, they might be getting new restriction boards and there was a delay. But ultimately, it doesn't matter: it still looks terrible. At least this is better in that they didn't cut a hole that's awkwardly too big a la Room on the Broom...
 
We as visitors, and particularly fans, can be forgiving to a degree (in the sense of every company can hit unforeseen snags, and the pandemic could potentially cause issues), but it doesn't mean we can just brush away what is ultimately shoddy-looking work.

Who wants a WORLDWIDE EXCLUSIVE?!
 
Construction went vertical today. Super excitement. 

Double post, but I wanted to rant about these models as I really dislike the showing from Intamin.
I'm gonna give opinions on each model:
 
UltraSplash: If Mack sue, I would not blame them. This is basically just a Powersplash with track that is basically a knock off RMC's single rail track. This model is by far the worst and I hope it flops. If Intamin get a sale for this one, I hope Mack take them to court and then some.
 
Giga Splash: Okay unlike the others its somewhat original. Though Intamin have one of the WORST track records with waters rides like this.
Shoot The Rapids, Perlious Plunge, Pilgrims Plunge (no incidents, but unreliable), Drenched, why should people build a Giga Splash over the more reliable Mack Supersplash? So yeah, a fair model, but I don't see parks being keen to buy (especially Cedar Fair and Six Flags parks).  I think its the best of the bunch though, and it actually brings something to the industry.
 
Vertical LSM Coaster; Nothing too offensive, I do not think they can beat Premier though. Sky Rocket II's have such a good price point and I'm unsure if Intamin can match it. Even if they can, would they be as reliable? I do not think they will be. 
 
Hot Racer: RMC do not do launches yet. Though I see them in the very near future, and this model looks cool, though I do think it will cost more than the RMC equivalent, which will mean it will not be as desirable. Remember RMC do a LOT of things without any sub contractors. Intamin even contracted RMC to build some of their previous rides (El Toro, T Express). Also RMC have a lot more experience with the single-rail track.
 
I really hope Intamin go back to being innovative one day, most of these are following trends instead of starting them. Which is what made Intamin so good imo. 
 
 

True, although I read elsewhere that towers had started advertising for actors which is what made me think of it. I'd expect a similar approach across the estate, but wouldn't be at all surprised if there were no mazes, I suppose any recruitment now is non committal on Merlin's part and can be pulled nearer the time.

It's a HUGE deal in mine. Getting night rides and getting mazes done is already an either/or affair, this just makes it worse. 
 
If they really really must lop an hour off then open an hour later. 

It's a HUGE deal in mine. Getting night rides and getting mazes done is already an either/or affair, this just makes it worse. 
 
If they really really must lop an hour off then open an hour later.