Dodge2002

Visual and Audio are the updates said to be coming, don't hold out for a full blown refurb....

Easter is REALLY early this year, its probably just because they want it on a certain time of the month. Gives people an incentive to come after the holidays draw to a close too I guess...

Can we just get a time machine and skip to the day when the real hotel opens please?

My friend dropped his keys on Stealth and we were stood around for about 30 minutes in the stealth plaza while they looked for them, where the entire end of day theme played out around 3 times. This was back in September, so I can say for certain the whole tune definitely plays. To be honest it turns in to a pretty weird track after the first 2 parts, I don't understand how or what period in time it ever would have fitted in with Thorpe's general ambiance...

I really don't think Thorpe's Ops team wanted these crappy snoozeboxes. Merlin were obviously reluctant to invest, and this is the only way they would be able to secure an investment, by providing solid occupancy rates. Think of it from Thorpe's perspective. They just spent £20m on a coaster which had minimal success, they then have to ask Merlin for another £20m or whatever for a hotel, which they have no statistics to back up its potential success. Merlin settle on a trial with a Snooze box agreement and give them £3-4m to spend on installation and running costs . Do you really think Thorpe would then ask for ANOTHER £5m to install a topspin or whatever and expect an investment? Unfortunately it is clear now, no Merlin park will ever be given a "Refurb" investment unless its a whole zone including a new ride. Merlin just aren't interested in that type of investment.

I know we all hate the crash pad and everything, but that IS this years main investment. THE SWARM facing backwards, and XNWO are just a bonus. The changes audio and visual wise to NWO will be minimal too, since the main new feature will be the train running forward.

I'm not saying I disagree, and I do agree their maintenance is poor compared to other parks, indicating its definitely down to their own routines rather than manufacturers faults. But compared the Alton Towers, instead of making operational cutbacks to spare any losses, Thorpe have invested even more money on extra theming and additional events. I hate to say but I think the route cause probably lies with Merlin. They'll most certainly be the ones who decide ticket prices, and maintenance budgets. Not to mention Alton Towers Operations team is somewhere around 5x the size of Thorpe's, I'm not saying they should be the same size as obviously AT is much bigger, but they definitely shouldn't get priority treatment just because they're No. 1 by default. I just genuinely think the operations team at Thorpe do care about the state of the park and image, but are heavily moderated by Merlin's watchful eye, and sometimes are forced into making decisions that don't always sit right. Then when you look at AT, and their Ops team I think the Fanta branding on Oblivion says it all really...

I don't really think it'll be an announcement to be honest, which is probably for the best as the planned improvements wont live up to what we're expecting, other than the cars will be going forwards and the height restriction reduced, the other changes wont be earth shattering. Of course, nothing would live up to some peoples expectations...

To be fair to Thorpe, their visitor numbers fell around 15% last year AFTER putting in a new ride. A ride that succeeded Storm Surge no less. I would be milking this shiny new toy as much as possible too if it were myself, and I do feel sorry for Thorpe in a way, since they did very little wrong with THE SWARM. I know the back row thing is gimmicky, but its either that or them doing a Saw again and randomly advertising it as "Scarier than ever!" without actually making any changes...

I wonder what the new soundtrack will be this year. I really don't think it'll have anything to do with Ministry of Sound, when they lower the height restriction then it'll become more of a step up coaster, which wouldn't appeal to the younger audience.

I was just having a peruse at job listings for Thorpe and ran across this interest piece Its for the job of Entertainments technician and in the job listing it says Looks like there will be more entertainment than just the bar opening late!

I still don't see the fascination with Fried Chicken Co. they're such bad value for money. At KFC you can get a Fillet burger, chips. drink and piece of chicken for the same price as just a burger, tiny portion of chips and small drink. You can't just flaunt the Annual Pass discount as justification because in reality, only a minority of people have one...

Gotta love how it says it *May* be used on the billboard...

ERT was available for Online bookings too at the Towers last year.

I wouldn't be surprised if it did go on until 10.30pm, simply because it would increase the hotel occupancy around Fright Nights.

You're not being paranoid by the way, the ingredients are actually different. No other dine in Pizza Hut actually sells Medium Pan/Italian, and that's all the buffet consists of. The Regular/Large pizzas you get in the other stores are made differently.

I think its the sign that tells you to remain seated at all times.

Do you think they'll bother getting picsolve in to install some more cameras? If not, I don't think a photo of the back of your head is really gonna fly off the shelves...

The thing is, I don't think "Tuesday Trivia" was ever a thing the Thorpe facebook page actually did. Seems like a weird subject to start it off with.

They do it on purpose to tease us, I swear!

AT have a limited collection of onlne merch, but its pretty rubbish unfortunately and doesn't include any clothing. I don't think Thorpe even have an online store. You could maybe try emailing guest services during feb halft term at AT? Might strike it lucky, after all its money in their pockets...

I would say probably 2/3 peak time visits last year, the dome's fast track kiosk was closed most of the day. I don't see why they need to add more kiosks, all they really need to do is update their systems and make it possible to buy tickets either A) from a machine/smartphone, or Increase the amount of already present retail stands to supply them.

I was just thinking, you don't suppose this "New Near Miss" is just going to be the fire effect, but actually working at full capacity for once? Sounds like the Merlin way of doing things to me...

I'm completely indifferent to it all at this stage. But if this is a master troll attempt aimed at people like us, that would be absolutely hilarious

If there were any actors involved in this years attractions they would've had to have advertised for the job by now...which they haven't