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Maybe I just ask for something and get it then? I'm not sure. All I know is whenever I ate their last year I got a Nachos meal, and when I ate at Alton Towers' Mexican Cantina by the Flume at Half Term I got a Nachos meal

YOLO. Hopefully this is something really major that signifies prolonged downtime and heavy maintenance of Colossus. I hate Colossus Also, I noticed yesterday that there's now a birds nest in the Cobra roll... One for you to look out for

Sorry Gladiator but I think Benin hit the nail on that one more accurately. Just to add to it though, and I'm sure this has happened to people before; you climb on a ride like Nemesis Inferno, or Dragon's Fury, and they push the bar and it goes one more click (without being forced). It's to ensure you're safety in the long run. A better example would probably be Slammer or Rush, where quite often people struggle to get the bar down as from a seated position it isn't the easiest thing in the world to push down sometimes. The system says the bar is locked, because it's folded over you're waist. But it could still be *shrugs* four, five inches from your waist depending on your build (admittedly, that kind of distance if you're a skinny rake). So on that basis, I think there'd be a lot of deaths on rides like Slammer and Rush without bar checks... Also, bars do sometimes fail, sad but true. And we're not talking to a degree where you're at danger most of the time; but, and I've witnessed, a larger rider on Inferno, the bar broke, yes it has a second piston (or whatever it is called on Inferno) so he was safe but, what if his body pressured the bar to break the other one? Et voila, seatbelt. Some rides obviously don't have them, but have their own measures in place; like AIR with the lock pins on the bars. Again, they don't always click straight away hence the check.

Sorry but, this is now six attractions that open at 11am; regardless of the time of the year. Now, if you're paying to enter; that isn't a great start to your day. It's something I hate parks like Pleasure Beach doing; and Paultons Park on off-peak times; but in a mainstream park, opening six attractions an hour after the park opens regardless of the time of year. Mixed with the fact you're losing out on Submission... I also feel it's quite limiting for those with accessibility issues, such as those in wheelchairs. It's basically limiting what they can easily access within the first hour of the day - and anyone who's tried to take a wheelchair user to Alton Towers will know how difficult it is getting into areas like X Sector, let alone getting up to Forbidden Valley.

Whilst it looks good in photos; personally I think it sticks out a little in reality. It's not made up of pieces of wood mounted up; it's very flat, almost like a sticker. But it's definitely not built up to create the effect. Even the sign on the side is flat to the building. Personally, I don't see what was wrong with using the truck like they did for a short time the other year. Okay, so it's not a walk in shop; but it kept to theme and could easily have been expanded out with maybe a canopy to create an 'open air' shop; and personally, I think it would have looked better than this. Maybe if the building wasn't so flat; or it fitted a bit more with the current Stealth buildings I'd think differently. Unless of course, we'll soon (maybe for 2015) see a 'restyled' Stealth area to create the true 'Amity Speedway' stand alone area that Thorpe are now referring to it as, instead of Amity Cove.

In fairness the guy platforming when I went on wasn't the one shown in pictures on Facebook. However I still find it difficult to believe that the park is encouraging these staff to encourage riders to hold their hands up (pretty sure they're not if I'm honest). Equally, like I said, the platformer was slow when I rode and I stand by that. Trains seemed to roll through incredibly slowly. I visited today in a large group (we spread over three trains in total) and every single one of us seemed to sit at the end while they waited for a train to dispatch at load. Unless of course, theres some new rule where X has to come to a complete standstill before a train can dispatch...

No opening, no signage, no testing, nothing. I cant say I had my hopes up but I had hoped for some kind of life after the park's comment saying "It will be open on Thursday" whereas instead it sat gathering dust again in the corner.

One thing I noticed today was the old bag room has a sign up still saying "Bag Collection" - was quite funny seeing my friend stand there with a wristband to hand going "Where've the staff gone?" completely clueless to where she handed her bag in I too, know the staff member you're referring to JoshC but unfortunately can't say I praise him on the basis he was actively encouraging people to throw their hands up in the air and 'rave'. Harmless fun I know, but it only takes one person to claim they have whiplash and mention it and BAM, the park has no leg to stand on. All up for having energy but not in ways that could cause trouble later on like he was presenting today. He was also awfully too prioritised on 'faff and interaction' over actually checking bars and sending trains. #BitchyMoan

Fajitas Meal or Nacho's Meal... the option I was referring to is there? I think what people don't realise is it has a similar set up to a Subway. You order a base product, so either a Fajita or a Nachos; and then choose your main topping and side toppings. The menu doesn't really give depth to what is actually offered...

Witnessed it doing overspeed tests; along with other tests for about an hour, then they parked it and walked away without the ride opening. Seemed to be ready to go though.

I can second, a chip was present. Nothing gets at me anymore though; like I've told you; I've had a kid climb off Inferno and vomit on me before

Whilst I appreciate your point I think there could be ways around it. I personally have never left my wallet in a bag room or cupboard at a theme park, and I personally would consider it a minority that do. Also considering the 'Buy now, collect later' maybe there's an option to do this with the shop, where you can pick it up later in the day and pay for it later in the day. Regardless; if it was made into a shop I think it would do a fair trade; and if the merchandise was added into either Dome or even Megastore, it could be a good forced-showcase of stock?

Not meant personally Matt; but I don't understand why people are complaining about Mexican Cantina's offering now; it hasn't changed. And Towers and LegoLand has an identical menu for theirs (I can't comment on Chessington as I've never seen it open). I'm personally a big fan of Cantina; I think it's something different and I'm glad to see it has had an extension as it did used to get busy at peak times. And I can't say I have any issue with the menu, I love Beef Nachos with cheese on

Pluk just really hit it on the head. It's always been a rule; primarily due to wear-and-tear of seatbelts being flung around on rides, but more so the seatbelt is a indication to an on-looker that the seat has been checked by an attendant.

Would you consider it more reflective of Woodcutters at Alton Towers now then? They never had a "Two meals for £" deal, but had a more varied menu? I have to admit most dishes in 360 used to be around £7-£8 anyway, which isn't too bad considering the quality of the food in reflection to Burger King and KFC. But Pizza Hut will always hold the cards for me... even if it has gone up 25p this year

I brought this up with Marc the other day; I think with time they'll sort it out. Agreed about the hole in the wall of the old bag room, but that entire counter at the exit for the old bag room could use sorting out. Maybe a new ORP opportunity or dare I say a shop? With Ministry of Sound now a high presence in the park, they could perhaps make it a tasteful shop selling some MoS CD's and some X merchandise, seeing as the 'family' approach is the way they want to go, they could use some more family merchandise such as kids t-shirts and stuff...

I just want to highlight, I didn't know this topic existed and Marc moved it here. Hence why my post sounds really uneducated (it was pretty uneducated).

I saw.

Just seen this video on the internet, it's a new Intamin 10-loop in Italy, with four notable differences: the whole track is tri-spine, it has a banked turn instead of an 'overbank' style turn towards the end, it has a different first drop; and oh, yeah it has lap bars!

That is what I was referring to, but yes; I still think it was notable of the park to do so, considering they could have quite easily shut at 4pm and gone "Well we put at the entrance 4pm".

They should have kept Storm Surge in Florida where people don't care about sitting in paddling pools fully clothed because its warm...

I'll believe it when I see it. Samurai is one of my favourite flat rides (well, Top Scan's are). And it's no secret it runs slow because it's cracked. So unless they've stuck more polyfiller in it, it's gonna be dismally slow again before long.

On two occasions yesterday my Stealth queue was no more than 15 minutes, nor did it get advertised as 15 minutes, so I'm sorry to say I struggle to know where you got 30 minutes consistently from; maybe you hit it at an unlucky time? Yesterday one Inferno train was making a weird noise, but it seemed to go by the afternoon after it had closed; but then in the afternoon it was running two trains so maybe I hit lucky on the second ride to get the other train. Personally it sounded more like a flat spot on a wheel, where it was clunking as it rolled. Yesterday I rode SAW twice; in the morning I felt the jolt at the bottom of the drop and that was it; and it surprised me because I normally don't notice it. Then in the afternoon I was on car 6, and it made me think "If this is what people feel this is like, all the time, then I understand why they hate it". It truly was two of the rougher and one of the roughest rides I've had on SAW, to a degree that even I didn't want to go again; and it was surprising for the start of the year. The only way I could refer to it was my first ride was (what I call) like riding it at Fright Nights last year, where it's a bit worn out; and the second being on par with Colossus for me.

Whilst I agree with Coaster Jamie about Fastrack making everything seem easier; I did notice how many Merlin Annual Pass holders obtain disability... I don't think I've seen so many people with yellow wristbands before. Also nobody's mentioned this I don't think. Thorpe advertised 4pm at the entrance; then a member of staff on Inferno informed us that some attractions we're going on 'til 5pm (the coasters and a few flats such as Rush) - so Thorpe did extend it on til 5pm after the little slip up.

With regards to signage I can't say I noticed toilet signs or such like; but every major piece of signage such as information boards have opted for the new look, and also now have maps which you can take out of a map holder attached to them (they are also in little holders on the bridge now). The only old signage I saw yesterday was the Nations Thrill Capital wall/sign by the toilets at the entrance. Everything else seemed to have changed. Anybody noticed how some of the photo's have changed too? I know for a fact that Stealth's got a new overlay which looks really nice; and SAW is advertising ride video again although this is still missing. Probably worth noting Picsolve have opted for a less generic Thorpe advertising, and have adverts solely for each ride now.