Han30

Hmm so does this mean that Samurai will open soon? Well - Slammer last a month and hopefully it will be back soon.....fingers crossed

I generally feel that left side of The Swarm is gentler - my first ride on it I sat front row, on the left (on the inner seat) - if you want force, go for the back. The restraints are so comfy you may fall asleep on the lift hill . I've sat front row on both left and right sides - prefer the right but as a starter I would go for the left purely because of the first drop As for Colossus the 2 things that bothered me when I first saw it (even though I had followed the construction online) were the vertical loop and the inline twists/heartline twists. I was going to ask if there are any inversions that particularly cause anxiety? - for me it was verticaly loops which is odd as they are one of my favourite inversions now. The inline twists on Colossus are actually pretty fun and I think look worse than they are - I always find it quite relaxing to shove my arms up and let them dangle whilst going through the twists.

You okay Matt? Don't be hard on yourself - everyone has a past or things they have done which they regret (heck I feel I'm the expert on that some times with some of the situations I've got myself into) but you have to remember what is done is done - you can't rewrite your past, but move on and learn from it. We all make mistakes, do things we later regret, say things we shouldn't etc - it's what makes us human. Chin up Creek!

That video is brilliant I used to love watching Spitting Image back in the day - the John Major was probably my favourite

You are braver than me - I just can't bring myself to do Detty anymore. Will happily do things like Magma at Paultons or small drop rides but Detonator is just evil! You would be absolutely fine on Oblivion - if you can handle and enjoy drop rides, Blivvy is a piece of cake! That's a good idea actually - this might sound odd but I think once you get into the station, if you leave you are in a way re-enforcing your fear by saying to yourself that the ride (in this instance) IS to be feared. Example of this - years ago I was queuing for Vampire ride - just about to get on and I had a huge panic attack (I'd only ridden it a couple of times before and was not into coasters at all back then) - went to the exit and felt worse. Another example (I'm rambling - apologies! - if I am out and get anxious, the very worse thing I can do is to turn back and go straight home because it is again conformation that there is something to be feared. Usually I work through it but sometimes anxiety gets the best of me - anxiety when it comes to rides (whether it be the height/speed/inversions, whatever really) is kind of expected especially if you are going on something for the first time - hence why having some support is always good. After my first ever ride on Stealth I vowed never again (have since ridden it loads though) - I was bricking it because of the height but it was the actual launch that scared the bejezus out of me. I'm completely fine going on it now - the only time I get a tinge of anxiety is my first ride after closed season because you kind of forget how intense it is

I shouldn't laugh as death isn't funny but I said yesterday "my money's on Bruce Forsyth going next"

That is fab! I'm still trying to locate a Dragon River keyring I once had - I love all the old stuff

I guess if they have to inspect it then fair enough - but can they not hurry up?! The last ride I had on it last year was dire and I'm beginning to forget what a (semi) decent cycle is like

Did my first fright nights in 2013 and was bricking it - had only previously done a naff scare maze so didn't know what to expect and had to take a shed load of anti anxiety medication. I think I over thought things and actually ended up having a laugh - yeah you get jump scares and actors will target you if you look scared so I generally just laugh and they leave you alone. Most of the time they just grunt in your face If you go to Towers you should really try to give Nemesis a go - it's an amazing coaster and the past few times I have been there has been no queue - my first ever ride on it I sat in the front which I would recommend as they are the best seats (unless you want a more forceful ride then sit right at the back) - it looks a lot more intense than it is. Have you ridden Oblivion? On my first trip to Towers back in 2013 I was fine queuing for other coasters.....then cried whilst on Oblivion (before the drop - I used to have a fear of falling) - was really dreading Oblivion but ended up loving it - and as I said before, if you have the nerves the do Detonator and Stealth I think you would cope fine with inversions

Oh Christ on a bike - that looks awful! Could they not have at the very least painted the fence grey to at least try to fit in with Wild Asia.

Ah I was looking for that vid a few weeks ago - made me laugh "well that was a bit timid.....arrrrrgh"

I left school back in 1996 and my secondary school pretty much only cared about the students who were going to do well. There was a huge difference between how myself and my younger sister were treated (I am not academical at all - she is the complete opposite) - if I was off school they couldn't have given 2 hoots, yet if my younger sister had one day off they were all concerned about her. One of my teachers was a blatant bully - unfortunately it was my favourite subject aswell (French) - I was the only student in the class who wasn't a prefect so I stood out like a sore thumb as the uniforms were different. I was also the class thicko - despite being really interested in French when I was younger and getting books out from the local library - in lesson I had no confidence at all. Said teacher in not so many words called me an imbecile and there were other incidents where she would single me out for not being a great student. She told my in the run up to our GCSEs that I should just do the basic exams and not even try with the higher ones and that I would "probably scrape a D grade. Because of her teaching methods, I spent most of my French lessons in the sick bay doing a great act of pretending that I was ill so that I didn't have to see the horrible teacher. But because of what she said about me scraping a D it made me determined to do better - it was the only exam I revised for because I was so intent on proving her wrong and because I love the subject. In the exam after the basic exams were done and I "should" have left she said there staring at me, presumably wondering why I hadn't left the exam - it got worse as we got on to the last exam but I didn't let it bother me - the exam was quite difficult and most of my class had left after the intermediate exam so I think she was puzzled. I ended up getting a B grade which I was really pleased with. On the flip side, when I went to college I took a few GCSEs in one of the years I was there - I was told I could easily get an A or A* and I felt so pressured that I dropped 2 of the subjects but I did end up getting 2 B grades. My niece started secondary school last September (my old school ugh) - and at the age of 12 has been told what grades she is on track to get for GCSE - I think that is flippin' ridiculous - she is in year 7! We never even thought about our GCSEs until the end of year 9 when we had to pick which subjects we wanted to take. So much pressure these days

I would say that Th13teen is probably in my top three coasters at Towers (along with Nemesis and Oblivion). Such a fab ride and I can see why it often gets queues - luckily got to go on it twice when we went. Just love people's reactions!

I had the funniest ride on Th13teen on Saturday - there was a group of people sat behind us and as we were approaching the indoor bit the girl behind me says "what, I came on this ride just for THAT" - I was sat there laughing as she clearly didn't know what was coming.....she literally screamed from the drop until we stopped. She then starts laughing manically so I turned around and asked her if she was ok and her reply was "s**t the bed I wasn't expecting that" I love Th13teen and thinks it is a great example of how coasters don't have to have inversions to be good. I knew what to expect when I first went on it but kind of gutted I ruined he surprise by watching a clip on youtube - though having said that, I may have had a heart attack

Oh Lord - Klondike - possibly the most painful ride I have ever been on (I believe they've got rid of it now). That was my second coaster with an inversion (after space mountain at DLP). Totally agree about the flat ride inversions - I always find flat rides scarier than coasters. I usually have a mini panic attack prior to riding Rush and Samurai (when its open) Ah Rameses - never forget the year it opened and waiting for about 2 hours for my sister and her friend to go on it, thinking she was insane! Now the tables have turned a little and she watches me on rides and thinks I'm mental. I find with the flats - especially Slammer, they look a lot worse that they actually are once you are riding them. With the exception of Detonator which looks quite short and tame - until you get on it.....

Agree with all you said here - anti sickness tablets are amazing and really good if you are worried about barfing on rides - they work wonders I would also agree with starting on Inferno - that was the first one that I did. The last of the coasters I did was Saw and I was absolutely bricking it because of the main drop - I have a fear of falling although that's kind of better now. Pretty much all the coasters look a heck of a lot more intimidating than they actually are once you are on them - have you watched any POVs of rides? It can give you some idea of what to expect but obviously being on a ride is totally different. Going upside down was one of my anxieties - I can't even put my finger on it - I just thought I would hate it but you don't actually notice a great deal as it is over so quick. One thing I would say would be to try and go on a quiet day if you can - when I did the coasters for the first time it was a quiet day with no queues and I think, had I been stuck waiting in a queue I would have panicked and possibly bailed out. If you walk straight up to the ride and get on it's a bit easier I think. Last year I took my niece (now 12 years old) to Thorpe for the first time - she had previously only done one coaster that went upside down and that was a smalll one. Over the course of only 2 visits she had done all of the coasters - first visit she couldn't face Colossus or Saw but did the others. We started her off on Inferno and she got straight on and was nervous but ok. Got to the Swarm and she burst into tears and said she wasn't ready but I told her to go take a seat (on the ride ) and I got a member of staff to reassure her and she loved it and wanted to go straight back on. We had tears at Saw aswell but it turned out to be her favourite ride and she's ridden it over 40 times since. She went on The Smiler for the first time on Saturday and she was a wee bit nervous about the amount of inversions but again was fine. I know what helped her when she first went on the rides at Thorpe was having me talk her through the ride - yes it is a bit odd but her first go on each ride I was shouting at when the "upside down" bits were coming (that was her idea ) I think its just a reassurance thing really and the whole anxiety before hand - once you've done it you will probably wonder why you delayed it - I wish I had gone on the big coasters a looong time ago but, better late than never! -So yeah - anti sickness tabs if you are concerned about motion sickness -Start off on Inferno - then maybe do Swarm, then Colossus then Saw -Try to go on a quiet day and with a group of friends who you feel comfortable around -Sit towards the front of the train as it is slightly less forceful that right at the back - also don't close your eyes as its good to see where you are going -Sit with your head resting against the back of your seat and just go with the flow of the ride -Speak to staff if you feel anxious - I did the first time I went on zodiac as I was worried about the spinning action and they are generally really good at putting you at ease -If you start feeling anxious once the ride has started, take deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth - at the very worse if you hate whatever ride you are on they don't last long and you'll be back in the station in no time. Oh also if you are scared, screaming can really help take your mind off of it (plus its kinda therapeutic!) -Bachs Rescue Remedy is really good for anxiety - its herbal and you can get it from Boots or Holland & Barrett - tastes minging but it does help to calm nerves - many people use it before taking exams etc and it's helped me in the past with my anxiety -The thought of the inversions is a lot worse than the reality of it - like many phobias And lastly - if you can do Stealth and you like drop rides then I'm fairly certain you will enjoy the coasters that go upside down! I really hope that you are able to overcome your fear of inversions - would love to know how you get on

Went on Galactica on Saturday - was actually crying (slightly) whilst queuing because my fear of outer space is pretty bad putting it mildly (had to take a valium as I was borderline panicking) - the only reason I went on was because I was with my niece and she loved Air. I also really liked Air and was really miffed when I heard of the transformation to Galactica - but hey ho We went on it first thing - good really as the queue time shot up to 90mins at one point during the day I believe. Despite being the first ride and not a huge queue it seemed to take f-o-r-e-v-e-r to get on. I spoke to the ride batcher and asked if you have to wear the goggles and he told me to speak to the ride host - she sort of gave the impression that they prefer you to wear it but you don't have to - so I put the damn goggles on ready to soil my pants.....but actually I really enjoyed it (despite screaming initially ). The first part of the ride is really good - mainly because you can't see the manky tunnel just out of the station(!!) It is odd because you can't tell whereabouts on the ride you are and it does feel like it is over and done with really quick. I don't envy the ride hosts with all the work they have to do wiping the goggles down, putting them in the pouches only to take them back out when the next lot of riders board the coaster - seems like a heck of a lot of effort for a ride which, IMO was pretty good before (ok there was zero theming on Air but they could have maybe popped a couple of near misses near the track a la The Swarm). So yeah - it's good - not amazing but its a little different. I can imagine it could induce motion sickness on some people - I felt a tad queasy at one point and I take anti-sickness medication. Not sure if I would rush to go on it again - I would do it again if there was little/no queue but it sort of feels like once you've done the VR bit once you're not really going to gain much by retrying it. The music though

I'll drop a longer reply later as I can barely type at the moment but I know how you feel regarding inversions - I was 18 before I did my first proper rollecoaster (and that was only vampire at Chessie). First upside down coaster was Space Mountain at DLP at the age of almost 20 - then at 32 I did all the coasters at Thorpe which isnt bad considering I used to be a complete and utter wuss. Find someone you can go with who likes riding coasters - that's a big help as they will probably make you feel more at ease (it was actually this site and my first theme park meet I went on that got me into riding big coasters) For me personally it was a combination of fear of heights, fear of having a panic attack and the main one = fear of vomiting (over other riders). After my first go on Stealth I was shaking and vowed to never ride it again but 3 years on and I've ridden it loads. I take motion sickness tablets which work wonders for the fear of vomiting on other people. As for the fear of heights, you don't really notice - I can't do the London Eye after my first and only ride on it back in 2006 when I had a massive panic attack due to the height of it. But with coasters they are so quick you hardly realise and its over so quickly. My first big coasters I was with people (from this site) who helped me massively and understood my anxieties and I know I've held peoples hands on rides before if I've been scared. But once you've done it a couple of times you won't even question the fear. I remember when I used to look at Colossus and particularly the vertical loop and think "sod that" but I love it now

haha it's not like I go round the indoor queue line licking the entire walls - that would be pretty nasty (though it could do with a clean in there) I once put my finger on what can only be described as....snot..... on Inferno when pulling down my harness - I very nearly Sod the rides, it's all about the pandas! but seriously that is bad, operation wise. I've had a gander on their FB page and it would appear that if you are having a *** time at Chessie you have to queue for about 2 years to make a complaint at guest services.

This is spot on I used a pretty accurate ride times thing last year but I don't know if it is still around - will have to take a look

You call it crappy - I seriously almost chundered on it once - not because it is intense but I had just had a particularly spinny ride on Fury - I think I would have died of embarrassment had I blown chunks. Thankfully I have discovered the wonders of motion sickness drugs now. Also - someone taking a wee.....in a station? Um that is grim. I've needed a pee in a queue line before but never thought "ooh I'll go here" - yes I know it's easier for males and more discreet but heck I think I'd rather wet myself. Pretty sure if you get caught urinating in a public place it is an offence? Chessie sounds pretty bad at the moment and I'm in no particular rush to visit. Such a shame as it used to be a great park in the 90s.

Whilst there are people out there who will inevitably abuse the system, I do think that everyone should have the opportunity to experience rides (obviously taking into consideration the restrictions - I'm not saying a heavily pregnant woman should go on Colossus etc). I do agree about short queues however - rides which have a 20 minute or less queue should be do-able although it obviously depends on the individual and what their limitations are. Back to park operations - after my visit last week, I felt a bit meh about the whole place, but yesterday felt better (apart from the weather). It was still relatively busy but staff just seemed more efficient and quicker. The staff working in the retail outlets were really friendly and helpful - especially the lady in the Saw store - I'm pretty sure she worked in the Swarm shop last year and she is really lovely. Also the queue boards were working! - well, the one by Inferno was and the queue times listed were pretty accurate and updated regularly. I really don't understand why TP don't have an app where you can check queue times, like they do with the other parks - would be kinda handy rather than having to hoof it to a queue time board - yeah I know the park isn't big but when you've been walking all day and feel like your feet are going to drop off it would help

Non coaster related. I used to have a thing for Alan Sugar and George Bush.....and Jeremy Kyle. Pretty sure there are even worse ones which I've forgotten but yeah, thankfully it was a phase. I'm cured now...I think

Oi ya nicked my photo lol - I do have another one with a dude hanging off the side of the plastic covering but it looked a bit odd! I saw movement around the area so went into Bush BBQ to have a snoop but only saw this thing and not a lot else - was hoping for a juicy exclusive, but they are keeping things very well covered over there. I've not really been following this thread - am excited for the new ride but don't want to hype myself up too much, plus keeping up with loads of posts is hard for a dense person such as myself. I popped into the Ghost Train shop yesterday and wow - it is amazing! Saw some pretty cool merch which I resisted buying - those levitating ghost trains look awesome, I could stand and watch them all day (yes I am easily pleased).The theming in the shop is fantastic and I love the rotating wall - I really hope that the ride is a success for the park. Ok it isn't a coaster but TP are in need of a decent dark ride and hopefully this will deliver. As for the preview - pretty sure I read that annual pass holders can book a slot to try out the ride on the 4th (in the afternoon) - not sure how non pass holders will feel seeing other guests being allowed to go on the ride - could imagine it could cause a bit of mayhem as it is restricted to AP holders. Hopefully they will stick to allowing pass holders to preview the ride and not do a u-turn on it

Gone back to Swarm and it's only running for test purposes - did manage an amazing ride on Quantum 20 mins ago. Rock on!