Han30

I'm gonna hold my hands in the air and admit I am basic because - I love The Swarm Like some others I have only ridden the 5 B&M coasters in the UK and I love them all (least fave is Nemesis Inferno because I can't breath on it!) For many years now I've wanted to ride The Hulk and Manta - maybe one day. Mark9 - I'm extremely jealous of your B&M ride count - my face was like this just reading it >>>>> :o Everyone here is entitled to their opinion on what they like and don't like - I love Saw, its my fave coaster at Thorpe but I know others can't stand it - it doesn't make anyone "right". Someone might prefer Flying Fish to all the big coasters but it doesn't mean that they are wrong - its just an opinion. Opinions aren't fact - everyone has an opinion on things which is great because the world would be extremely dull if everyone was the same. I'm not sure calling people basic is the best idea but hey - I can cope with being basic

Happy Birthday Paige and SYNAW

Would many people genuinely miss it at this time of year? I mean, its a nice ride - when it is baking hot but in this weather it is an invitation to get a lovely cold/flu/hypothermia

Has there actually been any access to the Lorikeets at all this season? I love going to see them and buying that nectar stuff - I usually go round several times. As for Rattlesnake - I remember riding it on the year that it opened and it felt quite new - although even back then a bit whiplashy (is that even a word?!) Great to hear it has reopened - always a fun ride, sometimes painful on those turns!

Really saddened to read about Ashok I don't know the lifespan of lions in captivity but he will be missed regardless. There is a lot of debate on the CWOA facebook page about animals in captivity - not sure how I feel about it. I know the zoo keepers will be devastated as they must build up a rapport with the animals they look after. I remember on one visit, Ashok was pacing up and down and looked pretty depressed - made me feel quite sad. Another time I was stood near to the enclosure and it was either him or his female companion who has also passed away but whichever one it was roared - I've never moved so quick in my life! RIP Ashok x

That did make me laugh I've always said I wouldn't fancy going on anything that goes upside down without an OTSR - however I would make an exception for Colossus purely for the head banging I incurred the last time I rode it

I've never bothered doing Charlie and the chocolate factory - take it I've not missed anything massively exciting?! Yup I bet the wasps love those refill cups - eww I just hate wasps so much Throw it away? - I would be throwing it at the wasps like a grenade! And ewww the lake - :excl: :unsure:

Wait, what? Someones spit hit your face?! What were queues like? Sounds like you had a good day - and I agree about Woodcutters - love it in there. Ugh wasps - think I burnt off about 1000 calories running away from the stripey sods (and I never run!) Just realised I didn't do a trip report from my visit to Towers a couple of weeks ago - was a last minute thing but went up with my sister, both of our partners and my 11 year old niece. Couldn't believe how quiet it was in comparison to last year - I really hope things pick up for Towers next season (if not before). Although upside to it being quiet was hardly any queues so managed - Rita x 2 Th13teen x 3 Nemesis x 2 Air x 3 Ripsaw x 1 Runaway Train x 1 Rapids x 1 The Flume x 1 Spinball x 1 (the only ride I screamed on) Hex x 1 Duel x 1 - Still prefer Nemesis to Inferno - Ripsaw was on a decent setting for a change - managed to get several flips - whenever Ive been on it before it seems to just swing! - Smiler made me feel sad - it looked so lonely sat there with its screen switched off - also the track looks filthy and finally Skyride is the most terrifying ride at Towers

That video is fab! I remember going back in 2002 and not riding Colossus (yeah, was a wimp back then despite being nearly 22) - my sister actually took a camcorder with her and we filmed some stuff but its probably busy gathering dust in some random place never to be seen again. That show in the arena looked pretty cool - I remember a show they did years ago (around 1995ish) - I'm fairly sure that a guy would climb up the top of the stairs then set himself on fire before jumping into the water - if I am completely wrong forgive me - I often dream things and convince myself they are real

Well I have an electric guitar, an acoustic guitar, an irish tin whistle, a large recorder, 2 chinese bamboo flutes, an electric violin and a keyboard - can I play them? Not really (although I can belt out a mean tune through my nostril on the irish tin whistle!) Would love to be able to play piano - I can just about do the Eastenders theme tune

Cats! I was always more of a dog person until I got my cat from a kitten 5 years ago - we were so close and he always knew when I was upset or feeling low and would lay on my purring loudly. He died last year following a cat fight and I still to this day get upset about it - he was only 4 A few weeks ago I decided to do cat fostering - for a few reasons - I've wanted to do some form of voluntary work for a while and because my anxiety is up and down this seemed like the perfect thing, plus it will help me to guage whether I am ready to have another cat. Saying that though, the 2 cats that I am looking after are adorable - they are so affectionate and the younger of the 2 (they are both females - aged 10 and 5) reminds me so much of my cat in many ways - they look nothing alike but have similar characteristics. Only downside to fostering is having to give them up when a home comes up - I'm actually dreading it - I've got so attached to the fur balls that I know I will be upset. I have been told that I will probably want to keep them (think it is normal when you foster) - but the problem with that is that I would like to help as many cats as I can and if I keep the 2 I am looking after then I won't be able to foster any more. I'm a bit torn about it. Makes me so angry because if it wasn't for Cats Protection, the 2 cats would very likely be dead - the owner dumped them off at a local vet and said she didn't want them anymore and was fine if they were put to sleep - makes my blood boil! Totally agree that pets are like family - I have full on conversations with the cats.....although I'm not sure if that is normal

I saw the third Human Centipede and thought the acting was so dire it was funny! Weirdly I find the first one to be the worse (I was so close to boffing whilst watching it) even though the second 2 are actually more gory. Added bonus to 3rd one - human caterpillar Went to see Sinister 2 the other week - nearly pooped myself - that thing just creeps me out - I swear if anyone is dressed as it on Fright Nights I will hide in the toilets and never come out

I was definitely interested in rides/theme park industry before I went on scary rides (weird I know). First theme park visits were TP and CWOA in the very early 90s but I was a massive wimp back them - actually I was 18 before I went on the Vampire I guess what really got me interested would be when I was doing my advanced GNVQ in IT back in 1998 - 2000. We were doing a module about sensors and all that jazz and got to go to Disneyland Paris to learn more (well, we could have learnt all we needed to know without visiting but I'm not complaining). Found it really interesting learning about how sensors are used on rides and DLP was where I first went upside down, back in 2000, at the age of nearly 20 . Revisited TP back in 2013 after being away from the place since the arrival of Colossus in 2002 (I didn't ride it despite following the construction of it closely - doh!) Finally lost all my wimpiness that year and yeah, I'm waffling

Well, the mist lasted long eh?! I went to 9 Summer Nights with my niece and each one we rode Inferno and it was only on the last one where the mist was working - it is just so much better with it Hope it get all misty again soon

Hmmm yeah I wasn't massively excited about it when I heard what the new attraction for this year was. Didn't bother going on it on my first couple of visits to Thorpe this year. Have only actually done it once because a) I didn't find it that exciting- also it was so dark in there I managed to split up from the group and then graze my leg a couple of times to the point where it bled plus - the bleeding wait times for it aren't justified in my opinion - I would rather spend that time queuing for a coaster. As for the guy walking round with a cockroach- that might have been the same geezer I saw stood outside IAC with a huge cockroach - which I stroked- yumnmnnmny

Oh fab - I'm definitely going to be face-planting quite a few mirrors Those things seriously disorientate me plus I am clumsy and have slight problem with spatial awareness #dammit

What the heck is going on with Chessie?! 2 hour queue for Bubbleworks jeez! Just had a gander on their FB page where there are some seriously unhappy people - someone claiming they spent almost 4 hours queuing for Vampire(?!!!) then went to guest services which had an hour queue! I do have a soft spot for CWOA but they really need to up their game - of course a decent amount of investment would help that - I think going by complaints I have read, they have potentially lost a lot of loyal and regular visitors - such a shame for a park that really shone in the 90's.

I queued 45mins for Flying Jumbos with my niece when she was a lot younger (she is 11 now) and she was happy to wait. I myself was bored as heck so insisted we play eye spy! It is madness the queue times at CWOA - I've only been once this year on a midweek day in April time where the place was dead. No queues for anything. Only downside was not being able to go on Rameses - every time we walked past it, it was just sat there looking lonely and at one point they just sent it on a cycle empty, probably in an attempt to entice people

that made me laff! Happy Birthday Ryan - hope you had a great day. While I'm here - happy birthday Styles aka Darce - have a good one!

To be fair it IS peak season so queues are expected - but the issues obviously gets worse with rides out of action - with 6 rides unavailable for example, that will have a hefty impact on the queues for other rides. But yes, people do moan and then do return. If I was cheesed off with a place and had an awful time I might say something but I certain wouldn't revisit multiple times. I may have dreamt it but I thought I read a complaint on FB from a woman saying her kids queues 2 hours to go on Monkey Swinger which broke down when they got to the front. TWO hours for Monkey Swinger?! Not saying she was lying but can the queue line even hold that many people to make it a 2 hour wait?!

It really is a shame that Chessington is having so many problems at the moment regarding ride availability - I've been looking at their FB page and the number of complaints about closed rides is quite alarming. My sister went yesterday to renew her family pass and for the 4-5 hours they were there, my niece got on 2 rides. Apparently they queued well over an hour for Dragons Fury and wait for it - 35mins for Griffins Galleon!!! Looking on their queue times on the CWOA website today and yesterday - Vampire queues at 2 hours?!! And Sea Storm at 35mins. As much as I have fond memories of Chessington, I have no urge to visit again soon. They could really do with a massive injection of investment to improve the place. I really hope it will be great again in the future because it really was fantastic in the 90's. They obviously can't compete with TP in terms of thrill rides or high rides but that isn't the be all and end all of a theme park - Chessie has always had a nice atmosphere but I suspect that with all the ridiculous queues and ride down times recently, many guests probably won't be too happy - and to be fair, if I paid gate price to get in to find 6 rides not working, I would be slightly gutted to say the least

Oh God that made me laugh! Do agree with the water thing - I usually drink coffee when I'm at parks because of the caffeine but have recently been drinking more water which definitely makes a difference. I've got to the point where I always take headache tablets with me just in case. I am a smoker which I know won't help with the breathlessness issue plus I have asthma as well - quitting is in the horizon Interesting how the g forces affect the body - as for the Swarm - I prefer the left hand side but tend to these days sit on the right as it is the side my niece prefers. I've had one or two occasions where I've felt a wee bit faint. Usually the breathlessness on Inferno is gone by the time it hits the break run but maybe one day I will come off of it panting like a horse!

Meant to add in my other post - does anyone ever get breathless on roller coasters? Might sound bizarre but it affects me mostly on Inferno and on the rare occasion The Swarm. It is definitely not an anxiety breathless thing - more similar to asthma (which I do have). I don't know if it is to do with the G Forces or what but there are certain parts of Inferno where I hold my breath. This has only been recent thing so not sure if it is normal? I love coasters and rides but after visiting parks it takes me at least a day to recover - that could be my age and the fact that I am unfit but I do wonder if G forces can be bad for your health? That might sound like a really stupid question but biology isn't my strongest point

Er, I would change mine to either Han35 or Han1980 Chose my username as my name is Hannah and I was 30 when I joined the forums. Not got this username on any other forums so I sometimes get confused (easily done)

The potential is there - it just seems that lack of advertisement and a relatively small gig area (plus a few naff acts in my opinions but then I'm not young!). Shame they don't have a bigger area, like the arena but then I wonder if they would shift more tickets than they have already. Will be interesting to see if they bring back Island Beats next year. It's a good way of getting people into the park - maybe people who go only to see a certain act and then try out the rides and decide to revisit just for the park. I dunno - just thinking out loud here