Han30

Gah - If it wasn't for the fact that Crimbo is fast approaching and I haven't even bought anything yet, have a water bill due plus a new nephew due anytime (literally) I would be so up for this. I wanna walk up the Swarm lifthill! Can't grumble though cos I got to walk up Inferno lift hill during the ERT (and that nearly killed me - I am so unfit)!

I literally nearly spat out my coffee when I read that

Whoa I think that pic might have come out a bit large My collection has grown a bit since that was taken Over the years I have amassed - 25+ ORPs (DLP, TP, CWOA, At, Adventure Island & Paultons Park) 7 ORP keyrings 2 x Thorpe Park keyrings Swarm bear keyring Swarm mug Swarm t-shirt Swarm Beaker Swarm mini alarm clock Swarm bag Nemesis Inferno mug Colossus twisted beaker with straw thing attached Thorpe Park pen set TP lighter TP tote bag Oblivion bear keyring Alton towers keyring Smiler tote bag Smiler wristband Hairband thingy from Dual shop CWOA old park & map from 2000 (not really merch but hey ho) Chessie pen set 1 x postcard 1 x keyring from when the logo was different Vampire ornament paperweight thang Sealife stingray keyring 4/5 stingray beanie things Sealife postcards Sealife reusable plastic bag thing Legoland 3D glasses 2 x keyrings 7 x postcards DLP - a keyring (still going strong after nearly 14 yrs) I also have AT, TP, CWOA maps on my walls, as posters.....as you do

Yeah I don't really like the idea of their being tiers amongst the forum tbh - as for contributing, an option for that would be good but I think it should remain anonymous as to who has donated etc - this website doesn't run itself and costs money and us as members benefit from using this site. Not really sure what to suggest regarding getting new members to sign up - for me, I was a lurker for quite a while (just realised that sounds a tad creepy!) but one day decided to take the plunge and sign up. What initially kept me coming back to this site was the chat room - I was too shy to post for quite a while because I didnt and still don't have a massive amount of knowledge of the theme park industry. The chat room was a great way to get to know other members a little better and definitely helped in getting me to my first meet up. I know there are several other members who are wanting to use chat more frequently now that we are in closed season - although I chat to people online away from this site, it is always nice "talking" to like-minded people and having a laugh so I aim to start using chat again very soon - though I may well be sat in chat on my own literally typing to myself Agree with you about the trip reports - I love the storyline idea behind them and they genuinely make me laugh - and it is always nice to look back at photos of fantastic meets Waffle.....over

Just thinking about Time Machine make me feel a little bit - I don't have the strongest of stomachs and the anti-sickness pills that I take just didn't cut it with that ride - I get dizzy quite easily which doesn't help BUT I do think if I didn't have the nausea and dizziness I would have probably loved it. It is pretty unique ride - although a tad difficult to get out of once the cycle has finished as you are almost horizontal. I think the bit that got me was when it starts sort of going backwards - I don't do going backwards extremely well Totally agree that Adventure Island is under rated - it does have a nice selection of rides and caters for all ages. Bit of a bummer that you have to pay extra for the dodgems and go karts but hey ho. Not sure if Over The Hill has had anything done to it over the past couple of years - am I right in thinking that it opened in 2008? I think I liked it so much because to be honest I was expecting a load of c**p - having been on several ghost trains when I was little which were about as scary as a basket of kittens. Went on it 4 times and one time it had quite a queue - favourite part is towards then end when you reach the "exit"

Looks like my younger sister has gone into labour (a day early) so hopefully I will be an Auntie again soon Edit: False alarm dammit - think this one is going to be late! Double edit - all systems go go go

Blimey Alex, you posted an essay there! - Really like your ideas and agree with most of them, just not sure how some of them would be implemented. Regarding the language filter, for me personally I swear like a trouper and don't find foul language generally, however there are some quite young members on the site so it is understandble why it is there - your idea about having the option to see offencive language is a good one. Contributor stuff - I have said before that I would happily pay to be here (yes I did bugger off for a while but needed some space) - the only problem with this is that, again, some of the younger members may not be able to do this. If it was a case of simple bank transfer (I don't have paypal) then I would happily do it (as long as it wasn't a massive amount) - Lets face it, we are members of what I think is one of the best theme park forums on the Internet. Not only that but the perks that are offered to us - this year being The Swarm photoshoot, The Stealth photoshoot, Nemesis Inferno ERT and tour of the MBV maze - when you consider that Thorpe are charging people £50 to do a lift hill walk, those of us that were chosen to walk the Inferno hill were extremely lucky. I appear to be waffling.....I think the trip reports are really good and portray the fun that is always had and hopefully they encourage people to go to meet ups. I like the idea of doing videos but it is something that would take a lot of time - I've recently got into video making but only have basic software (and a naff camera) but would be happy to (attempt) to make a vid or two if people could contribute vid clips/photos. I did a vid waaaay back after the Swarm meet which was my first attempt at vid making and it came out ok(ish) Finally:7-10 hours to sort out trip reports??! Blimey They are very popular though so your hard work doesn't go un-noticed

I visited AI on the last day of the season (wrist bands were half price) - was a lot better than I expected and the staff working there were really friendly. Enjoyed Rage but it isn't a patch on Saw - I quite like the yellow track but the pink(ish) trains mixed with it reminds me of a batternburg cake! They seem to have a lot of spin 'n' spew rides there - the only one I didn't do was Scorpion as it is very similar to Calgary Stampede which was at TP before Samurai and left me feeling really sick. Vortex looks a lot worse than it actually is and Time Machine is the opposite - was stood watching it thinking "yeah that doesn't look too bad" - WRONG! If you have a strong stomach and don't mind looking up at the sky (I HATE looking at the sky - yes, I am odd) then you would enjoy it. I honestly thought I would either faint, vomit, or get catapulted out of the thing - could hardly walk after going on it. Glad that I experienced it but - never again Was really impressed with their ghost train - "Over The Hill" - for a small park it is an excellent ride. I was just expecting a few sheets hanging around with holes poked out for eyes but was so wrong and I actually screamed at one point Dragons Claw I really liked - it looks very much like a mini KMG Afterburner with very similar restraints and I was surprised that it didn't make me feel ill. Went on this twice although second time, the restraints refused to unlock after the ride had ended - there was a kid sat near me panicking but the staff sorted it out really quickly and got an engineer to sort it out within 5 minutes - I think had I been stuck in there for longer I would have started to panic. All in all, really enjoyed Adventure Island - and hope to go back at some point in the future

Forgot about Oblivion - was the only ride I was dreading on my first trip to AT this year - was almost in tears going up the lift hill but loved it and rode it a further 5 times. Rides I have done which I would probably never set foot on again are Detty and Time Machine (Adventure Island)

I actually enjoyed Ice Mountain although there are naff all special effects apart from some (what I assume are) clouds dangling from the ceiling. It is far from a thrill ride but I found it quite fun, especially when it started spinning - wouldn't pay to go on it again though - bit of a rip off. Wild Maus was good although it is a flippin' assault course just getting on to the ride - it is a miracle I didn't fall over and do myself an injury The flat ride that I went on was Snow Jet - was fine with it until it sped up and started swinging about

Just to throw this in there - I have a Merlin Membership instead of an annual pass as I couldn't afford to pay for a pass upfront. Memberships are quite new but you get the same perks as a pass (apart from the drinks capsules as they aren't included). So you get free entry, 20% discount on food/merch (photos not included boo!). I pay £12.99 per month for a standard pass or for £3 extra you can get Premium. I agree about going for a standard pass if you don't drive but it would mean that you can't visit the London Merlin attractions during August (although they get really busy during August anyway) - also, with a standard pass you have to pay £5 for Fright Nights whereas with Premium you don't (not sure if this will change next year) Finally, with a Merlin Membership you don't need to worry about renewal as it just carries on, unless you cancel it but, obviously you are binded into a contract for at least 12 months - I've saved a fortune with mine so far

I went to WW on Sunday - never been before and enjoyed it - although going back later in the early evening it was absolutely rammed so we didn't stay long. I did 3 rides - the indoor coaster (can't remember the name), the Wild Maus coaster, and a flat ride which made me feel just a lil bit sick. There is no way I could have afforded to go on anything else, although Air looked very tempting. Would love to have the guts to go on the Mondial Turbine ride but the fact that you are stopped at the top while they load more people on puts me off a tad! I think they need to lower the prices by a few quid, but saying that, all the while people are paying then they are going to continue to charge what they do Winter Wonderland itself I was impressed with - it is really Christmassy (although I am not a lover of Christmas) - and I was so glad that it wasn't "just" Christmas music that was played. It is a shame they don't do a wristband thing but I guess they would lose a fair bit of money that way. Couldn't believe the price of Ice Skating - around £14 I think and it sold out twice when we were there - are people mad?!

I never thought I would see the day when I would ride Detty and anyone that could get me on that deserves a pint or 7 (pluk)! - I remember many times watching my sister going on it and thinking she must be mad! All of my rides on Detonator I have got off and wanted to go straight back on again, but having not ridden it for a while, I genuinely don't think I could ever do it again. The audio that they played for FN left people up the top for far longer than I would personally like! Drop rides (well the idea of them) have always scared me as I have a fear of falling - but having ridden Detonator I have since done Magma at Paultons Park, Skydrop at Adventure Island and that drop ride thang at The London Dungeons - although NONE of them are half as bad as they are free fall. Was watching a vid of Lex Luthor Drop of Doom and my face was a bit :O - just, no

Storm Surge look flaming awful IMO - and some of the sounds the thing makes are a tad disturbing. I personally would like to see it have a good clean (and depth charge for that matter) - I hate the metal supports and wish they could somehow be disguised - maybe wrap some foliage round them?! Also agree about the trough - I think the ride needs a fair bit of work doing on it, not only for appearances sake but the ride experience itself - it not longer spins, takes about 2 years to get to the top of the lift hill and then once the ride is over, you spend another 2 years bobbing about waiting to get off - and that is after you qhave queued 2 years to get on the damned thing - I have literally no idea how it attracts such big queues.....

There are several rides that I have been on this year and vowed never to do again - these being Stealth, Samurai and Rush, but I have come to love all 3 of them. After my very first ride on Stealth I was shaking and close to tears and, up until the Stealth ice cream photo shoot it was the only coaster that really scared me - having ridden it 39 times this year it no longer scares me but that doesn't take away the fact it is a brilliant coaster. There is only really one answer for this and that is.....DETONATOR. I hadn't ridden it before this year but got encouraged to go on on my first trip to TP - I was surprising chilled out and really enjoyed it. Second ride I panicked a bit and my third and final ride I was almost in tears. The thing I hate is going up to the top then when it stops. If I could click my fingers and be at the top for just a split second before the drop I would be fine because I quite enjoy the drop - it's just the hanging around I can't handle, especially when my anxiety kicks in. So yeah.....out of rides I have ridden, Detonator is my answer. From rides I haven't ridden I would say Slammer - I don't trust those restraints at all and it looks like an uncomfortable ride.

This is going to be quick (for a change). I have mesed up a lot and just want to say a huge sorrry to those wwho have helped me massively this year. I cannot thank you guys here enough for helping me to overrcome many fears etc. But enough is enough so it is time for me to bugger off. I love this site but I can't stay anymore. Au revoir

OoOoH - I am very tempted now.....hmmmm

I am so tempted for this BUT with my anxiety I think I would have a panic attack - do you get the champers before or after the maze.....cos if it is before then I would probably be ok! But, meh £15 though - I could buy a lot of chocolate with that

With Membership you pay monthly which is easier if you can't afford a pass upfront - my membership is cheaper than my cats insurance!

Parks close soon so waiting for the sale would make sense - or do what I do and go for Merlin Membership (I couldn't afford a MAP) - £12.99 standard or £15.99 premium

Happy Birthday Sidders!

From what I have read on their FB page, some 2 for 1 vouchers are valid, but you have to check on the back for any restrictions. Don't quote me on that cos I am a bit of a div

^ Definitely one of the better ones on that site!

I remember back in 2002 when you had a really clear view of Vortex and Zodiac close up, so was quite surprised when I went this year, after 11 years to find foliage..... Anyway, just popped on here as I found this video from youtube - it looks quite old - it is definitely after 1996 as X:/NWO is featured briefly and I'm guessing that it was not long after that. Oh - it is from a kids show called Playdays (v annoying program) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dkw6ov-NEE8

Gah well I haven't done Slammer or Zodiac (too much of a wimp). Am not a fan of spinny things but I love Samurai (even though it is much slower than compared to when it was at CWOA) - and I don't mind spinning in a tea cup *too* much. Although I went on a tea cup style ride a few months ago and the person I was with span it so much that I'm surprise the damned thing didn't fly off! I think the only reason I didn't vom is because I was focusing on one thing - although I felt a bit drunk afterwards