SteveJ

Hooray! More exaggerated post-hoc backstory explanation with gratuitous video flicker and static! Now if only the ride itself had any similarities with those videos and the theme would actually be interesting. Whatever, what is going on here? It seems like some kind of very elaborate attempt to raise public awareness about the Swarm's backwards seats. He he, no thanks Adam I'll leave you to fight your own resistance.

They look very similar in some ways. Before... After... Oooh, err... I much prefer how they looked before. Since when was YELLOW CAPITAL LETTERS the Thorpe Park logo? Nevermind, the new lap bars and more open seats will considerably improve the ride experience.

But it's the rubbishy track transition that does that to your head. Unlike larger, more drawn-out rollercoasters, Saw is so noticeably compact that the transitions are very abrupt, creating sudden forces on your body, and thanks to the horrible restraints you have no power to stop your neck getting bashed. It really takes away from the ride experience in my opinion. Especially when you reach the MCBR and think you have time to breathe, only to see the world's tiniest dive loop in front of you; that sense of horrific inevitability always amuses me somehow... The dive loop of doom. Gerstlauer have obviously been chosen to manufacture the Smiler because of their famously compact track style, allowing them to fit that many inversions in one space. As long as Gerstlauer have totally revised their trains, including much less restrictive restraints, it will be an amazing ride. The track looks much more fluent than the likes of Saw, yet there are several hilariously tight inversions squeezed in there. Crazy people...!

I think it is very amusing. *SHOCK* In time it will become a funny little anomaly that people may notice, like so many others around the park...

It's sped up for some reason. When audio speeds up the pitch usually increases. But what caused it to speed up in the first place I have no idea, it depends what the audio is playing from. It should have been fixed as soon as the problem began, but no...

I can't wait to visit Chessington to experience this new for 2013 path. When it comes to Chessington, "infrastructure refurbishment" somehow sounds exciting! I assume their are referring to the Transylvania fixes, but perhaps there have been other changes this year as well. I heard the 3-year plan started last year with Toytown changing its theme, so that area is done; the remaining areas that are in need of improvements are Mystic East and Forbidden Kingdom, which we may see next year. It's nothing too interesting, as both "Africa" last year and the Burger Kitchen turned out to be quite basic refurbishments (painting a few walls, some new decorations), but they are improvements nonetheless. Also they have updated their website to include the Burger Kitchen. Hmm, there's something not quite right about that building on the left...

But if the bass pulses are delayed then it won't feel synchronised, because the track is designed to be dramatic as the train leaves but turn calmer as the next train comes in. Itt works really well when the bass cannons are functioning. I do remember this bass effect made quite an impression on me when I first rode Nemesis Inferno, it shall be great to have it back.

No, it's a misconception that theme parks are busy all winter. From what I gather, stuff like general maintenance, cleaning and any minor developments are done during the run up to opening month. The majority of the closed season is spent... closed. This sounds like what X No Way Out has been needing for a long time. The ride's purpose was confused from the start. In the pas,t they have tried and failed to explain the point of the ride with some kind of 'theme', but the truth is it has no point. It would be stupid to invest in a proper theme design for what is a very poor ride experience, but ignorant to let the ride remain in its current pathetic state. So I am glad they have gone back to basics, refurbished the infrastructure and added sensory effects to just make it a good, fun ride. That's all it needs really, as long as they do it properly. X may actually be enjoyable this year! :o Although I will miss the weird sensation of travelling backwards on a glorified runaway train in a dark pyramid.

Of course everything you are both saying is correct, but guests that visit theme parks don't go from a business perspective. Riding on Loggers Leap is done for their own enjoyment and the tunnel was a "feature" that interacted with the ride to make it more fun. Well that's obvious. From Thorpe Park's perspective, every factor is telling them not to rebuild the tunnel, except the issue of potential guest satisfaction being lost. So, unless they really care about the guest's perspective, they won't rebuild it. As a guest, I feel disappointed by that. If you also think from the creators' perspective, those who designed Logger's Leap, they put that tunnel there entirely for the enjoyment of the rider - it serves no marketing purpose and would not have been so cheap. Yet for over 25 years it contributed, however slightly, to millions of guests' enjoyment. That's what a theme park is all about for me. But I recognise my perspective on theme parks is an ideal, and Thorpe Park will probably never restore the tunnel. Well, at least I have my memories.

At what point did anybody suggest it would "ruin everybody's day"? I said it would detract from a guests potential ride experience, which is true. If the Nemesis Inferno tunnel was partially removed in 15 years people could have the same attitude - that not everybody would care, money could be better spent elsewhere, etc - but it would still be significantly damaging to the ride experience. Basically, the tunnel was fun and now it has stopped existing. Common sense says it should be put back up. Ah, but that is in an ideal theme park world, where ride experience and excitement are prioritised before marketability and safety requirements. Reality disappoints again.

Thank you for saying that! How refreshing to hear. I dislike the way theme park guests are often categorised as either "general public" or "enthusiasts". It's meaningless really, we are all visitors there to enjoy the park. We all have the same five senses so we experience rides in more or less the same way. The tunnel added a fun aspect to the ride because you would lose your sight, leaving you unable to see the drop so it felt much taller than it really was. Then you would emerge in some trees not having a clue where you were. Everybody who rode Loggers Leap experienced that sensation, whether it had a memorable effect on them or not. From my personal experience I always enjoyed that part. Now by exposing the lift, you are removing the potential for all riders in the future to experience that sensation. Those familiar with Loggers Leap will definitely notice something is missing (it's hard not to with half of it still standing), and newcomers will have a less interesting ride experience than what they could have had. Sure, most people won't actively complain that the tunnel isn't there, but their potential ride experience is now far less effective. So, for the sake of people's enjoyment (is that the point of a theme park?), Thorpe Park should definitely replace the tunnel roof. Some barely susceptible repaints will not make a significant impact on the average guest's potential enjoyment, but the disappearance of a tunnel certainly will.

Yes that was the Black Forest Chateau signage that had been there since 1990, hidden behind the Count's Cauldron facade. They were never planning to use that in the new Burger Kitchen. Talking about Black Forest Chateau, it's clear how uncreative they have been. The Burger Kitchen as you see it today is basically Black Forest Chateau from 1990 except painted purple. I presume that original facade was deemed too bland, because they quickly changed it with more windows, a different half-timbered pattern and striped canopy, as you can see in this image from c1992. This was back when they had an animatronics show in there and it sold special "vampire" burgers. Then in 1998 they went too far and adapted it again, to make it the McDonalds castle. This always stuck out as inconsistent to me with its goofy gargoyles and turrets - not what you would find in a European town at all. This was also when they removed the animatronics show to free up more seating space. Then, this year I praised Chessington greatly for unexpectedly refurbishing the whole building, when they could have simply replaced the Burger King logos with Burger Kitchen ones. Instead they went further and actually uncovered the first exterior that had been unused for over 20 years. But if it was bland 20 years ago then it's still bland now, they have simply regressed rather than been creative. At least the area looks much fresher than it has for years, but for the wrong reasons. They messed it up at the painting stage in an attempt to make it look "fun" on a low budget, to the detriment of the whole area. However, maybe there is more to be done. If you look at the beam over the entrance arches, you can see wires protruding, possibly for lanterns or some other theme detail that is yet to be installed. In my opinion the restaurant's second appearance from 1992-1997 was the best it ever looked, although a little bland for Chessington's current image. Oh well, maybe in another 15 years they will have the money to finally get it right. In the meantime, I am looking forward to eating a burger there.

I just feel strangely kicked in the face at how it was all going so well in the right direction, after years of looking dirty and aged, and then... they paint it purple and just leave it like that. And the silver just looks oddly depressing, for some reason? It should be brighter, more cheerful. There's no personality outside or inside like the Black Forest Chateau had. And it now has less detail and character than the Count's Cauldron. And I never really liked the Count's Cauldron and was initially glad to see it removed. At least the food will potentially be better. Are you referring to BubbleWorks or have they fiddled with something else as well?

The inside looks exactly the same except with "100% BEEF!!!!!!!!!!" written on the walls. A member on Towers Street took some photographs, see here.

So, the new Burger Kitchen is open. Have a guess what they have done to the exterior facade... Congratulations Chessington on yet again missing an opportunity to do something good! Yay! Really I am quite disappointed. I have been following this Transylvania refurbishment eagerly because it seemed that it was finally getting the restoration it deserved. But instead they have made it more garish and less coherent. It's even more of a patchwork of old and new ideas. Now usually I love the colour purple, but it looks so wrong here! Vampire should never have been associated with purple. At least it has a hanging sign. That's vaguely European. This has been a rubbish day. Maybe it's just a bad dream. I'll wake up soon, and it will turn out Chessington have actually built a beautiful, quirky Bavarian-style cookhouse facade, and Logger's Leap has got a brand new tunnel, etc..

When you count oily, dirty track as "theming", it's time to give up being a theme park and just stick to fairground rides. Really, Colossus looks offensive and far from "lost" in its current state. People are going to look at it and think "yuck", not "Oh, great theming! I really feel like I'm in a lost Aztecan city!"

An image of the theatre has just been posted on the live feed. So... what exactly has been changed? Everything looks exactly the same, from the canon impact still on the walls to the peeling paint. Have they removed the queueline or something?

It's far from one ride that's rotted. Almost everything from the Thorpe Park I knew 12 years ago has deteriorated in some way or another, to the point at which it detracts significantly from my enjoyment of the park. It's a shame really... And I hardly think a massive ugly advert stuck on the Swarm is compensation for the years of degradation.

Hmm, maybe they are deliberately letting the whole park die because it "fits the theme". [/sarcasm]

NOOOOOOO!! If that is true, it's probably a great thing for the longevity of the ride and disturbance from neighbours, but still... Whenever I hear that sound it's so nostalgic! *endless rhythmic clanking... clank click clack...metallic rattttttttllleeeeeee...screams..!*

It's so obvious that there used to be a tunnel there. The safety lights are still attached to the wall on the left, there are loads of marks from where they have torn the roof off, even the entrance to the tunnel is inexplicably still standing!? Hilarious! http://thorpeparkmania.co.uk/live_files/image_01_10 And my brain can't work out what's going on here. I'm so used to having that part in darkness, it just looks wrong. And the camera makes it look as if that tunnel portal is way too low for the boat to fit!

Well the billboard is the worst theming I have ever seen. The made up products are humourless and anti-exciting, you can just imagine some bland Thorpe Park employee sitting at their computer designing the graphics and chuckling at their own bad puns. But whatever, it's Thorpe Park. To those who have been on The Swarm today, how does the billboard feel when on the ride?

I know you didn't say children's park, I said it. My point still stands, they are no longer trying to be a young children's park, like Legoland for example. That very tame "Families Come First" ethos (not just the slogan) was dropped soon after it came under new management. They are now trying to be wilder and better rather than water everything down like they did 2001-2007. Maybe you could elaborate how you "do understand children", like a discussion. Were you a child when you first rode Professor Burp's BubbleWorks?

You don't understand children then. The new version is sterile and lifeless. The original was funny, memorable, naughty and extremely fun when I was a child. It was my favourite ride at the park, and all of my friends at that age who visited Chessington also loved it, or could at least remember the music. Today it's only liked for the fountain finale. And the "families come first" ethos has since been dropped. They are no longer trying to be a children's park, thankfully! The audience is much broader, although they will never get the thrill market back.

But Transylvania does not have a horror theme, it's more... 'quirky European town' with an inevitable spooky castle on the outskirts. Although an amusing idea, I think an undead professor Burp would be even more offensive to the original ride's legacy than the Imperial Leather retheme! Yes, no way should BubbleWorks lose its magical character in favour of a horror theme. By all means, it needs a scary moment or two (it always used to - the pressure room had machines blowing up and a huge carnivorous bubble, but it was all done with friendliness). It wouldn't suite the ride's design anyway. Is it possible to feel scared while travelling at 2mph in a boat through a big metal box?