Mitchada04

Will they have to submit that much though? Let's face it, they're going to hide as much as they can so it might not reveal much. If there's a large station building we know the SW... the washing machine element! Us geeks gave Merlin the idea, they made a graphic for it and have had 5 years to develop it. Solved it.

I'm pretty sure he says it doesn't work unless you had watched it live. The repeats etc wouldn't have the same effect or just work. His whole thing is suggestion, misdirection and showmanship. Only those who are suggestable to put it have it work on them. On his live shows, he will say it won't work on certain people when the frisbee is thrown into the audience and does ask sometimes for it to be passed to another person because they don't suit the criteria, they aren't suggestable (or are a keen group of teenage girls who didn't get the memo that Derren is gay )

It will be a cracking ride, because White Lightning is. Perfect for this park, great bit of thrill and a tonne of fun!

It's so quiet :'(

Food Loop at Europa is standard restaurant waiting times. But, Woodcutters the food always used to come out in like a minute, not so much anymore as it seems this has stolen that style

The opening date has been staring us in the face the whole time. End of May, 31st May it is! Like we said, overthinking it when in reality that's what Derren wants

This was the most impressive one for me when I was a kid. And this one is now my favourite. I love grand entrances.

http://www.blooloop.com/features/sea-life-aquarium-merlin-entertainment/40503#.VzsXFPkrLIX Interview with James Burleigh about how SeaLife grew and what it's looking towards.

I think they both signed a 10 year deal in 2008 or something. Before Merlin got big about going with in house brands. Still not sure about BK and KFC leaving though, they're seriously popular and Thorpe's demographic just suit them. If or more likely when they go, I hope we get something better than Burger Kitchen to be the replacement. The new interior of Amity BK is lovely though! Really feels like an American diner!

Oh I thought Thorpe were bringing back that "hit the red button" event thing after we broke it, so they've gone with a yellow button on a green stand. At least they've made it sturdier for when we run and destroy it! I hope the prize is that can of Merlin paint!

1st July... bit risky as that's when I go

Mako had another media day yesterday because why not with one month till opening. This one was to talk about the rest of the "realm" and the queue/station for Mako Brian talking about the station effects. Some screen sequence will take place above and around you as you leave. It sounded quite cool. All 3 trains were out. Mandatory geek photo. And some "It's very pretty ain't it" shots

It's so cute! Will catch many people off guard Trains are nothing special though.

I've been in the station before when someone has been denied access because they couldn't fully grip with both hands. This was about 2 years ago, it's to do with pulling yourself up out of your seat on the vertical lift. This person isn't being singled out, it's for their safety incase of evacuation.

Did Sub Terra have a recommended age? I can't remember, if it didn't then that's why. Can't say this is related to DB though, legit might have a 1.4 ride section plus the theme of the ride gives the 13 recommended age.

It's like an age restriction. On average, people of 1.4 metres are 10 years plus with 1.2 being 7/8 years.

It's detail though. I know the run down look is repetitive and doesn't look great for a park to have loads of it, but at least this run down look is being done to a high quality and not just waiting for the natural surroundings to help it.

Well Sub Terra is actually a 1.2 for the ride part, the 1.4 is due to the nature of the attraction.

The guy who runs Mako Madness has only just landed back in Florida after travelling the past week or two. He's doing an update at Uni today and a Mako one tomorrow with a tour from inside the station! Last I saw they were finishing up the tunnel under the pathway. Depends how much work they still have left to do in the launch tunnel but probably by the end of the month, especially with cars on site. If they can't have this open for when Kong does, they'll want it too at least look ready from most pathways and only have a few construction walls up.

2009 MTDP Back in 2006 when it first got approved. It has taken a LONG time to get to this stage.

Funny this came up today, because a planning document has been submitted! This one seems to be about proving that they have lawfully started development on the site and detailing the service road they have created for the hotel. Anyway, it has some photos of this lovely pegged out field from 8th April to show work has commenced. Thorpe also paid £40,000 to RBC to help fund the yellow bus scheme upon commencement of construction. Once phase one is complete they also make another payment as part of S106 contributions. Fun! http://planning.runnymede.gov.uk/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/Generic/StdDetails.aspx?PT=Planning%20Applications%20On-Line&TYPE=PL/PlanningPK.xml&PARAM0=208427&XSLT=/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/SiteFiles/Skins/Runnymede_AA/xslt/PL/PLDetails.xslt&FT=Planning%20Application%20Details&PUBLIC=Y&XMLSIDE=&DAURI=PLANNING

So that video confirms new soundtrack, and the blog confirms it'll be on board and created by Fall Out Boy frontman, Patrick Stump! And the entrance arch has used the old track! What a nice touch! They're saying late summer for this now though. Which could be mid July.

When doing circular motion I remember them using the London eye a few times and Enterprises.

When done right though VR really enhances the ride! Alpenexpress is fine as it is but the VR is a whole new ball game! VR is a thing kids would like as it's cool, RMT would have been a great choice. Glad to hear it is running 3 trains two stations well though!

I do always find it odd how Thorpe and to an extent Chessington always have longer Fastrack and disabled queues than Towers. You very rarely here of any issues at Towers (even before said incident and the park was busy) especially with disabled access. I just find it strange how they aren't run the same. Is it because it almost feels like a necessity at Thorpe and Chessie to need Fastrack or disabled access that people run straight to guest services to get their wristband where at Towers they don't? One of my friends has a slight hearing problem, so uses hearing aids at times. He can get a wristband. I think part of the issue lies in how strict they are on who gets the band. I know over the years it has got better but it is still an issue. And the handing out of priority passes is an issue. The actual Fastrack sales I don't think is the problem, it's probably 2 different departments that aren't linked in anyway. That is more likely the issue. Yet again though this isn't just a Thorpe issue. Disney and Universal both struggle from long Fastrack queues at times. When Fastrack+ at Disney crashes, all hell breaks loose with Fastrack queues overspilling into busy paths majorly. Universal Express Pass is everywhere. 3 hotels with full occupancy get to use the system for free, plus guests paying for it and it's crazy. Often, Minions will have say an 80 minute queue, Express will be about 40 minutes due to its capacity. I'm sure there are many other parks that oversell it as well. When something goes wrong, the systems struggle. Say, in the morning you sell out of Fastrack for Stealth which can happen, then it closes for 2 hours at like 1. Opens at 3, you've got a backlog of Fastrack, everyone on park who hasn't ridden it wanting to and people who were in the queue then getting priority passes.