Mitchada04

It is indeed the last year on the contract. Who knows what they're going to do with it. But we can presume 2018 will be another low year so maybe Loggers will reopen and we'll get a new maze. YAY.

There's been rumours going round from a bottle of Heinz Ketchup (my go to sauce) that IMAscore are making more tracks for the park including redoing Colossus and Infernos music with plans too release a CD of them all on park. But I haven't heard any updates on that for a few months so I don't know if that's still a thing. But they did redo Heide Parks music so it's possible.

Yes Tower of Terror is a legend and amazing, but there is nothing to say this won't be a great attraction. The only thing that's going to stop it is people constantly reminiscing. I think the tower is going to look really cool and intimidating, the story could be great and end of the it's a glorified drop tower. Yes it's a shame to see Terror go but at least wait for some reviews of this new version before hating on it. Business is business, synergy is the way forward and so are IP's sadly.

So the 10-4 days they're saving even more money than they were as 10:30-4:30 days with the staggered opening, and in the summer we have 10-6 openings. Still not great but considering that's all Thorpe and Chessington are doing this year we can just moan at Merlin for that. Being Towers management must be a horrid job these days, a shoe string budget and complaints left right and centre. Constant decision reversals, no steps forwards and a million back. To make money you have to invest money. Please realise this Merlin.

I'll be surprised if they get any new footage of Derren as he has distanced himself from this as much as possible it seems.

Still a long time till March 18th, lots can go wrong and I've heard from a few people that 18th is a push. The creative lead could still be in PR mode talking to you too because of your podcasts and what not.

Maybe they're the demon rising into our site

Fright Nights needs a big shake up (and was due one last year I believe but it only semi happened). The movie idea was nice, kinda worked to begin with but now it's just a mess with a handful of Lionsgate IP's, some clowns and a train. So we're back in the era of random mazes which is fine! But, back then we had a strong theme of the roamers, something that used to be standout at Thorpe for me and now they're really lacklustre. The park just lacks any atmosphere at FN I feel. I think the key is, FN used to be lighthearted, fun, the announcements were jokey, random theming and a mix of mazes. Now it feels like they try too hard but miss out important elements. The studio announcements around park don't fit in anymore and are repetitive. The music played is either drab noise or Saw. It was a bold move to go the IP route and numbers wise its paid off massively. But in doing so I feel we've lost true FN forever. I'd like them to pick a route and go all out with it. Either keep all the mazes close together like last year and make it like an entire horror zone after 3/4pm with the roamers all located through Colossus/OldTown/Saw and lightly theme the rest of the park (Chessington could lend some of their pumpkins I'm sure) or spread it out again and use the park. I feel the maze queues aren't helped because they all lead into each other. As for the mazes: Saw is fine. Standard conga with good theming and decent scares, always consistent which is good for an event. Cabin is stale. It was smart first year round, but now it's just like a standard maze and then you realise it isn't actually any good at being that. Blair Witch is fine for what it is. Could easily get rid of the IP and make it about Monks or something creepy. Few more trees, actors, effects and it'll be fine. Platform isn't worth it. It needs tents or shipping containers, it needs maze elements, it needs huge set pieces to hide the actors. That long path over the bridge round to the endless tunnel could work great with a set up like Freak Show at Towers. A bit of interaction in your mazes please Thorpe, no more of that horrid growling. Big Top, I did not get the hype for this. The 2015 rendition had so much more potential with the mirror maze, all the effects they were trying to do and the interactive element! The new one just felt like a strobe maze followed by a few things to push around, bit of history and then a chainsaw... oh. I get why it was loved. It was just like the over rated Asylum. Fab. Containment is good though, bit expensive but good! Basically, there is little uniqueness too any of the mazes now. The stories are lost, the queues only grow and the atmosphere dies. Now the queue thing I don't mind too much, the event gains popularity so gains queues. But when they design a new maze, like Platform, they could actually consider this and try provide a decent throughput for it. I want some new, unique mazes, a solid set of roaming actors, and maybe a base for a set of them to stay in like the zones at Towers. And I know Towers' mazes are charged for, but they could at least take some ideas from them.

If they really wanted to with Blair they could flip the route. Would give an attraction to the north of the park and then exit into an area with more mazes. Unless they want everything in one area which seems to slowly be the way they're going.

Why would they change it from hyperspace? With a new Star Tours and rumours of the speedway closing, Tomorrowland is slowly looking like it'll become a star wars land in some sense. Hyperspace Is loved in California too, I don't see this being any different.

With a media event running the 22nd-25th. And decent opening times! And the scaffolding is coming down! I feel a lot of the slides are going to be very mediocre, but the atmosphere of the park should make for a great experience a long with this stunning icon! Apparently water was flowing around the top sections today but no decent photos, and most of the slides are testing too! There is an expansion pad built into the park too and if a huge success from opening, they may build on it for next 2018 cos Uni moves fast. Other random news: Kidzone should be closing once this and Fallon are open, still unknown about E.T. The release date for Secret Life of Pets 2 has been moved to 2019, still possible for Hollywood and Florida to build the ride for then (Hollywood they've actually cleared the site for it). Expect an announcement this weekend at the Harry Potter Celebration for something relating to the studio tour over here and a night time projection show on the castle. Oh and Comcasts Q4 2016 results are out. This is a good one to look at, as it was Q42015 where Comcast got their shares of USJ, so this is the first set of results that looks back on data that already had Japan on.

I'm amazed we don't have a topic for this lovely park! Should have been enough of a reason on its own! They have a huge expansion plan in progress with an aim of doubling gate figures up to 1.2 million by 2025. So as seen here the entrance will move, 3 big phases for new themed area (first one for 2018 which is the yellow one) and a hotel! Buildings up to 30metres bar the entrance which has a 45 metre tower whenever that materialises. New rides up to 45 metres with the exception of 3 rides allowed to go to 100 metres. They have nice neighbours it seems (if they have neighbours, its very middle of no where) So what are they building for 2018? A nice new themed area which if following Magic Valley will be very nice indeed. But with a big coaster. Anyone fancy a B&M wingcoaster? http://www.looopings.nl/weblog/6767...retpark-bouwt-spectaculaire-wing-coaster.html Really looking forward to watching them expand and growing reasons to go back!

They're going to use that demon costume they used for promo last year I bet. I remember speaking to someone possibly at press about the costume and they talked about how it would have been nice but there just wasn't a way to utilise it.

If it was the longest name we'd surely know of it. Gotta get a gimmick in there somehow

So there are rides this year! And they'll be revealing them on Facebook! Who's excited?? Don't be. Chessington have spoiled their own game on the events page online. Wow. All those rides!!!

Or for a few extra miles but no Dartcharge go North round the M25, that way the A127 comes up first and I prefer that route.

What's the state on that Lego rumour for CCL? Could have a new 4D movie, Lego dark ride and the little flats can be quickly changed over. Move Toadstool back to Dark Forest so that has a flat. At least there is still an ounce of hope for Sub Terra though!

Could we do Drayton with the Towers weekender this year? It's been 2 years since we last did it and with Towers going downhill fast it might be preferred?

For the shed fans So you have: The NBC news bit This but with a Jimmy Fallon standing on it And the top of Comcast Tower, 30 Rockefeller. And still a view of the shed don't worry guys! Opens 6th April with the Tonight Show filming at the park for their 3rd time between the 3rd and 6th. Oh and this shed is getting a shed extension. Credit to CoasterCrew on Twitter.

Constant management changes and battles with Merlin. Makes it hard for them to assign the required budget. Will be nice to see what a new divisional director can bring, we'd had Vallis for long enough! Especially coming from Midways he might be able to make an actor based attraction that runs well with the budget or at least improve the entertainment side like the acting at Fright Nights which consists of that horrid clickling/gargling noise and lunging at people. I also hope his 'love' of Ghost Train was just for the PR speech side of things. I know some people do like it but it's not game changing in any way and all I expect from the new ending is a complete ride finally. He likes Stealth though. So I like him.

Got to play at least 2 games of bowling. I mean I'll go up to 10! Need to practice with my new ball... ooo exciting.

It once again comes down to a mix of different views from different managers. The amount needed to sort Loggers is around the price of a medium investment as the station needs entirely rebuilding and for H&S purposes they want an evac path all around the ride plus other stuff. Merlin give Thorpe a yearly budget and its up to Thorpe how they spend it. And fixing Loggers would take from that budget meaning other rides close or we see huge budget cuts. Hopefully with a medium budget for next year they may invest that in Loggers. There's been a lot of management change at the park lately too so what was a "leave it we'll get rid of it" is now a "hang on I want it back" from the new Divisional Director. The future of Loggers is brighter than it was 6 or so months ago.

TLC has begun! From the AltonTLC twitter. Hopefully they'll deal with a lot of other things with Smiler.

I like Stealth and the free food and drink at press nights It's a good idea though! And if you are fed up of the parks, visit one you've always wanted too! A lot of people think it's hard or expensive but it doesn't have to be! I've done a fair few budget European trips with no complaints yet and I know many other members on here have too. Sometimes a break is good, you appreciate stuff more the less you do it.

Southern strike? What's the point in that, they never run any trains as it is!