Mitchada04

Right didn't do any of the mazes last night so am trying to avoid this topic So here are the good and disappointing about the rest of the park/rides. Good: Loving the new announcements on many of the rides (especially remember Detonator's being "All our stunts at Thorpe Park Movie Studios are completely safe, apart from this one! 3,2,1... Action!") Really liked the general park music around Calypso Quay and Amity Cove and the little interruptions by the director. Was very pleased to hear that Asylum still had its amazing music Loving the return of the flame throwers on Saw, and the 3 on Swarm's shop alongside the fire engine. Inferno's mist was back and amazingly dense with the red lights shining through, had forgotten how great this effect was in the dark! Had forgotten how amazing some of the rides are in the dark so was pleasantly surprised, especially by Saw. Samurai was running brilliantly! Disappointing: The roaming actors, great potential here so maybe they'll improve throughout the event. Park wide theming- started fairly good in the entrance and Dome with the fake movie scenes but then it just ended. X, with every other (open) ride getting their own theme (except Saw and Swarm) I was disappointed that this was still its club music. Whilst I love this music, it just didn't work and I'll be amazed if you can't hear it in the Cabin because you can hear it in Colossus' queue/station. More confusing than disappointing but Swarm, Rush, X, and probably a few other rides have vanished off the park wide queue boards. Overall a good night and I'm looking forward to hopefully seeing it progress over the weeks and to try out the mazes.

The old dock and quay area has been opened up as a bit of space with seating. As bland as it does look (clearly only temporary for the rest of the season) a bit of open space with seating is something missing from Adventure Island. But, I guess with little space available they want to develop rides/attractions on as much as possible. An idea has been thought up though. So whilst it is just an idea it's not a bad one at that and seems like it would utilise the space great and boost year round tourism to Southend. I think out of all the possibilities, this has the most potential as it would offer more than a thrill ride as such. Images from Adventure Island Guide.

Well I was 8 when I first rode Nemesis Inferno. And 3 is a magic number. So by using my powers of magic, 8-3=5. 5x8 =40. 8+3=11. 1+1=2. 2x40=80. 80+3=83. Simple

Obviously a foggy morning at Heide Park today! And my favourite of the lot

First 3 dates I can do, the rest I'll be in Florida so by the looks of it I shan't be attending Oh well, I guess Florida is a decent alternative

http://abyss-the-ride.com.au/the-ride/ Abyss now has a nice little page of its own. I'm not to sure where the cobra roll and inline loop are but still. Cars are now on site. The entrance is taking shape. And some theming. It is shaping up to be a decent investment for a small park and will be opening very soon!

10,000 litres of black paint! Trust Merlin

The Fridays get progressively busier. Last year I went on the second FN Friday and it was really quiet (10 minute queues for rides 20/30 for mazes). But it was pouring with rain which may have put people off. I also went the first Saturday and that was quiet (for a Saturday) with 40/50 minute queues for mazes and big rides. Sundays are usually a safer bet though. But generally, the earlier in the event you go the quieter.

If Thing 1, 2, 3, and 4 don't come wearing these I will be very disappointed!

I seem to post about Storm Surge to much which is quite worrying... Anyway here's what I have for y'all today So Storm Surge is a high throughput, heart pounding, non soaking water ride that makes guests want to return. No wonder it gets the longest queue on park many days

This was taken by Themeuk earlier today so the detail is very good!

Today at school I had to do some research for graphics and one of the links I ended up on was this: http://www.kdt2.com/ Of course, me being me I explored the site and found some of the amazing projects in the theme park world that they had worked on. From theming right through to special effects there are some greatly recognizable projects. I then had a free lesson and with nothing else to do decided to research some more of these design/theming websites that have worked on theme park projects outside of the Merlin Studios we all know. Firstly I came across: http://www.primeplay.com/ Very interesting to see all the different types of design for a generic indoor playhouse but also some further products like Ballocity. http://www.neverlanddecors.com/ Some more interesting projects having worked on many of the Belgium parks theming and O'Ziris' theming! http://www.mythemefactory.com/ Whilst not primarily theme parks some more amazing theming ideas. http://sallycorp.com/ Whilst this company is well known it still deserves a mention because much of the stuff they do is superb! http://www.sculpturestudios.co.uk/ And I'll finish with this one, the creator of many of Chessington's theming elements from back in the day such as the dragon and Buddha faces that featured on Dragon Falls and the centre piece for Rodeo. I wonder how he feels when he looks at Dragon Falls today. And that is it, there are some great theming companies out there some less known than others but all seem to offer a superb final product! If any of you have any other companies that I have missed or you would like to share please do! I know for sure that I would find it interesting and I'm sure many others would to

From the Thorpe Breaks site ( http://www.thorpebreaks.co.uk/fright-nights.html ) And Glad they're doing something for the Crash Pad guests!

Because if they sell it out before releasing tickets then when they announce that it won't actually be happening no one will be disappointed it hasn't sold out they just haven't released the tickets yet (I don't know why it's saying sold out but it's probably just reusing what it said for when this years one sold out)

I'd like to point out that these 5pm closes are just standard opening times that at some point they've added as 'Halloween' dates. So basically we're getting no less than last year, just means you'll be able to experience the Halloween attractions the weekend and week before half term and the 10-7 close.

I think if Pax ever made this we'd have a clear winner

I'm more intrigued as to why they're bringing it back as it has no link to the "IP Horror Movie" aspect. I'm not complaining as it is a classic and with the work going on the back of The Asylum building I expect it will have been worked on. I also doubt it will be just as simple as it used to be, Scare Tour were suggesting a possible link with Dead Silence I think (rumour I know) so I don't think it will just be returning.

Well at least they're learning the simple art of communication.

Yes I am posting in the Storm Surge topic. Today I was looking through some files on my college's system and this came up under my graphics course. In 2010/11 AS graphic students at my college had to design and manufacture an entrance structure for the new ride "Storm Surge." Here's the brief that they were given: Some of the designs were very interesting and much better than what we have now! Anyway, here are the best images from this PowerPoint that I don't think I widely known about (well I've never seen them). The original queue line layout. Some ideas for the location! As you can see, the MHFS site was considered, as well as under Inferno but that would have destroyed Banana Boat! Promotional images were certainly top notch. Just look at what we could have had! Yes the ride would still be meh, but at least it would fit in to Amity Cove a bit more. I know it's Storm Surge related, but I hope some of you find it interesting like I did

So Slammer has once again has its signage removed. Could Slamner opening for Fright Nights be the final reveal? It is looking good though (the event, not Slammer) and I'm looking forward to how each maze turns out. Glad they've stayed away from the traditional conga line through one route style again

That was a B&M floorless Josh

It's great to see them refurbishing such an old part of the park which has needed some serious work for a while now! Also great to see them using the Ice Tent space for further shows/entertainment which seems to be growing very nicely at Towers these last couple of years. However, I do think that this would be the best time and place to also build a new roller coaster designed for young children. Something like Troublesome Trucks, I know they have RMT but that's more of a family ride and what they are really missing is a kiddie coaster as such. I hope that if it is an IP that not all of the budget has been spent on that, but either way Storybook Land will at least feel fresh and new.

At least it didn't break down during the peak of summer season and the heat wave. Is a shame to see it closed though.

You can indeed use it

I don't actually hate any roller coaster. Nor do I find many rough and when they are for me they're bearable (and I've been on Space Mountain 2 at DLP). I even quite like G-Force for its quirkiness. I'd never queue long for it but I find it a fun little ride. Gwazi gets a lot of stick for being very rough but I find it fine. Infusion, I thought maybe it's a one off smooth Vekoma SLC but Kumali is the same in my eyes. Hardly any head banging, no worst than Saw or Colossus. Colossus is another one, never found that to be a head banger, no it's not silky smooth but I can ride it over and over without having to get off due to a head ache. One of the roughest coasters I've been on lately is Green Scream at Adventure Island by Zierer. It rattled so much but it didn't ruin the ride. And then Pinfari, Mighty Mini Mega is a great little ride and Big Apples whilst they're layouts are bland they do there job for little kids. So yeah, I don't hate any roller coaster (there are a few out there that I've yet to ride which might take the title like Gourdurix) but overall I like all the coasters I've been on. When it comes to flat rides though, I hate pirate ships, detest them! Mr Monkey's Banana is the limit for me, Black Buccaneer gives me the worst feeling ever. However, I love Rush which I find strange.