Matt 236

Prior to the pandemic we ran trips to other parks including AT, CWoA, BPB Port Aventura, Toverland and Phantasialand but with not much happening at Thorpe attendance to all meets gradually declined so for now we will just trial Thorpe meets this year. If these go well or more interest occurs we will look at other park trips for 2023. 

On Friday, visited the park for opening day. There were vibes I guess?
 
Security process was long with many taking over an hour to get in. 
 
Some areas looked fresher, such as the new mural & (yet to open) Highstriker and others less-so. Banana looks naff without it’s theming. 
 
Amity seems to be a hive of activity with the new stage. I like that the park has more entertainment, but unsure how I feel about the location. 
 
Operations were a mixed bag. Stealth had the best, Inferno didn’t open until the afternoon. Colossus ran one train. Saw was squirting loads of water on the in-line. Still painful!
 
Old Town is (basically) dead! Events/advertisements dominate the new white fence surrounding the former area. The toilets, BK etc. are likely now just part of the jungle. Wet Wet Wet gone (no real loss) and a new (random playground). 
 
Tried Vibes Kitchen. It’s alright, but basically Infinity with a new name and random menu IMO. The Cod goujon baguette meal was adequate. 
 
Overall a fun day, helped by the weather. As much I’m excited for Exodus, I feel most of the park is looking rundown and tired. Especially The jungle. Not to mention audio was messy. 
 
 

Some more plans for Exodus have been uploaded, showing the theming for the entrance and other areas. 
 
Looks like they're going for an abandoned forest plus mountain exploration theme. I guess the idea is that the forest hides the lake, and climbing the mountain allows you to find the tranquil lake?
 


 
All of the new plans are over on TPM!
 
EDIT: If you weren't fooled - and if the link didn't give it away! - this was an April Fool's. The images were hastily mocked up by yours truly using images from Ghost Train's and Swarm's planning applications, and are not real.
Glad I caught a few people out though

The Swarm opened 10 years ago today!
 
We at TPM have an article looking back at 10 years of The Swarm, right from the initial plans, through construction to the changes since it opened. 
 
Whether you believe in Lez Cougan or not, have a look here...
 
https://thorpeparkmania.co.uk/articles/12-03-2022/THE+SWARM%2C+10+Years+On

If I wanted to spend £15 on spinning, I would go to a Weatherspoons.
 
 

Looks like a load of dumped shingle/hardstanding to me, almost certainly for storage, site offices etc.
One would assume the loggers trough that's underneath it next to the CFM/LL station building will be the very last piece of Loggers that'll be removed (and then cut into slices to sell as merch innit).
 
I eagerly await the Peepy Poop guy to say something along the lines of:
 
Exodus has something in STORE, and the ROAD maybe shorter then you think.
Buckwheats or out of luckwheats
Rocky or just rocks
Time will tell.
Who's Ghost Train is it?
(oh hold up went off on a tangent there)
 
 

2nd Detty tower finally happening.

Congratulations on passing your PHD Dr C.

This seems like as good a thread as any to post this in...
 
I passed my PhD today!

Must’ve done this the same time they concreted the lake. 
 
Helium in rides? Now that’s a scheme that could take off. 

Must’ve done this the same time they concreted the lake. 
 
Helium in rides? Now that’s a scheme that could take off. 

Hard to know right now, but Blackpool I’ve done. 
 
Merlin lot, Paultons and a return to Blackpool should be on the cards along with other uk parks maybe. 
 
Abroad wise, fingers crossed for Orlando in October and Disneyland Paris in May/June time. 
 
Would like to get to Plopsa for their new ride and maybe some other European perks. Would like to get back to Europa, Efteling and Phantasialand for sure. 

Depends on the attraction.
 
I always find the best dark rides try to entice you into particular settings. Whether that’s the ballroom in Symbolica, the battle scene in Pirates. Or the likes of attractions such as Rise Of The Resistance or Forbidden Journey, which I’m yet to experience.
 
Screen-based rides can be great when done right and the best ones use scenery, effects and even animatronics in order to achieve this. However they can come across as a cheaper (cost cutting) alternative to classic rides, where cheap screens are plastered over the ride instead of building set pieces. 
 
Hopefully the future of dark rides will involve a combination of screens, set pieces and animatronics. 

In a surprising yet unexpected position, it has been confirmed that Efteling will be removing their Spookslot (Haunted House) attraction after the summer season. It will make way for a brand new indoor attraction (presumably a dark ride). 
 
Source-https://www-looopings-nl.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB&_x_tr_pto=wapp
 
Whilst not everyone’s cup of tea with some left a little confused by the attraction, I find this news rather saddening. Sure it wasn’t the best thing there, but it had much charm, character and history. It will be missed! 
 
https://youtu.be/1YQlUKLcYcI

An easy one
 
Crossing the causeway into Cedar Point. Nothing will ever beat that drive across lake eerie and seeing the greatest skyline of any park in the world just standing there before me after 14 years of badly wanting to visit!!
 
 

No, can’t honestly see this happening for the reasons largely mentioned above. 
 
Disney World is ‘primarily’ aimed at families, hence why most attractions are in the medium-family thrill category as the new additions in Star Wars Land and Avatar Land for example have proven. 
 
Pretty much all the other Disney resorts have ‘thrill based’ parks not particularly far away and they are all able to generally operate successfully without this affecting their product and demographic.

Small coaster? Think I’m also going to have to say Backlot Stunt Coaster. What is packed into it’s space is absolutely sublime and amazing. That helix alone warrants it’s position here IMO. 
 
And big coaster wasting space? Valeavn comes to mind. It just doesn’t really do anything outstanding or different to any other dive coasters or the other (and much better) B&Ms within the same park. 
 
Blivvy has the drop, Valkyria has the variety and Baron has the theming/backstory. This one just exists tbh. 

Sure, why not.
 
Disneyland Paris- My First Ever Visit (April 2015)
I was late to the Disney/overseas game, but wow did it begin on a high!
 
I might’ve been hungover from a night of drinking games, but was I excited. Everything about the trip seemed magical, from entering through the splendid Park entrance to watching Dreams before closing. It’s a trip I will never forget! 
 
Winter Phantasialand (November 2017)
I adore Phantasialand, but seeing it at Winter, was just spectacular. The park just went above and beyond with it’s Christmas event, with no corner looking un-festive. Stayed at Hotel Lingbao that trip, which can only be described as phenomenal.
 
Efteling In The Snow (December 2018)
Regardless of others opinions, visiting Efteling is literally a fairy tale place. Already stunning enough over Winter, we were greeted by several feet of snow on (what was supposed to be) the last day of the trip. The beautiful surroundings looked even more stunning in this setting, especially the entrance building (five senses). 
 
Cedar Point (August 2018)
America was always somewhere I wanted to visit, and that finally happened one late August. Customs might’ve been less desirable, but seeing what is arguably the park with the world’s best coaster selection was remarkable. Lots of atmosphere, even down to Magnificent Seven playing around Steel Vengeance.
 
Blackpool Opening 2020 (February 2020)
Blackpool has always been that place/trip to lift me up whenever life has thrown unwanted curveballs at me, and this one was no exception.
 
I wasn’t in a happy place at the time, however by enduring this opening trip, it was honestly an almost biblical experience. Catching up with friends new and old, experiencing the opening vibes and most importantly, BPB. I’d felt like myself again and ‘pure happiness’ properly for the first time in months. Whether that was nabbing the first PMBO train of that year or facing Icon in the rain.
 
It was all sublime. Pity what paved the way after didn’t quite follow Suite, but that’s covid for you.

It's loggers, isn't it? 😄

Sure, why not.
 
Disneyland Paris- My First Ever Visit (April 2015)
I was late to the Disney/overseas game, but wow did it begin on a high!
 
I might’ve been hungover from a night of drinking games, but was I excited. Everything about the trip seemed magical, from entering through the splendid Park entrance to watching Dreams before closing. It’s a trip I will never forget! 
 
Winter Phantasialand (November 2017)
I adore Phantasialand, but seeing it at Winter, was just spectacular. The park just went above and beyond with it’s Christmas event, with no corner looking un-festive. Stayed at Hotel Lingbao that trip, which can only be described as phenomenal.
 
Efteling In The Snow (December 2018)
Regardless of others opinions, visiting Efteling is literally a fairy tale place. Already stunning enough over Winter, we were greeted by several feet of snow on (what was supposed to be) the last day of the trip. The beautiful surroundings looked even more stunning in this setting, especially the entrance building (five senses). 
 
Cedar Point (August 2018)
America was always somewhere I wanted to visit, and that finally happened one late August. Customs might’ve been less desirable, but seeing what is arguably the park with the world’s best coaster selection was remarkable. Lots of atmosphere, even down to Magnificent Seven playing around Steel Vengeance.
 
Blackpool Opening 2020 (February 2020)
Blackpool has always been that place/trip to lift me up whenever life has thrown unwanted curveballs at me, and this one was no exception.
 
I wasn’t in a happy place at the time, however by enduring this opening trip, it was honestly an almost biblical experience. Catching up with friends new and old, experiencing the opening vibes and most importantly, BPB. I’d felt like myself again and ‘pure happiness’ properly for the first time in months. Whether that was nabbing the first PMBO train of that year or facing Icon in the rain.
 
It was all sublime. Pity what paved the way after didn’t quite follow Suite, but that’s covid for you.

For some reason I’m getting Hyperion vibes with this, which makes no sense given the lack of similarities.
 
I am excited regardless to see (what will hopefully) be such a substantial ride and investment arrive and hit Thorpe and the U.K. I never foresaw the day where we would see this park propose such attraction, especially on the prospect of stealing the U.K. height record.
 
Ok, I must confess there looks to be less ‘airtime’ than desired and I was more leaning on a B&M hyper, but the concept does look exciting. A splashdown sure looks interesting which is more common in American/European parks. It isn’t the longest coaster and it never was going to be. 
 
Seeing (most of) Old Town undergo the bulldozer in the near future may be emotional to some given it’s significance, but it’s time has come for newer and greater things.
 
This will be a long two plus years.

And breathe.
 
As a local, I attended. I aired a question of concern I had, speaking with a member of the presenting team afterwards. 
 
I will give a brief rundown of what we know. I'll try and post in more detail later.
 
1. 72m / 236ft high.
2. A proposed layout didn't give anything away in terms of manufacturer.
3. Someone did say "There is a team performing noise surveys on a similar ride in Turkey"
4. The current design suggests a station roughly where the old train station is. It is compact round the Loggers lake.
4a. A "splash zone" overlooking the lake
4b. Possible inversions, but maybe not. Hard to say.
4c. If inversions, then maybe world's tallest inversion is possible. 
 
The general vibe was that people are frustrated with current noise levels and how the park is operating, but don't seem particularly opposed to a new investment. 
 
As I say, I will try and post more later. Please remain calm.

*blows cobwebs from topic*
 
This weekend I finally returned to Winter Wonderland, after nearly two years. 
 
The new revised pre-paid time slot procedure is annoying (and will probably remain forever), although made entry noticeably more efficient. N.B if you buy attractions in advance, it cancels the entry-fee. 
 
Was great to finally be back and take in the event’s vibrant atmosphere. From it’s festive music, lights and countless attractions and market stalls. I’ve honestly forgotten how fun this place is, despite the crowds and prices (which you need a mortgage for no doubt).
 
Went on six attractions in the end, three of which were pre-booked.
 
Airborne was my first ever booster, so much fun but a shame it couldn’t be longer. The Apres Ski Funhouse was lots of fun, especially when Mr Fish is in-front. Avoid Small World! It is the worst dark ride I have been on and makes Boo Blasters look alright. 
 
Re-rode regulars Munich Looping, Hangover & Wild Maus XXL. Great to be back on these again, but a shame a number of features were not working on the Maus that evening. 

I end this update from a photo, taken from Apres Ski.
 
Visit if you can, while you can!
 

Couldn’t they just aim the high points of the ride away from Staines and towards the back corner of the park? If they did that, surely that might overcome some of the problems?
 
I’ve often heard it said that Thorpe could run a hyper around the back of the park from Old Town/the Logger’s Leap site, with the main body of the ride itself running along the service road around the back of the park.
 
For what it’s worth, John Wardley even said that a hyper would be doable within Thorpe’s planning restrictions.
 
In terms of where Wardley said this, it was a comment made within Making Thorpe Park regarding a B&M Hyper that Wardley and B&M had strategised for a 2012 coaster instead of The Swarm. The source was cited as an interview with John Wardley himself conducted as part of the research for the book (the source is cited as “Interview with John Wardley, 20 July 2020” in the book’s bibliography). Here’s the exact comment; the relevant part is in bold: “When [B&M] was approached to suggest ideas for the first of the new development islands, they were strongly against using the new Wing model. The flat piece of land didn’t really play to the strengths of the concept, and Wardley felt that a different B&M option should be used instead. His preference was a Hyper Coaster, a tall ride that offers high speeds and massive airtime. Having good knowledge of local planning restrictions, he was confident that permission would be agreed and it would be the perfect complement to the four major rollercoasters already in operation at Thorpe Park.”
For context, this would have been a few years after Stealth, perhaps around 2009-2010.   Thorpe’s height ceiling is 500ft, apparently, with structures over 200ft needing to apply to the CAA for approval (due to Heathrow being close by). While I’ll admit that a 500ft coaster seems like a long shot in terms of approval, I don’t see them struggling too much with a hyper in the 200-250ft range, personally. As much as Stealth may have required special permission at the time, I’d argue that it may well have set a precedent for the minimum height that Thorpe would be allowed to build a coaster to; if a coaster of Stealth’s size or a little bit taller encountered issues, then the park could quite feasibly say “We’ve operated Stealth at 205ft for 15 years with no issues” to defend themselves and make a case for the approval of a hyper coaster.

Hi there!
 
I’ll probably be a familiar face if you’re a frequent reader of TowersStreet or CoasterForce, but for those of you who don’t know me; I’m Matt, I’m 18 years old and I’m a theme park enthusiast from the Forest of Dean!
 
In terms of my own history with Thorpe; my first visit was back in 2014, when I was 11, and I’ll admit that even though I didn’t visit Thorpe at least once every year as a child in the same way that I did Alton Towers (the bulk of my Thorpe experiences have certainly been quite recent, unlike Towers where I have a plethora of childhood memories), I have grown a real soft spot for the park over all my visits since then, and I always enjoy a day there! My favourite Thorpe ride is The Swarm, but I’ll admit that Nemesis Inferno has really grown on me in recent years and comes a very close 2nd these days; it’s a smashing coaster, in my opinion!
 
In terms of other theme parks and rides; my current coaster count is 79, my current favourite roller coaster is Mako at SeaWorld Orlando (I last rode it in August 2016, but my goodness do I remember the airtime being brilliant!), and my favourite theme park is Universal’s Islands of Adventure (the theming and general sense of immersion is just spell-binding, in my opinion, and the rides are excellent too; it really is the full package!)!
 
So, that’s a brief introduction to me, for those of you who don’t already know me! I apologise if that’s a little more than you wanted to know (I’m not the best at concise writing…), but that’s some stuff I thought you might find interesting!