Matt 236
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Posts posted by Matt 236
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1/ A great group can make an average park day a great one
I started attending meets on this forum in early 2013 and have had the privilege of attending meet ups at parks around and beyond the U.K.
Though some better than others, a great group of enthusiasts on trips can really make a mid-tier visit a great one. Whether it’s game about asking what people’s chosen coaster is, fun banter and excitement or any other reason. The thorpe park ministry of sound nights were certainly a crazy time indeed.
2/ There are different types of park enthusiasts
The depths of this could honestly be endless, but you have so many different factions on this area. The ones who know literally everything about rides, the ones who just ride coasters, the ones who are more about the experience or those that are there mainly for the social element. In large meet-ups such as the European Coaster Club etc., you are naturally going to get others such as the other halves are just the plus one but ok to be there.
3/ Every enthusiast has different expectations and opinions
To one person Efteling will be the most magical theme park in the world, to another it will be the most mundane thing to exist. To one person Hyperia will be the best coaster in the country (if not the world). To another it will be an underwhelming experience.
Every enthusiast has a different opinion about rides, parks, expectations and everything else and can say I know some from different circles with similar opinions of the above. At the end of the day, being an enthusiast would be a more boring place if we all shared the same opinions there.
4/ A return park can visit can hit different, in the best and worst ways
Parks and people,
sometimes we visit parks 6-8 years ago and find ourselves absolutely amazed and blown away by these places, only sometimes to have a more recent visit and whilst still pleasant, those same wow factors from that previous visit seem missing.
I think this is often down to a number of factors, that wow factor from that first visit has just worn off, you are not the person you were when you went before or the park has declined somewhat. The last 5-10 years have certainly been unkind to the park industry.
Contrary to that, I’ve also revisited a number of parks and have felt feelings nothing short of joy. Walking through Europa’s entrance one bright sunny day, forgetting just how mesmerising Phantom Manor is or the amazement of everything random and wonderful in Energylandia. Feelings and emotions can be a strange thing.
5/ Your expectations change over time
we change through our whole lives, so naturally our expectations to being an enthusiast can and will too.
Ten years ago, I was that enthusiastic desperate to travel to as many parks in the whole and do everything physically possible, whilst perhaps trying to vlog like one of those famous YouTubers. I physically wanted to do everything in a park.
Over the years I’ve gone through phases of wanting to visit places based on their coasters, dark rides and even landscaping. But today, I like to value a well rounded park. I would rather value a handful of decent rides than lapping one until I’m tired and nauseous.
As more and more parks gradually get ticked off our lists, through time it becomes more valuable with who you visit these parks with, rather than where you go. Some enthusiasts who you can call your mates.
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Well, I probably should wait until Drayton’s new coaster opens. However there’s just too many top 10’s to update at this point in time. Right.
Top 10 UK Roller coasters:
1/ Hyperia
2/ Nemesis (Reborn)
3/ Wickerman
4/ Icon
5/ Nemesis Inferno
6/ Swarm
7/ PMBO
8/ Stealth
9/ Big Dipper
10/ Mandrill Mayhem
Top 10 Mack Roller Coasters:
1/ Hyperia
2/ Voltron Navera EP
3/ Blue Fire
4/ Ride To Happiness
5/ Icon
6/ Helix
7/ Euromir
8/ Slinky Dog Dash
9/ Trace Du Hourra-Asterix
10/ Poseidon- Europa,
Top 10 overall Roller Coasters:
1/ Steel Vengeance
2/ Veloci-coaster
3/ Zadra
4/ Toutatis
5/ Mako
6/ Hyperia
7/ Iron Gwazi
8/ Nemesis Reborn
9/ Voltron Navera
10/ Wodan
Honourable Mentions:
Taron, Hyperion, Millenium Force, The Beast, Maverick & Oziris
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Having done the ride in the front, back and middle, it is without a doubt a stunning ride. Operations seemed very good yesterday.
It’s a shame the splashdown looks messy at the moment, but hopefully this is something that can be sorted sometime.
The moments of floater, ejector and hang time on this ride are simply immense IMO.
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Must be something substantial for this to be happening.
Not ideal to be closed during the peak of the school holidays, let alone as one of the park’s main attractions and flagship water ride.
Chessington really haven’t had the best of seasons this year, then again it’s perhaps been a since they have.
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Face It Alone was honestly one of the best things that existed at Fright Nights, it’s a shame it had to stop.
The early carnations were the best IMO. A choice of whatever maze you wanted and some cheeky champers within a lively atmosphere with the director and other actors.
The ceremonial style they did in latter years certainly gave it more of a showcase element and the element of chance, however not getting to choose your maze was a little disappointing.
I did the event at least once in 2014,2015 & 2016. I experienced Cabin In The Woods, Saw Alive (twice) and The Big Top on these events.
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Wow, did that old comment age well!
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Let’s hope they can find/order a replacement part.
Detonator in my eyes is amongst the best drop towers out there and large ones have become a bit of a dying breed in the UK especially since the loss of Apocalypse.
At 23 she still packs a punch.
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Either a coaster or a new water ride in my books.
RMC is the top choice here, especially as it would be at or the near the parks 50th. Failing that, something like Toutatis or Veloci-coaster could also work.
Wouldn’t mind seeing a modern flume/rapids or water coaster too, as this could work.
There are three areas they could put this new development, on the unused island, where the beach & depth charge is or where Rumba is. Might be fitting if they chose a water based attraction.
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I just about managed one ride on Hyperia today for the first time.
It’s a stunning coaster with amazing views, fast snappy elements combining what must be the finest moments of airtime and hangtime in the U.K. at least. Most likely my favourite U.K. coaster, but on the worldwide map it’s a bit of a blur right now.
Sadly 20 minutes after this experience, the ride broke down at the top with the queues eventually cleared. The ride tested throughout the afternoon but never reopened.
I strongly enjoyed my go on this attraction but really hope they can sort the ride’s reliability out pronto, because it seems like a mess at present. Hyperia is one of the hottest new additions to the park in its 45 year history and they must strike the iron while it’s hot!
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I recently went back to Europa for an express trip. Contains spoilers.
The Croatian area looks splendid. So much lavish theming around the courtyard and buildings and nicely integrated into nearby areas.
Voltron looks the part with its photogenic angles and immense queue and station building. I especially like the water effect in the queue and the Teslas in the station are interesting.
Sadly I wasn’t a big fan in the ride, I just found it surprisingly rough and jerky on my first go, the second half is better. Although my second ride was a noticeable improvement, my first impression remains cemented for now. Much prefer the likes of Blue Fire & Euromir.
I went into the Austrian area with open expectations and whilst it (naturally) doesn’t live up to the since destroyed hall, I like what they’ve done to the area. The cool and interesting walkways around the area, amongst the interactions with both rides are lovely. I also like how the finale of the trail is similar to that of the Diamond mine.
I like what they’ve done, which has given new life into the area, especially since rebuilding the original setup probably wouldn’t have been possible.
Rest of the park (albeit brief) was a joy as always, from the near immaculate grounds and ride selection to even random entertainment. Did Snorri Touren for the first time and was a delight.
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Went to Towers yesterday with work mates, to check out the reimagined Nemesis (Reborn).
The ride looks different although striking with the new track colour and other features. I especially love the new giant eye effect/ animatronics, which really enhances the area. The other area theming is fitting too, amongst the new soundtrack and station updates.
The ride was running relitively well, albeit maybe the tiniest of judders. However it was a front-row ride first thing in the day. The queue line has seen a slight but noticeable route change, but still feels fitting to the landscape.
I did Alton Manor, not once but twice. I really enjoyed and appreciated this ride so much more this time and adored the story, effects and set pieces within the ride. Can safely say it’s my favourite U.K. dark ride now.
As for the rest of the park, it’s very trial and error. I love oblivion, but it needs some updates and TLC, Smiler was a little bumpy and breakdowns were noticeable, even to my (mostly ) non ride-enthusiasts group. The lack of support rides was showing, more-so with Sky Ride and Hex (still) closed.
Numerous areas need jetwashing, repainting and replacing. 4pm is just too early to close for a park this size, even if it is low peak. Towers isn’t a bad park by any means, but there’s a number of basic things they could do to become a great one!
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And we have some new POVS of the almost complete (and updated) Alpen Express & Wildwasserbahn.
I can pinpoint the start and the end of where the Diamond Mine used to be in the Alpen video.
it still isn’t complete, but what they have done is still astounding, especially when a park on the edge of Greater London still has a similar ride SBNO.
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I think some new flat rides would be a great idea, especially as they work well to support the coasters and some are no doubt coming towards their end of their lives. Vortex & Detonator will be 25 in a couple years.
Another new coaster in the future would be great, but maybe in a number of years when Hyperia settles in. A modern water ride could work too. Put it where the beach and depth charge are or maybe as a replacement for Rumba.
A dark ride doesn’t seem a necessity really especially given the park’s current identity and how disastrous the Ghost Train has been.
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It’s a honestly a park where you think their operations couldn’t get any worse. Yet somehow it does.
At this rate, they might as well close for park for a year and carry out a massive maintenance upgrade, especially with half the park’s rides on life support.
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Although different circumstances, it is crazy how in half the time Scorpion has been closed, Towers have rebuilt/plushed Nemesis and Europa have replaced their largely fire damaged version of the same ride. As part of a whole area rebuild.
Meanwhile at Chessington, we still know nothing more about the fate of the ageing Scorpion Express. Which has been SBNO for almost 2 years now, but looking increasingly likely to be permanently closed. I guess this isn’t the first time this has happened at a notable park. When we see what with the Hollywood ride at Phantasialand and various closures over the years at Blackpool.
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Very embarrassing and poor for the park to deliver this level of service for the opening of the park. It seems to get worse every year, with last few leaving lots to be desired also.
Chessington’s reliability issues are certainly even worse than Thorpes and Towers.
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A lot of the above is looking a lot better than before.
Whilst I expect there are some imperfections and areas that will contrast (at least for now), I am looking forward to seeing these updates in what looks to be the biggest TLC project in the park’s post Tussaud days.
Lets hope they keep this a consistent thing and don’t abandon it like Towers Loving Care.
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It has taken a big loggers leap into the sky.
Better chance of Eclipse returning than that.
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Map perfectly competent to me, much better than those silly big heads from all those years ago.
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These updates are lovely, have never seen this amount of work or updates around the park in my time being an enthusiast.
stealth already looks a lot better.
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To be fair even if it isn’t entirely like the concept art, I’m sure it will be better than its Angry Birds Land carnation. Which isn’t difficult for them to do.
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It was an interesting excursion during its first season, but after that generally forgettable.
Like many walkthrough attractions before it, this one aged like milk.
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19 hours ago, JoshC. said:
This was difficult and probably would change order.
Legendia I visited 6 years ago, and I hear the park isn't as good as it was then. So that may change.
I'd be interested to go back to Liseberg and see how I feel about it; I just didn't vibe with it when I visited 7 years ago.
I’ve been to Legendia twice, in 2021 and 2023.
It was definitely a park with charms and a stunning flagship coaster, however the park seemed rundown with a number of attractions either looking on their last legs or SBNO. We were actually evac’d from the twin looping coaster on our front trip as the chain snapped.
I mean Liseberg is nice, I like their flume ride, Balder is incredible and the rest of the ride lineup is generally staple. I stayed in the Grand Curiosa hotel during its opening with the ECC and consider it one of the nicest park hotels I’ve done so far. The Oceana water park looks promising too.
Park Operations
in General Discussion
Posted
Merlin always seem to this vicious cycle thing of going through investments followed by cuts, the latter seems to be coming into effect once again.
I think it’s really disappointing that the parks right now are increasing less able to offer a full product offering, whether it’s been closed/mothballed rides or just not running them on low peak days. Thorpes cuts may be less noticeable, but they are certainly there.
At Towers I wouldn’t be surprised if both Skyride and Hex are still closed in 2025.