Matt 236

I think Alton just want to get the guests back, but if marketing is doing correctly it'll Towers down.

I'm your camera man!

Silver Star also can't operate beyond 8pm either as a result of its location. Rest of the park is unaffected as I'm aware.

Yeah, looking at the map it does seem those rides mentioned above do sound a little out of place in their current forms, so theming them up would be great to see. Assuming next year will be a smaller year (seeing the medium-large investments we've seen) theming the Cobra Edge area to something on the lines of recent themes (but different) would be nice. I'd like to see their next big thing after Lost Kingdom maybe be either a small, but decent dark ride or a family wooden coaster. The Go karts could make for an ideal location, or even the compact Flume ride which I expect is also starting to look out of place in contrast to the recent upgrades.

A surprising but wonderful announcement there. Very happy to see Celia joining the team and I look forward to seeing her exciting contributions to meets in the near future. Speaking on meets, all of them have been fantastic in their own unique ways developing from strength to strength and getting better each year seeing the memories, running and attendance numbers increase upon each year. Taking these in to account (especially the latter), the need to grow the meet org. team is definitely a crucial one, especially as receiving attendances up to 40 sometimes. If anyone needs an extra hand at meets, I'm willing to help out where necessary. Whether that be things like navigating split groups (if the group splits) or simply minor things too. 2015 was a great year for meets, let's make 2016 an even greater one!

Really liking how Paultons is starting to become of the leading theme parks in the Uzk, especially since they now have several definitive areas (Lost Kingdom, Peppa Pig & Critter Creek). They're on track to be the Uk's best family park.

They will have the fastest in Europe too. The ride is expected to reach speeds of over 110mph. The ride will be around 370ft so will definitely be Europe's tallest, which is currently held by Shamhala at 250ft (followed by Silver Star & The Big One.

PortAventura World? That'll take a bit of getting used to, but I guess it makes sense now with there being a 2nd gate opening next year. Ferrari World looks decent. Like the look of the Vibrant thrilling rides alongside the characteristic entrance way which I'm glad they used a style similar to the main park. With the massive launch coaster, it make me question how long Baco has left especially with the problems it's been having lately.

I like these, I like these a lot. One of the best bits of Merch the park have done for a while.

I love seeing B&M's being close together. I also love purple and light blue track. The next addition after Mako by the way will be some form of dark ride. Mako sure looks to be another great coaster in the east coast and I hope it helps Sea World considering visitor numbers are still falling.

I for one am quite excited for the addition. It'll hopefully be an exciting experience not to mention the largest dark ride we've received since Valhalla too. For the amount being spent, whilst I doubt it'll be a TOT or POTC, I am hoping it will be a fantastic unique and immersive experience and give us something fresh and new not just in Thorpe and Merlin, but the UK park industry. Whilst the name leaves something to be desired IMHO, I guess it seems similar to the names of other Derren Brown projects. For example, Apocalypse and Push To The Edge did exactly what they did on the tin, and it seems to be this is going for that ideal too. The simplistic name on another silver lining may help promote the ride easier as well, which if it is a success could hopefully lead to a new generation of dark rides in other uk parks. The rundown building reminds a bit of a cross between Baron 1898 and some of Universal's buildings in Diagon Alley and whilst it's not really a patch on either, it has to be one of the nicest buildings Merlin have produced yet.

Mind The Track

According to Chessington Buzz, news has been released in to what's to come for the 2016. The good: Alongside Vampire's repainted entrance, Tomb Blaster is apparently receiving a massive update/refurbishment. Abdab? Pandemonium will be going where the Reindeers are (which will be relocated). The Bad, Skyway Safari is set to be removed completely with the whole ride gone by main season. The area the ride was located will be occupied by lockers (shame the area will be rather disused).

The irony, people want Merlin to repaint rides and when they do, people complain. I'm not complaining. If Air's been painted, it just leaves forest, smiler and mine train to sort.

I remember Oblivion's paint job strongly but I see it being done more so for the addition of the Smiler, otherwise it would've contrasted with the area and not in a good way. Merlin have repainted some rides, but I consider coaster repainted to be of a larger scale, hence why I am very happy to see Nemesis receiving some needed love, especially being one of the park's biggest and best rides. Some may have interpreted my firmer as some attempt of 'Merlin bashing'. But let me assure you, I want the park (and others) to do well and be at their best. Hence why seeing rides especially at our parks is satisfactory to witness.

Typical, unjustified yet not surprising. Just the mirror being the mirror really. It is best to avoid feeding the trolls as they are only after you're attention. Whilst I don't think the VR scheme is the way to save towers, hopefully it'll be quite successful considering the terrible last season they have experienced.

After WC16? There should be, on the assumption Logger's is no more, a GCI woodie and an Intamin flume on that site would be nice. Failing that, a Mack mega or B&M Hyper would be good as well.

Safe to say Hollywood Studios is definitely not the park to visit at the moment. Alongside this more shows & meet and greets are closing, One Man's Dream should be going anyday and there won't be anymore Star Wars weekends or Osbourne Lights Spectacular, not to mention the many construction fences. Makes most other parks (where 2016 isn't their year) look worthwhile to visit.

Surely there's going to be a ride system based there, due to the fact there will be an onride moment and the plans mentioning of maintenance areas as well.However what this will be (what's probably been debated for a long time) is still unknown. Dynamic is a name that's appeared many times before so it could well be them who build the ride system. As long as the ride is set upon the standards of Derren's shows then this ride will hopefully be no worse than 'very good' to say the least. I have a feeling lots more is being done inside. Efteling's dark ride will be completely different though in a good way.

I'm initially interested in seeing this, as I've heard exciting things about this event. For those going, how easy is it t navigate and what would be the best time frame to go around all of this?

They certainly won't getting a Haunted Mansion clone, due to their views of the afterlife, but never say never about a Mystic variant though.Park on the other hand looks a stunner like most Disney parks, especially that Buzz variant. Let's hope this staggered opening thing isn't too major though otherwise I can't see the park being too popular on its opening year.

Interesting update there. Tales Of The Coast didn't appear on last year's map and looking at the picture, it wouldn't surprise me if its been ripped out. Whilst it was never anything fantastic (and looked quite dated & worn), I hope whatever's planned to replace it is both large scale and original. Something on the lines of Hobs Pit or even Marbles would be nice.

Judging by how much is already done and that there's five months left, I bet this area will look fab in the end. It's so nice to see a park like Paultons put so much love in their projects and they definitely look like they've jumping up in greatness since Cobra.

Well, this looks visually stunning to say the least. I bet by 2019, DLR will be even more wonderful with this reimaged area and the new Star Wars. A fair few attractions will be closed this year though including the railroad, Fantasmic, Mark Twain Riverboat and the ranch (which is getting demolished). As a result I expect the park will really buckle this year during busy days.

Definitely an ambitious project and change, that's for sure. Having not done a VR ride yet, I am not too sure how it will compare to the original and just hope it's not too nauseating for most guests. No surprises in Merlin reusing the 'game changer' tag, although we will have to see what happens when it opens. I am glad there's a no VR option for those who get nauseated or want to see the ride in it's original form. I just hope the tunnel's had lots of work done and they've worked out how throughput will work. Though it won't open until April, I get a feeling Merlin are using tactical staggered openings here to try and keep guest figures consistant, as the park will reopen march, Galactica in April, Coaster Restaurant in May and then the peak season starts.