Matt 236

Really hate this universal hissy fit stuff about them not wanting I-drive and literally knocking them down at every possible opportunity. Okay, they need competitive tactics and the like, WDW knocked off their original plans and built the tram tour, but the way they are generally tackling I-drive is unprofessional. You don't see WDW slating Volcano Bay or Mako or Sea World doing the same with the likes of Star Wars Land or Kong, so isn't an acceptable approach. There's businesses then there's brutally ruthless bullyng, this case seems to be the latter. Further proof of Uni's skyplex hissy fit (simply a brutal tactic to reduce competition) is the light and height pollution thing. First of all, several of their rides are already fairly high, yes 500ft is a completely different matter but then there's the Orlandi Eye down the road which is 400ft, which begs the question of if they didn't want the height thing, why didn't they oppose this project? Simple, it's not competition in the conventional sense. Then we go on to light & noise pollution, Universal gives off lots of light pollution due to its size, function in addition to its frequently used soundstages (the image above proves this) and no doubt I drive residents can hear Uni's outside rides very distinctively including the recently silenced roar of Hulk so these claims make no sense and are surely invalid. I think the aspect of Universal wanting the land for their own development is another factor. Whilst apart from its height, idrive probably won't be a patch on other parks in the area, Uni's method of reacting to it certainly not sound. It's a shame really they've acted the way they did as aside from that, they're probably the park/resort in Orlando that are potentially improving the most, especially when you compare it to earlier updates such as Disaster & Rip Ride Rocket to the likes of The Potter expansions, Transformers and Kong which look superior in comparison. I'm yet to experience the likes of Orlando in the present (though I have several big parks coming up), so can't properly address the situation as much as I know a fair amount here have been here at least once.

My unofficial scary blog of the trip is now live. Now you can witness what shenanigans unfold and who survives Brave It Alone. https://youtu.be/TTT9ls2MHyE

This place is already looking great and that's before they've even finished the area off. So happy to have a project like this currently going on in the uk.

This is promising news, Paramount needs to happen to bring uk park standards to the likes of what we have in Europe, things will hopefully work out here.

I'll take the Sky Fly anytime.

Another enjoyable meet, was great to see everyone again, plus meeting some new faces such as Matty Moo who is more than just a legendary bag holder. Brave it alone was fantastic, a lot more extreme than last years standards by a large margin, won't reveal but if you're in to extremely scary mazes with extreme manhandling and the like and don't mind getting your clothes ruined a it, this is definitely the experience for you. Massive thanks goes to everyone there especially Mer,Peaj & Mr Fish. Hope to see you guys at another meet soon.

At Thorpe today, Samurai has been closed all day, it's had some testing but has so far not opened yet. The ride really needs replacing with answer model.

Tbh I'm reluctant to trust these are official clothing at all, especially seeing that other rumours this morning appear to be fake and that we already have some t-shirt mercy already, things today haven't made any sense st all. I could well be wrong tomorrow however.

Samurai closed just days after supposedly opening from a massive work up project? Not at all surprising, Merlin really need to just replace it with a newer model regardless of things like paper work and costs (would be much cheaper & easy). I'll be on park tomorrow (with a large chunk of TPM) to see what's happening and if it's the case it's died again just after getting the kiss of life.

What a day for fake news, first that WC16 name & description, now this. What next, Air gets an airport theme & their food loop becomes themed around an airport baggage reclaim?

Dreamland's halloween event sound absolutely fantastic! The quality and effort by the sounds put in to those mazes sounds astounding, especially for a park that has only just reopened, plus the overall feel for all ages feels like a great touch too. Very very tempted to go to this now, but probably won't get the time this year, but sounds so amazing.

They say this ride will be a game changer. I can't decide on twister or mouse trap. In all seriousness hope it isn't an immersive tunnel as it would be a bit of a let down if it was one.

It's good to see Samurai up and running again (having so many rides already closed), but there's only so much do to keep a dying horse still racing.

Seeing the Scenic testing is certainly a pleasing site (and should mean very soon we'll have another woodie Cree back in the uk). Despite the debatable OTT mesh panels, I look how the train has retained many of the original features of the old ride, rather than a bog standard 'this will do' train; or worse, Bakkenista. By the looks, they have only one train (for now) but judging by the size of the warehouse, hopefully another one or two should be appearing in the future. With the amount of things added, it almost feels like a brand new ride built in a traditional style considering all the wood, trains & mechanics (presumably) were all replaced in the restoration.

Ooh, most of the building is done, I'm getting a little bit excited here, Thorpe's marketing team are doing a great job so far. Looking at the building, it is definitely looking much more of an orangey red now compared to the similarities of the light brown it appeared to have earlier on.

It looks pretty, very pretty! Almost reminds me of a cross between Disney & Efteling style architecture for some reason (I wonder why ) If a teacups ride at the park looks impressive, I can't to see what they do with a full blown GCI!

Anyone braving it alone may want to bring scruffy clothes and/or a spare change, judging from what happened to Peaj last Sunday. Proper excited for this meet now!

Agree with everything except maybe MBV, Cabin is the best maze, Big Top maybe the worst, Saw is much better and Containment is good fun.

Ok, my turn, time to Creeken the Thorpe. 2016 WC16 opens [and is a roaring success hopefully] Areas surrounding new ride given touch up's and external imporvements to make it look nicer. 2017 Rumba Rapids is rethemed to an Aztec themed adventure, queueline, entrance and tunnel are rebuilt and some areas of the ride are re-tracked.The updated ride will now feature dark ride sections. IMA score will create a long soundtrack to the new ride. Samurai is replaced with a brand new model due to it's old age yet high popularity Colossus receives brand new trains with lapbars and the surrounding area is cleaned up alongside some effects in the queue too, PR stunt done. I'm A Celeb becomes SBNO Slammer & X close as part of major project dubbed TPC19 2018 Thorpe Hotel opens and features a loose waterside/ party theme with many rooms available, a water bus service is offered daily Calypso Quay Burger King closes down and is replaced by a Food Loop style restaurant which features unique track routes based on Thorpe coasters, Dome receives some major works where the theming is rebuilt to look like a lost paradise and freshen the place up. The exterior of the dome is repainted blue and white with the lower level given more of an ocean underwater theme to reflect it's level underwater. IAC area becomes home to daily shows based on a successful non dying IP Entrance plaza is demolished as part of a major rebuilding project to modernize the entrance, a tempory entrance is built with water buses taking people to the island. 2019 TPC ride opens on former X & Slammer sites, which is a new dark ride [different to WC16] and will be a coaster ride [if WC16 isn't] and will use a retro space theme and be some kind of obscure world first. Brand new entrance plaza opens with a modernised ticket collection area, electronic collection machines, updated pass centre, wider improved entrance bridge and centre piece item which will either be fountain or shark like object. Park holds massive 40th anniversary celebrations by doing evening concerts and fireworks in the summer and releasing limited merchandise too. 2020 New hotel extension opens up with exotic topical island theme High ropes course opens Angry birds Ip expires and area is disolved in to Amity cove with a new film created too. 2021 Family coaster opens on Fungle site which is a mack family all star. Loggers leap closes for major development. 2022 Brand new state of the art water ride opens in canada creek with a native theme styled like Chiapas. Rocky express lightly rethemed, canada creek area resurfaced and updated. 2023 New wooden coaster opens Meh

Seeing a ride running/testing months before opening [presuming this is opening in March] is always a happy sight. Once the other rides are running this shall hopefully give them more time to work on the theming and landscaping which like the whole project looks rather exciting.

Safe to say, Universal is building is new ride for 2016 called Hulk which is replacing an old ride called Hulk, which had exactly the same theme & layout but the newer version will be more updated with more effects and theming most likely.

Is this the end?

Made a vlog on my trip to Thorpe last saturday. Here's how it went.

I guess this means Shanghai Disney won't open until 2017 now .

Indeed it has. Probably a good job I'm not going now as plans to go that day fell through with this being the last nail in the coffin. Really really wish they'd stop doing these late minute opening hour cut backs as some people they've got to abruptly change their plans or worse, waste three hours done nothing.