Matt 236

Wow! The throughputs here make the uk's high throughput rides look like Boating School. As for California Adventure itself, looks a great park there with cars land, screamin & the original mermaid ride and mickeys wheel. Certainly looks an improvements from its early days.

Yay! This is good news. Now to try and organise a visit ASAP so I can ride it again! Just hope it lasts all season.

The Smiler, 1/ Get corrected reversed- make the trains go backwards 2/ Re-dub as the most thrilling coaster experience 3/ Rebuild the station with shipping containers 4/ Add a john Wardley model in the queue line 5/ Add more 'hidden' cattle pens 6:Repaint the track in bright yellow and pink 7/ ride IP 8/ put roofs on the trains to reduce noise 9/ Drop a cow down oblivion drop 10/ rebuild the ride because everything failed.

Went to Angry Birds today and have to say it was quite good. The 4D Cinema was really good, the effects they used were very impressive and the storyline quirky with a few comedic moments. The Dodgems are great fun and I love the simple but effective cars too. The rest of the area is ok, with a few simple but effective theming elements located around the area and nearby buildings, all I like very much with the possible exception of the pig graffiti near the cinema. Whilst its nothing remarkable and not a patch on the likes of Disney & Universal, it's a nice small/basic retheme of the old area in which has filled what was mostly a dead and soulless area with a bit of life. Full review on its way.

Zero G on B&M, hands down. Family Guy or American Dad?

It's very sad when something like this happens in the themepark industry. I feel sorry for his family and hope the 2nd worker makes a quick recovery. I hope this incident isn't the fault of Europa and doesn't give them a bad reputation as the effort they put in to everything at the park is fantastic.

I used the system (sort of) yesterday when I went to the park. We were met in when we arrived 9:30, ish snd managed to get a ride on Fury & Kobra successfully whilst there were few queues. Vampire was 45 minutes by the time we got which was just after 9:45. I think as long as they let pass holders and guests in normal and permit them on rides, then I don't really have a problem with the system.

That King Pig or Tuk Tuk Dodgems?

It seemed operational today when I visited, and received monstrous queues of up to 50 minutes (fury & vampire were on a hour queue today). However, the ride seemed to close later in the day (just before I considered riding in fact), where it was strange sights as one of the trains seemed to be travelling backwards on the track with the back rows empty with the doors open and then seemed to be pulling another train from behind too.

There's more bad news for what's been a bit of a depressing day themepark wise. Apparently the Scenic has been the target of arsonists again source Themepark Logic. News: Scenic Railway at Dreamland Margate targeted again by arsonists Sad news again this evening with reports there has been another arsonist attack on The Uk's Oldest Rollercoaster Scenic Railway at Dreamland Margate a statement by the Dreamland trust said: "There was an arson attack on the Scenic Railway this evening. The fire was successfully put out and there was minimal damage. The site is currently being boarded up and secured." The coaster last suffered damage from a similar incident in 2008 when 25% of the coaster was lost due to a major arsonist attack. Photos below some of the damage from the last attack in 2008 and the artist impression of how the Coaster will look after restoration as part of the Dreamland Trust... From the team here on TPL we hope the damage doesn't effect a wonderful ongoing project to reopen Dreamland as a heritage amusement park in the near future and I am sure this will now drive the trust on more to protect a bit of British Coaster History that people disrespect.

Drenched is a fantastic water ride and the sensation during the drop and splash, are fantastic. Definitely prefer it to Tidal Wave (although I still enjoy the ride).

I think it's brilliant that the entrance theme and end of the day music will be playing again. Always made me feel excited or happy when I heard either of these play and will be nice to see them returned. Whilst the chart music worked in that it appealed to the target audience, it just wasn't the same and made the place feel more like a seaside pier than a themepark. Maybe they will still play the noise in the beach and dome.

From what I've seen so far, CBeebies land looks quite nice. The area is looking nice and fresh with lots of theming and elements added. Can't wait to see what on lines videos & POV's have been made in the area.

Colossus has definitely been running smoother recently compared to 06-11 where I found the ride to be pretty rough unless I sat at the front (something I did often in those days). Saw whilst tougher than it was in its opening year (a somewhat typical best of Merlin Gerst coasters) isn't too rough either. Whilst 'the jolt' is still there and some cars are slightly smoother than others, I don't find the ride too bad and nay even argue that this ride is also a tad smoother than it was. Tbh unless something terrible or major happens (which I certainly hope doesn't), I strongly doubt we'll see any of the coasters removed from the park (including the fish) for at least 15 years. In terns of flats though, I would say we'll be seeing some leave much sooner unless their reliabilities and workings improve in the near future and could predict the following removal dates. Slammer 2015-2018 Samurai 2016-2019 Vortex 2020-2021 Zodiac 2022 These are just open guesses.

I do hope we see the track repaired and the trains running again in the near future. Judging from the SP photos, all the trains are still there and look in relatively good condition (although one looks like it could have a slight repaint). Whilst they're at it, I'd like to see Loggers refreshed too, rebuilt tunnel, repainted and touched up station plus general TLC to the ride overall. TBH I wished they'd spent that money on the railway rather than slammer as at least its a ride that can a tusk my work and is pretty reliable (the railway that is).

The entrance & clock tower theming looks rather nice and am really liking the look of the Postman pat ride. Can't say I'm a fan of the Charlie & Lola facade, although it does resemble the shows style in animation. I hope the new area includes some new animatronics & interactive elements, otherwise it will seem a bit dull compared to its predessceror Old Macdonlds & Storybook, which had the book worm & Singing Barn.

Had a close call recently on (another) dog walk. Was nearly home from the walk when a small Vauxhall 4x4 of a bluish purple colour came down the lane. Whilst it was. Speeding, the car was suddenly turning in to us as we walked (as there are no pavements around there). The car came so close to us that I literally had to get as high as I could on the steep verge near some hedge (whilst relying on strong balance) otherwise I'm certain he would've run over my feet at the least. Have no idea what was up with this driver (surely drunk or drugged) but this incident was a bit scary and he was mad! Luckily no one got injured.

I'm in (lift depending).

I'm absolutely certain I've ridden both trains this year on visits to the park, and can confirm both feel pretty smooth at the moment.

Wow! The area has built up and progressed very quickly (although Dodgems are a ride that can be built in one day). The area so far looks quite nice with lots of theming character and features and better than I expected. Dodgems look great and will hopefully look even better when finished and the vinyl and stuff added.

Based on the plans, the hotel looks really nice and am loving how that the park basing a number of recent additions on the water/nautical theme which suites the park's image well. I'm also liking the general improvements as well, such as the new drop off area which should be an improvement on the existing one. Hopefully it will actually be happening it's been eight years since these plans have started now.

Do Scorpion Express first, as the new ride (or should I day rethemed and advertised) for 2014 I expect it will get big queues, some days it's been as long as 90 minutes (which is crazy for a small'ish powered coaster (fish doesn't even reach 30 minutes on a very busy Thorpe day)). Next, try and get Fury, Kobra, Vampire and TombBlaster done (and falls if the weather is nice). If the coasters go above 45 minutes (or more), it may bad best to try again later. It may also be best having an early/ late lunch as the ride queues may be slightly quieter at lunchtime plus it may be worth just queuing for a ride just before closing I.E Fury.

I think it would be great if Thorpe would get a dark ride type attraction for next year. Assuming we don't see that next big coaster until 2017, we do need something relatively large investment wise in between plus I think the park need at least 2 dark ride attractiones (on top of X) to complete the ride selection there.

You are the weakest ban goodbye!

And now we have a three way tie