Matt 236

I would love to come, as I haven't been to Southend for five years now. In terms of the dates, I can do Saturday the 15th and should also be availible for the 23rd as well. I won't be able to do the 16th as I'm working all day and there would no chance of changing this.

Dragons Fury (5) Vampire (5) Rattlesnake (5) Dragon Falls (5) Bubbleworks (5) Black Buccaneer (6) Kobra (5) Monkey Swinger (5) Rameses Revenge (6) Tomb Blaster (5) Sea Storm (5) Carousel (4) Flying Jumbos (5) Tuk Tuk Turmoil (6) Griffins Galleon (3) Dragons Fury +1 Griffins Galleon -1

From what I've seen and heard so far, I can only predict that we will be extremely disappointed with the final product. If there's no rock work or immersive queue line for the ride, it will be a disaster. Chessington has lost the ball very badly in recent years, with the exception of Wild Asia, and although I only started visiting the park after it's peak in 2006, I can safely say the park was better then from. What it is now and during 2013, only a few good moves were made to the park, one of which has now burnt down. Whilst Thorpe and even Towers are progressing each year, Chessington now seems to be slipping back and looking at its long past too much and needs to start getting their head round this and delivering us some exciting developments as if there's no rocks or equivalent next year at the park, I certainly won't be visiting more than a couple of times.

I remember when Legoland wasn't so commercialised during its early years where although fewer rides, there was much more character in the park including the technic robot band in My Town (now Lego City), more animatronic scenes on Pirate Falls the original waterworks (before the ones removed for the current ones) and also the mystic Explorers Institute and the atmospheric Magic Theatre. All of these now removed, the latter two at least for worse.

I think what you're going through is bang out of order and the people you are facing are selfish inconsiderable arseholes, especially the way things are turning and how they've reacted to it, I hope they only end up working in Mcdonalds. Unfortunately even at uni, there will be horrible, stupid and selfish people, even at the top ones as well. Even if there's only 5-10% horrible people uni with say 15,000 for example, that's still 750-1500 nasty students. It's such a shame it's turned out like it has, especially when uni is supposed one of the best times of you're for learning new things and meeting lots of new and different people, as this sort of bullying your facing is child'ish, obnoxious and completely immature and this is the sort of thing you'd expect at secondary school (which I consider usually the worst time for bullying with most people).

Dragons Fury (6) Vampire (5) Rattlesnake (7) Dragon Falls (5) Bubbleworks (5) Black Buccaneer (5) Kobra (5) Monkey Swinger (7) Rameses Revenge (5) Tomb Blaster (5) Sea Storm (5) Carousel (4) Flying Jumbos (5) Tuk Tuk Turmoil (5) Griffins Galleon (5) Toadies Crazy Cars (1) Rattlesnake+ Toadies Crazy Cars-

These line up of attractiones don't sound too had now, for any preschool kids and judging from the line up, the number go round will be the rethemed Doodle do Derby. I hope 8 million does this area justice as that figure is approximately twice the cost of Sub-Terra considering no new ride systems are set to be installed. Post man pat's certainly a good choice for a ride as he's been around since and probably before my time and presumably still remains very popular to this day.

Judging from what's been said, I'm very interested in the giant scorpion idea, as it brings something new and I hope interactive which could be a great addition to the ride if done right. If they are doing away with the bridge to the station, I hope we see a decently themed queue line that builds up the ride experience, but that being said knowing Merlin, we'll probably get a cattle pen just like the ones in Saw and the Smiler. I really do hope the rocks, or a strong equivalent are built within otherwise the ride certainly won't be the same or anything near as good as it was in its old form. If they must keep the old, I hope they can at least make the seats and restraints like those on the fish as I find them more co fable than those that were on mine train.

Dragons Fury (5) Vampire (6) Rattlesnake (6) Dragon Falls (5) Bubbleworks (5) Black Buccaneer (7) Kobra (4) Monkey Swinger (5) Rameses Revenge (6) Tomb Blaster (5) Safari Skyway (1) Sea Storm (5) Carousel (5) Flying Jumbos (5) Tuk Tuk Turmoil (5) Griffins Galleon (5) Toadies Crazy Cars (5) Skyway - Vampire+

I know that 2012 had low attendance figures then ( a drop around 5% I think). As Fred says, 2013's still hasn't been released however I would say its likely there has been a slight increase in attendance figures last year, in comparison to 2012.

This looks excellent. I take it this will either be the Waterfront hotel entrance or a new bar. Which ever it is, looks fantastic.

Dragons Fury (5) Vampire (6) Rattlesnake (5) Dragon Falls (5) Bubbleworks (5) Black Buccaneer (7) Kobra (5) Monkey Swinger (5) Ramesis Revenge (6) Tomb Blaster (5) Safari Skyway (2) Sea Storm (5) Caroulsel (5) Flying jumbos (5) Tuk Tuk a Turmoil (5) Griffins Galleon (5) Toadies Crazy Cars (4) Vampire+ Safari Skyway -

Can't say I'm surprised Falls won't be rethemed now due to Mine Train and Market Square's retheme in addition to the monkey kingdom retheme and the (perhaps not something the park needed) Azteca Hotel. Must admit, I'm very disappointed Falls will remain in it's poor sorry state as there's almost nothing immersive or impressive about the ride currently which looks about as exciting as an oversized sea side resort flume ride in the present. I hope these other projects will have a lot of effort placed in to them and Ramesis will reopen once again. As for Creaky, I doubt it'll open in march and have no idea what will happen on the place whether they can salvage the remains, rebuild it or a different eatery or leave it empty for 2014. Next season could be a mixed one and hopefully won't be worse than the last couple we've had which IMO have been poor show by the park.

I'm quite mixed in terms of this new investment. I think its great that the park are now investing in something that appeals more for the family market, however at the same time can appeal to older people too unlike CBeebies land. I think the 4D movie could be very good and also use an area of the park which has been disused as well. I guess the Dodgems will be located where on of the arcade areas currently lye, although I hope they present it nicely as to make a great fun addition. My only concerns are with Detonator as I hope they don't ruin the ride's presentation, as the ride looks okay in its current state. I think providing this Angry Birds movie does come out in a couple of years, then this area should last a while.

Dragons Fury (8) Vampire (5) Rattlesnake (6) Dragon Falls (5) Bubbleworks (5) Black buccaneer (7) Kobra (5) Monkey Swinger (5) Peeking Heights (3) Ramesis Revenge (6) TombBlaster (5) Safari Skyway (5) Sea Storm (6) Caroulsel (5) Flying jumbos (5) Tuk Tuk a Turmoil (4) Griffins Galleon (5) Toadies Crazy Cars (5) Dragons Fury+ Peeking Heights -

Slammer is a good ride, it offers a thrilling and unique experience I find different to the rest of the lineup and also being just one of two rides at the park which make me afraid during the peak of the ride. I like the ride, it just has an awful reliability, except when it's snowing.

Arthur and the Minimoys ride looks brilliant. The usage of sound systems on the cars and the ability to rotate them freely and vary the speeds sounds fantastic. Along with a series of heavily themed scenes and an outdoor section looks set for a brilliant ride. Looks another great coaster at the park and one for the family market after the additions of thrill coasters Wodan and Bluefire.

Must admit, CBeebies land to me is just completely dull and boring. The experiences announced so far sound bland and only interesting to anyone up to 8 years at a push. The only addition confirmed so far I have some interest in is the In The Night Garden to see what can be done with the models and landscaping, but the rest I can't be bothered with. My expectations for this themed area, are currently rather low.

Thanks Stretch, Interesting what they're doing around CBeebies land with the construction, although still looks like a lot of the old features are still there. I'm currently not too interested in the CBeebies land seeing most things they've released recently look aimed at the very young which was probably the intention in the first place. I'm surprised Toadstall is gone, however surely it's just gone in for extensive maintenance as I would be surprised if they removed it. That's pretty hefty damage to the gardens wall, so hopefully they'll be able to repair that easily.

2014/ Brand new enhanced 4D cinema with cinema with effects Return of CCR with a theme of hunger games to make it more popular. Loggers completely refreshed with a newly constructed tunnel. Rumba renamed Jungle Rapids with a new adventurous theme. Plus anything already confirmed 2015 A brand new flat ride in the park, possibly a gladiator style one. Colossus is repainted, with a dark blue and yellow colour. Ranger county is repainted. 2016 A brand new GG woodie coaster is built on Island A with either a castle or Roman theme. A brand new entrance is build which is themed around a gateway to a lost island. 2017 A brand new dark ride is built on the site of fungle safari themed around the journey to Thorpe park. Banana ride relocated Storm surge is removed. 2018 Detonator moved to Storm Surge's footprint Detonator site closed off for construction of major new dark ride Colossus given brand new floor less trains, making it the worlds first floor less 10 looping coaster 2019 Brand new haunted house dark ride where detonator originally stood built Swarm turned forwards 2020 Saw contract expires and renamed Creaky Mine Samurai replaced with new top scan. 2021 Brand new hotel opens Sunken gardens enhanced New boating service to hotel provided 2022 Brand new flyer installed where crash pads were. Slammer breaks down permanently 2023 Brand new KMG model where slammer was. Vortex and zodiac removed to make way for new dark tide coaster in 2024. Zodiac is given to towers for spare parts for enterprise.

Based on year openings, here's park area upgrades, within the last 10 years. Chessington Zoo-various upgrades. Moving and upgrading animal enclosures plus adding new features and interactions. Market Square, no upgrade, nothing drastic has changed in the area except the greedy goblin to chicken shack and pizza pasta (formerly Pizza Hut and KFC) Pirates Cove- no upgrade, little has changed in this area except the removal of peg leg Pete. Land of the Dragons- no upgrade, but this area is the fourth newest anyway (2nd if you exclude the area rethemes) although those children's attractions could do with being replaced. Mystic Easy- semi upgrade, we've seen samurai moved down the road and a big wheel take its place. Unfortunately falls has lost most of its theming since opening. This area will likely see a bigger upgrade around 2015. Transylvania- semi upgrade, we've seen Bubbleworks become the horrible duck inducing ride it is today, although something at will hopefully change in the not to distant future and Mcdonalds become BK and then Burger kitchen which looks ok but doesn't obtain the spooky character of the area. There was also the upgrade of Refresh to Creaky, but sadly it burnt down and little is known what will happen there. Judging by this year, market Square and Mexicana will get the most TLC in the areas however his unforeseen Transylvania fire may mean that area will need some attention next year. Mystic East and Pirates above may be on the cards next year.

Dragons Fury (7) Vampire (5) Rattlesnake (5) Dragon Falls (5) Bubbleworks (5) Black Buccaneer (5) Kobra (5) Monkey Swinger (3) Peeking Heights (5) Ramesis Revenge (5) TombBlaster (5) Safari Skyway (5) Sea storm (5) Caroulsel (5) Flying Jumbos (5) Jungle Bouncers (5) Madagascar Show (5) Tuk Tuk Turmoil (5) Griffins Galleon (5) Toadies Crazy Cars (5) Fury+ Madagascar-

Detonator (7) Loggers Leap (4) Nemesis Inferno (6) Quantum (4) Rush (4) Saw the ride (5) Slammer (8) Stealth (6) Tidal Wave (5) X (6) Saw the ride- X +

TBH I don't film on rides much these days due to the hassle and embarrassment of being told off and forcing to remove it, Any filming I do is usually on just dark and scenic rides and I would never do it on any extreme rides such as most of those at Thorpe as it's too dangerous. I won't be doing any major on ride filming until I at least get go pro and even then there are still restrictions and I'm not likely to buy it anytime soon either. Must admit, ride restrictions such as no loose articles has certainly become noticeably stricter at the Merlin parks especially Thorpe and Legoland, the latter of which has condemned usage of on ride photography on rides I've filmed on ride in the past. I can of course see why a lot of restrictions are in place, with how responsible a proportion of the GP seem to be these days so I can't see these restrictions getting looser for a long time, if ever. I expect these days only, the press, tv companies, journalists, the park themselves and at a push, well established Themepark guides/communities with safe and secure equipment will only receive high guarantee to film on ride these days. Towers is definitely the strictest Merlin park on this matter.

It's certainly a lot of money though to go in, but I can see the logical way they're working out prices that most buy tickets either online or use 2 for 1's and therefore give more reasonable prices around £24/£25 to enter. Those who pay the full day price either decided to visit last minute (1 day or so before going) or can't use computers and don't seek offers that are around. It's disappointing to know that 5 years ago, Thorpe's walk up ticket price was £33 resulting in a £15 increase since 2008.