Matt 236

Not surprised they are ditching their bell. It didn’t have a large throughput and apparently didn’t perform particularly well. The new kids attractions look lovely though and am sure will make a fine addition to this charming park. Better chance in the getting that than a major coaster though. Who’s placing bets?

Not very keen on the inclusion of actors in Hex. There are some attractions that benefit from actors but this is not one of them. Hex is a marvellous attraction as it is and just needs some updates here and there, but not with actors. Use the money to fix the effects and hardware instead they should.

I think this park just became my number one European bucket list park. The way they are expanding and developing is just incredible. This Coaster looks simply amazing, like pretty much everything they have added since Hyperion. Just need to get rid of the cheapy stuff from it’s early years for the newer quality they are now investing in.

Valravn for me was one of the weakest coasters at Cedar Point and probably my least favourite Dive Coaster overall. Whilst there are a couple of good points, the ride just doesn’t feel like it’s achieving anything and there is wasted potential with the attraction. Long queues don’t hold it’s favour either. Right carrying on: The original Eurosat is better than Can Can Coaster Rumba Rapids is currently better than Congo River Rapids (in it’s current state) Silverstar’s last third is better than Shambhala’s last third Wodan is better than Troy

Big Top is returning to the park! Someone brought the wrong clothing size. Oh, and that good circus themes maze is gone.

I’m currently a maybe for dates as I’m still waiting for my work rota to come through.

Just because a park cannot realistically reach a milestone is not to say they have to go the full way, but take some influences from this scenario. I get that storing sufficient ride parts and the like is unrealistic, but there are still other ways parks can be efficient. Like I said, Europa are in a very fortunate position with parts and maintenance. The thing that makes Europa such a great attraction and place to visit is the sheer dedication the Mack family pour into the park, whether that be the countless attractions, shows, pride they have in their premise. Not to mention their ever-onwards upgrades and progressions within, whether that be facelifting one of their worst dark rides into something charming or constantly adding new shows. If these are not to be examples within the park industry I don’t know what is. Ok, that may have been an exaggeration on HSE, but I can guarantee that the general stricter rules on safety would prevent a U.K. woodie opening any quicker than several weeks after happening solely for checks and inspections let alone reordering of parts.

Europa are simply magnificent and should be an example to many parks. Of course their manufacturing position and the area’s less rigorous H&S definitely puts them on the high ground compared to most. Obvioisly the U.K. has one of the strictest safety rules out there, combined with less forgiving press and go. If that happened on a wooden coaster here, the ride would be closed for at least several months by HSE.

That’s very unfortunate, hopefully it’ll look better when they have fixed it.

Regardless how long it takes, the repair will likely be quick and efficient. Europa are one of the best for getting things done swiftly. Just a relief no-one was hurt.

The amount this park is adding in such a short time is simply remarkable. Several coasters in just a few years. Whilst some of the investments (especially in the early years) are very questionable, I don’t know any other park that’s expanding anywhere near the level of this place, Could easily name at least a couple of parks back home that need a large scale coaster.

This looks so beautiful. I think this park just went up my bucket list by a very noticeable margin.

Might as well update some areas. Top 10 coasters: 1/ Steel Vengeance 2/ Helix 3/ Taron 4/ Millennium Force 5/ Shambhala 6/ Maverick 7/ Oziris 8/ Wodan 9/ Nemesis 10/ Black Mamba Top 10 Parks: 1/ Europa Park 2/ Cedar Point 3/ Efteling 4/ Phantasialand 5/ Disneyland Paris 6/ Liseberg 7/ Parc Asterix 8/ Toverland 9/ Kings Island 10/ Alton Towers Top 10 B&M’s 1/ Shambhala 2/ Oziris 3/ Nemesis 4/ Black Mamba 5/ Raptor 6/ Fenix 7/ Rougarou 8/ Diamondback 9/ Silver Star 10/ Oblivion Top 10 Bucketlist parks 1/ Walt Disney World (all park’s including water parks) 2/ Universal Orlando (both parks) 3/ Busch Gardens Tampa 4/ Silver Dollar City 5/ Tokyo Disney (both park’s) 6/ Six Flags Magic Mountain 7/ Dollywood 8/ Busch Gardens Williamsburg 9/ Disneyland Anaheim 10/ Energylandia

Nah I’d rather catch a cold in my on establishments or better, not get one at all. If this is the future of theme parks, Thirteen is the world’s scariest coaster!

Looks great but enters those final brakes a little too soon. Probably better looking than Leviathon.

Well, it looks like we may see a new coaster at a Merlin park next year. Just maybe not the park we were expecting. Only a kiddie coaster, but a Creds a cred. Source-https://www.southparks.co.uk/2019/08/14/new-family-coaster-planned-for-legoland-windsor-resort/ I have drawn up on the image above roughly where the coaster is expected to go. Would explain the bush trimming in the Duplo area. If you had told me five years ago Legoland were getting a coaster in 2020 and Thorpe were not, I’d be laughing on the floor by now. Irony.

Not to mention the worn/rusty track look and the beautiful concreted finish (courtesy of 2019).

On the positive note least the park is still open. It’s better than nothing right?

Sadly the park has been on a slippery slope for at least five years. Some will say The Swarm was unsuccessful because it didn’t increase visitor numbers and attendance continued to decline. However it must be kept in mind 2012 was not a great year for park attendance industrywide as a result of the olympics and (proper) bad weather. There comes a time when attractions reach a glass-roof on attendance figures and for Thorpe that time was around 2011/2012. In it’s current footprint the park realistically probably can’t hold much more than around 2 million visitors. With this in mind, the park should’ve intended to maintain gate figures as opposed to increasing but instead counted Swarm as a failure and made some questionable decisions (not saying they had already done-so before 2012). Some of the reasons the park has has fallen so much includes (but is not limited) to the following: Inconsistent marketing- family advertising years x&y, Thrill z&a, Park decisions contradict this Lack of direction- Towers is for everyone, Chessington a theme park zoo, Thorpe doesn’t know what it is DBGT- dubbed as the future of theme parks with one of the biggest budgets and marketing of any attraction, still a drastic failure that didn’t improve anything Cheap attractions- Angry Birds, IAC, Timber Tug, Lumber Jump, quick cheap shoe-horned attractions that were just ‘plonked’ into what was available without really improving the product offering Neglect and lack of TLC- many areas of the park still look a mess, rundown and dilapidated with little in the form of fun or escapism, ironically the dark themes seem better kept than the few happier ones, Loggers Leap- still one of the most iconic and enjoyable attractions in it’s final years, the attraction was just abandoned with no clear future until the park bluntly confirmed it’s closure three years later The Smiler Crash- affected park attendance across the industry The previous decade saw much growth, progress and expansion to the park. Whether this was all sustainable and long-term thinking remains questionable as few parks can realistically continue adding hefty additions every year. Unfortunately I think the next decade of the park will be one of disappointments and further stagnation if current trends and operation continue. It is likely Merlin see the park as a resource drainer currently. However rather continuing to invest, it is expected the park is being managed on minimal funds making Park spending more difficult and we probably won’t see any noticeable investment for several years at least. The park has seen several directors come and go in short time and most of the park’s mid-higher management leave or sacked. It will take a while before the park moves forwards again (if it ever moves forwards again).

Not surprising really given the park has mostly been remarkably quiet this summer, even more-so after 6pm. Shame though as I may have been inclined to visit. Least they didn’t do a Blackpool!

I think Hex is honestly a masterpiece and easily my favourite madhouse attraction. From The eerie entrance and atmosphere in the queue, authentic towers buildings, the narrative, the soundtrack, effects and everything between. It may not be the most complex of attractions but it is the simplicity packaged so perfectly together that what makes it for me. Whilst I wouldn’t say it is the most re-rideable attraction out there, it’s definitely an enjoyable one. I still remember my first go on the attraction in 2012. The attraction made me feel mesmerised by everything.

20.3 million? Really? I know the pound rate is dreadful right now, but surely that’s going a bit far. Over 20 million for an Intamin looper clime is a bit like the coaster equipment of buying Lego from Hamleys.

Might have to actually visit this park one day, if Dwervelwind was good I’d be interested to see what one of these extreme variants can do. Could Belgium really be only second to Holland and Germany for progressive park development? Maybe.

Stealth down again then? I guess @MattyMoo broke it again recently after a fair share of beer/lager probably.

Interesting heading your thoughts on this park. I actually found my visit there in May very enjoyable as it seemed clean, pretty and houses one pretty entrance. It’s not my favourite park and definitely no Cedar Point beater, but still has things going for it. I honestly found Banshee disappointing, the layout didn’t feel like it did much despite it’s length and the vests cement this for me. The classic arrow coasters there are great, especially Bat. I actually adored the Beast. The whole prospect of going into the unknown is simply immense and probably one of the best coasters to do at night. I didn’t notice the trims. Mystic Timbers was very good I thought!