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Universal looks fab. How were the updates for Jimmy Fallon and Fast And Furious progresssing? Did you visit Wet N Wild as I hear it's closing this week? It's great to see a park put so much work into improving the whole park.

The Wild Woods name reminds me of Legoland's older days probably because they used to have an area called Wild Woods (Pirates now). As names go, they could've done worse but I still prefer the area's previous area, Transylvania. The same goes for the facade, although the central entrance position is one advantage. As for the advert, it feels rather patronising if I'm overly honest but perhaps that's because it's for the target audience they are getting. How times have changed.

Banned for misusing your powers! You may be a Mod but you won't bring Geazi back!

I know Merlin can be expensive, but nearly £1800 for 3-5 people getting Premium is surely out of hand! Other sale rises are surely because the price went up anyway.

TBH not the worst name I've seen for attraction and given the choices on the poll, arguably one of the better ones. However I must confess I am disappointed "I don't enjoy theme parks so who cares" didn't win. Source-Merlin Annual Pass Facebook Group Apparently there will also be Gruffalo themed rooms in the hotels. Source-Uk Theme Parks-Theme UK It's alright I suppose.

Maus Au Chocolate and Ratatouille are certainly great examples of how modern (screen) dark rides should be. They both integrate an interesting storyline, where the effects and animation both work appropriately and the addition of theming in both certainly helps emphasis both of these. The perfect modern dark ride will have a good consistency between visual and real effects and animatronics. Hopefully Symbolica will implement these. As for VR, we shall have to see. If it can evolve to tailor the themepark environment then maybe it will continue, otherwise no. I've heard stories of rides with VR implemented featuring crushed throughputs, with loading sometimes in excess of 10 minutes. That's before the countless problems Galactica and DBGT have so far encountered. Shockingly I never did the Europa VR stuff (especially since I went last May), but hearing what most gave said, I think more park's should implement the Europa way of doing it. With Kraken, Magic Mountain and Batman La Fuga getting the VR treatment, the phase is still going strong. For now.

Don't be surprised with what you are about to read.

Date should be closing Sunday 1st January.

Went back to Winter Wonderland yesterday because I couldn't get enough last time. Olympia Looping- Still an amazing ride and very enjoyable, although the shoulder restraints were a little on the rtght side. Still fantastic operations though and three train service is very exceptional. My previous statement remains. Alpen Hotel- I've been wanting to do this for years and glad I finally did. This thing is crazy, and in a good way too. A mixture of traditional funhouse elements such as walking and spinning elements and even some walk through/dark sections too. Including a hotel bar with animatronics and even a mini tower of terror and mad house elements, which were just crazy. Worth the £6 certainly! Haunted Mansion-I do like my dark rides as much as my coasters and this was something else I wanted to get done too, having never experienced it. From the aspect of a travelling ghost train, it's really good and amazing to think how this quality attraction is packed up on a trailer and taken from A-Z. Certainly better than many permanent dark rides too. Spooky 3D & The Haunted Hotel come to mind. Certainly an acceptable end to 2016, at least on the themevpark front.

I'd say the left side is most likely for at least one of the rides for sure. I think they've also removed the shooting game if I remember correctly. I wonder if this will impact the two fright night mazes using this area (assuming they will continue to do so next year). Apparently the Weymouth ride area will be replaced with a new playground area.

Another added to the much to big list of celebrities we lost this year. RIP Carrie Fisher Including: David Bowie Alan Rickman Terry Wogan Paul Daniels Frank Kelly Ronnie Corbett Maurice White Eric Baurersfeld (voice of Admiral Ackbar) Kenny Baker Prince Victoria Wood Caroline Aherne Sylvia Anderson (Lady Penelope voice) Frank Sinatra JR Jimmy Perry (Dad's Army) Jo Cox Christina Grimme Andrew Sachs Harper Lee George Martin Gene Wilder Tony Warren George Michael Greg Lake Emerson Rick Parfitt Liz Smith Muhammed Ali Anton Yelchin Zsa Zsa Gabor Richard Adams And many more

This isn't like your usual blogs at all. Especially given the Disney elements! Would you say Mako is better or weaker than Silver Star? I'm hoping 2018 will be the year I finally visit Orlando.

The loss of the original Carousel is certainly a massive shame. Given it's traditional grandiose appearance, it's references to the past and the spinning teacups. Their crazy spinning no more! The new Carousel will at least be comparatively different, being in a new location and a contrasting theme and style. Whilst I must admit I prefer the style of old Chessington, I would rather see the park change and develop with new attractions instead of being stagnant and stale, like it's has in recent years. The adventure theme does come across as over produced, but if it's the direction the park intend to head towards and it's bringing in visitors then I guess it's not all bad given it's a theme that relates between the park and zoo quite well. With the recent closures, Old Chessington seems to be disappearing fast. And if the 10 year master is/has been approved, planning suggest one of two (possible) new coasters will replace Truckers, Toadies, Peeking and where the old Carousel was. This could be intentional too, given the coaster could be a technical replacement to Vampire, which is arguably on life support currently given it's age, location and current significance to the park.

A name Definitely, an opening date I'm not to sure. There have been rumours of this ride pointing towards a March opening, but given the opening dates of recent attractions and usual schedules, it is very possible this could have an April or May opening. Don't hold your breath for March. Anything else like concept art and sneak previews inside is wishful thinking.

OLD NEWS ALERT! Courtesy of Chessington Facebook Youre welcome.

2013 says hi. Removing substantially aged and neglected (once impressive) rock theming without replacement whilst installing a dry styled safari attraction clearly isn't terrible enough. Bless the landscaping team. They are one of the last things Chessington gets right! If everything else could be half as good, the park would be great.

Vampire is still a solid addition to Chessington these years on, although now arguably a shadow of it's former self. Sadly over the years, the charm and character of the original ride has slowly been hacked away. From the decommissioning of three train operations, removal of station chandeliers and ambient lighting plus removal of the original crypt which was cheaply rebuilt. The further complications in the station layout, dead organist, misuse of the original music and garish queue fences only add insult injury sadly. The danger sign theming doesn't heal the bleeding I'm afraid. Unfortunately I never experienced the original Vampire but I've definitely noticed neglect and decline in the ride during the ten years I've been visiting. Sadly I feel Vampire may be on life support due to still being the park's main ride and it's sticky location. When it is removed (likely as a result of permanent failure or excessive costs) it is unlikely to be replaced. At least on the scale anyway. Maybe the new coaster/s mentioned in the development plan (that came out earlier this year) are intended as technical replacements, knowing Vampire's days are perhaps numbered.

One can hope these are just under layers of the final result, but even then I'm not too optimistic on the end result. Transylvania was/is my favourite area of Chessington but I'm not too optimistic of it's reincarnation for 2017 as I expect the area's charm and cohesion to be lessened as a result of park changes. It's also difficult to say how long Vampire has left, given it'll be 30 in just over three years. That's Chessington sadly. The new entrance location is the only positive I can take here. African/Adventurecthemes are good in a zoo/theme park but I feel Chessington is overdoing it in all honesty.

Chessington are busy at work preparing for their big 2017 season ahead. Construction on the park's new Carousel continues. Apparently it will be called The Chessington Adventure Tree and be the park's new centre piece. How inspiring. Sadly as expected, the old Carousel has been removed after serving the park for over twenty years. Out with the old and in with the new, who knows? Meanwhile, construction on the Gruffalo ride, the former entrance and queue line of the Bubbleworks has been completely removed with the addition of bright green and blue on the facade. Fingers crossed the cohesion of Transylvania isn't ruined or worse, the area is spited completely. Regardless of the above changes being positive or negative, there is surely one good thing about Chessington right now regardless. New Lion Cubs Photos copyright and distributed by Theme Park Guide

Better start drinking and riding Stealth now guys then! I will know you've been successful when I hear Stealth has undergone excessive downtime.

Well I certainly want to watch Rogue One in the future especially being a Star Wars fan. No idea what Rouge One is. Must be a completely different film, did they do any trailers for it? Back on topic! Saw Moana last weekend and it was fab. The plot line was superb, the music was really good (You're Welcome) and the there was quite a lot of throwbacks to older Disney films (particularly The Renaissance era).

I really hope you can make at least one meet. Because we are certainly lacking bag holders in this forum!

Sorry, but unless there is a source (or it's somewhat making rounds on social media) I cannot take this statement seriously.

Wow, I never saw this happening because the advert is perfectly innocent in the first place. People get too offended these days!

If anyone didn't need another reason to visit Symbolica, I'll let the pictures do the talking. The detail is phenomenal. What's more these pictures are towards the back of the attraction too which is amazing to see. No single part of a warehouse in site. Source-Loopings