Matt 236

Congratulations on passing your PHD Dr C.

Must’ve done this the same time they concreted the lake. Helium in rides? Now that’s a scheme that could take off.

Hard to know right now, but Blackpool I’ve done. Merlin lot, Paultons and a return to Blackpool should be on the cards along with other uk parks maybe. Abroad wise, fingers crossed for Orlando in October and Disneyland Paris in May/June time. Would like to get to Plopsa for their new ride and maybe some other European perks. Would like to get back to Europa, Efteling and Phantasialand for sure.

Well I’m glad that’s not one ride less, shall have to see what it looks like come opening. Can maybe see Timber Tug getting a new home elsewhere in the resort, but maybe not Rocky which is a shame, but has maybe had a good run. Think we may have an interesting season ahead of us, especially with the new events and potential construction beginnings.

So last weekend, crazy me decided to venture to park opening inspite of no Big One, Nash or Valhalla (still). Inspite of these closures, park offering/reliability was reasonably good. Don’t get me wrong, those (advertised) closures were highly disappointing, but given some of the horror stories I’ve heard before this could’ve been worse. Operations were alright, one train on all bar Avalanche, Icon & Steeplechase (can you imagine) wasn’t great, although queues weren’t particularly long during most of the trip. The park has been a hive of activity, with PMBO’s re-tracking underway, Valhalla awaiting reopening and some other updates around rides such as Avalanche and Alice. I object Enzo’s existence. Upkeep was a mixed bag, with some areas looking relatively fresh and others leaving room for improvement. Some areas/attractions could do with some TLC, but given the season turnover and budgeting we probably can’t have it all. All in all, better opening than expected, given how disasterous it could’ve been.

Depends on the attraction. I always find the best dark rides try to entice you into particular settings. Whether that’s the ballroom in Symbolica, the battle scene in Pirates. Or the likes of attractions such as Rise Of The Resistance or Forbidden Journey, which I’m yet to experience. Screen-based rides can be great when done right and the best ones use scenery, effects and even animatronics in order to achieve this. However they can come across as a cheaper (cost cutting) alternative to classic rides, where cheap screens are plastered over the ride instead of building set pieces. Hopefully the future of dark rides will involve a combination of screens, set pieces and animatronics.

Guessing Covid really impacted the interest and priorities of this place. Almost in the time-frame Iron Gwazi was build and eventually opened maybe? Veloci-coaster certainly looks sublime and having enjoyed Taron & Maverick (not sorry), I truly look forward to experiencing this (hopefully October). Most of the new additions there certainly look to catch the eye and it’s been a firm Bucket-list park for me for too long now. More so since The Wizarding World area has been open. I did my waiting, twelve years of it. In Azkaban!

Only ever attended one of these events (maybe the last?) and found it to be a fun and entertaining event. Looking forward to see the park push out more events outside of Fright Nights.

Remarkable. Besides the substantial waiting times, I have only ever heard great things about this ride. It certainly sounds the masterpiece and look forward to hopefully riding this sometime in the foreseeable future. Disney have created some truly phenomenal attractions, although the likes of Web-slingers at DCA raise for some concern.

It’s been a while. Angry Birds 4D Experience (5) Black Mirror Labyrinth (5) Colossus (5) Depth Charge (5) Derren Brown’s Ghost Train (2) Detonator: Bomb's Away (5) Flying Fish (5) King Pig's Wild Hog Dodgems (5) Lumber Jump (5) Mr. Monkey's Banana Ride (5) Nemesis Inferno (7) Quantum (5) Rocky Express (5) Rumba Rapids (5) Rush (6) Samurai (6) Saw - The Ride (5) Stealth (6) Storm in a Teacup (5) Storm Surge (5) The Swarm (6) Tidal Wave (5) Timber Tug Boat (2) Vortex (5) Zodiac (5) Stelf Rules (Stealth)+ The Zamperla boat ride in Old Town-

And cut. It looks like Hollywood tour is no-more. The park have removed all mention of the ride, which has remained closed since 2020. According to Towerstreet, the park’s guest services team have confirmed the closure. The ride was dated and famous (for maybe the wrong reasons), but I’ll miss it a lot for it’s weird and bizarre traits. The park really could do with a new dark ride, and this would be the ideal place for it. Pity Fantassima exists and still needs a new home, given it’s the weak link holding that area from being redeveloped.

This is most adequate news to hear. Maybe if we’re lucky it will have a throughput higher than 300 PPH. Jumangi.

Apparently they have started painting more of the track in that ‘beautiful’ generic grey colour. Watching this ride’s construction really is like watching paint dry.

In a surprising yet unexpected position, it has been confirmed that Efteling will be removing their Spookslot (Haunted House) attraction after the summer season. It will make way for a brand new indoor attraction (presumably a dark ride). Source-https://www-looopings-nl.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB&_x_tr_pto=wapp Whilst not everyone’s cup of tea with some left a little confused by the attraction, I find this news rather saddening. Sure it wasn’t the best thing there, but it had much charm, character and history. It will be missed! https://youtu.be/1YQlUKLcYcI

No, can’t honestly see this happening for the reasons largely mentioned above. Disney World is ‘primarily’ aimed at families, hence why most attractions are in the medium-family thrill category as the new additions in Star Wars Land and Avatar Land for example have proven. Pretty much all the other Disney resorts have ‘thrill based’ parks not particularly far away and they are all able to generally operate successfully without this affecting their product and demographic.

My bucket list essentially: 1/ Veloci-Coaster- Universal Orlando 2/ Iron Gwazi- Busch Tampa 3/ F.L.Y- Phantasialand 4/ Untamed- Walibi Holland 5/ Kondaa- Walibi Belgium 6/ Ride To Happiness- Plopsa De Panne 7/ Takabisha - Fuji Q Highland 8/ Pantheon - Busch Williamsburg 9/ DC Rivals - Warner Bros Movie World Aus 10/ Intimadator 305- Kings Dominion

It seems that some inspiration was taken from Disneyland Paris, given this will be a ‘lucrative’ hotel right by the entrance. All gone full circle. Judging from the concept, it does look very pretty and should further enhance the area if carried out as planned. The thing I want to know is if they any plans for the Efteling hotel? As both appear very similar in their design and function.

Small coaster? Think I’m also going to have to say Backlot Stunt Coaster. What is packed into it’s space is absolutely sublime and amazing. That helix alone warrants it’s position here IMO. And big coaster wasting space? Valeavn comes to mind. It just doesn’t really do anything outstanding or different to any other dive coasters or the other (and much better) B&Ms within the same park. Blivvy has the drop, Valkyria has the variety and Baron has the theming/backstory. This one just exists tbh.

I remember the days of passing the train depot at Willesden junction after a long day working at the park. Could definitely see the strong similarities and inspiration. They were interesting days. Heres a few: 1/ The last extension of Inferno’s queue line was formerly used by Mr Rabbit’s Tropical Travels 2/ Many of the park’s original buildings were stylised over different periods of history. Building limitations at the time also meant more attractions were built enclosed at the time. 3/ The KFC/Arcade (roughly opposite Tidal Wave) has been home to numerous attractions. Space Station Zero (1983-1990) and then Carousel Kingdom and a play area from 1990-1999.

For some reason I’m getting Hyperion vibes with this, which makes no sense given the lack of similarities. I am excited regardless to see (what will hopefully) be such a substantial ride and investment arrive and hit Thorpe and the U.K. I never foresaw the day where we would see this park propose such attraction, especially on the prospect of stealing the U.K. height record. Ok, I must confess there looks to be less ‘airtime’ than desired and I was more leaning on a B&M hyper, but the concept does look exciting. A splashdown sure looks interesting which is more common in American/European parks. It isn’t the longest coaster and it never was going to be. Seeing (most of) Old Town undergo the bulldozer in the near future may be emotional to some given it’s significance, but it’s time has come for newer and greater things. This will be a long two plus years.

Sure, why not. Disneyland Paris- My First Ever Visit (April 2015) I was late to the Disney/overseas game, but wow did it begin on a high! I might’ve been hungover from a night of drinking games, but was I excited. Everything about the trip seemed magical, from entering through the splendid Park entrance to watching Dreams before closing. It’s a trip I will never forget! Winter Phantasialand (November 2017) I adore Phantasialand, but seeing it at Winter, was just spectacular. The park just went above and beyond with it’s Christmas event, with no corner looking un-festive. Stayed at Hotel Lingbao that trip, which can only be described as phenomenal. Efteling In The Snow (December 2018) Regardless of others opinions, visiting Efteling is literally a fairy tale place. Already stunning enough over Winter, we were greeted by several feet of snow on (what was supposed to be) the last day of the trip. The beautiful surroundings looked even more stunning in this setting, especially the entrance building (five senses). Cedar Point (August 2018) America was always somewhere I wanted to visit, and that finally happened one late August. Customs might’ve been less desirable, but seeing what is arguably the park with the world’s best coaster selection was remarkable. Lots of atmosphere, even down to Magnificent Seven playing around Steel Vengeance. Blackpool Opening 2020 (February 2020) Blackpool has always been that place/trip to lift me up whenever life has thrown unwanted curveballs at me, and this one was no exception. I wasn’t in a happy place at the time, however by enduring this opening trip, it was honestly an almost biblical experience. Catching up with friends new and old, experiencing the opening vibes and most importantly, BPB. I’d felt like myself again and ‘pure happiness’ properly for the first time in months. Whether that was nabbing the first PMBO train of that year or facing Icon in the rain. It was all sublime. Pity what paved the way after didn’t quite follow Suite, but that’s covid for you.

*blows cobwebs from topic* This weekend I finally returned to Winter Wonderland, after nearly two years. The new revised pre-paid time slot procedure is annoying (and will probably remain forever), although made entry noticeably more efficient. N.B if you buy attractions in advance, it cancels the entry-fee. Was great to finally be back and take in the event’s vibrant atmosphere. From it’s festive music, lights and countless attractions and market stalls. I’ve honestly forgotten how fun this place is, despite the crowds and prices (which you need a mortgage for no doubt). Went on six attractions in the end, three of which were pre-booked. Airborne was my first ever booster, so much fun but a shame it couldn’t be longer. The Apres Ski Funhouse was lots of fun, especially when Mr Fish is in-front. Avoid Small World! It is the worst dark ride I have been on and makes Boo Blasters look alright. Re-rode regulars Munich Looping, Hangover & Wild Maus XXL. Great to be back on these again, but a shame a number of features were not working on the Maus that evening. I end this update from a photo, taken from Apres Ski. Visit if you can, while you can!

All too well.

The fall of Old Town (formerly Canada Creek) has been inevitable for sometime now, especially given development and area prospects. Prior to 2016, the area was still very much full of life, even with the railway’s closure. Whether that be Loggers running around the area or the formerly excellent Country/Pop playlist. In recent year’s it has just been a shadow of it’s former self. A dead zone for the park, with the exception of Fright Nights. Not to mention looking largely rundown and dilapidated. It will be shame to see, what was the last Pre-Tussauds park area removed. But change is critical, so the park can maybe perhaps move in the right direction again after so very long!

Interesting reading up on everyone’s recent experiences with Efteling. It’s been a few years now since I last visited and it’s interesting to hear of the changes. It’s still a shame Bob closed given how popular and quirky it was. However it was clearly an attraction at the end of it’s life and Max & Moritz looks a better fit to the park’s demographic. Shame if some of the little effects are broken though. Efteling is without doubt one of the most charming and refined parks out there! It is somewhere where non enthusiasts could enjoy and appreciate. For someone who’s after tall fast thrilling coasters, this place isn’t for you. But if you enjoy somewhere with charm and lavishing escapism, not to mention phenomenal dark rides? This place is definitely for you. Must get back out here at somepoint. Stupid Covid!