BigBobJones

This is a fantastic addition.

I think they have got it half right. What would have been better was a walking cattlepen inside the building with Chase Van Driver telling you about Zufari, what to expect and then have pictures of the animals you would see today

Cheap paint job?

Well if you went on the Tea cups last year they made it so you couldn't get s decent spin on them, so basically made the ride useless. Hopefully that has been corrected over the closed season. As far as I am concerned, bring on the Twister, its more fun, good capacity and a thrill ride as well!

As much as this is great for taller kids, it isn't if kids are shorter, how upset would you be if you had smaller children, they wouldn't get in for free and couldn't get on any decent rides! I guess you can't please everyone, I just wonder if the park will be extra busy with lots of people trying to get in on this free offer.

The one thing I liked about the mine train is you didn't see most of the track like you do on the Fish. Now as said above, it is just a brown flying fish.

I hope it is, but knowing Merlin it will be a fast track kiosk!

Last years AP day was one of the best days of the year, if anything one big thing I noticed as how nice everyone was, no queue jumping, no smoking in the queues and the toilets were not trashed with urine on the seats like every other day. If anything most pass holders know the rules and stick to them and be nice to each other.

Followed by "Rita is experiencing a technical problem"

Well the poster sure looks good....

or one hell of a super sized Ikea flat pack!

I doubt it, they will be too busy getting Angry birds land ready and ignoring Colossus knowing it needs a paint job! LOL If anything is looks bad, but is is not that bad, I think we will have to just remember that only new rides get attention and the old rides are left to rot, (rumba and loggers) even when they are classic rides

Don't forget dust creates an atmosphere and saves Merlin money

They are trying to cash in on younger hotel guests and this is a good thing, but I do wonder how long this will be the case before several groups of 16-18 year olds get up to no good and spoil it for everyone. Don't get me wrong, there are some very responsible 16-18 year olds, but they won't be able to drink alcohol in the dome, so what are the chances they bring alcohol into the hotel and have a room party? Of course 18+ will do the same, but at 18 they are adults and responsible for their own actions. The type of guests you get a Alton Towers, Legoland and Chessington are couples, families, where Thorpe will naturally attract teens on a birthday weekend out with friends who are just out to have a good laugh with little or no respect to guests in adjacent rooms. Many times in Orlando we had noisy teens when an entire school/college brought a few hundred kids.

I think it is down to Merlin wanting to maximise their sales, so a hotel brings in more money with people wanting to do two days, then the average spend per visitor/guest/customer/adventurer or Mug whatever Merlin are calling us now will go up. the Mine Train won't bring in any additional revenue so this is why it has taken a very low priority. The fact that they had it idle for long shows how un-important the attraction is for them. Don't get me wrong they are spending a fortune on the park and every year we are seeing lots of improvements, but this is only because of so many years of low investments. Lets see what it is like for opening day, hopefully they can do a lot in a month.

After going on the mine train at Alton Towers today, TBH Scorpion Express will be pants. The RMT at Alton is bigger, faster, proper tunnels, goes up high and takes you on an adventure. Plus you get choo choo!

It is laughable when you look at the Flying fish and the Runaway train, they are both the same ride, but Thorpe doesn't mention theirs at all and it looks a dump, where as Chessington promotes it as one of their star attractions. As far as junior coasters go it is fine, but how the same ride can be a top park attraction at Chessington but almost ignored at Thorpe is the thing I look at.

Never mind, more for me :-) Can I tempt you to have a doh-nut or a slice of Tottenham cake?

Well if not Subway, then a branch of Greggs! Who can resist their sausage rolls :-)

Looks like a jam packed day at the park in those photos

Merlin have not copied Subway, so they have the option of a sandwich shop...

This is fantastic news, many people will be wanting a new coaster, but to be honest Thorpe needs lots of work done all over the park, so better shops, food outlets and general maintenance is what we need. do we believe this will be in place this year? I am guessing if given authorisation and it is a shipping container, we could see it in place for the main season. But if they are building a popper building, then I am guessing next year.

Plus those share holders will be wanting a nice slice of of profit too

You can never please some people! Ok get the weed killer out :-)

There is no doubt that money and work has been done on this ride. If people will notice anything that will be another thing. I do hope this season that all the plants and vegetation grows a lot more as it did look very bare last year, but like all attractions it does often take a few years for them to mature.