BigBobJones

I'm sure the dead pigeons are there to scare away live birds, as if they see dead birds, they are less likely to stay in the area. earlier in the year there were plenty of pigeons in the Nemesis station and they were even nesting in the Bose base tubes in the station. But since these dead birds have been put around the park, I have not seen any birds in the station for some time.

I don't really care about the name, it fits in with what they are trying to do. All I care about is the ride lives up to what they are trying to do and you get to see many animals.

From what I have seen this year it depends on the day. It is like the Advanced ticket collection, some times they open it early and people can pick up their tickets and join the main queue, other times it opens just as the main gate opens. I won't get any friends discounted tickets when we go as you can not grantee the advanced ticket will be open in time. When you speak to the staff on the phone, they will say it opens at 10, when in fact it often open the gates at 09:30 at a weekend. For me the first 30 mins is golden, you can easily get 4 of the major rides in, if your the first through the gates, if your not then you start hitting queues.

If NWO had a good theme and effects it could be very good, it just seems as effect break down they just put club music on and paint the walls black to cover up what is missing

Thorpe now have an idea for a temporary water park

For most people the Snoozebox hotel is is poor sign that Thorpe doesn't have it finger on the pulse or Merlin doesn't want to spend the cash on it. I went to Chessington yesterday, their hotel looks amazing and they are just going to extend it with an additional 69 rooms. Legoland have a good hotel, Alton have two hotels.. how can four parks owned by the same company be run so differently? Apart from the Swarm and I can't fault what they have done there, Thorpe just doesn't seem to get the money spent on it. They need to get in a new ride for next year, even if it is a flat, they need to add something. If they don't add a new ride, what else are they going to do to attract people? I'm sure the ticket price will go up again next year, so as a paying customer, what extra will I get from Thorpe, when Chessington round the corner will have Zufari and Alton will have SW7 pulling in people by the thousands.....

I seriously doubt the Swarm has flopped, there are many factors as to why not as many people have come this year: The Olympics One of the worst summers in 100 years The ticket prices going up up up plus car parking of course Thorpe will have to do a major new coaster in 2015/2016 as you have to remember Thorpe is geared towards thrill seekers, so if they don't get something new and bigger every 3-4 years then their main target audience will go elsewhere or simply not go at all. If anything the lack of numbers should make Thorpe have a long think and what they can do to improve things: Tidy up the park, it looks a mess clean up the litter, splash some paint, the toilets are not the best, Chessington has very clean and well maintained toilets Reliability of the rides has been appalling this year Queue times too long (mainly due to single train operation on main rides) The focus being on club nights, then events like the one at Easter and the Fireworks being cancelled Also for me you never get a consistent atmosphere or experience when you go, either everything works, the music and effects are all working and you have a great time, or you start making a list of things which don't work and should and have not worked in a long time. You also get very annoyed when on Colossus they send out one train completely empty, but only fill up one. Then when the queue builds up, they then use the second train. For me Thorpe it seems to all be about money money money, sell as many fast tracks as you can, make sure you get car parking, and squeeze as much cash out of you as possible with very little in return. Above is my opinion, but get on the this forum, Trip Advisor and TP's Facebook page to see what others are saying, most of the complaints are saying the same thing. I'm happy to drive 160 miles to Alton Towers, but I wouldn't do the same for Thorpe, thankfully its only 20 miles down the road for me.

Back at Thorpe the Snooze Box installation has started....

I think most people who go into NWO think WTF was that all about

Does that mean we now have water on the main Loggers drop or did you miss that off you list?

On my visit last Monday, they have replaced the blown speak on Vortex and the sound quality is much better. I would prefer the propper Vortex music, but on a plus side thanks to Thorpe and Shazam I have got hold of some fairly good tunes.

If this is the case, then I can understand, but if another major coaster goes down and they give out a few hundred priority passes (Not that a major coaster would break down several times a day at Thorpe)... Then add those people (Who are entitled do as they have waited and a ride broke down on them) to an already over subscribed system and the normal queue doesn't move. I often miss the Swarm out for this main reason.

I almost live next door to Legoland and have driven past is thousands of times, shame its my least favourite park out of all the Merlin parks.

For me the excessive ride downtime and long queues put me off wanting to renew.

With the way Thorpe has been operating this year, the Fright Night mazes will be 'unavailable' during the fright nights ! lol

I went to Chessington in the morning which was empty, walk on all the rides (well of the selection of rides they had open as many were closed). Went to Thorpe, straight on to Vortex, no queue, great, 10 mins for Rush, straight on to loggers brilliant. Colossus out of action, 40 mins for Saw, 40 mins for The Swarm (wasn't going to wait), no Stealth, no toilets. When Colossus opened on one train and the train with the 4 busted seats at the back killed any joy so left just after 1 hour.

I'm amazed it was not painted with blue and white stripes and sponsored by Tesco Valye

I've had a few good spins on it recently, but the problem with it 'Windmilling' and taking forever to home is annoying.

Expect that to be removed and not replaced, I can't see Thorpe buying a new Window screen for it

Too many, but it has to be Stealth

If the theming of The Swarm and attention to detail is the new Merlin standard for rides, then SW7 will be amazing and should boost AT to the top.

I dont think any more theming is required, they just need to get the water and fire working correctly, the ride working reliably and most people will be happy.

What they need is to fill it with smoke/mist and have a sign "Fly through the clouds into the Air"

People always say its not as good at Alton, but it is a different ride and it does what it does very well.

Running like mad for The Swarm did not pay off for most people today as the ride opened very late and while on my second round on Stealth (10 mins after the park opened) the queue had gone past the entrance to The Swarm island and they were waiting ages.