Cal

Noticed a message has appeared on the Hyperia page on the app today explaining reduced capacity. Hopefully this isn't a sign that its likely to be on 1 train for a while longer? Also, I really hate the randomness of them closing the queue early. Friday and Saturday 9pm close, advertised queue of over 2 hours = Queue closes at advertised closing time. Off Peak Wednesday 5pm close, advertised queue of 1 hour = Queue closes early. Really hope they can scrap this and just close the queue at closing time permanently next year. Or at least some consistency/better communication.

In my opinion, Hyperias layout doesn't support the need for 3 trains, they just need to sort out the time it takes on the break run. Look at Thirteen. The train practically launches you back into the station. Wardly spoke to Intamin and made sure the trains get back into the station as quickly as possible to achieve a decent throughput. Why wasn't the same thing done for Hyperia? 1 train ops are even more painful when it takes 30+ seconds for the train to crawl back into the station. Having a third train as a spare is a different matter though. Would it actually make any difference in situations like this as surely it would be stripped/having its winter maintenance done anyway? Buying and maintaining a third train and keeping it readily available when it isn't needed is a huge expense which isn't entirely necessary

Nope same price, £8 for afternoon slots and £10 for evening slots. I've noticed lower queues for mazes this year too. Friday in particular, none of the mazes seemed to have a queue all evening and the park wasn't dead. Whether this is because a 4th maze has relived a bit of pressure on queues or people just aren't as willing to pay for them anymore? Not sure. Time will tell I guess.

Got to the park in the afternoon yesterday. Hyperia was having issues and had a queue evac and was down for around 3.5 hours. Maybe an issue with the train as they removed the train at one point so no train was on the circuit. Spoke to quite a few unhappy people yesterday who waited over 2.5 hours and didn't even get given a priority pass to get back on. Seems some people did and some didn't. Really disagree with them selling Fasttrack on 1 train though, especially with the amount of RAP too. Yesterday the RAP, SRQ and Fasttrack queues were all full at the entrance. Even right now, they're selling Fasttrack and the queue is advertised at 240 minutes. Credit where credit is due though, they were smashing the trains out as per. I expected them to close the queue fairly early yesterday but they didn't close it till 9pm. I assume this was due to the issues it had earlier in the day? It was running gone 10:30pm...

And shes back open! Fair play to them for getting it back open so quick. Will be interesting to see how they go about getting it back on 2 trains. Maybe open slightly later tomorrow with testing in the morning? But no idea how long it'll take them to get it back on the circuit and do relevant checks.

Seems the whole train has been removed from the track now (this tweet was posted at 3:21) so certainly possible to be open on 1 train tonight and tomorrow.

Oh dear. Pretty dreadful timing with press night tomorrow. Worryingly, it looks like the train has a full train of dummies? But they may have started to empty the water out of them I guess. They really need to get on top of this though for the remainder of Fright Nights, its only going to get colder. Was going to head over Friday afternoon but probably won't bother now 🤣

The queueline TVs have actually all been replaced/fixed earlier this season as I've seen a few photos of them working, hence why the news audio has also returned playing in the queue. However for some reason, they're never on? I've never seen them on since. Strange. I agree the area could do with some TLC, would be great to see all the effects return as it definitely makes a difference. Personally quite like the area music how it is, however it would great for the sound effects to return. There used to be loud sound effects as the train passed certain areas, such as the tower at the last inversion. Agree the station music is very dull and boring though, could definitely do with a change there.

It'll be interesting to see if they make any improvements to the area over closed season. I wonder if we'll ever see the return of the splashdown? I also really hope over closed season they can speed up the time it takes for the train to come in the station from the breakrun. Hopefully they'd be able to get closer to 1000 an hour rather than the 700-800 we're currently seeing.

Ghost train will be open from 3pm daily instead of 12pm during Fright Nights this year, the ride availability page has been update to confirm.

A poster has been seen which says 'the final beach party', interested to see what they do with this space!

Yeah it does, certainly worked on my visit last season and I've seen clips of it on this year. Don't think they have it on year round though. Also was quite surprised to see the decision to replace Wild Asia. Shame to lose that theme too its always been one of my favorite areas at the park.

Good news, very much needed. A new family coaster will be a great addition. I’m shocked but pleasantly surprised that Rattlesnake is staying. No monkey swinger is a great loss though. I know it’s a simple flat, but the water makes it good fun and is one of my favourites there.

Nice well rounded lineup for this year, good to see a 4th maze, and a good mix of everything else. Crows was great last year and lucifers lair was cool too. Creature Campus has never been my thing, I don't go to a scare event to watch people dance but I can see why its back as its extremely popular. My problem echos whats been said above though. I get enjoyment by having multiple run throughs on the mazes and getting to experience them properly. At the current price for mazes, I'm not really willing to do that. I will still go to Fright Nights this year but my experience last year with the queues and then getting a weak run through really puts me off the mazes. I'll probably just buy the odd 1 shot when they have small queues and try to go to one of the private events at the end of the year where I can have unlimited run throughs of the mazes.

A new flat would be cool but I imagine the Slammer site would be the preferred location. Having a permanent events location would be ideal, would be a much better location for things like Oktoberfest to take place. Would be quite happy to see the end of the beach to be honest. Eventually once depth charge has had its day the whole area could be a good spot for a new water ride of some kind.

Good to hear the closures aren't budget cut related. Thorpe seems to have avoided any noticeable cuts so far then which is good! I noticed the below has been added to the ride availability page too; 'Please note, some rides may open later than 10am due to planned maintenance. Please check the app and queue time boards on the day of your visit for the most up to date information.' Saw has also been updated to be closed on Mon 23rd. This is the day the Hyperia work starts so probably access related.

Its worth noting that the normal entrance through the bridge by croc drop has been closed for a while as they're doing maintenance to the bridge. You have to go a long way round to get to the ride, near the hotels I believe. Maybe this has had an impact on ridership and therefore isn't worth opening? I do agree the experience is crap though and it seems they've just given up with it, when is the last time anything in the cave has actually worked? Last few times I've been on you just drive through it nothing happens ... Will be interesting to see what happens next year.

Another cut... So it seems rather than being closed on off peak days, it looks like Zufari is now closed for the remainder of the season (or forever?) Its been updated on the ride availability page as just 'Closed' and has been removed from the app entirely

Hyperia is open now, they had to remove a train on Hyperia around 5:15 yesterday due to an issue, and it was also running late last night for FN promo filming so I imagine the late opening will be to do with that. All the ones that say 'opening later' have a scheduled opening time between 12:30 - 13:30, if you click on the individual ride it'll tell you what time.

Was at the park today and didn't notice any reduction in staffing levels which is positive. 3 hosts on both Vortex and Samurai 4 staff checking restraints + staff batching on both Colossus and Inferno. Thought some of these would be the first to be cut, never used to see this on off peak days in previous years. Only thing I did notice was SRQ closed on Saw which probably means there was no one batching, can't confirm as I didn't ride it.

Think its safe to say the cuts have now reached Thorpe. With Rumba closed for the season, and Detonator, Inferno, Walking Dead, Vortex, Fish, Tidal Wave, Quantum, Depth Charge all showed as late opening today. Doesn't help that Hyperia is also opening late daily and Ghost train is always a 12pm opening. Thats a lot of the park closed in the morning. Was bound to happen with some of the cuts we're seeing at the other parks. I'd still take these late openings over reduced opening hours though. Hopefully not a sign of things to come.

Just seen roaming actors will only be between 3:00 - 4:30pm. Shame as I do miss a team of them going round all night. https://www.thorpepark.com/explore/events/halloween-fright-nights/#will-there-be-roaming-actors I assume the reason they're only around till 4:30 is cause they'll be used for a scarezone/show opening slightly later. Speaking of which, no construction of Death Doors or the Crows scarezone so far this year. I'd love to see the Crows come back, was great last year one of the best scare zones they've done. But they seem to be cutting it fine with less than a month till opening now.

Completely agree with the comments re Octoberfest this year. Wouldn't surprise me to see this go next year, and personally wouldn't bother me as I've never really thought it adds anything to Thorpe anyway. I've been to the Towers one a lot over the years and have always really enjoyed it. They really benefit from the area they've got on the lawns. The location is a big plus too, the entertainment goes on for an hour after park close and this obviously means people leaving and see it going on may go over to the lawns and stay for a bit too. I've never thought its worked as well at Thorpe, whether that be due to the location of the stage or different target audience I'm not sure. They've not even changed the entrance music this year which is surprising, could help making people aware theres actually an event going on etc.. They didn't bother with ride overlays last FN too which was a big shame. Hope they do this year as it really makes the event in my opinion. Have seen this a few times last week on Vortex, Big Easy Bumpers, High Striker, Fish, Rapids. Seems to be happening on off peak weekdays so I imagine its unofficial cost cutting or they're struggling with staff at the moment? I guess it doesn't matter too much at the moment with the off peak weekdays being very quiet but still not ideal.

SRQ is back on Thirteen from today, and will be back on Spinball too in a few days once that reopens. Good to see - hopefully we saw more of this too. Heard the Oblivion station is due to receive some major work so could see it return on there.

Interesting - shame its closed the same period Hyperia is closed. Not sure if its been mentioned on here but theres a few spots on inferno which have been welded / strengthened so wonder if its anything to do with that. Regardless, its great to see the park be so open about planned maintenance. Something we haven't really seen before.