Cal

The fact it closes in the same day as Amity Beach sways me more towards cost cutting than anything else. But who knows. Not against that though, can’t imagine it’ll be too popular after that date anyway, and I’d rather the park cost cut here rather than look at reducing opening hours like we’ve seen at other parks.

Really wouldn't mind seeing the end of Rumba to be honest. I'd say its quite easily the worst rapids in the UK and I imagine its very expensive to run especially with the amount of staff it requires nowadays. Would rather see it used a re-development area in the future rather than a re-theme or some work, but I imagine there are favorable sites for new attractions so can't see it being used for a long time.

I got to the park just before 5 and also had a great evening. Managed multiple rides on Hyperia and Stealth, all other major coasters and a few flats. They got seriously unlucky with the weather, so I hope this doesn't put them off late closes in the future as today clearly wasn't successful. After half 6/7 the park really filtered out and the only ride with a queue was Hyperia. I'm surprised they didn't offer discounted tickets for late entry. Could've tried marketing it a bit more on social media with later entry tickets maybe.. Re Hyperia, I don't necessarily disagree with the early closing, but I do disagree with the way it was communicated tonight. Luckily I was in the area so managed to get in the queue, but I would've left with a bit of a sour taste in my mouth if I'd have arrived after 20:30 and got turned away.

Interesting decision tonight, they’ve decided to close the queue for Hyperia at half 8 today even though the wait is currently 40 minutes and the queue isn’t full. They announced in the Hyperia area that the queue will be closing within the next 10 minutes but as far as I’m aware this wasn’t advertised anywhere else on park. Lots of people currently entering the area for a night ride and getting turned away. Doesn’t help that it’s still showing open on the app.

Hyperias soundtracks, including the dispatch and lift hill tracks have all been uploaded to Spotify and Apple music! Great to see. Big fan of these and they sound great in the queue/area, so glad I can give them a proper listen now. They've also released the timelapse of construction 7

Yeah I'd be interested to know the reason for the cuts, to me it seems more a cost cutting measure rather than staffing but who knows. They've been doing it all throughout the season, and also now open a small number of rides at 11 too. Chessington have had their 7pm closes stripped towards the end of summer and are closing popular attractions on off peak days, so it isn't the only merlin park to have cuts. Something I've said before re Fright Nights, regardless if its cost cutting or staffing issues surely they'd be better off cutting the first hour and do 11-9? An 8pm close wouldn't really allow a lot of time for night rides, especially when you factor in doing the scare attractions. Maybe I'm wrong but to me that would be more appealing as a consumer.

Think thats definitely the next spot for a coaster without redeveloping anywhere existing like Rumba Rapids. Would love to see a big RMC or a GCI woodie on that island, connecting Swarm and Stealth too. Interesting they considered 500ft for Hyperia? Can't imagine that went very far through development... the budget wouldn't have allowed anywhere near that height. On another note, interesting he didn't really answer the backwards seat question for Hyperia. Wonder if they'll do something similar to Swarm and introduce this one of the next couple of seasons? Would be quite easy to implement as they already have another queue leading up to the station, but would obviously mean removing the SRQ. I personally wouldn't like to loose the back rows and the SRQ for a backwards seat but will be interesting to see if its something they'll do in the future.

Towers have continued cutting hours, with some Scarefest dates now cut to 8pm instead of 9pm. Think 2024 is the first season we've seen a 5pm close in August and Scarefest earlier than 9pm. What a shame. Hardly going to encourage more bookings for them dates is it...

Even with 2 staff batching from the queues to the stairs yesterday, it was still a bit of a mess unfortunately. Staff weren't making it clear at points which stairs to go up which meant some from RAP went up single rider, which then caused issues when they got to the station. At points they weren't filling up the main queue on the stairs meaning they then fill the station with the SRQ. Also saw a couple hop over the fence from the SRQ on the stairs to the main queue. Shame they didn't make that fence a bit taller. Ops in the station were great as always though - was getting through about 700 - 800 an hour.

Noticed Stealth has a new pre boarding announcement in the station to try and help with throughputs, telling you to sit down bars down etc.. Colossus also had a new announcement in the queue, again to help with throughputs, explaining the baggage and loading procedure. Good to see a continued focus on throughputs. Think Hyperia could do with a themed pre boarding announcement in the station instead of the operator using the PA every time. For a good half hour yesterday it was set to the whole area, so he was telling the whole queueline and plaza the loading instructions and that they had 20 till the train was leaving... 🤣 Saws SRQ queue was closed when I attempted to go on yesterday - unsure why

Just a thought, does anyone else feel like they haven't built a long enough main queue line? I know we're still in a peak period, but it really doesn't look great having all the temporary fencing in the area currently, but I cant see a point in the near future that they won't need this with Hyperia being the main draw. The main queue could only really hold 60 - 90 minutes, but that was with very limited fasttrack and 1 rap per day. Now rap has been changed to being timed out like other rides and fast track will be gradually increased, the main queue will move much slower.

From my personal experience, I don't really find a difference with what row I sit on. I find different trains to be rougher than others though, I imagine that depends on which ones have recently been serviced, and had wheels replaced etc...

Looks like a small fire has broke out on Wickerman this afternoon. Hopefully there isn't much damange. I wonder what caused it?

They're already one of the best for UK opening times so can't complain really - none of the other merlin parks are staying open till 7 consistently throughout summer. Meanwhile Towers have a 5pm close in August. As you say, hopefully this will help build a case for more of it next year. Would love to see it. Even if it means opening an hour later, or as you've said previously just keep FN attractions and coasters open till 10. Would make a big difference.

Opening hours have been extended until 9pm on the last 2 Saturdays of August (24th and 31st) Great to see - especially at a time when hours are being cut on a weekly basis at Towers at the moment...

Not sure how many were in it, but Thorpe have today announced they will be closing the passholder group on Facebook as in their words 'regrettably, we no longer feel that the group is serving its intended purpose.' Big shame. I always thought it was a great way to see updates which the general public wouldn't necessarily be interested in, and also a great way for them to get and interact with feedback. I did notice since Hyperia had opened it had been a lot less active, with them replying to less and less comments etc..

I'm also less hopeful now - as there doesn't to be any changes to last year does there unless allocation is lower. The thing is they know the rough hourly throughputs the mazes get so I don't get why its so difficult to get right. Towers seem to get it right, I've never had a bad experience with queues there. It does surprise me they haven't changed the pricing structure this year, as last year the higher queues seemed to be early on and very little queues later on. But they have the stats etc so must have their reasons for doing it. Last year, I visited on an off peak day and got turned down on my final maze as I queued too long on the first 2. Had to argue to experience a maze which I had paid for. Really puts me off purchasing mazes this year, especially with less time in the dark with the 9pm closes. I will probably just purchase 1 shot maze tickets as an when I want to do one and I see a short queue for one. Free mazes and 10pm closes... what a time to be alive 😢

First teaser video out. Website has also been updated to show we have 4 mazes this year, same 3 as last year and 1 new one. Glad they’ve got a 4th. Hopefully this will relieve a bit of pressure on queues, hoping they can get that right this year.

Very different layout indeed, still fairly short but a much more traditional hyper layout. I do like the layout we got as its very unique, but one thing I like about that other one is the low to the ground final airtime hills. Hyperia is great and I'm happy with what we got, but to think what it could have been if they didn't have trims and a bit more at the end of the layout.

Tiger Rock has re-opened today. Glad they've managed to get it open much quicker than expected.

Temple of Mayhem has now updated to be closed for the remainder of the season. Not a big loss but still a strange decision to close an attraction before peak season. The fact that they started closing this on off peak days before closure makes me believe this is another cut, rather than something wrong with the attraction/building. Wonder if they’re ever going to make an announcement/update on Scorpion Express 😂

I've noticed different hosts have different ways of batching too which really influence the single rider wait time. For example, if the back row needs filling and the next group in the main queue is a group of 4, some hosts will just stick 2 single riders on the back row, where as some will call down the queue for the next group of 2.

So, summer holidays are approaching and Chessington are closing their water ride all summer. I imagine this is the highest throughput ride on park too. If it re-opens for September, it'll then go back to being closed midweek till the end of season too. Chessington just never gets better does it.

From what I've seen on Twitter, organizers were told very last minute it would be on 1 train, but who knows. Seems like a very strange decision. People had paid good money and I imagine it'll put people off organizing these type of events at Thorpe in the future. There excuse of needing it ready for the next day is nonsense when it ran till 10pm press night and opening day, and will likely run on 2 trains till 9pm daily during fright nights. They could've ran it on 2 if they wanted to/planned it properly.

Another topic, the park must surely be aware that the break run is seriously impacting throughputs at the moment. No matter how hard they work in the station, I don't think its possible to get higher than around 800. If the train got into the station quicker I imagine they'd easily be hitting 1000+. Do we think this will be sorted in closed season or it'll be left how it is? I'd be surprised if this wasn't changed especially with the parks recent focus on throughputs. At the moment, the queue moves well. But when Fasttrack increases to normal levels and RAP is changed from 1 per visit its a bit concerning how well it'll cope.