Cal

Do agree with this. Although it’s been great they’ve kept everyone updated, and they never specifically said it’ll open, it’s definitely set that expectation with the dates which will disappoint a lot of people.

Such a shame. But good to see that SAW is now back open which means the crane is no longer required, and testing will start soon. Can’t be long now!

The fact that Saw was only added to the ride availability page late yesterday to be closed today may suggest they could be a bit behind schedule, I guess it'll all depend on how they get on today. Fingers crossed!

When was this video taken? It got fixed a couple weeks ago, strange if its off again...

Good to see! Fingers crossed it all goes smoothly the next couple days and they can get it testing and open asap!

Funnily enough, I noticed the exact same on my last visit on 24th. Was in the SRQ and just assumed that the batcher couldn't keep up as noticed trains sitting there at points waiting for riders. As I got closer though, I noticed it wasn't the batcher but it was the baggage hold that couldn't keep up causing a delay in getting people through. Never seen that happen on SAW before in all my years of visiting so was a strange one.

SAW is planned to be closed on Monday and Tuesday, wonder if this is for Hyperia access?

Ouchhhh Gutted for them! I've had a load of adverts for Hyperia the last couple of days, they need to look at pulling all the ads if they still don't have an opening day in site

Was great to see, even rushing people off the offload platform so they could move it to on-load. Back to Hyperia, a crane has arrived on site today which will likely be to do work on the lift hill.

Its incredibly unlucky for them, I mean look at Swarm, it didn't have a full day closed in years. I know its not something that merlin ever do, but soft openings could be a good idea in the future. Something like this could've happened and been ironed out before official opening. Anyway, here are my thoughts from opening day. Got to the park for about 1:30ish and first ride I got really lucky and only waited 1.5 hours. I waited in the main queue until the Hyperia toilets. The host asked me if I was a single and put me in the single rider queue which was overflowing. I waited in this queue for around 20 minutes, and realized how long it was and it wasn't moving, and I also just read on the AP group how people were waiting 7 hours in the single queue. So, I asked the host if I could switch to the main queue instead as I knew that would be around 90 mins - 120 from this point. I believe there was some miss-communication and the manager didn't want to put me in the main queue for some reason, so they put me in Fasttrack instead and got straight on, row 9. Second ride I got in the queue at 7:45 got off around 10:15 so 2.5 hours, row 2. - I came of my first ride thinking that is easily the best air time I've experienced in the UK. I came off my second ride saying quite comfortably that is my favorite ride in the UK. - The outer-bank turn was easily my favorite element. Chucked out of your seat, especially on my second ride on row 2. - Actually quite liked the queueline. I was initially worried when we saw the prison style fences, but the queue is nice and none of the cattlepens are particularly long. You get some nice views of the ride. - The station does look pretty bare during the day, but looks so much better at night. I love the dispatch lighting/audio, and as well when the train returns to the station. - The trims were much more noticeable on my second ride towards the front of the train, but still took the last 2 elements with good speed. - Ride team were doing a great job at sending the trains out all day. The train does return to the station very slowly though, and I do wonder if they could get a higher throughput if this was sped up? I was initially quite disappointed when the layout got revealed, and even seeing the ride testing. Yes the ride is on the short side, but I really didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I did. I'm so glad they went for something different here, and we finally have an airtime machine in the UK. This is exactly what Thorpe needed. I can't wait to go on an offpeak day and ride it all day. This was my first time going on a coasters opening day and was easily one of the best days I've had at Thorpe, great atmosphere all day right up until leaving the park at 10:30. They did a great job organisation wise, being asked in the queue if everyones okay and need water filling up etc.. Didn't queue more than 10 minutes for anything else on park, Stealth in particular was running great as always, both times I went on they were running down the platform checking restraints, beating the countdown timer on the platform every dispatch.

So I went yesterday afternoon, got to the park for 1:30 and managed to get on Hyperia twice and the rest of the park. Easily one of the best days I've had at Thorpe in years, such a great atmosphere even right up until 10:30pm. I'll share my thoughts later on. I am absolutely gutted for Thorpe to read they can't get it open today. After such a successful opening and running flawlessly pretty much all day yesterday this is a big blow for the park. I got told by an operator the shutdowns yesterday were mainly issues with the gates which were tripping the ride out, so would be interested to know the issues today.

Looks like SAW and Samurai will have delayed openings for them days then until the queue dies down. Fair play to Thorpe - looks very organised and looks like their best option all things considered.

I had a couple of Hyperia adverts on youtube today for the first time. They were the opening date reveal video rather than the recent TV advert they released though

I came across this video the other day, starting at 17:01, a Nemesis engineer talks about the current rattle/vibrations on the trains. There are numerous reasons why they think it could be happening, for example with the track now being sand filled, vibrations which were once being absorbed by the track are now being felt on the train. He did say there are ways to iron this out in the future so hopefully its something they'll work on it during closed season.

Interesting! Agreed it would make sense to keep Slammers queue and use that for a FN maze so it does seem like something is being planned, and Skybound definitely sounds like a name of a flat that would fit Thorpe in that area. Sounds silly as its been SBNO for years but I'll actually be sad to see Slammer finally go 😢

Looks like the new flat in Forbidden Valley is set to be a top spin! Buzzing about this. Flat rides are exactly what towers need right now and love a good Topspin. Such crowd pleasers off ride too. Fingers crossed its a Huss

Good news - definitely will be going on the Friday. I wonder how many people will be trying to get last in the queue at 8pm to try and get a night ride 😆

They've confirmed tonight it'll be testing for the first time next week. Also, this below suggests we're getting extending opening hours for opening day/weekend which would be nice.

Night time POV Looks insane, will easily be the best coaster on park now

Hyperia has had its first riders today - didn't expect that!

Another park I'd never visited was Flamingoland, so I visited on Friday for the first time. Where I can, I always try to visit theme parks when they're quiet so I've seen a lot of quiet theme parks (BPB the day before for example) but never have I ever seen a park so dead before. According to staff, there was less than 100 people on park? It honestly felt like there was more staff than guests on park. Most of the rides I had on Sik I had the train to myself. I only got my ticket the day before as it was a last minute visit, but this cost me £56. I believe if you book over 7 days in advance its £44.50, pricey for a UK theme park. First impressions of the park were good, it looked fairly well kept and it was actually much bigger than I expected. The park was open 10-5, and the only advertised closure was Flip Flop, however this actually opened for the first time this season which was a nice surprise. Was running terribly though, long cycle but was hardly reaching 90 degrees. Certainly didn't have that KMG power. I'll list the main coasters in the order I rated them worst to best; 5. Hero - Had already done one of these at Prater Vienna so I knew exactly what to expect. Nothing else needs to be said. 4. Velocity - Heard a lot of good things about this but I really didn't enjoy it, found the restraints to be really uncomfy. Punchy launch but I was in pain for most of the layout so didn't particularly enjoy this. 3. Mumbo Jumbo - Always been a fan of S&S Flats so was nice to finally give one of there coasters a go. Its a solid coaster, although them restraints were fine on Slammer they aren't the best on a coaster like this but it's still a fun coaster and I didn't find it to be particularly uncomfy. 2. Kumali - After finally getting to ride as I needed to wait for a minimum of 6 to ride definitely the best SLC I've done. Some really good force in places and is really impressive to look at, and not as rough as the others I've done. Unfortunately the staff were only letting us sit near the front so didn't get a chance to sit anywhere near the back. 1. Sik - I've always had a soft spot for Colossus, so I've been really wanting to get on this to see how it compares. It's really good fun, definitely feels much quicker than Colossus. They've also finished it off really well, it looks good off ride and the station is great. Its even got a single rider queue and pre loading information screens. The only thing I didn't like about it is the heartline rolls with them restraints, they really dig into your thighs. Intamins new lap bar trains are much better. I had some lunch which was reasonably priced and good quality and a walk around the zoo which was nice, and there was also a couple of flats I particularly wanted to get on. I heard Pterodactyl was particularly intense, and even though I've done one more than double the height in Vienna this was more intense. It was very windy so I'm surprised it was even operating to be honest. Cliff Hanger was another one I'd heard good things about. It was nothing special, although it was only running on 'shot' setting so didn't get a drop on it. I'm more of a fan of drop towers myself so that was a shame. After getting on everything I wanted to get on multiple times, I went back to Sik for some re-rides and left the park before 2pm, much earlier than planned but had a long drive ahead and had done everything I wanted. Overall it's a nice park, with a good selection of coasters, flats and a good zoo. I just can't believe they have the park open daily 10 - 5, with every ride fully staffed for there to be less than 100 people on park. Whilst walking round the zoo I saw a peter rabbit character standing around with a few staff for a meet and greet, not 1 person had turned up to it. Some rides I didn't see a single rider on the whole time I was there. Doesn't seem viable for them to be open on these days but can't complain!

Yeah its good to see them well prepared. Meanwhile Chessington can't even open all of their rides on a weekday 😆

Had my first visit this season yesterday. Everything open expect rumba which was a planned closure. Ops were brilliant for an off peak weekday. All major coasters on 2 trains. They seemed really overstaffed. I guess they no longer staff for peak/off peak but it just seemed really excessive? - 4+ staff checking restraints on Colossus and Inferno + staff batching even though they were struggling to fill the trains most of the day - Vortex, Samurai and Detty had 3 hosts - Staff at all the coasters merge points even though they didn't have queues all day Was great to see some Hyperia testing in the afternoon too!

Saw it today folded up down the side of the ride, so I imagine that'll put it back on soon. Was running well today. Anyone know why they continuously cycle it empty when they don't have the minimum of 15 people to ride? Never seen them do that before.

They've confirmed Slammer is being removed this closed reason - what are the chances we get a new flat ride there? Or do you reckon we're getting a new picnic area? Would love for them to get a new modern water ride. Get rid of Rumba. Worst rapids in the UK by a mile. Can't really see that happening though unfortunately. I personally don't think we'll see another dark ride until they finally decide to sack off the ghost train and use that building. But who knows. I really hope we're past the days of permanent scare attractions and actor led experiences 🤞