Marhelorpe

Yeah, well, my birthday is on the same day of the year Thorpe Park opened back in 1979 - 24th May. Top that. Aaaaaaaanyway, back on topic. Anyone know if there is any more turf being laid across the park ready the 2019 season? The area surrounding Swarm could do with some.

I’m a Celeb & Vulcan Peak no more? (Please be gone finally)

At least from that video we now know the fate of the missing native American figure which used to be on Rocky Express until sometime earlier this calendar year! xD But yeah, hardly surprising seeing the state of what Loggers Leap has become looking at that video. About what was expected really. The fact the lighting for the tunnel, lift hills and the security system in the control cabin was still running is odd though. As a whole I've noticed that during closed seasons quite a few things across all the Merlin parks remain on, presumably for security reasons.

The list looks promising and I am aiming to attend most, if not all of these next year, but are quite concerned about the date of the Phantasialand trip. I understand everyone has other commitments going on and some dates outside of summer for international trips can be difficult, but it's worth noting that the pricing of the flights and hotels in my experience in the middle of the summer holidays when all the schools are out can be as much as 4x that compared to say late May/early June for example. Like, you could be paying as much as £90pp per night in a shared room (basing this off research into me arranging a weekend trip to Liseberg back in summer 2017). If however there is a decent deal flying around, I'm all up for attending it then. Just thought I'd say currently, it's a massive "maybe" from me.

'Tis been a little while since the last one, so here's a revised list of mixed coasters: 1. Helix 2. Taron 3. Shambhala 4. Icon 5. Wodan 6. Nemesis 7. Wicker Man 8. Black Mamba 9. Euro-Mir 10. SheiKra

It must be said that the park's social media teams need to get a grip with how they are running things and handling their customers, as some of the stuff we've seen this year not just from Thorpe but also Alton is really surprising. Things such as their attitude with the "Tut tut tut, it's better than nothing" and now the stupid things like #LoggersLeap2019. It's very unprofessional. I'm all for seeing some banter and fun with these accounts and have no issues with the ones Ivsetti mentioned above, but it's when they are either blatantly lying or treating their customers with contempt it becomes a problem. At this point as Wumbamillio said, instead of procrastinating a decision with Loggers Leap, they should just flat-out say it's closed/reopening and get this over and done with. Simples. None of this "making a splash-back soon" or "Area under development" guff on their maps for the last 3 seasons which now nobody believes anymore, as it just clings onto the notion it will return eventually one day and will only build false hope with both guests and fans. Whilst I admit I previously and frankly stupidly thought in a previous post this tweet meant a possibility of Loggers Leap coming back for 2019 (as I really want it to return), I then remembered this is the same social media account which told us this not so long ago...... Lesson - take whatever you read on their Twitter page with enough salt to fill Tidal Wave's pool.

All done and submitted, figured I'd contribute this year after winning one unexpectedly last time.

Behave children, honestly... ? Amity Beach (5) Angry Birds 4D Experience (5) Colossus (5) Depth Charge (5) Detonator: Bomb's Away (5) Flying Fish (5) I'm a Celebrity (5) King Pig's Wild Hog Dodgems (5) Lumber Jump (5) Mr. Monkey's Banana Ride (5) Nemesis Inferno (5) Quantum (5) Rocky Express (5) Rumba Rapids (5) Rush (5) Samurai (5) Saw - The Ride (5) Stealth (5) Storm in a Teacup (5) Storm Surge (5) The Swarm (4) The Walking Dead - The Ride (6) Tidal Wave (5) Timber Tug Boat (5) Vortex (5) Wet Wet Wet (5) Zodiac (5) • The Walking Dead - The Ride (+1) • The Swarm (-1)

A bit behind on the latest regarding F.L.Y. and don't know a whole lot about the project, but from those images above, is there going to be an enclosed portion for the track behind that gigantic walled facade, or is the entire thing going to be indoors? Admittedly, we are far from the completed product, but the sheer size and height of that wall really sticks out both from the front and back and has me questioning how this will look once completed. Hopefully the teams involved are able to blend it into the rest of the surrounding area, to which I have faith in them doing so.

Going back to this tweet however, I do find the timing of it quite interesting should it lead anywhere and hold any truth. Got a small pet theory about this and yes, I realise I might be overthinking this hugely here, so bear with me if it sounds ridiculous and unrealistic. Many would think should Loggers Leap return at any point in the future, there is a very likely possibility new vertical construction such as buildings or a queue line re-route are due to possibly go up, potentially as part of a retheme, spruce or for safety/presentation purposes. If so, there are clearly going to be planning applications made to the Runnymede Council granting permission and detailing the more specific details of the changes the park wish to make. But as we all know, there are no plans submitted anywhere right now around the site of Loggers Leap, so you would think at this point nothing is going to happen right? Well, who here remembers when the plans were submitted to the council regarding the construction of Walking Dead: The Ride's watch tower and queue re-route? The first revised documents showing the schematics and various viewing angles were submitted on the 24th November 2017 - almost exactly a year ago to this day. This is just a wild theory, but if there is indeed hope for Loggers Leap returning next year, could we be seeing some minor plans being submitted within the next few days to the council detailing changes which would coincide with a reopening and repair of the attraction this winter perhaps? Something tells me if this is going to happen, Thorpe Park's social media team last night might have prematurely released this hint to their followers, especially given it uses a hashtag and can easily become a trend for the park this closed season on all of social media. Maybe they were planning to start this trend as soon as the plans were released so both enthusiasts looking at the documents in more detail and the public following their pages on social media are aware of what's happening in 2019? If it should reopen, this will likely not be regarded as a new attraction for 2019, so there's no need to keep things secret with the public this time over the closed season. Unlike WD: The Ride where an official unveiling was publicly made in February 2018; 3 months after the plans were discovered and the park were being secretive over this period with guests. Just a theory and are probably being far too hopeful & optimistic here mind.

Yeah, I am aware, it's a non-story. Just found it amusing when all the vlogger/YouTube "celebrities" were freaking out over this being a new attraction for Thorpe earlier this summer, much like Grand National becoming an RMC recently and now Loggers Leap returning for 2019. None of these things are likely gonna happen and is just rumour guff. Hope I'm wrong about the last one though...

I guess the title "Project Zero" really means what it says then - nothing. ?

Hmmmmmm. From a distance, this looks promising if it means more open days compared to 2018. But hours however... 10:30am park openings year-round perhaps this time?

2nd to Disney right there folks. Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.

Thorpe Park x21 (yes, really) Alton Towers x6 PortAventura x6 Chessington x5 Europa Park x3 (first visit) Liseberg x2 Legoland x1 Blackpool x1 (first visit) For 2019, it's all about trying Toverland finally, and visiting Liseberg and Phantasialand once again. Gotta get on Valkyria and Fēnix.

Figured I'd reignite this topic slightly and confirm something suspected for a while. Some may have noticed for a few years now that there is always a single entire row of empty seats on Quantum which are never used during operation and at first, I always believed they were broken restraints, but after the experience I had on 31st October, the staff operating it confirmed after I pointed it out they were closed off to allow themselves to cross from one side of the platform to the other. Since only two operate the either ride now instead of three usually, the batching area is left unmanned during the ride's operation, hence why they are never used anymore these days. Usually I've had no problem with this and realise of course more staff = more costs, but given it reeeeeeealy slowed everything down and there was so much faff involved that evening, it's times like that I wish the batching gates were used once again with an additional staff member to speed things up on both sides of the platform during loading/unloading. Once can hope it can be run like this once again!

I'm about as convinced we will be seeing a development on that site opposite the dome in 2019 as I am with Project Zero becoming a reality. Not buying it. If there was going to be substantial construction on that area of land including the clearing of trees, filling of concrete and laying of foundations etc of any building, wouldn't plans have been submitted to the Runnymede Council by now? It was this time a year ago WD: The Ride's outdoor queue makeover and watch tower was submitted and that was merely just a redo of the exterior of X, so something involving much more work would be submitted earlier for approval wouldn't it? Might be something for 2020 however, but as things stand right now, I don't see anything for 2019 appearing... except maybe 'Love Island: Get Me Out of Here - The Ride' (sponsored by AMC).

One thing it needs next year above all else from the teams involved in creating the event and the image it entails for guests to see: Self-belief. As controversial as this might sound, I think at this stage in the game after the shambles of this year, the park need to let go of the past and anything associated with the event between 2013 - 2018. This means do not bring back any of the old mazes; do not rely on an IP to sell the product; do not put quantity above quality; do not put customer experience below first priority and most of all, have some confidence in what can be accomplished as the park is more than capable of doing it, as demonstrated by the late 2000's, especially in 08/09. Simples.

Don't worry, this is your hog... ?

Not saying Fright Nights pre-2013 was perfect in any way, as between 2006-2012 there were a few duffers and questionable decisions thrown in the mix and I remember 2010 being quite a naff year. Sure, Dead End Terror Zone and The Passing were both pretty awful, but it cannot be denied this event during the late 2000's/early 2010's was in a completely different and indeed far better mindset compared to today, and I'm not referring just to the mazes. 2009 to me was the golden year for Fright Nights, as this was when the park really took a great amount of effort at giving the park an electrifying atmosphere at night past 4pm as soon as the mazes opened. I remember every single ride had its own character and theme such as Hell freezing over for Inferno (blue lighting used in the tunnel and mist), the children's playground swing theme for Rush (miss that audio so damn much it used to play), Humpty Dumpty for Detonator (very scary theme played) etc. Every ride, and I mean every ride had brilliant theming decorations in and around the areas, and Saw had some awesome fire effects in the plaza on the shop's roof which were very loud and effective at making people jump. Certainly worked on me! Smoke machines were present everywhere at night from Inferno's loop, Samurai's platform, Saw's police car, Colossus' final inversion etc. The park lighting looked awesome at night with lots of green, blue and red filters everywhere with very little use of generic white floodlighting too. All the rides were open until 10pm, including Loggers Leap, Tidal Wave and Rumba Rapids. The park audio was also superb with Midnight Syndicate everywhere along with Charlie Clouser, and the list goes on and on... As for the mazes between 2006-2012, yes, The Passing in 2012 and Dead End Terror Zone in 2010 were both rubbish. However, to accompany them, we had Experiment 10, The Asylum, Se7en, Hellgate and The Curse - all 5 of which I truly miss and were brilliant attractions in different respects. And notice something they all have in common? Not one of them was an IP. Not one, and this leads onto my biggest gripe with the event these days. For me, the biggest problem now ever since 2013 is the focus of this event has become more centralised on the use of commercial IP's, beginning with Lionsgate and now presently AMC's The Walking Dead and as a result, the quality of the product has been diminishing gradually year-on-year quite noticeably with basic areas overlooked. The park lighting has gotten worse, the park audio has become very inconsistent, there's scarcely any park theming and loads of smaller details are now left out. Through my eyes, the focus has shifted more on trying to sell guests on the fact they have mazes and an event themed on either horror movies or a famous TV show and frankly, 2018 has shown that idea has now run it's course. A few gems like Big Top were generated during this period which I loved, but they are all gone now sadly and instead, another IP-focused maze has replaced it which honestly sucks in comparison. Some may say using an IP for a Halloween event helps boost the numbers through the gates and sure, in the short-term it might do that, but I disagree with the principle wholeheartedly. Alton Towers' ScareFest does not use an IP for their event or any of their mazes, nor does Chessington, nor does Tulleys Farm etc and look at how successful and praised they become with guests. Partly the reason I adore visiting Tulleys Farm ever since the first visit I made in 2017 (cheers for that trip @Martin Doyle!) was because the attractions remind me of what Thorpe used to be during the best years of Fright Nights - original, imaginative, unique, IP-less and very well-done. This is what Thorpe used to be before the whole commercialised IP approach began starting in 2013. I'll conclude by saying if Thorpe are indeed thinking of reimagining what Fright Nights is in 2019 (frankly, I'll believe that when I see it), they need to start fresh and take inspiration from successful attractions in their past and other attractions out there such as Asylum, Big Top, Experiment 10, Se7en, Chop Shop, Coven of 13 and The Cellar to name a few, as well as look in the archives into what this event was like previously and learn from it. They need to begin building a great reputation with this event once again, as that's how many smaller attractions out there are so successful during Halloween, the best example being Tulleys Farm. Who would have thought a remote, small farm in the middle of West Sussex could deliver what many regard as the UK's best scare attraction and attract visitors all across Europe as a result? The answer - reputation. Build a great reputation again, scrap any use of an IP, create a great experience for guests, deliver excellent mazes and focus once again on quality and originality - that's the key to "save" Fright Nights in my view.

And that sentence right there is what's entirely wrong with Fright Nights now - quantity is more valued than quality. I have nothing against the vloggers online at these press events, (except Silkstone who has essentially nicked sections of my own YouTube videos without asking me beforehand a few times very recently...) as it's evident these people clearly fall into Merlin's good graces, so won't dare discuss the issues with the event this year. But by doing so, it undermines their positions in my view where they are not being honest with their viewers and as a result, I pay almost no attention to what they have to say. Just wish those with a position of influence like the vloggers can be brutally honest to the viewers and not toe the line.

Yup, Colossus' station audio I really liked, especially with the voiceover used. Had a mysterious feel to it all which I loved. Nice work! Inferno was definitely playing FN audio in the queue and station so that ride was fine. Rides such as Detonator, Samurai and Vortex were all playing their regular audio day and night though. Also, Andy Birds Land was playing WWTP too which was a bit confusing, though think it worked. The Director was being played inside Inferno's Pizza & Pasta Buffet restaurant on a loop which sounded as though it was from last year's park-wide non-IMAscore loop. As for WWTP, I did notice a few changes such as the song choice and voiceovers in-between each track which was a nice touch, but through my ears, a fair amount of the songs used I'm certain are from the regular playlist and had that happy and jumpy 50's/60's vibe to it all. During the day before 3pm it worked, but at dusk and night, it didn't work at all and clashed with Stealth's dispatch audio in my view. That's the issue I had.

Alright, I have now had two visits to this year's Fright Nights, the first on the preview night and the second last Saturday (13th October) and have finally tried almost the entire lineup minus Fanta's Twisted Carnival and the Screamplexx Cinema. I said a few weeks ago I predicted this was going to be the worst Fright Nights ever and 2 weeks later, I still stand by that statement as the entire thing has become a former shadow of itself and quite honestly, a joke. How can an event reach such a low after having some fantastic years and attractions in the past? Everything this year screams "quantity above quality" around every corner now where the mazes themselves were average at the very best, the audio management was incredibly inconsistent, the park lighting looks horrendous and there was virtually no atmosphere at night anywhere across the park. Here are my mini reviews for each of the attractions Fright Nights have this year which I've tried. These are my honest thoughts and I'm not holding back exactly what went through my mind when experiencing each of them. Spoiler tags used not to hide what happens, but to reduce the size of this post as I've got a few things to say about this year other than the mazes: Saw Alive: 4/10 Platform 15: 4/10 Dead Creek Woods: 3/10 Living Nightmare: 3/10 Blair Witch: 3/10 Sanctum Do or Die: 2/10 The Big Top: Showtime: 2/10 Vulcan Peak: 0.00000000001/10 So yeah, as you can see from the above reviews, all of the mazes were awful this year with some being so bad it makes 2010's Dead End Terror Zone look scary. As for other parts of the event, the park lighting this year was absolutely horrendous with bright white lighting everywhere across the park from Inferno, to Old Town, Dead Creek Wood's entrance where you can't read the flipping sign and Stealth. There were temporary lights installed in a few places, but unlike last year's nicely coloured stencil-shaded ones, these were all multi-colour changing LEDs going through all colours of the rainbow, similar to those approaching Swarm's area. It looked horrendous, and the ones used across the bridge were even worse, reminding me of the inside of X. Since when were disco lights associated with Halloween?! As for the audio, I was optimistic about this year after hearing some of the preview clips found online from Nick Hutson as I was hoping we would see each and every ride having their own theme like it used to be when Midnight Syndicate ruled the park. Whilst some rides sounded great, Colossus' station especially which was my favourite, I noticed it was only some the coasters which had theme changes, no other rides across the park had them, so every single flat ride like Rush, Samurai, Vortex etc were playing their regular themes all day and night. As for Amity Cove's playlist across Tidal Wave and Stealth, it sounded identical to the regular one and did not work well at all in my opinion, especially at night. I understand the intentions behind why a FN dedicated playlist was made, but it failed in my view. I could also hear the director voice overs a few times across the park too in a few places. Why is he still being played across a Walking Dead themed Halloween event? I keep on stressing this every year but Thorpe, for goodness sake, can you just bring back the Midnight Syndicate tracks used in 2007-2009 when the whole park used to sound amazing at night? This was what made you stand out from Alton and Chessington years ago during Halloween. Give every ride and area a consistent audio track to play, play themed announcements once again and less manual ones, only use the linked park-wide audio system for opening/closing nothing else and most of all, sort the damn system out. There are so many inconsistencies across the park with the audio this year that it's a joke. Are you all-in with regular audio like in 2010, or all-in with Fright Nights audio like in 2007-2009 Thorpe? Make your mind up. Last comment to make is the park-wide theming. It's nice to see it in some areas like the entrance, Saw and Swarm but again, it is still not at the levels this event once used to be a while ago and likely never will. Just hoping one year we can see park theming being a priority for this park once again, but realise it's never gonna happen. Won't stop me calling them out on it every year though. Last year, I wrote these comments for 2017's Fright Nights: It took a lot for me to attend this year's event as I was adamant about not going after the poor experience I had last time, but decided to give it a try anyway in the vain hope something has improved, but no. Nothing this year is better than last year and has solidified my opinion about this event - I'm done with it. I'm honestly done. I cannot cope with seeing what this event has now become after knowing and experiencing it during a different era in the late 2000's when it used to be a fantastic event. Back then, the event and park used to pride itself as being one of the best, if not the best Halloween attraction in the country, but now it's just a commercialised piece of rubbish where sticking a famous IP on the name with poor marketing saying there are "6 new attractions" and making each and every maze a botch job seems to be enough to please guests these days just to they can get a few cheap scares. What happened to originality, dedication, imagination and effort? It's now become painfully obvious that whilst Merlin and Thorpe are capable of turning out a product for guests at this park, they are not capable of turning out a product that is well done anymore. The fit and finish this event once had is now dead and is just a distant memory for those that remember and indeed experienced it during that time. I've given Thorpe 5 years now ever since the Lionsgate takeover in 2013 to get their act together with this event and whilst during that time a few little gems like Big Top and Cabin in the Woods were made, the rest of the other attractions made ever since that year have frankly sucked and none of them have ever reached the levels of Asylum, Experiment 10, Se7en, Hellgate and even The Curse. The focus of this event between 2013-2017 was all about the IP and the mazes nothing else, so audio, park theming, lighting and other factors started to degrade gradually, but 2018 has shown the park don't seem to give a damn about the quality of their mazes anymore either. It feels as though they believe only putting an IP on their product and having the biggest number of attractions is enough for guests to be happy these days, when in truth, it is not. I've documented problems this event has had over the last few years in posts on this forum and are honestly tired of talking about it now by repeating the same things over and over again constantly, because it seems to be an endless battle I am fighting for here. I genuinely really want this event to be brilliant for all guests, so new ones can experience the delights and thrills of what this park is capable of during Halloween for those of us that remember how amazing this event used to be, but cannot do that right now. People deserve a great product when they are forking out good amounts of money to attend this event and currently, they are not. Understandably, I know I rail on against Merlin and Thorpe an awful lot on this forum and are probably boring many readers with it by now, but want to establish I am not a hater and are not "bitching" for the sake of "bitching". I say these things because I care and believe people deserve a better product from the park, whether they know it or not and I want people to speak up about problems they are seeing or experiencing to let the park know when something isn't right. I commend the reviewers above for voicing their concerns about this year's FN and encourage others thinking similar to do so as well, as this year is an embarrassment on many proportions.

Let me guess, they couldn't find an actor again? ?

Just remember, this is all better than nothing...