Marhelorpe

Already this is reminding me of the build up to how IAC was announced back in early 2015 (for those that remember) - silent, vertical videos filmed across the other side of the park by staff members for an attraction nobody really asked for, or is remotely interested in.

Gold standard effort from Liseberg, as first piece of track on Valkyria was installed this week...
 

Been one of them "lurkers" on here since 2006 (!) but wanted to say, love the new park music. Sounded great on park, love the CD.
 
BUT... the removal of the Colossus music is a big loss to the park. Truly iconic, its replacement is far too wishy-washy. Felt it didn't work on park - any intimidation and drama the original had has gone. Works perfectly well as area music around the flat rides but not strong enough as the coaster's theme track. Strange decision..! I just hope the track isn't extended to Vortex which was still using its modified Colossus theme it's been using since 2002. Fits Vortex as perfectly as it does Colossus. 
 
Really hope the park listens and reverts the Colossus theme back, while utilising the new version as part of the wider Lost City area music as the majority seem to suggest, but we'll see!
 
The new Nemesis Inferno track on the other hand is very good! It's essentially the same but extended/embellished. The original track was great, but was always far too short for the queue line.

It contains about 2 seconds of POV.
 
Doesn't seem like much, but it's about a quarter of the total ride time.

Me when Merlin make a theme that isn’t dark, rundown and generally gloomy

Yay Pizza extension though. One day the building cover half the park.
 

Having a look at these new dates, seeing the 10pm closures extended to many days during summer is a great* move, but I would just like to show a little comparison I've made when comparing 2018's opening times as a whole to last year, just to show there are some significant differences behind these dates.

These are the statistics for every single day during the 2017 season between 23rd March - 1st November:

• 4pm days = 21. (9% approx.)
• 5pm days = 58. (26% approx.)
• 6pm days = 114. (51% approx.)
• 10pm days = 21. (9% approx.)
• Closed Days = 10. (5% approx.)
 
Now here are the current planned days for 2018 between the 23rd March - 31st October, under the assumption none of the dates/times change at the time of writing this post:

• 4pm days = 42. (18% approx.)
• 5pm days = 54. (25% approx.)
• 6pm days = 54. (25% approx.)
• 10pm days = 37. (16.5% approx.)
• Closed Days = 36. (15.5% approx.)
 
When looking at this, there has been a decrease of 27 open days for 2018, which is around -12.6%. That's almost an entire month of days gone.
 
It also means there's been a +260% increase of closed days compared to 2017.
 
Onto the number of available ride hours and these are the theoretically maximum, assuming the rides opens at exactly 10am in the park and close on the hour exactly, taking into account the number of days multiplied by their operating hours, along with no breakdowns or 24mph wind restrictions:

• 2017 Ride Operation Hours = 1,696.
• 2018 Ride Operation Hours = 1,506.

So to accompany the 27 lost days in 2018, we have now lost minimum 190 hours of ride time for 2018. This is equivalent to at least -11.2% or starting at around 24 typical 10am - 6pm days.

On the plus side, these 10pm closures have pushed up the average lasting day in hours for guests in 2018 from 7.925 to 8.05, which is +1.58% on the open days.
 
So despite great summer opening hours, I think it's important to point out not to be tricked into thinking loads of the hours from 2017 are just being reallocated to summer which can excuse the 36 closed days this season, as it's obviously not true. To put it simply, 2018's hours are rotten for those who wish to visit outside of summer.
 
*(Not so great if you are a standard MAP holder...)

Having a look at these new dates, seeing the 10pm closures extended to many days during summer is a great* move, but I would just like to show a little comparison I've made when comparing 2018's opening times as a whole to last year, just to show there are some significant differences behind these dates.

These are the statistics for every single day during the 2017 season between 23rd March - 1st November:

• 4pm days = 21. (9% approx.)
• 5pm days = 58. (26% approx.)
• 6pm days = 114. (51% approx.)
• 10pm days = 21. (9% approx.)
• Closed Days = 10. (5% approx.)
 
Now here are the current planned days for 2018 between the 23rd March - 31st October, under the assumption none of the dates/times change at the time of writing this post:

• 4pm days = 42. (18% approx.)
• 5pm days = 54. (25% approx.)
• 6pm days = 54. (25% approx.)
• 10pm days = 37. (16.5% approx.)
• Closed Days = 36. (15.5% approx.)
 
When looking at this, there has been a decrease of 27 open days for 2018, which is around -12.6%. That's almost an entire month of days gone.
 
It also means there's been a +260% increase of closed days compared to 2017.
 
Onto the number of available ride hours and these are the theoretically maximum, assuming the rides opens at exactly 10am in the park and close on the hour exactly, taking into account the number of days multiplied by their operating hours, along with no breakdowns or 24mph wind restrictions:

• 2017 Ride Operation Hours = 1,696.
• 2018 Ride Operation Hours = 1,506.

So to accompany the 27 lost days in 2018, we have now lost minimum 190 hours of ride time for 2018. This is equivalent to at least -11.2% or starting at around 24 typical 10am - 6pm days.

On the plus side, these 10pm closures have pushed up the average lasting day in hours for guests in 2018 from 7.925 to 8.05, which is +1.58% on the open days.
 
So despite great summer opening hours, I think it's important to point out not to be tricked into thinking loads of the hours from 2017 are just being reallocated to summer which can excuse the 36 closed days this season, as it's obviously not true. To put it simply, 2018's hours are rotten for those who wish to visit outside of summer.
 
*(Not so great if you are a standard MAP holder...)

Having a look at these new dates, seeing the 10pm closures extended to many days during summer is a great* move, but I would just like to show a little comparison I've made when comparing 2018's opening times as a whole to last year, just to show there are some significant differences behind these dates.

These are the statistics for every single day during the 2017 season between 23rd March - 1st November:

• 4pm days = 21. (9% approx.)
• 5pm days = 58. (26% approx.)
• 6pm days = 114. (51% approx.)
• 10pm days = 21. (9% approx.)
• Closed Days = 10. (5% approx.)
 
Now here are the current planned days for 2018 between the 23rd March - 31st October, under the assumption none of the dates/times change at the time of writing this post:

• 4pm days = 42. (18% approx.)
• 5pm days = 54. (25% approx.)
• 6pm days = 54. (25% approx.)
• 10pm days = 37. (16.5% approx.)
• Closed Days = 36. (15.5% approx.)
 
When looking at this, there has been a decrease of 27 open days for 2018, which is around -12.6%. That's almost an entire month of days gone.
 
It also means there's been a +260% increase of closed days compared to 2017.
 
Onto the number of available ride hours and these are the theoretically maximum, assuming the rides opens at exactly 10am in the park and close on the hour exactly, taking into account the number of days multiplied by their operating hours, along with no breakdowns or 24mph wind restrictions:

• 2017 Ride Operation Hours = 1,696.
• 2018 Ride Operation Hours = 1,506.

So to accompany the 27 lost days in 2018, we have now lost minimum 190 hours of ride time for 2018. This is equivalent to at least -11.2% or starting at around 24 typical 10am - 6pm days.

On the plus side, these 10pm closures have pushed up the average lasting day in hours for guests in 2018 from 7.925 to 8.05, which is +1.58% on the open days.
 
So despite great summer opening hours, I think it's important to point out not to be tricked into thinking loads of the hours from 2017 are just being reallocated to summer which can excuse the 36 closed days this season, as it's obviously not true. To put it simply, 2018's hours are rotten for those who wish to visit outside of summer.
 
*(Not so great if you are a standard MAP holder...)

Glad you like the booklet.
 
The main theme (which went through quite a lot of change and scrutiny) will always be subjective up against ITHOTMK - an instantly recognisable peice of music. What’s nice, however, is that ITHOTMK is not and will never be solely Alton Towers’ theme music. It’s a peice of historical, classical music which will forever feature in film and television. 
 
The new Thorpe Park theme however, is only that. It doesn’t exist elsewhere and now dominates the park audio as a short phrase that sticks in your head and stays with you, and can be tailored to the different styles of the park. 
 
I’ve always felt you should be able to sing the name of the brand or product to its theme tune. So now when you listen to  the theme, sing ‘let’s go to Thorpe Park’ in the second and fourth set of 4 bars! It works! Now try and fit Alton Towers into ITHOTMK!  ?

Wait... haven't they already done that?!  

I’m so glad you love the track so much.
 
And - Madame Mephisto does actually sync with the rest of the audio

Having a look at these new dates, seeing the 10pm closures extended to many days during summer is a great* move, but I would just like to show a little comparison I've made when comparing 2018's opening times as a whole to last year, just to show there are some significant differences behind these dates.

These are the statistics for every single day during the 2017 season between 23rd March - 1st November:

• 4pm days = 21. (9% approx.)
• 5pm days = 58. (26% approx.)
• 6pm days = 114. (51% approx.)
• 10pm days = 21. (9% approx.)
• Closed Days = 10. (5% approx.)
 
Now here are the current planned days for 2018 between the 23rd March - 31st October, under the assumption none of the dates/times change at the time of writing this post:

• 4pm days = 42. (18% approx.)
• 5pm days = 54. (25% approx.)
• 6pm days = 54. (25% approx.)
• 10pm days = 37. (16.5% approx.)
• Closed Days = 36. (15.5% approx.)
 
When looking at this, there has been a decrease of 27 open days for 2018, which is around -12.6%. That's almost an entire month of days gone.
 
It also means there's been a +260% increase of closed days compared to 2017.
 
Onto the number of available ride hours and these are the theoretically maximum, assuming the rides opens at exactly 10am in the park and close on the hour exactly, taking into account the number of days multiplied by their operating hours, along with no breakdowns or 24mph wind restrictions:

• 2017 Ride Operation Hours = 1,696.
• 2018 Ride Operation Hours = 1,506.

So to accompany the 27 lost days in 2018, we have now lost minimum 190 hours of ride time for 2018. This is equivalent to at least -11.2% or starting at around 24 typical 10am - 6pm days.

On the plus side, these 10pm closures have pushed up the average lasting day in hours for guests in 2018 from 7.925 to 8.05, which is +1.58% on the open days.
 
So despite great summer opening hours, I think it's important to point out not to be tricked into thinking loads of the hours from 2017 are just being reallocated to summer which can excuse the 36 closed days this season, as it's obviously not true. To put it simply, 2018's hours are rotten for those who wish to visit outside of summer.
 
*(Not so great if you are a standard MAP holder...)

Having a look at these new dates, seeing the 10pm closures extended to many days during summer is a great* move, but I would just like to show a little comparison I've made when comparing 2018's opening times as a whole to last year, just to show there are some significant differences behind these dates.

These are the statistics for every single day during the 2017 season between 23rd March - 1st November:

• 4pm days = 21. (9% approx.)
• 5pm days = 58. (26% approx.)
• 6pm days = 114. (51% approx.)
• 10pm days = 21. (9% approx.)
• Closed Days = 10. (5% approx.)
 
Now here are the current planned days for 2018 between the 23rd March - 31st October, under the assumption none of the dates/times change at the time of writing this post:

• 4pm days = 42. (18% approx.)
• 5pm days = 54. (25% approx.)
• 6pm days = 54. (25% approx.)
• 10pm days = 37. (16.5% approx.)
• Closed Days = 36. (15.5% approx.)
 
When looking at this, there has been a decrease of 27 open days for 2018, which is around -12.6%. That's almost an entire month of days gone.
 
It also means there's been a +260% increase of closed days compared to 2017.
 
Onto the number of available ride hours and these are the theoretically maximum, assuming the rides opens at exactly 10am in the park and close on the hour exactly, taking into account the number of days multiplied by their operating hours, along with no breakdowns or 24mph wind restrictions:

• 2017 Ride Operation Hours = 1,696.
• 2018 Ride Operation Hours = 1,506.

So to accompany the 27 lost days in 2018, we have now lost minimum 190 hours of ride time for 2018. This is equivalent to at least -11.2% or starting at around 24 typical 10am - 6pm days.

On the plus side, these 10pm closures have pushed up the average lasting day in hours for guests in 2018 from 7.925 to 8.05, which is +1.58% on the open days.
 
So despite great summer opening hours, I think it's important to point out not to be tricked into thinking loads of the hours from 2017 are just being reallocated to summer which can excuse the 36 closed days this season, as it's obviously not true. To put it simply, 2018's hours are rotten for those who wish to visit outside of summer.
 
*(Not so great if you are a standard MAP holder...)

Having a look at these new dates, seeing the 10pm closures extended to many days during summer is a great* move, but I would just like to show a little comparison I've made when comparing 2018's opening times as a whole to last year, just to show there are some significant differences behind these dates.

These are the statistics for every single day during the 2017 season between 23rd March - 1st November:

• 4pm days = 21. (9% approx.)
• 5pm days = 58. (26% approx.)
• 6pm days = 114. (51% approx.)
• 10pm days = 21. (9% approx.)
• Closed Days = 10. (5% approx.)
 
Now here are the current planned days for 2018 between the 23rd March - 31st October, under the assumption none of the dates/times change at the time of writing this post:

• 4pm days = 42. (18% approx.)
• 5pm days = 54. (25% approx.)
• 6pm days = 54. (25% approx.)
• 10pm days = 37. (16.5% approx.)
• Closed Days = 36. (15.5% approx.)
 
When looking at this, there has been a decrease of 27 open days for 2018, which is around -12.6%. That's almost an entire month of days gone.
 
It also means there's been a +260% increase of closed days compared to 2017.
 
Onto the number of available ride hours and these are the theoretically maximum, assuming the rides opens at exactly 10am in the park and close on the hour exactly, taking into account the number of days multiplied by their operating hours, along with no breakdowns or 24mph wind restrictions:

• 2017 Ride Operation Hours = 1,696.
• 2018 Ride Operation Hours = 1,506.

So to accompany the 27 lost days in 2018, we have now lost minimum 190 hours of ride time for 2018. This is equivalent to at least -11.2% or starting at around 24 typical 10am - 6pm days.

On the plus side, these 10pm closures have pushed up the average lasting day in hours for guests in 2018 from 7.925 to 8.05, which is +1.58% on the open days.
 
So despite great summer opening hours, I think it's important to point out not to be tricked into thinking loads of the hours from 2017 are just being reallocated to summer which can excuse the 36 closed days this season, as it's obviously not true. To put it simply, 2018's hours are rotten for those who wish to visit outside of summer.
 
*(Not so great if you are a standard MAP holder...)

Having a look at these new dates, seeing the 10pm closures extended to many days during summer is a great* move, but I would just like to show a little comparison I've made when comparing 2018's opening times as a whole to last year, just to show there are some significant differences behind these dates.

These are the statistics for every single day during the 2017 season between 23rd March - 1st November:

• 4pm days = 21. (9% approx.)
• 5pm days = 58. (26% approx.)
• 6pm days = 114. (51% approx.)
• 10pm days = 21. (9% approx.)
• Closed Days = 10. (5% approx.)
 
Now here are the current planned days for 2018 between the 23rd March - 31st October, under the assumption none of the dates/times change at the time of writing this post:

• 4pm days = 42. (18% approx.)
• 5pm days = 54. (25% approx.)
• 6pm days = 54. (25% approx.)
• 10pm days = 37. (16.5% approx.)
• Closed Days = 36. (15.5% approx.)
 
When looking at this, there has been a decrease of 27 open days for 2018, which is around -12.6%. That's almost an entire month of days gone.
 
It also means there's been a +260% increase of closed days compared to 2017.
 
Onto the number of available ride hours and these are the theoretically maximum, assuming the rides opens at exactly 10am in the park and close on the hour exactly, taking into account the number of days multiplied by their operating hours, along with no breakdowns or 24mph wind restrictions:

• 2017 Ride Operation Hours = 1,696.
• 2018 Ride Operation Hours = 1,506.

So to accompany the 27 lost days in 2018, we have now lost minimum 190 hours of ride time for 2018. This is equivalent to at least -11.2% or starting at around 24 typical 10am - 6pm days.

On the plus side, these 10pm closures have pushed up the average lasting day in hours for guests in 2018 from 7.925 to 8.05, which is +1.58% on the open days.
 
So despite great summer opening hours, I think it's important to point out not to be tricked into thinking loads of the hours from 2017 are just being reallocated to summer which can excuse the 36 closed days this season, as it's obviously not true. To put it simply, 2018's hours are rotten for those who wish to visit outside of summer.
 
*(Not so great if you are a standard MAP holder...)

Hopefully these aren't the same 1,000 "specialists" that worked on DBGT.

Hopefully these aren't the same 1,000 "specialists" that worked on DBGT.

Hopefully these aren't the same 1,000 "specialists" that worked on DBGT.

Hopefully these aren't the same 1,000 "specialists" that worked on DBGT.

Hopefully these aren't the same 1,000 "specialists" that worked on DBGT.

Shipping starts today!

Hopefully these aren't the same 1,000 "specialists" that worked on DBGT.

Probably will have technical issues until July anyway.

I'd like to suggest doing a meet to Tulley's Shocktober Fest along-side Fright nights. The event in general is much bigger than Fright Nights with 9 mazes this year which are at least 10 - 30mins (Colony) long. There is a direct bus there and back from Three Bridges station. If enough people are interested in going, they do offer a group discount.

Would've thought considering Icon is going to attract a fair number of guests to BPB this year the park intended to keep this open a little longer.

Given I've heard great things about this coaster and 2018 will be my first visit to the park, this is gutting.