planenut

I was there Tuesday, and yes, the forecast for Wednesday was correct with heavy showers. I know the TP rail station bus is always busy but not been on it; being an old fogey, I can use my bus pass on the service buses. With a really low attendance, there is much more chance of banter between people on and around the rides, it's good. And for us nuts, it's certainly a great chance to meet like-minded types.

Good write up Nick. Would you not use the TP bus from the rail station? it must prove a cheaper option. Tuesday was another amazing low attendance day. Fred (planenut)

Today, staff were suggesting that tomorrow will be similar to last Wednesday but I've seen the weather forecast, hence my attendance today.

An absolutely crazy day TP has been closed on some recent Wednesdays, but I noticed it was available today and with the weather looking the better option, I went. A staff member who knows me told me that there were maybe only a couple of thousand people attending. oddly enough, I wanted to ride Stealth, and as there were hardly any guests on the ride or platforms, the gate was kept open so that people could re-ride, and that continued to beyond the lunch hour, with so many guests telling me that every ride was walk-on. During the time, some people wlo lived within a few miles had also then attended due to seeing online the short queues. As much as it pained me, I left Stealth and had two walk-on rides each on Nemesis Inferno, Hyperia, Saw, Colossus and Swarm before dragging myself back to Stealth, where the re-ride gate was open and announcements of "re-ride just get on", several were running to get on again, and there were loads of conversations between people and staff, many discussing their crazy ride totals for the day. There really were few guests and no waiting for rides one wanted. Staff were really upbeat and helpful. It really was a crazy day..

Luckily for me I was able to attend TP on Wednesday. It's always an interesting observation on one's first visit of the season. I was amazed to see and find out that TP has had over 90% returns of staff, which must mean they are doing something right.

This is very good news. As I've said elsewhere, it will be fascinating to see a theme park created from scratch. Good luck to those who now see it as an employment opportunity.

For any that used this service between Orlando and Busch Gardens, you would have been pleased because it was free, and highly convenient. It is ending on the 1st February, 2026, grrr! If I go back over there, I will have to find an alternative or stay a few nights in Tampa.

Recently on the website, it has been suggested that people could arrive earlier and "take advantage of the facilities available in the dome" though I think for most, that would only be a visit to the loo. A while back, when the rides opened at 10a.m., my joy would be to be the first to my favourite ride, as the teams would put you on for an unaccompanied ride; just a distant memory now, affected by the hotel guests and several staggered entry times. I am lucky to live fairly local so don't take my car. A lot of congestion around the public road junction is caused by pick ups, massive congestion.times in my past employment experience, discretionary baggage searches work better than 100% searches. It would reduce the queues and requires less staff.

When it comes to security checks they examine everybody with the same level of scrutiny, whereas in some organizations, it's more professional, as those conducting the checks are allowed to use their discretion. Many of the "guests" can be seen to be no threat. However, if those with a particular bent see that, then they become a problem if they don't agree with that action. Under the present regime, the speed of the queue is dependent on the speed of each individual examination. ironically one even encounters queue jumpers in the security queue and it is not "policed".

For me, my TP season ended yesterday having jumped in for an extra day due to the changing weather forecast, a great day for me. It could not have happened without the Staff and it would, like life, be easy to thank those who helped me directly. There are many staff whose contributions to that, and all my TP days, are normally not acknowledged. I do thank everybody from the cleaning, washroom, maintenance, management, security, gardeners and ride team, a lot of people. Just like the bus on which I ride to the Park, so seldom do I hear a "thank you". We, as visitors, don't get the chance to wish those well in their futures who, within a few days, won't have a job. Just my thoughts.

Great news, thanks.

Thanks for that Jordionie, very pleased.

Seriously? That's not good news considering last weeks replacement, and I 've recently been praising it up with suggestions that we still have a few years. Cable replacement is expensive, and they have be made.

Will keep watching.

What has proved interesting is the flow of people towards rides that apparently "the app" shows as having shorter queues. There must be loads of people who waste their time moving between rides because of that. The same mindset as someone already seated on a ride praising a ride elsewhere as "being better"; make the most of what you have.

CalCal, they certainly are very clear pictures. I certainly wouldn't expect that quality from my phone, well done.

Cal, your pictures are very good, can I ask what device you used? Fred (planenut)

We shall have to wait with baited breath, the engineers don't give much away.

That squeaking noise was under discussion yesterday. There was a problem with a drive wheel at the loading platform. So hopeful that they sort things as I may only get one more visit this season.

Sadly, engineers were working with Stealth today, after apparently, again replacing the cable on Wednesday. They could not open the ride all day.

Having seen all their lighting always made me imagine stealth with at least some lights. having said all that, Stealth often has a start light bulb out so, realistically, they would never cope.

Did you ever see Rip Ride Rocket?

Watching SWARM running round wih the led's on still makes me wish Stealth's headlights were real !

Stealth had a couple of hiccups yesterday but was generally on very good form, and with the extended hours. For this strange period of Fright Nights, and only after twilight, there is an additional smoke effect on Stealth above the plant room, and it has coloured lights. The best observation is from the front row, as nobody at the station can see it, and those in other rows are somewhat shielded by the seating.

Certainly the costs of Annual Passes as opposed to daily entry does not make sense to me, though even the different grades of passes seems odd. Not just in the U.K.. Last year, I bought an Annual Pass for Canada's Wonderland for my five day visit, which, I had to reduce to three days and I was still in "profit". Whilst it is still available I buy a Thorpe Park Annual Pass which costs just over the value of two day tickets, great for me but not for shareholders.