TPJames

That's good as it caters for all the family . Certainly weird though as carousel and monkeys are located at the back of the park?

John wall's superstar will also be attending this year. What were the prices like? I wouldn't imagine that it was winter wonderland expensive but air will certainly be quite pricey as always!

There should be the regular rides attending the festival, including the Dodgems, twists and waltzer. John parrish's extreme is also a regular and should be attending aswell.There should hopefully be abie danters air and wild mouse, brewers midnight express(matterhorn), Harris' city hopper(jump and smile), and Hill's Miami trip 3. These are all currently at bob wilsons funfair in Gloucester so I imagine they will travel together to the fiesta straight afterwards. I am not 100% sure and will notify you if I get anymore info but these are the kind of rides you should expect there this year UPDATE: AIR and WILD MOUSE have already pulled onto the grounds confirming their attendance this year. A children's Ferris wheel and wave swinger have also pulled on as well.

If you're lucky you could also get an additional flat ride. I had zodiac open when I went and other people have had rush open on their visits. All down to the luck of the draw on the day but storm surge, tidal wave, Dodgems and teacups will all be open aswell as the coasters.

Totally agree with what Benin is saying here... There is no need to show off, the rides at thorpe park are very good for what we have in the UK at least. Comparing it to America is unecessary. Saw for me at least is a very good ride. The ride time itself is one of the LONGER ones at thorpe park, it is only rough in places and there is decent airtime and is very intense and fun in sections. It may be nothing compared to America but please face reality. It is a decent ride for what we have in the UK and I certainly love it.

Was it this one? They change the seats for London's wonderground for some reason and cover them up. If it was this one. Then it is mellors

Does anyone know if mellors starflyer is currently on the southbank? Would be appreciated if someone could tell me as never ridden before The ride looks cool but the cycles are way too long and wouldn't be surprised if a lot of people throw up afterwards. Also I'm pretty sure that the price went down to €3-€3.50 this year so that must say something about the popularity of the ride. I think it is too intense and funfair like for a park like thorpe however it suits the prater perfectly.

When I visited last week there were only about 200 people on park if that. Every single ride and rollercoaster had empty seats and you could stay on. I reckon there could have only been 200max when I visited it was brilliant

This is the reason I decided to visit last week when the park closed at 6. Personally I think the change over will not run smoothly and summer nights guests will try enter queues for other rides which aren't open. I think having a 7pm to 7pm change over is bad as on sunscream at the end of the day last year there were still 30-45 'minute queues. It's good to try and see if it works but I doubt it will... Also my friend visited last year and only got on 10 rides in 3 hours verses my 39 in 3 hours. He said there were 20-30 min queues on park on the night during August at summer nights. I dread to think it is going to be worse especially with this new change over. All the summer nights guests will have to battle their way through everyone leaving to reach the rides to find left over queues... P.S Wristbands were not being checked so anyone from the earlier day could have stayed on when I visited. I hope this changes as people could just stay on and continue to ride.

I think comparing the fastrack situations is a bit biased as it really depends on what day you visit and how many people are willing to buy it. I think it is unfair to compare them and altons have probably been worse in situations vice versa with thorpe.

By the looks of things on trip advisor it already looks like they have lost guests... Also this was very noticeable: "Drenched doesn't open until 2pm. There is a sign saying that the reason for this is so that you can enjoy the rest of the park first while you are dry. Surely that's the choice of the customer?" Is this the actual reason? Because if it is I think it's outrageous considering people were saying 7 rides were closed on the day of their visit on top of drenched opening late.

I saw people doing it, you wear a wetsuit which is provided by thorpe

There's one of them in Austria, completely self operated! It's quite fun actually quite a thrilling ride

Colossus felt like it had no force last night. It was OK to be honest but on the first drop it felt force less and the restraint got considerably tighter meaning the barrel rolls were uncomfortable. However, overall the ride was OK and wasn't too rough.

The swarm was brilliant last night at summer nights, much better than I had ever ridden it. Rode it 9 times forwards and twice backwards. Backwards was good but I prefered forwards as we got the fire 3 times and could really feel the heat. It also looks amazing in the dark and all the water effects were on! A big thank you to all the swarm ride team as it was the last ride open at 20 past 10 instead of closing at 10 and still had no queue so we were staying on! Thank you very much the swarm was the best and most forceful ride last night!

They were selling them on the door yesterday, and it was absolutely empty. I would imagine it would be similar in business tonight as the park once again closes at 6. Might be worth ringing up to find out though?

Just thought it would be better if it was running on 6. The 7th wasn't necessary and meant you had to wait an extended time in the brake run to get off

When I rode it at summer nights yesterday, it was completely abandoned! Must be because of the rain the whole day people didn't want to ride. However at summer nights it was boiling and dry after pouring with rain the whole day

I wish this was allowed more often! Sounds like great fun!

Zodiac was pretty abandoned though. Most of the time it was running with only a couple of people on it. What other rides are. In the same team, would be interesting to know as would rather something else was open I would just like to point out now how jolly all the staff were tonight. I think it may be the fact that they were more relaxed as they didn't have to rush operations. Operations were quite slow and the queues were still exactly 0 mins haha. My highlight of the night was swarm as it was feeling much faster than usual and was so cool in the dark with the lights. Also got the fire 3 times and when we went through it, it felt amazing. I also have a question about saw, why would it be running 7 cars? Was an odd number and as operations were slow it meant you had to wait a while to get off!

Summer nights was AMAZING today. Only about 300people max on park it was virtually dead all coasters and rides going with empty seats. Everything was walk on or wait for the next train. You could even stay on most of the time Ride count: Stealth- 5 Nemesis inferno- 5 Colossus- 5 Saw- 5 Dodgems- 1 Tidal wave- 2 X- 5 Swarm- 11(2 backwards, 9 forwards). Total: 39!! -Teacups and zodiac also open but didn't ride Only ONE CON; Had to wait ages to collect wristbands due to only one booth being open but still got in early and first train of stealth. -Was on LAST Train of swarm of the day and got fire and all the effects on

What is the 'average guest' though? I would utterly refuse to ride tidal wave in the snow let alone in the cold but I define myself as an enthusiast. Does that make me an 'average guest' then? I'm not taking sides or anything I just don't understand this. An enthusiast is surely an 'average guest' just like everyone visiting the park is, I'm sure there are people who aren't enthusiasts who will ride tidal wave in the cold. I think classing people like that is stupid as everyone will have their own opinion if they want to ride or not. Considering the ride is mainly a visual spectacle, I think this is a very good idea. I'm not sure of the reason It was removed maybe that is why it was never replaced?

We only waited about 30 minutes which was up to the entrance without the extension open. This should of only been about 10 minutes but was taking them about 10mins per cycle which is utterly ridiculous, no matter what the problem is. I mean it's better open than closed but their loading really needs to improve. When we got off, the ride op announced a 75minute queue and it was winding in and out through the extension. I think a lot of people who usually visit thorpe don't know the ride actually exists as it's not on the map etc. they usually go to thorpe and don't ride it but when they see it open these days it immediately becomes popular. There were at least a few hundred in the queue and was only doing about 50 per ten minutes- 300per hour. When I visited sunscream last year vortex was 90minutes and we all know how slow that is, I would be surprised if slammer didn't at least reach 90-120minutes. I am that positive that I would even place a bet on it .

I don't want to be contradicting or anything but the queue was 75mins when I visited two weeks back... I dread to think of what it will be during sun scream. The ride is more popular than in previous years and the loading has gotten slower, the queue will easily reach 2 hours during sun scream considering it wasn't actually that busy 2 weeks back!

Personally I think that Merlin should prepare for what's to come. I'm not saying paramount will be good, but if it is then I think merlin could easily flop to the ground. Some people don't mind doing the extra hour in the car for a better guest experience and quality of rides and experiences around the park. I think paramount could easily become a big thing in the UK and they can also easily advertise around Europe as a Disney like park in the UK. I think the idea for this park is brilliant, however the execution of the idea is what we are waiting for, and I think merlin should be prepared. What do I think they should do? Well I was having a think earlier and realised the quality of the rides in the UK parks are actually quite decent however the actual guest experience is what is lacking. Theming is quite an important thing to have in my eyes, and while it may not be in others, I think theming can improve a guest experience overall. I mean I guess mainly I would add more shows into the three main merlin parks: chessington, thorpe and alton as well as doing up the whole park overall and getting rid of things which are hindering the park and it's appearance I.e storm turd. Just making the parks look nicer and providing more things to do and interact with is what I would like to see. And maybe a couple new rides and a major coaster/ dark ride in each of the parks please. I know it may not sound like much or sound like it will make the difference but I honestly think it could make a whole lot of difference when the time comes. I reckon as it's been said above that paramount will try to steal merlins guests, they will probably charge less or tell you that you are getting more for your money. This is when merlin need to offer some deals or even come back saying that there are lots of experiences to be had inside the park. It's my opinion but I reckon a battle will begin once it opens, and I will be visiting paramount to see if it is actually good, if it executed badly however merlin will not have to worry but best be prepared. It's just my ideas and you may not like them but it is my opinion