OldFarmerDean

going this monday (bank holiday) - #bravethequeues what do you reckon the queues will be like for a bank holiday monday... only ever been in april half term (last year) and fright nights the past few years, so I could say I know what busy is like, just wondering how bank holidays normally are?

well I'm pretty sure mine was Corkscrew because I think it had a 1.2m restriction? but I remember crying as I was persuaded to go on nemesis, with napkins from the mc donalds (I think or it could have been burger king) in forbidden valley stuffed in my shoes instead to make sure I was tall enough... and loved it, and still is my favourite ride ever!

yes, went last year, and did it when it was dark... wow, was actually great, much better than scare mazes in thorpe park! because of the theatrical side to it, you were really caught in the story, and something as simple as an actor coming up from behind made the whole group jump, my friend, 18 jumped into her parents arms haha. Then you went indoors (like marquee things) which was pitch black, and then included lots of flashing lights, loud noises, and actors... and the last bit was terrifying, pitch black, no idea where you were going really, even though it was straight forwards, and knowing there were actors there too, even though they didn't necessarily pick on you, made it all that worse! I felt some parts of it were more scarier than scare mazes in thorpe park; I give chessington a massive thumbs up for that last year, and really hope it returns in a similar form this year! Speaking to an actor on Hocus Pocus while waiting for it, a kid was crying about not wanting to do it, and the actor was reassuring her it's not scary at all, and that's what their new maze/walkthrough was intended for! Never went in 2011, but went the 2 years before that, and I remember hocus pocus being a walkthrough where you wore glasses that made the neon colours on the wall stand out, and there were actors scaring you inside )not that scary though, just enough to make you jump), and the walkthrough by vampire was pretty naff back then, so was such a surprise that the new one was so good!

Thorpe Park is tiny compared to Alton Towers, and is also pretty much flat - besides a queue or two, so shouldn't be (too) much of an issue) I'm pretty sure you are allowed 2 helpers with you on the rides, and you get a ticket where you wait the amount of the current queue on the ride before you can use it again. Saw: The Ride has a disabled lift to allow you to get to the ride Stealth: if I remember correctly also has a disabled lit to get up to the station Nemesis Inferno: I'm pretty sure there is no way to access it, without walking up stairs Colossus: definitely has an easily accessible entrance (which is the exit for disabled users) The Swarm: not too sure, but the station is on the ground, so should be fine Hope this helps, and someone else can confirm / add to this

compared to what I normally do, a big year planned lol... Thorpe Park Alton Towers Chessington Legoland Alton Towers... Again Oakwood (Never Been) Flamingoland (Never Been) Drayton Manor and whatever October half term events I can get to (hopefully Chessington, Thorpe & Alton) People think I'm sad with the amount I got planned, and then I look through this thread at what some of you are doing!

I'm going on 13th june, can't see it happening, but wouldn't mind them finishing it for then

if I go I'll try and remember and let everyone know how bad or good Hero is... coming from someone who has never been on one, and actually wants to!

I'm guessing it's for the shop area adjoined to the station which they are now building...

1: Nemesis - Even after going to Florida on the monstrous B&M's over there, Nemesis is still my favourite (not just B&M, but favourite coaster altogether), as the landscaping and the way the layout was designed around it is so creative and gives a thrill like no other! 2: The Swarm - I love how smooth it is, and sitting on the 'wings' with the near misses is brilliant, and not forgetting the unique drop! 3: Nemesis Inferno - Just because of the name, don't see why people should keep comparing it to the original as they're going to be disappointed; doesn't mean it isn't a great coaster though, one that I'll happily go on again and again! 4: Oblivion - Such a rush going down the drop and through (hopefully) a tunnel full of mist; but only really thrilling to me though first thing in the morning (on ERT), definitely wakes me up! 5: Air - An enjoyable smooth ride, with a different experience, but just no where near as thrilling to deserve a higher place (and always worried about breaking down and getting cramp in my leg lol)!

I'm hopefully planning to go up in the summer, never been before... looking forward to it, but not the long journey up from bristol!

it's not being reopened until it's all removed, and new facade is added... unlike dragon falls, which they have reopened with minimum themeing, until the closed season where it will be redone.

I seen somewhere, think it was on the Chessington Website where you could submit an idea for a retheme of Dragon Falls (as it was stated in the interview that the ride would be redone for 2014 opening rather than leaving it closed now), but it needs to be kept in mind that its situated in Mystic East. At least this backs up that it's going to be getting some sort of retheme/refurb for 2014, but am I the only one that thinks it is going to be hard to think of another theme that fits in with Mystic East! I found where I seen it, on chessington's website http://www.chessington.com/updates/

Alton Towers used to only let guests in at 9AM who had Early Ride Time; but the last year or 2 they have been letting everyone in at 9, and checking at the queue entrances for valid ERT tickets to allow them on the rides... is this still the case this year, as would be great to get in before 10 and start queuing for The Smiler (when its opened obviously) ready for when it opens at 10. Thanks.

those fast tracks sound alright I'm sure I'll get on everything I want, I do every time I go

thanks, before last year when I went in April, I had only ever been on Fright nights which they don't open till dead on 10 or slightly after, so was a bit shocked and initially gutted when I saw it was open when I got there! well I'm hoping it's not, but I'm presuming the bank holiday I'm going on will be busy... so if they have done it this season, then I think I'll have to try and get there earlier

Has the park been opening any earlier than 10 this year... as I went over easter holidays last year, arriving about 9.40 to find the park already open, with rides already going by the time we got into the park. Going in two weeks on bank holiday monday (6th may), and wondering if they have been doing it this year on busy days, in which case I'll try and get there a bit earlier just in case.

thanks, well I'm not too fussed about fast track, just didn't say what the fast track was for on Thorpe's website... will just go and queue first thing in the morning for backwards

going thorpe in 2 weeks, and just want to check what the situation is with the swarm... so you don't have to prebook to ride the swarm backwards, just queue as normal? and is there fast track for the swarm backwards, or just the normal ride? many thanks.

I find it really annoying when people complain about Thorpe Park changing one of their original rides, and being upset about it... theme parks have to move forwards to get anywhere otherwise it would just get boring! Glad to see X is getting some attention!

Well the way it was put that 'watch this space as we will bring you all the news of the changes soon' It just makes you think it's alot more than just a general refurb/tlc, possibly reiterating the theme... this has got to be something worth while they can advertise, like the swarm backwards! and well as easter is the end of this month and they said later in spring; that leaves up to may really, so if anything can see it being opened may bank holiday weekend beginning of may sometime, or possibly before at the end of april... who knows!

well X was never an extreme thrill... and they've realised it doesn't stop families from coming to thorpe park and then complaining about there being no rides, so I think they've had to have a bit of a rethink, even though I reckon they will still go for their current target audience; just trying to subtly widen it again.

true haha... but more to the point, something is definitely being changed, FINALLY!!!

Posted this on 2013 changes as well, sorry for double post... I know the change of the name has been given... but we now have conformation that 'X' won't be opening for the start of the season, which leads to basically confirming that something is being changed. Comments from a status of Thorpe on facebook... Martin Cooper Looking at a few live streams from today, X doesn't look like it will be open tomorrow. Please prove me wrong Thorpe, as I'd love to see what has changed with the ride! THORPE PARK Official Hi Martin, we are working hard to get X ready for opening later in Spring - watch this space as we will bring you all the news of the changes soon

I know the change of the name has been hinted... but we now have conformation that 'X' won't be opening for the start of the season, which leads to basically confirming that something is being changed. Comments from a status of Thorpe on facebook... Martin Cooper Looking at a few live streams from today, X doesn't look like it will be open tomorrow. Please prove me wrong Thorpe, as I'd love to see what has changed with the ride! THORPE PARK Official Hi Martin, we are working hard to get X ready for opening later in Spring - watch this space as we will bring you all the news of the changes soon

I know, it's weird how they were visible on the original plans, and on the 3D recreation in the smiler game when you scan the image on the alton tower's fb page 'timeline' photo.... as well as the fact the upgrade for the 'sea serpent' inversions says pretzel loop (which is another name for the sea serpent inversions I guess) + dive loops, but they're not there, so somethings not right somewhere!