RideAddict

What?!

What year did McDonald's open, and was that when the Counts Cauldron theme began? If it ever did return, they'd probably theme it to the current lifestyle brand all their restaurants have.

Do you actually realise it's 8 years since the rocks went? Falls is going to be closed for about another 3 weeks, if they put the rocks back in it'll be a miraculous turnaround. I wouldn't hold your breath.Chessington have got bigger fish to fry other than fake rocks. Zufari, Africa, Wild Asia, the hotel extension. Another 8 years from now it won't have any rocks. Chessington are feeding us crap to keep us talking.

Correct. One difference I noticed today is that the paddle raising seems to now take longer.

So in other words it's The Noise or chart music.

I was due to hit Chessington today and try a burger, but I decided to go to Thorpe instead (glad I did, it was dead!). I'm hoping to get there this weekend to test them out!

Official or non-official, I always take things like that with a pinch of salt. I'm always the Doubting Thomas.

That's an old picture. Snow?!

The next time I go will probably be a weekend, today was a one-off as I hardly go during the week and was my first weekday visit since 2009. But I dread to think how it will be on a weekend, today I braved it backwards once on each side, both times I queued for no more than 10 minutes. Mist, steam, water, whatever it is I can't see very clearly!

I can definitely confirm I'm not coming to this now. I went today and it was so dead!

^ Well keep expecting then. You'll be waiting a long time. They got rid of the rocks years ago, those who believe they will come back soon need to forget the idea. Because they would've left them there originally and tried to improve them, rather then ripping them out altogether! Also... ...you missed that part because I never said it. Reading what has been posted here today, I'm glad I changed my mind and went to Thorpe instead, considering it was dead there!

This year I am trying out new food outlets and I kickstarted it today by testing out Roast and Relish. Very tasty, a little bit dry as some sauce or gravy wouldn't go a-miss, the baguette was a little bit to crispy but on the whole I enjoyed it.

I have been on Saw today - for my views on this bashing issue, click here for my trip report and scroll to the Saw section I have wrote.

I was there today and meant to check out the lower Dome music - totally forgot to...damn.

Totally disagree with you there, the reason I say that is because the motors that spin it reach a certain screaming level that I remember. Having rode it in previous years and watching a video where you can hear the motors in it, and then having rode it today and heard the motors again, the levels all sound the same. When did you last ride it before your first ride this year?

I'm sure they will build a new one. Watch this space and give them time. Loggers is so old and the ride is falling apart slowly wherever you look. It also looks so old, tired and dated. I kinda feel sorry for it. I hate the water that pisses out from underneath the double drop! The whole ride needs a good overhaul.

I've been at Thorpe Park today for the first time this year - here's a general review of the day, with the highs and lows included. Firstly, a ride summary... Nemesis - 2 rides Stealth - 2 rides The Swarm - 5 rides, consisting of 2 forwards left-side, 1 forwards right-side, 1 backwards left-side, 1 backwards right-side Storm Surge - 1 ride Colossus - 1 ride Saw - 2 rides Vortex - 1 ride Slammer - 1 ride I arrived at about 11:05am to find it extremely quiet, to my pleasure, and just how I expected it. To summarise the whole day, it was great, with most rides practically a 5-minute wait or walk-on. Very cold, especially with the wind blowing. However tidy the park may look, IMO it still looks very grubby and tired and dated in the older areas. Most rides were on 1-train operation, something I don't often see as I usually visit at weekends when there's 2 or 3 trains on. Here's a few comments on the rides I rode: Nemesis She's looking good with the volcano effects working again and the red lights in the tunnel. Too much mist in there. Still packing a punch at nearly 10 years old, and so smooth. The loading music and despatch tune in the station sound terrific, the best for years, and it's good to hear this blast out again. Takes me back to it's prime days around 2005ish. Stealth As usual, performing very well. Hard to spot the repainted track but eventually I saw it. The Swarm On entering the area, the new billboard is fantastic looking and a very close shave! I actually like it now I've seen it, for ages during its planning I wasn't so sure. Moving on to the backwards row queues and I really don't know what the fuss has been about all these months. They've done it fantastically and for a first-timer, it doesn't look like an add-on. Speaking of first-timers, I sat next to a girl on the backwards row, she was only about 12 and told me it was her first ever time on the ride - she hadn't even rode it forwards but seemed to love it. Bravo to her! On my first ride of the day on the forwards left-side seat, between leaving the the dive drop and going down underneath the plane wing, the fire effect on the fire engine blasted. I've seen it before but never seen it go off when I'm on the ride! My experience of braving it backwards can be described as not only awesome, but one that also plays with your mind, as we're all used to the track ahead of us coming towards us, rather than going away. Turning these seats around has made the braving it backwards experience a totally unique one, considering you can now choose backwards or forwards on this ride. Riding backwards certainly does play with your mind (it does for me, anyway). I keep thinking of a mirror image as you go through the elements the other way round. So today I have tried it forwards and backwards on both sides - 4 different ride experiences. Sweet! I'll definitely try it backwards in the future, but won't be putting myself out especially. If the queue is short and worth it, then I'll do it. Storm Surge As per usual, the boats are full of water which is pathetic, it takes forever to get to the top, you get drenched, and I'm hating this more and more each time. But why do I still put myself through it? To pass the time, probably. Colossus Rattly, just about enjoyable. Nothing's changed about this. Saw I went on Saw about 10 minutes after Colossus. When I was going up Colossus' lift hill I could see Saw was stuck halfway round on the flat brake check section, with riders waiting in the car. After attempting it for the 2nd time, it was still closed but suddenly opened back up. Got on the ride and had 2 OK rides. People here moan about about bashing your head on this ride. In reality, the truth is that you can hold yourself still, and realise that it's the ride car going round the track that is bumpy and rough. It was also here that I bumped into a member of staff I know - a total surprise, as I didn't expect them to be working there! However, it pleased me. Vortex Usual standard ride. Brilliant. Slammer It's like it's never been away. Still packing a punch and those white plasters all over it cry out desperately for a repaint - something that we'll probably wait forever for. Other points to make on rides I didn't go on: Loggers Leap - I saw the non-existent tunnel from Saw. Hmm, nice! Samuari's parking problems are evident even to a passer-by like me. Sort it! Rumba is looking awful as always. Detonator is running nicely, but I watched it once as it went to the top. The Davina countdown played and finished with it still at the top, waiting to drop. Finally, about 5 seconds later it dropped. Nice sync there. The Noise radio. It's OK, and hearing some general recent music or chart music is nice, but going from the old Let's Twist Again tune in Amity Cove to a modern-day Swedish House Mafia track just isn't cricket! I left about 4pm, happy that I went. I was supposed to hit Chessington today, but I'm glad I changed my plan!

The Sea Life Centre has been at Chessington 5 years now and although it was only meant to be temporary, I think it's time for a spruce up. I know it's a lot of work to do on it, but I think it should look the same as Alton Towers' from the outside. There's no doubt this has proved popular though.

The other week I was mentioning about what I thought were unbadged Bose speakers in Hollister. I've since discovered they are, the mini cube ones by the store entrance, these are badged. Where the chandelier is, look up by the fans straight ahead.

What did I say weeks ago about health and safety and the rocks, I knew I was right.

Trough? Is that the little fences (as I would call them) to keep the boat inline?

Last year was the first year in years that I hardly went to the park so maybe they reintroduced it? I certainly don't remember hearing it in 2011.

Yeah, they only had that one last year. Oh well, maybe a change was due.

That is interesting, did you see the negative verdict on Towers Nerd live? Unfortunately I don't think it's coming to the park soon, getting quite pissed off really at how they think they can be different from the other parks. This has gotta be tried!

How scared were you of Miranda? I'd run a mile!