EddieGreen

Most importantly, does this mean I don't need to buy a flat in Pembrokeshire?

As coaster fans grow older it's a strong theme. When I go for a day out, sure I want thrill rides, but I can't stop thinking about how to make best use of my suburban plot. I want a ride that inverts and gives me information on good bedding plants for a chalky soil. I can reveal the theme music and logo: I am so excited about this ride with (a little bird tells me) the name Ground Force. CGI recreations of Charlie Dimmock, Alan Titchmarsh and the whole team will loom over the riders in the drop tunnel, dispensing handy advice from a 14 hour loop. Bring it on!

Visited Oakwood last week and lots of signs up saying investment coming soon. We went for Megaphobia however and were not disappointed, a brilliant coaster. Speed didn't agree with me - although I may have been feeling delicate, or it may have been running very rough. Wife was fine on it - but she doesn't have my neck problems!

We waited 40+ minutes to go on this the other week. There were pads to give spin but is was pretty dull. The staff were talking with each other and gave the impression they were not interested in the riders. However they also had to spend a huge amount of time emptying the boats of water. Overall a bit wet.

Never understand why spinning coasters are considered family rides. They leave me nauseous and aching. Not that I don't appreciate Dragon's Fury - but I would rather ride Saw or The Smiler back to back. Dr Who Experience would be great but I doubt would have a coaster attached. Be more like the Cardiff experience walkthrough with maybe a Charlie like section as part of it. I hear good things about the Dragon Coaster at legoland as a combo dark and family ride.

Yep - last time I visited the Smiler was smooth and intense. We sat front left, no idea which car we got - clearly a better one. Alton Towers clearly need a free swinging suspended coaster like Vampire but more intense ... Maybe it could run between Dark Forest and Gloomy Woods :-)

We popped to Thorpe on Friday - the plan was to enjoy some of the water rides we avoid in the colder months. It was busy with 90 minute queues for SAW and 60 minutes for many of the other rides. The staff seemed less friendly than usual which suggests they were under stress! Reserve and Ride didn't seem to be working that well. We tend to take nothing into the park apart from cash and passes so didn't try the mobile system. At some points later in the day the R&R queue was slower than the main queue! Still open minded but I don't want to take my phone into the park - and there were long queues at many of the R&R points. On Friday we were queuing for SAW at 5:55. The R&R queue was 3 times as long as the normal queue! On the Swarm at 4:30 the R&R queue was twice as long and even getting preference moving no faster than the std queue. I am normally a foul weather coaster fan - midweek in the wet off season in an empty park. So I don't expect to queue. If R&R can work then great. But still has some teething problems.

Was working on Friday.

Had my best ride on Smiler yet today - smooth with great airtime. Very random queue times - Between 5 and 75 minutes. We walked on.

Popped up to Alton Towers today and Nemmie was running well. Nice and quick after the rain in the afternoon.

I suppose you could build a swinging coaster that 'locked' for inversions, but the the forces on the mechanism would be pretty harsh. I guess it could be achieved with a second track that picks up on an un-pivoted part of the car. However, there is not the interest in suspended swinging coasters to make more extreme developments worthwhile. Which is a pity as Vampire is a fantastic ride - and by it's nature slightly different every time. I can't see Thorpe selling 'World's first hybrid free swinging suspended / inverted Coaster' to the non enthusiasts. Sent from my TegraNote-P1640 using Tapatalk

Having been to Thorpe twice, Chessington and Alton Towers once this season I have been impressed with Merlin staff. However I only go midweek. I get the feeling that Merlin struggle with dealing with busier times. Sent from my TegraNote-P1640 using Tapatalk

Yep - picked that up now, being new and all. It doesn't help that Nemesis still rates in worldwide top 10s whilst Inferno drops down the lists. Sent from my TegraNote-P1640 using Tapatalk

Looks ideal. I was thinking something like the first section of 13 at Alton Towers, which when I visited earlier this year was a great run through the Forrest with some nice airtime. But obviously longer than that first section and without the gimmicks. Sent from my TegraNote-P1640 using Tapatalk

First coaster was The Scenic Railway at Dreamland Margate. Followed by The Looping Star at Dreamland Margate Then a big big gap. A visit to Alton Towers just when Rita had opened. Rita almost put me off for life. Nemesis redeemed me. Sent from my TegraNote-P1640 using Tapatalk

I hate to be geeky but it depends where you sit on the ride for me. But here goes. 1st Nemesis at the Back. Ridden front and back one straight after the other and I prefer the experience at the back. As does my other half. = 2nd Swarm far front left. I love the way swarm balances intensity and smoothness, and sitting front left on the ride seems to be the best balance. =2nd Nemesis Inferno front seat. In the wet. With theme smoke working. Inferno has never been my favourite ride until today with these conditions. Ridden the back as well which has a bit of a kick. 4th Oblivion. The Ronseal Coaster. No messing. No pretensions. Just tension, a brilliant drop ... Into a great big hole. The Antithesis to the big American coasters. 5th Air. A great gateway coaster. I believe it works as a concept, is popular with the general public, and does give you the sense of flight. Problem is it hurts my neck to look forward. Sent from my TegraNote-P1640 using Tapatalk

Some queue speakers working today. Ride exit screens working. Ride was smooth all four times. Sent from my TegraNote-P1640 using Tapatalk

Also rode for the first time today. The younger folks on the ride loved it, and it was a good filler between bigger rides. But we only went on because my wife saw the wait time on one of the LED displays. I had assumed it wasn't even there anymore.

'Smoke' was running this afternoon and filled the cavern area which was great. Must admit I've never been a fan of Inferno, but having ridden front, back and middle today I am beginning to think the ride is considerably underated. It may be because it was wet, but it just felt a better ride than I remembered.