Charlesberg

I did originally post this in the park operations topic, but then I noticed everyone was talking about the pre season event in this topic so this post has been put here instead (and of course deleted from the other topic). My visit yesterday was rather eventful... I made a last minute decision to go to Thorpe Park for the annual pass event so on arrival I headed and waited for Stealth. I went in the front row queue but then about two pairs before my turn the ride broke down. Engineers came but this was taking ages so they told us all to leave and gave us priority passes. This took probably about an hour in total. I then decided to try out Colossus (to test whether it wasn’t only good in the front row) and I was able to get a ride on it. Except, it then got stuck on the brake run for about 10-15 minutes. Fun. I thought the eXpo:\2018 was brilliant with the two distinct talks on the current and former lives of X. Plus many aspects of the original versions such as the old trains, signs and on ride photos were highly fascinating. After the expo, I headed back to Stealth as I was kinda desperate to get a ride on it (it’s my favourite ride at the park), this was a chance for me to use my priority pass. This time it was dark so I went in the front row queue again and managed to actually get onto the train, but to really troll me it broke down for a second time and I had to leave my seat and go behind the gate. At this point there was no way I was leaving the queue because I was getting my front row night ride on Stealth no matter what. So the same engineers returned to fix what was likely the same problem. After about 40 minutes of waiting (by this time there was only about 6 people in the queue) the ride was finally fixed and I got my front row night ride plus 3 more rides in other seats. There was now about 20 minutes left which gave just enough time to finish with Saw and Swarm. Now, this is a tad ridiculous. 3 breakdowns right in front of me is just bizarre. Even worse, there were more long term breakdowns that day (not effecting me directly) such as Inferno, WD, I think DBGT and possibly more. I hope this was a one off because if it wasn’t, TP and Merlin really need to get their act together, I think that has been said enough.

Snap! That’s the same mark I got when I did mine

I know I’ve been hating on Colossus quite drastically, but recently when I went to TP my ride on Colossus was actually enjoyable. Will it have been better due to me being in the front car or have they actually done work on it to make it smoother?

Going back to the old middle section, I’m just curious as to why it broke down all the time. From my point of view all it seemed to be was a few bars moving 3 metres and back but there clearly must’ve been more to it than a moving bar (even Merlin could handle something that simple) so I’m intrigued as to what the main cause of it breaking was.

I will have to go with @TPC on this one and say that card only outlets isn’t entirely fair. For example, I didn’t get a debit card till I was 16 (it was one of those things I just never got round to doing) and I had done many visits before then with other cardless friends so cash was our only option. As quick and efficient as it may be, we can’t just forget about the younglings that maybe just want a quick bite or souvenir.

My “ride” today on DBGT was absolutely awful. Lots of standing around, some of the headsets were broken meaning two of my friends couldn’t use them (why they couldn’t have just taken them from the riders per train count is beyond me) as well as mine breaking mid way through the first section. The fact that headsets seem to break so easily just gives me no faith in VR for theme parks. Also, the new section completely destroyed the flow of the experience, it just left everyone else confused and was a bad move. Frankly I thought this was a complete embarrassment for the park, this is their 3rd season with it and they still haven’t sorted it out. Granted it’s a very complex ride system, but it’s a theme park attraction so they should know how to handle it. People are queuing hours for it so it just doesn’t really seem justified to make them wait ages for a pile of s***.

Why do Thorpe have length restrictions for their rides? Because I can’t see how it would make a difference from the point of view of resisidents (or people who would complain about having a ride in the first place).

They could get a Chance Rides Hyper GT-X coaster, they take up very small amount of space and many people seem to really like the one that has has been built. Or they could just get a mega lite, it fits a similar specification.

Well, I thought I’d add some classical music to the mix (seeing as this is a music topic). An orchestral suite called ‘The Planets’ by Gustav Holst is currently my favourite orchestral suite (I haven’t had the opportunity to play Trombone in it quite yet) containing some of the most influential music of the last 100 years. Each planet is given a meaning such as Mars, The Bringer of War and the music reflects these very effectively. The movements Mars, Jupiter and Uranus in particular are my favourites. 0:00 Mars 7:27 Venus 14:52 Mercury 18:39 Jupiter 26:11 Saturn 35:26 Uranus 41:12 Neptune

Personally, I’m actually quite exited for this because I was quite bored of X recently. My last few rides were pretty dull and it felt like it needed much more to enhance the experience (I know I used to say force>theming but over the years that has become more balanced). I highly understand why people aren’t a fan of this and I do see the huge flaws in their decision. But like many others here, I’m in their target audience and I judge a park from my point of view based on how much I enjoy it, not how other people will enjoy it.

I’ve always been curious about this. Would it be safe to go through inversions in that style restraint but without the actual vest?

The explanation to that: “it’s not a John Wardley ride”. Just imagine what it would look like if it was a John Wardley ride.

Just got a euphonium! My instrument ability count is now technically 5 (piano, organ, trombone, euphonium and voice)

If that fails, don’t be the one to have your turn after josh. That being said those two fouls on my turn did help me win the battle for last place against Pluk.

(Double post apology) I do have a rehearsal, but it is in the morning so I’ll join the meet about half way through. It’ll be great to finally reunite with TPM again!

Now they just need to do one for the bass clef (alto and tenor clef would just be cruel)

Depending on when Orchestra rehearsals are I might be able to make this one. Last year there wasn’t a rehearsal on the 1st Saturday of the half term so I hope it’s the same this year ?

I recon the chances of someone having ridden the exact same alpine coasters I have ridden is slim.

Your destiny can now be fulfilled!!!

Again, I can’t make this because of ANOTHER concert. I am literally screaming in pain on the inside, music is trying to separate me from TPM. Life isn’t fair.

I find it odd how this park constantly mentions ride manufacturers and roller coaster terminology which parks don’t bother with, yet they advertise an Intamin using Vekoma features. I am used to seeing this with Thorpe Park and Alton Towers, but with a park that appears to care about telling the public about roller coaster manufacturers?

You are sober when you ride Colossus, right?

Out of all the rides that could’ve won last year, Inferno won... Out of all the rides that should’ve won this year, Inferno won... Really?!?!?! Just really?!?!?!

Nemesis Inferno (5) Stealth (6) The Swarm (5) X (4) Stealth + X -

Nemesis Inferno (6) Stealth (7) The Swarm (6) Tidal Wave (1) X (5) Stealth + Tidal Wave -