CharlieN

There was a particular group on the park yesterday, from "Essex". This did cause some delay to the ride loading and I politely reminded them that they were holding up the whole process. I'm sure they also caused some disruption on other rides, but then, I suppose it was the only way.

Back from the dead ooooh.
 
Popped over to Venice for Gardaland and Mirabilandia over the last few days. Mainly to get the B&M but also to get in a bit of culture.
 
Garda is a great theme park. It does suffer from Merlinism's such as effects being off or odd operations. Raptor and Oblivion ran an empty train nearly all day for some reason and only loaded them towards the end of the day. Raptor remains a great wing rider. It's definitely more unusual compared to the Swarm but has much better near miss effects such as the support on the first inversion or the destroyed platforms over the station.


 
Oblivion the Black Hole is pretty unusual. It's a ride that would be far more effective at night as somehow entering a black hole in pure sunlight is unusual. I like this ride but I don't love it. It's my fourth dive machine and by now, I think they are the most dependable B&M ride type. Always enjoyable, aways know exactly what you are getting. I especially liked the air time in the bunny hop. Real floater air time, felt like I was out of seat for ages. It's odd that the drop is almost hidden away from the footpaths though and I'm not so sure the effects driven queueline works that well. Felt like the Smilers stage four room on acid. So yeah, I liked.

 

(look at the joy)
 
Gardaland itself has a lot going for it. Great dark rides (the Pirate ride is fantastic) and the work they've done on Shaman makes the ride very rideable if you get on with Vekomas.
 
And then Mirabilandia. Katun is fantastic. I always wondered if it would remain so good seven years on but it really does. A properly fast, old school B&M with massive inversions, pops of air time throughout, intensity and speed which all come together to make the second best B&M in Europe. Nemesis still beats it but it's close.
 

 
iSpeed is excellent truth be told. A forceful and fast blitz coaster that feels relentless without ever suffering from Intamin tropes like roughness and poor reliability. It's pretty lucky for this park they just happen to have two of the best rides in Europe almost by accident.
 

 
Final big ride is Divertical. This things pretty horrendous and yet somehow it isn't terrible. It's soaking and the rollercoaster itself is mediocre but it is perfect in the Italian sun. 

 
Both parks had staggered opening just to note. And so concludes this mini trip report. If you can get to these two parks do it. As well as the nice weather and the great rides, Italians are so relaxed and it makes visiting their parks very enjoyable.
 
 
 
 

Christ, that blue looks so sexy.

-> Don't queue for the monorail, walk to the entrance. Save 20 minutes
-> Buy tickets online, print ticket out at home. Save 30 minutes
-> Don't head to the new ride straight away. Instead hit Oblivion, The Smiler, Rita, Thirteen. Save 3 hours and ten minutes
->Head to Wicker Man later on when the queue is likely to be lower. You haven't then only got on two rides, you've managed to hit at least four of the major rollercoasters, probably got on Nemesis just as it opens, saving a 35 minute queue and have probably managed to get in Duel, Rapids and the Mine Train because you didn't just head to the new thing, remembered its still going to be there 6 hours later after you've entered the park and woah and betide, managed to get on more then two rides, haven't had to go on Twitter to moan at the Towers team and had a much better day because you haven't been following the crowds all day.
 
Time saved, 4 hours and 35 minutes. This is how Mega-Lite should have gone around the theme park that day.

- Taron is quite possibly the best coaster I have ever ridden. It has everything. 
- Black Mamba > Nemesis
- Chiapas is exceptional but I prefer Ripsaw Falls overall.
- River Quest is wild. Like wtf was that. 
- Temple of the Nighthawk needs to be binned. 
- Maus au Chocolate is great.
- Europa > Phantasia
 
[/fin] 
 
 
 

Rumour has it the Craven Cottage corporate hospitality menu was changed just before it was served. They added more pie in the last minute.

POV!
 
 

I think we all just need to move to Rust, Germany.

It’s a shame you’ve gone from one of the most interesting trip reporters on this forum to someone who just wants to throw shade at others. 
 
 

Actually, that could be their new slogan; "Alton Towers - it's better than nothing"

It saddens me to bring this news to the forum.
 
From his niece - Unfortunately over the last week, Adams health deteriorated quickly and so he made the decision to stay in a hospice to try and build up his strength. Unfortunately his health took a turn for the worse. On Monday, the doctor said his liver was deteriorating very quickly and that he was facing days. He had did family around him but sadly he passed away this morning.
 
Adam was one of the most kind hearted people I had the fortune of meeting. His sister Kirsti would like me to pass this onto you. This has been a pretty awful morning, but he is suffering no more. Due to the speed of the deterioration, no arrangements have been made for the funeral but I will let you know as soon as I do, I'm not sure if any of the group would like to attend. With regards to the crowd funding page, Adam never got the time to make any memories and the money hasn't been touched. I know a lot of the group donated and I would like them to know the money is going to be put into ISA Accounts for his two little boys.
 
For those who met him at the meets, will know he was a very kind, warm natured character who will be truly missed within the community. His big sister Kirsti has asked me that if anyone has any photos of him, doing what he loved to pass onto me, so I can pass onto her etc. My thoughts are with his family and friends and especially to his too little boys who have now lost a dad at just the ages of 4 and 6 

Going to ride this next week, honestly I'm expecting X with a bunch of Zombie paint.
Thorpe honestly I think could be considered even more soul-less than Chessie now..
 
Lost Kingdom at Paultons.. No tacky IP, a theme that doesn't make you want to swallow a bunch anti-depressants.. Oh, and it won't be closed and abandoned in the next 5 years.

That's the best use of faint praise I've ever seen.

Oh god it was ****

That queue board is why you've not had the 'true' PA experience; like pretty much any park, an empty park is an enjoyable one... It's hard for even PA and their lacklustre operations (mean Baco is still 30 minutes because Baco) to be awful when there's 10 minutes of queue (and likely barely any Fastpass going on)...
 
Those ride opinions are awful though...

With a decent GCI and a fab looking Mack opening this year..

 
 

https://www.thorpeparkmania.co.uk/news/23-03-2018/2018+Open+Day+Roundup a full round-up of all the changes for the 2018 season here!

From this..
 

 
to this...
 

 
 

From SSC...
 

 

Lets have a press event for the launch of our new ride, where the media can't publish anything to do with the ride. 
 
Yes, that works.

Double post whoops!
 
Europa have released this very nice little promotional video for the new Jim Button ride. It’s very sweet and sets the tone of this attraction well IMO.
 
(I’ve linked both the French and German language versions because I’m very extra)

No. They didn't.

There's no two ways around this. It looks awful. Remember when Thorpe's biggest problem was all the Lost City rides being blue. I yearn for those days now.

Merlin making quality, world leading attractions. It's not like the entrance is important enough to hide that stuff right?
Just want to put Wodan's entrance here for comparison:

Europa Just look at them Merlin. That is how you build a proper theme park.

They need to do way more than a new food supplier. They need to hire actual chefs that care that don't microwave everything. I'm convinced Gordon Ramsay could do an entire kitchen nightmares series at just different food outlets in the park.
 
The park is just all round dreadful. Shambhala is the only good thing there but that is ruined by the morons operating the ride.