Stuntman707

I have to share this incredible documentary of the Haunted House made by Euro Theme Park Archive with never before seen footage, a tour with John Wardley and Interviews with the creatives behind building the ride and Nick Varney;

Energylandia is becoming the Cedar Point of Europe at this rate. I mean they have two boomerang coasters already. They really seem to love using Vekoma too. Don't get me wrong, their new gen coasters are very good but it is nice to have some variety of manufacturers at the same park as well. They are getting better at quality over quantity and I hope they eventually revamp the front half of the park to make the experience a better quality throughout. Just seems to be a big rush to build as many attractions as possible and open them before the theming is even finished for the new areas!

It's funny to see something weathered at Thorpe on purpose rather than just being left to rot like most the other attractions. I suppose they did literally put fart pods in TWD:TR. At least one of the SBNO rides has finally been knocked down. Towers don't mess about getting rid of theirs.

Dobbie’s TCP (tea club party)

Here’s another chatGPT story - The Lord of Darkness: A ride on Oblivion The Lord of Darkness ruled over the dark underworld, where no human had ever set foot. He was feared by all who knew of his existence, and his power was unmatched. His name struck fear into the hearts of even the bravest of warriors, and his wrath was legendary. But the Lord of Darkness was not content to rule over the underworld alone. He craved the souls of the living, and he knew that the only way to satisfy his hunger was to lure them into his realm. He had tried many methods over the centuries, but none had been as effective as the ride known as Oblivion at Alton Towers. The Lord of Darkness had watched the ride from afar, its twisting track and plunging drops calling to him like a siren's song. He knew that the thrill-seekers who rode it were the perfect candidates for his dark desires. They craved adrenaline and excitement, and he could offer them that and so much more. And so, the Lord of Darkness began to weave his web. He whispered to the engineers who designed the ride, filling their minds with visions of terror and horror. He spoke to the workers who maintained it, planting seeds of doubt and fear in their hearts. He even whispered to the ride itself, infusing it with his dark energy. And so, when the ride opened to the public, it was already tainted with the Lord of Darkness's dark magic. Those who rode it felt a sense of unease, a feeling that something was not quite right. But the thrill was too much to resist, and they rode on, their hearts pounding with excitement and fear. It was on a dark and stormy night that a group of riders climbed aboard Oblivion, unaware of the danger that awaited them. Among them was a young woman named Lily, who had come to Alton Towers with her friends to celebrate her birthday. She had always been drawn to the dark and mysterious, and Oblivion seemed like the perfect ride to satisfy her cravings. As the ride climbed higher and higher, Lily felt her heart racing with anticipation. She had never felt so alive, so free. And then, as they reached the top, she saw him. The Lord of Darkness stood at the edge of the track, his eyes blazing with dark fire. He beckoned to her, calling her name, and Lily felt a strange pull in her chest. She tried to look away, but she couldn't. His power was too strong. And then the ride dropped, plunging into darkness. Lily's screams mingled with the sound of the wind rushing past her ears. She felt her body being tossed and turned, twisted and pulled in ways she had never thought possible. And all the while, the Lord of Darkness watched from the shadows, his laughter echoing through the darkness. When the ride finally came to a stop, Lily stumbled out, her legs shaking. She looked around, trying to find her friends, but they were nowhere to be seen. And then she heard his voice, whispering in her ear. "Welcome to my realm, Lily," he said. "You are mine now." Lily tried to run, but she was trapped. The Lord of Darkness had claimed her soul, and there was no escape. She was his to do with as he pleased. For days, Lily was trapped in the underworld, forced to serve the Lord of Darkness in whatever way he saw fit. She was tormented, both physically and mentally, and she longed for release. But there was no escape from the Lord of Darkness's grasp. And then, one day, a group of adventurers stumbled into the underworld, seeking to rescue Lily and the others who had gone missing. The group of adventurers was made up of six people, each with their own set of skills and abilities. They had come prepared, armed with weapons and spells that they hoped would be enough to defeat the Lord of Darkness and free the souls he had trapped. Their leader was a tall, broad-shouldered man with piercing blue eyes and a mane of wild, blond hair. His name was Thorin, and he was a skilled warrior with a deep sense of justice. He had heard of the Lord of Darkness and his wicked deeds, and he was determined to put an end to them. As they made their way through the dark, twisting corridors of the underworld, they encountered all manner of horrors. There were creatures with twisted limbs and razor-sharp teeth, their eyes glowing with malevolent light. There were pits of fire and boiling lava, and traps that threatened to ensnare them at every turn. But the group pressed on, their determination unwavering. And finally, they came to the Lord of Darkness's lair. The lair was a vast, cavernous chamber, filled with flickering torches and strange, arcane symbols etched into the walls. At the far end of the chamber stood the Lord of Darkness, his shadowy form looming over them. "You have come to challenge me," he said, his voice echoing through the chamber. "You are fools to think you can defeat me." But Thorin was undaunted. He stepped forward, his sword held high. "We are not here to fight you," he said. "We are here to rescue the souls you have trapped." The Lord of Darkness laughed, a dark, chilling sound that made the hairs on the back of their necks stand up. "You cannot defeat me," he said. "I am eternal. I am power." And with that, he unleashed his dark magic upon them. The battle was fierce and bloody. The Lord of Darkness was a formidable opponent, his powers beyond anything they had ever seen. But the group fought with everything they had, their weapons and spells striking true. And finally, after what felt like hours, the Lord of Darkness fell. For a moment, there was silence in the chamber. And then, slowly, the souls of those he had trapped began to rise from the ground. They floated up towards the ceiling, their faces twisted in agony. And then something strange happened. As the souls reached the ceiling, they began to transform. They became brighter, more solid. And then, in a blinding flash of light, they were gone. The group looked around, confused. Had they been successful? Had they freed the souls? And then they saw her. Lily was standing in the corner of the chamber, her eyes wide with fear. "Get me out of here," she said, her voice trembling. "Please." The group rushed to her side, helping her to her feet. And as they made their way back through the corridors of the underworld, they couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. When they emerged from the underworld, they were greeted by a bright, sunny day. The air was warm and the birds were singing. It was as if the darkness they had just faced had never existed. And then they saw the sign. Alton Towers. They looked at each other in confusion. Had they been dreaming? Had they somehow been transported to a theme park? But then they saw the news. It was all over the internet. A group of riders on Oblivion had gone missing, and they had never been found. The group looked at each other in horror. Had they been trapped in some kind of alternate dimension? Had they been transported to another world? But then they saw the video footage. It showed Lily getting onto the ride, and then... it cut to black. The group watched in stunned silence as the screen faded to the Alton Towers logo. It was as if the ride had never existed, as if they had imagined the entire thing. But they knew that wasn't true. They had lived through it. They had faced the Lord of Darkness and freed the souls he had trapped. As they made their way back to their homes, they couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. They had a nagging sense of unease, as if they had been changed by the experience in ways they couldn't quite understand. And then they began to notice things. Strange, inexplicable things. Thorin found himself waking up in the middle of the night, drenched in sweat, his heart racing. He couldn't remember what he had been dreaming about, but he knew it had been something terrible. Lily started seeing things out of the corner of her eye. Shadows that flitted past her vision, disappearing when she turned to look at them. And the others had their own experiences, too. They all felt like they were being watched, like something was lurking just beyond their vision. And then, one by one, they started to disappear. It started with Lily. She was out walking one day when she vanished. There was no sign of a struggle, no indication of what had happened to her. And then it was Thorin. He was at home, sitting in his living room, when he suddenly disappeared. His family searched for him, but he was never found. And the others followed, disappearing one by one without a trace. It was as if they had never existed. And then one day, the group reappeared. They were in a strange, otherworldly place. A place of shadows and darkness, where the sky was perpetually black and the air was thick with the scent of brimstone. They were surrounded by the souls they had freed from the Lord of Darkness, all of them staring at the group with hollow, empty eyes. And then they saw him. The Lord of Darkness. He was standing at the far end of the chamber, his eyes fixed on them. "You have done well," he said, his voice echoing through the chamber. "You have freed my prisoners. But now, you are mine." And with that, he unleashed his dark magic upon them. The group fought back, but they were no match for the Lord of Darkness. His power was too great, his magic too dark. And then, just when it seemed like all was lost, something strange happened. The souls they had freed began to glow. Their bodies became brighter, more solid. And then, in a blinding flash of light, they were gone. And with them went the Lord of Darkness. The group was left standing in the darkness, their hearts pounding in their chests. They had no idea what had just happened, but they knew one thing for certain. They were alive. As they made their way back to the world of the living, they couldn't shake the feeling that they had been changed by the experience. They had faced their fears, confronted the darkness within themselves, and come out the other side. And as they looked at each other, they knew that they would never forget what had happened. They would never forget the ride on Oblivion, or the Lord of Darkness, or the souls they had freed. And they would never forget that sometimes, the scariest things in life are the things we can't see. The things that lurk just beyond our vision, waiting to pounce when we least expect it. But they had faced those things, and they had survived. And that was all that mattered.

I've been messing with ChatGPT using it to come up with fictional stories. Here's one based around Theme Park Worldwide; Shawn and Charlotte from Theme Park Worldwide were beyond excited to visit Alton Towers Resort for the first time. They hopped out of their car and immediately started filming their adventure. "Hey everyone, it's Shawn and Charlotte from Theme Park Worldwide and we're here at Alton Towers Resort!" Shawn shouted into the camera. "We've been waiting for this day for so long," Charlotte added. The pair couldn't wait to start their day of rides and thrills, but they were stopped in their tracks by a group of costumed characters. "Hey guys, welcome to Alton Towers Resort!" one of the characters exclaimed. "Thanks for the warm welcome," Shawn replied. The characters led Shawn and Charlotte to their first ride of the day - The Wicker Man. As they approached the coaster, they noticed something strange. The coaster was made entirely out of wicker and was on fire! "Is this safe?" Charlotte asked nervously. "Oh, don't worry," the characters assured them. "It's perfectly safe. Just hold on tight!" The pair climbed aboard the fiery coaster and were launched into the air. They screamed in terror as they twisted and turned through the flames. But just as they were about to plummet to the ground, the coaster magically turned into a water slide and they splashed down into a pool of water. "That was insane!" Shawn exclaimed, catching his breath. "I can't believe we just rode a coaster made out of wicker," Charlotte added. As they continued to explore the park, they came across a mysterious door that led to a secret area of the park. "Should we go in?" Shawn asked, intrigued. "Let's do it," Charlotte agreed. The door opened to reveal a room filled with strange artifacts and mysterious symbols. "What is this place?" Charlotte wondered aloud. Before they could investigate further, the floor beneath them gave way and they fell into a dark pit. As they tumbled through the darkness, they heard a voice whisper, "Welcome to the Alton Towers Curse." When they landed, they found themselves in a strange, alternate reality where the rides and attractions were alive and had taken over the park. They were chased by a giant roller coaster, attacked by a swarm of bees on The Swarm ride, and even had to fight their way through a horde of zombies on The Walking Dead: The Ride. But just when they thought they were doomed to live in this cursed reality forever, they found a way to break the curse and return to their own world. "That was wild," Shawn said, shaking his head in disbelief. "I can't believe we made it out alive," Charlotte added. As they left the park, they noticed that the costumed characters who had welcomed them at the start of the day were no longer there. "Hey, where did those characters go?" Shawn asked. "I don't know," Charlotte replied, a hint of suspicion in her voice. As they drove away from Alton Towers, they noticed that the park's logo had changed. It now read, "Alton's Curse." The twist at the end left Shawn and Charlotte wondering - was their adventure at Alton Towers just a figment of their imagination, or had they stumbled upon a real-life curse? Either way, they knew one thing for sure - they had experienced one of the most bizarre and thrilling days of their lives. Shawn and Charlotte couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that the mysterious curse had left them with. They were back at their headquarters, editing the footage from their Alton Towers visit, when they received a call from an unknown number. "Hello?" Shawn answered cautiously. "Shawn and Charlotte, you must come back to Alton Towers. The curse is not yet broken," a voice said cryptically. "Who is this?" Charlotte asked, a shiver running down her spine. "It doesn't matter who I am. What matters is that you return to the park immediately," the voice insisted. Shawn and Charlotte exchanged a look. They knew that they had to investigate further, but they were also hesitant to return to the cursed park. "Should we go back?" Shawn asked, uncertainty written all over his face. "We have to," Charlotte replied, determination in her voice. "We can't just leave this unfinished." They hopped in their car and made their way back to Alton Towers, not knowing what they would find. As they entered the park, they noticed that everything had changed. The rides were now twisted and distorted, and the costumed characters had morphed into terrifying creatures. "What happened here?" Shawn muttered under his breath. As they made their way deeper into the park, they encountered the source of the curse - a group of evil wizards who were using the park's attractions to channel dark magic. "We have to stop them," Charlotte declared, brandishing her camera like a weapon. Shawn and Charlotte fought bravely against the wizards, using their quick wits and park knowledge to outsmart them. They managed to break the spell and restore the park to its former glory. As they left the park for the second time, they were exhausted but elated. They had saved Alton Towers from a fate worse than the curse, and they had done it together. "That was insane," Shawn said, wiping sweat from his forehead. "I can't believe we just defeated a group of evil wizards," Charlotte replied, grinning from ear to ear. As they drove away from Alton Towers, they knew that they had just experienced another unforgettable adventure. They had faced their fears, fought for what they believed in, and come out on top. "Where to next?" Shawn asked, eager for their next park adventure. "Who knows?" Charlotte replied, a twinkle in her eye. "But one thing's for sure - it's going to be wild!" Shawn and Charlotte were on the hunt for their next park adventure, and they knew exactly where to go - Thorpe Park! As they arrived at the park, they were greeted by a group of enthusiastic fans. "Hey, Shawn and Charlotte! We're huge fans!" a group of teenagers shouted, waving frantically. Shawn and Charlotte grinned at each other. They loved meeting their fans and knew that this was going to be an exciting day. They made their way to the first ride of the day - Stealth, one of the fastest coasters in the park. Shawn was pumped, but Charlotte looked a little nervous. "You okay?" Shawn asked, patting her on the back. "Yeah, I'm fine," Charlotte replied, her voice shaking slightly. The coaster shot forward, and Charlotte's scream echoed across the park. But as the ride slowed to a stop, Charlotte's face lit up. "That was amazing!" she exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear. Next up was The Swarm, a coaster that swoops through the air like a giant bird. As they waited in line, they noticed something strange - the ride was covered in glitter. "What's going on?" Shawn asked, confused. "I have no idea," Charlotte replied, equally perplexed. As they strapped themselves into their seats, the ride operator explained that the park was celebrating a unicorn-themed festival. Shawn and Charlotte exchanged a look. This was going to be interesting. The ride shot forward, and they were soon soaring through the air, glitter raining down on them from all sides. Shawn and Charlotte couldn't stop laughing as they whizzed through loops and drops. After several hours of riding, they decided to take a break and explore the park's other attractions. They stumbled upon a hidden maze, which promised to be the scariest experience of their lives. As they made their way through the twisting corridors, they encountered all manner of horrors - zombies, chainsaw-wielding maniacs, and even a giant spider. But Shawn and Charlotte were determined not to let the scares get the best of them. As they finally emerged from the maze, they high-fived each other in triumph. They had conquered their fears once again. But their adventure wasn't over yet. As they made their way back to the park entrance, they were stopped by a strange man in a top hat. "Hello, Shawn and Charlotte. I have a proposition for you," the man said, his voice dripping with mystery. "What kind of proposition?" Shawn asked, intrigued. "I need your help to stop a group of evil clowns who have taken over the park," the man explained. Shawn and Charlotte exchanged a look. This sounded like their kind of adventure. "Let's do it," Charlotte declared, her eyes shining with excitement. As they followed the man deeper into the park, they knew that they were in for a wild ride. But they were ready for anything. After all, they were Theme Park Worldwide - and nothing could stop them! The three of them made their way through the deserted park, keeping an eye out for any signs of the evil clowns. Suddenly, they heard laughter echoing through the night. "That must be them," Shawn whispered. They followed the sound until they reached an abandoned circus tent. As they approached, they could see the silhouettes of several figures inside. "Are you sure we should do this?" Charlotte asked, her voice shaking slightly. "We have to try," Shawn replied, determination in his voice. The three of them crept closer, trying to stay quiet. Suddenly, one of the clowns spotted them and let out a piercing scream. "Attack!" he shouted, and the other clowns leaped to their feet. The battle was on. Shawn, Charlotte, and the man in the top hat fought off the clowns with everything they had - fists, feet, and even a nearby broomstick. But the clowns were tough opponents, and the three of them were soon backed up against a wall. "This is it," Charlotte gasped, her breath coming in short gasps. But just as the clowns were about to strike the final blow, the man in the top hat reached into his pocket and pulled out a small device. "This will do the trick," he said, grinning. He pressed a button, and the device emitted a high-pitched whine. The clowns recoiled, clutching their heads in pain. Shawn, Charlotte, and the man in the top hat seized the opportunity and made a run for it. They burst out of the circus tent and into the cool night air. Behind them, they could hear the clowns' angry shouts fading into the distance. "That was close," Shawn panted, his heart pounding. "We did it!" Charlotte exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear. The man in the top hat nodded, looking relieved. "I couldn't have done it without you two," he said. "You truly are the heroes of the park." As they made their way back to the park entrance, the three of them couldn't stop talking about their adventure. They had fought off evil clowns, saved the park, and had an incredible time doing it. "We should do this more often," Shawn said, a mischievous glint in his eye. "I'm in," Charlotte replied, her own eyes shining. And so, the three of them walked off into the night, ready for their next adventure. Because when it came to theme parks, there was nothing that Shawn, Charlotte, and the man in the top hat couldn't handle. They were Theme Park Worldwide - and they were unstoppable. As they walked through the park, Shawn and Charlotte couldn't help but feel uneasy. They had just discovered that the man in the top hat, who they had fought alongside with against the evil clowns, was grooming young girls in the park. "What do we do?" Charlotte asked, her voice trembling. "We can't just let this go," Shawn replied, his jaw set. "We have to confront him." They made their way back to the man's office, where he was sitting behind his desk. "We know what you're doing," Shawn said, his voice firm. The man in the top hat looked up, a surprised expression on his face. "What are you talking about?" he asked. "We know that you're grooming young girls in the park," Charlotte said, her eyes blazing. The man in the top hat tried to deny it at first, but Shawn and Charlotte were not to be deterred. They presented him with evidence they had gathered, including witness statements and photographs. The man in the top hat hung his head in shame. "I... I don't know what to say," he stammered. "You need to turn yourself in," Shawn said. "And you need to get help." The man in the top hat agreed, and they helped him contact the authorities. It was a difficult decision, but they knew it was the right thing to do. As they left the office, Shawn and Charlotte felt a sense of relief. They had done the right thing, even if it was hard. And they knew that they had to continue to be vigilant, and stand up for what was right. "Let's go ride some roller coasters," Shawn said, trying to lighten the mood. Charlotte smiled, grateful for his lightheartedness. "Sounds good to me," she replied. And so, they set off into the park, ready for their next adventure. Because when it came to theme parks, there was always something new to discover - both good and bad. But as long as they had each other, they knew they could handle whatever came their way. They were Theme Park Worldwide - and they were unstoppable.

I predict a patch of dirt will replace Containment for the 2023 season. Maybe will have some puddles if we're lucky too. Still can't be worse than the chlamydia pill bots in the planned trips and reports section.

HOLD THE PRESS!!! Did you say a container was removed? Quick, get the Thorpe marketing account to give us such an illustrious update. WAIT - He's already done it;

It would be interesting to make the attraction backwards where you enter the tube station first and finish with the floating illusion with more of a paranormal universe theme. Don’t know if this is technically possible. It would be a shame to lose such a great illusion.

Even if Disney already do, I just think it’s something relatively easy and low maintenance to install that adds something extra to the attraction. Don’t see a reason why Towers couldn’t do this.

If towers really want to make the facade creepy, they could put a figure behind one of the windows that occasionally pulls back the curtain and peeks out. Have a dim light behind it that casts a shadow at night too.

Interesting to see behind the scenes by Thorpe’s marketing account. Not sure what to make of the re-theme with the amount being ripped out. I guess only time will tell on how impressive the new show rooms will be. No wonder the train would overheat & VR glitch out with all that hardware that was packed under the seats! I am looking forward to some more physical effects and the train feeling more immersive. We’ll see how scary it is on a scale of Tomb Blaster to Terror Tomb.

Tulley’s have increased the minimum age to 16+ for the whole event. They also mention about ramping up the horror. I can also confirm the no touch policy will still be in place so I’m not sure what they’re going to do if anything!

So Derren Brown sheds his contractual obligations. (Hidden Fok😉) I’m so glad they’re finally ditching VR. Fairly confident MMM can turn it into a good and reliable attraction using practical effects. The next few years are shaping up to be very positive for the UK parks.

Maybe that’s why they abandoned looking after the Swarm station last year knowing it was getting refreshed. It was disgusting and in such a sorry state.

Try not to speculate too much and enjoy the retheme for what it is rather than going in with high expectations. I’m looking forward to being surprised as long as I can avoid all the leaked footage after press opening.

Looking forward to riding the flying Baboons.

Merlin have acquired Cadbury World in Bournville. Cadbury’s has always been a prevalent brand in Merlin parks and attractions so it makes sense for them to now operate this iconic British attraction. Hopefully it will be another attraction to be added onto the Annual Pass or at least offer a discount. https://m.facebook.com/100063717513915/posts/pfbid02wcAynK3bJ1JeE5FLifeWyoXqYRoJoSymYNG6PVNuzSYwctDXx245qjbtojbP6Ztsl/?d=n

I will not be contempt until I see JK SLKSTN in a neon Thorpe branded T-shirt riding a wrecking ball into Loggers Leap shouting “EXODUS EXODUS EXODUS EXODUS EXODUS EXODUS EXODUS EXODUS EXODUS…” 1000 times. I hope Shane Sandwich gets first dibs on the obsolete signage.

Cedar Point have officially confirmed the strata coaster TTD will return in 2024 hinting at a “new formula for thrills”. Is this just the changes being made to the launch or also a possible sponsorship with F1? https://fb.watch/hY1UA7dV3d/

It was never going to last being based on quickly outdated technology. I said many times nothing beats real visceral effects. It would be much better with AR using screens for the train windows instead of VR headsets. I appreciate they did try to blur reality with ROTD but AR could have been done in real-time. It concerns me Europa Park are still invested in VR. It’s always been a gimmick, too expensive for home use and underwhelming as a up-sell experience for commercial use. Thankfully 2023/24 is the start of a new boom of British theme park investment and I feel the most optimistic I’ve been for years; Valhalla, Jumanji, Exodus, Haunted House, Coaster corner Dark ride?, Nemesis retheme, a new CEO at Merlin. Theres a lot to look forward to now.

I’d love to see permanent lighting and mist. Looking forward to see what they do with it. Merlin are making a lot of good decisions lately. I’m hopeful this could be a new uk theme park boom with competition from BPB vs Towers / Thorpe and Paultons vs Chessington / Legoland.

Winter Wonderland slingshot ride smashes into post after bungee cord breaks. Just by luck nobody was injured. https://news.sky.com/story/winter-wonderland-slingshot-ride-smashes-into-post-after-bungee-cord-breaks-12768521?dicbo=v2-8756b0315cdabd13d119a09cbea3299e

He says "You're stuck in a mechanical device that will crush further into you as you go round. The twisted metal is desinged to give you concussion around the unnecessarily tight elements. If you make it to the end, trust me you're gonna need paracetamol."

I want to go this year since I haven't done Fright Nights for a while and just want to do something different to Tulleys. Just need to see how busy work is going to be and will confirm soon.