Martin Doyle

Well its high time they actually replaced Curse of Darkastle. Quite impressive they are going for this post pandemic especially with Pantheon due to open next year. Nice bit of pushing the boat out by Busch Gardens.

"Exodus" - a mass departure of people Which confirms it "Brexit the ride" new for 2024!! Nigel Farage does the preshow and as the ride dispatches its him saying "you all laughed at me. Well I have to say you're not laughing now are you!!"

Heres another of mine and I aint sure how "unpopular" it is. I will assume it is given the massive fanbase and popularity Europa has in the theme park/coaster community. Full disclaimer, I really like Europa before anyone things likewise!! Of the two top German parks, I FAR prefer Phantasia to Europa. I believe the following reasons are valid enough. 1. Whilst Europa has a far large coaster selection, I much prefer Taron and Black Mamba to ANY coaster at Europa. I actually personally find most the Europa coasters "middle of the road" with the exception of Wodan. I would rather one world class coaster to a handful of "good ones". Quality over quantity. 2. With water rides. Again, Europa has a far bigger selection but I would have Chiapas and River quest over any of the Europa water rides. Same as I said in point 1. 3. Dark rides. I personally prefer Maus Au Chocolat to all Europas dark rides. I personally cant warm to the dark rides at Europa as I find them to be blatant rip offs of Disney dark rides. 4. I find it a more manageable park in regards to not feeling knackered when walking around and trying to fit it all in. I liken Phantasia to a dish where the portion is just right and the food is incredible whereas Europa is a buffet where one has gone mad stacking the plate high. 5. I think Phantasia has a more unique overall feel to it and the theming quality in my book is far higher. Rookburgh and Klugheim optimise that. 6. I prefer the food options at Phantasia. Rutmoors tavern is heaven and the noodles in China are gorgeous!!. So yeah. They be my reasons for having the opinion of Phantasia being the better park to Europa.

*dusts off topic The top three that come to mind!! 1. Velocicoaster - Well what can I say?? It looks to have it all. Great theming and headchoppers, a story, Taron style launches, flawless pacing, some great looking variety and inversions, gorgeous trains, a big drop and in general looks FAULTLESS. If ANY coaster out there will take my number one coaster status from Steel Vengeance, this is it. Counting down the days to riding it next october. 2. Iron Gwazi - Steel Vengeance and Zadra are by far and away my top two coasters and this looks certain to deliver the same goods Zadra delivers. Breakneck speed and pacing, Amazing drop, the death roll looks to be one of the best inversions out there, the giant outerbank and cutback will both be incredible elements and it simply looks to be yet another masterpiece from RMC. Roll on next year. 3. Fury 325 - The best looking B&M out there. I can almost guarantee this will be an ideal coaster for me given it seems to take the aspects of two of my top ten (Shambhala and Millennium force) and blends them into one package. Restraints,comfort and airtime of Shambhala but with the crazy height and use of speed of Millie. All this combined with what looks like one of if not the best drops out there.

*blows the cobwebs OK parks I would love to visit!! In no particular order 1. Disneyland California - the original Disney park and has an amazing looking collection of dark rides across the two parks 2. Six Flags Magic Mountain - mouth watering coaster collection. Looks like a thrill seekers paradise to rival Cedar Point. 3. Busch Gardens Virginia - Beautiful looking park with a thrilling looking coaster line up. 4. Dollywood- same as above really. Lightning Rod especially being a draw for the RMC adoring me!! 5. Tokyo Disney - As somebody who enjoys Japanese culture,Disney and dark rides, I would have to be a fool to not want to visit this place. 6. Carowinds - Fury 325 is right up the top of my coaster bucket list. 7. Knotts Berry Farm - appealing looking broadwalk feel to the place and has a great looking vibe with some appealing looking rides. So yeah. Theres probably a few I missed but these are the 7 I would absolutely love to get to in the future.

Yes. Yes you are!! 😛 For me the obvious small coaster that did a lot with its space was wild mouse at blackpool. Just an absolutely brilliant nostalgic ride and is truely missed. The other I will go with is Balder at liseberg. Doesnt take up that huge a space at all and is a quality wooden coaster. Big coaster that wastes its size. Now the one I am gonna go with is either Diamondback or Silver Star. Two absolutely naff hypers. Sorry if that triggers any of the "Europa is perfect" brigade 😜

He has his flights to Amsterdam booked for next year for Efteling!!

I think if it came down to being between a B&M Hyper or RMC, the higher ups at M£rlin would go for the Hyper over the RMC. Why?. Well they know that the last two big investments for Thorpe wasnt seen as a success in terms of driving up the gate numbers for various reasons. So they know (or should know) the very next big investment for Thorpe needs to work out. Now with an RMC, yes if Thorpe went down that road the enthusiasts would absolutely make a beeline for the park. That however does NOT mean the same thing can be said for the general public. Ask ANY non enthusiast/GP what an RMC is and I highly doubt they will know what it is. Enthusiasts only make up a super niche part of the overall audience and in terms of buisness model and strategy, M£rlin who as I just mentioned will want the next big investment to work out financially are simply not going to make an investment that only appeases a niche group. They will want something that will appeal to everybody. A B&M hyper absolutely ticks that box. They are huge coasters which the GP seem to think automatically makes a coaster must ride and is a model of coaster that enthusiasts enjoy given the popularity of Mako and Shambhala. I also think a GCI would be higher up the food chain here than an RMC given theres the chance M£rlin could look at Wicker Mans success over at towers and could possibly think cashing in on that and making a Troy scale woody at Thorpe. I hope I am wrong in terms of Thorpe getting that elusive UK RMC. I just personally cant see it unfortunately.

Well this season its been pointless running it on three trains as they are let alone with people clambering for the back rows now. Hope I am wrong but this could very much be an operational disaster

The legendary Karen who works in guest services has also confirmed the return of professor burps bubbleworks!!

WORST.QUEUE JUMPERS. EVER!!

The funny part there is I've smelled it at Thorpe MORE than I have on ANY visit to the Dutch theme parks AND THATS A COUNTRY WHERE THE DAMN STUFF IS LEGAL!!

Anytime I hear "innit bruv" or the smell of weed hits my nose!!* *so I was thinking of the place endlessly when I was in Amsterdam recently!!

On trips to Cedar Point, I have seen old couples walking around the park and still enjoying themself. I was at Efteling on Tuesday and again I saw people a wide variety of ages enjoying the park. So I wouldn't say there is a "too old" for going to theme parks. I suppose it entirely depends on how much you enjoy them personally as the years go by. I fully intend to be riding Steel Vengeance and Zadra well into my 70s if my health allows!!!

Europa has Ed Euromaus Efteling has Pardoes Liseberg has the bunnies Thorpe has Jack Sickstone

Correct me if I am wrong But unless the upcharge for mazes is just the cash grab I said it was last year, isnt the whole point of upcharge timed ticked maze admission to STOP long waits?

Just messing.....

I know right!! Who on EARTH puts Fury 325 and millie over SteVe for worlds best coaster!!!?? I do find Valhalla continuously getting that award to be a bit off given the condition its been in over the last few years prior to its "revamp"......and surely Chiapas could have won the award at some point!! Goes to show the people picking the awards more likely than not have not ridden Valhalla over the last few years and are solely giving these awards on reputation.

Think I've said it often now but Asylum absolutely blew practically every other FN maze that ever existed out of the water. I wouldnt necessarily say it is nostalgia that gives me that opinion, its the genuine fact that for me and 95 percent of the people that did it, it just did its job which was to scare. It was loud,chaotic,disorienting and the cast that was in it on most of my visits during its tenure absolutely went all out to deliver. No FN maze that has came after it has came anywhere near matching it in those regards. Then we look at some other mazes the park historically had. Experiment 10 created one hell of a sense of isolation that at the time was a breaking of the mold for UK theme park halloween mazes Se7en was the single most disgusting and psychological maze I have seen on these shores. Those scenes,smells and sights to this day have stayed with me Hellgate whilst not particularly unique in that it was just a generic haunted house themed maze, was an absolute jump scare ridden fun experience. Those opinions to me are nothing to do with nostalgia. Its just as I remember them on their own merits during their time at the event. They did their jobs far better then MOST of the mazes that have been at the event since Asylum left. Aside from Big Top and Cabin, none of the other mazes that have been at the event have done anything for me personally. For all Platform 15 is worth, one might as well leave the park early and just head round to monks walk for an evening stroll....you're now doing Platform 15 for free.

Whatever gave that idea away!!?? Its a world clASS event!! Tulleys should apologise for digging Thorpe to those who actually prefer FN to shocktoberfest* *all 3 of them

Gotta love tulleys!! Ah Thorpe we love you really.....

In unsurprising news, the worlds best park are doing away with Wicked Twister. Quite mixed on this. Yes Wicked Twister was far from being among the best rides at the park, but it worked very well for the footspace it took up and made a nice appearance on the parks skyline. Curious to see what could replace it (a Mack Powersplash would be great in that area) given the park/chains profits still not being great due to the pandemic.

Do NOT give them ideas!!

Double po...oh who gives a monkeys!!?? In a fairly recent Q&A, a Busch official confirmed they are waiting for the "perfect opportunity from a commercial and marking stand point" to open Iron Gwazi This could very well translate into a 2022 opening as an initiative to drive season pass renewals and get guests to return when the ride opens whilst also keeping steady numbers in the mean time. Could also mean that they are waiting for the Velocicoaster hype over at Universal to die down a notch or two and thus the ride can open to a greater fanfare. Several rumours of a potential september/october soft opening of the ride going about but the credibility of these sources are very much in what I call the "HP source" category. JUST OPEN THE DAMN THING BUSCH!!

Try and stop a project that could serve as competition to the parks and continue to be lazy with said parks as opposed to embracing competition which could improve the quality of the industry in this country and actually making an effort. Yep seems legit!! M£rlin (emphasis on the pound sign) really are the absolute pits of the industry.