Martin Doyle
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Posts posted by Martin Doyle
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*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.
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On 12/23/2021 at 12:14 AM, Mattgwise said:
Or Mystic Timbers. Again was expecting something great having been on Wodan and Wickerman which I both enjoyed. But nope just lacked any umph. Though seems I'm in a minority with that.
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 😜
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On 12/1/2021 at 11:11 PM, Matt Creek said:
All too well.
He has his flights to Amsterdam booked for next year for Efteling!!
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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.
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43 minutes ago, Benin said:
Absolutely zero chance of that given Blackpool's operational standards.
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
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13 hours ago, Mark9 said:
Not enough of you have been to Port Aventura.
WORST.QUEUE JUMPERS. EVER!!
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18 hours ago, Han30 said:
It’s the only park I’ve been to where you can smell it frequently
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!!
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12 hours ago, ChessingtonSam said:
Just saw Legacy. I'll leave spoilers out, but it's a nice little show. One thing I can say is it has Jack Silkstone and Co's fingerprints all over it, and is absolutely lost on anyone who isn't a fan. Lots of very confused faces. But it's a decent show and a nice extra.
Europa has Ed Euromaus
Efteling has Pardoes
Liseberg has the bunnies
Thorpe has Jack Sickstone
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Just messing.....
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8 hours ago, JoshC. said:
Just shows how meaningless - and perhaps farcical - the Golden Ticket Awards are.
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.
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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.
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11 minutes ago, Mattgwise said:
@Martin Doyle I thought you loathed Thorpes modern day Fright nights 😝
Gotta love the dig there! Tbh I'm just looking forward to actually doing some Halloween events this year!
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
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Gotta love tulleys!!
Ah Thorpe we love you really.....
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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.
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1 hour ago, MattyMoo said:
Does anyone know if the pop up vaccine centre has a separate RAP queue please and do PMAP holders get a pop badge?
Do NOT give them ideas!!
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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!!
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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.
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Icon right now is utterly pointless to run three trains on. Endless stacking.
I know many blame this on the seatbelt installed on the restraint, this however is not the issue.
The issue is that the wristband/E ticket scanner is right at the boarding area to the ride. Which means guests are faffing around getting through the turnstile and being batched into their rows whilst the train in front is hitting the second launch. Icon historically when operated well is dispatching a train just as the train in front is hitting the second launch.
So by the time you have got through the scanning turnstile, been sent to your row, had the gates open, placed your belongings in the loose articles area, had the restaint checked and given the all clear, the ride has two trains stacked up behind you. Which in turn takes an eternity to off load riders.
Until they move the location of the turnstile, they should NOT be running it on three trains. No ifs no buts and no maybes about it.
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2 hours ago, Glitch said:
What is the point of all the angled track. Is it a nice sensation or does it just make it feel as if you are falling out of your seat?
What you just described in my book is very much a nice sensation!! 😛
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3 hours ago, JoshC. said:
When this was first announced - way back in late 2018 - it was also said this would have the most airtime moments of any steel coaster in the world. Whether that's still the case I don't know, but in either case, it's still got a lot
I think Steel Vengeance may have something to say to that!!
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Which Ride Do You Most Want To Go On?
in General Discussion
Posted
*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.