Martin Doyle
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Posts posted by Martin Doyle
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A revised top 10 parks
1. Cedar Point
2. Phantasialand
3. Universal Orlando (I count both Studios and Islands as one given they are next door to the other)
4. Europa Park
5. Liseberg
6. Efteling
7. Busch Gardens Tampa
8. Walt Disney World (I know its four parks...but who cares!!??)
9. Portaventura
10. Kings Island
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Millennium Force all day and every day!!
Steel Vengeance and Zadra also deserve a huge mention in regards to best drops!!
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Oh. I wonder what ride could possibly win this....
Amity Beach (5)
Angry Birds 4D Experience (5)
Colossus (5)
Depth Charge (5)
Detonator: Bomb's Away (6)
Flying Fish (5)
Jungle Escape (5)
King Pig's Wild Hog Dodgems (5)
Lumber Jump (5)
Mr. Monkey's Banana Ride (5)
Nemesis Inferno (5)
Quantum (5)
Rocky Express (5)
Rumba Rapids (5)
Rush (5)
Samurai (5)
Saw - The Ride (5)
Stealth (6)
Storm in a Teacup (5)
Storm Surge (5)
The Swarm (5)
Tidal Wave (5)
Timber Tug Boat (5)
Vortex (5)
Wet Wet Wet (3)
Zodiac (5)
Detonator +
Nemesis Inferno -
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1 hour ago, Mattgwise said:
Hello and welcome
Yep, having it still standing makes it even more of a kick in the teeth and it's very sad to see such a loved attraction continue to just be left to rot more and more.
Wooden structure is being left up for RMC to work with mate!!
Its getting closer!!
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48 minutes ago, JoshC. said:
I've heard the rumours about Mata being the name, but some people seem unconvinced. I'm not sure it's the best name out there, so hoping for something else.
I dont see anything the Mata with that name at all...
*crickets chirping
Ok I will leave
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Trains now on track for the new Intamin mega coaster.
The rumoured name for this thing going around seems to be "Mata" and the theming will be heavily african inspired.
This aswell as the new Plopsa spinner seems to make Belgium must do next season.....assuming this blasted pandemic and the restrictions that come with it ease off ofcourse
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26 minutes ago, Benin said:
Considering the space they had to work with it doesn't look like it uses it up particularly well.
Plus from looking at this and Zadra, RMC seem to never be too sure what to do with height.
Still looks good, but considering the hype it doesn't look like the best one. But then again none of the RMCs POV particularly well.
I think RMC definitely hit its plateau with Steel Vengeance.
Untamed and Zadra also are real top draw coasters and this looks to follow in that vein, but even they do not hit the heights that Steel Vengeance gets to. Which is a common opinion amongst the community sadly.
I think the decline in the RMC hype may not be too far away.
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I interrupt your proceedings to bring you more RMC bliss!!
*finale looks a bit ropey but who cares!!?? Its an RMC so still gonna be better than 95 percent of all coasters
You may continue!!
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2 minutes ago, Benin said:
That the same World Showcase getting a Ratatouille ride?
I suppose they COULD get away with it given its going into the France pavillion....though It would have been better off at the movie themed Hollywood studios. Even then it would be pointless given theres already TWO trackless dark rides there.
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The days of it being the Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow sadly are long gone with EPCOT. I guess this however is better than ruining the Norway pavillion by giving it Frozen!!
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Isnt a ride thats closed more than open the Thorpe way though!!?? 😛
in all seriousness though, the drawback of an RMC is indeed the structural issues that you mentioned. Steel Vengeance last season had many mornings where it would open late as engineers and the necessary teams was giving the structure a solid check over. This became a near daily occurrence. It is worth nothing this came AFTER it got struck by lightning!!
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Trains for the all new Guardians of the Galaxy coaster over at Epcot!! (Guess this means the OG Tower of Terror is safe)
Disney still hoping to have this open in autumn of 2021 but looking increasingly likely it will now be early 2022 for obvious reasons. Should make for a decent edition to the overall resort and finally gives Epcot the roller coaster it was always crying out for.
Heres hoping capacity is not that much an issue given the queues we are usually faced with at Disneyworld
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Never ever going to happen I know and I am aware I have said this before, but for the 20th anniversary I would love to see the return of ONE classic maze....which translates roughly into the Freezer!! I am pretty sure the minority who actually did Freezer will welcome its return and I am also sure the kiddies that have NOT done it will also not give a hoot its an old maze if they had not heard of it to begin with.
Assuming mazes return, it would also be good to see the return of the shows and scarezones around the park so it feels like a proper halloween event parkwide as opposed to just a theme park with scare mazes. It works for Walibi Holland so I am certain it could work for Thorpe. Yes I am perfectly aware Walibi pumps a good budget into their event whereas Thorpe are given Varneys pocket change. I can still dream though!!
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All visits post "Lockdown"
Drayton Manor
Legendia
Energylandia
So yeah not much really. Was hoping to get to Blackpool,Cedar Point,Kings Island,Efteling,Walibi Holland and Phantasialand. Oh well!! Always next year....I hope.
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1 hour ago, JoshC. said:
The Upshot on the Upcharge
Is either of these mazes worth £10? To me, no.
Do I envision a lot of enthusiasts paying the price and moaning saying it's not worth it? Yes.
Do I think the public will feel short changed by paying £10 for the mazes? Well, I don't know
And that right there is my issue.
£10 for any upcharge is quite a fair bit of money and for a horror maze that has been pretty naff since its opening year especially. This even more so when you consider that the scarefest mazes cost £8. £8 is also a bit of an ask after paying admission (assuming you aint a MAP holder that is) but given the quality of the towers mazes in relation to a glorified walk in the woods, you could just about justify it.
For £15 as recently as 2016 you could have had an extreme brave it alone through Big Top or Cabin in the woods for the love of pete!!
The thing though is naturally the enthusiasts will moan about it, but my question seriously would be "what the heck did you expect??" its been at the event since 2016 now so if they seriously think that just because its now £10 that all of a sudden it turns into the second coming of Asylum or Big Top then I personally think they are being naive.
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2 hours ago, JoshuaA said:
They should list the queue times for guest services tbh.
Fastrack and RAP to be introduced for it in the foreseeable
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1 hour ago, MattyMoo said:
I've translated the second sign and it says "Brave It Backwards 2021" 🤫
Either that or Swarm VR here we come!!
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15 minutes ago, Mark9 said:
Can't wait for your review.
May be a long wait given the US travel restrictions and all that malarkey!! 😛
Hoping to go in 2022 but I aint holding my breath.
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Double post but who the heck cares!!??
ITS OFFICIAL!!
This looks truely incredible. Absolutely hyped up to high heaven about this thing. Smart business aswell by Universal to aim to open it in line with the release of the third Jurassic World movie!!
*Taron and Helix have left the chat
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1 hour ago, JoshuaA said:
Could be completely random, though I do believe Merlin should work with RMC soon. They are basically the future of roller coasters, and they do not have a bad coaster to their name. I'm sure if the park got any type of RMC it would easily be #1 in the park. But lets be real, we ain't getting a coaster here for a while. I can still dream about Alton though lol.
I am actually willing to bet with anybody who will take me on that SW9 will arrive before Thorpe get a coaster.
The thing I want to know is simple. If Merlin do not want to give Thorpe an RMC, WHY do they not want to give them one?
They are absolutely leading the way in the industry in terms of acclaim and how they are viewed in the community. They are also cheaper than other coasters from the likes of Mack and Intamin and in general are just solid good rides. So surely when the time comes to give Thorpe a new coaster, an RMC would make sense. If not them then what coaster could they actually get that guarantees a return!!??
I get that maybe after the "great cock up of 2016" that maybe the higher ups at Merlin may be hesitant to give Thorpe a massive investment in terms of getting a return on it, but if they can get an RMC for the cheap prices we have seen Iron Gwazi made for then surely its worth the risk!!
I think the boat may have sailed on Thorpe getting one and believe me I wish I am wrong about that. I would actually get a new MAP if Thorpe got one!! 😛
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13 hours ago, JoshC. said:
I went to Blackpool for the first ever time a little over a week ago. Some thoughts...
-Icon was fun, but not great. Launches are probably the weakest I've done. Only one good airtime moment. The layout is well integrated around the other rides, but not particularly interesting.
-Big One is a big old meh. Did nothing for me.
-Grand National is a national treasure and by far the best attraction at the park in my opinion. Opinion is likely swayed because I only rode it in back row which is probably a smoother seat, but still.
-Was spited by Nick Streak. 😓
-Park feels like it needs a water ride which gets you suitably wet. The open water rides looked too wet imo, and obviously Valhalla has a reputation for a reason.
-I liked the dark rides.
The Pleasure Beach itself is nice enough for what it is. Not my cup of tea really, but I had fun all things considered. Blackpool as a town is even tackier than I imagined though. Eurgh.
1. Yes. Absolutely agree with the Icon point. I really fail to see the hype behind it at all. If I wanted to go through a load of turns in a slow and boring manner, I would get in a Go Kart driven by @Matt Creek
2. Big one is a major mixed bag to me. Yes it has a great drop, yes its a legend in the UK industry and yes it gives nice views of the park and area. Its just dull post drop though. I much prefer Magnum at Cedar Point.
3. One has not lived until they have a back row on Grand National!! Its not the pleasure beach without it. A true life altering experience if you have a rough ride mind you xD
4. Shame about streak!! Its real good fun.
5. I do genuinely believe that when Valhalla returns, the wetness of it will be dialled right down. The drops themself never really got the riders that wet, it was more the effects like the water vortex and the hammers that whammed down next to the boat and shot water up into it. I highly doubt the Vortex will return when the ride is back open.
6. Cant go wrong with the Blackpool dark rides!!
7. Blackpool is indeed a bit of a dive!!
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An upgraded unofficial POV.
The layout looks to be quite accurate and was made once track work was finished but obviously nobody knows the full details on what the theming will be like aside from the rock work and the Raptor cages that are in place. Given its Universal, I feel we hardly need worry about the quality of theming!!
As a layout, this thing looks absolutely incredible!! The main critique I had of Taron (the rare ones I have of it!!) is that the layout is repetitive. This looks to have all the sharp turns of Taron but with inversions and top hats thrown in!!
This looks set to blow all other multi launch coasters clean out the water and I can not wait to ride it when it is all good to visit Florida again!!
*if this rides break down announcement is not Jeff Goldblum saying "That is one big pile of s**t", I shall be going straight to guest services.
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The thing with the price is simple. With Alton Towers, the mazes are significantly higher quality than what Thorpe has given in recent years if you take away Big Top and Creek Freak Massacre. So I can justify paying the upcharge as the quality is there.
When you are paying an upcharge on top of paying to come through the gate, the attraction had damn sure best be good. If Thorpe still had the quality that the old days had with Asylum and E10, I would be more than happy to part with my money.
Platform 15 however!! If that is worth paying £10 then I will walk through it stark naked.
Face it alone was only £15 for most its run for christ sake!!
Top 10's
in General Discussion
Posted
If Velocicoaster is the coaster it looks like its going to be, I personally will be placing universal up at number 2 on my list!!
Universal has an amazing dark ride and water ride collection as well as a solid indoor coaster and the retracked Hulk is a solid coaster. To have a world class elite level coaster would take the place up to a whole new level to me. Velocicoaster very much looks set to deliver that!!