streetmagix

Just back from the Towers and my opinion of Thirteen has changed massively. It was never my favourite coaster, firmly at the bottom of my favorite rides at Alton Towers along with Oblivion (it just doesn't do anything for me, sorry). Decided to give Thirteen a go on SRQ today and it's matured so well. I was in row 5 and there was bags of airtime. Not quite Shambala but of that same vein. The lapbars seemed far more comfortable too. The outdoors bit was fast, flowing and smooth. Didn't need the kicker wheels at all. The indoor bit was the same as before but slightly lighter before and after the drop. Operations were tight, 3 train service and no stacking. Proper job. I just wish they'd keep the drop a proper secret. I was on with a group who had no clue about the drop and they were so amazed and surprised. None of the other vertical drop coasters advertise it heavily or at all.

That's disappointing to hear. Both Oblivion and Nemesis Inferno should have great throughputs put Merlin nerf them with poor operations. When I'm at Alton later this week I think I'll skip Oblivion, it just isn't worth a 60 minute queue when you have Nemesis a few minutes walk away.

I'm not at Alton Towers today but just checked the app and Oblivion has a 60 minute queue! Higher than Rita, Thirteen and The Smiler. Anyone know what's going on? Is it a glitch in the matrix? I've never seen Oblivion get more than a 30 minute queue and that's on a super busy day.

Well, it's been more reliable that Stealth currently (although that isn't saying much!). When I was there about 2 weeks ago everything seemed to be going perfectly, every headset and set piece worked. Throughput seemed pretty good too which surprised me for a 14 minute dark ride! I never got the chance to ride last year but I'm super impressed with it. The new ending is very clever, looks to be 100% animatronic as far as I could tell. What bit was rumoured not to be installed properly? Hopefully it isn't like Expedition Everest and their animatronic which was shaking the structure/foundation to pieces!

If someone *really* wanted to get out of a contract it's almost always possible. Very few contracts are fully watertight. If Nick were to throw enough money at Merlin he could have it back, it depends on how much money he has and how much to throw at them,