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A fair point, and certainly Thorpe / Merlin should be taking note of the successes of Winter Wonderland. However, the attendances aren't really comparable. WW is a free event, with a significantly broader market, and a very different focus (Christmas).
 
Theme parks ultimately exist because of the rides. Winter Wonderland ultimately exists as a Christmas market with rides. Very different things.
Tulley's doesn't get anywhere near any of the parks. A busy day for Shocktoberfest is in the region of 4000 people, and they get about 60k visitors across the whole event in a year. Thorpe can get that in 4 days. Towers get that many in their fireworks event (over 2 days).
I've never known if it's true, but one rumour which floated about when it was introduced back in 2010 was that it was an agreement with the council, to help ease traffic on public roads. Of course, that doesn't give reason for the high price or the chaos that ensues in the car park, and that's something which needs addressing.
 
Practically every major theme park charges for car park these days. It's just a thing now. Doesn't mean it's necessarily right, but that is the situation. 
 
 
 
Bringing this back to Icon / BPB.. I wonder how the park performed financially? Attendance is of course one way to measure success and popularity, but it's hard to gauge (and they never publicly release stats). But if attendance is down, it might not be all doom and gloom. If the park is making more money per person (and based off the significant amount of Icon merch I've seen about, that alone could have helped), or seeing improvements elsewhere, it's a good start. Of course, we'll never know, but I wouldn't be surprised if BPB have seen some form of a small, instant hit as a result of Icon.
 
As a general commentary though, it's funny seeing people express concern about Icon's lack of instant success. It's well known Merlin follow the thought process of 'any (major) new ride needs to be an instant hit'. And many people mock that philosophy. Yet when a different park does something which isn't an instant success, and very easily could be a long term success, people panic.

Goodness me, look at the state of the supports/track!
 
(Ph
 
(Photo from Theme Park Guide).

Build a brand new coaster that isn't Knightmare would be my option.

Whilst  we live in the world of make belief, I might as well contribute.
 
2019: 
Car Park Changes and Improvements:
Better and more efficient gravel on main car park area, because this area can’t be tarmacd, the new material will make it easier to park and give a nicer presentation. 
 
New zone areas make make it easier to remember where you have parked, I.E Inferno lot, Stealth lot etc. 
 
The price of parking will drop to £5 and be free to half price in Summer after 3pm, you must pay upon entering now unless you have a pre-booked ticket or are dropping off. 
 
New Rides and Events
No new rides will actually open this year, but there will be lots of events.
 
Easter will hold a treasure hunt type thing, with prizes including food and shop discounts. 
 
Summer will hold park anniversary celebrations, with fireworks on Friday and Saturdays at 11pm, additional charge due to capacity.
 
Fright Nights will return, with a brand new maze replacing Vulcan peak with nods to Asylum and Studio13. Living Nightmare, Saw Alive and Blair Witch return along with a welcome back to Big Top. Dead Creek and Platform not returning, for good reasons. Scarezones In Amity and Lost City. 
 
Redevelopment:
The Whole area of Old Town will be completely closed off for redevelopment. Loggers Leap, Canada Creek Railway and the building’s are demolished. 
 
Rocky Express is relocated to Slammer’s area along with Timber Tug which has been given a makeover to fit in within the new area. Slammer has been removed. 
 
Park TLC:
Rocky Express will be completely rebuilt and repainted 
 
Saw’s queue will be tidied and made easier to navigate, Jigsaw puppet is now synced to voice dialogue, more comfortable restraints and work done on main drop to remove jolts. 
 
Nemesis Inferno has been given a massive jetwash with the station being repainted, the volcano theming has been rebuilt by Universal Rocks and features more fire and smoke effects inside the volcano. 
 
Gardens tidied and rooftops tidied too. 
 
2020
Major Year For The Park, 
 
Redeveloped New area of the former Canada Creek area to Loggers Town, which is sponsored by Red Dead Redemption to help it being marketable. 
 
The main new attraction is Iron Pony, an RMC which replaces Loggers Leap and interacts with the lake. Two smaller family attractions have been installed which include a Vekoma boomerang and rodeo themed polyp flat with a lasso theme for families. 
 
Theres also a new western themed smokehouse restaurant in the area. A side area has been kept where a new maze at fright nights can be located. 
 
Construction begins for the long planned hotel, which will be given the name, Island Breakers. 
 
Storm Surge gets new boats and repaired effects, Lost City rides repainted. 
 
2021
Island Breakers Hotel opens, featuring many rooms, twin, double and family rooms and some ride themed too. There’s also two restaurants, a bar and a pool with splash and play. Park accessible by new waterbuses and ERT in Loggers Town. 
 
‘Major infrastructure upgrades’- Phase1- Car Park rerouted to help improve flow and serve new hotel. Admissions, staff and entrance buildings all demolished for brand new state of the art entrance, featuring a more modern, minimal and nautical appearance. There will also be a new centrepiece, Shark fountain. New staff buildings on two story to the side of this new entrance, which opens in June. 
 
The Dome closes in September to makeway for Phase Two infrastructure redevelopment. Shark hotel closes for time being, temporary mega store new Crust with Stickysisters area becoming Finns area. 
 
Staff areas located in tempory buildibgs where shark used to be and tempory first aid area too. New pathway as well. 
 
Loggers Town continues to be marketed as new, Detonator repainted, Stealth jetwashed, Park pathways are repaved with small details referencing their areas. 
 
2022
Brand New Entrance area opens, the Dome has been replaced with a new steampunk harbour themed building, featuring a new table restaurant similar to fins with twice the capacity, quick service cafe, modern main gift shop and areas for guest information, services combined. There’s also a new first aid room and toilet facilities that accessible to everyone. 
 
Staff area still underground with modern infrastructure, new entertainment district added around too. Shark hotel replaced with a new hotel style based off Rookburgh in Phantasialand.
 
Colossus theming restores with a complete repaint and brand new trains. Ride systems upgraded to improve reliability. 
 
New Jungle Carousel added where Fungle Safari was.
 
Amity Beach area and Depth Charge demolished in September.
 
2023
Neptunes World- new area opens in June, replacing the Beach and Depth Charge. 
 
Main attraction is Aquatica Falls, an Intamin flume Ride similar to Chiapas, with an ‘adventure’ gone wrong theme. It makes a stunning first impression when you enter the park. A splash and play area (replacing the beach) is also added with a new quick service place. Rerouted pathways interact with ride. 
 
Derron Brown’s Ghost Train closes after numerous attempts to keep it going failed. 
 
2024
Flying Fish rethemed with nautical theming and effects to make for a more exciting ride. 
 
Island next to Swarm to become home to next coaster, an Intamin multilaunch. 
 
Other things:
Replace Ghost Train with a more universal market dark ride.
 
Replace KFC with RCR style restaurant, experience thing
 
vortex replaced with larger Gyro swing,
 
Probably more.

I'd personally say the rollercoasters at Efteling have more personality than any other park in Europe. Perfectly tailored to the family audience, full of whimsy and quirkiness. Baron is a painfully average dive machine but everything that surrounds it elevates it to one of my favourite coasters.
 
Yes it doesn't have the big coasters but a lot of big coaster parks are completely soulless, lacking any magic or enthusiasm or anything that resembles pride.

I'm not trying to sugarcoat things really.  It's easy (and true) to look at Thorpe and go 'so many rides are closed, this isn't good enough, what on earth is going on??'.  But there is a more balanced viewpoint to things rather than just going 'Thorpe have got loads of closed rides, they're doing everything wrong, everything will be terrible'.  But in fairness, Loggers is now all but a memory and Slammer is an ornament.  It doesn't look good on the park - especially when so many ask about Loggers and many will question Slammer when Fright Nights comes - but there's only so many times their closures can be bought up at every point before you tire of it a bit.  They're gone, and it's time to accept that and move on.  
 
I'm a Celeb is something that will never open at Fright Nights.  Staffing the Fright Nights mazes is tricky, adding in a non-scare attraction to the mix makes things harder.  There's also been a large worry that people will expect it to be 'Fright Night-afied' and be scary.  And no matter how hard you try to tell the masses 'We have loads of scary mazes around, but this isn't a scary maze, it's a family fun maze', the masses will not listen.  Which then leads to disappoint, etc.  There is the question about whether it closes too early, but all the actors / staff associated with it pretty much straight away focus on Fright Nights (set up, rehearsals, etc), so the manpower is put to use.
 
So effectively we have lost 2 rides for this Fright Nights (okay, you can argue 3 compared to last FN, but 2 rides compared to standard operating this season).  It simply isn't good enough.  But Rush is clearly down for essential maintenance and something outside of Thorpe's control (something which doesn't make a blind bit of difference to the average guest, granted, but something that enthusiasts should at least be understanding of), and Rumba is a mystery (the official word they're saying on their Twitter at the mo is that it's a "seasonal attraction this year", but if we're being realistic it's likely down to budget...but more on that later).
I understand where you're coming from at the moment as it can seem that way, but it really isn't.  I think maybe you're over-stating Rumba's place in the line up, as despite the general consensus here, Rumba is completely overshadowed by Storm Surge.  Not saying it doesn't have a place, but I think over the coming months, it won't be as missed by the public as you think.  That's not to say that that makes it a good decision or anything; simply saying it's not AS bad as you think it'll be.
Whilst true it did stay open until 10pm in the past, that did change to 'close at dusk', and in a time where Merlin are so over-zealous on H&S, it's not something I could have seen changing back.  But with Platform existing, it basically makes the argument null and void since Loggers would have closed when Platform opened.  
 
My point was more that the attraction line up hasn't reduced in number.  Loggers left, DBGT came.  So the line up hasn't been reduced.  And during Fright Nights, people are going to be more interested by Ghost Train than Loggers.  
 
 I haven't forgotten that at all - but you were the one who mentioned that FN days were going to be hell, so that's why the conversation is geared to FN.  Honestly, I think it's ludicrous that there hasn't been even a couple of quid knocked off ticket prices given that there's 2 rides which are closed which shouldn't be (3 if you include I'm a Celeb, but I won't since they've been upfront from the get-go this year it wouldn't be open in September).  They can dress it up all they like with 'closed for planned maintenance', 'this is a seasonal attraction', 'rides are subject to availability', but it's not good enough, and a small gesture like that would probably go a longer way than they think.
 
Certainly was only recently that they said they would close it early and actually did (I think it was only last season?), but they have said since about 2012 they'd close it early (just rarely followed through with it).  But in all honesty, following the Drayton incident and once again Merlin's current over-zealous H&S approach, I couldn't see them wanting to keep it open in the dark now.
 
Again though, I think you're making a bigger deal out of a rapids ride not being open.  During Fright Nights in particular, there will be very few people who go saying "The rapids ride is one I must do".  And there won't be a large number of people who stick it on their list to do anyway.  It will be a 'we'll do it if we get time' or a 'we'll do it after lunch' ride.  With it closed, the majority of people will just move on with their day (and probably gravitate towards Storm Surge).  Again, I'm not saying it isn't an issue - if a park has a ride to offer, they should offer it!  If they don't, it will cause disappointment, even if it's slight, to some guests, which is something they shouldn't do.  But I don't think it's as big an issue as people on here think.
One thing to note is that the "lifeguards" on Rumba aren't lifeguards; they are just normal rides hosts in certain positions.  Their job is to tell people to remain seat, sit back down if they do stand back up, and act as another set of eyes to keep track of guests in case of an incident (so that the ride can be e-stopped as quickly as possible).  They won't do 'lifeguard duties' of jumping in the water to save people if someone falls in; something which loads of people actually think they will do!
 
However, it is true that the staffing costs have risen considerably.  Following the Drayton incident, extra staff were dotted around the course and a second operator was introduced.  Storm Surge and Tidal Wave also received extra staff to watch guests in case they tried to jump out of the boats (something which was very common on Storm Surge in particular).  Slowly the staff numbers were reduced, by Rumba in particular still has many more staff than it was budgeted for at the start of season.
 
From what I've been made aware, because Thorpe were overspending so much on these extra staff for H&S, they did try to get the extra budget to fund it, but ultimately it was rejected.  Thus leaving Thorpe with the conundrum of whether to cut back to the original staffing levels (which staff and management didn't feel comfortable with), or continue overspending until money dried up.  Given the number of extra staff required over the season, it'd make sense that it's around now that they simply don't have the money.
 
So that would at least explain the situation Rumba is currently in.  Of course not excusable to your average guest who will be disappointed to see rumba closed, but at least in some way understandable that Thorpe tried and were doing things for the right reason.

Never a greater post on this forum.

-in relation to the dates for the Phantasialand trip-
 
Its better than nothing!!
 

Clearly missing the point when a fair few members on this exact forum are technically illegal in Dubai and surrounding areas due to the out-dated laws...
 
Accusing Mark of being a Daily Mail reader is stealth contender for Post of the Year...

I believe the main issue with new Intamin trains is that they're wider than Colossus' are currently. So for Thorpe to introduce new trains (which make a noticeable difference to the ride experience), they would need to make station alterations, lift hill alterations, new clearance testing, etc. On top of this, new style trains on track designed for old trains could significantly alter the ride experience in unpredictable ways, so it may not even make a difference.
 
In other words, new trains would cost a significant amount of money (we are talking literally millions, probably more than Thorpe have spent in the past 2 years combined). And there's a, albeit small, risk it may not make any difference. 
 
Of course, that doesn't mean there's not stuff Thorpe could do. They just have to think a bit outside the box to come up with an alternative way to improve the ride experience. But sadly, they won't put the energy into that.
 
Frankly, the best thing for Colossus would be to tear it down and build something new. But again, ain't never going to happen...

I mean, if they're going to insist on constantly referring to their park as "world class" on social media then it does need to be world class.

1) You have no idea what you’re talking about. Try only writing a sentence next time instead of a essay so it means I have to scroll less to avoid the utter garbage you write.
 
2) A 2020 coaster is not happening.
 
3) You are right about one thing, the social media manager is Jordan. But she’s far from a man. If you had a problem with your Apple product would you go straight to the CEO? No because there’s plenty of people under them that are doing all the work. Jordan wouldn’t be replying to every comment and putting up every post, that’s what a team is for.
 
4) Once again please stop these massive essays. It doesn’t make you look clever, it just makes you look like a moron when the fundamentals are wrong.

Hi All,
 
I'm a bit of an amateur photographer and took my camera with me on Tuesday (10/07/2018). Quite happy with some of the shots. Please note that I have personally taken the images and if you do wish to use them elsewhere then please ask my permission first, but just really wanted to share these! Hope you like them.