Mark9

I've added Disneyland Paris (with the Studios park) for four nights at the beginning of September and PortAventura at the end of September for two days. This was supposed to be a quiet year.

Later openings just aren't viable for the majority of the time at our parks. The problem is that there is no reason to stay, it's not like you get a special closing show or a firework stay or a visual spectacular to be anticipating. The ride teams just close the gates and thats it, get out. Staffing is an issue that can be solved quite easily if the park wanted to do it. The only issue is ride operating but if they were prepared for this (ie year round opening for example) then that wouldn't be as much of an issue.

X photos were priceless.

Merlin are closer to Disney then first thought.

Awesome. Love Towers Nerd. I'll pull out the stops to attend this meet =)

Sorry Peaj, I'm not able to make it anymore. Work had to swop shifts due to holiday. Have a great time anyway guys.

You can't have the feeling of Chessington letting you down then, if you deep down knew it wouldn't be removed.

A bit rich considering you said this:- about Slammer last month.

I don't think it's that bad. Sure its not as magical or dreamy as the old end of day music. But then again, that music never suited Thorpe in the first place. This is presumably more direct.

I reckon if Europa Park had to check the restraints on all its rides, it would still whack out those trains at a fair old speed. They certainly are capable on Blue Fire with its four/five trains. I noticed that problem at Thorpe as well last month.

Because they are an awful, awful company and we deserve better. Like Six Flags.

The park deliberately cannibalised the third train. I believe one of the reasons given was that it put to much strain on the staff. 25 second loading time was an incredibly challenging environment but it was one the staff seemed to thrive in before the 2009 season. You also reduce costs on bringing in parts for the other two trains if you just use parts from the third train.

Trust me to find fault?!

I quite like the idea that the entire food industry is out to get every last penny via best before/use by dates. Thats a whole film franchise in itself.

It's serious enough for companies to be fined £2000 per item found out of date. I've often seen some items actually go off before the use by date on the packaging, particularly fruit and veg and fresh meat.

A man after my own heart.

You mean the boards that tell you Charlie and the Chocolate Factors queue time of 5 minutes on every single screen but rarely ever mention Oblivion or Rita? The board where Squirrel Nutty has prominence whereas rides like the Rapids and RMT are virtually never seen. The accuracy of these boards is always under question anyway. It's very hard to be dead accurate for rides as it is when you think of the continually changing factors.

See again, if Thorpe was to get one, it would be tamed down rubbish, painted in one colour and heaped with downtime. Alton already had a similar ride (the Mondial supernova) and it was an expensive ride to run, was tearing itself apart and was eventually tamed down beyond recognition. Once it blew up its gear box, that was it. No one is saying fun fair rides aren't excellent. But theme parks can do better then just buying funfair rides and making them dull and boring.

My store begs to differ.

Whatever it is you can guarantee it will have black track.

Is that a serious comment? I truly hope it isn't.

Funnily enough its a majorly convenient time for a lot of other people and their school friends. Either invest in fastrack or plan your day to the letter.

Frankly, your trip report wasn't long enough James, I spread it out over three posts. It's only in hindsight that I realise how much I actually liked PortAventura, particularly Temple de Fuga, Shambhala, Stampida and Dragon Khan as much as I did. Although Theme Park Review are definitely targeting Shambhala this year as a ride that will fall from grace, I maintain that it is a fantastically fun ride and easily beats Expedition Ge Force and Silver Star in just being a pleasurable ride. It is so much fun to ride and deserves its place as one of Europe's finest B&M's.

Fanta orange Brer Bear or Brer Fox?

It is possible yeah. Between final construction and opening for Shambhala was just under a month. They can easily do this on The Smiler as long as there is no more delays.