Mark9

Yay for Theme Park Review supremacy! The Mitch Hawker poll results are out and it's not all bad. Expedition Ge Force has been voted the worlds top steel roller coaster (somehow), followed by lots of American and Chinese rides. But then what gets interesting is Shambhala is 6th beating the hotly tipped Skyrush, iSpeed is 8th and in joint 9th is Katun, Maverick and the excitingly named Mega-Lite in China. Then follows Nemesis at 12th. The first time it has been out of the top ten and beaten by a fellow Inverter, however with the American/Chinese supremacy that TPR has a liking to, for Nemesis to be that high is a good result. As for the other Uk/European rides of interest:- 13. Piraten 15. Blue Fire Megacoaster 31. Black Mamba 34. Oz'Iris 37. Dragon Khan (Major fall for Khan) 43. Superman de Acero 45. Monster 48. Speed Monster 53. Shock 58. X-Flight 68. The Swarm 76. Silver Star 78. Anubis: the ride 82. Winjas Fear 87. Wild Eagle 98. Winjas Force 111. Stealth 113. Raptor (At Gardaland) 114. Heize Faht 116. Furius Baco 118. Krake 119. Oblivion 123. Nemesis Inferno 124. Daemonen 127. Speed: No Limits 130. Air 132. Tornado (At Bakken) 143. Formule X 144. Big Thunder Mountain (Paris) 145. Dragons Fury 146. Divertical 148. Abismo 149. Euro Mir 157. Tarantula 170. G'Sengte Sau 173. Rita 179. Kanonen 185. Saw - The Ride (OUCH) 196. Colossus 200. Thirteen 202. Vampire 218. Ultimate 228. Salama 230. Steeplechase 235. The Big One 246. Sonic Spinball 253. Avalanche 278. Cobra 279. Shockwave 326. Caligostro 344. G-Force 359. X:/ No Way Out 360. Sequoia Adventure 365. Goudurix Poll results here:- http://www.ushsho.com/detailedsteelrollercoasterpollresults2012.htm So there we have it. According to the coaster world The Swarm is the second best B&M wing-rider, second best UK roller coaster and the best roller coaster at Thorpe Park. Not such a great showing for Merlins other coasters (Krake, Raptor, Saw the Ride and Thirteen) all being lower then expected. I've got a big congratulations to Dragons Fury though, for a Maurer spinner, 145 isn't something to be sniffed at, particularly when you look where the other spinners ended up in the poll. Farcical poll or absolute proof of quality.. you decide?

You can never have too many rides that the whole family can enjoy together. Thats for sure.

Oblivion looks so sexy.

Coaster Dude's original post was pointing out that the morons ruined the ride in 2005, not that John Wardley was a moron for designing Bubbleworks in 1989. Anyway, I really think it's time for Bubbleworks life to come to an end. The new one may be popular but it is the most unsatisfying rides on park and a dark shed would provide more entertainment. When replacing it however, I would not want to see a scary dark ride. They already have one of those with Tomb Blaster. The genius of Bubbleworks was how every member of the family can get something out of it, the idea of fun being the key objective.

Which it currently does and does well.

They've had five months to get The Swarm backwards and No Way Out ready for opening. Pretty dismal showing from all involved. Seems to me they'll either incredibly ill-prepared for 2013 or incredibly optimistic. Guess we shall find out in 12 days...

I think we should always relive this video. Lesson one on how to look utterly bored on a roller coaster..

Full Throttle at Six Flags Magic Mountain. Americans and their bigger is better philosophy..

I guess I can say it now that it's a decade ago.. One of my main frustrations of visiting Thorpe Park in 2013 as opposed to 2003 is just how far the park has fallen. Attendence may be ultimately higher but the enjoyment at the park has fallen so far for me. I used to enjoy the park on a huge scale and now I go solely to see people I know. So where do I start I guess. Lost City -Vortex. This ride used to be so much better. I suppose Rush has had a big part to play here. Nonetheless from Vortex's soundtrack, its striking pink restraints, its length of ride. All of it has gone in favour of a dull ride which features Nicky Minaj pounding an alarm as you get one full swing at best, a queue line that is literally falling apart and a dull looking ride. Gone are the days of efficiency on this ride. -Zodiac. The old Zodiac was a wreck but at its least it suited purpose. It was a beautiful ride to look at when it ran. Now a days we have Draytons old cast off in its dull white structure. The music hardly fits the ride either. Just rubbish. - Quantum. Long gone are the days when this actually looked like a carpet and had a bark just as good as its bite. Nowadays you can occasionally get a good ride with a fitting soundtrack if the staff can be bothered to use it. It's a shame that it looks like a clark shoebox now because back in 2003 it could be a contender for one of the best rides on park. - Colossus. Surprisingly, I don't think too bad of this ride even if it looks older then it actually is. Calypso Quay - Nemesis Inferno. Could be a lot worse, but I do wish some of the things that made Inferno that little bit better were still around. The tunnel mist effects in particular and the launch music which I haven't heard for years. Without those features its just another B&M inverter - Rumba, This ride just needs destroying. I can find very little justification for its existence. The only positive is that you can always find it without a queue. Amity Cove - Tidal Wave. How they turned one of the best rides this country will ever see into the disgrace that it has now become I will never know. People may argue that it still works sufficiently but it speaks volumes when the KFC looks better then Tidal Wave does. From the cannery slowly falling apart, too none of the effects around the ride working it shouts laziness from every direction. The most frustrating thing is knowing that the park want these things fixed but have neither the funds or resources to make this happen. So just a few things from the old days that I wish we could go back to

I'll be there Peaj! Love a bit of Thorpe Park with the cool TPM crew

So my mum got another cat. Not been given a name yet but he is a Siamese with a growl louder then any of my mums other cats. Frosty, the second youngest cat wasn't bothered having just killed a piegon and somehow bought into the house.

Don't go putting it into peoples head that its the mods and admins Ricky..

I swear Air used to be. Back in 2004/2005 or so, in fact I know it is because the first time I went to Towers with my AP, I rode Air and Nemesis because of it. That list looks a little bare compared to what it used to be. There's no Duel either. I can see the logic of keeping Oblivion and X Sector of the list as the majority will just wait for The Smiler.

Queue boards, water-vac, newts, water etc. Sea Dragons is the daddy of all rides.

I don't think he tried at all...

Not the best wing rider train design we've had..

Ha sorry, I did sort of mumble good morning quietly, but I was caught out and went into sky mode. Had a feeling I knew who you were.

http://www.coastersandmore.de/rides/achterbahnneuheiten2012/achterbahnneuheiten2012.shtml 2014 B&M coaster, seems almost inevitable now. The rumours are very strong for a wing rider themed around Transylvania, next to the Bobsleigh coaster and a similar size to Raptor at Gardaland.

Went Towers yesterday, my patience paid off as the park was as close to empty as I'll possibly see it this season. My main thoughts below:- The work done on Duel and Hex is pretty awesome considering the limited budgets. Inanimate objects before in Duel, now make noises or scream and the work done in Hex such as the new projector, lighting effects, smoke effects and the addition of the witches curse in the ride scene really help sell the ride. I've come to the conclusion that you should only ever ride Hex with family groups as everyone just really gets into it. Adult groups just try and pick it apart but not the kids and parents. It's the closest thing we will ever get to Disney/Universal standard. Fantastic ride. Had several back row goes on Nemesis. The day I get bored of riding it, is the day I want to be euthanised. it's simply rollercoaster crack and is just sublime in everyway. Air was even riding well, maybe slower due to the cold weather but was lovely to ride. I have to give kudos to the Towers for both rides being on two trains all day even though the queue was walk on for both rides. Even Sonic Spinball and Squirrel Nutty had a five minute queue when we had our first goes on those. Went round the farm to chill out for a bit, had food at Woodcutters where they deliver your food so quickly, you are lucky if you have paid for your meal before it gets to your table. It's tasty food as well and affordably priced. Tried Ice Age 4D for the first time. Won't be doing that in much of a hurry again. Day was finished off with a coffee and muffin at the coffee place on Towers Street. SO in conclusion, had a great day at Towers. The right balance of rides are available to ride and yeah, it was just great to be back.

Union J, ay.I'd be amazed if anyone remembers who they are now, let alone in July.

What amazed by is just how much track there is left to put in place. Really hammers home that this is a very long roller coaster for the UK.

Which friend would you like to own in exchange

I'd sell my friends for the 1998 Chessington map. I used to spend hours of the day just looking at it and remembering my day to the park. I've no idea what happened to it. Same with my 2001 Thorpe map.

Oh my that takes me back.

Just checked the website for how they are advertising it and it's quite clear that its the Zoo with Bubbleworks and Hocus Pocus Hall. Bucaneer, Skyway and Carousel seem to be an added on bonus. I thought it was something to do with Zufari but as it states on the website quite boldly, it is due to open on the 20th March. I thought today wouldn't be full due to some snow and the colder weather but it is yet again closed for the day. It's quite something to see this level of interest for a Zoo day. I don't think its ever been like this before.