Mark9

Sorry Josh, my original post was going to be "Josh, you need to visit other parks" I then decided to do some explaining but didn't cut out the blunt bit But I think we are in agreement. It's the same at Towers with Towers Street now being ruined by all the upsellers. It should be the view you remember.

I say let them win their little war. I mean it is such a non issue in itself. Don't visit the park then. The world weeps.

Love it. Merlins marketing team have clearly learnt their lessons from Thirteen and are really being original with SW7.

I wouldn't normally be so blunt but what the hey. Go to more parks to see how entering a theme park should be. From the gravel car park, temporary mental fenced entrance area, bridge where you are bombarded by people trying to see you fastrack, refill capsules, photo passes, arcade game tickets and people trying to sell you a photo as you've just entered the place. It's no longer about that fantastic view of the rides. The bridge is perfect for a park that goes from one extreme to the other. The awful Storm Surge to a fantastic ride with The Swarm and now putting the bar as low as possible with the Crash Pad.

You can never beat that feeling when someones opinion matches your own. Parque Warner is awesome. Great rides, Great Atmosphere, Great Park.

I was expecting this personally:- That would be a great thing to go to the Cra$h P@d in.

Looks awful etc.

But Huntik is at Rainbow

Maybe Europa is getting Vengeance from London Dungeons...

What is your obsession with Vengeance Thorpe Park = ). It's a crummy ride at best which Thorpe can do much better then.

What would you like us to say about your post Will. What are you basing your thoughts on, where do you get the idea that the Runaway Train is saying buh bye and a major new ride is coming?

Universal truly going for the jugular then. Sometimes I wished I lived in Florida, you get the real benefit of all this rumours and investment. DIsney need to do something soon..

Your claws are clearly out this closed season Benin

Just wait till you discover Furius Baco or when you find out that only three rides open at opening time at PortAventura. Sure puts the Thorpe criticism into perspective

I adore this advertising. I was walking to work in Highbury this afternoon and the poster is just on a random street, it just caught my eye . I love how nothing is mentioned on the poster, just the face. I wish I didn't know what the poster was as I'd be going online to try and find any information about it. Alton Towers are playing a blinder.

Love this. There's a bridge in London that has an alleyway of smiler posters all along its side. Love the subtle advertising that Alton are doing for this.

Amazingly compact ride there, in fact I can't even imagine a four per row ride car getting through all that.

http://mark2262.wordpress.com/2013/01/13/coaster-battle-1/ The first in a series of rollercoaster battles. This time it's Raptor VS The Swarm. Please let me know what you think, feedback is required.

Good. Maybe then we can stop these "staff members told me something but I can't back up my sources because it may cost them their job" nonsense. Then we can go back to being actually surprised when the park does something and not have it spoilered months in advance.

I don't think there is a thing such as a 'Vanilla coaster.' Your example of Silver Star for example, when it opened in 2002 was the highest rollercoaster in Europe as well as the steepest drop. It has become vanilla since but even now it is the highest rollercoaster in Germany which means it retains its gimmick, its cookie dough Ben & Jerry element.

Rather a ride that looks like its falling apart like Vampire or Runaway Train.

It's more exciting then anything Thorpe or Alton can do because Chessington is always close to my heart and for it to get something natural like this just makes me happy. Giraffes are fantastic animals. I've seen criticism around that Rhinos, Giraffes and Flamingos aren't exciting. I just think that's ludicrous and I am very grateful that some of these fantastic animals are coming to Chessington again.

You're saying that based on what exactly? Besides knowing Benin like I know Benin as a ride enthusiast who appreciates big thrill rides to all rounder family attractions, he wouldn't think of their family coasters as unworthy of mentioning if he thought they were of decent quality.