Mark9

Why sleep in Colosseo when you could be cramped into a Sleepbox next to Surrey's finest renamed town. I know which I'd rather choose.

Thorpe Staff can also try out the new old bar and have a good time in the Snooze bedroom with the finest Thorpe luxuries. So critical Benin.

Whats the problem with them having a preview? We had a preview of the Chessington hotel in 2007.

Ridiculous decision if true. Wild Mouse is a bona fide classic, part of the rich tapestry of the Pleasure Beach. What precedent would this start if Wild Mouse got removed. Would Wind Machines be removed by a Star Flyer, would an Rita clone be thrown at the space that Grand National currently sits in. Really hope this rumour is untrue.

Undercover "I'm at uni" post if I ever did see one.

You know when you are playing RCT2 and you put a no entry sign at the exit so no one can leave.. Yeah that.

The days when the ride ran properly.. and with better safety announcements. Ah Vortex, why did Thorpe ruin you so.

Ooh, go you sister

It would never be able to be run on full power. Thats the point being consistently made.

There is no doubt that in terms of theming, attendance and atmosphere, Disney rules the roost in every corner of the world. From the magnificence of Cars Land, the beauty of Expedition Everest and the sheer escapism of Tokyo Disney Sea, it's clear that Disney is the king. But do you know what. Travel into Europe and we hold our very own treasure, one that has riches all of its own. From the throughput behemoth that is Europa Park, to the park with two of the best steel rollercoasters in the world at Miribilandia. We've got parks with the strangest names like Plopsaland and Tripsdrill, to parks that are so beautiful that despite the lack of rides are unmatched in Europe. That is why for 2013, try and edge away from the Merlin machine. We get so caught up in low throughput attractions, fastrack dominating our queue lines, the loss of magic, budget cuts and short, reduced hours that we start to forget what going to theme parks is all about. That first time visit where around every corner is an attraction you never knew existed. Where discovering new rides and new experiences is the name of the game, where getting on as many rides as you can is not what dominates your day. Even if isn't globe trotting to Bobbejaanland and instead popping to Oakwood, Blackpool, Flamingoland or even Lightwater Valley, making the attempt to visit a brand new park is so much more enriching and fulfilling then just going to Thorpe Park, Chessington and Alton Towers again. Trust me when I say, it is worth any cost, any time commited towards the trip.

Just a shout out to the bloggers, you've done some excellent blogs so far guys. One thing I love about them is the variety of opinions and view-points. It's been an absolute pleasure to read.

Love it, Love it, Love it. This is the beauty of being a coaster enthusiast as you put it. We're all so different and little things make us tick. The joy and love you hold for Antelope is the same that I hold for rides like the Runaway Train and Safari Skyway at Chessington. You've put it so eloquently, awesome blog Josh. =)

I agree with what you are saying, however I wish there was a little bit more to the blog.

People who are happy to bitch about others but aren't able to accept tounge in cheek comments. Also, 2 faced people.

TOP SPIN!

Ah, this feels like old times.

B&M supremacy, with a bit of Gerstlauer on the side.

THOSE DARN INTAMINS AGAIN I love the end of season Thorpe unravel actually. Without fail each season.

Olympic Orbit clone?

People seem convinced they need a new top scan. But why would the park invest in something that will run into exactly the same problems. This isn't like Zodiac where Thorpe bought a thirty year old knackered enterprise and tried to make it work, this is a relatively newer ride which was pushed far beyond what it should have been and now Thorpe have paid the price. Like Slammer, its astounding and worth complimenting to the park for consistently trying to get the two rides working at all costs. But how far will they take it before enough is enough.

I think my problem with Saw is down to the idea that it's trying to be an immersive experience and fails. It's nothing to do with the inside piece of the ride, to give Saw full credit, the use of darkness and the small drop is one of Thorpe Parks best roller coaster experiences. It never gets tiresome and always takes me by surprise. It's as soon as the ride goes outside that nothing works for me. The first drop is blase, the inversion boring, the turn around bordering on tiresome, the air time hill has a rattle to it that its brothers don't share, the turn around into the mcbr is randomly jolty. The final inversion is very forceful but it doesn't save the ride for me in the slightest. I think we compare to other euro fighters because the concept has legs, far more then many other types of coasters. You can have them utterly themeless like Speed and Rage or they can be epically themed stories like Fluch or Mystery Mine. The fact that Saw is not amazingly themed or badly themed put its between the others and means comparisons come quickly.

Samurai is the fairground version. Bring in one fresh from a funfair and it will run into the same problems. The machinery just isn't up to being in operation constantly.

Good point. But I'm not convinced that putting a charge on it will reduce the queues for it, considering a trip to Thorpe during Fright Nights turns into a "pay for fastrack or only do two things all night" scenario, essentially pay per attraction anyway. Thing is, I'm not a scare maze expert, I'm not paid to come up with new concepts for Thorpe and Alton to use. Experiment 10 was a step in the right direction, despite turning into actors running at you towards the end. But to me Thorpe are not addressing the issues of capacity with the mazes at Fright Nights.

Thats it really. We've lost Bear Hunt, we've lost Samurai, we've potentially lost Slammer for the whole event and we've lost a free maze for a lower throughput, up charge attraction all the while the park cuts the hours and will probably rise the prices for its fastrack offering and entry fee. Screw em.