Mark9

With the Chessington one, you could just post a report from the last eight years. The park seems to be time-travelling backwards so to carry on the theme, trip reports should to.

Absolutely spot on the money Sheepie. I agree with every point you've made about Animal Kingdom actually. It is the only park after Magic Kingdom that we wanted to spend another full day at, testament to the power of its attractions andf its beautiful surroundings. Thinking about it, Everest was my favourite rollercoaster at the Disney parks and Dinosaur was by far my favourite dark ride. I have preferences for the Jammin' Jungle parade just because I was in it, but even so, everything you say is true.It's the park I look forward to the most when going back this year. Even though what you say about Dinosaurland USa and Camp Minnie Mickey is true, I didn't take the offence to it that others did. In a park that has some quite serious, true to life themes such as Africa and Asia, the park to me benefits from light hearted areas. I prefer well themed, thoughtful areas but if this is the next best thing, then I am not as bothered.As for Everest. Not a truer word said and I agree with you about the idea that the average British civillian wouldn't have the patience for an hour queue even if the queue is as beautiful and scenic as Everest is. I wanted to queue the whole thing, to take in the surroundings and appreciate escapism as its absolute pinnacle.

It's weird how when you have no money, you squander it on food, dvd and useless things and yet when you have quite a bit of money, you become all stingy and will only spend on things if you absolutely have to. Crazy world we live in.

So after 23 years, I've finally watched the Back to the Future trilogy properly. I loved every single part of them. When I was younger, I remember watching the end of Back to the Future: Part 3 because I liked the train crash. But seeing the three films consecutively really showed how clever, concise and constructed the scripts are. Time travel stories generally fall apart if the conviction in the writing isn't there. Whilst there are a million plot flaws in the three films, they are so well hidden by the acting throughout that it's all hardly noticeable.My particular favourite part of the three is Part two with the interaction from the first film. You'd imagine the two to have been filmed at the same time, but no, four years seperates them. So yeah, really enjoyed the screentime.Next was Disneys 2005 film, Home on the Range. Whilst nothing is particularly wrong with it, it really lacks the Disney sparkle. The whole way though, I could see exactly where the film was going to go next. Even Judi Dench couldn't save the film.And finally, the 2005 film version of Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy. I had seen it before and didn't think much of it. My opinion of it has slightly risen but I find it's disjointed plot and lack of structure quite off-putting.

Comparisons are a part of life unfortunately, the bold and brave claim that Alton's entertainment is up there with Europe is at best laughable. They do a good firework show and some decent mazes but for all year round entertainment. They suck/ don't do enough.

Alton Towers couldn't hold a candle to the things European parks do right now.

I agree with this to a point. Certainly Gerstlauer have made some fantastic rides such as G'Sengte Sau and Speed. I must admit a lot of "oh it's Gerstlauer" comes from the fact that it isn't B&M or Intamin more then Gerstlauer's reputation because Gerstlauers reputation is very positive. Basing it all on Saw is mismatched because A) It's at Thorpe and You can never judge an entire company on one ride.I must admit though, at this point I'm not extremely excited but that's because we've got Swarm, Voodan, European Montu to go before we reach 2013.

Good of them to put it next to Oblivion then.

Just a few to add to the listShock is wonderful. Everyone judges the X Car on the awful G Force at Drayton Manor, but the other three types I've ridden have been wonderful rides. Shock is full of intensity, speed and THAT CORNER. Brilliant ride.Manta is just beautiful and scenic. Intense, fun and glidey. Love it.The best B&M inverter in the world. Anyone that hates those long drawn out 'American' rides, needs to try this out. Won't be disappointed.

You're all very lucky people.

Hmmm interesting...I have to say whilst it seems basically confirmed as a Gertslauer, I'd have like to have seen Intamin do this ride. Just for variety, the UK already has Rage, Saw and Speed whereas a multi looping, interactive Intamin is only at Thorpe.But thats just a passing thought, very long lay-out there, nice use of elements to such as what looks like a Norweigan loop. Interesting location next to Oblivion. I wonder..

Would a roof cost that much though, compared to a plane or a helicopter or a fire engine? I can just imagine the staff having to continue working in heavy rain in that station.. and the guests for that matter.I'm actually more concerned about the atmosphere that may be lacking without a roof. I know it's only a cover but you can create a lot of atmosphere with shadows and lighting. With the station fully open with the sky, it might lack that something compared to say Saw which benefits a lot from being in a dark room.

Chessington is the answer.Why you should go to a different park because Merlin have decided that people only visit in target audiences is a different question.

Even your example Poseidon isn't fully themed, it's main rollercoaster sections are completely devoid of theming and the splash pool sections are just a boat sailing around a trough. it's aesthetically beautiful, but it isn't themed the whole round exactly.Let's be fair to Swarm here, Nemesis's theming is its station, a mushroom cloud bus and a big gun. It's landscaped well, but that isn't theming.

Not many will disagree with you Bubbles. There is no way that Swarm will be as intense, thrilling or as exhilirating as Nemesis but then, Swarm isn't designed to be. I reckon it will ride far more smoothly (like Raptor) with long, drawn out patches of air time and hang time. Crucially, Swarm's theming already looks more substansial and extensive then Nemesis.We shall see though in two months time.

I know it gets said time and time again but this is shaping up to be the best themed rollercoaster this country has ever seen. The zero-g roll near miss at the end of the ride looks so solid compared to Raptors fiddly metal trap thing for example. There are a lot of little touches to this ride.

Whenever she starts free-styling as she sings 'Price Tag', I always feel this urge to shoot her with an elephant tranquilizer. Filled with Arsenic.

I think I just let out my critical elements on Saw but I take your point. This suspension of disbelief has come up between us two before with Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.I find that rather mythical actually. The way to suspension of disbelief is how much do the park (or the film for that matter) want to convince me that this is the real deal. The gunshot works (although having been in a breakdown with the thing going off ever few minutes, its definitly lost the effect it once had) as does the first drop in the dark. But everything else 'feels' half arsed. From the traps hidden away to the video screen.I could write a novel on Tomb Blaster Adam. Lets just say it gets away with murder because its aiming far lower with its ambitions and I remember it back in the day as 5th Dimension and Terror/Forbidden Tomb. Kids won't see through the faults in the same way that with a 1.4 metre ride, the stakes are so much higher. And so much greater.

To finish off 2011, I've just written a little piece on Saw the ride.http://mark2262.wordpress.com/2011/12/30/saw-the-ride/Let me know what you think.

ARGH, SHED!

It's just so much more accessible. All the factors that help Rush such as location, ease of loading, fun and thrilling work completely against Slammer.

Not a bad guess from me though babe

Used to love that purple Thorpe Park logo.I remember that day well. I was in a Geography AS exam and all I could think about was how I wasn't at Rush's first day. May 27th wasn't it?

Really?! Would never have guessed.