Mark9

Paultons has so much more character then Legoland, such an under-rated park. The very thought of visiting Legoland sends shivers down my spine.

It would be nice for Chessington to just add anything to be honest. Years and years of next to nothing ride investment. I'm surprised Chessington is doing as well as it is sometimes.

Went with a few from here on Thursday. Another great trip to the park. I arrived around 2:30 and the park was very dead. Walk on rides at night is the way Mark likes it. All rides were on close to max capacity (Tidal Wave was not but it was unnecessary).More importantly.. the mazes.Hellgate was a bit dull this time round. Not enough actors and to dark really. The Curse was impressive with the actors making good use of the layout to scare us. Seven was okay but I always feel so dead to it because of the white tent look. Not even the fake camouflage was on it this year.Assylum is definitly the best as a maze. It's awful in there with the strobes, the mirrors and the endless corridors. The Terror Zone would be better if it wasn't for the fact it's essentially Miss Hippos Fungle Safari and Thorpe Farm signage plastered everywhere. They aren't scary or eerie and just not run down enough to be effective. The old Zodiac pod looked excellent.. particularly with graffiti clearly etched onto it from the days when classic Zodiac ran in 2005. The Flying Fish figure was also very effective. The actors did well with the environment. I think in a few years Terror Zone will be very very good. For now it's a bit to 'cute'

Nice discussion skills.

Well it doesn't...

You bought up the record in your very first post in this topic...

Hmm... Well firstly Vampire and Nemesis don't hold any records so the comparison doesn't hold water I'm afraid. So instead we're sayign No Way Out IS as important to Thorpe as rides like Colossus or Th13teen/Air to Alton Towers. I'd say No.Secondly, if we're going to use positions at parks then we can. Vampire is Chessington's joint most important ride with Fury. It has seen numerous improvements and rehabs over the last twenty years. It's a main ride at Chessington still.Nemesis is consistently seen by many people as the best rollercoaster in the country. It's a huge structure and whilst Air is the main attraction in Forbidden Valley, the first ride you see (or hear) as you walk into the area is Nemesis.No Way Out in comparison has had it's main appeal over-taken by Colossus, Saw the Ride, Stealth, Nemesis Inferno, Vortex, Rush, Slammer, Tidal Wave, Detonator, Samurai and soon the new 2011 ride. I'd argue it has no purpose because all of Thorpe's other coasters are 1.4 metre height restrictions whilst No Way Out is a family rollercoaster with an adult height restriction. It has had no real refurbishments over the last 14 years, has been left to rot ever since Thorpe become a real main park in the country. The icing on the cake is No Way Outs backwards in the dark thing being made completely redundant by having the lights on this year.So yeah, I'd say it doesn't matter.

I didn't say that, what I'm implying is that No Way Out doesn't actually matter at Thorpe anymore to be honest. It's record doesn't mean anything to anyone really.

Why not. They're basically blocking it from view completely with the new ride...

Thats not exactly true when in my experience, with fastrack running, they will get one train and the main queue gets the other. So to conclude, no matter when you visit Thorpe, there will be a point where you you may have to queue for something.

Exactly. Besides, someones number one park is very subjective. For instance, mine is Chessington for very personal reasons. Doesn't mean Thorpe and Alton are any worse because of it.

1. Peeking. There's a difference between seeing empty pods going round and only seeing one train.2. Silverstar. I'm not saying it isn't different, I'm saying Thorpe aren't the only park that run on lower capacities.Sweet Jesus...

Just because a ride is a travelling funfair ride, how is it not a professional and sophisticated ride?

I didn't say that at all. What I actually said is that other parks do run their rides on a lower capacity, Europa Park being an example. If you want to be good at making adequate discussions don't change peoples meanings, no way did I say that Europa Park running Silverstar on lower capacity, gives Thorpe the excuse to do that as well. I queuds half an hour, I enjoyed the ride even though I know it can run with another train, I didn't whine and moan about it, I just enjoyed it. Who said it's a good thing? People have given reasons as to why they think Thorpe are doing this, but no one has said they enjoy the rides on one train operation.I think it's a shame that instead of people just discussing amount of trains on things, people have turned to needlessly insulting each other. I also feel that this discussion is just another chance to stick the boot into Thorpe.Hundreds of parks, the world over, do exactly the same thing as Thorpe do in the quiet period and for some reason that isn't good enough for members. Whether I like it or not is besides the point.

Very interesting debate. I'll put it to you a few things. People seem very hung up on people not able to waltz onto rides willy nilly whilst the staff struggle to fill seats. To be honest, I don't actually think 20 minutes is to much when you are talking about a parks main rides. With the gate figures as low as they are, the park wouldn't see it as financially viable to run all three of its major coasters on two trains. People have been using Alton Towers as an example, but that really is the exception when it comes to empty parks. I mean, even Europa Park only had two trains on Silverstar during my visit, and it had a half an hour queue.I can completely understand why they'd use the quiet period to have trains off, as Rich said they are probably doing some maintenance on them. Cause afterall, the parks about to go into its busiest period of the year and it wouldn't want to have problems with trains when there are so many more people ready and waiting to moan...

Oakwood run one car out of four on Speed.Just sayin'

The X factor drinking game.Have a shot every time one of the following phrases is mentioned:-1. "I just don't want it to end"2. "This means the world to me"3. "I've waited my whole life for this moment"4. "Singing is all I've ever wanted to do"5. "I don't want to go back to the call centre/ my office job/ etc"

I remember the one where ithe mazes were open for an hour but due to over the top security checks, most people didn't even get to the mazes in time..

Leave then.

1. Homosexuality is not a part of everyday life.2. People are gay. People are straight. It's not that simple. What about bisexuals, transgenders, bi-curious?3. People don't like a lot of things, doesn't mean that those issues will be taken to such a huge scale. Yes it does. You are either incredibly narrow minded or extremely ignorant and clearly have no idea how offensive your comments actually are.Anyway, kind of relevant to the discussion going on, this kind of positive survey results show that maybe people making groups and making the gay voice known is having a positive response, despite JoshC's hating...

You go to a doctor to help relieve the pain of IBS. You can't go to the Doctor and get drugs to help with homosexuality. The comparison with IBS is absolutely absurd Will. Would you prefer all us gayers to be quiet then Josh? We'll stop making our lives an issue and get back to the really important stuff like drugs and alcoholism..Or how about we will stop making making clubs, help groups when society becomes even more accepting, or when people don't call it a "gay issue" anymore.

Some people are very lucky. I have never had this big coming out thing, I'd rather just be myself and if people ask I just answer truthfully. With that though, it's only if I absolutely trust them and know that it won't effect our friendship. For instance, it happened with work colleagues a few weeks back and one of the comments that meant the most was "I saw you were in a relationship on facebook but that doesn't change how I see you." So I've certainly been very lucky in life not to have to need a group or other gays support.But I am a minority. My ex boyfriend still goes through very deep depression over his sexuality and if you're questioning your sexuality in school you do need all the help you can get. Small groups in a college or university will far more personal and may let someone open up more.About the religion thing, you see, things do need to change when it comes to how religions view homosexuality, why shouldn't they? Society has majorly changed. I say that with a slight wareyness though as to be honest many religious people aren't actually that biggoted and don't see homosexuality as an issue.*Mark listens to 'Any Which way'

Yes. If you have any idea what it is like to be a minority, then a group where you can meet up with like minded people and talk about experiences, can only help people. Being of a certain ethnicity is not the same as sexuality. You don't have to come out if you are from a certain religion or race but gays do. There is a difference. The minority only do it you are absolutely right. But a lot of people are not accepting, even people who say they love gay people still come out with "I don't mind gay people, as long as they don't show it in front of me." So that means holding hands or a simple kiss on the cheek/lips then. I'm afraid I disagree again. It's very easy to stand from a distance and say that the world doesn't need gay socieites and it's a non issue but it is. People are bullied for it, even murdered for it. Gays are called a virus, un-natural by religious groups. Homosexuality is illegal in countires, even parts of the civilised world have it banned in certain states. We live in one of the leading cities in the world and yet people are killed or seriously injured in our very capital. It's about acceptance and the first step towards that is to be understanding of ourselves. You, as a straight person don't have to go to your mum and dad, your family, your friends and say to them "I'm straight." Every gay man and woman at some point has to come to terms with that and maybe socities like these at colleges can help people who are scared of the future.

Now now Benin