Mark9

But the hotel is an investment for the future just as much as any ride or attraction is. I see your point and I agree full-heartedly with it. Thorpe comes out of its investment over the last eight years fantastically. Who would have thought at the start of the decade there would be 4 new rollercoasters, 8 Flat rides, a water ride and several touch ups and rethemes. We could discuss how worthless it is without an "atmosphere" but the fact is the investment has been there.Alton on the other hand is in second place, again with three new rollercoasters, 3 major rethemes, a dark ride and a flat ride. To counter that however has been the removal of Dynamo, Boneshaker and The Black Hole which had been at the park for some time and not really replaced by anything. On the other hand the resort is starting to take shape with Cariba Creek and the Golf as well as Mutiny Bay which looks to be the best themed attraction since Hex in 2000.Then theres Chessington. It really has taken the brunt of the other two parks invesment with one new rollercoaster, a major retheme which totally trashed Bubbleworks, theming destroyed on Dragon Falls, the continuing decay of Runaway Train, Safari Skyway and Rattlesnake, the removal of Samurai and Rodeo leaving teenagers in the family with very little to do and a poor attempt at injecting life into Vampire. The only real success has been the resurgance of the Zoo and Dragons Fury. To be honest the park that needs something right now is Chessington.

I think one of the main things people need to remember when comparing with ATA is:-1. ATA Has been around for eight years. It has a lot of pictures from the past and such. Because Thorpe is only really properly developed in the last few years its hard for us to have features such as that.2. Dan Ketteringham (and some of the team I believe) are very close with James Paulding the general manager (is that right.. meh close enough) so aare able to get close enough behind the scenes information and first hand info such as the Mutiny Bay retheme.3. The designer behind ATA works professionally around website designs. As far as I'm aware Phil doesn't. The website needs to evolve constantly to make sure it doesn't get outdated. That is what has happened with TPM and the rise in hits and popularity with visitors shows that whilst you may dislike what it is at the moment, it has become more well known than it has before.4. TPM whilst finished has a long way to go obviously. All the team knows this so hopefully over the next few months the fruits will start to bare so to speak. It has to be remembered that we don't spend all our lives doing this website. Marc works, Phill and Alex go to College. 5. I'm a wee bit confused about this over the top thing though.Thanks for the comments though guys.

Yup, was a good day today, made my alton trip report yesterday a bit in-valid to... Inferno was on top form today, its no Nemesis obviously but Inferno beats it in the front row Colossus hurt, Vortex had phones flying everywhere, Quantum managed to thrill again.. and yeah the usualInferno X8 Colossus X2Stealth X3Vortex X3Quantum X2Depth Charge X1Storm X1Slammer X1

STOP PRESS!!!! MARC ADMITS: THORPE ISN'T PERFECT!Marc | says:I dont because at thorpe its not a great dealMarc | says:its the watersMarc | says:and its to wetMarc | says:and few flatsMarc | says:which to be fairMarc | says:could be shut on any thorpe visit:PMarc | says:there a insult:-O

You know your a fanboy when you know a ride is re-opening by the sounds it makes.(Spinball Whizzer today for me )

You know you're a fanboy when.... you ask Rush engineers is it going to be open despite the fact you can see the other swings gondola standing by the exit detatched from the ride, so you are pretending to be mocking a member of the public when in fact you just look silly..

I love how Seb tries to sound all technical in his posts when talking about rides. Pure Gold!

How to compared Thorpe and Alton.A guide to which is the better theme park Thorpe's line up = 9 rides (on the 16th February)Stealth [1 train]Colossus [1 trainNemesis Inferno [1 train]VortexZodiacQuantumX:\ No Way Out [2 trains]Banana RideStorm in a TeacupAlton's line up = 12 rides (on the 23rd February)Nemesis [2 trains]Oblivion [5 Shuttles]Air [2 trains]Spinball Whizzer [5 cars]BladeDuelHexFarm land thing [squirrel Nutty, Doodle Doo Derby, River-bank eye Spy, Berry Bish-Bash, The Tractors]Now on paper there's not much between them. Thorpe has its major rides gunning for it whilst Alton has a bit of varitey in its preceedings. Now when it comes to prices Alton is currently £15 whilst Thorpe is enticing its guests with a £22 entry. So again it looks quite level but then if you take it further it really does feel as if Thorpe is sagging desperately.[I'm going to ignore walk on Stealth today because thats irrelevant. It wasn't walk on last Saturday]Alton let guests into its park at 9:45... Thorpe decided to finally open its doors at 10:15. Difference of half an hour. Guests at Alton are treated to EVERY SINGLE RIDE opening on time. Thorpe's clientele were met with a few rides opening late. Thorpe's ride were on half capacity, Alton's rides were prepared and had maximum capacity on Nemesis, over 3/5 capacity on Spinball and Oblivion and Air at 2/3 capacity.I'm happy to accept all the rubbish that it was Thorpe's first day and all that baloney but then think about this. Alton closed a week after Thorpe (It had an adrenaline week) and opened a week earlier then Thorpe due to half term starting earlier up North. So why are Alton's rides working and ready to go whilst Thorpe is yet again caught with its pants down. So to conclude this fascinating analysis of why Alton is the UK's number one theme park:-1) It has reliable working rides2) Alton offers better value for money and a more diverse range of attractions.3) Alton runs things on as near to capacity as it possibly can.4) Nemesis. A reason enough.Thanks for reading

It is fresh. Its a design that works. Of course if it isn't Thorpe it deserves criticism..I like the site, a lot more info on the Zoo. Boris

Just a few of mine.

OMG Phill we must have come with that joke at the exact same time.. I've just made the same one over on SP. We must be psychologically connected or something..

Now thats more like it. I particularly like the larger focus on the Zoo, specific information on things such as the sealion's in Sealion bay and the Trail of the kings.

Haha yea of course. Favourite ride:- Do the arcades count?

Silly Chaz! Now Marc has a car he will be there every Saturday and Sunday until November.

Nobody knows where it came from, Nobody knows what it wantsThere are theories and then there is the legendNemesis came from another dimension, a dimension beyond our imaginationIts tragedy is that it has no home, it has suffered rejection throughout the solar system.It could not communicate or make itself understood, no civilisation anywhere, in any galaxy could come to terms with its awesome power, its brooding unpredictability. Its Mind.Bewildered and afraid, mentally tortured by not knowing its origins, people turned against it, they fought it. They used everything against it.But Nemesis has no fear.They were mere irritants to Nemesis, to be swatted away like flies.It left to seek sanctuary but it searched in vein. Unwanted, it was jetisoned towards earth two million years ago. It has remained here since drawing its energy from the earths core. For centuries people were drawn to the mysterious place where it was thought to lay buried.They paid homage to the power, they bought gifts.They gave their souls.Its resting place become a mystical place, a place of worship. few pilgrims returned to lead a normal life.Such was their disturbance, such was the gravity of what they felt. Often these Meddlers met mysterious ends. Crazed by their findings, driven mad by the force.Some simply disapeared leaving only their fears.Nemesis was to disturbing, it defied Scientific explanation. It was left to brood in peace.Unexplained, its existance denied. Sanctuary at last... Until todayNemesis was discovered during routine maintenace work in the Forbidden valley at Alton Towers. A group of workmen complained of dizzy spells, of an uncontrollable force drawing them to the place where the shadows of two giant oak trees met. The force was overpowering, they were compelled to dig, to seek the source. What they discovered defies description.The Nemesis had been disturbed, the sanctuary it had saught for so many billions of years broken.It was awakeIt thrashed crazily in the earth, removing all before it. Like a giant excavator it sent trees and small buildings hurtling skywards. Dementedly it unleashed its anger at being discovered, crazily it formed the pit you see today.A security silence fell over Alton Towers while archaelogists and historians nervouslly investigated. Eventually they sescribed their worst fears. This Was NEMESIS.Nemesis had to be controlled.It took 250 tons of steel, and 200 men. Not ordinary men, not ordinary steel. Pinned down by this massive structure it tries to escape, steaming anger. We meerly irritants now ride it, fueling its annoyance. It is controlled but not tamed. When you ride Nemesis, remember its history. It is awesome. There is no comparisonThis is the legend but don't try to understand, don't try to come to terms with it, don't even try to think about it.Nemesis at Alton Towers, sit back. Its fright time.Geek me?

Maybe Jack Dann's right

Oblivion has been added to Alton Towers line-up for Hullaballoo. Now is it me or is this rather excellent.

You do know you aren't allowed to drink Doctor Pepper on park don't you Michela. I'm very dissapointed with you. (unless the rules are different to Chessington as to which I say, god your excited. Happy birthday

48,900 about three years ago now

Mince, potato and runner beansRaspberries, ice cream and cream for pudding

It used to be called Teacup twisters. The cups used to have handles and no cracks painted on the sides.

The easiest thing to do in my opinion is to drive up around mid-day, spend that night and have the next day on park. If we want to we could have the day after as well.

Its been that way for several years but as we all know it looks far more amity then it does Calypso. Since 2004 its announced its Big Bob Jones.