Mark9

Top ten Uk rollercoasters. 1. Nemesis 2. Icon 3. The Smiler 4. Grand National 5. The Wicker Man 6. Dragons Fury 7. Nemesis Inferno 8. Big Dipper 9. Oblivion 10. The Swarm

They've tweeted that plans are already afoot for a new family ride where Pirates in Batavia stood.

Really, really, really enjoyed Icon. Like proper enjoyed it. Had eight rides on it yesterday in the gorgeous sunshine and I just wish we had new age Mack rides everywhere. They're right up my street. It's strange layout is one of its most endearing elements. Whilst Helix and Blue Fire feel quite refined in their layouts, this feels proper Blackpool with a layout that weaves in and out of Big One, Steeplechase and Big Dipper and I liked so many moments. There's three or four big air time moments and my legs feel a bit achey this morning from all the ejector air time. The front is definitely better then the back IMO, that first hill at the front of the train felt like you're being completely chucked out of the train. So good. The hang time from the second inversion or the odd banked turn, the cheetah hunt type moments under Steeplechase, the little hill into the mist that glides into the second launch which has so much air time. I may actually go back to Blackpool again this season just for Icon because I loved it that much. ? Was muchly impressed by their operations too. It was only on two trains but it was munching through that queue keeping it at a respectful fifteen minute wait all day. We saw one break down with a failed launch but it was back up and running after about five minutes. I hope this does wonderful things for Blackpool as its a really good ride. A really easy 10/10 from me.

As Pluk said its just a blown motor. It looks dramatic but thats about it.

Anywho, the park has opened as usual today with the affected areas the only parts of the park unavailable. Three firemen have suffered from mild smoke inhalation but thankfully, no other injuries.

I guess if your ride isn't running faster then expected it isn't going to have as many teething problems

Can't believe you say things like that frankly.

I feel so gutted for the Mack family, Europa Park is their pride and joy, a true work of art in a world full of race to the bottom attractions and sell outs. They will bounce back of course but the short term loss for the park cannot be under-estimated. I understood that Pirates of Batavia was one of the next rides to see a big retheme/refurbishment. Hopefully out of the ashes of this incident, something even greater can be born.

It's almost like they're a normal theme park again!

Yeah, stupid Cedar Point.

Musical heaven. Pick any track from Tropical Freeze and its just beautiful.

Some things we just don't get compared to everyone else. I didn't experience a ride built only for 6-8 year olds and I think people really underestimate how much scares kids can take.

Just try getting the Central line from Tottenham Court Road on a Friday night. The two experiences sound very similar.

The park had a rather frank 'InsiderEars' presentation last night with some interesting things announced. - Ratatouille will be closing for three months for building works. There's subsidence. - The pipe that supplies the smoke at Big Thunder Mountain has a leak and they are working on a solution. The ride is running faster then pre-refurbishment. - The Mark Twain riverboat will be returning to operation in 2020. It's been in dry dock since 2011 - Philarmagic will be opening in Discoveryland theatre in October. - A new Phantom Manor float will be added to the Halloween parade this year. It will feature three different dressed Micky Mouses - Phantom Manor will be returning in the 'Fall' with a slightly retooled storyline. The whole thing is being refurbished top to bottom with new effects. I'm personally really excited for Philarmagic, it's one of the more under-rated attractions in Florida and I never leave a showing without a smile. DLP really is on the up at the moment.

If this was counting down to their announcement of a new rollercoaster I'd be all excited. But its probably counting down to a scare maze announcement and I don't give a toss.

Kind of irrelevant. After the Smiler incident they built giant fences all over the place and after the rapids incident at Drayton last year, the Rapids was closed and that was the time to update their signage board. If they are going to call someone out like this, they have to have all their legalities in check such as the front entrance board or they just look stupid. So a parent could in theory be ejected from the park for photoing their kids on 'In the Night Garden'.

Run from it, hide from it. Ride cutbacks still arrive. ( (The person who tweeted this put a smile on my face)

Thank god they got that second boat ready in time for a rainy weekend.

I'd say its the complete opposite actually.

They don't need a new ride anyway. They have the best and scariest attraction of all time in the Walking Dead. Why try and beat that?

Tower of Terror has an even lower height restriction and thats far more ominous then any of Wicker Man.

Kids love being scared don't they?

The top 25 rollercoasters in the world (according to Theme Park Review) 1. El Toro - Six Flags Great Adventure 2. Lightning Rod - Dollywood 3. Wildfire - Kolmården 4. Medusa Steel Coaster - Six Flags Mexico 5. Outlaw Run - Silver Dollar City 6. Maverick - Cedar Point 7. Expedition GeForce - Holiday Park 8. Intimidator 305 - Kings Dominion 9. Phoenix - Knoebels Amusement Park and Resort 10. Skyrush - Hersheypark 11. Millennium Force - Cedar Point 12. Helix - Liseberg 13. Fury 325 - Carowinds 14† Mega-Lite/Kawasemi/Fly Over Mediterranean/Piraten 15. Balder - Liseberg 16. Storm Chaser - Kentucky Kingdom 17. Superman the Ride - Six Flags New England 18. Boulder Dash - Lake Compounce 19. New Texas Giant - Six Flags Over Texas 20. Taron - Phantasialand 21. Twisted Colossus - Six Flags Magic Mountain 22. Wicked Cyclone - Six Flags New England 23. iSpeed - Mirabilandia 24. Shambhala - PortAventura Park 25. Iron Rattler - Six Flags Fiesta Texas

I think it generally looks okay to be honest. There's clearly things like the Dragon which should have been left alone (what were they thinking) and it's kind of frustrating that the bits that haven't been cleaned or replaced (like the bamboo hanging off the trough after the final drop) haven't been given attention. But in general it looks perfectly fine and I really like the tiger rock. Mixing the Zoo in more with the rides is the right direction for Chessington.

I know that. I also know there is far more out there that is completely under the radar that deserves attention. Plenty of big name parks in Europe and yet the same three are the only ones talked about.