Mark9

It's just managing expectations. I think its slightly absurd that people have already decided that this Derren brown attraction is going to be a let down though. Especially when there are no details about it beyond the theme. Maybe these people know more then they are letting on.

Great name.

We all know how it will be played out in ISIS rhetoric. The Western World slaughters civilians. They don't care if its the UK, France, Germany or the US. Also if we want to talk mass murder, executions and capital punishment, our relationship with Saudi Arabia is an interesting one.. http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/06/britain-regret-cosying-up-to-saudi-arabia

Has this been confirmed anywhere yet. It's not on the BBC website and on Sky its just a story about the US denying the report.

I doubt it will be going anywhere. Intamin will come in with new trains and all will be well.

Muslims already condemn the action of the extremists. IS uses propaganda and brainwashing to recruit potential jihadis and anyone who is a true Muslim will tell you that they sickened by what IS are doing.

They've already been affected. 9 million Syrian refugees are displaced across the world because of the Syrian civil war. They're running away from IS (Or whatever, we want to call them), the bombing of their country by the West, from the Assad government. I don't think bombing is the answer to this crisis but I also think letting France, US and Russia do all the work isn't the answer either. There is no clear cut solution to this. A lot of this is true but don't go down the road of thinking that doing this suddenly makes us a target. We've always been a target because of our close relationship to America and because of our ideals and position in the Western world. I'm not disgusted to be British after this because whilst a majority voted to bomb Syria, a lot of MP's voted against it and this is what a democracy is.

I think it's okay, after all Dragon Falls isn't exactly around the corner from China and Tidal Wave is quite a distance from 1950's America. (I know that's not what you meant, but this forum needs a little bit of spicy right now to get it active again =) )

You know why Matt..

We know what caused the crash. Everything else is just fanciful clickbait from news websites. Somewhere in-between the stories and glamour is the truth but I don't think I want to know it.

Precisely. A bit of paint is great but the fundamental issues at Chessington remain. Capacity on several rides is still crippled and rides like Skyway and Tomb seem to be beyond repair. I hope there's more going on then infrastructure refurbishments because the ride side of Chessington is on a knife edge.

Flyers really are adaptable and incredibly versatile. No surprises that they've really taken off in Asia. The pun wasn't intended.

Or go to a theme park that gives a toss about its themed attractions. That sounds like a better alternative then visiting Chessington right now.

Better then a Disney 'seven years to build Avatar land' delay amirite.

Bless the social media team. Trying to correct the mistakes of a sometimes incompetent park team. Everyday must be hard as nails.

Inside Out on blu Ray on Monday Good Dinosaur out in cinemas on Friday Zootropolis and Civil War trailer this week. Disney may as well have a direct debit to my account.

True. The stalling isn't why the accident happened though which is what the Health and Safety investigation is centred on. (I do realise if the train hadn't stalled the incident wouldn't have happened, in the same way that if the system hadn't been over-ridden the incident would also have not happened).

They're too busy building the new ride.

1. Yes, all log flumes are popular. Hence why Merlin's decision to removed them from three parks is an odd one. 2. I know filler rides are important. I know they take pressure off the rollercoasters. Hence why they are called support rides. 3. I've heard many descriptions of the Flume, good is never one put towards it. It's significant to Towers for being one of its first few major rides, thats it. 4. Lets get one thing straight here, I'm in agreement with you that all of these rides beings SBNO and others being removed is a bad thing not only for Towers but Merlin and the UK in general. 'the support rides like Hex and the Flume make the park' just sounds odd.

You can do that if you like, I'd just re-ride the things that are open because lets face it, the park isn't going to be very busy at all next year.

The idea that someone would go to Towers for the Flume is utterly out there. Ever since I first rode it, I've been aware that people hated it and wanted it gone. Now that it's (apparently) confirmed to be going, people suddenly love it and hate Towers decision to get rid. Hex I get, that's a fantastic ride, Flume was complete filler and if it was the only thing going/closed, people would be less up in arms about its removal.

http://www.s104638357.websitehome.co.uk/html/2007/02/flume-unplugged-alton-towers.html Console yourself with a trip down memory lane.

And here's where the vicious circle gets smaller. They clearly don't want to close these rides but some person in an office has decided that to increase profit, a certain amount of cuts have to be made. Alton have chosen the rides that cost the most to run because the bigger savings can be made without closing headline rides. But, come March, if the Smiler opens then the surrounding text will focus on all the rides closed and job losses. The article will focus on how much less there will be and how the entrance price hasn't come down. Alton will be in a lose lose situation and I've seen a fair amount of coaster geeks saying they won't go because Hex is closed. Thats my concern. The family rides are getting an almighty whack from this, leaving the Rapids, Runaway Mine Train and Duel to satisfy the entire family market. I like all three but when Alton inevitably turns back around and gets people through the gates again, those three rides are going to be hit the hardest. For a family theme park it's pretty shocking. I hope that a replacement for the Flume is in the pipeline because as much as it's not really liked, it's a massive people mover.

I can't quite see them closing all but one of their dark rides. That's insane. One thing they all have in common though, is they are staff intensive (aside from Ripsaw I'm assuming). Is this where the majority of the staff cuts are going to come from? To have four SBNO rides is pretty unprecedented.

Somehow, unbelievably I've won an all expenses paid trip to Europa Park next month for their winter event. Very excited.