Mark9

In the past it could run five but the cars have a habit of crashing into each other.

You're all monsters. As the first ride I ever operated I have a special love for the 2nd most flawed ride at Chessington. It's a wonderful beast.

I think that shows my low regard for X and Flying Fish that I didn't even include them so apologies for that. I disagree though, Alton can get Nemesis and Air open so The Swarm and Inferno should be prime targets for getting open in February. For some reasons Stealth has always been able to open to (Rita hasn't) so I'd expect that to crop up too.

Dodgems, Detonator, Vortex, Zodiac, Quantum, Rush and Teacups would be enough for you then?

Out of interest why and what would be the point in going if there was no big roller coasters or water rides open...

So another year passes and it only seems right to look back on 12 months of fun, thrills and excitement, in a way that only Mark9 can. So where do we start? January 2014 - Disneyland Paris Ok, sure, this trip only featured one new ride (Peter Pans Flight fact fans) but it also marked the occasion where I somehow managed 42 hours of consciousness, the trip where I took a nap during cinemagique and where Jamie fell asleep eating food in Hyperion. Yes there was fatigue and short tempers but it was a fantastic way to start a brand new year. From what looked like a flooded ferry to getting more rides on Tower of Terror. February 2014 And now the season takes a slight down turn. This month featured my only trip to the Towers and this kind of epitomised Merlins year for me. Whilst Nemesis was running well (albeit on one train) and things like Spinball had minimal queues, there was no atmosphere in the park whatsoever. Usually during February there's excitement for the upcoming full season but not this time around. This year marks the first season since 2003 that I did not ride Oblivion and the first since opening that I didn't ride Rita, The Smiler or Thirteen. And part of me didn't even care. If it wasn't for Dan9's company this trip would have been completely forgettable. March 2014 And then it was Thorpe's turn. Despite multiple rides on Inferno and The Swarm there was little to no energy in the park. The same old problems were occurring such as Slammer and Samurai closed or reliable issues up and down the place. Thank god for the company of the rest of TPM or I would have really despised my day out. And luckily with this month out of the way, the season really began... April 2014 I had last visited Chessington in 2012, before Tomb Blaster had its queue line incident so had reasonably high expectations. And frankly, this was the star UK park for me. The park somehow looks rejuvenated in places and run down to hell in others. Unlike others, I like Scorpion Express and do think it has breathed life into a ride that was well beyond its sell by date when it closed in 2012. Zufari was rubbish even before I compare to Kilimanjaro but getting on rides like Fury and Vampire sent me into rose tinted glasses land. I do like Chessington in spite of its many, many faults. May 2014 New Rollercoasters:- 179. Medusa - Discovery Kingdom 180. Kong - Discovery Kingdom 181. Cobra - Discovery Kingdom 182. V2: Vertical Velocity - Discovery Kingdom 183. Superman - Ultimate Flight - Discovery Kingdom 184. Roar - Discovery Kingdom 185. Boomerang: Coast to Coaster - Discovery Kingdom 186. Roadrunner Express - Discovery Kingdom 187. Tatsu - Magic Mountain 188. Apocalypse - Magic Mountain 189. Superman: Escape from Kryptonite - Magic Mountain 190. Goldrusher - Magic Mountain 191. Riddlers Revenge - Magic Mountain 192. Green Lantern - Magic Mountain 193. Batman: The Ride (backwards) - Magic Mountain 194. Scream - Magic Mountain 195. Colossus - Magic Mountain 196. Goliath - Magic Mountain 197. Viper - Magic Mountain 198. Ninja - Magic Mountain 199. Full Throttle - Magic Mountain 200. Big Thunder Mountain - Disneyland 201. Matterhorn Bobsled B - Disneyland 202. Space Mountain - Disneyland 203. California Screamin’ - California Adventure 204. Goofys Sky School - California Adventure 205. Gadget Go Coaster - Disneyland 206. Silver Bullet - Knotts Berry Farm 207. Xcelerator - Knotts Berry Farm 208. Coast Rider - Knotts Berry Farm 209. Boomerang - Knotts Berry Farm 210. Pony Express - Knotts Berry Farm 211. Montezoomas Revenge - Knotts Berry Farm 212. Jaguar - Knotts Berry Farm 213. Sierra Sidewinder - Knotts Berry Farm 214. West Coaster - Pacific Pier 215. Matterhorn Bobsled A - Disneyland This of course was the flagship trip of the year, a visit that was two years in the making and had a lot too live up to. I can say for sure it lived up to the hype and features some of my favourite rides ever. Starting with the city of San Francisco, everyone should make as much effort as possible to this historic, cultural, awesome city. No one can fail to be disappointed by the Golden Gate Bridge or where history was made in the Castro. To the sealions down at Pier 39 or Alcatraz this place is amazing. The long, long, LONG drive to Magic Mountain is worth the distance. I know its reputation is low but it has a lot of original, decent rides including my favourite flyer, my favourite suspended and my favourite stand up. With strong support rides like Apocalypse, Goliath and Scream it should be on anyones radar to visit. Despite my negative comments in my trip report, I really did love Disneyland and California Adventure. From California Screamin' to Haunted Mansion it's really a place filled with such variety and within a stones throw of Los Angeles. Speaking of Los Angeles, despite not spending as much time as I had wished, walking up to the Hollywood sign will be something I always remember. That view is spectacular. And finally 24 hour day at Disneyland which was some feat. World of Color at 3:30 in the morning. Magical. A classic Liner An event in its own right One too many drinks in the Castro June 2014 So June didn't see any theme park visits. Instead I decided to be cultural and visit the wonders of Amsterdam. I'm sure if you use your imagination you can just guess what I got up too. From the Red Light District too a club that features people that don't fit into gender brackets. It was a most enlightening trip. A cultural gin museum July and August 2014 Ok, so I didn't go anywhere but I did get a mortgage and move into a new flat in the old Olympic village in Stratford. September 2014 216. Helix - Liseberg 217. Kanonen - Liseberg 218. Balder - Liseberg 219. Lisebergbanan - Liseberg Set hype levels to stun. This was the month of Helix, Mack's latest and greatest roller coaster. I've always heard a lot about Liseberg and suffice to say I was very happy with my trip. Excellent rides and roller coasters and a great time was had in Gothenburg nearby where I went into a scary submarine. October 2014 Rather hastily, a trip to Phantasialand was booked, paid for and done just like that. I forgot how much I adored this place and was very glad to be back. I will not be leaving eight years in-between visits next time. November 2014 And finally, to bookend the trips was Disneyland Paris to come and ride Ratatouille (and to finally get on Orbitron and Autopia) In a few years time, Ratatouille will be recognised as the fantastic ride that it truly is. This is Pixars greatest work since Toy Story 3 screen wise. Go and visit and see for yourself. And with that, my year in a nutshell. So what is the most notable rides of 2014? Best Water Ride:- Chiapas Best Dark Ride:- Ratatouille Best Rollercoaster:- Tatsu Biggest Surprise:- California Screamin' Best Park:- California Adventure And finally, the best new ride of 2014 goes too.... .... .... None other then the utterly sublime Radiator Spring Racers. In my mind it will take a hell of a lot to top this in 2015. But then Europa Park is just around the corner.. Thanks for reading, in fact thanks if you even made it this far down the page. Please feel free too leave comments below.

Just went through the old Thrill Chill topic to remind myself of why it was stopped in the first place. I can't wait for all the complaining of closed rides and the disastrous effect it will have on the opening week in March. Or optimistically, the park did incredibly well back on that freezing day in 2013 with only Saw and Colossus not open. So who knows.

The taxi ride is the best ride in the South Liam, you'll love it! I await your opinion when you meet back up with us in the pub

Whose Sidders?

Whose Dara again?

Alas no, the pack mentality survives in us apparently placid Brits. If only people could be that passionate about other things like helping the homeless or saving the children.

Thank you so much for the trip reports Ben. This park looks like the best of the bunch. I like the colourful entrance in your pics, kind of a 'it's a small world' vibe to it. Great pics and great write up as always. =D

Why not? You clearly don't like Thorpe and yet you plan on going again and again..

The thing is I agree. Thorpe is the worst Merlin park (IMO) and has the most problems beyond just the rides. The difference though is I don't delude myself into thinking that I can go to Thorpe and convince others to see the errors of their ways. The other thing is Thorpe also has an incredible amount of positives but you seem so blinkered by other park visits (particularly Six Flags and Cedar Fair which you consistently bring up) that you refuse or won't allow yourself to just enjoy Thorpe. It's not the best theme park but its far from the being worst. Same with the food, I like the chicken company, I like Pizza Pasta and I love Bar360 and all are in house places.

Penguin Kitchen? Fried Pengin Co? Pizza, Penguin, Pasta Penguin B&M Dive Machine and Penguin Wing rider?!

Burger Kitchen.

Shame, maybe you should stop visiting then or maybe tell someone that can effect change like, I don't know, Thorpe itself.

Completely disagree. Aside from the Burger Kitchen (and even then, the chicken burger is fine), the Merlin stuff is fit for purpose and pretty affordable. Especially when you compare with Europe where it can be double the price for meals with smaller portions.

Lack of effort? it's an amusement park, not a theme park. Any theming Six Flags add is more effort then usual.

Magic Mountain is hardly renowned for its theming quality. Whatever they do with twisted Colossus, it will be window dressing more then a coherent storyline. Expect the ride to do the talking and not a vibe.

Yes, unashamedly so.

Lets face it CJ, this is still the bare minimum that Merlin can get away with. The lack of ambition and effort undermines what the coaster could be. It's Krake with an extra inversion, nothing more.

I hope not too many points Benin. Out of all the dive machines, this for me is the most uninteresting. Just seems to lack anything beyond Merlin's need to make Gardaland and Heide Park completely similar.

I think its an amazing discussion. Bless the closed season.

This 1000 times.