Mark9

End of season 'I don't give a toss anymore' settling in probably. 

End of season 'I don't give a toss anymore' settling in probably. 

I personally think a third train on Hyperia, Inferno, Colossus and The Swarm should be the next big investment. 

Tonight - BEST FRIGHT NIGHTS EVER
 
Tomorrow - where did all the actors go?!

Tonight - BEST FRIGHT NIGHTS EVER
 
Tomorrow - where did all the actors go?!

Tonight - BEST FRIGHT NIGHTS EVER
 
Tomorrow - where did all the actors go?!

Tonight - BEST FRIGHT NIGHTS EVER
 
Tomorrow - where did all the actors go?!

Tonight - BEST FRIGHT NIGHTS EVER
 
Tomorrow - where did all the actors go?!

Tonight - BEST FRIGHT NIGHTS EVER
 
Tomorrow - where did all the actors go?!

In my head, reliability is the ride is broken, not, the train has failed to complete the circuit. And when Hyperia has been running, it's been an incredibly solid, reliable attraction. It's just when it does go down, it goes down BIG. 
 
Also, I don't really care that the press (and social media vloggers) won't get their rides, it's the paying guests today and potentially tomorrow that will miss out. 
 
Still, at least we didn't get the boringly reliable B&M hyper ey. 

I got a few throughputs on my trip, some which slightly surprised me (some didn't)
 
Europa Park
 
Voltron - 1382 people per hour (ppH) - (Theoretical 1600). Slightly down on its theoretical of 1600 but still a good number. My husband tracked a day before and it was running at 1598 an hour which is pretty much bang on.
 
Swiss Bobsleigh - 963 pph (Theoretical 1100). Obviously it's not getting this number as a lot of carriages will only have one person in them. Nonetheless, a very good number for a support rollercoaster
 
Matterhorn Blitz - 784 pph (Theoretical 960). Mightily impressive number for a wild mouse, its run remarkably well and the 20 minute queue board was accurate.
 
Disneyland Paris
 
Thunder Mountain - 1840 pph (Theoretical 2424). Not really sure where that theoretical number comes from, 1800 is still a good number. My only problem with Thunder is that every day it has a massive shutdown which takes it out of action for 2 hours minimum. As regular as a 2pm storm in Florida.
 
Small World - 2723 pph. Amazing number. if you ever see Small World on a 30 minute queue, its a very busy day..
 
Indian Jones and the temple of peril - 925 pph. Not bad for a support rollercoaster but nowhere near the level required for Disney.. well at least it wasn't back in 1995. Nowadays this would be considered a fantastic number for a disney attraction.
 
Buzz Lightyear Spin - 2450 pph. Not much to say here, great number.
 
Phantom Manor - 2050 pph. Number affected by a stoppage for disability guests. However, this is still a great number.
 
Efteling
 
Baron 1898 - 692 pph (Theoretical 1000). This was on two trains with a 20 minute queue and to be honest the third train always sits on the breaks waiting so actually this was the best they can do on a 33% capacity drop. It was running very consistently and lets face it, its an amazing ride whatever the wait time.
 
Python - 583 pph. Not bad considering it was on a one train service. Wait was 30 minutes but the staff were fast and effective.

Nothing official, just lots of rumours to do with the wheels not being able to take the strain of the speed and launches. Lots of conversations around hairline fractures in the wheel assemblies.
 
ThunderVolt (which is the other Intamin to Zamperla conversion) is open and running with none of TT2's issues. 
 
Sirens Curse feels like a knee jerk reaction to something more than a required investment. Cedar Point isn't lacking in the beyond vertical drop department or the thrill rollercoaster department. Beyond the hype of another tilt coaster being added, this is a pretty odd investment which I don't really get. But its there park, they can do what they want with it.

I got a few throughputs on my trip, some which slightly surprised me (some didn't)
 
Europa Park
 
Voltron - 1382 people per hour (ppH) - (Theoretical 1600). Slightly down on its theoretical of 1600 but still a good number. My husband tracked a day before and it was running at 1598 an hour which is pretty much bang on.
 
Swiss Bobsleigh - 963 pph (Theoretical 1100). Obviously it's not getting this number as a lot of carriages will only have one person in them. Nonetheless, a very good number for a support rollercoaster
 
Matterhorn Blitz - 784 pph (Theoretical 960). Mightily impressive number for a wild mouse, its run remarkably well and the 20 minute queue board was accurate.
 
Disneyland Paris
 
Thunder Mountain - 1840 pph (Theoretical 2424). Not really sure where that theoretical number comes from, 1800 is still a good number. My only problem with Thunder is that every day it has a massive shutdown which takes it out of action for 2 hours minimum. As regular as a 2pm storm in Florida.
 
Small World - 2723 pph. Amazing number. if you ever see Small World on a 30 minute queue, its a very busy day..
 
Indian Jones and the temple of peril - 925 pph. Not bad for a support rollercoaster but nowhere near the level required for Disney.. well at least it wasn't back in 1995. Nowadays this would be considered a fantastic number for a disney attraction.
 
Buzz Lightyear Spin - 2450 pph. Not much to say here, great number.
 
Phantom Manor - 2050 pph. Number affected by a stoppage for disability guests. However, this is still a great number.
 
Efteling
 
Baron 1898 - 692 pph (Theoretical 1000). This was on two trains with a 20 minute queue and to be honest the third train always sits on the breaks waiting so actually this was the best they can do on a 33% capacity drop. It was running very consistently and lets face it, its an amazing ride whatever the wait time.
 
Python - 583 pph. Not bad considering it was on a one train service. Wait was 30 minutes but the staff were fast and effective.

Nothing official, just lots of rumours to do with the wheels not being able to take the strain of the speed and launches. Lots of conversations around hairline fractures in the wheel assemblies.
 
ThunderVolt (which is the other Intamin to Zamperla conversion) is open and running with none of TT2's issues. 
 
Sirens Curse feels like a knee jerk reaction to something more than a required investment. Cedar Point isn't lacking in the beyond vertical drop department or the thrill rollercoaster department. Beyond the hype of another tilt coaster being added, this is a pretty odd investment which I don't really get. But its there park, they can do what they want with it.

Not nearly ambitious enough. I say this as someone who wears red tinted glasses when it comes to Chessington. I think it's mad to replace Wild Asia. This is a park that cannot afford to run Tiger rock and Rattlesnake on quieter days. So they knock down Wild Asia. 
 
An the rumoured replacement theme fills me with a sort of mehness. 

Not nearly ambitious enough. I say this as someone who wears red tinted glasses when it comes to Chessington. I think it's mad to replace Wild Asia. This is a park that cannot afford to run Tiger rock and Rattlesnake on quieter days. So they knock down Wild Asia. 
 
An the rumoured replacement theme fills me with a sort of mehness. 

I find that we're having this conversation really concerning, particularly for the UK market as a whole. It kind of came and went but the attendance report for parks was released and some key sentences in there are quote below
 
 
and
 
 
I find this to be our ultimate problem is that whilst the European parks are exceeding expectations, the parks in the UK aren't despite investment. I was at Europa Park and Efteling over the last two weeks. Both parks very busy, every ride open (well apart from one but Efteling isn't a seasonal theme park). Rides open on time, fully staffed. If you think it's an unfair comparison, well it isn't. Its the same time of year, Merlin is the third biggest worldwide operator.
 
It's going to take some bold action for our parks to return to a place where they are not only highly profitable but successful. And one of the realities of the Merlin parks is the Annual Pass creates so much drag across the parks. I think a significant look needs to take place as we've seen places like Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Paris and Phantasialand either remove entirely or price accordingly and the respective parks have never been so profitable..

I find that we're having this conversation really concerning, particularly for the UK market as a whole. It kind of came and went but the attendance report for parks was released and some key sentences in there are quote below
 
 
and
 
 
I find this to be our ultimate problem is that whilst the European parks are exceeding expectations, the parks in the UK aren't despite investment. I was at Europa Park and Efteling over the last two weeks. Both parks very busy, every ride open (well apart from one but Efteling isn't a seasonal theme park). Rides open on time, fully staffed. If you think it's an unfair comparison, well it isn't. Its the same time of year, Merlin is the third biggest worldwide operator.
 
It's going to take some bold action for our parks to return to a place where they are not only highly profitable but successful. And one of the realities of the Merlin parks is the Annual Pass creates so much drag across the parks. I think a significant look needs to take place as we've seen places like Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Paris and Phantasialand either remove entirely or price accordingly and the respective parks have never been so profitable..

I find that we're having this conversation really concerning, particularly for the UK market as a whole. It kind of came and went but the attendance report for parks was released and some key sentences in there are quote below
 
 
and
 
 
I find this to be our ultimate problem is that whilst the European parks are exceeding expectations, the parks in the UK aren't despite investment. I was at Europa Park and Efteling over the last two weeks. Both parks very busy, every ride open (well apart from one but Efteling isn't a seasonal theme park). Rides open on time, fully staffed. If you think it's an unfair comparison, well it isn't. Its the same time of year, Merlin is the third biggest worldwide operator.
 
It's going to take some bold action for our parks to return to a place where they are not only highly profitable but successful. And one of the realities of the Merlin parks is the Annual Pass creates so much drag across the parks. I think a significant look needs to take place as we've seen places like Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Paris and Phantasialand either remove entirely or price accordingly and the respective parks have never been so profitable..

Tiger Rock and Rattlesnake look on in sadness.

1. I'm a theme park enthusiast. I get far more out of a well themed, story based area then just a ride in a big field. I can enjoy things like Fury 325 and Afterburner but my god, I would much rather be riding Baron 1898 and Nemesis. They send shivers, they make me feel connected in a way that a stat heavy machine never can. I prefer family theme parks to thrill parks and I like the variety and imagination that goes into family rollercoasters.
 
2. Theme Park hotels and staying the night is part of the experience and have become vital to a theme park trip to feel right. Over the years I've stayed at many Disney resorts, Europa Park, Dollywood, Efteling for example and I find them so engaging and immersive.
 
3. I love hitting parks hard in the first few hours and then relaxing and putting my feet up in a beautiful restaurant or in a bar and just reflecting. One of my star memories is at Toverland, sitting outside the Flaming Feather in the beautiful sun and just relaxing with a beer and chicken wings watching the rides go by. A park that doesn't have a lovely restaurant to sit back and chill isn't worth visiting in my opinion.
 
4. Theme Park road trips are hard. Just doing day after day after day of theme parks is exhausting and relaxation days are key to making the most of parks.  

1. I'm a theme park enthusiast. I get far more out of a well themed, story based area then just a ride in a big field. I can enjoy things like Fury 325 and Afterburner but my god, I would much rather be riding Baron 1898 and Nemesis. They send shivers, they make me feel connected in a way that a stat heavy machine never can. I prefer family theme parks to thrill parks and I like the variety and imagination that goes into family rollercoasters.
 
2. Theme Park hotels and staying the night is part of the experience and have become vital to a theme park trip to feel right. Over the years I've stayed at many Disney resorts, Europa Park, Dollywood, Efteling for example and I find them so engaging and immersive.
 
3. I love hitting parks hard in the first few hours and then relaxing and putting my feet up in a beautiful restaurant or in a bar and just reflecting. One of my star memories is at Toverland, sitting outside the Flaming Feather in the beautiful sun and just relaxing with a beer and chicken wings watching the rides go by. A park that doesn't have a lovely restaurant to sit back and chill isn't worth visiting in my opinion.
 
4. Theme Park road trips are hard. Just doing day after day after day of theme parks is exhausting and relaxation days are key to making the most of parks.  

1. I'm a theme park enthusiast. I get far more out of a well themed, story based area then just a ride in a big field. I can enjoy things like Fury 325 and Afterburner but my god, I would much rather be riding Baron 1898 and Nemesis. They send shivers, they make me feel connected in a way that a stat heavy machine never can. I prefer family theme parks to thrill parks and I like the variety and imagination that goes into family rollercoasters.
 
2. Theme Park hotels and staying the night is part of the experience and have become vital to a theme park trip to feel right. Over the years I've stayed at many Disney resorts, Europa Park, Dollywood, Efteling for example and I find them so engaging and immersive.
 
3. I love hitting parks hard in the first few hours and then relaxing and putting my feet up in a beautiful restaurant or in a bar and just reflecting. One of my star memories is at Toverland, sitting outside the Flaming Feather in the beautiful sun and just relaxing with a beer and chicken wings watching the rides go by. A park that doesn't have a lovely restaurant to sit back and chill isn't worth visiting in my opinion.
 
4. Theme Park road trips are hard. Just doing day after day after day of theme parks is exhausting and relaxation days are key to making the most of parks.  

I currently live in Stratford and my local park is technically the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. But there's no rides unless you count one of the Tube Lines or the Elizabeth Line. So actually my local park is actually Chessington. I've not visited this year as all the things said about it this year makes it sound like it's on the verge of closing down. 

The Thirteen crew smashing it I see. Kinda glad that the most accessible of the Towers coasters has a capacity that high.