January 29, 201411 yr comment_175696 Why not just theme the tunnel!!!! Could make the ride a bit more interesting ...
January 29, 201411 yr comment_175698 Why not just theme the tunnel!!!! Could make the ride a bit more interesting ... That would be a good option, but knowing Thorpe/Merlin any theming would be in a derelict looking state 3 years after putting it in...
January 30, 201411 yr comment_175762 It's not very emergency is it if it's on all the time? its not on all the time? Those green lights are literally just nidicators to show that the light is working. The is a bigger light that turns on in an emergency
January 31, 201411 yr comment_175763 lols at discussion about what to do with a tunnel that doesn't exist, and probably never will again.
January 31, 201411 yr comment_175775 The tunnel does exist it's just the 1st lift and drop that's not
January 31, 201411 yr comment_175777 But without the 'light lock' the drop created it will never ever be properly dark in there.
January 31, 201411 yr comment_175784 But without the 'light lock' the drop created it will never ever be properly dark in there. Unless they replace the tunnel of course!
January 31, 201411 yr comment_175786 Though it would seem Merlin's definition of 'replace' is to level everything and build and Merlinised version of it...
February 1, 201411 yr comment_175821 I have managed to get a picture of what we can expect from Angry Birds land
February 2, 201411 yr comment_175833 Do you guys think we will see the queue less ride system more this year or will they introduce it in 2015.
February 2, 201411 yr comment_175834 Honestly? I don't think it'll ever be properly introduced. A phase, like the original virtual queue systems about 14yrs ago.
February 2, 201411 yr comment_175835 I don't think we'll see it introduced this season. It's a very bold system to introduce, and I think they'll need to trial it more in real life before actually implementing it. Maybe try it on a different ride as well if they can. I think it is something that really needs a lot of work (not to say they haven't already done that) before they consider actually implementing it. Then again, if I remember correctly, some of the 'review questions' after the trial asked if people would be willing to pay for it, meaning it could be used as a way of replacing Fastrack. So yeah, who knows. But I reckon if the park are serious about it all, they'll definitely trial it a couple more times this season.
February 2, 201411 yr comment_175836 It'll never work as described and so will never be introduced. I see it as a trial for an electronic fastrack replacement (which should be able to make that system much more efficiently managed) not a separate system.
February 2, 201411 yr comment_175842 If you consider the amount of money Disney have spent on their MyMagic+ system, that is still having a lot of issues, I think it's very unlikely that Thorpe/Merlin will be bringing anything as ambitious as the Fasttrack system proposed by the trial last year. It also wouldn't work - fast track in that style only moves queues around (ie by skipping one queue you are then waiting for longer in another where someone jumps ahead of you), it is a false system that was only invented to give the impression of being able to skip lines at parks when they were at their busiest (and so make visiting Magic Kingdom in high summer a more attractive proposition). The only people getting a tangible benefit from a queue booking system that applies to all visitors are those who know how to utilise the system to its most effective - which, to be honest, is something I've never been massively comfortable with anyway (and is why I'm not totally against the introduction of a more monetised system being rolled out at WDW). Queues are always formed when demand surpasses capacity, and no reservation system can change that, unless it limited people to less gos on big rides and utilised the 'spare' capacity on less popular attractions - something I'm sure most people would be very much against. As Pluk says, the only way it will be introduced is as a more sophisticated version of the current paper system - with the potential to charge more for a more effective system. I can't see any parks bringing in wholesale changes in fast track systems until MyMagic+ has settled down and to see what kind of financial benefits and, to a lesser extent, increase in guest satisfaction, such an idea will have. I'm sure that Merlin will look at the idea of booking specific slots in advance - at the moment the vast majority of fast track users would decide on the day if it was necessary, and therefore not spend if the park is quiet. If Merlin can create a reservation system that gives the impression of needing to book in advance (as Disney have done successfully with the Dining Reservation system - which is a complete farce and would surely only be so enthusiastically lapped up by Americans) there's a chance they will make more money out of it. On a side note - I'd love them to trial charging a lot more for fasttrack and find the tipping point between cost and people using it. If you could get half the amount of people to spend double on what fasttrack already costs it would make the whole experience better for everyone, and Merlin wouldn't be losing any money.
February 3, 201411 yr comment_175858 I'd love it for the parks to add high capacity attractions instead. That would be a joy wouldn't add, the parks with rides that don't need fastrack at all because the attractions are designed too eat through people as quickly and efficiently as possible. That way we could destroy the ideas that fastrack is the only way to enjoy a park. Oh yeah, there is a park that does that... unfortunately its a minority. Every other park seems determined to add their own Dragons Fury or Storm Surge and throw a fastrack system at it.
February 3, 201411 yr comment_175902 As for queue less system, to be honest unless you paid a premium for it, then it will not be introduced. Merlin make far too much money out of Fast Track at the moment. It is their incentive for there to be big queues so they sell more Fast Track, then anyone who buys a Fast Track tells everyone how good it was jumping the queue. The current system means they make lots of money from doing very little. Having a queue less system means they need lots of time money and effort to be spent and I seriously can't see it happening. I would rather they got the queue times correct on top of their rides first.
February 6, 201411 yr comment_176042 Unfortunately it's 'what's best for business' and makes money more/quicker, than 'what's best for the guests' and in a way Thorpe Park and Merlin wouldn't be around if they weren't that blunt about things. I don't mind queuing anyway if I'm with a cool group of people.
February 6, 201411 yr comment_176051 Plus those share holders will be wanting a nice slice of of profit too
February 7, 201411 yr comment_176058 I never find the queues that bad, you've just got to pick the right times to join a queue. Like do saw and nemesis first because most got to swarm and do the swarm right at the end of the day because there is normally a very small queue then.
February 11, 201411 yr comment_176294 Does anyone know how the park is doing in terms of flooding ? considering the whole area of Staines, Chertsey , Windsor and much more have red alerts I was thinking if the park has ran into any problems yet ?
February 11, 201411 yr comment_176304 Sticking on the flooding subject...... https://twitter.com/bbcsurrey/status/433152786231209984 @BBCSurrey: Local volunteer in Laleham Reach: "Thorpe Park has opened and has been a response centre and mustering point. They have been brilliant."
February 11, 201411 yr comment_176305 Thorpe getting on the good side of the local area helping them out, nice to see them doing so, and hopefully will help them back in the near future *cough* planning permissions *cough*
February 11, 201411 yr comment_176325 That's very good on Thorpe's part, it's nice to see them offering their help.
February 11, 201411 yr comment_176327 It's almost halfway through february and we haven't really seen much have we Wonder when concept art/construction images for new hotel/angry birds/anything else added will be shown.
February 14, 201411 yr comment_176455 Wasn't entirely sure where to put this, but found some amazing aerial photos from 2012! Must of been a busy day! http://stock.jasonhawkes.com/?utf8=✓&search=Thorpe+park&license_type_id=*ALL*&orientation=*ALL*&commit=Go
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