February 15, 201312 yr comment_150282 They USED to have that sign with the new trains as well, I remember many a time with announcements and the like really pushing that fact... Unfortunately, Chessie has slipped way past the acceptable scale of speaking to customers on rides... Some roles should have it, others (Vampire platforming as one example) should have absolute minimum guest contact and focus solely on getting them on and off the ride as quick as possible... No more days of 1000+ an hour is disgraceful...
February 15, 201312 yr comment_150311 I LOVE the Vampire music (actually have it on my MP3 player ) and it is frustrating when all you can hear is the ride ops voice booming over the sound SO loudly that it borders on giving me a headache. I think some people possibly like the sound of their own voice too much! If they could tone it down a tad it would be nice I love it too, the only bad thing about it is the version available for download on the net has 7 church chimes as opposed to the official only having 5. Vampire requires an endless amount of announcements which unfortunately cuts out the ride music due to the volume. Required Announcements (From what I remember) - Stand Clear, Gates Opening - Please Leave bellongings on opposite side of the platform, wear your bloody shoes - I said wear your bloody shoes you traveller - Okay, you've all got your shoes on? - Stand Clear, Gates Closing - Re-Check All Bars (Or just the fatty in the 3rd row) - Hold On Tight, Here we go ... And repeat. You forgot the stupid, bad impression of the Vampire laughing that someone always has to do! Also, when was the last time all the torches in the station actually flickered like they're supposed to? I bet they haven't done so for about 10 years. I think I remember seeing them all flicker around about 2003-05.
February 16, 201312 yr comment_150330 The version of the Vampire theme widely available on the Internet is a very noticeably different mix to the track used in the station. I don't know why different versions were produced.
February 16, 201312 yr comment_150331 I don't think the version found on the internet has ever been used in the station at all. I've been trying to find the station version for ages but haven't found anything yet. IMO it sounds much better than the 'common' version we have.
February 16, 201312 yr comment_150333 The instruments are placed differently, so there's a slightly different tonal quality to the whole track (though this could just be the added reverb of the station). The difference is most noticeable in the guitar and drum machine parts, I think. Also, the screams, laughs and thunder sound effects are completely different, and the bell rings five times rather than seven. I assume the version online was first made available on ReRide.net, and everybody has been posting the same version since. I heard somewhere that the screams and laughs were actually added later c2000, but I'm not sure whether that is true. Graham Smart composed another pipe organ piece to play in the Black Forest Chateau, which I have never heard.
February 16, 201312 yr comment_150338 I, er got mine from youtube - did a youtube to mp3 conversion thang No, I got it from ReRide.net. And yes, I think it gag been copied from there loads of times and uploaded to other websites. I once played the tune on an old MP3 player against the one whilst waiting in the station, although my copy was on a 3-second delay I couldn't hear any differences apart from the chimes.
February 16, 201312 yr comment_150381 There's three different ones it seems - the station, the area one (unsure if it's different now, after they lacked it for a couple of years) and the one easily available to download. Either way, they're all bloody good.
February 18, 201312 yr comment_150447 Vampire requires an endless amount of announcements which unfortunately cuts out the ride music due to the volume. Required Announcements (From what I remember) - Stand Clear, Gates Opening - Please Leave bellongings on opposite side of the platform, wear your bloody shoes - I said wear your bloody shoes you traveller - Okay, you've all got your shoes on? - Stand Clear, Gates Closing - Re-Check All Bars (Or just the fatty in the 3rd row) - Hold On Tight, Here we go ... And repeat. The endless announcements start to annoy me. The only sort of announcement I think that we would need is if the ride has broken down. Instead every time the train dispatches from the station we get this: "Sit back and hold on tight, the vampire taking flight mwahahahha" and the operators laugh can be so stupid sometimes that it totally kills the atmosphere. As far as I'm aware, rides like saw and nemesis inferno at thorpe park don't have all these announcements so why does vampire?
February 18, 201312 yr comment_150449 I don't mind the dispatch announcement, gives the rides at Chessie some character and uniqueness... Indeed, more rides need announcements for dispatch (or at least a theme)... The PA volume is the issue...
February 18, 201312 yr comment_150452 Announcements are used to speed up the loading / off loading process. The dispatch announcement would be used for H&S reasons.
February 18, 201312 yr comment_150493 Well booger me, I didn't realise there were different ones (though I am thick so would not know the difference) I got the original from re:ride then lost it so found one on youtube - whichever one it is I like it! Are the ReRide and YouTube ones different? There's three different ones it seems - the station, the area one (unsure if it's different now, after they lacked it for a couple of years) and the one easily available to download. Either way, they're all bloody good. Can you post or PM me so links for all 3 please? Thanks. As far as I'm aware, rides like saw and nemesis inferno at thorpe park don't have all these announcements so why does vampire? Simple - it's old hat! As Benin pointed out, the PA volume just needs sorting, but I think I'd rather have a real-time voice on Vampire as opposed to some of the recorded ones on other rides. Only last season, Fury was finally ditched of the "Exit to the left", because if you came into the station backwards, exiting to the left would be the loading platform.
February 18, 201312 yr comment_150501 There's three different ones it seems - the station, the area one (unsure if it's different now, after they lacked it for a couple of years) and the one easily available to download. Either way, they're all bloody good. I thought I just imagined there being audio around the entrance! It stopped playing years ago, probably because of the proximity to the Monkey Puzzle. If I remember correctly it was mostly screams rather than music. By the way, there is only one version of the Vampire theme currently on the internet, and that is the ReRide version. Anything on YouTube would just be the same file reuploaded. The only way to get the real version would be to copy it from the computers on the ride itself (or whatever ancient device it plays from).
February 18, 201312 yr comment_150504 Just as I thought. I've had the ReRide version years now and have never come across another version, so if I was to discover another version then I would be very surprised. And, talking of ancient, I am told the station speakers are a very good reliable make (not sure what make) - anyone know?
February 18, 201312 yr comment_150505 BOSE BOSE everything is BOSE But I meant what system the music is playing from, not the speakers. I wouldn't be surprised if it is still the same equipment from 23 years ago!
February 18, 201312 yr comment_150527 I thought I just imagined there being audio around the entrance! It stopped playing years ago, probably because of the proximity to the Monkey Puzzle. If I remember correctly it was mostly screams rather than music. The system died I believe, definitely wasn't turned off due to locality.
February 18, 201312 yr comment_150543 So when it returned for 2002 after a year out of action, no PA or audio was different?
February 18, 201312 yr comment_150561 Who knows - I imagine not, the systems are pretty ancient along with speakers etc. There was a zone for the break run pre-entering the building, with many speakers on the ground etc which weren't working from at least 2006, but I imagine that's just it dying rather than a change in zonal systems etc.
February 26, 201312 yr comment_151216 A quick question regarding Vampire.... If I were to take my daughter andher friend (both aged 6 and just over the 1.1m height requirement), would they be allowed to sit next to eachother with me in a seat in the row behind them? Or would an adult need to sit next to each child? If anyone knows I would be very grateful. Cheers
February 26, 201312 yr comment_151217 I've got a feeling you may have to sit next to one of them. I could be wrong though. When you go, it's best to check with a queueline attendant or Guest Services.
February 26, 201312 yr comment_151219 I think they have to be 1.3 to sit on their own, this was the case when I took my son on a couple of years back.
February 26, 201312 yr comment_151220 Thanks for all the info guys - I suspected this may be the case.
February 26, 201312 yr comment_151221 If you have a spare child it is very easy and perfectly safe to find a random adult to sit next to them who is in an odd numbered group. If you sit directly behind them they're not leaving your sight. Many times I have looked after random kids for a ride having been asked on the platform by parents.
February 27, 201312 yr comment_151249 Why do they need the P.A announcements though? No other coaster does except maybe for re checks...
February 27, 201312 yr comment_151260 Why do they need the P.A announcements though? No other coaster does except maybe for re checks... Both Runaway Trains in the country do have PA announcements... It's probably a result of age and Chessie's view of interaction...
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