October 6, 201212 yr comment_142099 To be fair, last time I went to Alton, their drop had no water either, their duck wasn't working, and the shower at the end was broken. I assume this lack of water effects on the flumes is down to the vast amounts of rain we've had lately.
October 7, 201212 yr comment_142125 Water effects at Rumba are not on for a reason. None of them to do with maintenance.
October 7, 201212 yr comment_142147 not on... ok Do we know the reason or is it because somebody got wet on a water ride and complained? There seems to be so much inconstancy with the effects on most of the rides at Thorpe, you go on Youtube and see effects and think "That didn't work when I was on there, to think of it, that effect has not worked all year"
April 9, 201312 yr comment_156279 Not sure whether it has been covered somewhere else but have parts of the Rumba Rapids queueline received a lick of paint this season? I couldn't help notice some parts looked alot fresher and brighter than others. Whatever the case, it looks great. Hope the rest of the line can follow suit in the not so distant future.
April 9, 201312 yr comment_156280 They have indeed had a lick of paint! You could still smell it when we had the Swarm ERT meet in March! The queue line had also been degummed as Sidders found a scraper tool on the queue line fence, ha - he of course handed it in
April 9, 201312 yr comment_156284 Is that water tank on the end of the rapids supposed to do anything? Like the showers on the end of the flume.........sorry if this has been covered so much to read not long enough memeory.
April 10, 201312 yr comment_156297 It used to work, as a shower just like the end of the flume. Not sure if it ever does any more, if it is permanently knackered or if it is turned on hot days only?
April 10, 201312 yr comment_156302 People used to complain that it got you too wet. So Thorpe turned it off.
April 10, 201312 yr comment_156305 I really wish they'd get rid of this ride now. With 3 other water rides in the park, it's the oldest and least favourite of mine, OK I know some people still enjoy it but I don't. And yes, I am saying that I prefer Storm Surge. [/seriousness]
April 10, 201312 yr comment_156329 I really wish they'd get rid of this ride now. With 3 other water rides in the park, it's the oldest and least favourite of mine, OK I know some people still enjoy it but I don't. And yes, I am saying that I prefer Storm Surge. [/seriousness] I doubt this will be removed any time soon, it's a classic, they can't remove their water rapids
April 10, 201312 yr comment_156331 I really wish they'd get rid of this ride now. With 3 other water rides in the park, it's the oldest and least favourite of mine, OK I know some people still enjoy it but I don't. And yes, I am saying that I prefer Storm Surge. [/seriousness] I'm sorry but rumba is way better than storm surge... All thorpe need to do is actually make the ride experience better. The effects should be turned on etc. and then the ride would be absolutely fine. If the water jets were turned on it would be great and if the mini- waterfall when you entered the tunnel work it would make the ride SO much better. I would also like the front- end of the tunnel to be improved as its general appearance is slightly lacking...
April 10, 201312 yr comment_156333 I quite like it, it's nice and pleasant. The problem I have generally with rapids is that when they get you wet, they get you soaked (Popeye at islands of adventure for example). Nothing wrong with a gentle little tour of the back of the park.
April 10, 201312 yr comment_156339 They turned it off because people complained they were getting too wet? That's disgraceful, how dare they get you wet on a water ride.
April 10, 201312 yr comment_156346 Storm Surge is Definately the worst ride at Thorpe. Even rangers carousel is slightly better . As for Rumba due to it being a stape themepark ride and being built on a concrete axe, I can't see it being removed for 7 years at the very least. What needs to appen with Rumba is the theming and everything needs to be completely stripped down and then returned to a more adventurous ride. Increasing the water flow, more interactive elements and an interesting feature in the tunnel (also a lick of pain too) and that in my view would already make the ride much better.
April 10, 201312 yr comment_156351 They turned it off because people complained they were getting too wet? That's disgraceful, how dare they get you wet on a water ride. It was just a cheap shot at getting people wet. Same with the hoses before the lifthill. The water tower also made a lot of people stand up to try and avoid it, thus very dangerous. I have the same opinion with the showers at the end of The Flume at Alton... they are just annoying. I quite like it, it's nice and pleasant. The problem I have generally with rapids is that when they get you wet, they get you soaked (Popeye at islands of adventure for example). Nothing wrong with a gentle little tour of the back of the park. Agree with this completely. I'm not a big fan of water rides in general - maybe in a nice hot sunny country, but not in grey & cold England. I enjoy the ride after lunch as a nice tour along the river with mild risk of a splash before hitting the coasters again. As most people would agree, they just need to sort out the themeing.
April 10, 201312 yr comment_156353 This year it does feel slightly faster and rougher to me, especially the little wave pool area. It is flowing nicely. It's a great little ride and other than a bit of love to the tunnel and queue line it is pretty much fine as it is. Also... From the thread titled 'Thorpes best water ride' As I've much I've slated it lately, I'd choose Rumba. Even if it is in a dire state, the blink-and-you'll-miss-it length of the ride, and the ride experience generally, is still fun. And then todayI really wish they'd get rid of this ride now. With 3 other water rides in the park, it's the oldest and least favourite of mine, OK I know some people still enjoy it but I don't. And yes, I am saying that I prefer Storm Surge. [/seriousness] What you on?
April 10, 201312 yr comment_156361 As it is, Rumba needs a bit of TLC. The cave feels like a bit of a mess, needs some sorting out. Then just some form of water effect during the ride apart from the tunnel and the finale; nothing too extreme, just a bit of fun. I do enjoy Rumba and is one of the few rides left of park where you can simply enjoy it with a group of people. It just needs a bit of work to be brought up to standard. Seeing the touch ups and improvements made this season, I'd hope that in the next year or two, we could see something of some substance.
April 10, 201312 yr comment_156364 Now they've 'refurbished' X I think thorpe should concentrate on rumba rapids as their next refurbishment project, it's completely falling appart. I've grown up with that ride, and had some really good times on it I don't think it should be removed purely as it's an 'old time attraction' just refurbished to a high extent. I went on a rapids ride in the states and that was completely crazy, it was absurdly fast and violent, the theming was great the ride featured huge cascading waterfalls that the boat goes under and which gets you completely soaked, thorpe should do something like that, but without the extreme water effects.
April 10, 201312 yr comment_156368 What you on? I'd choose it over Storm Surge but it doesn't mean I think it should stay!
April 10, 201312 yr comment_156369 Didn't they tame Rumba back when it was Thunder River due to injuries or something along those lines? Either way, I imagine it used to be alot rougher than it is now.
April 10, 201312 yr comment_156370 That was just after it opened. I don't think they toned it down as such, just removed a rock in the middle of the flow just before the tunnel which had caused a kid to fly out of his boat and slice his ear off when he struck it. As far as I know it has been basically the same ever since, I've not noticed any significant difference over the years. Roughness isn't something that can be changed that much
April 10, 201312 yr comment_156375 I miss the waterfall on the side of the rocks before the tunnel. That was great fun as it only got a few people and not everytime. Who else remembers this?
April 10, 201312 yr comment_156382 This ride should stay, it needs a major refurb, but I believe all water effects should be operational, but they should be switched on at the right time of the year. For example when its 1 degrees, you don't need or want the water squirter switched on like the other week, but when its hot and sunny you don't want all water features switched off either. I also think it would be good to have music playing as you went round the ride too
April 10, 201312 yr comment_156383 The water shower tower before the camera busted years ago. That was a teaser of a spray!
April 10, 201312 yr comment_156387 Shame so many of the original water elements are either broken or inactive. I would like to think they would come back one day but I somehow doubt it.
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