September 24, 20168 yr comment_241781 On 21/09/2016 at 8:26 PM, Coaster Jamie said: I noticed that the rockwork around the first half of the ride has been removed. It did look rather tired, so let's hope it is replaced this winter! Actually, it would be great to see Rumba get a refurbishment. The name and music are fine, but it would definitely benefit from a spruce up IMO. In my experience a lot of the fake rocks were removed by the boats themselves! Until it was fully removed it was quite common for the boat to catch on the rocks and rip chunks off.
September 24, 20168 yr comment_241797 On Wednesday, September 21, 2016 at 8:26 PM, Coaster Jamie said: I noticed that the rockwork around the first half of the ride has been removed. It did look rather tired, so let's hope it is replaced this winter! Actually, it would be great to see Rumba get a refurbishment. The name and music are fine, but it would definitely benefit from a spruce up IMO. Yes. Add some rockwork, bit more theming, more water effects, voila. Then you refurb Viking River Splash, add back the theming they took away, cover up the awful trough... but that's another topic.
September 24, 20168 yr comment_241798 Rumba really needs a massive overhaul and refurbishment as the ride has been very rundown and neglected for the last five years (if not longer). The Rapids aren't a patch on Vikings and Congo in their current state, let alone Fjord, Pirana and River Quest. A modest refurbishment in an off year would be ten times better than a shoehorned low capacity walk through.
September 24, 20168 yr comment_241800 1 hour ago, Matt Creek said: Rumba really needs a massive overhaul and refurbishment as the ride has been very rundown and neglected for the last five years (if not longer). The Rapids aren't a patch on Vikings and Congo in their current state, let alone Fjord, Pirana and River Quest. A modest refurbishment in an off year would be ten times better than a shoehorned low capacity walk through. Emphasis on the Congo, Vikings is in a state though not as bad
September 24, 20168 yr comment_241803 47 minutes ago, ChessingtonSam said: Emphasis on the Congo, Vikings is in a state though not as bad Still better than Rumba though in their current states though. The Rapids at parks like Phantasialand, Efteling and Europathough are vastly superior and better kept too.
September 24, 20168 yr comment_241809 1 hour ago, Matt Creek said: Still better than Rumba though in their current states though. That's what I said. They're both awfully kept in their own right, Rumba is overgrown, theming is pretty dirty, and all the paint is flaky, whereas Vikings had had most of its theming taken away, sometimes nearly none of the effects working, buckets always off, and of course... the trough.
September 28, 20168 yr comment_242117 Rumba just isn't rough enough. You don't get wet at all. I first went on it in 1987 soon after it opened as Thunder River (just before the accident) and it wasn't that much better then either. They need to use ALL pumps again plus add back some of the squirters that have been added/removed over the years. And some more of those witches hat things that spin the boats. Anything really. Or close it. I can't believe they've got rid of Loggers' and kept this.
September 28, 20168 yr comment_242118 My wife would disagree, she got absolutely drenched on it in the Summer lol
September 28, 20168 yr comment_242125 1 hour ago, Ian-S said: My wife would disagree, she got absolutely drenched on it in the Summer lol So would one of my friends when he first went on, we'd all told him you never get wet on the ride too!
September 28, 20168 yr comment_242148 6 hours ago, dickie001x said: Rumba just isn't rough enough. You don't get wet at all. I first went on it in 1987 soon after it opened as Thunder River (just before the accident) and it wasn't that much better then either. They need to use ALL pumps again plus add back some of the squirters that have been added/removed over the years. And some more of those witches hat things that spin the boats. Anything really. Or close it. I can't believe they've got rid of Loggers' and kept this. All pumps were in use at the start of the year after being repaired but I believe one has since gone again!
September 28, 20168 yr comment_242156 Are all 4 actually meant to be on at the same time? Don't think I've ever seen all 4 on
September 28, 20168 yr comment_242157 Are all 4 actually meant to be on at the same time? Don't think I've ever seen all 4 on but thought 1 was always off on purpose
April 11, 20178 yr comment_249174 I haven't been to Thorpe in ages, but just watched a video of Rumba taken just a few weeks ago this season and was absolutely shocked at how terrible the ride looks now. I don't know whether all the trees were chopped down this season or a previous one, but the whole ride looks so bare and uninspiring. What with this, tug boat, and many other things, I can honestly see myself not being too disappointed if I never get round to visiting Thorpe again. It's not a dig at Merlin, I personally love Alton and Chessington and visit them both regularly, but Thorpe seems to have slipped way down. I know Rumba Rapids was never the best rapids ride in the world, but just 5 years ago it was bright, colourful, scenic, and generally an enjoyable ride with a sense of character. Now it just looks abandoned, lacklustre and frankly miserable.
April 11, 20178 yr comment_249177 The trees were taken down this year, and a member of staff to me said it was because that a branch fell into the trough and it was decided to cut them all down due to health and safety. To be honest I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case due to Merlin's recent way with health and safety in their parks.
April 11, 20178 yr comment_249178 That's understandable, but a huge shame. Removing the trees removes most of the theming that the ride had!
April 11, 20178 yr comment_249179 What I enjoyed even more was after that when my mum said that it looks so bare now and then the staff member said, "Well, at least there is a flower there."
April 11, 20178 yr comment_249180 The ride since the upgrade is just dull and bland. It was probably made worse without the happy theme music with the new music being a bit boring and far too quiet.
April 11, 20178 yr comment_249184 There are how probably just 3 places where you get soaking and the rest you get barely any water on you so it just makes 1 person very wet but the rest are fairly dry
April 11, 20178 yr comment_249186 This is in an-house fix up job without a proper budget spent to redesign the ride for the 'Old Town' branding they've got going on. It's terrible standards for such a big park and attraction operator, it shows how little money the park get to spend on the guest experience if it's not rebranded a 'worlds first'. It's desperately needed on Rumba Rapids regardless of how good the ride is. No design direction or entertainment here, just a DIY retheming using an ancient prop from Magic Mill, some simple lights and sound. Sad to see really, but at least it's only Rumba and not a bigger casualty.
April 11, 20178 yr comment_249218 The DIY painting hasn't even been done properly! The inside to the roof on the bridge is still the old colour scheme, as is the back of the photo kiosk, one random speaker cover and the emergency lighting wooden supports. Shocking really!
April 12, 20178 yr comment_249223 12 hours ago, Mattgwise said: The DIY painting hasn't even been done properly! The inside to the roof on the bridge is still the old colour scheme, as is the back of the photo kiosk, one random speaker cover and the emergency lighting wooden supports. Shocking really! I couldn't help but notice this as well! There's so many spots which have been left! From what I have heard, Rumba is a more long term project so will have more done in the following years. Lets just hope this does happen and it isn't left in the current state its in now...
April 15, 20178 yr comment_249308 Does anyone know why Rumba was closed for most of the day yesterday?
April 15, 20178 yr comment_249310 Most likely there was a breakdown that needed to be repaird be it a sensor or something mechanical
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