Ryan Posted March 16, 2016 Report Share Posted March 16, 2016 I don't consider Fastrack vouchers to be adequate compensation for people who have gone out of their way to visit the park, but I do get your point. I had hoped the park (or Merlin depending on who it comes down to) would have tried to overcome the early-season ride availability issues of last year, but it seems that things have got worse with two major coasters down. It doesn't matter if you consider it adequate compensation, you didn't go. ImLucifer 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graeme Posted March 16, 2016 Report Share Posted March 16, 2016 It's a brave move saying that the swarm will be back open on Friday! Could The Swarm and Rush be closed for staffing purposes perhaps? If so...sort it out Thorpe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitchada04 Posted March 16, 2016 Report Share Posted March 16, 2016 Swarm maybe can't be helped? It was testing and had been doing so fine, something must have suddenly gone wrong. Like unexpected, that can't be of Thorpe's fault surely? Colossus is a similar issue in delays of parts etc. Possibly Thorpe's fault, possibly not. Rush, who knows. Maybe only one S&S can work at any one time at a park? It's not great, but they're telling people about it. The fact they gave passholders a priority pass to use on the closed rides later on wasn't necessary as it was a preview day, something they didn't have to do. But they did, and told people the line up before they turned up, and after saying Inferno would be closed got that open as well. It's Merlin, it ain't going to be great. But stuff happens that can't be prevented. Ryan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Project LC Posted March 16, 2016 Report Share Posted March 16, 2016 Well this is not exactly a new thing. If it was a one off then I'm sure we would all understand. However this keeps happening. Multiple rides not being ready for the start of the season. The chance of 4+ rides having a last minute fault year on year is incredibly low. Besides most parks scheduling accounts for delays like you mentioned. Something clearly isn't as good on the maintenance side as it is at other parks. Could be bad management, lack of staff, ageing neglected rides, the list goes on. dragon2000 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Tuckwell Posted March 16, 2016 Report Share Posted March 16, 2016 There was a lot of activity at the top of Swarm's lift hill on Sunday.. maybe it's connected? It could have just been routine, but there were a lot of people up there.. dragon2000 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coaster Posted March 16, 2016 Report Share Posted March 16, 2016 Swarm maybe can't be helped? It was testing and had been doing so fine, something must have suddenly gone wrong. Like unexpected, that can't be of Thorpe's fault surely? Colossus is a similar issue in delays of parts etc. Possibly Thorpe's fault, possibly not. Rush, who knows. Maybe only one S&S can work at any one time at a park? It's not great, but they're telling people about it. The fact they gave passholders a priority pass to use on the closed rides later on wasn't necessary as it was a preview day, something they didn't have to do. But they did, and told people the line up before they turned up, and after saying Inferno would be closed got that open as well. It's Merlin, it ain't going to be great. But stuff happens that can't be prevented. If The Swarm was the only ride not ready to open, and it wasn't a regular occurrence at the Merlin parks in recent years, then I would be more inclined to accept the "unexpected event" scenario. The issue I have is, being unprepared has become a regular thing for Merlin parks in the last two years. Last year Thorpe and Chessington opened with multiple rides closed, I can't honestly remember if Alton did so can't comment on that. It seems that the same thing is happening this year with Thorpe having several major rides not ready to open, and Chessington not being ready for pass day (several rides closed and a huge amount of breakdowns from what I've heard). Then you have situations like The Big Top still being constructed on the day of the preview event at Fright Nights last year, has that happened before? My point is that there is clearly an underlying issue with the park(s), and it needs to be addressed as the current state of affairs is poor. I agree with your point about them informing people, it is good that they have the decency to tell people about the closures - although I have just been on the website and there is nothing on the scrolling banner. dragon2000 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldFarmerDean Posted March 16, 2016 Report Share Posted March 16, 2016 If they're expecting rush and swarm to be open at some point on Friday, it looks like the problem may be fixed already now, but they need time for staff training, so the ride may even be testing on Thursday I imagine while the training is carried out, and depending how well it goes they're expecting the training to be completed and the ride ready to open some point on Friday, the same for swarm? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt 236 Posted March 16, 2016 Report Share Posted March 16, 2016 Multiple closer rides at the start of the season is the theme park equivalent of turning up around an hour late to work every day. Then again, problems do occur and so far no UK parks have managed a full (planned) line up from day one so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshC. Posted March 16, 2016 Report Share Posted March 16, 2016 By the looks of Thorpe's updates this winter, it seems as though Rush had a LOT of work done to it this closed season, like it does every 3-4 seasons. When this happens, it usually opens late (last time it happened it opened April-time I believe?). So to be opening a day late is pretty good going. Seemingly the time it takes for that amount of maintenance to occur is just a bit longer than the time they have during closed season. Given that Thorpe have posted videos of Swarm testing, and it has been the most reliable major attraction at Thorpe the past 4 seasons, obviously something unexpected has cropped up for it's slightly late opening. Obviously rides opening late is a bad thing, and given that things like this have happened before, it could be an indication that they need more budget for maintenance, or they need a longer closed season. But given what we, as enthusiasts, know, I'm not going to hold the slightly delayed opening of Rush and Swarm against them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graeme Posted March 16, 2016 Report Share Posted March 16, 2016 And Colossus.................. I just can't fathom out how they get it so wrong every single closed season, 10 years this has been going on!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TraX Posted March 16, 2016 Report Share Posted March 16, 2016 Don't know what all the fuss is about. Thorpe is notorious for ride downtime. Just wait until May for DBGT and everything will be running. Why go if you are annoyed about it? I'm not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graeme Posted March 16, 2016 Report Share Posted March 16, 2016 It's not a case of "I'm annoyed so I won't go" it's a discussion as to why this happens at Thorpe every single year! Yeah it's Merlin, yeah as enthusiasts it's to be expected and yes we know rides can be temperamental. Is it acceptable to happen year after year...no. As for not going, this is the first year in 12 years that I have not renewed my annual pass and I can honestly say, it was the easiest decision that I have made. The Merlin parks this year are a complete joke! Han30 and Coaster 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Posted March 16, 2016 Report Share Posted March 16, 2016 And Colossus.................. I just can't fathom out how they get it so wrong every single closed season, 10 years this has been going on!!!! To be fair Colossus had scaffolding covering the whole lift hill and sections of track and is having footers re-concreted so has possibly had more work than an average closed season Ryan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThemeParkEwan Posted March 16, 2016 Report Share Posted March 16, 2016 Didnt thorpe say that the 4 rides closed on AP day would be open thursday? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian-S Posted March 16, 2016 Report Share Posted March 16, 2016 Wasn't a hard winter either so they can't use that as an excuse (if the were thinking about it). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coaster Posted March 16, 2016 Report Share Posted March 16, 2016 Didnt thorpe say that the 4 rides closed on AP day would be open thursday? Yes, they said something along the lines of "The Swarm, Colossus and Rush will join the lineup on Thursday 17th March." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted March 16, 2016 Report Share Posted March 16, 2016 Yes, they said something along the lines of "The Swarm, Colossus and Rush will join the lineup on Thursday 17th March." They didn't specifically say on Thursday 17th March, the letter says "from when we officially open for the 2016 season". Key word being 'from'. Coaster 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TraX Posted March 16, 2016 Report Share Posted March 16, 2016 It's not a case of "I'm annoyed so I won't go" it's a discussion as to why this happens at Thorpe every single year! Yeah it's Merlin, yeah as enthusiasts it's to be expected and yes we know rides can be temperamental. Is it acceptable to happen year after year...no. As for not going, this is the first year in 12 years that I have not renewed my annual pass and I can honestly say, it was the easiest decision that I have made. The Merlin parks this year are a complete joke! I'm not having a go. As you say it's the same thing year after year, I'm just surprised anyone still goes until the park can get the rides open. I won't waste my precious time until everything is operational. That includes Towers, so no trips for me this year. It's always annoying when these things happen, but it's Merlin and as you said, it's been going on for well over 10 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian-S Posted March 16, 2016 Report Share Posted March 16, 2016 That's actually the reason why we haven't picked up our passes yet, no point going until the season starts properly and all the decent rides are running. A few friends went to the pass days and before they were like 'why aren't you going?', then after 'ah now I get it'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Posted March 17, 2016 Report Share Posted March 17, 2016 Info board at park days Samurai and Colossus are closed today Ryan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted March 17, 2016 Report Share Posted March 17, 2016 Well done Thorpe for getting Swarm open a day before expected (apparently opening later). David B 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cal Posted March 20, 2016 Report Share Posted March 20, 2016 Any update on the closed rides? Colossus, Rush and Samurai all still down? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ImLucifer Posted March 20, 2016 Report Share Posted March 20, 2016 Any update on the closed rides? Colossus, Rush and Samurai all still down? Rush is currently open! Colossus and Samurai still closed. Cal and OldFarmerDean 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EC! Posted March 20, 2016 Report Share Posted March 20, 2016 Rush opened on 1 swing at around 2/3pm yesterday and stayed open for the rest of the day. That was about it, samurai and Colossus are still closed though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olistjj Posted March 22, 2016 Report Share Posted March 22, 2016 Rush was on one swing on Sunday and samurai and Colossus and loggers (obviously) was all shut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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