OldFarmerDean Posted April 22, 2013 Report Share Posted April 22, 2013 thanks, well I'm not too fussed about fast track, just didn't say what the fast track was for on Thorpe's website... will just go and queue first thing in the morning for backwards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted April 22, 2013 Report Share Posted April 22, 2013 The Swarm fastrack advertised on the website is for the forwards rows only, though there is fastrack for the backwards rows, priced at £6. There's also a package featuring Swarm backwards, Stealth and Saw front row(?) for around £15 ("Back to front"). I'm not sure if either are available online. Be aware that the backwards queue line may not open as soon as the ride does - on Sunday the backwards queue didn't open until 10:00 (Swarm opened at 9:30) - until that point you had free choice of row as there was no-one batching. There were less people waiting for the backwards rows than the forwards rows when I got there, which was convenient as with the ride running 1 train at the time I didn't fancy waiting in the bays behind 4 trains worth of guests in the other rows. OldFarmerDean 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldFarmerDean Posted April 22, 2013 Report Share Posted April 22, 2013 those fast tracks sound alright I'm sure I'll get on everything I want, I do every time I go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorpeparkjunkie Posted April 27, 2013 Report Share Posted April 27, 2013 Does anyone else find the restraints (the padding part) really tight an uncomfortable? When I rode it Friday my collar bones felt pretty sore afterwards which really spoilt the ride for me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coaster Posted April 27, 2013 Report Share Posted April 27, 2013 Does anyone else find the restraints (the padding part) really tight an uncomfortable? When I rode it Friday my collar bones felt pretty sore afterwards which really spoilt the ride for me! Some seats have belts that tighten throughout the ride for some reason. It was quite a problem at the beginning of last season (when it was new) if I remember rightly, but it seems as if it has been sorted mostly this season - only a few seats do that now I believe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TPJames Posted April 27, 2013 Report Share Posted April 27, 2013 Some seats have belts that tighten throughout the ride for some reason. It was quite a problem at the beginning of last season (when it was new) if I remember rightly, but it seems as if it has been sorted mostly this season - only a few seats do that now I believe. This happened to me on detty- at the top the harness could move up and down a bit but on the way down it tightened a lot. I wasn't particularly bothered though as the ride is short but what I noticed is that when the restraints tighten on the way down on detonator the restraints have to be released using a special leaver at the back. I'm not sure if this is for a particular reason, does anyone know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jammy3112 Posted May 4, 2013 Report Share Posted May 4, 2013 I prefer Swarms restraints. I actually find them quite comfortable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coaster Posted May 6, 2013 Report Share Posted May 6, 2013 At one point today the queue time boards were saying The Swarm Brave It Backwards queue time 100 minutes - it was literally straight on! Not even joking! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldFarmerDean Posted May 6, 2013 Report Share Posted May 6, 2013 finally got to thorpe park today for the year... did the swarm on the back row (right) and front row (right). backwards was definitely a weird feeling, but as other said the near misses become pretty pointless, but the first drop backwards is spectacular! really enjoyed it and would happily go on again, but my friend who I was with didn't go on it, so didn't want to buy a fast track or queue to go on by myself again. managed to get on the front row (right), well having been on it several times last year, but the new near miss, the billboard, is crazy, really did feel like a head (and leg) chopper! such a good addition to the ride! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexander Posted May 25, 2013 Report Share Posted May 25, 2013 The backwards seats (left side) are pretty underwhelming. It felt slower to me, although more intense and I guess is worth a go once, but I probably wouldn't it again. Forwards is the superior direction for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomglazed Posted May 26, 2013 Report Share Posted May 26, 2013 Well I guess with X going forward from this year onwards, clearly Thorpe couldn't just go cold turkey and let go of the backwards gimmick straight away. Thats in no way an informed opinion as I rarely get the time to go to Thorpe but from what I've seen it hasn't done much to add to the ride experience. If I'm honest, it sounds quite nauseating to say the least, no reports of excessive vomitting yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whiteknuckle Posted May 26, 2013 Report Share Posted May 26, 2013 To be honest, the only real nauseating bit is the first drop, but after that, it's pretty mundane, but IMO, good fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coaster Posted May 27, 2013 Report Share Posted May 27, 2013 Whilst I like The Swarm Backwards, the novelty has already worn off for me and I hope the ride doesn't stay like that forever! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TPJames Posted May 27, 2013 Report Share Posted May 27, 2013 Whilst I like The Swarm Backwards, the novelty has already worn off for me and I hope the ride doesn't stay like that forever!As much as I hate to say this, I think the swarm will always keep a backwards section. This is because thorpe have put a lot of money and effort into changing the rows backwards for 2013 so I doubt they would spend another load to change them back. The only thing I could see them doing is what someone said on thorpe park's facebook, change every other row backwards so you can ride facing your friends! I actually thought this was a good idea but that's my opinion- and you wouldn't have too queue extra for the back rows!(This would mean that the front row goes forwards,second backwards,third forwards,forth backwards,fifth forwards,sixth backwards and seventh forwards- I thought this would be quite cool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt 236 Posted May 27, 2013 Report Share Posted May 27, 2013 Having ridden the Swarm backwards recently, I have to admit its a strange and odd experience. The lift and the inversion drop are quite impressive whilst the rest is quite disorienting experience. It's quite enjoyable and thrilling, but I prefer forwards on the ride tbh. ste193 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kerfuffle Posted May 28, 2013 Report Share Posted May 28, 2013 Whilst I like The Swarm Backwards, the novelty has already worn off for me and I hope the ride doesn't stay like that forever! I just hope Thorpe are receiving a lot of bad feedback for the swarm backwards. I also hope that B&M are happy to send in the trains the way they were before, because seriously, most of you may agree, but if I see the swarm back to normal next year...THAT WOULD BE FRICKEN AWESOME! Inferno 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricky Posted May 28, 2013 Report Share Posted May 28, 2013 Isn't it stange how it was B&M's idea in the first place Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomglazed Posted May 28, 2013 Report Share Posted May 28, 2013 I was going to say, they equally worked with Six Flags on one of their Batman rides to turn around some rows of their seats. It's sounds almost like an after market modification they are offering. Wouldn't say no to reversing the rear row on all the Oblivion shuttle... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kerfuffle Posted May 28, 2013 Report Share Posted May 28, 2013 Isn't it stange how it was B&M's idea in the first place Wow. That's the first thing B&M have EVER done badly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pickles Posted May 28, 2013 Report Share Posted May 28, 2013 I was going to say, they equally worked with Six Flags on one of their Batman rides to turn around some rows of their seats. It's sounds almost like an after market modification they are offering. Wouldn't say no to reversing the rear row on all the Oblivion shuttle... Also taking into account to turn the trains round they needed to send it to B&M in the first place XD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted May 28, 2013 Report Share Posted May 28, 2013 Wow. That's the first thing B&M have EVER done badly! In YOUR opinion. I think the backwards rows are great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benin Posted May 28, 2013 Report Share Posted May 28, 2013 They're just a novelty, a novelty only originally used by Six Flags on unpopular coasters... Dunno why Swarm was chosen then... If they try and do it on Oblivion then there's no point bothering about the imagination of ride designers... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshC. Posted May 28, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2013 The general view I seem to hear and read of the backwards rows is that they're good, but people prefer the forwards rows. From Thorpe's perspective, I can't see them lasting more than 2-3 seasons (so just before the next coaster) before they'd consider just going back (and no, there's not a pun there ). That would also be long enough for B&M to conduct any research they may want to conduct on the backward rows (forces, stress on the trains, etc.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricky Posted May 28, 2013 Report Share Posted May 28, 2013 Personally, wouldn't want to see it on oblivion, defeats the 'don't look down' bit... Hopefully parks won't go crazy over switching seats around! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benin Posted May 28, 2013 Report Share Posted May 28, 2013 Personally, wouldn't want to see it on oblivion, defeats the 'don't look down' bit... Hopefully parks won't go crazy over switching seats around! You mean like Swarm's backwards seats defeating the point of the near misses? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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