AstroDan

I don't even think it really matters on this ride if there was to be ejector air or not. All that matters is that this is a great family/thrill coaster for what is already pretty much the best or close to the best theme park in the world. It suits their target audiences perfectly. The theming should pretty much be the best on any wooden coaster, also.

Shockingly, Blue Fire is still the only Mack Launched and/or Mega Coaster. Sea World get theirs soon, but still... uptake has been slow for now! Others I can think of: Euro Mir - only controlled Mack spinner? And definitely the only one with that track stype. Winjas - only spinner with trick track? Space Mountain Mission 2 - only coaster with a tongue element? There are no doubt loads more.

I think there will be a few elements on the ride which could suprise people - not least the station fly through which will bank slightly and suddenly to throw the riders towards the waiting line. I think the speed of this coaster will be the most impressive element. GCI are probably perfect for EP.

https://twitter.com/#!/PhalanxControl Go follow! They are releasing images and stuff based on number of followers. Thenext target is 666. I am loving this marketing!

The park was open. If you look, you can see the Fright Nights maze tents! So basically, Thorpe took these pictures at least 3 months ago.

According to the EP Board forum (posted today), the EP website and the EP facebook page, the ride is still opening on 31st March.

Nemesis: Sub Terra graphic: From www.facebook.com/towerstimes

I still don't think it would make that much sense. They may aswell go for something a little more unique in the area, as they usually do that with their rides. This would also give the park a USP. I am not saying a Woodie would be bad, I think they're fantastic, but it would be a bit of a shame if there's suddenly this massive saturation of GCI coasters in a small area with nothing else. That said, I don't think a Woodie would fit in that space anyway. It's absolutely tiny - unless they get something small like Twister.

Efteling and Toverland, which are both very close to Phantasialand, have GCI Woodies already. So I don't see the point. They could get something different.

There is quite a lot of speculation if anything will happen inside the building. Obviously, aside from loading/unloading and parts of the queueline, will there be any further track features in there? Interesting.

Well..actually the plans state the colour...and it's black/grey.. ei. a dull moody colour. LIKE EVERY SINGLE SINGLE COASTER MERLIN HAVE BUILT! (Saw, Thirteen, Krake, Raptor, The Swarm) Every single one of them is either black/grey or some moody colour. Meh guess it suits the theme. I just with they were abit braver with colour. Yes, every single ride. Air, Rita, Colossus, Nemesis Inferno, Corkscrew... Unless you just mean the new rides. But to be honest I don't think that dark and moody is a bad thing. I generally think it makes the ride look more menacing... The rides you mention were not built by Merlin. Air, Rita, Colossus and Nemesis Inferno were all by Tussauds whilst Corkscrew was constructed when Alton Towers was in private ownership.

The lift hills on Paris' Big Thunder Mountain are absolutely deafening!

2011 parks: Europa-Park Alton Towers Pleasure Beach Blackpool Thorpe Park Chessington World of Adventures Legoland Windsor Drayton Manor Park Camelot Theme Park Heide-Park Hansa-Park Walibi Holland Movie Park Germany Efteling Toverland Walibi Belgium Bobbejaanland Phantasialand Wild und-Freizeitpark Klotten Disneyland Park (Paris) Walt Disney Studios (Paris) = 20 parks. Did not visit the USA this year due to lack of funds.

Planning Applications relating to Black Hole site have been made by Alton Towers. No details yet. LINK News regarding Nemesis: What Lies Beneath - details to be revealed at 18:18 on 31st December: LINK

For some reason I thought this was meant to be a Gerstlauer... Now I have realised it's pretty much a clone of what has already gone before, the interest from me has diminished. I thought Mumbo Jumbo was pretty bland, frankly.

If that's the case, my bad!

The food is excellent. It's often a chore to decide where to go. They never get a mention on Golden Ticket for their food, mind you. Shame.

That's the kiddy snow tubing. They build a small one (like the above) and a bigger one every year.

They made millions. The public love it. It's spectacular. It's widely acclaimed as the best or one of the best dark rides ever built. I'd hardly call it "ruining". The number of Brits alone flocking to visit these is staggering. It's all money coming out of one economy into another - and that must count for a lot.

Call it jealousy, or what you want - but I get continually disappointed that no theme park HP attraction is in Europe.

Yes it's pretty fun! They used to have it in Portugal but they moved it to Iceland this year. There's a corner - last year I almost got kicked in the face as I was a little over zealous when leaning over to spectate on my friends. Really can't wait, going for New Year again from 29 Dec - 2 Jan!

Nobody is talking about Space Fantasy. Is it a possibility? I have not been on but from POV's the ride looks absolutely gorgeous.

I kind of get the whole "B&M got predictable" thing, but actually - some of their very recent installations have shown a bit of light at the end of the tunnel. Asterix's Invert and Sky Scrapper (the flying coaster) for example both have fairly special layouts and don't continue that tick box routine we have come to associate of B&M. But, in truth, we all know why parks buy B&M. They are reliable, operate well and make very comfortable trains. This cannot be said for all Intamin coasters etc. As for next year, it's a brilliant year. I don't think Europe has ever had a better year, at least not recently. I can't really pick which one is least appealing, but i'll force myself to say: Skyrush. A lack of theming and experience instantly loses a ride brownie points, I am a bit of a sucker for theming!

The new coasters I will be riding in 2012: - GCI Woodie at Europa-Park. - B&M Mega at PortAventura. - B&M Invert at Parc Asterix. - B&M Wing Rider at Thorpe Park. Plus, I'll visit the Madrid parks, and the main three Italian parks in 2012.

Fantastic updates! A question that I think a lot of people have been wondering re: Europa's new GCI is whether the ride will/will not have seat belts fitted? No coasters at the park have belts, and with EP's general throughput record I can't see them being too happy with them. Any ideas? Not sure if you had the chance to ask such questions to GCI.