SteveC

Jose - I was there on Sunday the 7th May and even though the place was busy I think you won't have much problem with line time mid-week. You won't have to worry about SOB as it is down until (I think) mid June - as it is having some re-tracking. It's 'parent' The Beast has IMO gone to hell, if you have never ridden before then I guess you will need the credit, but if you have, then prepare to be underwhelmed. It is a 2 mile long trim brake these days. Whatever car you choose to ride take the middle seat (three rows per car) as you are not sat over an axle and this makes a surprising difference, for the better- although to confirm that you will have to try one of the axle seats!! (same applies to the Racer and definately to SOB, not that it will matter this time round) The only bad line on this day was for the Italian Job - perhaps it did not help that it went down at least once an hour. Lucky for me we were a group of three and the ops work hard on making every train a full load, so we were pulled from the line and 'V.I.P'd' to the front with another group of 3 and I reckon this saved us a good 30 mins. Have a good trip! SteveC

double post log in site crap trauma - apologies Cheers Steve- Member of the Roll Back Club -C

Yay Loopy - CP was so quiet that day we couldn't believe our luck. I sulked big time in the morning as I didn't get a roll back and having been there before and missed out it was 'boo hiss' and all that. Luckily we had ERT that evening on TTD. Amazing how the ride cools down so quickly. The first train got a roll back, the 2nd didn't, but YAY YAY YAY - the 3rd (mine) did. We all went mental - chants and all - it's a bit like being in the mile high club (orgasmic but in a different way), though as I said to a few of the guys who didn't get a roll back -"it's no big deal really" (insert much evil laughing here) Cheers Steve- Member of the Roll Back Club -C

I think the RCCGB were miffed you were ruining their plan to take over the Raven and the Legend on opening day. We were not actually heading to the Voyage when you took the vid but to the Legend. After 9 hours of The Uber fantastic Voyage riding on media day, (gloat gloat ) we were hoping everyone would head to the Voyage on opening day and leave us with 'almost ERT time' on Legend and Raven in the morning as we had to leave early afternoon. So in truth- you were spoiling our plans and we were giving you some encouragement to get lost. No worries though- HW was much quieter than we had expected (don't know if the Kentucky Derby affected this?) I hope you had a great time as we did. The Raven was as good as I remember, but IMO the Legend was not so good this time around. Steve - peace and love to all enthusiasts, with apologies to DaFE, who we might have accidentally upset at a fun baseball game by not taking things very seriously and just larking about -C

well some of your American States are bigger than a lot of the countries I have visited (not to mention I live in) so you might want to list those separately. Being in the UK it is a lot easier to tick off quite a few countries, so here is the list: Austria, Bermuda, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Eire, Egypt, France, Gambia, Germany, Gibralter, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Jersey, Madeira, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tenerife, USA, Wales But the US is so TPR I think it is in a category of its own and for me that is: Kentucky, Missouri, Pennsylvania Ohio, New York, Indiana, Michigan, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, and California and I hope to add Florida at the end of this year.

I agree your trains a fairly crummy for getting from A-B anytime soon, but I think for a sightseeing holiday this Orient Express looks quite spectacular. America has an amazing variety of terrain, and some fantastic (but I agree very slow) routes to view and enjoy this, and if I had time left over from roller coaster holidays, I would find this quite appealing. So it's back to playing the lottery in the hope of early retirement to include luxury meandering train journeys, in addition to manic park hopping 8)

Going to the opening day too - really looking forward to this (and a trip to BB also) - so question for the locals? Is early May shorts and T-shirt weather or does Santa Claus have snow all year round?

Chuck - you should have taken Robb and Elissa on a stick with you - that's a stick each, one for each hand. I think that would bring sad and pathetic to new heights of awesome, and earn lots of kudos. (oh and you could have Wally on a stick in your back pack, and bring him out for refreshment stops). Actually what is sad and pathetic is that I haven't even been on a coaster this season, and won't have the chance until May. Enjoyed your report Steve

High banked - really looking forward to a 'turn' on the Voyage later this season

Ted - if you do your search on posts rather than topic you move up to 123 mentions for Fanatic. Still pathetic, but hope that brings some comfort.

Magnum takes the top spot for me followed by Twister. MF maybe... but I have only ridden three times and in the rain which was so painful I had to shield my face (yes I know I was a wimp but see- I had already exfoliated that morning in the shower) so my only memory of it is as a 'dark ride' -oh and I am not so sure about the super speedy lift hill - took away some of the suspense building IMO. Edit - what am I saying ? - I know why MF isn't my No.1 It's because they made me try out the 'are you too bleedin' fat for this ride chair' before I could go on. Oh the shame - note to self, cut back on the beers before next visit to CP. Steve- I'm to sexy for this chair' -C

Hey that's awesome ......4,792 no wait.....4,793 BTW ^ you just made it worse, you should have not mentioned the R name and just your own. I'll give you a boost here Elissa. Steve - Friday afternoon, should be working..... -C

Not that I'm taking this seriously (don't you believe it) but apart from Snow White - I don't know which one is which. But as it happens I like the babe with the tomato stalk sprouting out of her head - has a very circa 1979 Debbie Harry look about her (ahh the cheek bones, the pouting lips..........) So I vote for tomato head Steve - fresh off the vine is good -C

Hades has gone straight to my top - want to ride now- list, even though I do not have a hope in hell ( ) of doing this in 2006. When I first saw the pic of the coaster (bit) in the car park I was confused and thought - huh- that's what Thorpe Park should have done with their surplus track theme-ing. But when I realised it was the real deal....it was a genuine OMFG - get me there now experience (and you don't get many of those to the pound) Anyway the lottery money stakes are high this week (UK Euromillions) - so never say never, after all , the road to hell is paved with good intentions...and lucky SOAB lottery winners Steve-Must think about a few good deeds or get seriously lucky-C

I reckon you should be grateful it was closed - how depressing would it have been to see all the coasters running - and you stuck up a pole working and unable to go? Steve - the cup can always be half full if you work hard enough at it -C

Quick, call the merchandise team...TPR Calendar Girls auditioning for the 2007 season. 8)

Hey American TPR readers - don't forget the word fag in the UK means cigarette - thought I'd better clear that up for you now in case you thought it may be connected in some way to the soon to follow high class porn update we all await! Steve - I'm waiting....-C

you can try www.midlandmainline.com and enter Alton Towers in the search criteria. This should bring up the current package prices and times for you (including park entry). Not a Virgin Train but it will get you there, travelling up from London St Pancras Station. Hope that helps Cheers Steve

Yeah - great to see photos of Bling in action. I only whinge because the last three times I have been to BPB Bling has been, well ....not Blinging! Let's hope this is a good omen for my next visit

Bring on the Voyage

Crikey - it is hard work trying not to leap to the defence of some of the previous coasters mentioned, but good to see everyone is taking this in true - Vent it whatever- spirit. 8) I hate 'X'. the first drop is brilliant and thereafter, I may as well be in a washing machine - don't know if I'm upside down, high, low - negative G or not. Tries to hard to be all things to all dudes and just fails massively. Steve- glad I got that off my chest-C

Ryan - I think you need to let people know how committed you are to that statement and post a picture of the jeep... 8) TPR crew love pictures and I think yours will go down a treat. Cheers Steve

well being much older - I have to say in my day school meals consisted of real food with vegetables and meat every day. Fries were seen maybe once every 6 months, and salad served in the summer. Fresh fruit was always available also as well as the usual desserts. I went to a normal state school - so not sure what went wrong in the intervening years. A case of going back to the old values perhaps?

Is there a guideline of 'cost' in order to pay that "few extra" dollars for PP charges? I thought I had gone thru most of the PayPal site (I am already listed with it) finding such information. But nothing found. If I could still pay thru PayPal, I would gladly pay the few extra bucks to cover their (R&E) PP charges, on the transaction. As long as it's not an unreasonable amount. Well I think that is probably down to R&E to specify which I'm sure they will do if admin costs become overbearing. Can be resolved with a payment table e.g. - if paying by check - dandy - if paying by Paypal add $5 - if paying from Canada - add 300% and donate a pair of shoes

Camp Jeopardy