themightyjack

Thorpe Park's Easter event this year is called MASH UP and features some awesome stuff such as Ministry of Sound parkwide radio, silent queue line discos and Animal bike tours. It really was awesome and the park is on top form this year!

Here is a spolier video of the incredibly forceless ABC drop. I think Extremis is more forceful due to the size of the drop (seating 20 people, not 10).

Right I was on park yesterday for the opening of Nemesis Sub Terra. The below explains the majority of my view. The main part of the ride is a complete let down, the drop really lacks force. But Alton have done the best they could with the equipment that have choosen. The theming is incredible and the ride has a great storyline. It is not at all re-rideable. 6.5/10 for me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9c8OMOREe8

Sorry to double post, but Chessington opened today for the 2012 season. The new attraction is a live stage show, Madagascar Live Prepare to Party. Looks like a decent addition but as the advert shows, it still lacks something in comparison to the Merlin siblings.

My rather epic video of THORPE PARKs brand new B&M wingrider! I agree the ride lacks force, reminds me a bit of Thirteen. Still really enjoyed it though, the theming holds the whole thing together.

In typical THORPE PARK style, THE SWARM broke down 3 times and I was on board this time!

This should be a good addition to the park methinks...

A on board POV has been released by the park! Looks good to me!

I bloody hope this is not the final advert, simply shocking in comparison to what everything else THORPE PARK have done!

Another video is also on youtube, it is a video clip which features audio of the SWARM monster screaming! This ride is shaping up into something special!

From the Developers Diary today!

Popped down to Chessie for the day on Wednesday and had a pretty good time. It was really nice to experience all of the Zoo and SEA LIFE without feeling the pressure to 'get to vampire' etc. This way I really experienced what they had to offer and was really impressed. Although us enthusiasts continually slate the lack of investment at Chessington, I never fail to enjoy my visits here - the park always has a nice atmosphere and there is always plently to do, even if only selected rides are open. The park was relatively busy for Zoo/SEA LIFE day, with bubbleworks getting a 45 minute queue at one point. Most of the day was spent filming, so I thought I would share a few cliips I have put together... It was nice to spend some time in the SEA LIFE centre, which continues to be an excellent support attraction. The Zoo was also on good form, with plently of animals out to see! Also wandered over to Wanyama which is such a great area of the park! Can't wait to see this side of the park expanded, here are my thoughts on the new attraction: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9bzm0RBHS8

Jonathan Ross was talking about THE SWARM on his ITV show yesterday, he does love a good coaster doesn't he!

Sorry for the double post, but this is pretty big news for a park that gets little to no investment! The park have submitted plans for a massive 'Rhino Rally' safari experience with all new animals such as Giraffe's, Rhino's and Flamingo in addition to the wonderful zoo facilities already available on park. The Ride will also feature a 3 minute animated pre show to brief guests upon the ride storyline and H/S regulations when the safari jeep is travelling through the animal enclosures. The theming is bog standard 'African', but looks fairly extensive!

Paulton's today released details of their new attraction for 2012 - MAGMA. It's a heavily themed rotating shot n' drop tower with a impressive height of 25m. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdvpb8uS6EI

On the other hand, I doubt that trim has been activated yet - so I reckon that is pretty much the full speed of the beast. Another video here - shows that this speed is not slow, infact very fast! http://thorpeparkmania.co.uk/news/17-01-2012/New-Swarm-Video

For those of you who live under a rock and therefore haven't got facebook... Can't judge too much from it - looks very slow which should enhance interaction with the theming.

Used to open for Feb half term, but that stopped a couple of years ago. Still alot of work to do, the station, theming elements, new food oulet, shop and toliets need to be built!

I'm not sure whether it is the scale of the attraction, but the trains look so small! Can't wait for a video to emerge...

I would say these are the best trains we have ever seen in the UK, fantastic job from Thorpe - this project is really starting to fall into place, can't wait for testing to begin!

If the plans aren't loading, here is a short video showing the main plans... My intial thoughts... What the hell is gonna go on in that building? It's large and the track exits/enters at different heights. This coaster is gonna duel for at least part of the way Is it really Gerstauler, it looks more Maurery to me? So many possiblities and no details have been released about the extensive theming mentioned on the plans...

Also today, more PR stuff from Alton!

Some videos released by the park: And a picture update from today:

Right. Cheeky trip to Thorpe on Thursday. Arrived at just after 3pm, to a dead park. As expected. After nomming McDonalds Drive-Thru, we found just how dead the park was. There were NO queues, and it got even quieter as the evening went on. Overall, I was really impressed with the park. Operations were really smooth, staff were friendly and the mazes were good. The one thing I will say is that the problem with visiting on 'dead' days is that no atmosphere is created. I think this is a key component of the Fright Nights experience and was severley lacking on Thursday. This is not the parks fault, just something that happened. Furthermore, I HATE the new PA system for the Aslyum. The H&S briefing cuts into the music, totally killing one of the best atmospheres in the park, I used to love queuing in that last cattle pen, watching the groups head up to the platform, but oh well. Now for the new Maze E-10. Totally caught offguard. Thought It was gonna be the standard maze experience, but for those of you that have been on it you will know this is defo not the case! First time, I was seriously scared, more than any scare attraction before. It is simply world class from Thorpe, the real gem of Fright Nights. This is without a doubt one of the best things Thorpe have done. After a couple more goes, the experience was not the same. But as a first go, it really is fantastic, great job from the Park. Will defo be heading back to the park, where hopefully there will be more atmosphere. Media from the visit:

Fright Nights is back for a 10th year! Thorpe Park yesterday revealed a new maze for this year, called Experiment 10. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VG2-Fi4HFw Here is a video I made to explain a few things about this years event.