KarlaKoaster

I guess they are OK if you are visiting a park for your first/last time and unlikely to get back as it gives you a chance to ride everything. They work well at Disney, but most of the times I use something like this is at a Merlin park where I hate the concept as it seems to create queues that wouldn't have been there if it wasn't for Fastrack. I would rather them install high capacity rides rather than try and get you to spend yet more money on top of admission.

They often do stop for duty free drink etc, plus a few do go on day trips to Calais itself. I'm not sure if people would spend the night there or not though. The Eurostar currently doesn't stop there, and I'm not sure if they would add an additional stop as I guess the more stops they add, the less high speed it becomes as a rail line. It looks like a nice park

Paramount London have been doing public consultations where they invite people to small exhibitions and ask for their thoughts. The results have been published and are available here: http://www.londonparamount.info/media/1048/your-feedback-from-stage-two.pdf Most attendees were local residents, and feedback has been incredibly positive with 48% approving of the project, and 34% strongly approving. Transport is the biggest concern but still 47% approve, and 16% strongly approve. It also shows what aspect of the resort people are most excited about. Unsurprisingly it is the theme park that is the most anticipated part of Paramount, but people are also excited for restaurants, west end style shows and the cinema.

Yes, yes, yes! How could I forget this?! I totally agree.

I'm going to say replacing the Corkscrew at Alton Towers with Thirteen. Don't get me wrong, the Corkscrew was awful, but to remove such a big ride and replace with Thirteen seems like such a waste of an opportunity and it's like they virtually did nothing with the space they created. It also doesn't help they squashed Rita in around Corkscrew before getting rid of the Corkscrew so I feel like Rita isn't as good as it could have been either. In fact I don't like the whole of the Dark Forest area.

Selfie-sticks are fine for people to take selfies when they're on their own or aren't comfortable asking other people, but I totally agree with this topic in that some people caught up in their own little worlds use these things without any regard for people around them. Taking them on a ride is rude and dangerous. Using them in a show or even a crowd is incredibly discourteous to everyone behind them. I think the same about people with iPads who sit right in front of me blocking my view by holding their iPads up in the air. They're probably the same people who drive around without indicating thinking they're the only people on this planet.

There's now a Facebook page for Paramount London here: https://www.facebook.com/londonparamount?fref=ts There's quite a lot of interesting details and progress reports such as what looks like a land purchase agreement recently which opens up more land for them to grow on. I seem to remember a report says the Swanscombe Peninsular is twice the size of the Olympic Park in London which was absolutely huge.

It would be such a shame to lose the front car on BTM as like you say it is so iconic. Thanks for all the details KingRCT3 On the topic of DLP, when I went Phantom Manor kept stopping with loud announcements apologising for the delay plus the music/effects stopping. Is this normal or was it just having problems? I wasn't sure if it was just so they could load disabled people, but the park was so quiet and it was doing it EVERY time we went on it. It wouldn't have been so bad had the ride just stopped, but it was the announcements, music stopping etc that really ruined it.

True although it's money they should have been spending anyway. I'm happy that something good has come out of such a sad accident though.

Chessington have been fined £150,000 plus costs - I think they were relatively lucky as that probably doesn't amount to much for someone like Merlin. The girl still needs specialist support and rehabilitation so although she is out of hospital she hasn't made a full recovery. There is also a picture of the fence on the BBC News website here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-30780504 I think the panel gave away and caused the gap rather than her falling through the gap.

It's such a sad situation and although it must be hard to childproof a whole theme park, the park was looking pretty run down a few years ago so although it's a freak accident it looks like it was preventable, at least in the eyes of the law. I read that the girl has since recovered which is great news.

Well done on finding it It looks quite fun too, I like how it can go up and down in quick succession like Power Tower and also how it is always rotating

Well from what I remember reading a while ago it does look like the administrators will be running it for one season while implementing a more stable business plan then if that looks promising they will look for a buyer after that. All these improvements I would assume are part of that process. Either way though they are great to see. Especially that car park!!! Yes, it's great! I guess it is similar to redoing your kitchen or bathroom before you sell your house in that it makes it more attractive and valuable.

Wow, amazing to see much investment going into the park despite it being in administration! I thought it would just be essential maintenance while they look for a buyer, but it really looks like they're really trying to tidy the place up.

^

I nearly suggested that it might be so it blends in with trees etc but then I realised that would be a stupid thing to say as there is a 200ft tower poking up into the sky This coaster is looking so fascinating tho

Absolutely beautiful. It must be quite hard to get the coasters up and running because I guess they have to clear the snow because otherwise it'd jam up in the wheels I guess? I also love the fact Wodan's gate actually closes and isn't decorative. A lot of parks would just put a bit of rope or a rubbish bin across the queue line entrance!

If I were you colossus_queen, I would be writing to the park to say thank you to the guy who helped with your tire, but mention the fact it was caused by litter and that the new wheel cost $X dollars to fix. Even if it's just feedback rather than a complaint then I think it is important the park are aware of the problem litter in the car park causes.

Don't forget that Alpengeist has a pretty neat custom support structure. It wouldn't actually surprise me if the structure for Baron's lift actually came from a different steelworks to normal who specialise in this kind of structure.

Sorry to be pedantic but Mechanica at Liseberg is a Zierer Star Shape, not a Top Scan

It's well worth doing a Google Image Search for 'Bavarian Village Winter Wonderland' to see pictures of this amazing part of Winter Wonderland, plus the huge German-size Beerhall that they have there too. I might try and get some pics as I am going mid week next week

Thanks for the photo TR, I love this place Looks like you caught it on a good day as it is always CRAZY busy (in a good way) when I go. For me the best thing about WW is the food and drink with places like the Carousel Bar, Bavarian Village etc... ride wise I really like the giant mouse, the mouse in a box, plus rides like the XXL and Power Tower.

Thanks for the pics. I wonder if they were making sure it fits ahead of a 'public' topping off in front of the press/photographers?

Looks like a spider.

Amazing pictures of what will surely be an amazing ride. That pre-lift section in blue looks so wrong but it looks so right