BMPP

You know I have been a ride op for more then 5 years in the UK and worked at various locations. Although safety is important and you do get bad staff who just don't care, some of us do care. Of course being one of the lowest paid jobs, you get that attidue of lets just get through the day. If the wages were higher you might get better staff instead of the ones who can't even get a job in retail on the high street. You see we all have are good days and bad days and guests in general create bad days. Staff having cell phones is not an issue and can be used on sly out of guests eyes and why not. Yeah I know rules state otherwise but when your on less the Mc Donalds wages for 10-12 hours of the day with 2 breaks thats easier said then done. Of course managment can do lots to improve the current trend from making the staff enviroment fun to music on rides ect. Guests come to the park to have fun and often abuse rules, staff and commen sesne. You know it sounds twisted but I know how much satisfaction I get out of pinning someone to the seat or making them walk round the queue. It's a perk of the job I need to fill my head with a power trip because I would make more flipping burgers. Still how a guest greets me within less the 10 seconds will set there fate of smiles or misery. You know we don't all have the privilage of having fun all the time because the cheese of fake smiles and screams begins to fade into nothing. You go in, greet guest, slam bar down(small smile on inside) send train...repeat, repeat and so on. Of course the flip side is a great chat a personalised service and a laugh and joke. In some cases a sense of pride which is always nice. As a coaster freak myself I see the staff in other parks and some you can tell just don't care, others are having a bad day and some are quite happy although there the hardest to find it's always nice when you do. Somtimes at work it may look like i'm not paying attention and often your thinking about other matters but when you work in the industry for a while it becomes easy to read guests from just looking. One day I was sat in an enclosed coaster booth behind pretty much sound proof glass, thinking about what I was doing the after work. You see it was my job to watch CCTV camaras which after a month get a glance or so, but gone are the days of having your eyes fixed to the camaras looking for the crash or major incident that could happen which was rammed down your throat in training. Anyway a large group of kids boarded the train and one caught my eye, he looked like the rest but I got this feeling to watch him like a hawk, so I did. He went rould the slow part of the ride and went into a camara blackspot. As the train approched the top of the lift hill I noticed he had gone. Since he was sitting at the back the train had just strated to go over the edge of the lift, I pressed the E stop the train carried on becuase of the weight. I knew somthing was wrong I got all other staff to prepare for the worst on the platfom and clear the station. I locked out the ride which would I knew would have stopped on the lift 2, and ran down to lift. The kid had climbed out of his lap bar and decided to lie down on the floor of the train, between the stage of Lift 1 and 2 the kid had got up off the floor and decided to try and re sit down. If the ride hadn't stopped on the second lift hill which is short the kid would have been thrown from the train and slammed into a tunnel wall at the bottom of the drop. I delt with the situation and the kid was sent back to school with parents informed. My point is although somtimes it appears staff don't care most do and would never like to see anybody hurt or die. Although I can't speak for every ride op in world the above pretty much sums it up and I hate to think because you catch a staff member on the cell or other they appear here in a topic of hate when we are human too.

Been to florida a couple of times, never managed to go. I don't drive thats my issue, real pain. Is there anyway to get to it from I Drive, by public transport except a taxi? It's a real shame if they don't because silly British tourists like me want to go but can't. Although I have never been it reminds me of a poor oakwood mixed with Lightwater Valley.

Well I was at Lightwater Valley last friday and in the field beside the KMG was Caos sitting there in peices. A much needed ride for the park. I like the idea of the SLC going to blackpool. 1994 till now has been a long wait, so anything is better then nothing.

I can't see it anywhere. Have you guys done thorpe park yet? Just that Stealth is most likely closed for about 2 weeks. Which really sucks for you guys you can read about the some of the goings on here.... http://www.southparks.org/index.php?showtopic=8587&st=375entry108160

No at least wonkers effort has a story, is a kids thing...and a new experinance...even if it's not great. They took BW humor ripped that out, story rip that out, ripped 80% of the anomatronics out, and ruined the music it's all jumbled and cuts out. I loved this ride it's what I grew up with and to see them destroy in this way sickens me. Why do kids care about shampoo, shower gel and soap. It looks like a hospital all clean,sparse and well lit. They slammed ducks in everywhere and plasted IL logos on the boats, crates, walls and ruined the Fountain Finalie by well lit lighting killing the strobes. Out goes the scene by scene music and in comes a remix of various former tracks with quacks all in the wrong order. In fact somtimes thier is no music! You will see when you ride it, how awfull and a disgrace it really is. Please take the time to go back and enjoy a classic which was greatly shown by this website witht the review of the classic ride/pics http://www.ukcoastercollection.cwoadatabase.co.uk/bubbletour.htm And below the lastest mistake at Chessington http://www.ukcoastercollection.cwoadatabase.co.uk/bubble2.htm

mine...both from G force at drayton manor Perfect and nice colours love how its just goes into the sky

Yes an Alton Bypass...Here is the link http://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/F7C18ADF-D825-4DC0-B19F-4DAC954778B1/21049/consultationreport2002.pdf The small villiages have oftern whinged and been very upset with the traffic problems ect....so please don't get all before you've checked your facts I'm sure thiers more to find choose thought this one looked nice

Can I just say Alton Towers charge for the car parks becuase.... The money you pay goes to the upkeep of the carparks themselves, securtrity(sp) ect. Not only this but because of it's settings the congestion around the area surrounding the park are awfull. I believe some goes to the council. Not to mention the fact that all the money provided was put to use for the new Alton Bypass plans...although a bit quite still ongoing I beleive. Thats a good reason to charge if any. As for parking at Thopre Park if parking in mud and gravel are your thing sure lol. Yes pay per play rides are annoying but i have a great time at alton and never play any it's your choice. I'm really annoyed about whats going on at the moment with the uk parks, but thats life the old days have gone. It sucks but thats life.

They were always a plan but Plans change. Thats why I love plans because thier not the truth, life would be boring. Oh yeah the woddie was not rejected by the locals it was pulled out by AT themeselves. Thorpe is a very exciting place at the moment, Chessie I'm looking forward to aswell as it needs regenerating. Alton Towers are really destroying their park at the moment. Hope it changes

I don't think that has been confirmed about Stealth, yeah it's having a few issues but still. Not unless you know somthing we don't. I'm sure your looking forward to visting some of the best parks in europe. I think the charm of the u.k parks are so unique compared to other parks around. Don't miss X at Thorpe, for a ride like no other lol. It's just a shame you didn't get a chance to do Prof Burps Bubbleworks was such an amazing expereince. Oh yeah Hex is amazing too, If you get a chance have a 99 cone mmmm Enjoy your trip!!!

Tomahawk is also a great jr woodie, scared the hell out of me as i was not expecting much oh just watch out for the brake. The Chinese show is also amazing and don't miss "How not to do a Mine Train"Diablo aswell.

Air for me as the best train Vampire Arrow for best themed the attention to detail is amazing Worst Intimin Standup

For me Vampire at Chessington before over half of it was removed. It was so dark and small, I always thought it was going to hit the rockwork. A great illusion ruined, also it was a real supprise from a really fun ride to a black intense shock as the car swings right out and back in. Now its just like going under a flyover on a freeway, shame real shame. 2006 2006 pre 2001

My main memories are the music, voice at the top of the drop that used to say"sit back hold tight",rachit lapbars and most of all the that big white sign that said brakes hold tight then about 3secs later slam. I didn't think the ride has been removed because the tent was supposed to go with it. As for X it's so bad it's better with less lights. They tried putting in more lights and it was even worse

Just a Jet star! I love Retro coasters that first drop was so great. I was at the rides wake, IMO there should have always been space for it. Now the U.K has no real thrilling dark coasters. It's a real shame to see classic rides like these be removed. It's even worse to see it and not be able to ride it. Although it does have a nice memory board at the entrance with old pictures and adverts.