Ed

And i'll be coming home from Alton in exactly 3 weeks Yay! The first video is shot from the Control Tower and from Corkscrew's station which has had to be changed to allow for Rita. The second video is shot so dam cleverly from behind a patch of trees. Amazing Second Video - http://www.towersalmanac.com/features/rita/constructionsite/rita_movie5.html I'm pretty sure it pulls the 4.7G's there.. Since there's no real sharp pull ups it's either there, after the largest hill or into the second tighter turn. Ed "At least it lasts longer than TTD " Hardwick

The first corner will pull 4.7G's. More than Nemesis & Oblivion, that's the main punch. The ride has OTSR's by the way. With the first corner being that pwoerfulno way would Alton risk losing someone on it. As for the video critiques. Alton Towers make it very hard for you to view new ride construction. For example nobody knew what Oblivion was until the drop was constructed over the Winter Break. And being in the middle of the countryside helps to keep people away. I managed to get up to Rita when only the launch track was up (winter Weekends), but now there's fences everywhere. It was shot from the control tower I think. And it was probably done by one of the operators of the ride, hence why they didn't follow the train at first. But then you can see the rest of the ride at the end of the video anyway. So stop complaining! P

And looks to be filled with airtime! Download it from here: http://www.towersalmanac.com/features/rita/constructionsite/rita_movie4.html It isn't as big as any of the current Accelerators, but it keeps up it's speed all the way round!

Hmm this makes me miss Universal Studios! Jurassic Park was so fun when I went on it, and everything was working! But this was 3 years ago before they had The Mummy. Is the park worth while visiting? In one day I managed to clock up 20 rides on Jurassic Park. The rest of the park was boring as shit! (Ride wise, the shows were ace)

The emails were lovely and threatening.. I've seen it before and this time round I stumbled in a few places. But it is 2am here!

Oblivion is one of the scariest rides i've been on. Lingering over the top of that drop and seeing no track beneath you is such a rush. And then you get pulled over it and come right out of your seat. Shakira will be one good ride

All from my beloved Gardaland: Fuga de Atlantide Magic Mountain *There was no suitable resting point to keep the camera stiil, considering I don't, and still don't know how to take blurred shots it turned out quite well* Space Vertigo The view from the Flying Island. I only found this a few hours ago whilst going through my files, don't know how I missed it! I'm sorry if you wanted these uploaded onto the forums Robb, but it wouldn't let me..

Isn't Pallet Town in pokemon..

Ah, glad you're going to stay there late. These are the totally useless rides that don't add anything to the park apart from themeing; -"The Spectacular 4D Adventure" - About as 4D as a cabbage. There was virtually no 3D imaging what-so-ever in the show I saw. They alternate shows between times of the day, and even though each ride takes in 100 people at a time, it's a very long wait sometimes. -"The Temple of Abu Simbel" - A simple "sit down on a car and be taken through the ride" ride... It's boring, apart from when it stops on the lift-hill and you get a nice message in Italian over the loudspeakers about how this is just a technical hitch... -"Tunga" - I never went on this, due to the fact it looks absolutely boring, although i'm sure you could find some dodgy animatronics to poke fun at! -"Magic House" - It's a Vekoma Mad House. No more needs to be said on this matter. Apart from crap! (Although Hex has a lovely story, if you don't have to wait an hour for it...) More Info: (If you can take any more) The park offers some very concerning bag storage facilities. You just leave your bag on a peg outside the ride and pray it is still there when you get off. However the Italians are very nice and I had no problems in leaving my bag by the station, especially on the rapids. Rides like "Space Vertigo" the drop tower have turnstyles before it where you wait to enter the ride, they are programmed to only let in the amount that you can get on the ride and saves a need for anyone to be at the entrance to let you through. (There's a long sequence before-hand telling you a story in Italian about an Alien Invasion, needless to say it's completely useless for foreigners) Just another phunky feature for Gardaland to boast. A little insight into Fuga- Fuga de Atlantide is a ride where no bags can be taken on whatsoever... (I think).. Due to the open cars it's incredibly easy for them to fall out. It's also very easy for you to fall out. So I do recommend you make the seatbelt tight, ad not the one-click equivalent. (Yes you only get a seatbelt... so safe..) The airtime over the drops was very unexpected for me. Due to the chain lift's on both hills, (very odd features) you do pick up alot of speed and the corners before the drops are banked downwards. In the queueline is the best annoucement though, "we remind our kind and loyal guests that people of a large nature will not be allowed to ride Fuga de Atlantide". Basically if you're fat you wont fit into the seats . By this time you may have noticed how much I talk about Gardaland. Basically I love the park and it's an incredibly friendly and fun atmosphere. As for the tickets, Getting an evening ticket on the first day, and then another full price one the next morning would cost €40,00. Whilst getting a 2-day ticket in the evening will only cost €38,50. It isn't much of a difference and i'm not sure how many you're going with considering there's a mini-bus. But the overall saving can be used to buy a couple of on-ride photos . They are about €3.00 I think, but they are fairly small so you pay for what you get it seems. I'm not sure whether you would still be able to buy the 2-day ticket in the evening actually. Something to see on the day I suppose. (Looking at those prices they've gone up since last year, but i'm not suprised with Sequoia Adventure coming in) Anyway, there's yet more Gardaland info for you. You'll be very happy with the night-time riding, especially on the drop tower! Can't wait till your proposed Uk trip. Then you'll be reading a book on what we all have to say

Well I can't give as much information as anyone else, but I went to Gardaland in early July last year, and the park was actually busy. Most of the people there were students as they all seem to infest the Italian trains aswell. Also I've been to the Movie World/ Aqua Park the year before! It's great there, but expect long queues for the lazy rivers, they also have a fantastically high dingy drop, which you get airtime on There's a very small hill after a large drop and if you go in the front Rob, I can garentee anyone behind you would come flying off it.. No offence It's a shame you don't seem to be staying for night-time Gardaland. The park is open till midnight, and you can get some awesome shots of the ride from the parks Flying Island. Example: [sorry for the large size, photobucket won't shrink it anymore] My advice for the park is definately get to it early and get to "Sequoia Adventure" and "Fuga de Atlantide" first. They will probably build up queues fast as Fuga did for me last year. However if you get a quiet day you'll be loving it. If you do have time visit the Pirate For food I recommend the "Pizzeria Saloon". It's a lovely restaurant with decently priced food. http://www.gardaland.it/en/attrazioni/ristoranti/ I went on a coach through Switzerland to Italy and I must stress how important it is to know where you are. A lot of times we were lost and had no clue what road we were on! So keep a responsible adult (That means not Elissa) looking where you're going. As for tunnels they can get very backlogged. Coming back through the Mont Blanc tunnel we got stuck in a 2 hour traffic jam as lorries and such forth tried to get through it. Anyway, that's my Italian advice. Hope you have a lovely trip! ^ Just think what you're missing out on by leaving early Oh and p.s DO NOT bother queueing for their 4D Cinema thing. It's crap. Trust me! Plus they allow smoking in queuelines so if you have any breathing conditions keep a fan nearby.

Hmm I got on the very back of the Grand Nation on Saturday Night. Amazingly fantastic ride! Plus with the lap bar stopping about 4 inches above my legs it was air-time all the way! Look at that first drop douple dip

The numerous times Oblivion / Air has broken down on me.. Normally it's just in the station. but a couple of years ago on Air it stopped in the brake-run. Soo not a fun experience to be hanging there I tell ya! I'm waiting for the day Shakira stops before the first drop and doesn't go down. It happens to Oblivion sometimes and they've had 7 years to fix it!

Or crappy unimaginative Tussauds coaster? Once again...

Bling isn't worth it. I went to Blackpool yesterday and I was just bored on the ride! Thorpe Park are getting an Accelerator in 2006 aswell. Just a simple tophat and air-time hill. (Top hat is 90 degree twist on the way down) 2 New Coasters at FlamingoLand. However by 2006 expect Magnum Force & The Bullet to have vanished. But they are being replaced by a Booster Bike and one of the SLC's (ala Shenling Clone) Plus this year at Thorpe you have Rush (Large Capacity Screamin' Swing) and Slammer (Sky Swat). If you do come over you'll have a hell of a time! Just don't go on the Big One when it's snowing.. Oh that was cold last night!

I must say the Tunnel of the Soap Box racers looks deadly. However riding Steeplechase yesterday I was crashing around in my seat. And it is soo not a safe ride.

Oblivion around a month ago. It was looking alot blacker than normal and I thought it might have been painted. Alas it was the dam rain. On a better note I found a Dance Machine in the Oblivion shop afterwards. They have to put it under a heater so you strip off completely! And then you get outside you freeze your balls off.

Rct3 is looking promising. But until they find a way to make it work on my pc it's staying unused. Soaked should give some excellent new rides, but seeing those waterfalls makes my pc tremble with the thought of crap fps! In short i'm not a fan. True you can make some breathtaking parks in it. But at the moment it just isn't useable when you get about 3 frames a second.

My friends kid went on the Rollercoaster at BlackpoolPB at only 11 months. And the Zipper Dipper. Just don't let them go!

Munchkin! Please..

Uk! I have about 4 parks near me.. Alton Towers, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Southport Pleasureland, Camelot. Now aren't you jealous the Uk is so small Even places like Thorpe Park are only a 2 hour train ride away!

Hey everybody! This thread is simple! Rather than having a million little threads about everything that goes on at Alton Towers, this thread is designed to consolidate it all into one user-friendly thread. Feel free to use it to post updates, trip reports, questions, comments, and of course, general discussion. For pictures and videos of the park as well as past updates, see TPR's Park Index Alton Towers Page. Alton Towers' Official Website Below are some links to past updates from the park, you may be interested in. Enjoy! --Robb _____________________________________________________ 2005 March 29, 2005 - Rita set to open June 26th, 2005 - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory announced for 2006 2006 April 26th, 2010 - Park makes bid to build wooden coaster Ocotber 10th, 2006 - Park makes revised submission to build a wooden coaster 2007 January 21st, 2007 - Small changes announced for 2007 July 29th, 2007 - Alton Towers to retheme Merrie England to a pirate theme October 27th, 2007 - Sky Ride building cacthes fire November 7th, 2007 - Battle Galleons (Splash Battle) announced for 2008 2008 October 2nd, 2008 - Removal of Corkscrew announced October 5th, 2008 - rumors of Secret Weapon 6 arise (to become Th13teen) 2009 January 9th, 2009 - Planning Application Submitted February 12th, 2009 - Locals Protest Planning Application March 12th, 2009 - Planning Application Approved! May 21st, 2009 - Manufacturer Confirmed July 31st, 2009 - Groundwork Begins September 18th, 2009 - Track Arrives On Site October 4th, 2009 - Track Erection Begins October 8th, 2009 - Track & Station Erection Continues October 9th, 2009 - Micro-Site Revealed October 11th, 2009 - Track Erection Continues October 12th, 2009 - Track In Car Park & Advertising October 15h, 2009 - Lift & Station Construction October 17th, 2009 - Lift Hill Completion October 24th, 2009 - The Wraith Have Risen! November 10th, 2009 - Secret Weapon Delivery December 2nd, 2009 - Sealing The Station December 4th, 2009 - A Look At SW6's Twists & Turns December 11th, 2009 - Name & Logo Revealed December 22nd, 2009 - A Look at the Station & Entrance Theming 2010 January 5th, 2010 - TH13TEEN Leaflet January 6th, 2010 - Theming Continues January 13th, 2010 - Station Theming Progresses January 31st, 2010 - Rita Re-Theme Progress February 15th, 2010 - Th13teen Ride testing Photos & Video 2011 March 28th, 2011 - Atlon Towers hints at SW7 for 2013 August 21st, 2011 - Flume to be removed October 5th, 2011 - First hints at new ride for 2012 November 3rd, 2011 - new Ice Age 4D movie to debut in 2012 December 23rd, 2011 - Nemesis: What Lies Beneath? to be revealed on New Year's Eve 2012 January 5th, 2012 - Clues regarding 2013 coaster. March 20th, 2012 - PR stunt for Sub Terra July 23rd, 2012 - The Evil Intamin Cable of Doom Strikes Again! October 18th, 2012 - Park resort will add themed cottages to its offerings October 25th, 2012 - SW7 track arrives at Alton Towers 2013 January 4th, 2013 - Clues point to delayed opening of SW7 June 2nd, 2013 - Photos of Smiler in action! June 2nd, 2013 - CBeebies Land announced for 2014! 2014 February 13th, 2015 - cBeebies Coaster announced 2016 January 12th, 2016 - Air is being transformed into Gallactica, with virtual reality headgear May 30, 2016 - Planning application filed for SW8, wooden coaster November 30th, 2016 - SW8 confirmed as a GCI woodie 2018 January 8th, 2018 - Wicker Man wooden roller coaster announced for 2018! January 16th, 2018 - New Wicker Man photos released! October 11th, 2018 - The Alton Towers Dungeon teased for 2019! 2019 October 22nd, 2019 - "The World of David Walliams" announced for 2020! 2020 January 10th, 2020 - Gangsta Granny: The Ride to debut in Spring 2020 2023 January 24th, 2023 - "The Curse at Alton Manor" dark ride opens Spring 2023! 2024 January 8th, 2024 - "Nemesis Reborn" opens in Spring of 2024! 2025 January 24th, 2025 - "Toxicator" top spin announced for 2025! _____________________________________________________ Yet another Red Intamin coaster.. But it does look fabulous and i'm sure a couple of Americans touring Europe will stop by for it! http://www.towersalmanac.com/features/r ... y2005.html A very good website for updates. Discush!

Gardaland. Pure Bliss. The customer service is excellent, they actually have real food restaurants unlike many Uk parks which consist of McDonalds spread over a 100 metre radius. Plus the ride's are amazingly well themed, even the SLC has some water features! Plus with the Screamin Squirrel on the way I can't wait to return.

I've already been to Alton Towers this year and next up is Blackpool.. Tommorow! Thorpe Park, Chessington, Flamingo Land, Fantasy Island, Basically most of the Uk parks apart from Oakwood. It's too far into Wales to risk going. In an unrelated note. Hi Rob!