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I think the addition of cold items onto a hot patty has been a McDonalds issue ever since they started building the sandwich to order. They need to keep cheese, salad, pineapple at closer to room temperature. Or with the old system of course the warmer chute headed it back up a bit.

I'd suggest the bus service to Thorpe should also be free if they go down this route.

More profit for the debt collection companies really. I don't think more parking charge invoices is a good thing. The current ANPR system that integrates to the website is the best option and it worked for me, so they just need to ensure it is working for everyone. Or just add a contactless card...

Okay yes, that is probably another park that has national appeal in the same way as Alton Towers. But the wider point that in the 90s it was looking like Drayton Manor could compete on a national scale, but the addition of Legoland in the late 90s probably didn't help them. I don't see...

I think it is a little similar to Drayton Manor in the 90s, that was potentially heading to be the UKs number two or three theme park, it definitely felt that with the three big coasters in 1994, Alton Towers, Drayton Manor and Blackpool Pleasure Beach were the top three parks in the UK. But now...

Maybe they didn't add their registration number, or mistyped it, or someone else bought the ticket who isn't the driver. But it worked fine for us in September, didn't need to scan the parking barcode.

Everyone has the option of entering the registration number when buying parking online for Thorpe, its not a MAP only thing.

He didn't say "Turns out they had to remove Magma because its volcano structure and concrete foundations would cause rain draining issues for the brand new Valgard site" I took it as he was talking about keeping the foundation structure after the ride was removed to use it for something else...

Back when the main ticket option was ticket sheets in the early 2000s, one of the tickets was for free admission to the matinee show either Hot Ice or the magic show in the Horseshoe. We saw the magic show and it was a great part of the day. Feels like another part of the experience removed by...

Even if you just look at the single pass price though, the Six Flags pass is still cheap compared to UK single park passes.

One issue is the parks are not "charging more and more for entry", the entry price has gone up by less than inflation. A ticket for Alton Towers this year is £29-39, taking into account inflation, ten years ago the equivilant would be £20-28. Yet the online price was about £38 ten years ago and...

One moderate fire in about twenty years (or more) of doing displays though. Its not really much different to any other park doing firework displays, there will always be some risks. The Towers are made of stone, not much to catch fire. Unlike Disney who set them off from the roof of the...

Seaworld Orlando passes start from $171 with blockout dates or from $195 for silver without blocked dates. Single day tickets start around $65 so two or three visits should cover the pass price (when you consider parking comes with the silver pass). A pass to all 11 Seaworld/Busch parks is $399...

It seems possible that although there is nothing specific to big cats in the new legislation, the pushback from organisations like Born Free and similar has made Chessington reconsider whether they have the right habitats for them. As they managed to find a buyer for their existing animals they...

But I'm not even sure the thrill ride thing is directly "Merlin dominance", or just that other parks think family rides get far better returns on their investment. Except for Icon at Blackpool and Speed at Oakwood I think it is just that Alton Towers and Thorpe Park are the only parks building...

Because they are cheaply made in factories that have to churn them out quickly with little quality control. Also even if they are the same design they might be made in different factories or different production lines.

Also I think Merlin being the dominant operator isn't a new thing, Tussauds was in the 90s as well with two theme parks, a castle and a waxworks museum, then they added Thorpe Park in 1998. But the competition to those parks hasn't changed much since the 90s either except for the fact several...

I think the UK tickets have been that way for a while for 2026 arrivals. Noticed they also have a cheaper version without Volcano Bay for when that closes in October '26.

Doesn't mean anything https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/oct/20/six-seven-latest-slang-should-parents-be-worried

a lot of that was second/third hand rides cheaply done. Yes Shipwreck coast was still an improvement, but it was only only one new ride and some themed items that will likely be looking worn out already. Mandrill Mayhem was the first major ride investment since Zufari really. Everything else has...