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Thorpe Park: General Discussion

The only lift hill I've walked is Air's. I found it to be one of the sturdiest, most rock-solid, least scary things I have climbed. Almost anticlimactic.

Heights don't bother me, but I do sympathise. I had a very weird moment descending the internal steps of Dungeoness lighthouse once. Something about the warped perspective of looking down a spiral wrapped round the inside of a cone, with very few windows and no horizon to get my bearings from. Everything went all Hitchcock on me started stretching off in to the distance. It was actually a pretty cool illusion.... if it didn't make me feel like I was about to fall down the stairs.

I'm curious: those of you with this unfortunate (for our hobby) phobia, does it still hit you when you are on a train going up lift hill under normal operations, or is that OK because you are strapped in? Are top hats like Stealth's too quick to matter?
.... Probably more complicated than that, isn't it? ;)
 
DiogoJ42 said:
I'm curious: those of you with this unfortunate (for our hobby) phobia, does it still hit you when you are on a train going up lift hill under normal operations, or is that OK because you are strapped in? Are top hats like Stealth's too quick to matter?
.... Probably more complicated than that, isn't it? ;)
Click to expand...
Everybody is different of course. I was in the Hyperia queue line last year, with a father and daughter. The father was scared of heights, genuinely, and under no circumstances could he open his eyes going up / over the lift hill. His daughter appeared amused!!!! For me I have no issue opening my eyes going up the Hyperia lift hill, and looking down as it overtops. However, I have to "hold on" at that overtop moment, that is the fear, the need to assure my mind I am not going to have an incident. However, I can then lift my arms up, have my eyes open, and enjoy the ride. You are 100% spot on, it is complicated!!! Though put me near a real cliff edge, and I will behave like a little child and emotionaly melt down. Dropping 236 foot on Hyperia, YES, dropping 200 foot on a springy rope, NO!!!!! The risk of the rope breaking would throw a switch in my mind and prevent me from doing it. The risk of Hyperia and all its metal, safety systems, bolts, etc having an incident is far too low a perceived risk in my mind. The biggest thing for me would be the ability to hold on, and feel secure, easy when your in the Hyperia seats, but probably freaked out with a simple harness going down the lift hill steps.
 
Josh555 said:
so many people who don't consider themselves scared of heights may suddenly react badly to that kind of a situation.

If you are considering a lift hill walk Wickerman may be a good one to start with.
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My fear of heights is like this, its more complicated.

Thanks for the suggestion of Wickerman, agree with your thought process.
 
rob666 said:
Don't worry, once they realise how bad you are, they just shoot you up with tranx, put you in a straightjacket, and abseil you down over the side.
Easy.
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Well rob, I have two reactions
1) Seriously peeved as you have made the process of being evac'd akin to a horror movie and reminding me of the Hostel film franchise - You horrible person!!!
2) Made me laugh and realised it cannot be that bad after your such thoughtful and kind insight into the rescue process.

Obviously no offence meant, all taken in good humor.
 
I have a fear of heights (can’t even climb a step ladder)and it took me quite a while to get on taller coasters. Once I did though I realised it doesn’t bother me much as long as I’m secure in a seat and strapped in.
I don’t look down over the sides though on the lift hill, just up at the crown, then more than happy looking down the track as I crest because the excitement of the drop kicks in.
 
DiogoJ42 said:
The only lift hill I've walked is Air's. I found it to be one of the sturdiest, most rock-solid, least scary things I have climbed. Almost anticlimactic.

Heights don't bother me, but I do sympathise. I had a very weird moment descending the internal steps of Dungeoness lighthouse once. Something about the warped perspective of looking down a spiral wrapped round the inside of a cone, with very few windows and no horizon to get my bearings from. Everything went all Hitchcock on me started stretching off in to the distance. It was actually a pretty cool illusion.... if it didn't make me feel like I was about to fall down the stairs.

I'm curious: those of you with this unfortunate (for our hobby) phobia, does it still hit you when you are on a train going up lift hill under normal operations, or is that OK because you are strapped in? Are top hats like Stealth's too quick to matter?
.... Probably more complicated than that, isn't it? ;)
Click to expand...

I'm not great with heights.

The one element of coasters I don't enjoy are lift hills mainly just because of the fear of it stopping which has happened to me right at the top of the Oblivion lift hill for 10 minutes before (not on the flat turnaround so I was laid on my back).
 
pluk said:
Looks like an opportunity is coming to see for ourselves why Hyperia does and doesnt work. Just watching the first in Hannah Fry's new series The Secret Genius of Modern Life, about the design and build of various things (air fryers tonight, exciting stuff!), and it seems like an upcoming episode might be covering Hyperia. There were loads of clips of it in the opening montage to the series. Most of her stuff is pretty in depth so could be interesting.

EDIT - 1000017461.jpgthe upcoming episodes does indeed include one titled 'rollercoaster'
Click to expand...
Its available to watch now. I wonder if the BBC released it early so people could actually see the coaster working for once? 🤣
 
Having climbed a couple of lifts I can confirm I'm far happier to be sat securely on the train than stood on the steps. Even wearing a harness it's going to hurt if you slip and my balance is not brilliant.
 
If the train is empty on the lift, they might as well employ the PMBO restart with load procedure when the alarms stop. Gather up lots of staff, make them walk to the train and get in, then send.
 
pluk said:
Looks like an opportunity is coming to see for ourselves why Hyperia does and doesnt work. Just watching the first in Hannah Fry's new series The Secret Genius of Modern Life, about the design and build of various things (air fryers tonight, exciting stuff!), and it seems like an upcoming episode might be covering Hyperia. There were loads of clips of it in the opening montage to the series. Most of her stuff is pretty in depth so could be interesting.

EDIT - 1000017461.jpgthe upcoming episodes does indeed include one titled 'rollercoaster'
Click to expand...
Just to say this episode is now available on iPlayer if you don’t want to wait for the BBC Two broadcast - John Burton et al feature:

www.bbc.co.uk

The Secret Genius of Modern Life - Series 3: 3. Rollercoaster

Hannah uncovers the wild origins of the modern-day rollercoaster and gets the inside story on the UK’s newest, tallest and fastest coaster – Thorpe Park's Hyperia.
www.bbc.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk
 
KolonelKlink said:
Just to say this episode is now available on iPlayer if you don’t want to wait for the BBC Two broadcast - John Burton et al feature:

www.bbc.co.uk

The Secret Genius of Modern Life - Series 3: 3. Rollercoaster

Hannah uncovers the wild origins of the modern-day rollercoaster and gets the inside story on the UK’s newest, tallest and fastest coaster – Thorpe Park's Hyperia.
www.bbc.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk
Click to expand...
I wonder, does the programme get into the details of why it's so broken so much of the time?
 
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