Error
TS Member
It's an 8pm kick off so i expect crowd levels not to be affected by the football.
-
ℹ️ Heads up...
This is a popular topic that is fast moving Guest - before posting, please ensure that you check out the first post in the topic for a quick reminder of guidelines, and importantly a summary of the known facts and information so far. Thanks.
Thorpe Park: General Discussion
- Thread starter Ted
- Start date
It's an 8pm kick off so i expect crowd levels not to be affected by the football.
As part of a short break (amongst non theme park stuff also visited Chessington and Paultons) visited Thorpe for the first time since 2014. I knew what the potential issues are with Thorpe and many of these where the reality, mainly caused by type of guests Thorpe attracts, didn't seem like attendance was capped and most guests just didn't follow any kind of social distancing. As mentioned in a post on the Chessington thread, made me realise despite its flaws how much better Alton Towers is. Whats telling is lack of investment in any permanent new additions, with the Ghost train and the black mirror maze (another short lived attraction I am sure) being open (or still open) since my last visit 7 years ago.
Although never would normally spend money on Fast Track and really don't like doing so, we decided a few weeks ago to buy the 5 coaster package. Glad we did in the end due to the length of queues and guest behaviour. Managed 12 rides (5 where fast track in the afternoon when queues at their peak). Saw X 1, Collosus X 2, Nemeses Inferno X 2, Swarm X 2, Stealth X 1, Rush X 1, Vortex X 1, Detonator X 1 & Ghost Train X 1.
After reading lots about the Ghost Train, it seems we got a perfect run through with no issues with any aspects, it was better than expected although not amazing by any stretch of the imagination and certainly not worth the rumoured cost. A proper dark ride or new coaster would have been better money spent. Plus not one of the most rerideable attractions, Ie wouldn't feel the need to re do it if return again.
Wont Return for a good while, they will need to add a major new coaster before make the return back to the park. I know they aim Chessington at the younger Family market. One good point is the variety of food options, the Mexican street food place was good and food quality here was really good for theme park food. The Ben and Jerrys scoop shop was also good, something Alton needs. Alton need to take note and add some of the options now offered at Thorpe & Chessington for 2022.
Although never would normally spend money on Fast Track and really don't like doing so, we decided a few weeks ago to buy the 5 coaster package. Glad we did in the end due to the length of queues and guest behaviour. Managed 12 rides (5 where fast track in the afternoon when queues at their peak). Saw X 1, Collosus X 2, Nemeses Inferno X 2, Swarm X 2, Stealth X 1, Rush X 1, Vortex X 1, Detonator X 1 & Ghost Train X 1.
After reading lots about the Ghost Train, it seems we got a perfect run through with no issues with any aspects, it was better than expected although not amazing by any stretch of the imagination and certainly not worth the rumoured cost. A proper dark ride or new coaster would have been better money spent. Plus not one of the most rerideable attractions, Ie wouldn't feel the need to re do it if return again.
Wont Return for a good while, they will need to add a major new coaster before make the return back to the park. I know they aim Chessington at the younger Family market. One good point is the variety of food options, the Mexican street food place was good and food quality here was really good for theme park food. The Ben and Jerrys scoop shop was also good, something Alton needs. Alton need to take note and add some of the options now offered at Thorpe & Chessington for 2022.
Last edited:
TPC
TS Member
I visited earlier this week and managed to get on all the coasters except Swarm (13 rides in total). It definitely was a busy day but from looking at queue times, it could have been much worse.
Unfortunately, it does seem like DBGT needs to go. Loading wise, each carriage is only taking 15 people compared to the usual 60, which is understandable with the way they are cleaning the headsets, but the queue now moves painfully slow. Preshow 1 now seems to have an actor wandering around staring at you, which does feel a little distracting whilst trying to hear what Derren was saying. Then, the new 2nd preshow has the person giving everyone random numbers, which influence absolutely nothing in the attraction and feeling awfully random. VR headsets still seem very unreliable, with my first one being a fixed image. Even the finale has lost its big surprise. I dread to think how much this attraction still costs to run with the large number of staff being used (appeared to be more than any of the other coasters). It is a huge shame because the ride has so much potential but unfortunately, it still is very disappointing to ride.
I also managed to get on Walking Dead: the Ride for the first time, but X remains the far superior attraction with far more going on in the main pyramid. Only other new attraction for me was Black Mirror, which was decent enough and at least there's no actors, so it should last a little bit longer than the other Thorpe Park IP-based walkthrough attractions.
Unfortunately, it does seem like DBGT needs to go. Loading wise, each carriage is only taking 15 people compared to the usual 60, which is understandable with the way they are cleaning the headsets, but the queue now moves painfully slow. Preshow 1 now seems to have an actor wandering around staring at you, which does feel a little distracting whilst trying to hear what Derren was saying. Then, the new 2nd preshow has the person giving everyone random numbers, which influence absolutely nothing in the attraction and feeling awfully random. VR headsets still seem very unreliable, with my first one being a fixed image. Even the finale has lost its big surprise. I dread to think how much this attraction still costs to run with the large number of staff being used (appeared to be more than any of the other coasters). It is a huge shame because the ride has so much potential but unfortunately, it still is very disappointing to ride.
I also managed to get on Walking Dead: the Ride for the first time, but X remains the far superior attraction with far more going on in the main pyramid. Only other new attraction for me was Black Mirror, which was decent enough and at least there's no actors, so it should last a little bit longer than the other Thorpe Park IP-based walkthrough attractions.
Danny
TS Contributor
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance
Currently at Thorpe. @Sir Queer Llama is having such a good time he's been given free chips by the chef.
Danny
TS Contributor
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance
I should clarify the chips weren't given for free for having a good time. They were given because it was taking a decade for food to be delivered. Infinity Bar and Grill service was questionable. Told to wait outside until a table became available, despite there being tables by the bar free meaning we could sit and order a drink whilst we wait. Y'know, give them more custom? Strange idea, I know.
Queue times are fine, not queued anything over 30 minutes (although the others are now queuing for Colossus for 45 minutes; @Craig and I refuse).
Getting into the park was a misery. Copious amounts of dire cattle pen at the entrance prior to the security and bag check, only to be queue jumped right at the actual bag check by a family who just strolled straight up from the car park. Security didn't bat an eye lid.
The Saw staff were totally unable to host this morning. Forced to self batch as they were too busy having a gossip about their Saturday night plans.
Also, what's the crack with this Thorpe VIBES event? Literally haven't seen anything different other than some flags and some god awful soundtrack adjustments to the rides. I feel sorry for the Rumba Rapids staff. I'd rather drill my ears out of my skull then be forced to listen to that dreadful crap hour after hour. The Swarm island just blasting out pop soundtracks. Utterly bizarre and totally ruining the "vibe" of the area.
Personally would have left by now if I weren't drinking and therefore unable to drive.
Islander
TS Member
This is a permanent change and not just for Thorpe VIBES, isn't it? I know they've ditched the original soundtrack.
Matt N
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Shambhala (PortAventura Park)
Yes, I think the pop soundtracks are part of Nick Hutson’s new audio track for the area.
I suppose I get the kind of thing Nick was going for, and I’ll hear the whole thing for myself tomorrow, but I’ll admit I’m not a huge fan from what I’ve heard so far. The old loop was a lot more atmospheric, in my opinion.
Looking forward to getting back on the ride more than hearing the audio, though; controversially, Swarm’s my favourite at Thorpe and one of my favourite UK coasters!
I suppose I get the kind of thing Nick was going for, and I’ll hear the whole thing for myself tomorrow, but I’ll admit I’m not a huge fan from what I’ve heard so far. The old loop was a lot more atmospheric, in my opinion.
Looking forward to getting back on the ride more than hearing the audio, though; controversially, Swarm’s my favourite at Thorpe and one of my favourite UK coasters!
Danny
TS Contributor
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance
If true this is a crying shame.
Skyscraper
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Nemesis
Might not have been his choice though, he was probably just doing what he was asked. And be careful, because he's a member on here.
Dave
TS Founding Member
Might not have been his choice though, he was probably just doing what he was asked. And be careful, because he's a member on here.
I know he is, why do I need to be careful?
Is he going to come at me with a tuning fork?
Islander
TS Member
He would've had a creative direction set by the park most certainly. But then if he deemed it to be terrible, he could've refused the job lol.Might not have been his choice though, he was probably just doing what he was asked. And be careful, because he's a member on here.
As for him being a member on here, what blind bit of difference does that make? If anything it's a good thing that he can see true reactions to his work
Skyscraper
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Nemesis
I wasn't being serious you knowAs for him being a member on here, what blind bit of difference does that make? If anything it's a good thing that he can see true reactions to his work
ChristmasPud
TS Member
I don't understand why this keeps happening, music being changed unnecessarily. First IMAscore where it wasn't really needed. Then Tomb Blaster (the music was the least of the ride's problems), now this. Like that can't happen without multiple parks agreeing to it, getting worse each time.
Surely they're not really such hacks?
Or did they google "theme park fans" and found Nick's weird musical and thought "this must be what they want".
Surely they're not really such hacks?
Or did they google "theme park fans" and found Nick's weird musical and thought "this must be what they want".
Is there an escalating license cost associated with some of this music, which incentivises these compositions?
I remember a few years after Air opened they switched to using music from the London Eye for a bit due to a licensing dispute. Might have been some other substitutions around the same time.
I remember a few years after Air opened they switched to using music from the London Eye for a bit due to a licensing dispute. Might have been some other substitutions around the same time.
That's an interesting point. There's been a lot of speculation on here, which isn’t normally a bad thing. Much of the speculation is interesting, and the forums would be a duller place without it. But in this particular case, it feels a bit different because an individual in the industry keeps on being named, along with accusations of cronyism. I’ve never met Nick Hutson, but I agree that there could well be reasons for the changes that we don’t know about. That doesn’t mean we have to like the changes, or can’t criticise it, but over the last few months (I’m not responding to any specific posts) it does feel like some of the comments about him have been quite personal. I’ve never met him, but it does feel a bit out of keeping with the normal tone of the forum.
ChristmasPud
TS Member
That was only temporary for a few months I think, the replacement music was stock stuff. I think it was found there were no licencing issues in the end, which is why the original soundtracks put back.
I think possibly because he makes it very personal about himself attaching his name to it, whilst usually we wouldnt know the producer behind projects. But of course that's seperate to the quality of the audio, which is what I think all the critical posts are about, not about the person.
That being said, seeing some of what he posts, youd get the impression his intentions are foremost about being known to fans, it just feels very off putting like a 'jobs for mates' thing behind the scenes. Because, there is no reason for this to have happened otherwise and not first time this happened?
The original Swarm audio would have been owned by the park, if anything using pop songs will increase licencing complications enormously. Who knows. Whole thing is just odd.
Last edited: