-
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
Tom
TS Member
Re: Thorpe Park
Oh god, glad it isn't open now then really. It really will be mundane going forwards, particularly in anything other than total darkness and with those brake sections.
AstroDan said:Making the ride a lower height restriction, turning it forwards and linking up with Ministry of Sound.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
Oh god, glad it isn't open now then really. It really will be mundane going forwards, particularly in anything other than total darkness and with those brake sections.
John
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance
Re: Thorpe Park
I thought Swarm backwards was utterly underwhelming - it's just more nauseating and you can't see the fire or the near misses. The billboard is a good addition though, for the best effect sit at the front left.
Queuing system: the old fastrack entrance has been converted to the "brave it backwards" queue, you get handed a ticket at the bag drop. The ticket isn't laminated like the old front row ones, but it has the date on which means that you have to use it on that visit (though I guess you could choose to use it later in the day like with the front row ones...). There is a small cattle pen inside the station for the back rows - this holds around 6 trains worth of queue.
The main Q now turns right at entrance, fastrack is on the same side but straight ahead (part of main queue has been converted to FT). The front row queue has gone as fastrack now reaches merge through the old FRQ. Waiting extra for front row seems to be at the discretion of the batching hosts.
The whole thing seems to have been implemented pretty badly - a lot of people got lost today by going down fastrack rather than main Q, there is currently no ORP for back rows (but the photos of the back of rows 6 and 7 are still displayed) and the video camera on row 5 is still in place - filming the back of row 6. The new queue layout means queues will be much slower moving than before whichever way you face, though it's possible back rows may have a shorter wait than front rows as their queue is almost entirely separate. Back row fastrack seems a possibility, though there was no fastrack on any ride today.
Onto the rest of the park:
Loggers isn't as bad as that pic makes it look - the 2nd half of the tunnel is unchanged, and the tunnel entrance is quite low which gives an interesting view from the drop - it's quite a wide tunnel which makes it look lower than it actually is. The concrete/earth side walls of the drop tunnel are still in place, covered by camouflage netting - this bit looks pretty naff.
Inferno has seen a lot of work with new station lighting and the tunnel effects all working, along with the misters in the queue, but the most important change is that the old dispatch audio is back, along with the old station loop, after several years absence!
Crash Padconstruction assembly is well underway. It looks rubbish.
I thought Swarm backwards was utterly underwhelming - it's just more nauseating and you can't see the fire or the near misses. The billboard is a good addition though, for the best effect sit at the front left.
Queuing system: the old fastrack entrance has been converted to the "brave it backwards" queue, you get handed a ticket at the bag drop. The ticket isn't laminated like the old front row ones, but it has the date on which means that you have to use it on that visit (though I guess you could choose to use it later in the day like with the front row ones...). There is a small cattle pen inside the station for the back rows - this holds around 6 trains worth of queue.
The main Q now turns right at entrance, fastrack is on the same side but straight ahead (part of main queue has been converted to FT). The front row queue has gone as fastrack now reaches merge through the old FRQ. Waiting extra for front row seems to be at the discretion of the batching hosts.
The whole thing seems to have been implemented pretty badly - a lot of people got lost today by going down fastrack rather than main Q, there is currently no ORP for back rows (but the photos of the back of rows 6 and 7 are still displayed) and the video camera on row 5 is still in place - filming the back of row 6. The new queue layout means queues will be much slower moving than before whichever way you face, though it's possible back rows may have a shorter wait than front rows as their queue is almost entirely separate. Back row fastrack seems a possibility, though there was no fastrack on any ride today.
Onto the rest of the park:
Loggers isn't as bad as that pic makes it look - the 2nd half of the tunnel is unchanged, and the tunnel entrance is quite low which gives an interesting view from the drop - it's quite a wide tunnel which makes it look lower than it actually is. The concrete/earth side walls of the drop tunnel are still in place, covered by camouflage netting - this bit looks pretty naff.
Inferno has seen a lot of work with new station lighting and the tunnel effects all working, along with the misters in the queue, but the most important change is that the old dispatch audio is back, along with the old station loop, after several years absence!
Crash Pad
John
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance
Re: Thorpe Park
I may have done a celebratory dance when I first heard it.
The station ambience isn't what it was when the ride first opened (they haven't replaced the 'candles' in the lanterns and the new dispatch lighting isn't as good as the original), but it's a massive step forward.
A couple of other things I missed off my last post:
Detonator and Depth Charge no longer have on ride photos. Depth Charge's photo shop now sells fastrack.
Drinks capsules can now only be refilled at certain locations, these are marked on the park map.
There are now gates on all paths leading from the dome, allowing it to be opened when the rest of the park is shut. This is presumably for the Crash Pad, but could also help take the pressure of the entrance plaza before the park opens.
Colossus and Ranger County audio is still too fast.
Lots of new merch, including clothing. Some of it looks pretty good.
Other notes from today:
Swarm's 2nd train is still stripped down. There are currently no seats or decorative panels on the back half of the train (couldn't see the front). Expect it to remain on 1 train op for the foreseeable future.
Stealth had no queue line music today, and had problems with the 2nd train.
I may have done a celebratory dance when I first heard it.
The station ambience isn't what it was when the ride first opened (they haven't replaced the 'candles' in the lanterns and the new dispatch lighting isn't as good as the original), but it's a massive step forward.
A couple of other things I missed off my last post:
Detonator and Depth Charge no longer have on ride photos. Depth Charge's photo shop now sells fastrack.
Drinks capsules can now only be refilled at certain locations, these are marked on the park map.
There are now gates on all paths leading from the dome, allowing it to be opened when the rest of the park is shut. This is presumably for the Crash Pad, but could also help take the pressure of the entrance plaza before the park opens.
Colossus and Ranger County audio is still too fast.
Lots of new merch, including clothing. Some of it looks pretty good.
Other notes from today:
Swarm's 2nd train is still stripped down. There are currently no seats or decorative panels on the back half of the train (couldn't see the front). Expect it to remain on 1 train op for the foreseeable future.
Stealth had no queue line music today, and had problems with the 2nd train.
Ted
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Kondaa
Re: Thorpe Park
Thanks for all the information, John. I'm please to hear that Nemesis Inferno has the dispatch music back. As much as I don't like the ride, it does create a nice atmosphere inside the station and dispatch music will help that. As for Logger's tunnel, I'm disappointed that it's mostly been removed but the low tunnel entrance sounds a bit interesting though. Plus I'm pleased about new merch, will add to my Thorpe collection!
However I'm gutted to heat that there was no queue line music for Stealth today as it creates a great atmosphere around the area with 50's/60's music playing, but hopefully I should hear it on Thursday when I go.
Looking forward to riding Swarm backwards on Thursday, thanks for letting us know about the queuing system for the back rows. Looking forward to riding Stealth, Swarm, and Rush in 5 days!
=)
Yay my 1000th Post! ;D
Thanks for all the information, John. I'm please to hear that Nemesis Inferno has the dispatch music back. As much as I don't like the ride, it does create a nice atmosphere inside the station and dispatch music will help that. As for Logger's tunnel, I'm disappointed that it's mostly been removed but the low tunnel entrance sounds a bit interesting though. Plus I'm pleased about new merch, will add to my Thorpe collection!
However I'm gutted to heat that there was no queue line music for Stealth today as it creates a great atmosphere around the area with 50's/60's music playing, but hopefully I should hear it on Thursday when I go.
Looking forward to riding Swarm backwards on Thursday, thanks for letting us know about the queuing system for the back rows. Looking forward to riding Stealth, Swarm, and Rush in 5 days!
=)
Yay my 1000th Post! ;D
Re: Thorpe Park
With the inferno dispatch audio working - does this route through the massive bass cannons or are these still unused?
You mention the inferno station loop? Which one is this? All I remember from the ride opening is silence during loading, and then dispatch plays..
With the inferno dispatch audio working - does this route through the massive bass cannons or are these still unused?
You mention the inferno station loop? Which one is this? All I remember from the ride opening is silence during loading, and then dispatch plays..
John
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance
Re: Thorpe Park
The bass cannons are in use. I'm not sure there as loud as they used to be, but it's been ages since I heard the dispatch track played through them so it's hard to be certain.
This is the loading music I mentioned, there is also a new boarding announcement, or possibly an old one that's just been out of use for ages - I'm never sure with Thorpe!
The bass cannons are in use. I'm not sure there as loud as they used to be, but it's been ages since I heard the dispatch track played through them so it's hard to be certain.
This is the loading music I mentioned, there is also a new boarding announcement, or possibly an old one that's just been out of use for ages - I'm never sure with Thorpe!
Benzin
TS Member
Re: Thorpe Park
Mraws is alright, doesn't actually affect the ride that much, it's no more intense or forceful than forwards...
Today was alright, Thorpe must have learnt with barely anyone in the park, although the one train operations are never fun... Stealth was constantly testing but didn't open till 4, Saw and Rush kept dying and that was it for major breakdowns... Walk-ons were common on the flats especially (and Inferno when on two trains)...
As for those enthusiasts who verbally abused the staff member for not letting them ride backwards on the first train, you are pathetic, horrible people and I hope you get banned for reacting to something like that in such a manner... Does it REALLY matter to be the first people on a ride? No, to loudly abuse a member of staff in the station shows you don't deserve to, especially when you HAD tickets to ride it backwards anyways...
I hope those two enthusiasts get banned, because they were out of order and it gives the entire community of us (forums, groups, etc) a bad name...
Mraws is alright, doesn't actually affect the ride that much, it's no more intense or forceful than forwards...
Today was alright, Thorpe must have learnt with barely anyone in the park, although the one train operations are never fun... Stealth was constantly testing but didn't open till 4, Saw and Rush kept dying and that was it for major breakdowns... Walk-ons were common on the flats especially (and Inferno when on two trains)...
As for those enthusiasts who verbally abused the staff member for not letting them ride backwards on the first train, you are pathetic, horrible people and I hope you get banned for reacting to something like that in such a manner... Does it REALLY matter to be the first people on a ride? No, to loudly abuse a member of staff in the station shows you don't deserve to, especially when you HAD tickets to ride it backwards anyways...
I hope those two enthusiasts get banned, because they were out of order and it gives the entire community of us (forums, groups, etc) a bad name...
John
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance
Re: Thorpe Park
It does look very low on-ride too - a better head chopper effect than anything on the Swarm until they added the billboard!
You sort of drop into the tunnel at the end of the drop run off, which is quite an interesting effect. All in all I'd say the ride is no worse now than it was last year, though aesthetically the lift and drop area could do with some work.
It does look very low on-ride too - a better head chopper effect than anything on the Swarm until they added the billboard!
You sort of drop into the tunnel at the end of the drop run off, which is quite an interesting effect. All in all I'd say the ride is no worse now than it was last year, though aesthetically the lift and drop area could do with some work.
Tom
TS Member
Re: Thorpe Park
I thought Swarm backwards was pretty good, but it was only my second ever ride on it. We then rode a couple of times more including once on front right. I think basically the ride is pretty mundane baring the first drop. It's slow and lumbering with only the odd flash of intensity. It LOOKS amazing though.
I think the park have certainly redeemed themselves from 2011gate and 5,000 was a good cap. I had a great day and barring an hour-plus wait for Colossus' front row, it was relatively painless to get on things. I managed to tick a few things off I haven't done at Thorpe before, like Storm Surge and Samurai.
The Crash Pad is an eye sore, but at least it's relatively hidden. X not being ready was also disappointing as I'm eager to see the changes. The sign at the exit saying "standard pass holders remember your parking tickets" was a slight slap in the face - but they are the only negative points.
This will probably be my only trip to Thorpe this year, barring a possible debut at Fright Nights and I'm thankful to the park for running the event well.
I thought Swarm backwards was pretty good, but it was only my second ever ride on it. We then rode a couple of times more including once on front right. I think basically the ride is pretty mundane baring the first drop. It's slow and lumbering with only the odd flash of intensity. It LOOKS amazing though.
I think the park have certainly redeemed themselves from 2011gate and 5,000 was a good cap. I had a great day and barring an hour-plus wait for Colossus' front row, it was relatively painless to get on things. I managed to tick a few things off I haven't done at Thorpe before, like Storm Surge and Samurai.
The Crash Pad is an eye sore, but at least it's relatively hidden. X not being ready was also disappointing as I'm eager to see the changes. The sign at the exit saying "standard pass holders remember your parking tickets" was a slight slap in the face - but they are the only negative points.
This will probably be my only trip to Thorpe this year, barring a possible debut at Fright Nights and I'm thankful to the park for running the event well.
Re: Thorpe Park
John's summarised most of the important things to know about Thorpe atm so far, and I'm sure there are others that'll come back to me, but I'd just like to say that - against all odds - the park managed to pull a proper decent AP event out of the bag today!
The weather conditions were very very bad but they still managed to get everything working at some point (hell, even Rush...ish...), with Stealth putting in a surprise appearance at the end of the day as the snow set in. Adorable to see some staff members who were clearly just starting and their ridiculous amounts of enthusiasm - can only hope that's kept up. But ultimately, with the exception of silly BIB queues occasionally, caused by 1 train operation, a very well-run day.
To sum it up, the preemptive LONG external queueline they'd added outside Guest Services wasn't used at all. Very impressed.
John's summarised most of the important things to know about Thorpe atm so far, and I'm sure there are others that'll come back to me, but I'd just like to say that - against all odds - the park managed to pull a proper decent AP event out of the bag today!
The weather conditions were very very bad but they still managed to get everything working at some point (hell, even Rush...ish...), with Stealth putting in a surprise appearance at the end of the day as the snow set in. Adorable to see some staff members who were clearly just starting and their ridiculous amounts of enthusiasm - can only hope that's kept up. But ultimately, with the exception of silly BIB queues occasionally, caused by 1 train operation, a very well-run day.
To sum it up, the preemptive LONG external queueline they'd added outside Guest Services wasn't used at all. Very impressed.
Rob
TS Team
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance
Re: Thorpe Park
I'll post more tomorrow when I'm less tired, but quickly for now. Swarm backwards was a lot better than I was expecting it to be. I thought it would be horrendous but it was actually quite fun. The billboard is a great head chopper when going forwards!
Also, credit to Thorpe. They put on a really good AP preview day. You knew they were trying when Stealth had been down all day but opened about an hour before ride close! Refreshing to see.
I'll post more tomorrow when I'm less tired, but quickly for now. Swarm backwards was a lot better than I was expecting it to be. I thought it would be horrendous but it was actually quite fun. The billboard is a great head chopper when going forwards!
Also, credit to Thorpe. They put on a really good AP preview day. You knew they were trying when Stealth had been down all day but opened about an hour before ride close! Refreshing to see.
Cheese
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Helix, Liseberg
Re: Thorpe Park
I fully admit that on Saturday I went into The Swarm's station expecting (and perhaps even wanting) to dislike the backwards ride experience. Yes, I probably should have tried to be more open-minded, but it sounded like a stupid idea from the outset, and I felt even more negative when I saw how the queue had been butchered. Giving the backwards rows a separate queue is plain daft, and will mean more work if the ride gets put back to normal in future. As John suggested at the time, splitting the queue for the backwards rows in the station and treating it like a front row queue is treated on any other coaster would be preferable.
I was pleased to see that the car shells are all the correct way around irrespective of seat direction. I'm sure one of the marketing images Thorpe released showed the reversed cars entirely turned round. Fortunately they've gone the whole hog with the change, and as a result the single train they'd got ready didn't look like five drones being followed by two stupid drones flying backwards as I feared it would.
Rowe and I sat on row 6 on the right. I found the view of the layout from the lift hill made a nice change. Unfortunately from there onwards I found the ride much less enjoyable than forwards. I thought the first drop might be fun even if the rest of the ride suffered, but the brief pop of airtime I hoped I'd get as the train rushed towards the ground didn't happen. From there on the ride is an unpleasant blur of force you can't see coming and wasted fire/near misses, and I had a headache by the time we pulled back into the station. I don't know whether row 7 is any better (Islander rode on the same side in that row and enjoyed it), but I was entirely unimpressed and Rowe felt the same.
The only other positive thing I can say about it is that row 7 riders were avoiding a soaking from the water spray effect on the helicopter turn. I didn't notice it working on my forward rides afterwards, but riding backwards I saw it throw a big splash all over the back of the outside seat on row 7. Having received a soaking in that seat last year, I can safely say that would've been very unwelcome in Saturday's chilly weather!
I may reluctantly give backwards another go later in the year, but for now it's definitely a thumbs down from me. Forwards however is still good fun, and I'm pleased to say that I think the billboard is a change for the better. There's still a fair bit of clearance, but it felt nearer than the other misses. I certainly found myself instinctively ducking slightly on my first forwards ride! The smashed corner provides a nice second miss if you sit on the left too. Well done on that Thorpe, but please, please put the trains right for next season.
I fully admit that on Saturday I went into The Swarm's station expecting (and perhaps even wanting) to dislike the backwards ride experience. Yes, I probably should have tried to be more open-minded, but it sounded like a stupid idea from the outset, and I felt even more negative when I saw how the queue had been butchered. Giving the backwards rows a separate queue is plain daft, and will mean more work if the ride gets put back to normal in future. As John suggested at the time, splitting the queue for the backwards rows in the station and treating it like a front row queue is treated on any other coaster would be preferable.
I was pleased to see that the car shells are all the correct way around irrespective of seat direction. I'm sure one of the marketing images Thorpe released showed the reversed cars entirely turned round. Fortunately they've gone the whole hog with the change, and as a result the single train they'd got ready didn't look like five drones being followed by two stupid drones flying backwards as I feared it would.
Rowe and I sat on row 6 on the right. I found the view of the layout from the lift hill made a nice change. Unfortunately from there onwards I found the ride much less enjoyable than forwards. I thought the first drop might be fun even if the rest of the ride suffered, but the brief pop of airtime I hoped I'd get as the train rushed towards the ground didn't happen. From there on the ride is an unpleasant blur of force you can't see coming and wasted fire/near misses, and I had a headache by the time we pulled back into the station. I don't know whether row 7 is any better (Islander rode on the same side in that row and enjoyed it), but I was entirely unimpressed and Rowe felt the same.
The only other positive thing I can say about it is that row 7 riders were avoiding a soaking from the water spray effect on the helicopter turn. I didn't notice it working on my forward rides afterwards, but riding backwards I saw it throw a big splash all over the back of the outside seat on row 7. Having received a soaking in that seat last year, I can safely say that would've been very unwelcome in Saturday's chilly weather!
I may reluctantly give backwards another go later in the year, but for now it's definitely a thumbs down from me. Forwards however is still good fun, and I'm pleased to say that I think the billboard is a change for the better. There's still a fair bit of clearance, but it felt nearer than the other misses. I certainly found myself instinctively ducking slightly on my first forwards ride! The smashed corner provides a nice second miss if you sit on the left too. Well done on that Thorpe, but please, please put the trains right for next season.
Tom
TS Member
Re: Thorpe Park
The generic station announcement about severe weather on The Swarm - it was suggested to me that it could be John Wardley's voice but I wasn't so sure. It sounds like it could be an old message he recorded - has anyone heard it?
How exactly do you know it was two enthusiasts?
The generic station announcement about severe weather on The Swarm - it was suggested to me that it could be John Wardley's voice but I wasn't so sure. It sounds like it could be an old message he recorded - has anyone heard it?
Benzin said:
How exactly do you know it was two enthusiasts?