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Thorpe Park: General Discussion

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Bowser said:
Nemesis? I forgot, did 2 rides on that, including front row night ride. Really liked that too! I’ve not been on AT nemesis for 15 years or more so can’t really compare. The little tunnel at the start is cool though and some great foliage.

Quite exhausting just going on intense rollercoasters all day.

Rides are more fun when my son is on them laughing uncontrollably though 😢
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You need to start hanging him upside down by his ankles, when he's wet, to get him to 1.4m sooner rather than later!
 
Bowser said:
Swarm was good if a little short. Why is that 1.4m and Mandrill 1.2? Seemed less intense if anything without the launches.
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Swarm opened during what was pretty much the final year of Thorpe Park being an aggressively thrills-only park.

I remember working there during that time and every new coaster basically got a 1.4m height restriction put on it, even if it didn’t need it, to make it seem more intimidating.

This might sound strange but the logic actually works. I remember going up Alton Towers with some of my Thorpe colleagues the year Thirteen opened and then saying something along the lines of “that new coaster’s rubbish, it’s only got a 1.2m height restriction”

Now that Thorpe is still a thrill park but going for a different approach, they have no issue in opening Hyperia as a 1.3m. Not sure about Swarm, but I’m fairly certain that Saw could be reduced to 1.25m and I’m 99% sure that Walking Dead could be reduced to 1 metre (that’s what it was when it was X).

Whether or not Thorpe want to start reducing height restrictions or not is another matter. Imagine the media reaction if an accident of any form happened on one of Thorpe’s rides and it got out that the height restriction had been reduced. The tabloids would have a field day, despite the fact that we know it’s a perfectly safe practice, the media love publishing rubbish to get clicks.
 
Enter Valhalla said:
Swarm opened during what was pretty much the final year of Thorpe Park being an aggressively thrills-only park.

I remember working there during that time and every new coaster basically got a 1.4m height restriction put on it, even if it didn’t need it, to make it seem more intimidating.

This might sound strange but the logic actually works. I remember going up Alton Towers with some of my Thorpe colleagues the year Thirteen opened and then saying something along the lines of “that new coaster’s rubbish, it’s only got a 1.2m height restriction”

Now that Thorpe is still a thrill park but going for a different approach, they have no issue in opening Hyperia as a 1.3m. Not sure about Swarm, but I’m fairly certain that Saw could be reduced to 1.25m and I’m 99% sure that Walking Dead could be reduced to 1 metre (that’s what it was when it was X).

Whether or not Thorpe want to start reducing height restrictions or not is another matter. Imagine the media reaction if an accident of any form happened on one of Thorpe’s rides and it got out that the height restriction had been reduced. The tabloids would have a field day, despite the fact that we know it’s a perfectly safe practice, the media love publishing rubbish to get clicks.
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I can imagine Thorpe Park potentially reducing the height restrictions of rides slightly in line with manufacturer, H&S and Insurance recommendations where possible. With the new approach of wanting to cater to a wide range of thrillseekers, it wouldn't surprise me if the park wants to have more rides for slightly smaller visitors and those who want to build themselves up to Hyperia.

I believe moving forwards that most of the new rides added moving forwards will have lower height restrictions too in line with this and we're starting to see it with Hyperia and Ghost Train.
 
owenstreet7 said:
I can imagine Thorpe Park potentially reducing the height restrictions of rides slightly in line with manufacturer, H&S and Insurance recommendations where possible. With the new approach of wanting to cater to a wide range of thrillseekers, it wouldn't surprise me if the park wants to have more rides for slightly smaller visitors and those who want to build themselves up to Hyperia.

I believe moving forwards that most of the new rides added moving forwards will have lower height restrictions too in line with this and we're starting to see it with Hyperia and Ghost Train.
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I did ask them about reducing the height restriction on Swarm when it was announced that Hyperia would be 1.3m and they said no plans at that time. Shame as that would be the determining factor for us visiting as a family at the moment.
 
Bowser said:
Still can’t decide if it’s worth bringing my son when he’s 1.3m.
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Well I certainly don't condone or recommend this, but one parent I know (cough) bought baseball-style sneakers for his son which had "heel lift" inserts to add an extra cm, so he'd be 1.4m @ Disney (note; 1cm, not 10cm!). I was always upset when my older brother could ride @ BPB when I couldn't, but the anticipation of the next visit was probably more enjoyable than the actual rides!

Just don't be that parent that let's their kids queue for ages to be height-checked and refused! Seen it loads of times, and each time it ends the same way... 😢
 
Smiley said:
Well I certainly don't condone or recommend this, but one parent I know (cough) bought baseball-style sneakers for his son which had "heel lift" inserts to add an extra cm, so he'd be 1.4m @ Disney (note; 1cm, not 10cm!). I was always upset when my older brother could ride @ BPB when I couldn't, but the anticipation of the next visit was probably more enjoyable than the actual rides!

Just don't be that parent that let's their kids queue for ages to be height-checked and refused! Seen it loads of times, and each time it ends the same way... 😢
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I think he'd struggle to walk in a 10cm lift 😂

But yeah even with shoes he's a long way from being anywhere close to 1.4m

And i don't think he's physically (or neurologically) there to brace himself on some of those rides.
 
owenstreet7 said:
I can imagine Thorpe Park potentially reducing the height restrictions of rides slightly in line with manufacturer, H&S and Insurance recommendations where possible. With the new approach of wanting to cater to a wide range of thrillseekers, it wouldn't surprise me if the park wants to have more rides for slightly smaller visitors and those who want to build themselves up to Hyperia.
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I expect if/when the Walking Dead overlay is removed from X then it can go back to its previous lower restriction.
 
Bowser said:
Still can’t decide if it’s worth bringing my son when he’s 1.3m. There’s a good selection of 5 or 6 rides but feels a shame to have to walk past so many he can’t access. At AT you can route your day without really seeing them.
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Our son is just under 1.4m and unless it is summer and the beach is open we don't tend to visit Thorpe that much. Not enough to keep him occupied, too many meltdowns because he can't go on a ride and too much time split up as a family because others can go on the 1.4m rides. Can make the Thorpe visits way too stressful. Of course, this is just our experience and it could be different for you.

Bowser said:
And i don't think he's physically (or neurologically) there to brace himself on some of those rides.
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I worry about this on some of the rides to be honest with our son. I can imagine him being thrown about like a ragdoll, or having his head slammed back on rides like Stealth or Rita. Although he seems to do alright on Hyperia so maybe we are doing him a disservice.
 
TPick said:
Our son is just under 1.4m and unless it is summer and the beach is open we don't tend to visit Thorpe that much. Not enough to keep him occupied, too many meltdowns because he can't go on a ride and too much time split up as a family because others can go on the 1.4m rides. Can make the Thorpe visits way too stressful. Of course, this is just our experience and it could be different for you.


I worry about this on some of the rides to be honest with our son. I can imagine him being thrown about like a ragdoll, or having his head slammed back on rides like Stealth or Rita. Although he seems to do alright on Hyperia so maybe we are doing him a disservice.
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The beach is gone as far as i can tell! I think it's being redeveloped next year into a family ride.

That's another reason why i love Mandrill/Swarm for the vests, one less thing to worry about. Hyperia is similar in that sense as you're more pinned so perhaps that is why he fares better? The OTSR are a nightmare on rougher rides. It was pretty chilly last night, felt like i'd got a pair of cauliflower ears after Colossus.
 
Bowser said:
I did ask them about reducing the height restriction on Swarm when it was announced that Hyperia would be 1.3m and they said no plans at that time. Shame as that would be the determining factor for us visiting as a family at the moment.
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And maybe increasing the max height for us tall folks. It's annoying having to seem inconspicuous to ride.
 
Bowser said:
And i don't think he's physically (or neurologically) there to brace himself on some of those rides.
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That's why my wife doesn't go on many rides (Swarm being her favourite). Saw leaves me with a headache, Colossus with possible brain damage. 😁 Both great coasters - I like them so much they leave tears in my eyes 😢
 
sillyrooster said:
And maybe increasing the max height for us tall folks. It's annoying having to seem inconspicuous to ride.
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What is the reasoning behind the max height for some of the coasters? I've never really understood why it's there as I've always been under the assumptions that clearance windows are done of the 1% or whatnot, implying that they're fine for someone who's like 7ft tall to ride. I myself am 6ft4 and its getting to the point where I get checked against the max height on Swarm somewhat regularly. I was wondering recently if I was to be any taller would they turn me away, and if so what would the reasoning behind that be (apart from the fact that that's the rules given by the park so they have to obey them)?
 
Poisson said:
Manufacturer may have specific heights they believe the restraints can accommodate too.
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Yes i always assumed it was because at a certain height your shoulders will no longer fit safely under the restraints or your head on the rest as opposed to risk of decapitation.

Presumably a ride like Hyperia doesn't have a maximum height restriction but will have torso requirements.
 
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