Hi, I'm a ridiculously long time reader (since about 2002!) but this is my first proper post (please be kind).
On Monday, I had my first visit to the park since 2014. The amount of TLC which has gone on is making the park look and feel fantastic - it really gives the impression that the park is being looked after.
However, there are still a few small things which let the park down. Now, I know that the TLC programme is a 3 year (or potentially longer) project, so I know there are larger things which will probably be tackled next year, but there are some small things which could easily be sorted out this year which would really complete this stage of TLC.
Galactica
Galactica's new station extension fits in pretty well with what was already there, but there are lots of unfinished edges/joins that look a bit scruffy and unfinished. Some edging and borders around those pieces would finish the new extension and make it look really smart.
The new indoor station looks pretty good once you're inside and you'd be forgiven for mistaking it for a brand new ride. However, the track which is in the station gives its age away as it it battered. It's covered in scratches and marks which show years of wear and tear and takes away from the feeling that it is pristine/state of the art. A coat of paint to cover up the marks would be all that's needed, especially as this is the only piece of track that you will see!
Nemesis
The new nemesis paint job looks great. They need to get a bit of a move on and finish the whole track/supports though, it's starting to look really mis-matched. I'm aware that they've got some closed mid-week days coming up so it'll possibly be sorted out then, but at the minute it does look a bit half-done.
Thirteen
The paint on the entrance sign on Thirteen is starting to crack and flake off. At the moment it's only a small chunk so it should be fairly easy to patch. The stone columns either side of the entrance are starting to show their age too. Both have chunks taken out of them, revealing the yellowish wood underneath, I'm worried that if they're not painted over/repaired soon that the whole base will rot and be a massive job.
The sheets covering the crypt building (on rita's side) are starting to slip, showing the metal walls behind, they just need readjusting.
They've also added a door (maybe recycled from a scarefest maze?) at the bottom of the lift hill which disguises some lovely buckets. It looks rubbish. Throw it away.
Smiler
The base of the supports near the toilet, which were painted grey, need a new coat of paint. This is one of the first parts of the ride that you walk past and it looks bit battered.
It's the same for the white chevrons near the pit, which are green and manky. Either jet wash them or just get rid of them. To encourage people back on it needs to look 100% cared for to bystanders (yeah, touching up paint on the whole track would be great, but maybe for next closed season?).
Oblivion
Sticking a jet washer down oblivion's hole might be a good idea too. It still looks great after they repainted it in 2013, but the section which gets blasted by the misters is starting to go green and slimy looking.
Sonic Spinball
This ride just looks unloved. The new music is great, but the damage that several rethemes does to a ride is obvious. A whole track repaint is probably not going to happen - but if they touched up the paint on some of the large themeing elements as you enter then it'd look so much better.
I really hope it doesn't sound like I'm complaing about the work the TLC project has achieved, the park looks so much more amazing for it, it's just the last little bits that would really complete this seasons stage.
Wow. Ok. That was a very long post. Sorry!
