YAY Merlin!

[owenstreet7]

At the very least, there's signs and such - it's common sense. No problem with groups using single rider, but it doesn't require a staff member.

Rides management are AWFUL at Alton Towers, it is known.

...I'm also amused by the posts saying 'Thorpe had a good day and ran their rides' - this should be the norm; not the exception.

My issue isn't necessarily groups using it but it is groups insisting on being batched together.

I don't mind groups as long as they're happy to be split as the queue time can be longer than the main queue.

I'm not sure it's particularly clear on Hyperia as recently, there is confusion with single rider and fast track and I clarified it with a family behind me so they went into fast track straight after.

Staff on the entrance is something I've noticed for Europa Park on busier days where they're enforcing it as a single rider queue. It would certainly benefit Saw and Hyperia so groups know it might benefit them better to queue in the main queue or fast track if they want to ride together and in the case of Hyperia, going into the right queue line when the queue splits into fast track and single riders.

Although Thorpe Park is certainly a gem in the Merlin Parks in how it is run right now and I'd say it's something Alton Towers, Legoland and Chessington should aspire to.

 

[davidm]

"Single ride queue" - oh that's for us, we only want to ride it once.

/s

 

[Niles]

I guess yey, as it is opening but it took way to long. Hex re opens 11th oct at...12pm

 

[Niles]

With Legoland submitting a application for solar car ports Chessington have submitted one to upgrade their car parks. The Macaw grass car park will get new materials to help stabilise the ground, improve access, operational efficiency and circulation, as well as improving the existing drainage system. So hopefully it will not be as muddy.
View attachment 29296

Here is a look at the upgraded car park at Chessington, what was once a grass and sometimes muddy field has been tarmacked, with a geo-grid installed to create proper parking spaces. Hopefully this happens to the other grass field carparks.




Source

 

[Ollie]

I'm sure I heard their excuse for not building a proper car park was that it was protected land/green belt etc and they couldn't do anything with it. What changed or was I just misinformed?

Looks great though. It's been needed for years.

 

[Ollie]

Double post but had a really good day at Alton Towers today. Sun was shining, no downtime (besides a short one at the end of the day that was well communicated and up and running again within 10 minutes). Queues moved quickly and didn't end up waiting more than 30 minutes for any ride.

 

[JoshC.]

I did a Hyperia coaster climb this evening.

There was some chatter when it was made live about the cost being expensive (£120). It is, no beating around the bush. But it is worth it. My experience was about 3hrs all in, and included lots of time spent scaling the ride, time spent in the console and time spent around the turnaround outside the station, with lots of opportunities for photos, fabulous hosts and a great vibe.

Find attached a variety of photos (of me). I'll be doing a write up for Thorpe Park Mania in the coming days; look out for more photos and thoughts...

 

[Bentleya]

Great to read you enjoyed the experience @JoshC.;
It also looks like you had great weather for it to.