Roller Coasters, Rides and Theme Parks!

[QualityChimp]

[Neon Ignition]

It'll be the worst of their parks but none the less I'm all over it

[Anpanman]

Bloke I work with who is into all this lives basically on the doorstep and can't wait. Been past the area a few times over the last year or so.

[QualityChimp]

It'll be the worst of their parks but none the less I'm all over it

Again, I stress you need to search for "Florida man" and your birthday to understand why it's good there's a Universal park coming here.

[Neon Ignition]

[QualityChimp]

I can't tell you if it specifically affects the UK Universal park, but Back to the Future has been trademarked for the name of a ride at Universal Studios UK theme park, allegedly.

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[Neon Ignition]

Fingers crossed, it's criminal how much BTTF has been torn out of the parks especially in light of how Universal will use non-Universal IP's. Between that filing and the suggestion on the map of a recreation of the Clock Tower I'm getting hopeful

[wakka]

That would be v interesting and surprising to see a new BTTF ride at Universal GB. I wonder what that would look like.

I went to Thorpe Park on Saturday with a mate and had a blast. Queues were pretty moderate all day for major rollercoasters, 45 to 60 minutes, but we bought the fast passes anyway cos it's just more fun that way (and we are just two blokes paying for ourselves so the cost isn't that crazy).

We did Hyperia twice, which was not covered by the fast passes so did require queuing, and I can confirm it's an absolute banger of a rollercoaster. Seriously thrilling, extremely tall and fast, and the experience is v smooth with awesomely comfortable seats. The second time we did it in the back row which was even quicker.

We managed Nemesis Inferno, The Swarm and Saw twice each too, plus a go on Colossus. Not bad considering we got there at about 11ish and left around 5.30.

A very fun day and the weather was great too which was nice (although I got a lil sunburned). The only fly in the ointment was that Stealth was closed unfortunately. But it was still a very well rounded day of coasters even without it.

We'll go back at some point and take his son, who was on holiday with his Mum this time around. Think he needs another year to get tall enough for the coasters anyway. I'd def get the fast pass again too. It was totally worth it.

[QualityChimp]

Deffo need to squeeze in a Thorpe Park visit this year. We have relatives pretty close by and everything!

Hyperia looks ace. Can't wait to go on it.
Shame about Stealth. I'm glad I got to ride Kingda Ka before it got dismantled. That was top-tier.

The wait for Universal Studios is going to be painful!

[wakka]

Yeah I'm envious you got to ride Kingda Ka. That was much bigger than Stealth. Stealth is a fun ride though. I have been on all of the Thorpe Park coasters in the past except Hyperia, but hadn't been for at least ten years. The last time I went I think The Swarm (the last major ride pre-Hyperia) had not long opened, and I just googled when that was and it was 2012 😱

It's not too far from me as I'm in South London. My mate drove us from his place in Putney and it was about 45 mins in the car. I'll def go again next spring/summer I reckon.

The wait for Universal Studios is going to be painful!

Great that it's actually going ahead though. It's kinda crazy that Europe doesn't have a Universal resort considering there are two in the US and three in Asia.

[QualityChimp]

Those same relatives are currently away for Easter having visited Singapore, they're now in Japan and they've visited Universal Studios with the Nintendo Land.
Not remotely jealous.
I think it's the last place with a working Jaws ride too.

I wonder if there'll be one in the UK Universal.

I won't lie, I've been wondering if I can get a job there.

Last time I went to Thorpe was on opening day of Nemesis Inferno, so yeah, it's been a while!

[wakka]

I would be surprised if they built another Jaws now. I think if they did do it, it would be a totally re-thought version like the Pirates of the Caribbean they have in Disneyland Shanghai, which is fundamentally still a boat trip dark ride but all the elements are different.

If they are bringing a new BTTF ride though, it's all on the table apparently.

I rode the Jaws in Japan. It was so funny cos on the monitors in the queue which give you practical info about the ride they had these comedic video clips showing a boat full of Japanese people and one very fat American wearing a baseball cap who was simultaneously smoking, drinking a soda and eating a burger cheerfully, and all the Japanese people look v disapproving. And it was your warning not to be that guy lol.

You should definitely keep your eyes peeled for jobs at Universal GB man. They'll go on a big hiring drive as it ramps up I'm sure.

[Anpanman]

We and the wife went to USJ for the first time in 2001 and went on Back to the Future which was the highlight of the day, next time we went together was 2013 and we had our daughter with us. We went on the ride again but if I remember correctly it was the only Universal Studio's that had one (gone from USJ was Terminator and Backdraft) and some people were travelling purposefully to USJ just to go on it.

[QualityChimp]

Velocicoaster and Hagrid's Motorcycle Adventure are absolute must-rides in Florida, mainly because they have amazing launches.

The BttF ride was cool, but I keep thinking of a BttF coaster where you sit in a DeLorean and get launched to 88 mph. Yes please!
However, I guess the evolution of the old BttF ride was the Avatar one, which was admittedly phenomenal too.

Relatives visiting Japan said that Jaws was closed for maintenance! I'd be gutted!

[Neon Ignition]