Recent content by Robbie

A Wicked land would basically be The Wizard of Oz, which was first published 125 years ago and has never gone out of print. I think it's fair to say by now that it's quite popular.

I wonder if they could build it so the land around Hobbiton is just the local farmers fields. Not part of the theme park at all, but can seem it from certain viewpoints.

Attendance at most live events (eg theatre, concerts) has gone up since Covid so it seems theme parks are the same. People rediscovering a taste for 'real' experiences.

The issue really is not that BPB scrap old rides, but that they do so without warning. Having a 'last chance to ride...' period would be good business, as well as giving fans a chance to go on a favourite ride a final time.

Really enjoyed these rapids, even the fact they looked a bit out-of-place. One of the few rides at Legoland with a bit of an edge to it, and as such a good part of the park's all-round offer.

Pretty desperate stuff from the Pleasure Beach marketing team... https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/23730133.blackpool-pleasure-beach-guests-convinced-spotted-ed-sheeran/?ref=ebln&nid=780&u=66d21947c80394c8af98e8024a2e89e1&date=190823

Some footage of Blackpool Pleasure Beach in this BBC TV report from 1954:

Not sure where to put this, but here's Sooty and Sweep riding the Big Dipper at Blackpool...

Never seen it, but about 10 years ago I did visit the park with friends who weren't as interested in rides as I am so they went to watch the Ice show as it was included in the ticket and said it was OK, though largely empty.

The reporting is hilarious, but operators really should be checking stuff like this if only to avoid the OTT negative publicity, and for basic public re-assurance among those who may be in two minds whether to go on rides.

It's been downhill since they dropped the free entry/pay-per-ride. In theory the current system should be better, but if people are paying for a full day of rides in the park they really should be opening all the rides for a full day. They could maybe get away with it in the old days as tourists...

The driveway for my house is round-the-back and oddly positioned so the only safe way for me to park (and get out again) is to reverse in and drive forwards out. So that's what I do pretty much everywhere. My only disappointment is I haven't got round to installing a gate that automatically...

All looks great to me, but... too soon? Are people going to start thinking New Nemesis will be ready this year?

This week's The Footage Detectives on Talking Pictures TV ended with some clips of Alton Towers in (I think) the 60s, 70s and very early 80s. No coasters, but there is the train and carousel. Plus the sea lions! (I'd forgotten about them)...

It depends what the rehearsals are for. If the aim is to see what works and what doesn't so they can fix/change things then not everything is going to be working every time.