Thorpe Park Opening Day 2024

So the next weekend of rollercoaster riding… Thorpe Park. Living within 30 minutes of this park has its bonusses, sucha s not rushing to get there for opening. I arrived at around 11:30, straight in through security, who were really friendly and chatty! Remember to have your bags open for checks guys, really speeds up the queue.

Scanned my annual pass, walked across the freshly painted bridge, the first thing you notice is Hyperia standing tall… WOW! That thing is high on the Thorpe Park skyline and I cannot wait to ride. First stop…. Beer, unfortunately Spaten has been removed from the Campden Junction Bar near ghost train, but do not worry fellow German Beer enthusiasts, a Team leader at the Bar told me they are bringing to back to the Huntsmans bar soon! I settled with a nice Campden Hells which was lovely 😀

First Stop Stealth, oh it was so good to be back on stealth, there is no other launch in the world like it (no really, it’s the fastest accelerating now!). The area looked fresh and well painted, correct stats on the entrance signage. I do love the Amity theme and with WWTP radio blaring out it makes a nice queueing experience. I will stay stealth was crawling over the tophat, apparently it rolled back in the morning so I was hoping for one – it didn’t happen.

After stealth we went on Nemesis Inferno, running so well. As I Said in 2022, Inferno is now 21 years old, peak running ages for a B&M invert (imagine Nemesis at Alton Towers back in 2014). Sorry Towers, Inferno is my favourite at the moment, Nemesis Reborn you need to bed in a bit (which is normal for coasters to get more fun). Shout out to Leo on the merge point, very chatty and polite (we saw him again later on the ride platform and he said “hello again”, which made ma laugh)

Big easy boulevard looks amazing in person, really vibrant, really clean. Definitely try out Ready Player One 4-D, it’s a really good 15 minute show and something I would watch each time I visit (especially as a gamer geek).

Unfortunately the heavens opened, including hail, so we retreated to the bar, what a shame. I saw lots of people moaning to staff and wanting to complain, Thorpe Park cannot do anything about he weather. If its high winds or low temperatures they do have to close the ride (I do wonder however how Black Mamba at Phantasialand can run in 0 degrees but inferno cant run below 5). Unfortunately the winds stayed high for the rest of the day so we couldn’t get on Swarm, but even I knew swarm is the most susceptible to High Winds.

We managed a ride on Colossus, which was looking very shiny! Good erffort painting the plaza and theming Thorpe!, makes a massive difference when queueing. Guys please understand colossus may have a few faults here and there for the first week as it has a brand new PLC system which controls the ride and even with empty test cycles before the park opening. But we got on it so YAY! I actually really enjoy colossus and had 0 headbanging!!!!!

Back via the bar, because why not (shout out to the 2 guys at Campden bar who were having a right laugh all day, smiling and being really chatty even with the bad weather and some grumpy guests). It was nearly the end of the day and some of my friends were yet to try the new Ghost train, so I said lets do it. Small batches of about 18-20 people as there was no queue made for a very intimate and scary experience with the actors, it was a right laugh and I really enjoy that they have done with the ride (if anyone knows me, you know I have a soft spot for Ghost Train and Swarm).

As we left at about 6:40, I just wish Thorpe would have stayed open till 7pm for the first few weekend of the season, similar to Towers staying open till 8. Due to the clocks not going back yet it would have allowed for that lovely night ride in march. Maybe next year Thorpe? The staff were so lovely I went to guest services and asked to leave positive feedback about 5 staff members, guest services seemed so happy to get some positive feedback after the ride downtime today, but honestly you guys deserved it! Had real good fun, got on about 10 rides in 6 hours and left with a smile on my face. I cannot wait till Hyperia Opens!

See you next time guys

Sam