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First post. Go easy on me!! For me, Thorpe really need to invest heavily in the entrance to the park. It’s the first and last impression that the park makes on guests, and it’s really not great. It really needs flattening, and then a great centre piece focal point building with plaza surrounding for themed events throughout the year etc. I don’t even think this area should have rides, it should be somewhere that is pleasant on the eye, engaging and there as a conduit between the outside world to the life inside the park. I always get that feeling as you walk into Alton towers with the lake in front of you and the towers in the distance, something I don’t think is felt at Thorpe, and whilst the lake etc can’t be replicated I’m sure an equally well designed centrepiece and plaza area of the park would help take people on a similar mindset journey as they enter and exit the park.

It's funny how the park have managed to convince people that the return of paper maps is a new thing, and that this is some new style map. The map has been around for a few years around the park. Paper maps returned last year, with event overlays also happening too. People have short memories. The map focusing on direction and ease of use is weird. The park have said they're not focusing on themed areas because the park is small, yet they're using a highly accurate, bordering on bland, map so people can direct themselves. It's like the park hear feedback and seesaw from one extreme to the other, even if it creates contradiction. The BK modernisation is a good thing for practicality. However, to completely lose the theming is a real shame, especially when they seemed to be focusing on smaller details again.

Sigh. At least the Burger King's not been replaced by a Merlin "Burger Kitchen" - yet. Weird how Thorpe's still got that and the KFC. That photo of Dobble tea cups with Angry Birds pictures stuck to the cinema wall behind it and the clinical Burger King to the right sums the park up very nicely. But then you think that they've put in a brand new train themed coffee shop which probably has some of the best theming in the park at this point, so it's super inconsistent?!

WTF were they thinking with the BK destruction? Just as they put in a highly themed railways station coffee shop, they tear out a highly themed burger bar and turn it into generic shopping centre? Spending money to make things worse is my biggest hate in Theme Parks, especially when getting funding for anything that isn't a big new thing has been neigh on impossible for decades, but with this and the teacups we have two big lumps of that here. Who the hell is running this place, and can they be sunk with the Thorpe Belle?

Shop names don’t bother me really and seem to fit with what they are seemingly doing. I’m pretty sure the band Spooks R US, was inspired by a now defunct American toy chain.

I don't really have an opinion on it. It's at least thematic to the ride but no one really pays attention to the names of shops. Towers have done their traditional spoilerific news story with ITV. Available via https://www.itv.com/news/central/2023-03-17/inside-alton-towers-newest-ride-the-curse-at-alton-manor

Find out tomorrow. Presumably the duck rumour like with half of this ride will be a "wink wink" reference to a previous ride. Sure there'll be a full POV by half the vloggers by closing time.

Personally I think the rumours about the Duck from The Flume being used in Alton Manor are quackers. Realistically I don’t think the Duck was remotely scary nor can I think of a scene it would be suitable for. I must congratulate whoever started this rumour as it’s got massive. I hope I’m proved wrong and The Flume Duck does feature in Alton Manor. The Duck was hilarious and would soften a ride that is primarily scary. I loved The Duck. Personally I think he’s been wasted by continuing to reside in the SBNO indoor section of The Flume. I’m surprised Alton Towers don’t sell soft toys of this legendary animatronic. The Duck is as probably as symbolic to Alton Towers as Henry Hound was in the 1980’s and 1990’s.

They also show the absolutely massive gardens as absolutely tiny, I think it's just creative license.

The security area is definitely the focal point where changes need to be made. Maybe demolish the old huts and put in a more permanent building that looks visually appealing but offers efficient checks. The entrance structure also needs substantial work too, although some back of house areas would also need adjustments. It’s really a shame that the dome has gone from this charming (yet ageing) nautical portal to what is basically a bland hub area. Like some budget holiday resort maybe. The bridge is actually ok, but maybe just needs a bit of modernisation in parts. The entrance used to work fine in the 90’s/2000’s but in places no longer feels fit for purpose.

I find it amusing how they’ve given up on the whole pretending the ride is a secret campaign (where everyone already knew what a ride was going to be anyway) and have instead just plonked the full coaster straight on the map. Doesn’t seem very Merlin to me. But neither does Thorpe Park getting a new coaster so I’m not complaining 🙂

I sort of agree. I think the actual entrance building, the bridge and the view from outside the dome are great, up there with Towers Street. But the problem is before you get to the Entrance building, Thorpe looks like a prison. There is zero attempt to incorporate security with an inviting experience. The Dome is so awful now, it's just modern with no personality. I like the pictures on the outside of peoples selfies from their day. But the inside is really poor.

I totally agree with that, the entrance just doesn’t seem very special. It feels like there’s something grand missing to pull everything together. Also don’t get me started on the amity beach after the dome, I think that needs to go tbh, it ruins everything as soon as you get into the park imo.

Not the greatest integration ever with vinyl stickers slapped on the side of the cups. It’s the tea cups, not much to complain about, just a shame sticks out like a sore thumb. They’ve also started to repaint the entrance area. To a white colour, further straying away from that boardwalk blue which used to be used a lot a few years ago on signage. Id argue, this closed season Thorpe have been the most contradictory than they’ve ever been in regards to general appearance and branding. They are painting, reprinting signs and refreshing most things. Trying to make their appearance look nice and less rundown which is great and has kinda works. However, things like a purple tea cups, removing the lands and removing theming contradicts all of this. Nothing is cohesive from the food, to signage, to music, to theming. Individual ride theming, it’s different. But the bread and butter between the rides just isn’t up to scratch

Photos from inside the renovated Burger King. Unfortunately, it’s removed all of amity’s old theming and turned it into a service station looking place. Yes the old interior was old, worn. But they’ve retrofitted a standard BK inside an old themed area. The Ben and Jerrys outlet was stage one of loosing the themed buildings for amity. This is the next….

Now saw alive has been moved and the surrounding area as been cleared, it’s got me thinking are they clearing this area for a future development under the cover of exodus? They could easily fit a Premier Rides Sky Rocket similar to Tigris at Bush Gardens TB in that area. Merlin seem to be investing quite heavily into new/redevelopment rides so maybe an area to watch!

I know zodiac used to have a lower height limit (1.1m maybe) and I know for a lot of family’s that was brilliant for them at thorpe. I always saw it on the Merlin Passholder group, if you added rides with a lower height restriction (including a rollercoaster) you’d get a lot more families. People aren’t necessarily put off Thorpe Park because of the intensity of the rides. It’s also down to when you go on the website and filter it to anything lower than 1.4m there isn’t much to ride.