Marc
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Posts posted by Marc
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4 hours ago, CoasterFlix said:
This is going to be a very long message, beware.
Back in 2017, I wrote a letter to Nick Varney (current CEO of Merlin) asking a few questions. I have held this for a while but I felt like 2020 was the time to share. Something, not sure how big, is coming in 2020. I have had to censor some stuff (like my address) but here is the response I got. I have only selected bits I thought would be of relevance, this is why the whole letter is not shown.
If the images don't come out clear enough, this is what it says. I have also made sections in bold that I thought people would want to read.
- What is the future of Merlin be like?
"Exciting! We are expanding all over the world and constantly introducing new concepts and ideas. One day we will entertain more people than any other company giving them all memorable experiences."
- What is the future for Thorpe Park?
"The future for Thorpe Park Resort is looking very positive. We are the home of exhilarating fun and have a great development pipeline for the next 5 years. This year with Derren Brown's Ghost Train Rise of the Demon we delivered a bigger, better and scarier experience which quenched our guests desire for greater fear and cutting edge technology on rides. Later in 2017 we are re launching our Fright Nights experience with a new game changing Intellectual Property (famous brand/character). Merlin Magic Making are currently working with us on our plans for 2018, 2019 and 2020 but sadly at this point I cannot share them with you; but I know as a future ride designer you will not be disappointed."
[This next section may not seem significant at first, but here it is]
- What is the process of building and designing a ride?
"It is a lengthy process and normally takes about 3-4 years. For example, we have currently briefed our Merlin Magic Making colleagues on our major ride investment for 2020. They will then meet with ride manufacturers and come back to us with some options before a concept proposal is submitted to the Executive Board for approval, then plans are drawn and implementation can take between 2 and 3 years including Research, Design, Build and Test." (It did continue there but that was the significant part)
Take what you want from this, but it is constantly referred to as a 'ride'. I hope they actually make this so-called ride.
As others have mentioned - sadly we won’t see a new ride at Thorpe this year - but credit where it’s due - it’s good of Nick to write back to fans like that - Merlin get a lot of slack (and yeah sometimes it’s deserved) but things like this are nice to see!
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It can’t make it any worse - only better. The current readers are not the best and they really struggle to read barcodes when it’s sunny (ok that’s not too often!) if the majority book in advance and ANPR opens the barrier automatically, where the others can just swipe a contactless card at the barrier it will only be a vast improvement on what’s there now.
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Water rides use a lot of electricity- big pumps to keep them going are pretty power hungry without the expensive effects in there.
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25 minutes ago, Theme Park Fanatic said:
Does anyone know the date when Blackbuckneer's successor will sail into Pirates Cove at Chessington? Additionally can any I tell me how many months,weeks or days it takes to assemble a swinging pirate ship ride. In my personal opinion I doubt that the new swinging pirate ship will be open for the 19th of March the first day of the Chessington 2020 season.
kind regards and have and have a brilliant weekend from Theme Park Fanatic!
It depends I guess - if the ride is *exactly* the same and requires no / little ground work etc I can’t really see it taking long atall to construct I guess if ground work is needed maybe a bit longer - it could be ready for March I guess we will see construction soon from the zoo days!
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The bulletin posted earlier in the topic don’t suggest the seatbelts are needed anymore - it suggests more regular checks are needed which Thorpe no doubt carry out.
Seatbelts are often left undone on empty seats - it’s not a H&S breach. As for rust on supports, it’s not a major structural hazard, these things will all be checked, it’s purely cosmetic.
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1 hour ago, Glitch said:
What do all those at the shark do til 12 then?
12 could work for later nights such as fright nights but not sure if a normal day day a 12pm opening would really suit the park.
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I don’t think Thorpe claim to be on the international stage - none of our merlin parks make any real effort to advertise them selves abroad as far as I know.
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March will be here before you know it!
Till then there’s always winter wonderland or the merlin attractions in London to help pass the time!
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Yes in all fairness Thorpe have a very good line up of thrill rides IMO.
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I see both sides of this tbf - I have visited on a 4pm close and I was bored by 2 - had done everything as many times as I had wanted and not really into reriding the same things all day, on the other hand I can see why people especially those with long travelling distance may not be keen on visiting on a 4pm close.. but that won’t improve till these days are busy enough to warrant it.. I guess it’s a vicious circle in that respect!
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Thorpe x loads
Chessington x 3
Alton Towers x 4
Legoland x 1
Phantasialand x 2
Toverland x 2
Heide Park x 2
Hansa Park x 1
Seaworld Orlando x 4
Magic Kingdom x 1
Hollywood Studios x 2
Epcot x 1
Animal Kingdom x 2
Volcano Bay x 1
Universal Orlando x 3
Islands of Adventure x 3
Busch Gardens Tampa x 1
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While obviously not official, Rumours Attraction Images have heard say Valhalla will be SBNO for 2020 - as I said not official but at the same time it wouldn’t surprise me either..
Hopefully the rumour is rubbished quickly!
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Don’t believe there’s been a change of Divisional director since last year, though as you say they are looking for a new Marketing director at the moment!
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32 minutes ago, LukeP_8 said:
There are lots of past horror mazes better than the Big top ever was. Experiment 10, My Bloody Valentine, Asylum/freezer. Big Top was good yes, but nothing like Asylum/EX10. They should strip out jungle escape and put another top horror maze in that area like its original purpose was. Or put Asylum/Freezer back in that building would be perfect.
I agree with that although realistically they won’t rip out Jungle escape which has only just been installed for something only open a month a year at most - though do agree it was a good location for a maze. That said shipping containers done right (experiment 10 as you say) are more than suitable!
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We are rapidly approaching the end of the 2019 season so a good time for this thread I felt!
So what would you realistically like to see the at the park in 2020? We know there will be no new rides, but that don’t mean we can’t see some worthwhile improvements !
For me:
Firstly build on this years “year of events” bouncezilla was harmless fun, I’d like to see more of a summer event, I think they struggled a bit staying open late with no real purpose what saw it them cut, try give people more of a reason to stay later in summer. Would also like to see them try a firework event again - the park always had a great atmosphere during fireworks and it’s always a nice way to end the season.
Secondly I hope they can keep up the good work we’ve seen this year with ride availability and capacity (ignoring Quantum!) - this year we’ve seen a big improvement on something the park historically struggled with, rides were more often than not open on time and on full capacity, we also saw rides frequently on 2 trains during quiet times which is a big plus for those visiting during quiet times.
Fright nights - this year is a huge improvement on last, I’d like to see them continue with this, I think the park needs another maze to the quality of Creek Freak’s standards, the return of Big Top could fill that gap and would please many no doubt, but at the same time if we can get something new to that quality it would be great. Things like Amity High are also a great addition this year, hopefully we see something like this return and possibly expanded for 2020.
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5 hours ago, Coaster said:
Adventure Island.
For a theme park I mean.
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Thorpe open hours are probably the best we have in the UK? Granted some of the 8pm’s in the summer were cut but still overall they are much better than other merlin parks.
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6 hours ago, Coaster said:
Woah, how can you turn people away who have prebooked tickets already?
I guess like a hotel - they over book with the assumption a certain % won’t turn up for their booking - the occasion they do they have a problem!
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Noticed some nice changes to Creek Freak yesterday - firstly seems like a lot of the lighting has been adjusted, the parts where you squeeze through the spinning parts are particularly effective, there was also a tonne more smoke than previously - it made it very disorienting in there and helped add some more scares!
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12 hours ago, Stuntman707 said:
WDW Skyliner gondolas have crashed. Sounds like the Gondolas have been running too close to one another as they approach the station at speed. Reports are that no-one has been injured.
From reading reports it was just after a power outage - somone who claims to have been on it at the time says it was more of a crush in the station than a crash - not ideal just a couple days of being open mind!
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1 hour ago, Kerfuffle said:
Whilst it’s a cop out I agree - it does fit in with what’s actually on the show to be fair!
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There’s water dummy’s around the area so looks like it’s being worked on hopefully back soon!
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4 hours ago, meybosdavy said:
One more question: is it possible to buy 5 "one shot" fasttrack passes? World this be more expensive than the "Adrenaline" pass, which has 5 rides on it on the big coasters.
I don’t see why it wouldn’t be possible but I’m sure it would work out more expensive than a package!
2020 Season
in The Past
Posted
I don’t think you can include the Galactica overlay at towers as a new coaster personally.
Thorpes at a funny stage at the moment - its all well and good wanting Merlin to throw money at it but their next move HAS to be right or god knows the consequences... We all know the problems DBGT had for various reasons, which was the parks last “big” investment and it didn’t deliver, before that, The Swarm, it also didn’t deliver the return which was expected.
Thorpes next “big” investment will probably be the most important one the park has had to date - the future of the park will be banking on it being right - they really can’t afford to get it wrong a 3rd time - fingers crossed we will start to see / hear things on this soon but it’s not something they should rush into till they are certain both it’s the right time and the right investment.