TraX

I hope they don't repeat the HORRENDOUS Angry Bird signage with this, and plaster lazy, just-fallen-off-the-printers-at-Instant print rubbish all over the run down Merlin-warehouse. (Themed signage that's not flat or a rectangle please) But that's a long way off....

Whilst we're all aware of merlin's rush jobs and budget slashed attractions, it's surprising how this is being bashed so soon. With the exception of the grotty Merlin exterior (YAWN), we don't 'know' anything 'official' about what this is all about. It's safe to say this is going to be a big deal, if only from the potential talk of the BBC DR WHO stuff, which basically screams time travel motion ride. Any talk of roller coasters or sub terra clones is pretty off the mark now, and whilst the exterior queue looks traditionally Merlin ( it sucks), who knows how they introduce us to a story further into the attraction - pre show room... It's a tricky one as all we officially have at the moment, is a rubbish looking exterior.

It's in the best shape it's ever been in. Whoever thought removing it NOW when they want family attractions (and after years of it being forgotten and smelling of sick), should be fired! AND considering an event space, when the arena had been left to rot for years is just hilarious!

Remember that we're just recovering from an enormous amount of thrill rides from the thrill capital days, and this is obviously the turning point in building more immersive experiences. Clearly they know the thrill years weren't the right direction, and after an enormous amount of thought have decided to run in this new direction.. Whilst I support it, I would hate to see no further coaster installations for 10 years. Hopefully we'll see further development for all branches of the family.

X was running brilliantly today. Forwards running trains have made a huge difference. Never felt the need to re-ride before, and kids we're loving it, running round again. Perfect step up from fish, and with the new attraction next door in 2016, this will grab some of those families in, and soften the crowds. Actually one of Thorpe's better decisions.

Or stuck ontop of the shark 'hotel' !

LOL God know! Not one of their Halloween high points. In regard to Projection screens, and I'm assuming they're going for the 3D thing.. I never have a problem with screens, whilst you can be distracted after a few re-rides, the screens never bother me - the exceptions being fussy DLP Star Tours screens and fuzzy 'we're way too close' Forbidden Journey screens. Both Spidy and Transformers work great.

No. It sadly suffers from slow staff (and guests who want their shoulder restraints unlocked). All of the balancing can be done whilst the previous ride is running.

Whilst I have faith that this 'particular' Merlin attraction will be great, I'd like to remind everyone that Merlin banged on about the 'mysterious dark ride section' of Saw. Now If they considered that a dark ride, then we're in trouble. Saw was a MASSIVE missed opportunity. The run down theme isn't working for me. I know that the finer detail can be changed, but the exterior is Merlin all over. We all joked that it's because it can be left for 30 years, whilst looking better with age, but it really is the truth now. Thorpe in particular, is going to look like a dump in 20 years, with everything 'themed' ruined (or left so.. Colossus...Inferno volcano..Rumba.. etc..)

Lord I agree! Maybe then we'll know what, or who this is all about! Good for Thorpe tho to have something for once, hidden from fanboy eyes! I hope that the old space station zero ride area gets something worth while for the extra traffic flow, rather than the waste of space that it is now. Thorpe should make the most of such a space opposite this.

Shame. Guess Merlin should learn to hang on to people then, and we wouldn't get these slap dash installations.

So a rush job compared to last year. Couldn't they have asked the team from last year to help out? No triggered lighting or audio effects, or separate music for each scene either, which is a shane.

A whole year of speculation! If only we could time travel.

It is a triggered scene. Triggered by the actor in the castle bit.. Agree with comments of it being scruffy. Also serious lack of triggered effects and music in hocus pocus, which was odd. I wonder why the hocus pocus hall music is playing across the whole park, but not outside hocus pocus? What happened to the Chessington halloween music? I'm assuming it's because a new team did it all this year.

Well sadly they are stuck with planning anything major, as much as Lego it seems. Therefore as much as the often talked about family coaster on the toadies site pops up, I fear that all we will see are minor additions like the pointless Amazu, animal enclosure and minor land updates (we haven't got a splash area outdoors yet), not to mention ride re-themes, which are more health and safety orientated than anything else.

I think that it would be a pretty decent bet that this will be a thrill ride of sorts, that everyone can enjoy. Every major Universal family ride is pretty thrilling, and most have ORP's, and do not distract from the ride experience.. It would be silly for them not to add one to this, heck even Slammer originally had it on the plans!

Panic attacks... Roller Coasters... Not two things that really go well in my mind? Good move though, as Merlin staff are on a god awful hourly rates, and put up with this kind of thing all season. Good on the park taking it on.

It won't happen next year for sure, and with another refurb being done else where for 2016, I doubt it will happen the year after either, although it 'could' change (probably not as it's chessington after all) Thing is, despite them advertising them 're-developing' it and then hiding all the signage to that 'fact', the GP haven't complained how bad it looks, so in their eyes there's no real need to do anything. We can only hope there's a bigger long term plan, but as I said it's Chessington, so don't get your hopes up,

Whaa??! Merlin cut ride budgets every - single - time!!! Zufari being the most hilarious recent example.. Anyone compare the show building size vs Spiderman and transformers yet? Now something that scale would be awesome!

Anything to do with the new land Vs the old land, so to speak? If there's an enormous show building on the cards, surely better to build on well established land, rather than newly expanded-Treasure Island?

If Merlin chose to go all out on a universal style thrill dark ride, then I'd back them all the way for doing something epic that no other uk park (or European?) can offer, and ( if they don't restrict the budget and deliver it well), I'll shake their hand for giving us something new, that we have never had in the UK (ie-another dull smiler-coaster box ticker) I will be hugely interested in what they do about it's position and new landscaping around it. Also imagine the planning application... 'Omgzz it's just a huge show building.... What's inside???' Finally Merlin could wow us all with a totally hidden attraction (I said 'wow' and 'Merlin' in the same sentence!!)

I expect new penguins enclosure and penguins of Madagascar show upgrade.

I do hope that Heath and saftey ensure this years grotto has an actual risk assessment, unlike last years!! Lol It will be good to see the Madagascar stage get some more use (although it's a winter wind trap!). I did wonder if 2015's Penguins of Madagascar 'upgrade' would cause some problems, as the new penguin enclosure might.. Then I remembered that it's Chessington, so nothing will happen until 6 weeks before the new season anyway!

Which is outrageous! HR should be more careful how they post in that case.

Yes, that's very true, although Studios have certainly been doing more than previous years.