TraX

Yes, I believed that to be true as well. I'm sure it's day will come in Orlando, but not yet. Hate the SeaWorld bandwagon. Watching one bias documentary does not make you an animal expert. Wish these people would do their homework.

Absolutely and knowing Thorpe, it will be the standard in your face that Merlin go for. I was just commenting more that this has been the quitest construction topic of all time. I'm sure there have been pleny of discussions with Europa in regard to the general use of the headsets, as easy as it is to bash (most of) Merlins decisions, I'm pretty sure they haven't gone into this blindly.

I agree, although am disgusted how it's come under this deceiving TLC 'brand'. If they do confirm all those closed rides, this TLC will be the smoke screen. Basically turning the negative ride downtime into a positive 'but we're making them better', when it's total BS, it looks better making out they're updating, rather than budget cuts from our day out. It's deceiving and I can just imagine the bosses in a meeting talking about it. So far, aside from Nemesis, I haven't seen any real TLC (heck, Chessington are way in front with Tomb and Vampire). At least we can agree that Nemesis is fantastic, although I can see right through this TLC crap. If they confirm all the ride downtime under TLC, I won't visit this year as I find it utterly insulting.

Don't you think that all of that work is just standard closed season maintenance? This is being dressed up as restorations, when it's actually work you will find in every one of the Merlin parks in winter. I actually find it pretty insulting how they're dressing all this TLC thing up. Shutters being painted brown, I couldn't care less about (why would we see the shutters anyway, unless there's more to be closed this season), Ice Age is actually a step backwards and was no doubt painted one colour by a seasonal member of staff doing winter works.. Nothing more. Thank goodness for the ACTUAL work they're doing on Nemesis, which also demonstrates they CAN do big jobs like this in winter, so begs the question why they would need to close anything during the season after all?

this competition though.. I'd almost forgotten there was anything happening at Thorpe.

Yet if the enthusiasts aren't talking about it, be sure the GP aren't. Aside from Derren Brown, there's nothing to talk about. Will be interesting to see how this is marketed. I'm all up for secrecy, but there's a fine line.

That's great to see. Would be a real positive step if Merlin would set some budget and realise that these details in a theme park are really important. Hopefully this is that first step.

How can you say that? Thirteen looks just FAB now its been left to totally over grow and look 'on theme' (actually it's pretty hard to make something look BAD, without it looking scruffy/tatty = Thirteen)

Pegasus at Europa.

Surely the point is exactly what we've been discussing. It will be built and just sit there unused for most of it's future looking terrible.

There's defenitly compitition, as Paultons often advertise on the busses around Kingston and Chessington. Probably exactly where Chessington took the idea for Kobra in the first place.

Don't most people just jump over that fence anyway?

Well it would be stupid, but wouldn't be that much of a shock. The Smiler was first considered to use the VR tech and that IS true!

YAY! Will they be following in Thorpe's footsteps and giving the answers away, when they realise that no-one cares?

The bus is being re-programmed, I can only assume to tame it down to prevent any further damage on the floor/ceiling below. Lots of painting and fixed bits and bobs all over sounthbank following a large H&S investigation.

Ditto, it just fails at the finale.

So, between Depth Charge, Neptunes Beach and the Flying Fish - possibly the only remaining part of the park they COULD have added something colorful, or family based, they install ANOTHER worn down themed, actor based attraction?? Seriously, does anyone at Thorpe know what they're doing? Merlin's choices baffle me. Can't wait for another scruffy looking attraction, that will remain closed more that it is open. YAWWWWWWWWWWN.

How about twisted dreams? Wake up in an abandonded warehouse and prepare for nightmares and VR insanity, creating the world's most intense dream attraction from the minds that created Zufari:Ride into Africa. Seriously, I agree. I'd love to see something colourful and not run down looking for a change.

The cave was actually over-speced and some (most) equipment wasn't suitable for the space. The fans alone for example, were so loud, it sounded like an aircraft taking off and so were not used, yet still hang there as a reminder of the enormous missed opportunity. The original design of foreboding African masks and air effects were great on paper, but as already touched upon were totally mismanaged. Additionally, none of the wood around Zufari has been treated properly and will all need replacing sooner rather than later. Typical do tnings for gate figures now, pick up the peices later attitude that sadly floods every MMM project.

Maybe it's not just yet and certainlly not for next year.

They'll get big new rides again. They're fully aware of the joke they've become.

I hope the engineers are now allowed to install UV lights, rather than replacing them with blue lights instead? Part of its problem was it wasn't ever allocated enough money for UV lamps (true story)! Hopefully the park will keep it at a standard now..

its difficult not giving a sarcastic comment on the nice shiny pins against the harsh reality (Chessington's management) that every season chip away at the fading park. So I won't. The pins look awesome.

No they could have altered that whenever they wanted. Merlin are arrogant and as long as this attraction means positive gate figures NOW, they will deal with the rest later. Every Merlin attraction with actors has been closed or had the entertainment side scrapped. In a few seasons, this will be absolutely no different. With any luck the live actors in this will be a little addiction and not vital to the experience. If you think this attraction will operate with the same staffing levels in even 3 years, you're kidding yourself.

I think that a lot of the problem enthusiasts are having with it (partucualy those who have been around longer than most and those who have travelled to other parks out of the UK and are now getting bored with the same approach), is that the entire thing looks 'Merlin'. There was that whole debate a few pages back about Derren's involvemnet with this and the marketing alone, confirms he is just the face-the IP of the project. In regards to the images and feel of what we know, the teaser video; it screams of un-originality. We've seen it all before. It literally could be Saw. There is nothing new here, right down to how much this is 'going to change everything'.. yada yada.. It looks like a Fright Night teaser video, NOT a world class 'game changer'. I am very much excited to see how the experience runs and will be with you all in the queue opening weekend, but I swear if I see a Merlin mirror maze like Dungeons/Shrek/Krake Live/Ghost I will want to shoot somebody! I much prefer the look of whoever deals with Derren's shows, the old Vaudeville style, imagine that as a Ghost Train, they literally have a wealth of inspiration from that subject, but so far it's all been done already and by Merlin themselves! Before I get shot down, my judgments are on the images and feel of this alone. I hope the interor experience can pull off what they're claiming to be such a game changer, as if it's anything like the video it's going to be the same old Merlin attraction, that will have all of it's actors cut next year due to budgets and us only imagining what would have been with a trackless or Spider-man type ride instead. One final rant..Get over how good the worn down building looks, they're everywhere in London and again, this is nothing new for Merlin.