TraX

They have been talking about relocating the offices in the lower dome, and turn it into a year round entertainment complex, with bowling lanes ect. Great for the onsite hotels, and could be available during the winter months too. However knowing Merlin, I doubt it. It would be a huge investment, on something I doubt they see is required.

Seems to be a few bits of Halloween theming already out on the lawns, covered in that camo net stuff, with a few upside speakers dotted around the place already.

Giving out letters again today for a return trip, due to poor ride availability. Bubbles still filling every other boat at it 'keeps breaking down'

I cannot wait to see the ride cars.

I hope Merlin have been on/are looking at this.. http://www.trio-tech.com/Ftp/Users/emailer/2015-WEBINAR/Webinar_27_August_2015.html

It always felt like it should belong on the Swarm island anyway. The post about it being removed to hold a queue line is an interesting one. Either way, I hope it gets reused, rather than dumped elsewhere, like the Stealh police car did, until it found another awkward home at Storm Surge.

But to experience that we have to pay extra? Seems like the in house teams have it easy this year, with just the trick or treat wood business to create, I expect that to be pretty groundbreaking.. Seems a shame to loose two great Halloween attractions and replace them with nothing, just because they're hard work to install.

What happened to the park having a couple of really good (free) mazes, and a show? Seems their line up is a bit lazy.

Well it's an angle that the GP aren't really aware of, so is of interest. I'm glad that this is out, as it may help the park have the ride opened for next season. If they can show that they have developed a better system for engineering and ride mode operation/procedures, that's better than the ride having something faulty technically. Alton will have known from the start this was human error, so good on them for quietly dealing with this angle behind the scenes. Must be scary tho, as anyone who has ever worked for Merlin know; they do love an internal investigation or disciplinary.

Indeed. It's a shame they've fallen so hard, but it's not like the warning signs haven't been there for years.

Tidals lake has been hit. The rumba tunnel has been hit, as has Stealth and X. It does happen.

I didn't mean it so literal, just in that either way those internet warriors will be slating them, whatever decision.

I would love to know what the plan is for this ride. Obviously a rebrand is pretty certain. They're gonna have to announce something and like SeaWorld, they're damned if they do, damned if they don't. Either way it will be all over the press.

I think people are more concerned that as history shows us, Merlin can't upkeep a dark ride. Hell, they can't even upkeep ride effects.

Keep filling out those KPI machines guys. It's all Merlin listen too. There's two in the upper dome.

Anyone been on Zufari this year, will see how much they give a damn/restricted on budget. The ride was poor to start with. Now it's an embarrassment! This ride will be great, but it will suffer from budget cuts as all Merlin attractions do these days.

To be fair my last trip, I heard the Thorpe theme playing at the main gate, which was great. Detonator and Angry Birds Land was nice and loud. The R&B over the Lost City however..

No I don't know that. I have no idea if they have died or not!

Can't be illegal as that's how they got them. Doubt you'll find proof, but just a friendly chat to the right person, you'd hear what I've said. Just another example of not thinking long term.

The Lorikeets were (wait for it..) bought cheap. Merlin wanted them in quick and cheap. The birds were ill from the beginning. I guess that's just got worse. The smell around Fury, comes from the back of the Original Sandwich Co, and is supposedly to do with long term issues dating back to when the building housed the larger, smelly animals!

This is very true. Zufari, Sub-Terra and Enchanted Village are great examples of attractions with a great spark of story, but the budget gets stripped back and further back, until the 'magic' is gone and you end up with something as messy and lost as said attractions.

I'm sure this attraction will suit Chessington like a glove. ie-Don't get too excited.

It's pretty embarrassing. I'm assuming after so many engineers walked out earlier in the season, that they've found it difficult... Although listen to me, another excuse.. Thorpe always have one. The effects bother me. Every other park that wants a water skim effect (for example) can have theirs working, why do Thorpe/Merlin always fail at this hurdle (with effects)? The inferno mist discussion at the start of the season should be banned on here too, as it CONSTANTLY fails mid season.

Not sure, but as long as people visit and don't complain, Merlin will think this standard is acceptable. It isn't.

Great for everyone visiting tomorrow. Shame about those who paid for today.