Marley

Urgggh.
 
We know not much about this silly retheme. All we know is that it will be spooky themed and it will probably be better than Derren Beowns Ghost Train. Need I say more.right.

With this recent poster reveal it does (unfortunately) point towards Emily Alton being a prominent character within the story of this new attraction. I say unfortunately as I personally couldn't really care less about a heavily story driven ride. I just want scary, spooky set pieces. On one hand I completely understand why they would bring back a character they own the rights to. I mean look at the final day of the Bubbleworks when they had Professor Burp knocking about despite the fact he hadn't been around for a decade.
 
Just for fun. Here is footage of the girl who'd play Emily Alton in the dollshouse rehearsing the the scene that we'd all come to know and love. Would be interesting to see what similarities people see with her and the girl on the poster.
 
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1177934444543

As someone who rode both Wicked Witches Haunt and The Haunted House (very young mind). I believe the transit system on WWH was the same one used on The Spirit of London at Madame Tussauds. Even though it's 2 per carriage, the carriages are in constant movement and are linked all together. Whether or not that means WWH's throughput was higher I'm not entirely certain but I am inclined to believe that it did have a higher throughput than HH but HH wasn't a slouch either. I think that only time I ever queued for HH was my first time going to Alton Towers around late 90's. My mother and I were amazed with Emily Alton effect. One of my most potent memories of HH to be honest.

1) The facade
 
2) The Drawing Room (Indoor Queue)
 
3) The Grand Hall
 
4) The Screaming Heads
 
5) The Sinister Garden
 
Wouldn't really want the old scenes incorporated for Emily, but would rather have new scene implemented for Emily and have the old scenes speak for themselves in their original manner.

It's some weird fan theory that I think people seem to think will happen without any substantial evidence from the park.
 
Then of course those on park see this and do things to tease this into being a reality even though they don't likely know what the real plan is.

Time for my sporadic login. Been keeping an eye on this though haven't been to towers in a decade.
 
Didn't they touch up Duel a couple years back during the Towers Loving Care (TLC) initiative? That didn't seem to prolong the lifespan by much.
 
I'm a bit of a pessimist about this tbh. I do wish they make this great ghost train one of the best in the world once again but thinking about previous Merlin projects. Lets just say I'm very cautious.
 
Also, I wouldn't even contemplate making a trip to Towers if Nemesis isn't available until 2024. 

I actually wasn't aware of the budget allocated to the project. I never even thought of a potential of an IP ruining the attraction. I'm sure we would of heard about a deal if one had been agreed on. Seeing how lots of revamped rides at Merlin parks get IP slapped on, I'd be very happy if this one remains it's own unique attraction.
 
In terms of what I'd like to see brought in. Pepper's Ghost effects. I'd like to see Pepper's Ghost effect utilised loads. You could even use screens to create the effect, although you cannot beat using physical props. 

@MattyMoo this doesn’t add to the discussion. Everyone knows Emily Alton and Snowy are fictional characters. 

I dunno, I think it was a nice refreshing addition to the thread.

Just gone down memory lane with this one. Truly an amazing ride. I'm so grateful to have gone on annual trips to chessie in the late 90's into the 2000's to experience this gem. 
 
They don't make them like they used to...

Yeah it's a real conundrum isn't it? In an Ideal world they should of left Bubbleworks alone and when the new proposed coaster would open in the current picnic area would be the perfect time to bulldoze transylvania (minus trees) to get ready for a new dark ride. Could also plan on getting rid of Tomb Blaster as well as that's been on its last legs for a while now.

On topic. The bins at Thorpe have a sickly sweet smell that attracts wasps like nobodies business. Whenever I smell it outside of Thorpe, that's where my mind takes me back to.

I could see why you wouldn't want to visit in the current Merlin Monopoly..
If I was closer to Paultons or BPB  I would honestly just live there, Merlin Parks are either starting to lose their magic or have lost their magic (Thorpe Park)..
There has been glimmers of hope like Icon and Wickerman, but overall I do feel when I visit Thorpe Park these days the park has no immersion or magic at all.
There is no soul, there is no immersion. Alton Towers I would say is probably the the park with the most soul but The Dungeons certainly re-affirms Alton is still a Merlin Park..
 
Oh well, at least we're not in Spain. Merlin Parks are run like crap but I would take Merlin's crap over Portaventura's any day of the damn week.

Not sure why I felt the need to post this tbh.
The thought suddenly hit me. I lurk a here lot for some bizarre reason but the last time I actually visited a theme park was ~5 years ago, that being Thorpe Park. I have not visited Chessington for almost 10 years and Alton in over a decade. I live a bus ride away from london winter wonder land but can never be bothered to visit. I got into theme parks around 15 years ago. As a child, my parents would take me at least once a year to one of the tussauds parks and enjoyed those times very much.
 
Nowadays, with the rising admission prices and crucially, what you get for that price. I just cannot justify going to theme parks for another decade or so.
 
Does anyone else here feel the same way?

Cannot agree more. 
 
Wouldn't the profits be far higher if chessie just created their own IP? 

Can this be unpinned now?

Can this be unpinned now?

This is so exploitative. Look, we all know about theme parks and the changes that have occurred but the average person may not. Some people may not even know that the re theme occurred at the end of '05, so to advertise this whole closing down and backstage tours as one thing when it's obviously not must go against some consumer rights. Must come under false advertisement surely.
 
Some of you may think I'm being pedantic with all this negativity but considering the seasons they've had in recent years I feel they are now just exploiting peoples trust and naivety. Like I said previously, Merlin see no worth in this park anymore, milk all they can until numbers get so low then they'll sell it off. 
 

Post of the year.

43:39 is where you wanna be, by far the best footage to have ever surfaced. Thank me later.

That's brilliant news. Always loved dark rides and all the concepts and ideas that go with 'em. Although I did ride the haunted house when it was still knocking about my "home turf" is chessington so the bubbleworks and 5th dimension parts should really overload my brain with useful pub knowledge.

43:39 is where you wanna be, by far the best footage to have ever surfaced. Thank me later.

43:39 is where you wanna be, by far the best footage to have ever surfaced. Thank me later.