Right, I am going to voice my opinion on the matter as well - even though I am a bit late for it. Very unusual for me, I'm going to be sticking up for the parks slightly; shall play devil's advocate a little. Ends up being a pretty fair account..Firstly, before I forget...
I'm not that good with economics really, but, if inflation means £10m for Nemesis in 1994 is equivalent to approx. £20m in 2010 (I do hope I've read that rightly), then that would that Th13teen, would only have been £7.5m in 1994? From the reviews I've heard in comparisons to Nemesis, that seems fair. Sorry if I've read that completely wrong though, please correct me if I've got the wrong end totally.Moving on, Thorpe and Chessie are on top form this season. I know I have many pessimistic attitudes towards the parks - especially Thorpe - but it is hard to say they are not doing very well. Both have had rebrands that suit their directions perfectly. For Thorpe, I may not be their biggest fan of the rebrand, but it is amazing. Their reliability has improved through the roof. For Chessie, they are ticking most of the boxes, and even making some new ones up along the way. Now, the negativity. Thorpe, it's the effects!! When I went today, I got a little dribble of water on me in Rumba Rapids. For a water ride, it is unacceptable. I haven't seen Saw's blades swing all year. Half the Bose speakers I see don't work. So on and so on. Chessie, haven't been as much, but I do think they need a spruce up. RMT for example.2010. Been a funny old year. Thorpe. They got Alive. I'm against the idea of a all year round maze and think it is a rubbish scare attraction. However, it suits the market. Also, notice how I say it fails at a scare attraction. For an attraction, it is amazing! With the right people, it is a great laugh! Chessie. Wild Asia. A new ride. It's about time most people would say. After countless years of the theme park stagnating and the zoo developing, something seems to have changed. As Mark and Mikey have brought up, whether a larger project will be as successful is unknown, but I'll give my views on that in a second. Also, the Wanyama Village bit. Very nice. Alton. Dark Forest. Again, the park's stagnation had to end sooner or later. They've got, from reviews I've heard, a pretty decent ride in the end with Th13teen. Also, a bit of Rita retheming shows they are putting effort in. Sonic Spinball. Nice new retheme and something that pleases guests. A pretty decent win in the end.So, where do I think everything's gone wrong? The marketing. Mikey said it - they make everything out to be the best thing since sliced bread. Of course, this is what marketing is meant to do usually. But it is because of this it fails. If Th13teen had been marketed as the family coaster it is, we'd be fine. If Saw had been marketed as "one of" the scariest rides or even Thorpe's most terrifying experience, we should have been fine (yes, more theming would have been good, but you can't have everything). But it is the struggle to make it seem the best and actually make it the best that we find ourselves fighting with Merlin about. Also, when it comes to fanboys, we're bound to nit pick. The GP probably have a different view to the park we do.In the end, I feel we're in a pickle. New rides need to be marketed more cleverly - rather than being 'the' best, they should be 'one of' the best; they should take a leaf out of supermarkets' books.. Then that way, they actually could put their money where there mouth is. Then, the park's can worry more about their own individual problems and hopefully seen them resolved - permanently.