Benin

Sounds like every single Merlin attraction ever built actually... We were all naive 5 years ago...

There are a few partner hotels by DLP which are serviced to the train station/Disney Village via free buses... I think you can look at them on the official booking website, but I cannot remember (mainly because sod staying at one of them again, but when money is an issue, tis worth it)... Towers have got a 35% off deal going atm... Worth checking that, and will probably work out a lot cheaper than DLP due to transport (Eurostar prices </3)... But at the end it's probably down to personal preference... Gonna miss the new stuff at both parks (Ratatouille opening later this year, unconfirmed when) so it doesn't really matter where you go...

I know that's what most people's reactions are to Zamperla rides but it's a tad over the top...

If only we would get a Forbidden Eye (or preferably, Crystal Kingdom at DisneySea) clone, but only if it's longer, I felt that it was just ridiculously short... If only Paris would get Soarin... Or World of Colour... Or a Little Mermaid ride... Or any of the rides planned but never coming to fruition... Silly Paris...

Alternatively, with the building they could have done something interesting with the facade, rather than just, a warehouse... Whilst apparently fitting with the theme, on a theme park scale it doesn't look good... They could have extended the indoor queue, if we're worried about fire exit signs ruining the atmosphere (Really?), then the way to combat it is to make the queueline interesting... How they missed out the opportuinity of making Saw's queue interactive beyond some air guns is actually quite daft... Then again the theme is such that the traps need people in them to be half interesting, which naturally stopped happening when cost got involved... The size of the building itself really isn't the issue (aside from being a huge SHED), it's how they used (or didn't) use the space to their advantage... I wonder how much dead space there actually is inside there... As for the gaps to provide air flow... Did the designers not hear of air conditioning? I mean, in 2009 it wasn't exactly a new concept, when you're designing a ride with a rather scary theme, why would you even consider having such an idea to ventilate the building? Surely the idea would be to make the inside as dark and intimidating as possible, or is that just me thinking logically and thematically? I think the main issues stems from that the quality of UK theming is so low these days that Saw is considered a high point... That and the whole poor design choices of the project (something that has plagued all of Merlin's additions)...

Well then by that example Smiler's stuff must be reliable as the Marmaliser stuff seemed to work on every visit of mine last year... *shrugs*

Horray for bland cattlepen queuelines!

That's the thing with scaremazes, due to their temporary nature, it's easy to adapt and change them...

Same could be said for Valhalla tbh... Half the time they don't seem to spend the money required to make some effects weather-proof... It's a shame, but it's something most parks suffer from it would appear... I don't remember the last time I saw Inferno's water bombs go off...

Hope so, Air Races are

So apparently slagging off Merlin for being rather uninspired with their additions this year is slagging off the parks directly? Maybe if the parks were actually being improved on an overall basis year in year out across the board, then such low level additions could be ignored... Indeed, both parks are doing well to add such things, Towers improving a rather empty family area, Thorpe adding family stuff, the choice of IPs on both states the way of the current industry more than anything, as imagination appears to be dead... Is it wrong for us to want our parks to really push the boat out year in, year out with additions? We're not expecting coasters every year, but for me personally, I want to see the park's improve on their appearances, performances and ability to bring in guests based on how good the day out and experience is... New stuff helps, but it's the retention of guests that should be the focus... Thorpe had the right idea but the addition of Angry Birds as an IP (as I've said) shows a level of desperation for the instant returns desired by Merlin... Indeed, short termism and an abundance of unimaginative additions beyond coasters is not helping our parks in any way shape or form...

I thought we were told explicitly that the reason it was closed all year was so it could be easily accessed so things could actually be done over the open season and be all ready for this year? If the work for RMT or the Hotel has barely begun, what's the point in them evening opening in March? You would think over 3 months of closed season they would have something vertical for the Hotel at the very least... It actually is pathetic from the southern Merlin parks this year... Hell I think CBeebies Land is gonna be the only good UK investment this year... Where's my passport?

Depends on the finished product, the 'bus' could easily be a 'horse driven carriage' or some such nonsense... Without any further details (or actual confirmation), can't tell... Assuming it's a deal with the Shakespeare lot then it'll probably be good, because it'll have to be...

Probably because it looks better with that insane lighting package they did for it... Nothing short of lazy though, expect that from Merlin parks...

The real question is, when are IMA going to release the entire 75 minutes worth?

Shows are a LOT more expensive than rides to run, especially one that would involve fire and other effects... The UK needs to embrace some shows, but most of the ones we do are really crap... Indeed, the only reason enthusiasts seemed to like this year's Mutiny Bay offering was because it was very panto humour... Something that doesn't translate well to big shows...

Shambhala at night is This is a new thing for me, pictures of Boomerangs at the moment they release... The sheer range of potential emotions is just amazing... That being said, Launched rides are always the best for reactions... And as we all know, B&Ms are insanely photogenic... Possibly my favourite photo ever, the sheer dumb luck of timing with the ORP flash that lights it up makes the picture...

I think it has to be that way or some such nonsense to keep it in line with historical documents... Probably, I'm wildly guessing here...

London Bridge Experience rip off? Probably will be some London history themed attraction then looking at that... Like the idea of a London Bus Ride... EDIT - Someone discovered that Merlin have been involved in the trademark of "Shakespeare's England"... Could be the theme... If so, it'll rake it in... http://www.ipo.gov.uk/tmcase/Results/1/UK00003010777

If I recall their Dragon is an extended Vekoma Roller Skater (as in, it existed before Merlin took over, and they added the dark ride section onto the start and end)...

The first two things you'll see going into the area from the park entrance are pay extra games... What is this Wild Asia?

And will still be a higher pph than G-Force...

Tis starting to take shape now... Facebook

Well, part of it anyway, I don't think it's technically owned by anyone but after years of having so many different attractions and very few staying permanently (bar really, the Aquarium and Namco long term), I wouldn't be surprised if Lambeth Council will be happy to take more of Merlin's money... As for what it could be, the only brand that isn't there atm Midway wise is a Discovery Centre... Whether that's a viable concept due to being near Legoland (even though this will be sold towards day tourists in the centre, which is fair enough, the others are) is arguable, but unless Merlin are using their imaginations for a completely new brand then that's my bet...