Benin

That is an incredibly basic view of the amount of changes made to have that ride more palatable to European audiences (I.e. we actually want a deeper backstory to things). There's a lot of original content within Phantom Manor mixed in with the Haunted Mansion formula. Still don't understand the obsession of a "blink and you'll miss it" character that had no bearing on the original Haunted House or Duel. Be funny if the girl in the promo art either doesn't exist in the final ride or is given a different name to the ones that have been given by eager enthusiasts to fill gaps in... something? Definitely also a lot of hyperbole about this retheme too. Temper your expectations people and you'll be far happier than if the ride's storyline is different to the one concocted in your own head. People would've been a little happier with Multiverse of Madness if they'd done the same.

Thorpe just suffer from horrendous white elephants in the middle of the park instead 😉

No cat in the promo art. Therefore no Snowy. Maybe that's why the ghost girl is annoyed; like John Wick but ghosts and houses. Keep the blasters and its an easy connection. Look I can jump to random conclusions too! Towers might need to get a priest in soon though. 3 cursed rides now. Plus an alien with a clutch of eggs. Plus In The Night Garden. Horrifying.

Wasn't the Dinosaur Dig just a retheme of the Mr Bloom attraction? Dunno where they'd put the Driving School in CBeebies, but it's not exactly an attraction that you can just shift around ala Carousel or Frog Hopper.

Don't think they could fit a Flying Theatre in that building. They are massive attractions after all. If they were to return a 4D show to the building I'd rather they convert it properly rather than on the cheap. But the likelihood of THAT happening is low. Plus they should get rid of the Dungeons because does anyone actually bother with it? Another wasted building nowadays in a park that has steadily lost filler attractions. Also id say its unlikely much will happen to the area until Project Horizon gets built. Even then it depends what that is themed to. Knowing Towers they'll probably just retheme the area again with another cheap paint job and call it a day.

We don't know the theme yet. Highest rollercoaster themed to Bear Grylls or something stupid.

Official announcement and website up: https://www.chessington.com/jumanji/ Confirms a 1.2m restriction (finally a sensible idea) on the coaster, with 7 rows including a backwards one (whyyyyyy?). Wonder why Chessie gets all the flat ride budget?

Dartboard Coaster is an apt descriptor of what MMM did when designing it.

Which definition of the term operational will it be using?

Brave it backwards on a SHUTTLE coaster. You do wonder with Merlin sometimes.

The king is dead! Long live the king!

Depends again on the options. Closest airport is Baden Baden. Further afield Basel or Stuttgart. I've not gotten the train to the park but they recently announced a fast train to nearby Ringsheim. Alternatively hire car or lots of changes or expensive taxi.

Distinct lack of poodle images in that post.

Stayed on site and the hotels are of good quality. Actually pay for what you get (though it is annoying that you have to add tickets on top of it as well). They are popular too but might be that the cheaper one (El Anduluz) is sold out. Depends what you're after end of day. But as mentioned there are lots of b&bs around.

There's so much of the park you could bin. Depth Charge, Beach, Storm Surge, X:/TWD, DBGT for starters opens up a MASSIVE chunk of area. Especially if you include Slammer as well. Making the entrance actually appealing should be their next step. Every time I see pics of it it looks awful. This in turn would work with demolishing Depth Charge and the beach and making a big plaza area with stage and food options. Bit like the temporary stuff at Towers recently. Then get a good dark ride and high throughput water ride that's actually good. Oh, and a Top Spin. Preferably indoors.

More U-turns than a Tory government.

The thing is with The Ultimate was did it have the reputation because it was good or in spite of itself? The lift hills took FOREVER. The first half was dull as anything. The second half in the woodland was complete madness. It really was poorly designed and constructed. Lived off bashing knees in for years. And for being an unique experience within the UK. But it really wasn't an incredible ride.

Just pick a page in the Zamperla catalogue like every other park does. An Air Race instead of Zodiac is the first idea that comes to mind. Doesn't help that the best flat ride has been demolished.

The king is dead: https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/people/yorkshires-most-famous-rollercoaster-the-ultimate-at-lightwater-valley-once-longest-in-world-to-be-dismantled-3982243 Shame, but they were on a lose lose situation with it clearly. Certainly an unique loss to the UK industry but it wasn't well known for being good.

Trying to figure out if £45k is good or poor for that role.

For sure, just a lot is showing its age atm. And when you've got a big new project and no additional support rides coming in to help the crowds in the area. Just seems there's too much obsession with roller coasters. Dark Rides would also help but after DBGT........ Also looks like someone forgot to lock the door after we briefly got rid.

Thorpe (and Towers) used to be really good on the flat ride front. Alas I think with the whole "new rides must have an USP" approach; gone are the days where parks would add 1 or 2 small flats on the quiet years. Only time that happens now it seems is when got some going cheap from another Merlin property. Chessie gets more flat ride investment!

This can also be filed under "posts that could be from 10 years ago". Single rider on Inferno in mid 2000s was fantastic fare.

Sounds like every annoying person who plays the "I know something you don't know" card for Internet points.

Surely a Psychic would KNOW if there was a boat ride at Alton Towers? Don't think she was very good at her job.