Benin

Since that's a German website I'd imagine there's a bit of translation syntax going on. Wouldn't be surprising if Towers did get Mack to update the ride system in a background sense (I.e. redo the sections where it slows down or speeds up) to fit in with the new theme/story. Creepy children are a horror staple. It does seem a thing where opinion is now stated as fact and runs away until its too late. Until it is explicitly said by the park it could be anyone; just because it COULD be doesn't mean it IS. Same goes with dolls, just have to look at the recent success of M3GAN to see that. All Haunted House attractions have used popular horror tropes for centuries, and the artwork is reminiscent of the game F.E.A.R. which heavily involves a ghost girl. Maybe it's based on that or Resident Evil 7 as that also features a creepy child (it isn't but again I can also make wild assumptions). Claiming Forbidden/Terror Tomb is coming back has been happening for years. It won't be (mostly because its very 90s and some aspects of it would've been changed by now for obvious reasons), however I would imagine a successful reboot here would give food for thought for those at Chessie. Once again, opinion is not fact. The fact will only come when the park do their PR featuring what the plot of the ride is. Anything else is completely up in the air and guesswork/assumption by enthusiasts (since the ones working on it haven't divulged anything of note and can't anyway). Besides, if you're basing thoughts off the recent artwork you're still going round the main house rather than a dollhouse. Probably escaping the aforementioned ghost girl and her friends.

Who are these people though? Do they exist? Are they like Secret Tories? The usual ones I see on forums are either keeping quiet or don't have anything to add on things going on. Usually get a few but if it's all theme park Twitter stuff then count me out. There's literally no public knowledge beyond now a poster with a girl and some dolls heads. It really feels like many are putting 2+2 together and getting 5 because they want it to be rather than it actually is. As a result, the designers love to tease people in such a manner. Especially with little nods and hints to the past like referencing Sparks in the poster. Riles up the goons no end. I dunno. Maybe it's just me getting old and being open to whatever shenanigans happen inside rather than deciding early on it'll be a certain thing and clinging to it. Would laugh if the ghost girl referenced in the posters was called anything else but Emily though. It COULD be a reference. Not it is. I still wonder why they would use a side joke that a number of visitors didn't even see and that only enthusiasts know the full story of (not that there even IS a story, it's a ghost girl who lives in a doll house and has a white cat, here endeth the tale). I must be getting old and ranty. Maybe I'm becoming a Tory?

Kill it with fire.

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!