Nick Hutson

Only viewable to Premium Pass Holders or those who pay an upcharge.

Thankfully!

TRON is a Disney IP. Harry Potter isn't a Universal IP (Neither is Seuss or Marvel)

Who knows what's coming in the future...

Yes - I was petrified of doing the mazes (never really done them before) but decided to bite the bullet. You will come out absolutely smiling and laughing... start with SAW and ASYLUM as they're both hands-on-shoulders mazes, and then proceed to Cabin and then MBV. Just keep telling yourselves they're just actors (which they are) and you'll still come out at the other end. As with a rollercoaster, the longer you avoid doing them - the more scary they become! Once you've done three, you've done them all! Enjoy!

How? Couldn't get it to open...

The Yanks are famous for this. When Radiator Springs Racers, Soarin', Potter or anything else to the calibre opened, the queue times were well over 7 hours.

I love the theming... Makes me realise how amazing Thorpe Park's theming effort is!

It's well known that Merlin's marketing is the best in the world and the Americans are absolutely AMAZED at the stuff we a) get away with in our marketing and Get away with in the rides and themes. A SAW ride in America? NEVER!

The Sweeney Todd scene has been revamped slightly - the back pokers, new recording and the character in the room make it more entertaining. And the wonderful "I'm talking to YOU" bit. Sadly, the chairs seem very temperamental.

Yes - and actually have some videos educating us of the animals we're about to see. Or - if they're going to pay for an actor - they should have a male actor playing chase in there. How can the creature we are seeing actually see us? Is it a new kind of transparent TV Screen? Turtle Talk with Crush makes sense because he's in a fish tank... However, at least Merlin have tried the technology - that was what I was impressed with and the kids in the room were genuinely quite excited, and the grown ups were impressed.

And Henry's Wrath at The London Dungeon, of course. Will be interesting to see what they do with this ride. I quite like how they're reaching out to the public to theme their rides - the PR Machine is working well, once again!

It'll probably just be another wax figure. I don't think it'll move to County Hall. There's too much to move - the ride, specifically! I'd be devastated if that wouldn't make a return. Also the building holds too much historical importance - as it's the original Madame Tussauds. Also, forgive me, if they were to move the attraction, we'd have discovered the plans online somewhere - and they'd have been working on it for a much longer time a la the Dungeon. They wouldn't announce it and then re-open it a year later as it would drive the punters away from the Baker Street attraction.

One thing I'll miss is the very theatrical and majestic opening of Traitors' Gate - it was a really nice touch! I really wish something happened at the top of the lift hill, too. Shame.

I think a lot of the effects are still being programmed. I was told there's s crow attack on Wrath - and lots of water cannons and things... I guess they're still being installed.

Nope. Was specifically told at the Q&A tour that it'll never return.

I am sure if it was that easy - they would. Sadly, these things require huge amounts of planning and excavation... which might be hard to do in the confines of a castle. Extremis has been sold back to the manufacturer.

http://www.merlinannualpass.co.uk/misc/standard-pass-restrictions-popup.aspx

Only if you have a premium pass. Standard pass holders are blocked until the 11th march.

The indoor queue holds 300 people, and they will batch 45 people every 6-7 minutes on the busiest of days. Therefore, the longest the queue will only ever be shy of an hour. Not sure how it breaks up between priority and standard.

Interesting that they had sets built and were filming for the advert... where did you see it?

Tues 26th Feb is the date... http://www.merlinannualpass.co.uk/events/default.aspx?story=60 Here's the link you need to press to reserve your space. I am going between the 1pm and 2pm "show".

The ending is not chronological as you are in Jack The Ripper (19th C) and then go back in time to Newgate Gaol (18th C). The turning room might well just be a rotating trommel tunnel thing. But - who knows...? Some nice surprises in the map: Plague Street and House sounds quite intimidating, and I'll be interested to see how they do the Labrynth a la Jack The Ripper. I hope they make a lot more use of low lying dry ice and one-way mirror effects. I also wonder what Coughin' Coffin is, as well as The City Gate experience. It seems they're making a lot out of little moments (going through a gate, for example). Image wise - I don't know why they've gone for some "attraction" names being red and some being White... but, whatever.

The parks are still in competition with each other as they're all treated as separate businesses - each with sale targets and such to be met. I think it's great that the big parks and attractions are all run by Merlin. They're the only company that seems to be doing things very well all over the world. A huge investment at Alton Towers (with one of the most impressive and groundbreaking PR campaigns I've ever seen) and a new £20M Dungeon, a new York Dungeon as well as a huge new attraction at Chessington... I think the state of attractions in the UK is quite exciting. If you look toward the US chain parks (Six Flags and Cedar Fair) - their theming is rubbish, marketing campaigns are dull and, yes, they may build huge steel beasts, but they don't offer any theatrical flair or any story telling. The thought that Seaworld and Busch Parks could be owned by Six Flags terrifies me. And don't even get me started on their $20 parking fees or forced $1 locker per ride fee! The Paramount Park can't be judged yet - Paramount do not have a good track record with theme parks these days. I understand they won't be operating it (which is good - as anything they've promised to operate has fallen into oblivion) but - we have to wait and see how/if the park happens! We should relish the fact we're lucky enough to have Merlin... the Annual Pass makes it a joy, and - despite a couple of their flaws - I'm very proud to have Merlin as a British company.

The Smiler works really well as a name. I am reminded by what Roald Dahl writes in The Witches: "What makes her doubly dangerous is the fact she doesn't look dangerous".