Nick Hutson

Varney has said that the Dungeon is his favourite of all the attractions... the London Dungeon will be in the public eye once this move happens - so they will happily fling money at it to make it the flagship attraction in a world class tourist centre. Let's not forget it will be right opposite The London Eye - which is the UK's most visited tourist attraction.

They're not in a dungeon - they're in railway arches - aka caverns. However, they can create a feeling of claustrophobia whilst still having more room for behind the scenes effects. The fact it'll be on three floors is very exciting - and we will get a lift to go down (which Merlin will probably classify as a ride!) I am all for a move; it's about time they got a complete re-fit, and the new location may mean longer opening hours. Dungeon open until 10pm in the summer, please!

I always feel wandering down this part of Southbank that it's like a little theme park. You sometimes have a carousel, stalls, street entertainers, The London Eye, The Sea Life Centre and the Death Trap. I won't go in it as I can't abide these sort of attractions, but it must be doing pretty well if it's still there. From Scare Attractions:"Back in May 2008 Haunted Attractions visited Fright Club, located at County Hall in London. To say we found it the worst attraction we’d ever been through would be an understatement (read our previous review here). Then in late 2008 we started to receive emails from a new owner, telling us we must come and revisited. The emails insisted that the attraction had been revamped, but we still remained dubious. They’d even renamed it “Fright Club: Death Trap” just to try and distinquish it form the original.However, our fears of it being the same old Fright Club were soon extinguished.On walking into the building it is soon apparent this is NOT the same old attraction. The inside has been painted black, has props and actors roaming, it no longer looks like a school concourse.There is no cheesy photo opportunity, this time it’s straight into the attraction and the scares start almost instantly.The layout inside makes the attraction feel longer. Yes, it still uses some of the same props and walk ways, but now, it’s all about atmosphere and scares and not boredom! The actors, and there can be upto five in this small space, really know how to work the maze, and now have the tools to do so. It’s out and out scares all the way.But, it’s the last 20ft where the attraction hit’s it’s peak. It looks like a dark corridor to the exit, but you soon come to a shuddering halt where your senses are shocked for the final time. Without giving too much away we now understand why it’s been renamed “Death Trap”!So, a big congratulations all round for the owners and actors for turning around this poor attraction into a “must do” maze for any haunt lover out there. Miss it at your peril. "

it seems to me the only reason this has happened - is a lot of the music was written for the Tussaudes days, and they (Merlin) have probably closed the contracts for these pieces. So, they probably just bought a general music licence deal which mans they can play whatever pop music they want. Shame... Still, I am sure I keeps the chavs happy.

It's going to be one of these, I think.

Kinda Ka and Top Thrill Dragster were okay - all a bit of a one trick wonder. I'd rather do the new ride at Ferrari world. However, El Toro is amazing - really took my breath away.The ride I wish most to do is Indiana Jones at Disneyland in California - or Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (but - I am resilient to put that, because Orlando is in easier reach than California).Anything at DisneySea in Tokyo - as mentioned above.

Not only is Spiderman the greatest ride in Orlando, it's arguably the greatest ride in the world. Lest not forget The Revenge Of the Mummy and The Tower of Terror. I'm sure Harry Potter's Forbidden Journey will outshine Spiderman's glory as the world's greatest. Not bad for Islands of Adventure!

Well, I didn't edit it - so... I can't remember the bit you're referring to! haha! I am saving my ears for it again for when I am able to hop on a plane.

Well - it's not technically a coaster show; it's an amusement industry show. Plus, John's background is in theatre, and the links between theme parks and theatre are incredibly related, because of the use of story telling, characters, set, special effects, music, sound, lighting and all the other forms of integrated story telling. Hence why, if you work at Disney, you're called Cast members, you're on stage when you're working, and you're backstage when you're not working... etc, etc. Are you referring to the Mousetrap reference when you say "theatre bit"?

I don't think it's the accent that annoys him, as he's a fellow brit due to the term "naff all". It's my apparent lack of knowledge that seems to lead to his hatred toward me.

Many thanks for all the thanks - but the thanks go to John for taking sooo much time out of a gorgeous afternoon to talk to us! Hope you're all enjoying it! I am drawn to this, that I saw on CoasterForce today: " I hate that Nick Hutson guy. He doesn't know anything, I like it when he talks about theatre but he knows naff all about parks quite frankly. "Makes me laugh!

Hi, guys.Thanks for the questions. We ended up chatting to John for about two and a half hours, and you'll be treated to two episodes starting from next week (I believe). We only had time to ask a couple of specific questions, but a lot of the questions you'd love to hear the answers to are included in the interview. It's a GREAT interview - and might be one of the best chats with Wardley ever. It was such a pleasure to have him spend 20-30 minutes answering one question.It's certainly something worth looking forward to, and I hope you all enjoy it when it's released.

Thanks for all the great questions. - I will see what I can do!As to when the episode will be released, it probably won't be for a couple of weeks but I am not sure - as I am not in charge of the schedule.I am looking forward to chatting with John again tomorrow; he's a real gent and a very, very good interviewee!

Hey, guys.We're having John back on The Season Pass Podcast, so please leave any question you may have for him here, or email me at nick@seasonpasspodcast.comThis is a great opportunity, so I really urge you to take good chance of it!Looking forward to hearing from all of you!

Though, both boat rides are Mack - with the drop!I love The Dungeon; I think, like Madame Tussaudes, it's a great introductory scare attraction.

I can appreciate the business move to make the rides more interactive (Tomb Blaster and Duel), but I personally am NOT a fan. I like to go on a dark ride to soak in the creepy atmosphere, the theming, smells sights - not to shoot at flashing LED lights everywhere. it totally removes the fun factor away from me. I recently went on Forbidden Terror Tomb Blaster - or whatever its latest re-incarnation is - and enjoyed it - and I didn't pick up my gun once. I loved how long it was, how dark it was (at certain points), the rumbling of the seats and the way your photo is displayed to you at the end - some elements of it are really very original. However, I just really don't care for the shooting element. I am not going to go all Daily Mail on yo ass and say it influences violence, but it'd be nice to have a great dark ride that tells a story - like the original Forbidden Terror Tomb Blaster did. I am friends with Dave Buckley who, when he was living in the UK, did the music for the ride (along with Duel, The Bath Flume Ride and others) - and I remember him playing me the music in his studio at his home. It was very good - very John Williams - and thoroughly enjoyable - and one of the aspects of the NEW version that I enjoyed. Interestingly enough, I've never waited more than the time it takes for the train to start for the ride, but I guess I've been lucky!

Disney must be pooping their pants!Seriously - bravo Universal! I don't care one bit for Harry Potter; I find it totally unoriginal and derivative, but the work being done at Islands of Adventure always leaves my jaw somewhere between the earth's core and Australia. The British style of buildings, village layout and Hogwart's itself really is beautiful. Even the sign saying HOGSMEDE is perfect! It's like a real 1930s village train station!I think the fact that Universal, for the past decade, has had the best dark ride in the world (Spiderman) may have to put it second place to The Forbidden Journey. From the press release, it does sound like a truly amazing experience. I will hold back going for a while. The idea of theme park geeks and Harry Potter geeks in a 20 acre space worries me slightly! I will also wait for the inevitable teething problems to subside - and then go all out - and stay at one of the resorts and have a great time! Who wants to go?

Or knock it down and make use of the triangular shape and build a rollercoaster/dark ride in an ancient pyramid to match the theming of Colossus (ancient temple/ruins)Just an idea, Merlin!