Flipper

I saw it on Friday and can't say I really have an opinion on it. When you look at it it seems to look really flat and 2D but then when you stand side on you realise it's not. But other than that it just seemed very, I don't know, basic. But then I don't know how else you'd make the sign.

I was still amazed to see at Alton Towers, a photo pass is now £25 and offers four photos and four digital downloads. Yet, back in 2012 you got five photos for £20 and a digital download for an extra pound. I'm guessing Thorpe has gone the same price now? I just don't understand how they justify it, because however you look at it; they've stuck the price up a few quid.

At the end of the day Angry Birds is now-to-be next to it, so Thorpe are probably going to want it to look impressive again as the area will be so high profile. I used to argue that it was like the (returned) RMT smoke at Towers; it can build up well on one train, not so well on two, but when it's on part-misters it pulls a lot of the smoke out with itself, so when it isn't fully misting, and on two trains, the smoke never really builds up, which is a shame. Glad to see it's working again though. It's a sight I've never seen (smoke like this).

Afraid to say Ricky is right; it's an IP and Lionsgate would have had to give them input as to what they could and couldn't do with the ride, and say they are happy with the final result. It isn't just a case of Lionsgate saying "Yes it's fine" it would have been endless discussions; much like Cbeebies land will be, or Angry Birds will be. At the end of the day, if someone's making an experience based on say, a book you wrote, you'd want it to be perfect.

Benin gets as good as he gives. Again, Disney is number one based on gate figures; and thats what Merlin are trying to be. It's about decent rides that entice people to come, just like Worthy has stated.

Well I suppose no official plans were ever announced as inside theming for 'The Mill' but I suppose you are right. Partial bits would have to be removed, with others being changed slightly (and the exterior being themed up again with new materials in places) and bam, you've got The Mill.

Bottom line regardless is, everyone's gonna have different opinions on it from theming to ride experience. At the end of the day it probably would have been better as 'The Mill' in the end.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to compare per-say. I'm merely making the point on the basis that this is 99% retheme, seeing as there are no signs to any new buildings nor new rides at present for the area.

On the point you're making you could claim any piece of theming on anything could relate to anything. I have to admit though, what you've shown is a good piece that proves the details from the films being incorporated to be honest. Unless of course, you've never seen the films, and it's just another thing.

Just throwing it out there, "generic" theming...

If I am thinking of SAW 7 then that is embarrassing, but I have a feeling you're right. *thinks* Yes you are because his wife is watching him on the screens, oh crap. I actually got a SAW reference wrong D:

Beaver Creek had a fair few buildings. Magic Mountain, Space Invader, an arcade, the whole restaurant and Blue Flyer station to which the building was completely rebuilt to create Nick Shop and a new station; it had the old photos for meet and greet which had its own little building.. my mind has gone blank now but I'm sure there was more. Beaver Creek was pretty much bulldozed to the ground to create Nickelodeon Land. I'm not saying using existing buildings is a bad thing, but from what we've seen so far it's all been just a lick of paint and a few plastic daisies; which wouldn't really give an amazing impression. At least with things like Peppa Pig, Thomas Land, and Nickelodeon Land they attempted to make the buildings look direct to the IP and at least different to how they were (if they were reused).

Just in response. You are right about the pendulums, it was one. The board of spikes is from SAW 3 when he starts the Game and the spikes open under him, for him to drop out of the cage into. With regards to the indoor lift hill (yes, it's a lift hill not brakes) it's just down to the air making the actual noise, hence the 'Pss, Pss, Pss' noise which makes people think it's cross bows, when it's actually meant to be as if needles are being fired at riders - or so we were told. I agree it sounds more like cross bows though; but with the lights up you'd actually see they're themed to look like needles and have security cameras all over the tops of the walls with them - something you don't see with show lighting on.

Following on from Josh's comment, you're adding in the £5 parking at Thorpe if you're *not* in Shark, and also the parking cost to park at a Travelodge as a lot of them charge (Two Rivers is extortionate). It is also a known fact that Merlin are in it for the profit. At the end of the day, Disney build highly-themed Vekoma or Intamin rides in their parks; and charge a hell of a lot more than Merlin to visit them. And yes, building LegoLands and IP attractions are Merlin's plan by what I've seen; because IPs = cheap money. Disney is just a massive IP theme park at the end of the day. And if you think high class attractions is a priority over gate figures and getting people in the door, then yeah, you're not a very good businessman I'm afraid.

And then the image above provides an amazing example of how cheaply done Cbeebies land is. Also, can we even call Cbeebies an IP? It's a channel, like Nickelodeon. But in Nickelodeon Land it's stuff like Spongebob that will age, and Rugrats which has. Just like Postman Pat has pretty much aged now. Also referring to Peppa Pig World (Rich will love the fact you've referenced it Pluk) it's probably worth noting how its well maintained and was heavily thought about throughout it's designs. The colours yes, they're pastel, but thats the Peppa Pig colours; and the whole area wasn't a retheme. But then, Nickelodeon Land at Blackpool was; and it didn't keep it's old buildings - they built new - unlike Towers are. Might also be worth mentioning, for the sake of anyone who may have been to Peppa Pig World that rides such as the Car Ride and the Dinosaurs ride, are by Metabower (or however you say it) whom make the Farmyard Tractor ride / new Postman Pat ride. So with regards to ride vehicles and realism, that alone will show how much money has been invested; as they've done an excelling job with realism on the Peppa Pig rides.

You clearly misunderstand. They're not trying to obtain world class attractions; they're solely working to get the highest gate figures nationally. If you look at some of their reports to investors and such like, you'll find how they're trying to expand attractions into everywhere on the planet with a high interest in expanding LegoLand as a brand as it's easy money. I mean, based on what you've written alone shows that you don't have a clue. They want to beat Disney, by having world class attractions? No, that isn't a thing. It isn't even grammatically correct. They want to beat Disney on gate figures, and gate figures is what they care about because people means money. But do keep posting Benin, you're replies to things so far today have provided great entertainment.

I'm sorry Benin, but go educate yourself. All you've done is made yourself look idiotic with what you have and are posted. I've given you every piece of theming and its relevance and yet you still call it generic. Maybe it is generic to horror films, but it is part of the SAW films too, and on that basis it counts as relevant-to-SAW theming within the ride. And I'm sorry but do you even know how the Rack works? It's not a chair. Plus points for posting one of the funniest things ever on the Forums. Chair, lmfao.

Crash Pad last year was great. It's perfect for a night or two, in some quirky accommodation. The old Crash Pad beds were amongst the comfiest I've ever slept on and despite being small (something you adapt to very quickly) and being relatively basic; the Dome was available until the early hours, so there was an option to not stay in the room. I do feel this is a case of, don't knock it until you try it.

I'd love to know what the chair theming is in SAW And you clearly have very little idea of the theming links. I'm going to ignore the queue line ones as I'll be honest they are not entirely relevant, but merely come from blueprints of traps that are on the walls in the background of SAW films. With regards to inside: The blood writing "Let the games begin" "Face your fears" "The games have just begun" - all relevant as it is exactly like that within one the SAW films as a game. The shotguns that fire, again, from the film. The rack, which in fairness to it was a genuine prop, and also from the films. Partway up the stairs, and also visible through the window at the top is the man in barbed wire, again, from the films. The computer system in the middle of the airgates, from the films. The countdown timers, again from the film. So then we move onto the ride section: Cogs at the beginning, I can't recall them being linked to the films, so that is a ride-piece of theming solely to highlight the factory idea. Billy, no explanation needed. Pendulum blades, from the films. Spikes seen on the drop, from the films. Needles are loosely based on the film, where needles are a common theme throughout, most relevantly the needle pit in SAW2, but again, creative design was used in the ride to incorporate that idea. (By this I'm referring to the air blasts on the indoor booster lift, officially known as the Needles). The body and bathroom scene, SAW 1. TVs of Billy are used throughout. Spinning drop blades, again done for the effect of the ride. Billy and storage shelves at the end again is from the movies as used in Jigsaw's lair. The building itself, like has been said is based on Jigsaw's lair. So how anybody can say 'SAW's theming isn't relevant' is clueless to be quite frank. No, SAW isn't everybody's cup of tea as a ride; and no, if you haven't seen the films you can't really associate. But I've just gone through every bit of theming and told you what is and isn't in the films. If I could be bothered, I'd even show you pictures from the films (but I don't feel thats appropriate for the forums).

Problem with SAW's building is that unless you've seen the films it makes no sense. The building is actually incredibly well themed to the films both in and out, and items such as the shotguns are direct from the films. Unfortunately though, like I said, if you don't see the films you can't appreciate it.

I have a feeling that this will be launched with bots and the smart phones - because the technology can be ran in co-operation with each other. I believe Flamingo Land run the bots as an 'unlimited' device, and offer packages and one-shots via smartphone.

I do have to admit I like the adverts, but it does feel quite corporate. Fair play to them though trying to big up their rides the way they have; with statistics (regardless of how accurate, and Jamie can't disagree there, I know that park too well for my own good) - but it doesn't really scream fun, and thrills like it should. It just says to me, we have some rides, we're cheap, and we're easy to get to.

I hadn't really considered that; although I do consider the entire ride throughout very dusty in a majority of places. Hopefully they do spend some time cleaning it up; the animatronics seems to be working faultlessly at the moment though, so they've clearly done some form of TLC work. Equally I've only ever known Bubbleworks as the ducks, but I do think it could be changed for something a bit more... magical, now. Although I would miss the smell in the station.

Oh okay, maybe this person was comparing it to Thorpe's "throughputs are the shizz!" approach then, or maybe I just misunderstood him. Apologies!

I might be digging up old news, as I haven't really paid much interest in the Shark Hotel; but what I didn't realise was the Shark is *apparently* being made either out of, or to look like, old park memorabilia. It isn't shown in the concept art; but I've seen a different piece which I can't seem to stumble across at the moment, which shows the shark being made out of items such as the old Fungle Safari height board, and Colossus promo images and such like. I'm pretty sure it's genuine; and I really hope it goes ahead, because it'll be an amazing little treasure piece of history!