thorpephan

I've just come across this old tread (from 2014) on theme park reviews forums
 
looks like in science week, Chessington  did some graphic info boards of its history - with some great photos and images of the park and old Ariel shots etc, that I've never seen before.
Does anyone have any better/clearer images of these boards when Chessington did this? or know where the images came from (often Merlin steal from elsewhere lol). Its just I'd like to see these images better. or if anyone knows where these boards are?
I'm sure maybe the park brought them out for other science weeks or nostalgia stuff in subsequent years? 
 
https://themeparkreview.com/forum/topic/39923-photo-tr-chessington-woa-24-03-14/
 

I've just come across this old tread (from 2014) on theme park reviews forums
 
looks like in science week, Chessington  did some graphic info boards of its history - with some great photos and images of the park and old Ariel shots etc, that I've never seen before.
Does anyone have any better/clearer images of these boards when Chessington did this? or know where the images came from (often Merlin steal from elsewhere lol). Its just I'd like to see these images better. or if anyone knows where these boards are?
I'm sure maybe the park brought them out for other science weeks or nostalgia stuff in subsequent years? 
 
https://themeparkreview.com/forum/topic/39923-photo-tr-chessington-woa-24-03-14/
 

I’m happy to say I watched a POV of Alton Manor and noticed the wheel on the hurse is spinning 

SPOILER (although not sure if appropriate now its closed/changing but just in case!)
 
Do people reckon the gift shop ending will remain in the new iteration?  
 
Also does anyone have an images of the demon in that last scene? or how the effect was done? 
 
 
 

This is something I posted on a FB chat page, but thought I'd share here for your thoughts as well:
 
I have mixed feelings on DBGT. In its favour it is unique and a do mostly enjoy it. However I feel there is lost potential. Its biggest issue though is narrative and immersion. The ride chops and changes what the theme and story of the ride actually is. Here is how the ride pans out.
 
1. Derren introduction makes it explicit you're preparing for a theme park ride.
2. You see the hanging carriage with a Victorian theme, suggesting a time period to be immersed in...
3. ...which is immediately undermined by making carriage modern inside. I know this was deliberate, but it begs the question what's the point? Illusion for illusion's sake. You go from modern (Thorpe) to Victorian (hanging carriage) to modern again!
4. The first VR section is consistent with the carriage and the story continues as a modern 'ghost train'
5. The middle section is also consistent and keeps with the modern story...
6...but suddenly the final VR section is now showing park guests with headsets, making it explicit that you're on a ride again.
 
It's hard to be immersed in a rise which veers between being:
 
A. Victorian
B. Modern
C. A ride invaded by monsters.
 
The twist that the carriage is modern inside and old outside is not terrible, but surely that's the wrong way around for interesting theming?
 
To use a different theoretical example, imagine that you had another dark ride which had a modern themed queue and the station was themed to pirates. The ride then starts and magically transports you back to modern for the rest of the ride. Guests wouldn't be going "wow, what a twist", they'd wonder what happened. Turn that the other way around, and have a modern station but the ride takes you back in time to see Pirates, that is a bit more interesting, right?

I get the logic in the train changing from modern / Victorian. However, theme parks are at their core about transporting you to 'the other' (so a different theme / time / place. What is seemingly backwards about DBGT is that the queue is 'modern' with mentions of fracking, then the carriage is 'Victorian', but then we're magically transported back to the time period we started off in! It's a bit backwards.

This is why I feel that a simple switch from a modern and abandoned tube carriage with a Victorian interior would be more 'magical' and therefore more interesting. It takes guests to a new place, where the current ride takes you super briefly to a Victorian carriage before taking you back to modern immediately.
 
Here is my proposal:
 
1. You start in Thorpe Park in an abandoned warehouse = modern
2. You see the hanging carriage which is now a modern tube train. The story is now that the train has been experimented on for paranormal purposes.
3. You step on board and now it's Victorian. You've been taken back in time by the mysterious carriage, and the ghosts are after you!
4. Events pan out as they did before but all in a consistent Victorian theme and plenty of ghosts. The second VR section omits the headsets on other virtual people.
5. The shop ending remains the same, because it's the best bit of the current ride.
 
I'm obviously not suggesting the is is viable to change the carriages now...but it's how I'd have done it with the same ride system.
 
What are your thoughts?

I wonder if Sir Henrys head will appear once again in the fireplace? 
 
In the haunted dolls house event in london guests had to walk through a fireplace! - so maybe the ride now goes through a fireplace into a portal - featuring Sir Henry Altons head cursing you! 

Please can we all be serious for a second. No sarcasm,unrealistic statements or jokes. 
 
Does  everyone think the animatronic Duck from The Flume will be incorporated into Alton Manor? When the Duck was first mentioned I thought people were mad. The Duck was far from scary. My then 4 year old Sister rode The Flume in 2014. She was not intimidated or scared. Trust me had this piece of Theming been remotely sinister my Sister would have been prettified. My Sister hated and still hates anything scary. 
 
Since the hints of Ducks appeared in Pop Up Dolls House event my views have reversed. I now think maybe the duck will be utilised. It’s an impressive animatronic that has been concealed in an SBNO building for the best part of a decade. Many Manor Houses have Duck ponds within the grounds. In the original version of The Haunted House there was a swamp scene. This scene featured a troll that rose from a bog. Creating a Pond would be a subtle acknowledgement to this scene. Additionally it would make Alton Manor more realistic. You could be chased around the Garden by Emily Alton and pass a pond. The Duck could then rise up from the water. This would provide an amusing jump scene for the whole Family. I have been to many Manor Houses/stately Homes. My Parents were members of the National Trust. Most of these have Duck Ponds. I can imagine the Goolish Garden seeing modifications. As the canopy that sheltered The Grim Reaper was sighted in the queline for The Invitation I think a Pond could be located here.
 
I wouldn’t be surprised if the undertaker from this scene is redressed too look like a butler. If this is the case I think he’ll be relocated to the walk through preshow before you board the ride. the butler could be beckoning you into Alton Manor. 
 
Please reply with your actual thoughts and not the jokey posts that are strewn through this thread.