Glitch

From looking at the videos here's my takeaways, I will probably go at some point this weekend. The event looks really good in terms of scarezones and entertainment, I think Thorpe will continue the maze payment model from now on as theoretically queues should be lower whilst there is still enough entertainment on park so that you know you are at Fright nights rather than just being at a park with mazes generating less complaints of log queues for average attractions. My only issue is what is the point of having as enthusiasts and Thorpe alike call it a 'VIP& Press Night', I think the agency have failed here as all I see on social is 1 strictly dancer attend and then post about it. I always thought with these events the aim was to drum up as much coverage as possible however tonight that has only been the case for enthusiast sites.. Take Tulley's for example, I certainly don't think it would be at the same level of popularity if they didn't have a great influencer and PR strategy with the likes of the Zoella vlogs bringing in millions of views yearly. So then what is it for? Enthusiast fan pages? Who will already be going and spending there money and have highly engaged enthusiast followers who have already bought their tickets and their maze tickets and so if anything your loosing revenue here as do you think the quality is good enough that these enthusiasts (if your page is invited) will be buying tickets to go through the mazes again.... somehow I don't think so, more of a once is enough stick to scarezones instead demographic. And then it's also shocking to see Merlin working with TPWW but I guess he has the family market. And then we have some influencers who may not have the followers but put a lot of time and passion into creating Thorpe positive content being left off the guestlist, just seems like a bit of a slap in the face to them TBH. Perhaps this year it would of been best to have a no camera policy so everyone is experiencing it themselves for the first time rather than making a decision to buy an expensive ticket based on POV's, which I think if anything will put more people off the high ticket price items. Just my thoughts, I look forward to visiting over the weekend.

Think I'm going to take some time off this forum. Just seems like a place full of negativity. Trying to keep to a positive mindset currently.

Perhaps its just park of a longer term project like what as been done with the dome / megastore. It has to be stripped at some point, perhaps it could of waited til the off season but personally it has no impact to my day so I don't care and look forward to the redevelopment.

Remember the park is still on skeleton staff, office job side. Besides I would be confident in saying with potential capacity numbers you won't be waiting very long for rides at all.

The Creators of the Crystal Maze Experience are launching a new attraction for 2021, based on Judge Dredd. Concept art here: https://www.standard.co.uk/go/london/attractions/crystal-maze-creators-launch-judge-dredd-live-game-a4484161.html Website here: https://www.standard.co.uk/go/london/attractions/crystal-maze-creators-launch-judge-dredd-live-game-a4484161.html Looks very immersive.. @JoshC. - Please move if better suited to a different thread.

Looks cool, one of these would be good at LLW. Just ashame it lacks a water splash.

Indeed, any kid would appreciate this and wouldn't say, I can see a shed, that spoils it for me.... I think enthusiasts have a silly opinion of everything has to be Disney standard or else its just rubbish even if it's a quality attraction. It really does spoil the day for me when people going on the ride for the 3000th time like to point out the black wall or un-themed roof when I just want to be immersed in what the ride already gives.

Merlin attractions are good to go with certification from the tourist board! I assume Blackpool will follow in the next few days if there operations are u to scratch. I believe some Merlin Midways are now set to open on the 4th, Manchester for example. The London attractions, Merlin's money maker are awaiting for London and tourism to reopen and will be the last of the UK's attractions to open. Also its the thought that counts....................

I think Disney are invested in Florida, they have a contract with the NBA to fulfill and the resort openings seem to be practicing social distancing. Not that I agree with this as everyone from Nebraska to Miami will be bringing the virus down with them for their family vacation.

Gives my the sense of actor interactions around the park, no mazes rather experiences and zones, with no area of limits, type of thing.

Kellogs voucher? 19.50 +the 2.99 for the box of Frosties sounds like good value to me

In all seriousness when will this park be converted into a Thomas land + Zoo.

Share the fun, much cheaper or perhaps pay the £20 more and have endless fun at the resort!

Probably produced in a way too to add a bit of drama to the video in the hopes of it going viral

All sold out? So there must be demand at this new pricepoint. plus its still cheaper than walkup and can be booked on the day. I really don't understand why MAP holders find the need to complain about a normal ticket price raise. If anything wouldn't that mean less people in park. Besides you have multiple options, share the fun for £15 being one, buy one get one free another........ so in all lots of options so that you don't have to pay full price. In terms of gigs yes, gigs do vary in price, I genrally go for the £15 ticket price point on a weekly basis, however if we say a stadium gig or theatre show were looking at £80, Muse London stadium, Reading day pass etc. Perhaps the trend we will see is prices within the leisure industry rising. I know the gigs I have booked for later in the year have added another £5 onto the ticket price.

Debatable, perhaps the are driving you to buy a season pass, and how to these compare in value to the likes of Paultons and Blackpool? Yes a dayticket price is high but realistically I wonder what % of the market buys these. Plus £39 seems to be good value you too when something like a gig can now cost upwards of £80 for a ticket.

You should get Merlin to hire you and play the organ all day in the Vampire station @Matt Creek, now that would be immersive.

Nobody, bar a few enthusiasts will go to a pop up theme park, Winter wonderland makes its money by packing out the beer tents. I'm sure it will be the same of purchasing a drinking session with limited capacity.

Winter Wonderland have started sending out feeler surveys for this years event. Seems as if they are going down the route of one of two options: 1) Timed entry - Unlimited rides - Ticket price ranging from somewhere in-between £30-£60 if we go by prices on the survey. 2) Electronic preloaded wristband with ride credits. Obviously I think the 1st option would be better and wouldn't mind paying £30 -£60 though who knows the quality of attractions this year. But I think its clear that at this point the event will be pre-book only.

Interesting to see a vlogger concerned that rides weren't testing during their 30min walk down Monks, park therefore must be far behind Alton Towers in terms of readiness for July 4th.

Looks like an upgraded flying fish.

Double post hype, that's right embrace it! Disney Annual Pass holders seem to be starting to get annoyed that they can't park-hop anymore as reservations are required in advance for parks. They are also annoyed that magic bands are being scrapped, shows and meet and greets are being dropped while their AP is still the same price. It's not as if there is a major virus going around here's the latest figures for Florida are on the up!:

How is this poor from RMC? If I built a coaster, I would want my money upfront Covid or no Covid. Also wouldn't it be fun if RMC decided to open the ride as a $30 upsell in the park until the payments were made.

Lets look at this logically. Clearly it wouldn't pass QC standard. A contractor who was brought into the park for one day to install multiple LED screens, has done his job and installed the screen. The new ride signage boards are probably still being produced however the screen is in the correct position ready for the new board. Perhaps the company who do the boards are closed for the pandemic, hence the delay and once ready to be installed it will be placed in the correct positioning creating a nice looking queue times and ride information board. However in the mean time, I'm surprised that they didn't cover it up with a box or something whilst waiting for the delayed queue time board to be printed. We also have to remember that these parks are still running on skeleton staff so perhaps this wasn't priority.

I rather enjoyed Shaun's video of the gardens, as someone who doesn't have the time to go up to Towers every year, its nice to see something which I wouldbn't have time for whilst on park. The two vlogs currently sit on a combined 130k views.