Inferno

All very exciting! This definitely seems far more realistic than the London Resort. Traffic and transport seems a lot better here, and it’s also not “the other side of London” to most of the population. Looks to be a great location for a new park! It’s right by Luton Airport too really which will be a big advantage. Also looking at the map (not that I am in any way an expert) it doesn’t seem to be “in anyone’s back yard” as such. It’s a bit of crap disused land on the edge of town out the back of several warehouses and industrial estates. Ideal really since it won’t directly bother anyone too much, other than traffic I suppose? But it’s so close to the M1, and there looks to be space to improve roads if the need arises. I really hope this goes ahead and is supported by the local community as a positive change. The reality is, it’s this, or the usual few-thousand houses plonked on the site with little to no consultation at all, which pose other challenges to the neighbouring towns infrastructure etc. Fingers crossed.

I quite like that behind the text as well. I think it would make the social media logos pop a little more. Also you know all the squiggly bits that appear on the videos and posters etc? I knew it looked familiar… It’s just the thing in the middle of Quantum. I guess an homage to the most underrated ride at the park!

I’ve thought the same about the responses to be honest. Ryanair can get away with it because their entire brand is build around “we’re cheap, that’s it, and if you don’t like it then you can f*** off”… their brand isn’t even about travel or flying, it’s ALL about low price, no frills, and their notorious reputation. I think Thorpe’s CS going down this route is bad and doesn’t fit the new “brighter future” brand at all.

About the resort tagline removal…… The thing is, it just isn’t a resort. They're now all about being open and up front, so calling themselves a resort really doesn’t fit the new brand does it. It never has been a resort, so the whole thing was ridiculous anyway. Removing “resort” is just common sense in my opinion. I don’t think that’s flying in the face of Merlin at all either. Don’t forget; it’s a new Merlin now . There’s nothing wrong with a company acknowledging that things aren’t right and deciding to make a change. Also to those saying that this is a poor effort at a logo - firstly a brand is about so much more than a logo. It’s about how the entire company operates and how it makes the customer feel. The logo is only a small part of a brand. secondly - look up ANY logo and you could make the same argument about “simple fonts” or “anyone could do that”.. but that’s beside the point. One thing I will say though is this; although I feel overwhelmingly positive about all this, if next October I’m stood at fright nights surrounded by hoards of misbehaving morons, with Fastrack oversold by several thousand, and miserable faces everywhere….. this will have all been for nothing. Time will tell!

And here she is ❤️ Nice and colourful, and can be easily used against different backgrounds to suit whatever really. I like it and the whole brand story surrounding it all.

Well DBGT is the future of theme parks so I’m sure that’ll come under the Future video. I’m enjoying these videos too 😊 very nicely done and interesting to see! Really positive to see the park fully acknowledging the problem with all the “darkness” surrounding everything in recent years since Saw. The focus on a brighter future sounds very good to me.

It certainly does feel like it doesn't it. A bit of a fresh start. The bright blue looks absolutely amazing. Will make a huge difference. Thorpe will look very different next year!

I think that sums it up nicely - New Merlin definitely seem to be getting to grips with the place. It’s looking positive for the future isn’t it.

You’re a hard man to please aren’t you! I do agree though it’s a bit daft doing this video after the trouble they’ve had with break-ins etc 🙄

They’re going to have a busy closed season this year aren’t they! Seems like good news, long overdue - Angry Birds was a (bizarre) throwback even when this land was originally announced. Mad to think that Angry Birds launched in 2009, meaning many of the 17 year olds visiting the park today were still in nappies when their parents downloaded the app on their phone…

That twist is going to be incredible. I saw the support structure from the motorway yesterday and oh my it is ENORMOUS compared to everything else. This ride really is going to dominate when it's finished. Really excited for next year.

Love this.

Interesting and exciting times! could we even be seeing a new entrance area? Or I guess we’d have seen plans by now wouldn’t we? I really like the current logo, it’s so recognisable and will be weird to see a new one for Thorpe, but I'm interested to see what’s new and I think it’s good that they’re turning the page and startng afresh - the park badly needs its identity sorting out. The comment on the grave stone about “stepping in to the light” is interesting - could that be referring to an end to the dreary “everything is ruined” ride themes going forward, and a lighter more positive feeling? also I’m here for the new theme for the Fins Vibes 360 kitchen or whatever it is.

I’m assuming not a lot. It doesn’t seem to have much of a “theme” as such does it. hopefully it’ll have a good bit of dispatch audio / lighting though. I’m liking that some of this is still unknown!

Thorpe 100% - but what a year it will be, followed by Alton Towers new Horizon the following season as well.

That’s great they’re doing another season I'm surprised there’s no Tron?

I completely agree. Also the “find your fearless” tagline - yes it’s a bit odd, but at the end of the day it’s just a tagline on a ride in a theme park, it’s not that deep, and in any case it’s not going to ever cross the mind of 99.9% of riders, the same as “Colossus - it never leaves you” or “Galactica - Journey Beyond”. I’ve been very critical of Thorpe over the last few years (because it’s been crap tbh), and it’s very easy to look at anything they do now with scepticism - but I think everyone agrees this ride is something special.

I really like it! And it’s nice to not have a fairly upbeat theme(?) as well (I assume). Love love love the music.

Omg you have soo much influence, I need to buy your M0083 merch. It’ll be good to see some track going up at fright nights. Do we think we’ll see a name revealed at all during FN?

Very true - I guess it's just an ideal waterproof space that can be easily moved anywhere.

I was puzzled by the bus too. I wonder if they can drive it out of there still? Maybe it’s just parked out of the way for now? Who knows

Great news!! I wonder if they'll improve anything else with the trains while they're at it?

That’s good they’re still doing that - I haven’t heard the countdowns for years! Throughputs are such a hit and miss thing I guess, Mark’s right, one operator might be more hot on it than others, and on a quiet day it really doesn’t matter if things are a little slower.

Interesting to hear Saw never runs on 8 trains? Any ideas why that is? I agree about Inferno too. Maybe this is too cynical but I have thought could it be because it was too efficient? Inferno’s queue used to be quite fast moving, perhaps making the mighty Fastrack less appealing…. now adays the ride ops seem to do a lot of walking about and phoning each other in the station. No idea why it takes so long now to get a train out. One thing I have noticed since the Smiler crash however is that they no longer rush and put pressure on guests to hurry, on any of the rides. I seem to remember it being a bit of a mad dash previously to get out of the air gates and in to your seat! Now it’s a bit of an amble. Years ago now I remember inferno in particular, they would sometimes count down until dispatch during the summer, which really did put the pressure on people to hurry up! I suppose that would be inappropriate now adays I’m glad you had a good day Matt and it was quiet! As for busier days - All I can say is thank god Stealth and Swarm can still get through people - I think that side of the park is the place to be next year while not waiting for exodus!