JoshuaA

I think Merlin's history with Gerstlauer would perhaps not make it the most likely thing to happen, I think the model itself is also kinda a thing of the past. I think if we're going to get a coaster there I think it would be perhaps something a tad more modern and marketable than a old ride model like a Jet Star II. Yes Jet Star II's are still being sold and bought by smaller parks but I think with Merlin being a major scale park, I think perhaps it would be a odd move.

It isn't like the operations are that good either.. 5 minutes on a break run on a two train B&M? Europa keeps the upkeep of the park as well as running max trains with minimal stacking.. Breakdowns at Europa also only happen once in a blue moon.. You can focus on both.. Its just Merlin doesn't put in the extra effort when it comes to theming that parks like Europa do.. And most of Europa is OPEN in the winter too.. They have less time to refurbish stuff, but they still do it so the park looks nice for guests.. Knowing Thorpe/Merlin the wood will be re-done when the structure is falling apart and rotting.. Look at Tomb Blaster, Tidal Wave's fire effects, ect.. Another example is Loggers Leap.. That surely isn't being left to rot up due to operations eh?

I think it comes down to how much the park takes care of the theming and structures- if this was Europa, that would of been sorted and refurbished ASAP as they actually care about the finer details and theming of their park.. Everything costs in a park, but some parks make the effort to do things they really don't have to do- Merlin really rarely do that.

That would of been a much better addition but I think it really would be a unlikely place and ride model. With Schwarzkopf being defunct I think we wouldn't see another one at a Merlin Park. Especially after Black Hole was scrapped due to Health and Safety standards (correct me if I'm wrong) I'm not sure that plot of land would be plausible to have a coaster plonked on it too? Money is another thing.. Spraying a bunch of black and red paint on X probably is the cheaper move..

I think I'll find more intensity in checking my facebook news feed than this at midnight..

I think the post above me really is true. Fear and intensity really is quite addictive when it comes to rides- it makes some rides for me, Baco for example always makes me anxious on the build up to the launch. The fear is part of the fun- especially when you are with a group of mates and you can laugh afterwards about how you just became a nervous wreck for a few minutes. I have a massive fear of Drop Towers (Detonator makes me terrified!) But I plan to finally do Hurkan Condor at PA, just remember the amount of adrenaline and relief you will get after the ride will be a insane and fun feeling, and you'll probably be back again later for more!

I agree that Dragons Fury is actually pretty snappy and intense compared to some of Alton's rides. The Smiler is really just inversion after inversion followed by a inversion, not very intense, just sickly. Oblivion is really all about the tension and anxiety of going up the lift hill, but the drop itself is fun but not really scary. I guess just slowly build up the rides next time, thats what I did when I first did all the main rides. I built up the courage to go on Rita, after that I insisted that I would try Nemesis and Air, then I finally built enough courage to do Oblivion all in the same day- I think the more rides you do the more confidence and courage you get.

DBGT is just really boring to me.. The pre-show is good, the final scare with the shop is good, everything else bores the hell out of me. I guess Thorpe wanted to find the most amusing way to flush 10-30 million quid down the bog.

They had a very similar version to the RAP when I went there so.. They are very strict with it though and I don't think its commonly used at all. When did you last visit? I remember on my first visit it was pretty much the same thing but last year they gave out a pass and it seemed like they overall organised it a lot better.

I think planning and preparation is great until every ride you go-to breaks down.. Luck is a massive factor I think when it comes to ride-counts, as you can plan all you like but you never know when a ride is gonna breakdown and how long it will be down for. For example the other day in Thorpe I was hanging around Stealth (having a bite to eat) which was down for quite a few hours. Just after I finished eating the ride was back up and I was exactly at the right place at the right time so I got on Stealth walk-on, easy. This wasn't planning, pure luck. Though obviously good operations and reliable rides (Europa) usually put the luck much more in your favor.

Inferno was dreadful on Friday too. I could of played a game of chess on the brake-run..

Merlin Parks in general usually have ridiculous amounts of RAP users.. Maybe its exploitation or just poor execution of the system but every non Merlin Park I visit seems to be shocking in comparison to the Merlin RAP. In PA even on a busy day you are lucky to see somebody using PA's version of the RAP, I saw one or two over the space of two days. In Europa I didn't see a single other person using it.. But then again with Europa the queues are pretty manageable anyway. I guess the staff probably were really not the problem at guest services, its the poor system that Merlin has for the RAP. Well, its different at Legoland.. Legoland's RAP is just..

So I gave this a ride today and overall here is some pros and cons: Pros: Decent theming throughout the ride A few cool special effects during the ride, the exit corridor also had a few neat smell pods Cons: The corridors between the pre-show and the ride were kinda atmosphere-killing and a fire exit door being open didn't help.. The finale felt really poorly executed, one actor in a corridor? really? The lighting and audio also very understated so it lacked any urgency whatsoever. It was down for quite a few hours. I got at the park about 12 and I didn't see the ride open until around 3PM. Overall: Meh. I think that explains my opinion on the experience. The ride now has a few neat special effects and some theming, but overall the experience is let down by its finale and the corridors between parts of the ride kinda ruin the atmosphere.

I think we all just need to move to Rust, Germany.

I have to say I really like this addition. Yes Dreamland is a historical park- but it also has a few modern-ised sections from its complete makeover last year. I think the Air Race and Discovery in particular is going to give the park a really nice selection of flat rides that will hopefully draw in some more people. I find it crazy how they keep throwing money at the park considering their financial state.. With their money troubles I don't think trying to revive a dead coaster model really is on the agenda at this moment.. Anyway I actually remember the park had a ghost train before the makeover- though it was tiny and hilariously naff. I think a Ghost Train could be a cool addition if they continue this risky spending spree.

Despite my bashing of this re-theme I have to say I agree that the theming in the interior actually looks nice. The exterior though..

Okay I know its only April but fu** you I'm writing this review. So the London Bridge and Tombs is an attraction that has always been on my radar- whether it be the rave reviews from Scaretour or walking past it when the Dungeons was down the road. So after a trek down to London I thought I might as well experience it for myself- does it compare to The Dungeons? (apologies for these straight outta snapchat photos ) **Mild Spoilers** The London Bridge Experience So after a somewhat overly long intro video- you are ushered into the London Bridge Experience. Overall I found this experience to overall be well themed, well acted, well scripted, and educational- but sadly I feel like a lot of scenes and rooms lacked the crescendo or 'oomph' that the Dungeons has. For example there is a scene in a pub here which the landlord discusses a bunch of murders which references Jack The Ripper. You then hear a scream to which you are ushered out of the pub by the landlord to find a corpse. But then after you see the bloody mannequin- you abruptly move on to the next scene. This scene in particular had a lot of tension and it constantly felt like something big or Dungeons esque would happen- but it doesn't. I felt like they really could of added some more dramatic reveal to seeing the bloody mannequin too- we really just walked past it. This was a issue for many scenes- in particular 'the fight verses the Romans' scene had a great script and seemed to be building up to something jumpy- but then it just kinda fizzled out and next minute we were on the next scene.. I do have to give credit for some scenes within the experience though- there is a huge scare involving a large moving animatronic that made me jump out of my skin towards the beginning of the experience. I also really enjoyed the incredibly disorientating spinning tunnel towards the end- it was even worse than the one at Tulleys! I think London Bridge with some more special effects could easily match the Dungeons- but for now I think it really lacks the 'oompth' and the finales of The Dungeon's scenes. Despite that though- the theming is brilliant and perhaps even greater than The Dungeons. The acting was also top class and the groups were much more intimate than the 30+ groups that The Dungeons has. The Tombs After nearly throwing up from the spinning tunnel you are warned about the intense scare attraction that awaits you- after a photo opportunity and a intro video, you enter the lifts.. This lift scene built up tension perfectly and the lift had some nice special effects to make it feel like you were actually going down! Once out of the lifts, you form a conga line and you enter the main maze. The main maze itself was nicely themed and had a huge variety of scenes. A hospital, a Chop Shop style room, a prison style room, and even a clown section- you name it, its in The Tombs. The maze overall has tonnes of variety within its long layout- I never quite knew what the next room would bring. The acting was brilliant throughout, with actors using various hiding spaces to come out of nowhere or harass us. My only problem was there was quite a few rooms that were sparse on actors- but the theming and animatronics kinda made up for it. Overall The Tombs was a long and varied scare attraction that I think really made the trip worth it. Conclusion Overall I think The London Bridge Experience and Tombs are both well themed and acted experiences- though if you want a educational and witty trip back in time I think The Dungeon's is a much more polished and superior experience- though if you want to get sh** scared then The Tombs makes the trip down to Tooley Street more than worth it. The groups in both The Bridge and The Tombs are also much more intimate so you don't have to deal with the overcrowding that The Dungeons has. Anyway sorry for the six month early post

I think we'll see a deja vu of IAC. It will probably start to open once in a blue moon- rest of the year it will be untouched and abandoned. I'm guessing it'll start to get low-ridership by 2019-2020 too. XNWO had a similar problem- marketed towards adults but had a layout that was way too tame and boring for that said market.

I do have to say it was top form on my last visit- overall my second favorite dark ride in the UK behind Vahalla.

Honestly I think XNWO's refurb into X was just fine. Some extra budget and special effects could of been nice I guess, but in the long-term would they be maintained or functional down the line? I honestly think a couple of colorful lights and some loud music was enough- the theme was loose, but it worked.

Don't give them any ideas..

The Colony at Tulleys must have like 30-40+ actors in its never ending duration. I would be shocked if they beat that- Living Nightmare is also very short, so I think thats probably just the usual marketing mumbo-jumbo. Anyway besides that, I actually really enjoyed Living Nightmare so I'm excited to experience it again. The theming was lush and I remember the acting being brilliant- so if they do add a few more actors in it could pretty fun.

Going to ride this next week, honestly I'm expecting X with a bunch of Zombie paint. Thorpe honestly I think could be considered even more soul-less than Chessie now.. Lost Kingdom at Paultons.. No tacky IP, a theme that doesn't make you want to swallow a bunch anti-depressants.. Oh, and it won't be closed and abandoned in the next 5 years.

I think it looks perfect next to Storm Surge.. Ugly.

I find it funny how in the last few years Thorpe seemed to aim their additions to draw in Teenagers (Ghost Train, Walking Dead) but now they are making their food options inconvenient for that demographic that they have been targeting..