GetEchoes
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Posts posted by GetEchoes
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Confused what this is all about. The YouTube video is just advertising the existing installation at Thorpe which has been there for a while is it not? Its just a old content probably from when they installed it. I have spent many hours in the summer watching NOW TV adverts and the occasional movie trailer in Nemesis.
These aren't new, just the company has made a new trailer to advertise their product they installed ages ago In the park? ? or am I missing something?
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1 hour ago, Benin said:
Concerts work in places like Liseberg and Tivoli, although the wristband system helps with that. You do get the odd big name playing them as well.
Doing a "park and concert" ticket at a raised price would be about the only way Thorpe could do it (plus a charge for MAP holders). Would require good organisation though. Tbh I'm not sure how Liseberg et al. do it.
Think as well capacity is a bit of an issue at Thorpe. From what I understand island beats was in Lost City, probably where bouncezilla was?? If so that hasn't got the best of capacity when you take into account the stage etc....
I agree, that if you want to see a band a venue suits better than a Theme Park, but to be honest, if it ups capacity I dont see what the problem is - anything that drives footfall - of which might be people who dont usually go to theme parks and might return - is a good thing. nothing wrong with parks trying out new stuff and seeing what works/what doesn't in my opinion.
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5 minutes ago, SaveRRCampaign said:
Thanks everyone. Let's keep this positive. If Chessington has a legal obligation to keep RR running they will have to invest to bring it back to its former glory. I will follow up with a draft petition this weekend.
If a ride is no longer supported by the manufacturer and cannot get parts then it cannot operate. All that would mean is the ride stays in situ SBNO surely?
Sometimes we just need to let go
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3 minutes ago, Loggers Creek said:
TBF, given last year’s travesty at Fright Nights, I can see why. Let’s hope they do a better event this year.
Dont really hold up that much hope. The Creek Freak Massacre looks like it might be good, but to be fair the rest of the announcements were a dud - as usual with Thorpe Marketing. These so called Fears, one is from last year and one is a Challenge of the coasters everyone does all the time for a wristband. I do think Quality over quantity of mazes is better, but nothing compelling for a go this year unfortunately.
I'm really hoping they pull it back, but I cant see it in all honesty.
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2 minutes ago, wonderer said:
Cool, so what do you do at each ride/photo opportunity? How do they "add" your photo from the ride to the wristband?
You ask for it at the ride booth, they then scan your wristband and it gets added to your account.
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Dont really see what purpose this would serve. Rameses has been on last legs for so long, most of the time its closed with scaffolding. If it was preserved surely it would just mean that the park couldnt move it, it would use up the area its in and we wouldnt be able to ride it. As it gets older, it would get more and more unreliable with parts being impossible to source.
I liked Rameses and it is the only thrill ride at the park and its a shame to loose it, but its done its time. It hardly ever goes, if it does it often gets stuck and the ride cycle is so short its hardly worth it.
- JoshuaA and SaveRRCampaign
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21 minutes ago, planenut said:
Now we are all going to have to get used to moaning about a different owner/operator.
I hope this proves successful for the parks and not just the shareholders.
Same operators, just the holding company of Merlin will be different. I assume that the same management and day to day operations will be the same. From the press release they are keeping it as a seperate company, same HQ and not distributing or changing assets of merlin.
Fingers crossed this helps with investment in the parks, if the parent company wants to invest more then there arent shareholders to block it based on profit. There is a full document on Merlins website about the plans. https://www.merlinentertainments.biz/recommended-offer/
The document also says that the two companies (Blackrock and Kirkbi) were there before public listing:
"KIRKBI and Blackstone jointly controlled Merlin in the 8 years prior to the 2013 public listing, during which time Merlin became the second largest location based entertainment business globally, and the partner of choice for the world's leading brands to deliver immersive experiences to guests."
So fingers crossed we go back to the investment days!
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4 minutes ago, daboywunda said:
Jeez guys, this is one echo chamber full of negativity - talk about "love us, hate Merlin" sometimes.
So, no. Bouncezilla isn't a multi-million pound rollercoaster or flat ride. No it isn't an immersive dark ride. No it isn't long term. It is as every bit garish, loud and obnoxious as it suggests. It actually does what it does well and although the location isn't perfect, it's something different to do in the park (along with GameFX and the Lunar cinema too). At the moment, there are lots of rides and games stalls, but very few attractions or experiences. So, it's nice that Thorpe are exploring the possibility of things outside of rides. It's just a shame that some people interpret this as cheap, low effort and poorly thought out. Ultimately, this seems to be popular with the public and I guess that matters more to Thorpe than some die-hard forum keyboard warriors out to criticise every aspect of the park and Merlin. People seem too willing to pick them apart for every tiny detail not to their taste, but seem to be unwilling to recognise when they do well or congratulate them for at least trying something new.
Given that DBGT and The Swarm didn't generate the ROI they had hoped for, allowing Thorpe to explore other aspects of their park and guest profile is actually wise. But of course, Thorpe could build an RMC to rival Steel Vengeance or a Hyper that would challenge Hyperion and they would still rubbish it "because it is Thorpe".
Well Said. Merlin is a business, as much as there are die-hard enthusiasts you need mass market appeal to make the park turn a profit. All of the annual passes in the world wont really generate profit when you look at the running costs of the staff, electric etc... so they need mass appeal and to offer something different.
SBNO rides are probably there for a reason - it would cost to disassemble, remove and store - so why spend the cost unless you are going to put something there - probably why Slammer is still in place. Got to look at the cost of activities of the park and the time it takes and if its worth doing from a financial point of view.
I think that GameFX probably cost Thorpe almost nothing, as it was in partnership with HYPD - so they probably paid most of the cost of the event. BounceZilla would have been relatively cheap, but is a good experience over summer - yes its not a coaster but not everyone wants coaster after coaster (Amity Beach shows this, its often packed during the hight of summer and some people go there just for that with the family) so BounceZilla will bring in more people who don't just want Thrill ride after thrill ride or those with families.
I admit it would be good to get a new coaster - which no doubt will happen eventually - ultimately don't like BounceZilla, GameFX and the like - then just don't go on it! Its not removing anything from the park they are empty sites/events venues which are not usually used during main season anyway.
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I have been, and its a-lot of fun. Appearances aren't everything, as long as the weather is nice, its a good distraction from the queues. Maybe not a expensive investment, but it is fun, and that is the point of the park - to have fun
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3 minutes ago, Ivsetti said:
https://www.merlinannualpass.co.uk/passholder-hub/holiday-club
Merlin trying to capitalise on their hotel offerings.
Isn't that the idea of having the hotels? To attract people? Would be stupid for a company not to capitalise on their offerings surely?
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Dont think they will stop it this time. I believe it was stopped as people didn't pay, and as the entry system was older they couldnt stop the use of the pass. Now it's all on Accesso and connected via a central system, they can terminate passes and it stops entry if you miss payments so they dont loose out.
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Personally don’t see this impacting at all. Thorpe is established and been there too long for a new development (which would of been aware of the site before construction) causing issues with future attractions.
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Unless I’m missing something it’s free. For premium passes or £1 to pre book. Standard passes are £10 and only £20 during the peek time at the end of the month towards the end.
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4 minutes ago, ProudToServe said:
But that is your point which, saying thorpe didn't want Figaro... when they chose not to return to thorpe after starting up their own business after the 2017 season
Love how rumour is always reported as fact here.... Personally I dont care anymore anyway
- ProudToServe and ItzAdam
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Just now, ProudToServe said:
The Big Top 16/17 was created in house by staff, who didn't return for 2018 season. Nothing to do with Thorpe not wanting to use them or not.
Again not my point... I said that Figaro did the Construction - its them they might not want to use for some reason, that was my point.
Forget it - pretend I didnt say anything....
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6 minutes ago, Marc said:
From what I understand Figaro Bros are some individuals who used to work at the park and have gone off to do their own thing - totally unrelated to The Big Top in that sense, there would be nothing contractual stopping them bringing it back.
Not saying it would stop them, but as they have experience (never know might even be some of the props and inside stuff) the decision might been made not to use them and rather than build a worse version than the year before from people who have not had experience - they just didnt. Just a theory.
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If you have someone who does it right, getting someone else in is a risk, as they could get a backlash if its rubbish. Also depends on the contract I suppose. Would explain why they have decided against bringing it back it though.
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I wouldn't be that surprised if Big Top didn't come back. Wasn't Figaro Bros the company who Thorpe hired to make the maze? They are the ones with the project zero stuff that has nothing todo with the park but advertised in the park - probably without Thorpes Permission. If wither Figaro Bros wasn't able to commit to the maze because of their own scare attraction or Thorpe dropped them because of it, could explain why its not coming back despite everyone seeming to want it.
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Got to love the Thorpe/Merlin PR. Spelling mistakes, website inconsistencies in regards to opening times, old pictures being uploaded to advertise fright nights... Well done Merlin!
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15 hours ago, Stuntman707 said:
Thorpe's main Fright Nights problem is The Year of the Walking Dead. Either they have to try to differentiate Fright Nights as a worthwhile event in it's own right this year, or they'll just do the same as previous years and go all out on The Walking Dead hoping people have not had enough of it yet.
I would say that given that the Fright Nights page on thorpepark.com says:
FRIGHT NIGHTS Returns for 2018 featuring AMC's The Walking Dead.
I would say its going to be very heavy Walking Dead theme. Also it is the Year of the Walking Dead. Walking dead has only been about for 1 year at Fright nights if memory serves. I did think that Walking Dead would be get boring by Fright Nights. Personally think the two mazes opening mid year would of also stopped some people from bothering with fright nights.
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25 minutes ago, Marc said:
I can’t see X no way out ever returning to be honest.
There have been multiple rumours over the years that X would leave the park, I beleve it very almost happened 3/4 years ago. It wouldn’t surprise me if The Walking Dead is the last version of X no way out that we see!
I agree. We dont know how Long The Walking Dead IP will last - look at Saw The ride, thats been going for a while now. Might have several years of The Walking Dead before it expires.
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I must admit I do find the theories funny. I love how much stock people take from the staff. I do think it’s a bit like Chinese whispers amongst staff. I also find it incredibly hard to believe that the management of the park tell seasonal staff all of the latest information.
As for the Studio 13 stuff, it might come back, but how often do you ever see a maze come back thats been totally canned?? The props are used in zombie hunt but is that not as zombie hunt was low budget and somewhere there is a bit warehouse of the old props they decided to use??
How about we all just enjoy the summer and see what the park announces???
Merlin Entertainments
in General Discussion
Posted
MAP people confuse me. I can understand as a business you need to make a product viable. People use terms like money hungry and greedy - does anyone really know how much it costs to run a theme park?
Also, I think MAP has been a thing for so long people never look at just booking day tickets. A comment on the group was something like "that's a 60% increase and we would have to go 3 times every months to towers as we live up north" surely use your common sense and think a pre-book day ticket works better for you then!
You don't NEED a pass to visit a park, if it's too expensive, just buy day tickets - with COVID they had better availability than passholder anyway!
Entertaining to watch all the comments though..... that's my Monday entertainment sorted!