GetEchoes

Thats true. Have to also take all reviews with a pinch of salt. No-one who has been invited to Alton during closed season to ride the coaster is going to be too negative. As they wont be invited back. Hoping for a good ride experience, but I prefer to wait and see for myself. Everyone has their own opinion but until you experience it for yourself, always safe to give it the benefit of the doubt. Heres hoping it doesnt go down hill during the season/next season as cuts come in Especially with anything that has any form of live actor pre/exit shows. They will always be the first things that get cut. I you look at the rides that have stood the test of time, Nemesis and Oblivion at the Towers - they are basic and dont rely on gimmicks or preshow/end shows. They work and people love them as its a consistent ride experience every time.

I'm confused by the confusion over the choice here. I dont agree with the name (pretty poor for a company who can afford to hire a good marketing agency!) but I am in no way surprised. People keep saying about how it is going to lower the child-friendly lineup and this is bad. I dont see whats so bad about this. Merlin have 4 major parks in the UK: Thorpe Park, Legoland, Chessington and Alton Towers. Legoland is mainly for kids (and people who REALLY like lego), Chessington is more aimed at the younger market - and has some very strict planning controls so cannot build the thrill rides that easy, and Alton Towers also has strict controls over building (I know you can dig down, but that costs way more). Which leaves Thorpe, which doesn't have such stringent controls over building of the rides. From a business point of view, why wouldn't you aim to make Thorpe the Thrill park?? Makes sense to me! You have 3 others who are for family; two of which are very close. Also over the apocalyptic theming - Fright Nights is very popular (and I believe might of been one of the only times the Park sold out). Merlin is a business and has to come up with ways of getting people back and adding new things with tightening budgets (like every other business in the UK). Yes there are annual pass holders, but they are guaranteed money for Merlin (you pay for the year, might not pay anymore). They need people to buy day tickets to kick up attendance and sales. Thats why they have to do things like re-theming X to try and get more customers to walk through the door. Due to the success of Fright Nights, the permanent mazes (I.e. dont cost in building or the extra kit/generators to run) are going to be open out side of fright nights. All they have to do is staff them rather than rebuild them or change the configuration of the walkways like during FN - and this is due to the large success of this years fright nights and the reception of the walking dead. I would say always wait until you have ridden the ride before judging it. Merlin is a business - business pay to what makes them money. On another note, if they are opening up more horror/scare attractions during the main season it might make for a change to fright nights (I.e. the more intense version across the park) which can stop it from becoming stale. Just my opinion - no doubt someone will disagree but you have to look at these things objectively. If when ridden you dont like the ride, simply dont go on it. The park will see throughput fall and then force them to change their ways. The direction of Thorpe has always been all over the place, but thats probably down to the change in peoples behaviours and what works for the park. There has always been a slightly disturbing theme with most of the rides there, and I dont think its a bad thing - as where else caters for the scare/horror/adrenaline market in the UK?

I might have it wrong but wasn’t the whole story of the wicker man group (can’t remember the name) about going back to nature and leaving the modern world behind?? So they give you a USB stick as part of the package?? Is that not confusing and counter to the entire point of the wicker man and going back to nature thing??

Yeah just zombie sounds and Safe Zone message. Give it a ring, lasts about 10 seconds.

Could be that the budget had to be diverted to unexpected maintenace on a ride or operational expenses. Only one who really knows would be their CFO!

Unless they have restructured the maze internally in the building, possibly adding more internal content that links in (as they wouldn't have to have planning permissions, although given the quality of the existing maze might be a-lot for such a well themed and new area). Alternative could be some sort of preshow then you choose your path... leave on a "military transport" (then ride X) or go in your own group (and do the maze/get eaten/chased, etc...). Would be very little done to X then - and might be able to have an alternative door to skip the reshow and just ride X thus keeping the child height and bypassing anything vaguely scary??

Suppose its all about money and CAPEX. If they spent it all, they cant afford to create the resturant, so its not on the map this year. Already hyped up the coaster, so have to prioritise spending on that?

Does anyone actually know, or had confirmed that X is getting a retheme directly? Could it be that the entrances are being moved about and TWD is now just a perminent maze? They might of tightened up the flow a bit more, has more of a story and a preshow and makes the building multi-purpose? The queue for Living Nightmare wasnt the best for Fright Nights, and isnt there alot of wasted space in the building? I know there are plans, but these are mainly outside and show come configuration to the building arent they? Could it be that the main entrance to the X pyramid is now going to be TWD and X might stay as-is and move the entrance (although these would probably be on the plans if they were making another entrance into the building?) Just a thought.....

There are a few POV on YouTube that shows some of it off. Theming was amazing, but think it could of been a bit better with the actors and story - especially the ending. Suppose next year it will get better - look at Platform 15

I don't get the big deal with this TBH. People are up in arms about the loss of a family friendly ride and then debate about how this would work. I think Thorpe should focus on the older thrill market - yeah there is something to be said for another apocalyptic scare attraction, but just up the road is Chessington which is the young to pre teen market. Thorpe is quite small in relation to Chessington and Alton, so focusing this on thrill I think is the best option, after all they used to be the Nations Thrill Capital. It wouldn't surprise me if they got rid of the beach in the next few years. People will always be upset with a ride loss or retheme - but changes always happen, and have to to keep the park interesting to the occasional visitor. Its just a wait and see as to what will happen. I personally think a Walking Dead rollercoaster will be pretty naff. The only thing I can think with X (if my memory serves correctly) is that back in the day when it went backwards it stopped at certain points. There could be a element there that would fit with the safe zone or the walker thing from TWD. I have only been on once since it was X (as it seemed to always be closed when I went) but if the slow/stop sections are there still, that might be where the zombie thing will come in. That and the dark environment with some projections throughout. It is all about money, as Thorpe Park and Merlin are a business. They need to try and get more people through the gates. Hence all the world first - we all mock it but if attendance is up when they do a world first why wouldn't they?? If The Walking Dead got a good reception at Fright Nights it might be a obvious choice from a business perspective to capitalise on that and try and improve attendance. Its a Theme Park, but also a business and often thats what drives development - making money!

The last day the park is open this year for the season is the 1st November. Thorpe don't have any fireworks or Christmas events. If there is a private event, it will not be on the web - would have to speak to someone in the company who organises

I’m assuming you mean with a standard pass? Premium has fright night included and I believe the only extra charges at Thorpe are for the ministry of sound nights. I can understand event charging - fright nights cost more due to the number of actors and they are a business which needs to be sustainable. That is why premium passes cost more - as you get more included. If you don’t want to do fright nights then the standard pass costs you less. If you want to go all the time then the premium covers you

This is also at some shopping centres. Saw it at Westfield Stratford city