ML27

After experiencing Merlin’s new additions both at Alton Towers and Chessington. It’s making me really excited in what we might receive with ghost train. Combine it with what we are seeing on the ground with awesome signage and the ability to set the scene. The building looks more like a depot/train station than it ever has been. It’s receiving these smallish theming pieces which wouldn’t be needed or missed but they really do go an extra mile (compared to Merlin’s previous standards) like the large sign post, I don’t think anyone would have complained if it wasn’t there. For what the retheme is, which is lower than Curse and way lower than Jumanji. It’s showing the 2023 Merlin signs of a new ride. Exodus is another story but I don’t think that we should be worried about theming or ride experience. Saying all this, if Merlin really don’t care about Thorpe then we might see a poor retheme.

By the looks of it, the infilling of the lake has nearly completed/ been completed. There’s pretty much no water there, except for a shallow area of it which I don’t think will get in the way of the work.

Thorpe have uploaded this to their pass-holder group! Very minor, but they’ve used B&E across the Merlin estate for Jumanji, Croc drop ect. Now they have arrived, it’s a sign from the move away from the ground preparation phase to the ride building phase! Exciting!

Went to Thorpe today They really need to get the station music for the swarm up and running. It’s quite run down feeling and depressing without out it Also I hope Colossus is back soon, actually missing it

I quite like the concept, hopefully something to fill the hole tho. They are going down the Thorpe Rail route quite hard which is good to see. They could have easily done a teaser campaign such as “the next departure is in _ days”

Took me a while but I found it, it wasn’t going to merge with TWD’s building. It was going to be its own thing. See X\: No Way Out behind it in the background

I’m not as sure that it’s an Egyptian theme anymore as I was the otherday. However, if it were it would fit in with “lost city” and yes I know they don’t do lands anymore apparently. I can’t find the concept art but when Colossus was being planned, the original plan was to have the station themed to a pyramid. Colossus is a good comparison, heavily themed? No, but do you get the theme? Yes! No one rides it for it’s theming and it’s main draw is that it’s a 10 inversion rollercoaster.

Don’t think anyone should expect heavily themed. Like I said I expect something similar to Stealth in terms of theming. You get the idea of the theme but the coaster isn’t themed itself. As we know there is some sort of a theme for exodus. Personally, I just really didn’t want something like icon. Because when people say “stylised” that’s what icon has always been described as. I don’t know if anyone can shed any light on the subject. However to me, it seems like Thorpe theming wise and for the smaller scale stuff they can do whatever they want regardless of permission. E.g Playground, demolishment of the old depth charge photo unit. Seems like they could add in some theming to complement the area? I’m not expecting massive swarm ambulances. Just smaller scale bits of physical theming.

Just watched Jack latest video, where he basically confirms he knows the theme. Throughout the video he mentions theming and theming pieces. Along with the fact there is a them (as he knows). It’s not going to be stylised, which is a massive relief to me, I didn’t want them to build a nature equivalent of a car park coaster. I’d say the bench mark for theming will be between galaticas current theming and stealth level?

They have also uploaded plans for the station. I am happy we are at least getting a stylised ride. It will probably be similar to nemesis inferno. There’s no surrounding theming other than the station which is a volcano, no preshow or anything. But I think we all get the gist of the theme. It’s not as stylised as icon, it’s more themed compared to that. It’s definitely an Egyptian theme, I’m so glad about because as everyone says, we have so many dark themes at thorpe and it’s different to a black track! It’s got much more interesting now

Credit to this forum, idk who? But with this gold colour scheme this could be the theme? I honestly thought it would have been a Canadian theme as a throwback due to existing buildings, but the mountain teasers could easily be pyramids

If you include ride breakdowns, do they just freeze in motion 😂

That’s the new logo for sure, it’s been used on merch. Unfortunately, the logo would work much more with DBGT due to its Modern vibe and the VR. If you’re trying to distance yourselves away from any VR type ride. It’s not helping. Again, it’s clear where the creative direction from the logo has came from. I don’t know what this ride is trying to be, is it a take on the old style ghost train or is it meant to be a scare experience all year round? I suppose it does feature a train and ghosts so the name is correct, but can’t help but think it may mislead a few into thinking it’s a ride type everyone knows

Jack has posted the above video, it doesn’t really tell us much more than we already know. Main thing is, the concept art released today was also produced by him. It’s very good concept art and looks very professional! So it’s great, but it’s also maybe why there’s a lack of any other image or marketing style advertising coming out. Again, it’s great to see and now he’s being used for an attraction promo. Thorpe have put a lot of faith.

All a bit of a shame really, I personally don’t want a ride with a short life span. This all has the signs of being.

I’m still surprised that there’s been no big show and dance about it. Todays post could be easily lost in peoples feeds. It’s wordy, doesn’t get to the point and doesn’t say explicitly opening from 26th. Just looks part of the story like. The picture attached isn’t an animation or video. It’s not a big flashy graphic with a date Nor does it show the attractions logo.

Maybe the old floating carriage scene will be a grave yard set, if they allow you to walk around the bottom, it’s a tall open space except for the train. Obviously they aren’t going to give away much effects wise but looks like there won’t be screens in the windows but utilising the existing screens above. Love how they’ve themed the train carriage with graffiti and carved in words before the clientele do.

Concept art looks pretty good, defintely a different take on DBGT. I might be a bit scared for it 😂 It feels more classic ghost train/scare experience. Looks like we will be walking through a graveyard using a tube train to commute from a non London Underground train station. Looks like they may use some UV lighting on board from the right hand side of it. I just don’t know how they are going to run for multiple years an actor led experience. Not many parks do, especially Merlin parks. I don’t know how it’s going to be consistent either with actors but we shall see

I agree with the above however, even though it’s got its ride system and has to be kept. The actual system makes little to very minor effect on how you as a guest enjoy the attraction. The back and forth movement of the carriage to point and point b stays the same. However the motions and sequencing can be changed. This is not forgetting the on -board effects, I hope we see some. What I mean by this, yes it’s limited where it takes you but the possibilities of what you as a guest experience are still endless.

That’s the thing, I don’t think anyone has any idea on the scale of this refurb. The marketing makes it look like this is just going to be a quick retheme to get rid of Derren. However from the posters outside and the cafe “theming” it looks pretty substantial. In which case you think they’d try to push it for. From the website and just general online media. It doesn’t feel like there’s a new for 2023 at thorpe. It’s not teased on the map in big bold graphics. This leads me to think, the park we’re working with unknowns. They didn’t know when it was going to open. They didn’t know what the ride is exactly. Marketing agency’s will always be more powerful due to resources and experience. Jack is perfect for event marketing and stuff for around the park, not necessarily things for mass media and creating noise to the GP. You’d think they would have used them for this ride if they genuinely wanted it to succeed

Definitely opening date, gotta be somewhen this month. Only date they wouldn’t open Ghost Train is on same day as Subterra, so literally any date in May. The marketing budget for this ride is pretty much £10. The first announcement, was teased night before then fully announced and then the date is being teased the day before an announcement by just reusing that one picture 😂

Should just upgrade all the rooms to specific rides and leave a few generic. Allow you to choose, all the same price

Thorpe has been closed for the past two days and provided this update. Evening all, few closed day updates: 🪧 New Ghost Train entrance sign is taking shape ☔️ Groundwork taking place on the lakeside picnic area, this will allow us to install the giant shade umbrellas 👽 Progress on THE SWARM-themed rooms, we can also confirm these rooms will feature new Nespresso coffee machines! Firstly, I must say I’m not sure if Thorpe did this precovid however I think they should use closed days as much as possible to carry out upgrade works. It’s not too frequent the amount of closed days they get but if they schedule repairs and refurbishments it allows them to carry on in peace and things don’t have to wait until closed season as rides can operate like that but the parks appearance shouldn’t be a winter thing. The swarm bedrooms are a bit meh, it’s been confirmed it’s only going to be a vinyl. I know fast track is included but the ride rarely has long queues alllll day. Ghost train is still spring 2023, I don’t know why they never set it as late spring? Promising though the entrance sign is being worked on.

Infilling hasn’t started just yet

Cant wait for the Ghost train viewing platform, exodus viewing platform, ,closed season viewing platform and to pay £25 for the privilege