ML27

Officially confirmed to be a Merlin Magic Making project and not Thorpe doing it themselves! This project just gets more and more exciting…

I very much think the ride system will be pretty much exactly as it were - but I do think they would have gone with what the general public have been saying for years and that's adding screens to the train. They can do it super cost effective now that they have the likes of Jack and Kieran on board - no need to pay thousands and thousands to get a professional movie studio to create the visuals when you can give it to a couple of talented enthusiasts to do at a fraction of the cost.
 
The mention of 'multisensory effects' does get me excited because as far as I can recall there wasn't really any on the original DBGT other than the motion platform the train sat on. I'm pretty sure the ride vehicle was fitted with leg ticklers right from the offset in 2016, but were never utilised for one reason or another. I wonder if they've programmed those in finally. A smoke machine would be really good, but wonder how they would do the whole live actor thing inside the train without it getting awkward being sat there for prolonged periods of time? Just good timing I guess as they'll need to reprogram the amount of time spent on the motion platform etc to fit the new visuals anyway.
 
I'm just really glad that the attraction is finally getting some attention since 2017. It's been in a dire state for years and to see some loving coming to the attraction is really warming. I really hope they keep the fake shop ending though, that was the best part of the attraction. Providing that this 'Ghost' on the Ghost Train building is the antagonist for this ride, I would love to see a costume made for him for the fake ending... but I suppose that all depends on the budget for the attraction as it definitely wouldn't be at a small cost that's for sure.

There is also that meaning but knowing Thorpe they are careful with what words they use. 
 
I can’t see a whole lot of money spent on it, no more then how much the dome toilet refurb cost.
 
What do you guys think will happen to the ride system. Smoke machines ect? 
 

Proceeds to be a video revealing the same entrance  sign 

Proceeds to be a video revealing the same entrance  sign 

Proceeds to be a video revealing the same entrance  sign 

I know this is a semi joke but someone asked if they had plans to bring in rides similar to retro squad. They replied that they already had a strong lineup of flat rides. 
 
I mean they do….but they are all of a similar age. I wonder if they are aware that they don’t last forever…

The current state of Swarms station, I know this forum has been really critical of general upkeep and they are finally doing it (aka getting the budget)
 
HOWEVER *prepare for hypocriticalness*
 
I can just see these repairs only last a year before they go back to before and that’s not the parks fault. Unless they really keep on top of it but that’s slightly impractical for Merlin.
 
Really good to see, hopefully it will feel fresher and park have confirmed they have done similar upgrades in other queue lines. I wouldn’t assume it’s on the same scale. 
 
FYI, it’s a work in progress at the moment. It will get weathered and all that I assume
 


 
 

The current state of Swarms station, I know this forum has been really critical of general upkeep and they are finally doing it (aka getting the budget)
 
HOWEVER *prepare for hypocriticalness*
 
I can just see these repairs only last a year before they go back to before and that’s not the parks fault. Unless they really keep on top of it but that’s slightly impractical for Merlin.
 
Really good to see, hopefully it will feel fresher and park have confirmed they have done similar upgrades in other queue lines. I wouldn’t assume it’s on the same scale. 
 
FYI, it’s a work in progress at the moment. It will get weathered and all that I assume
 


 
 

More U-turns than a Tory government.

The "we're a small park" excuse is rubbish.
 
Go back 20 years, when the park was (excluding The Farm) technically smaller, and they had defined areas, with portals and signage. 
 
Look at a park like Phantasialand, which is small and compact, and they have some of the most well-defined, high quality themed lands out there.
 
 
The simple and honest reason why the park don't do themed lands is because they don't want to. That's fine too, if that's the case. But let's face, it's not because they couldn't.

I remember in 2021, Jack asking Russ about the new sign posts! How they were no longer named after the areas, he said it wasn’t necessarily moving away from them. Well as of today, we found out the following:

 
A bit contradictory to what Russ said in 2021.
 
I understand that Thorpe doesn’t have defined lands to that extent because of how small. But they are equally as willing to call it “angry birds land” and surely amity is easy enough.
 
I’d like lands back, but I have a feeling Thorpe are in their amusement park phase again.
 
the lands thing didn’t last long….

Ground Pin supports for exodus have arrived, according to the Thorpe Park Facebook group. 
 
I’d post pictures but honestly it’s not that interesting, Just pieces of metal rods.
 
Regarding exodus, I think the bigger milestones for this project will come later when the site is fully cleared and track is going up.

Everything happening right now is relatively minor.
 
I think 2024 opening is still on the cards, and I don’t believe this coaster will have deep theming.
 
I just hope it’s an original name like exodus is as a project name. Not Netflix: The Ride as some way to sponsor the U.Ks Tallest Coaster 

 

This is the current most recent state of old town. 
 
It’s so big and open (without rocky express which it’s track has now been destroyed)
 
I am starting to imagine the coaster in it place now. It’s starting to move fast now and they will need it

To be fair, I don't think rides need a huge theme at Thorpe Park, it would always have worked having minimal theming just like six flags/Cedar Fair IMO. 

This is the current most recent state of old town. 
 
It’s so big and open (without rocky express which it’s track has now been destroyed)
 
I am starting to imagine the coaster in it place now. It’s starting to move fast now and they will need it

This is the current most recent state of old town. 
 
It’s so big and open (without rocky express which it’s track has now been destroyed)
 
I am starting to imagine the coaster in it place now. It’s starting to move fast now and they will need it

New FB group set up by Thorpe Park, looks semi like they are gonna get rid of slammer finally.

It’s definitely not a lot, other than the Colossus retrack. 
 
It’s ashame, I’ve seen staff insta stories from inside. It all looks the same, the blatantly obvious broken fencing and paint jobs need doing. It reminds me in the Jack Silkstone preseason video. I remember russ saying “we are gonna use this opportunity (storm eustace) to enhance and repair the theming.  The repair carried out was just red paint. They didn’t even bother to get new fibre glass theming. 
 
They have started to repaint tidal waves supports but honestly again from a cosmetic level… did they really need doing?
 
They seem to invest on really specific projects and go cheap/ leave general projects. It’s been said for years even since 2018. Just repair the infrastructure and fencing and have a big paint up. 
 
I do believe the dome could be receiving further refurbishment works. Skips have been spotted directly outside. 
 
But I can’t believe in 2023, they have advertised it as another season of thrilling events. It was good in 2019, 4 years later not so much eeeeek

When people take photos of something and sit on it until a few weeks late always makes me think there’s some insider info going on…
 
Anyway, will be interesting to see as Thorpe seem to be getting some investment now like the rest of the parks. Considering it’s indoors, I don’t think planning applications are needed and there’s nothing thematic wise on the outside which would need to change regarless of theme. It will be interesting to see what happens as personally there’s not a lot of movement. Yeah ok you could overlay soemthing more generic but all that is doing; is delaying the end of the ride further. Stumbling on

Genuinely wouldn't surprise me if they put something in the end of season/here's to 2023 video to be honest, where the people who created the promo can then speculate about what it means even though they know already.

Due to todays political news, I’d expect the likeliness of the decision being delayed is much higher 

I think pricing is the biggest issue, the lower the price goes > less you care about a run through. Until the wait gets longer and then you start caring again.
 
I genuinely think, if mazes were cheaper, there would be a lot less negativity. 

I dunno, I think it was a nice refreshing addition to the thread.

In hindsight for Fright Nights, I would like to outline some things that really stuck out for me when I visited:
 
Scarezones: These I thought were class- my friends and I found ourselves really enjoying these. Death Doors was way more fun that expected, The Crows of Mawkin Meadow scared us more than any of the mazes did, and Creek Freak Unchained harassed me throughout the entire park. Graduation Sucks I believe is also a pivotal attraction for the park, the show is cool and the interactions with younger guest stood out. It is not scary, but a lot of the younger guests were loving chatting to the actors- it is a perfect tamer-side scare zone.  
Legacy and Birthday Bash compliment the scare zones well- I believe the atmosphere around the park is actually good with this stuff. Maybe it is a little nostalgia when looking back at past years? Theming has been very light since like 2013- though the soundtracks and music around the park was crap though, so that is a fair comment. But I would argue the park has more atmosphere than it has in a while, especially when you have a bunch of scare zones scattered around. In previous years they have been dead set on the mazes and nothing else, I do appreciate Fright Nights giving us some nice scare zones and shows- that is WAY more than Towers is offering.  
The Mazes: This is what lets the event down a little for me- you have a really strong maze in Creek Freak, and a fun but a little short maze in Survival Games, and a meh one. Do not get me started on Terminal. This lineup for me is really just okay- it gets worse when I paid £32 for it. I found the scare zones stole the show this year, and they were free! I think charging £32 for quite short mazes with varying quality is simply not worth it, and you are better off just visiting another event for the same price if you are deadset on mazes. I think if the prices were lowered I would be less pissed, but I felt my £32 purchase was one that I kind of regret, I do not think £8 (that is discounted) was spent well with Terminal, I think Thorpe are pricing their audience away from them with Scare Mazes, especially those hardcore into them. There is plenty of other events in the neighbourhood and Survival Games is fun but it is not a very layered attraction- in particular with its theming. £32 can not be justified.  
So overall, I think this is the best Merlin event this year for Halloween. It does have its problems, mostly with pricing with the mazes. But I do think the Scare Zones really made me enjoy this year.