SteveJ Posted February 7, 2019 Report Share Posted February 7, 2019 18 hours ago, StevenVig said: yes it's the 40th birthday, but lets be honest, if they came back nobody would have any idea who they are and what significance they were back in the day, except the geeks. Enough of the older public would remember them, they were enjoyed by the public for 10-20 years. Their rides were still a big chunk the park until not long ago. Going back a bit further and they were a big part of the park. But should Thorpe bring them back for a 40th anniversary? Not really, it would just be nostalgia for the sake of it. It's not a family park anymore. If the park had held on to any of its past character like Europa Park or Disney, then it would be great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt 236 Posted February 7, 2019 Report Share Posted February 7, 2019 There will definitely be people who remember the Rangers, a lot of the people who grew up with them will have nieces/nephews or even have children of their own. The Rangers were park icons (especially in the nineties) and only really started disappearing from prominence around the mid-naughties.They had four rides and a show in their heyday. That however said, it would feel a strange, bizarre and almost shoe-horned if we suddenly saw them either roaming the park or at a meet and greet place. It’s certainly a shame they have been ditched especially when other parks still heavily maintain their mascots, Pardoes, The six Dragons, Ed Mouse etc., but I don’t think Thorpe is that kind of park anymore. Not without a major facelift/revitalise. SteveJ and 2542464 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenVig Posted February 7, 2019 Report Share Posted February 7, 2019 What we can also be certain about is that, whatever they choose to do for the celebrations, it will probably cost you money to participate. That's the Merlin way! 2542464 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshC. Posted February 7, 2019 Report Share Posted February 7, 2019 I wonder if the British audience just lost interest in place-specifc mascots? With the rise in popularity of Disney parks, maybe people just saw any other attempts as a cheap version of Mickey Mouse. Or maybe they prefer IP-related costume characters (yet another reason why Peppa Pig Land worked so well for Paulton's). 2542464 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marhelorpe Posted February 7, 2019 Report Share Posted February 7, 2019 1 hour ago, JoshC. said: I wonder if the British audience just lost interest in place-specifc mascots? With the rise in popularity of Disney parks, maybe people just saw any other attempts as a cheap version of Mickey Mouse. Or maybe they prefer IP-related costume characters (yet another reason why Peppa Pig Land worked so well for Paulton's). Never stopped this fella though did it? Ed Euromaus is literally everywhere inside Europa Park and is featured heavily with the park's brand. Phantasialand have their dragons and Liseberg have their green bunnies, so I would argue every park no matter the size or background has room for a mascot somewhere: Personally, I would be happy to see Thorpe being given a mascot should it ever occur, as it's something besides the rides you can associate the park with for guests, similar to Henry Hound ages ago which my older family members still remember very well to this date. However, I do not want the park to bring back the Rangers or any ex-mascots, as it will only look like to me like a half-a**ed attempt to try and make themselves look cool and appeal just to their fanbase who remember them from days gone by. Gotta move onto something new and fresh, hopefully not an IP (for once)...... Anyway, isn't this the IAC topic? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshC. Posted February 7, 2019 Report Share Posted February 7, 2019 19 hours ago, JoshC. said: I wonder if the British audience just lost interest in place-specifc mascots? 17 hours ago, Marhelorpe said: Never stopped this fella though did it? Ed Euromaus is literally everywhere inside Europa Park and is featured heavily with the park's brand. Phantasialand have their dragons and Liseberg have their green bunnies, so I would argue every park no matter the size or background has room for a mascot somewhere: Funny British parks there The British audience respond to theme parks (and entertainment in general) very differently to those across Europe, for example. What works in Europe doesn't necessarily work in the UK; it is partially down to the culture we have here I reckon. I do think that people in the UK do gravitate towards IP-mascots and I think any attempt to try and create a mascot for a park (especially nowadays) would be seen as nothing more than a Mickey Mouse rip off. It's one of the things which I think Merlin have done really well. They know how to get the most out of the UK audience. I reckon that's in a good part down to the fact they've monopolised the market, but heyho, that's business. They don't always make the best decisions, but they still get the most out of the UK that they can - from a business perspective, that's perfect. Of course, just my views on things. Maybe the right character completely taking over a park would work and the public will respond well. But I personally don't think it will Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benin Posted February 8, 2019 Report Share Posted February 8, 2019 Even then regarding mascots it's only in recent years that they've REALLY become prominent, a decade ago Euromaus and co existed but purely as a walk-about character... Now they have had a 4D show, other live shows and an album! Elsewhere 10 years ago Phantasialand didn't have any dragon characters, and Liseberg look like they're starting to push the rabbits further with a new dark ride planned... Difference is that these parks have sufficient branding and support to push these characters, much like how Thorpe's Rangers used to be... They were everywhere on the park branding and merch (there's probably a few odds and sods down in Weymouth these days from my visits), similarly with the old Dr Chessington character... Thorpe (and Chessie) could quite easily create unique characters to run around the parks as mascots... Chessie tried it not too long ago with the random actors themed to the various areas (or just the general explorer motif), and of course Towers have had a few various roaming actors/mascots over the last few years... Though perhaps the difference here is that these attempts were all face actors as opposed to a 16 year old in a animal costume? Allowing for some unique interaction (BRING BACK THE TOWERS PIRATES FFS!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveJ Posted February 8, 2019 Report Share Posted February 8, 2019 16 hours ago, JoshC. said: It's one of the things which I think Merlin have done really well. They get how to get the most out of the UK audience. I reckon that's in a good part down to the fact they've monopolised the market, but heyho, that's business. They don't always make the best decisions, but they still get the most out of the UK that they can - from a business perspective, that's perfect. I appreciate this is your POV but this just seems like typical Merlin delusion to me. Merlin have proven many times how out of touch they are with the public, I really don't think it enters their minds what people respond to other than what their statistically skewed KPIs and surveys tell them. Of course we don't hear about everything that goes on, which is a shame because there are plenty of stories. For years they held that mantra about a wooden coaster in a UK park, when finally they built one it was very popular. Replacing its last big all-round family ride (in a park that desperately needs a major family ride) with a ticketed Dungeon attraction is not knowing how the public respond. They have no clue what they're doing with Thorpe Park. Wasting their most expensive project ever on a ride that doesn't know what it wants to be and was largely rejected by the public is not "getting the most out of the UK audience". Labouring a declining park with a ride that costs so much to operate and a bunch of fad IPs is not knowing what entertains the public. Until recently they squandered Chessington's development with their weird ideology that it's not allowed a new coaster because it's a family park, and not allowed new rides unless they have animals shoved in somehow, so denied practically everything for years. It's long been obvious to everyone Chessington needs a new coaster to absorb the queues, restoring old rides and fresh new ideas. If British people went to Phantasialand, Efteling and Europa Park would they not enjoy it as much as a Merlin attraction? Many non enthusiasts I know who've visited those places told how amazing it was, they havnt been to nearby Thorpe for years. All that Merlin care about the British public is to monopolise them and hype them up so that they can fleece them of more money. Hence IPs, just broker a deal with something that's already successful. IPs have been around for years, even at the time these parks were being built and that didn't stop them becoming popular. I believe the British public can be a cynical bunch and Merlin certainly know how to mislead them, but sooner or later they wake up to the overpricing, the poor value for money and commercialised parks. I think they're more ready to enjoy whatever's thrown at them than Merlin give them credit for, so long as it gets the fundamentals right and is entertaining, then word of mouth spreads. Merlin have proven time and again they have no idea how to do this other than roller coasters or IPs. Merlin monopolised the market, "hey ho that's business". No, you can make great business out of entertainment without monopoly. If anything monopoly is a way to get away with shoddy business because you own the whole market. I hardly call that business, just domination and shouldn't be shrugged off as 'just the way things have to be'. Merlin is also an extremely inefficient business underneath the hood. Matt 236, Mer, 2542464 and 4 others 4 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshC. Posted February 8, 2019 Report Share Posted February 8, 2019 17 minutes ago, Wumbamillio said: I appreciate this is your POV but this just seems like typical Merlin delusion to me. Merlin have proven many times how out of touch they are with the public, I really don't think it enters their minds what people respond to other than what their statistically skewed KPIs and surveys tell them. Of course we don't hear about everything that goes on, which is a shame because there are plenty of stories. All that Merlin care about the British public is to monopolise them and hype them up so that they can fleece them of more money. Hence IPs, just broker a deal with something that's already successful. IPs have been around for years, even at the time these parks were being built and that didn't stop them becoming popular. I believe the British public can be a cynical bunch and Merlin certainly know how to mislead them, but sooner or later they wake up to the overpricing, the poor value for money and commercialised parks. I think they're more ready to enjoy whatever's thrown at them than Merlin give them credit for, so long as it gets the fundamentals right and is entertaining, then word of mouth spreads. Merlin have proven time and again they have no idea how to do this other than roller coasters or IPs. Merlin monopolised the market, "hey ho that's business". No, you can make great business out of entertainment without monopoly. If anything monopoly is a way to get away with shoddy business because you own the whole market. I hardly call that business, just domination and shouldn't be shrugged off as 'just the way things have to be'. Merlin is also an extremely inefficient business underneath the hood. I realise reading back now I didn't quite word it how I wanted to. So, just to change it up a bit: 17 hours ago, JoshC. said: It's one of the things which I think Merlin have done really well. From a business perspective, they know how to get the most out of the UK audience. I reckon that's in a good part down to the fact they've monopolised the market, but heyho, that's business. They don't always make the best decisions, but they still get the most out of the UK that they can - from a business perspective, that's perfect. My point more was they know what the public want. Or, possibly more accurately, they know how to tell the public what they want. They've monopolised the market, which means they can go 'look, all your options do this, so that means this is what you want'. That's why some things which work abroad don't work in the UK - the public don't want them. But I'm sure if Merlin wanted them to want it, they would eventually want. Wicker Man / a wooden roller coaster is a good example I think. Merlin didn't want to invest in one, so they found a way to show that (of course, there were people who did want one, and there were plenty of plans for wooden coasters in Merlin parks before Wicker Man). More importantly, I don't think the masses were clambering for a wooden coaster. People wanted pure thrill more for Towers, hence why Smiler came about. But when whatever level of Merlin thinking wooden coasters were a bad changed their mind, the public loved it. I think that's in part down to Merlin being clever enough to know how to get the most of the UK audience and get them to want what they're giving. I'm not sure I've explained that very well either, mind. But, speaking purely from a business sense, I think Merlin have got it pretty well nailed down. They can herd the masses like sheep, telling them to like what they're doing. It means they can get the most money out of them in the cheapest way possible. That doesn't mean what Merlin is doing is good - they don't always make the best decisions, and you could say they rarely do. I don't like how it affects the parks, but I can still see it as something that they've done really well, even if I don't like it. I do genuinely think that a large proportion of the public enjoy Merlin's offerings. Merlin can, of course, significantly improve, and I think if they weren't trying to herd the masses like sheep and instead genuinely listen to them, they would be more in touch with the public more organically. Glitch and 2542464 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TPC Posted February 8, 2019 Report Share Posted February 8, 2019 Merlin can have characters in parks. Prezomolo at Gardaland is a great example. Wish characters were brought back to UK parks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benin Posted February 8, 2019 Report Share Posted February 8, 2019 2 minutes ago, TPC said: Merlin can have characters in parks. Prezomolo at Gardaland is a great example. Wish characters were brought back to UK parks Think Prezzy has been at the park for years though, hell his own unique ride (the Madhouse) opened in 2001! Would imagine that the fallout to removing him would be massive... The Rangers at Thorpe slowly died away once the Thrill Capital stuff started coming in under Tussauds (plus the fire probably didn't help)... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProudToServe Posted April 26, 2019 Report Share Posted April 26, 2019 On 4/24/2019 at 3:49 PM, Ivsetti said: Whatever's replacing this has an update on the queue times list. Jungle escape, it's been advertised. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
08newmanb Posted April 27, 2019 Report Share Posted April 27, 2019 On 4/24/2019 at 3:49 PM, Ivsetti said: Whatever's replacing this has an update on the queue times list. A legacy? Nice! XD I'd imagine Jungle Escape, as Thorpe's own adaption of IAC. Very Nice! XD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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