pluk Posted June 30, 2016 Report Share Posted June 30, 2016 18 hours ago, Owen said: I came to this forum in hopes of being able to discuss my home park with a wider audience who also love it as much as I, not to costantly read people whinging about the same thing out of what seems to be boredom. I've honestly questioned if this is a fan site or not with how people attitudes have been recently, it's just heartbreaking to see that something I believed to be somewhere I can express my excitement and speculate has been overrun by people complaining day in day out that a ride - that they didn't have before - is not yet open. The negativity is borne out of a wider frustration. There aren't many people here who want to do the parks down, but knowing what they have been and what they could be it's hardly surprising there's a lack of positivity when the whole estate is run so ineptly. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy a day out at a theme park, but it's almost like they don't actually want me to. That's more general to the tone on the forums but to relate it to DBGT, this is far from the first time Merlin have royal ballsed up their investments. If you want heartbreaking it's what our parks now are, not us discussing it. They were wonderful places and could be again. But there is nothing wrong with spreading some excitement if you've got some left! Just don't expect everyone to come along with you; there's some damn good reasons why they won't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Posted June 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2016 If i felt i was visiting a place which didn't want me to have a good time I quite simply wouldn't visit - sure the parks are not perfect I don't think anyone ever claims them to be - but Merlin run them significantly better than they were ran in the latter tussauds years. The parks are full of passionate people trying to improve things every day and things do improve - i'm really not sure i would describe any of the merlin parks as heartbreaking. As for the Ghost train delay - what new ride projects would you say Merlin have "royaly ballsed up"? From the top of my head DBGT and Smiler are the only Merlin projects significantly delayed - Smiler turned out to be probably the groups most successful ride (ignoring the accident) NST turned out to be not very great and feedback was listened to and it was improved. Other than that I cant think of anything else - Of course there may be projects we dont like (Swarm backwards, Storm Surge) but thats a whole different issue. As i said - they are not perfect - we all know that - but they are far from awful and im confident they will deliver here. Owen and Insider 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coaster Posted June 30, 2016 Report Share Posted June 30, 2016 32 minutes ago, Marc said: If I felt I was visiting a place which didn't want me to have a good time I quite simply wouldn't visit - sure the parks are not perfect I don't think anyone ever claims them to be - but Merlin run them significantly better than they were ran in the latter tussauds years. You keep saying that like it's a good thing, but why should the standard bar be set as low as that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Posted June 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2016 Who sets this said standard bar though? If merlin failed to meet this bar the hit would be significantly more than us complaining on here. The point I'm trying to make is the parks are improving - Insider 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post pluk Posted June 30, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted June 30, 2016 And I very rarely do visit these days in all honesty, I no longer have a MAP and will only venture in when when it's quiet so my day is not fastracked to death by all around me. But I will always visit to an extent, I can't help enjoying the rides in spite of everything! I find it very difficult to believe someone visiting Chessington for the first time since the late 90s wouldn't be heartbroken. The Smiler may have been popular, but the way it opened late was damaging and badly handled at the time. Although the incident was a failure of operator and not the ride I'm sure the issues it had from the very poor build are what created an environment for that mistake to happen. The station building is falling apart already with great swathes of light from the gaps in the walls in what is supposed to be the dark section, the effects are persistently broken even though they are new, the queue line is a mess that often floods. It goes on. The fact that such mediocrity in delivery can lead to such perceived 'success' as an attraction says a lot more about the state of our parks than it does about the quality of that ride. Galactica destroying the throughput of an otherwise decent coaster with funding for 2 years for the tonnes of staff needed, while other attractions close because of staff funding, Zoofari being a joke, NST being poor, then OK for a bit, then closed, IAC with its double digit throughput, Th13teen doing its trick well but everything else poorly, Storm Surge being a pathetic eyesore, What these have in common is being just about good enough to get the punters in for a couple of seasons with some strong marketing, but nothing that actually has underlying quality to get people returning or to deliver into the future. And all the while the older attractions are simply not cared for. Turn it on its head; when is the last time a park in this country did something and made you go 'oh, wow!'? Truly surprised, amazed or impressed you? This is going off topic. I really do think that DBGT will be good, from what we've seen so far I have faith in the project to deliver in the end, but there should be no surprise that there is scepticism about what is to come and disappointment that a couple of months after advertised opening there is a distinct lack of it being open. Coaster, JaykeAT, CharlieN and 7 others 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt 236 Posted June 30, 2016 Report Share Posted June 30, 2016 Derren Brown will be the ultimate test to see if this really is a turning point for our main parks or whether it'll become a 'this will do' neglected attraction in2/3 years time. Our parks have the potential to become some of the best in Europe if operated correctly. However seeing things like Zufari, IAC, Smiler's execution etc. verses the likes of Helix, Klugheim, Baron 1898 etc. then there is no real comparison. That's before we even mention the general situation of upkeep, fastracks, atmosphere and cohesion. The TLC scheme at Towers is a start, but I feel we may be back to decline in appearance past 2018 where as quick as 2-3 years after the scheme finished, the park will begin looking run down once again. Obviously I do care about our parks, because I clearly want them to become run down, fall apart and shut down due to extreme neglect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Posted June 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2016 Merlin are not trying to compete with the likes of helix, baron etc. Of course our parks could be better, but Merlin obviously invest in them the amount money to keep them at a bar which Merlin want them to be at - as a small minority of their customers I personally don't feel it's up to us to decide that their business decisions are right or wrong - Merlin need to aim to please the core of their audience and they do that successfully. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted June 30, 2016 Report Share Posted June 30, 2016 Oh my goodness. This is the exact thing that I was referring to the constant arguing. I do not like Chessington anymore for the reason Pluk stated. Thorpe on the other hand has vastly improved for me personally. Alton has deteriorated for me slightly, but not enough that idiot enjoy myself. The topic is to discuss Derren Brown's Ghost Train, not for why Merlin have ruined it since the good old days way back. There must be another topic where this can be discussed as personally it's getting increasingly annoying having to read one or two people bring up the fact that they don't personally like Merlin and then it creates a big argument that isn't needed. The ride is delayed, deal with that and wait until it's ready - I'm sure it won't run away anytime soon. Please can we move on now. Matt A and Kerfuffle 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pluk Posted June 30, 2016 Report Share Posted June 30, 2016 41 minutes ago, Owen said: This is the exact thing that I was referring to the constant arguing I don't want to argue about what is arguing, because that would be mental, but this isn't arguing! It's a discussion forum, we discuss things from differing points of view. It'd be pretty boring otherwise! I admire your optimism and positive outlook, but please don't tell me to 'deal with it' as if I'm moaning for the sake of it. I'm not all sunshine and roses about the parks for what I believe are very good reasons. You questioned why the negativity on this thread about this project; there are other places for this discussion but as you brought it up here, this is where the reply is. The mention of the other issues are to explain why some people feel like this, to put my thoughts into context, to explain why history and the current situation do not give rise to optimism. If this delay was in isolation I don't think anyone much would care, but it's just the current top of a very big pile of problems. To reiterate, I still think DBGT will be very good in the end, it could be amazing if it's done right. But excuse me for not blindly expecting it to be the 'omg industry game changer' which has been promised and not delivered so many times before, and a little being cynical about the delay from a company that doesn't seem to be able to mange projects. |6 months ago, pluk said: | This looks good |6 months ago, everyone else said: | Yes,I agree TOPIC LOCKED Matt 236 and OldFarmerDean 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted June 30, 2016 Report Share Posted June 30, 2016 Ghost Train soft opened at 16:50 today. Someone's bound to ask for proof so: pluk and CharlieN 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThemeParkEwan Posted June 30, 2016 Report Share Posted June 30, 2016 4 minutes ago, Ryan said: Ghost Train soft opened at 16:50 today. with hotel guests or everyone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted June 30, 2016 Report Share Posted June 30, 2016 Just now, ThemeParkEwan said: with hotel guests or everyone? Everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmilerGeorge Posted June 30, 2016 Report Share Posted June 30, 2016 That's heart breaking [emoji45] I was there yesterday!! There were staff peeping out of curtains as you walked by, staring. [emoji12] Something was happening for sure. [emoji16] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marhelorpe Posted June 30, 2016 Report Share Posted June 30, 2016 Was it available to a selected number of people with tickets similar to the previews, or was it open for all with no ticket checks required? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benin Posted June 30, 2016 Report Share Posted June 30, 2016 Klugheim STILL opened before it though... 400400, pluk and Matt 236 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted June 30, 2016 Report Share Posted June 30, 2016 7 minutes ago, Martin.C said: Was it available to a selected number of people with tickets similar to the previews, or was it open for all with no ticket checks required? I believe it was open for all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieN Posted June 30, 2016 Report Share Posted June 30, 2016 This is great news. Let's just hope that the public have been as keen to ride this attraction as us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L7123456 Posted June 30, 2016 Report Share Posted June 30, 2016 We are so nearly there! Just days to go hopefully! Would love for it to be open by Monday, but we'll just have to wait and see.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted June 30, 2016 Report Share Posted June 30, 2016 Finally a silver lining! Not long now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pluk Posted June 30, 2016 Report Share Posted June 30, 2016 Who are theses people? I DEMAND A REVIEW! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coaster Posted June 30, 2016 Report Share Posted June 30, 2016 Good news! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0wl Posted June 30, 2016 Report Share Posted June 30, 2016 Going Saturday, hopefully should be open for the weekend ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marhelorpe Posted June 30, 2016 Report Share Posted June 30, 2016 It could be the staff/actors finished their training this afternoon and instead of waiting until tomorrow morning to deliver they instead decided to rehearse their roles with a few people in the park before the masses ride it this weekend/tomorrow perhaps? Think of it like an annual pass preview the day before official opening, but instead for park guests instead, similar to I'm a Celeb last year. Don't think it will happen, but still hoping as I'm there tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OllieL Posted June 30, 2016 Report Share Posted June 30, 2016 Going Sunday, what are the chances it will be open? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Posted June 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2016 ^ impossible to tell - will have to see what next couple of days bring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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