PJ. Posted August 2, 2019 Report Share Posted August 2, 2019 Maybe it would have been better if you got on the train knowing it is a LU train and don’t see the Victorian carriage and it is only when you get back they say “you think you have been moving on a LU train but as you can see when you get out, not only is it a different train but it has been suspended in this warehouse the whole time”. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marhelorpe Posted August 17, 2019 Report Share Posted August 17, 2019 Oh man, it appears “future for theme parks” is reaching new levels of low today in the middle of summer. Besides from having an awful run through the attraction this afternoon, with numerous effects, audio, lighting and hardware not working, the cream of the crop goes to this: At the end of the experience in the fake gift shop, not only was the floor projection turned off where the demon stands, but this happened...... .....Instead of the demon jumping out from behind the door, we get... Mr. Bronchitis. All that happened was an actor in a plain white shirt and some trousers stood in the centre, pretending to cough multiple times in all 3 directions at the audience. The poor fella must’ve had a really bad cold today bless him. But essentially, the demon costume is no more (as of today), so they get an actor coughing his lungs up to replace it... You couldn’t make this stuff up. JoshuaA, Martin Doyle and Coaster 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Doyle Posted August 17, 2019 Report Share Posted August 17, 2019 10 minutes ago, Marhelorpe said: Oh man, it appears “future for theme parks” is reaching new levels of low today in the middle of summer. Besides from having an awful run through the attraction this afternoon, with numerous effects, audio, lighting and hardware not working, the cream of the crop goes to this: Reveal hidden contents At the end of the experience in the fake gift shop, not only was the floor projection turned off when’re the demon stands, but this happened...... .....Instead of the demon jumping out from behind the door, we get... Mr. Bronchitis. All that happened was an actor in a plain white shirt and some trousers stood in the centre, pretending to cough multiple times in all 3 directions at the audience. The poor fella must’ve had a really bad cold today bless him. But essentially, the demon costume is no more (as of today), so they get an actor coughing his lungs up to replace it... You couldn’t make this stuff up. If that ride was a horse, it would have been put down by now!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattgwise Posted August 17, 2019 Report Share Posted August 17, 2019 The park have even realised its a complete and utter waste of everybody's time and energy, so they are slowly destroying the one good part it has, ready for it to abolish that section next year completely. Demolition crew been organised yet? I am so glad I do not waste my time on this attraction anymore. onair 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshC. Posted August 17, 2019 Report Share Posted August 17, 2019 If Annual Passholders keep going back and riding it, does it really matter what they do to the experience any more? 🤷♂️ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coaster Posted August 17, 2019 Report Share Posted August 17, 2019 Maybe for next year they'll refurbish it to Derren Brown's Ghost Train: Rise Of The Sneeze?! Ringo and Marhelorpe 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Doyle Posted August 17, 2019 Report Share Posted August 17, 2019 1 hour ago, Coaster said: Maybe for next year they'll refurbish it to Derren Brown's Ghost Train: Rise Of The Sneeze?! “And I believe this represents the future for spreading a cold across the world!!” L7123456 and Coaster 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt 236 Posted August 17, 2019 Report Share Posted August 17, 2019 56 minutes ago, Martin Doyle said: “And I believe this represents the future for spreading a cold across the world!!” Nah I’d rather catch a cold in my on establishments or better, not get one at all. If this is the future of theme parks, Thirteen is the world’s scariest coaster! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattgwise Posted August 17, 2019 Report Share Posted August 17, 2019 2 hours ago, JoshC. said: If Annual Passholders keep going back and riding it, does it really matter what they do to the experience any more? 🤷♂️ Well said 🙌 I have nothing else to say! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1729 Posted August 17, 2019 Report Share Posted August 17, 2019 So this is how the Ghost Train ends, not with a Screaming Roar. but with a Cough Marhelorpe and L7123456 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coaster38 Posted August 18, 2019 Report Share Posted August 18, 2019 I saw the issue of no demon in the ending shop come up somewhere a while back but I have been in there since and it was back with everything working fully, along with the projection... hopefully this is again just a temporary issue and not permanent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ponder Posted August 23, 2019 Report Share Posted August 23, 2019 I can't help but wonder what could've been with DBGT. The concept is interesting but the execution is severely lacking. To think that money could've been invested in an established dark ride system with a great theme... Coaster, 2542464 and Ringo 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pluk Posted August 26, 2019 Report Share Posted August 26, 2019 Couple of my non geek work mates went to Thorpe on Friday not knowing anything much about DBGT. Having ridden they were very annoyed that they had 'wasted' 45 minutes to queue for this. Their reviews to me: "I've had more fun on the actual underground train playing candy crush on my phone" "What's the point? It's just shit" Hard to argue with that really! Rach666 and CharlieN 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coaster38 Posted September 5, 2019 Report Share Posted September 5, 2019 Was on park yesterday and the shop scene is still not working properly, no projections and no demon, just the same actor with some red paint on her face. Honestly what is going on with this ride now, maybe they have decided not to fix this in anticipation of some changes over the coming closed season? There were no other actors either. Am I right in saying the big room after the tunnel route should have something going on in it? All season I kept thinking I've just missed it as I'm usually towards the back of the group, but yesterday I was towards the front and all that I saw was some smoke and sound effects. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt A Posted September 6, 2019 Report Share Posted September 6, 2019 14 hours ago, coaster38 said: Am I right in saying the big room after the tunnel route should have something going on in it? All season I kept thinking I've just missed it as I'm usually towards the back of the group, but yesterday I was towards the front and all that I saw was some smoke and sound effects. It has actors on peak days, which improves it significantly. But on off-peak days it's just smoke and sound effects. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyMoo Posted September 6, 2019 Report Share Posted September 6, 2019 What a ruddy mess. #FutureOfThemeParks Marhelorpe and Ringo 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncanc Posted September 8, 2019 Report Share Posted September 8, 2019 Went on this for the first time today, I think 'meh' describes it perfectly, had to hold the headset the whole time, I did enjoy the live actors that were scattered around the ride so props to Thorpe for that; and the 'demon' at the end was brilliant, it caught a lot of people out who thought that was actually the gift shop and the actor on stage was brilliant, perhaps they've improved this, or only put an effort to do so over the weekend? It went pitch black, followed by flashing strobe lights every couple seconds where he would walk around the stage trying to touch people with a loud scream over a speaker coming from his direction, if it wasn't for that it would have been a bit naff considering how incredibly slow the queue is for this ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJ. Posted September 8, 2019 Report Share Posted September 8, 2019 I still think they have got a kernel of an idea and hope they don’t write it off all together. As suggested before, screens as windows instead of VR and more time to look at the train at the start will do it. But would they invest that much?Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt 236 Posted September 8, 2019 Report Share Posted September 8, 2019 If Derren Brown’s Ghost Train is the future of theme parks, then Legoland Windsor is the best European theme park and The Big One the best coaster in Europe! Could go on, but nope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pluk Posted September 9, 2019 Report Share Posted September 9, 2019 Second ever ride on the train for me today, first in its ROTD guise. It's fair to say there have been improvements over the first effort. - The sound is hugely better and isolating - The graphics seem smoother, if just as low quality - The second ride VR section is much better than playstation 1 apocalypse - The post show incident gives the ride its only opportunity to provide an actual scare, and goes some way to delivering it But it is nowhere near enough to save this utter turkey - Throughput is minuscule, queuing is ssllllooooowwwww and not close to worth the reward of riding - The staff approach is all over the place. Real aggressive introduction about phone use, not sure if that is supposed to be a 'character' or just a real obnoxious way to make a point? - The second room 'pre-show' immediately prior to the train entrance is downright bizarre. A stumbling attempt to be jokey, bring someone from the front to the back, do nothing with them, clap them(?), bang a door, go through the door. WOT? A pre-boarding stall I imagine, but just in every way possible from pacing to storytelling to atmosphere to point, utterly wrong. - The 'middle-show' is immeasurably worse. The old concept of being in a tunnel with no obvious way out and simulate a train approaching was actually a really good idea poorly done. Walking into a dark room where nothing happens before being turned round to walk back out of it is a really bad idea poorly done. Getting on and off the train doesn't even make sense in the narrative any more. - The second VR I can't quite get my head around. Augmented reality would have been hugely better rather than pretend augmented reality, but whatever. This breaks the fourth wall of suspension of belief the ride is asking us to make; the whole point seemed to be that the hyper reality of the simulation of being on a train would be the driver behind messing with your mind in that relate-able, mundane situation. You are now looking at people, like you, who are clearly on a theme park ride of a train, not an actual underground train. What am I supposed to do with this in the context of the narrative? - While we are on the second VR, the image quality as a whole is better than it was, but why is the main character we are supposed to scared of so poorly defined? For the most part it is an indistinguishable fuzzy blob floating around the screen about as menacingly as a rain cloud. - The laboured situation and 'acting' to hold people in the post-show goes a long way to ruining an otherwise decent effect. They may as well put up a big flashing sign saying 'wait a mo, something else is going to happen'. There must be a better, more natural way. Overall, there is no getting away from the fact that the whole thing is an ACTUAL TRAIN SIMULATOR. Not a rocket to the moon. Not a flight on an X wing. Not dive in a submarine. Not a time travelling jump in a Delorean. Why? I can get on a train, I don't need it simulated. I want fantasy. There is nothing fantastical about this Ghost Train. I honestly do not think it is rescuable. It's sad, but the whole concept is so deeply flawed I really feel the best thing to do would be to rip it out and start again. At the moment it is just a very expensive way to damage your brand and reputation. CharlieN, Coaster, JoshC. and 1 other 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Han30 Posted September 19, 2019 Report Share Posted September 19, 2019 Went on DBGTROTDWTF on Monday purely because my friend hadn’t ridden it since 2016. The batching was so slow it was painful - I still wish they used the 2 holding areas differently - one for people who want to see the pre show and one for people who don’t - the pre show for me is tedious and too long though it was amusing because I couldn’t see Derren Browns feet so he was sort of floating. The bit before you enter the train room - we were right at the back and there was an actor telling us that there is a train suspended and swinging by chains and that we are all going to hell. No offence to the guy but his acting was terrible - I also suspect he was slightly drunk as he was WAY too happy. Typically my sodding phone went off - had the volume up to the maximum as I had been expecting a phone call earlier and forgot to turn the volume down - cue everyone turning round and me frantically trying to find my phone in my abyss of a bag - the actor the yells “turn off your phone - this is Victorian London, there are no cell phones” - that was the highlight of the entire experience to be honest. First VR was fine but agree with others about the awkwardness of the headsets - I really struggle to get it to sit on my head properly and inevitably end up just holding it in place. The middle section - awful - no actors just a guy in the London Underground get up frantically pressing buttons on the door to get us out - didn’t even say anything. 2nd VR - had a dodgy headset - sound kept cutting off every few seconds and they’ve cut out a part of it (where the passenger says she want to get off) - VR just went dark then into the pit of fire. Left the train thinking I could have spent my time better sat drinking a coffee in the Inferno smoking area but at least the best part of the ride - the exit was to come. What a crock - no projection on the floor - the other effects were working - stood right next to the mini stage thing as I like to get nice and close to Mr Demon - well Mr Demon was clearly on vacation or decided himself that this attraction is a pile of poop and got the first bus out of the resort. We had a guy come out, dressed normally but walking around like he had soiled himself and had drunk one too many bottles of wine, coughing like he’d been chain smoking since the last group had gone through. Very odd and nowhere near as good as the demon who I swear once spat at me. So yeah - honestly I loved the ghost train the first time I rode it, with the exception of the initial strange 2nd VR which made little sense to the story. The new ending and 2nd VR they added in 2017 was a big improvement but the middle section where you get off the train is now naff and I much preferred the lights on a stick thing! Kerfuffle 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Doyle Posted September 19, 2019 Report Share Posted September 19, 2019 Guess I’ll just leave this here then!! Marhelorpe 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyMoo Posted September 19, 2019 Report Share Posted September 19, 2019 Still love that clip, hahaha. Whenever talking about Thorpe outside of eNThuSiAsT circles, people will always mention Stealth, Nemesis Inferno, Swarm... heck, even Colossus. But weirdly. never DBGTROTD... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
08newmanb Posted September 30, 2019 Report Share Posted September 30, 2019 I know what to do with mid-section: Increase the tension Add an alarm system Fix smoke and strobe lights Add more actors or announcements Make horns louder, like at The Walking Dead: The Ride Make trains light blink, either before, during, or after the horn honks Add more projections of monsters and zombies Make it feel like an earthquake Bring the smell of gas in Add smoke and strobe lights at the loading side of the station Make even more panic Make it even more intense And finally, SPRUCE IT ALL UP! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kerfuffle Posted September 30, 2019 Report Share Posted September 30, 2019 3 hours ago, 08newmanb said: I know what to do with mid-section: Increase the tension Add an alarm system Fix smoke and strobe lights Add more actors or announcements Make horns louder, like at The Walking Dead: The Ride Make trains light blink, either before, during, or after the horn honks Add more projections of monsters and zombies Make it feel like an earthquake Bring the smell of gas in Add smoke and strobe lights at the loading side of the station Make even more panic Make it even more intense And finally, SPRUCE IT ALL UP! I have a simpler solution. ...DEMOLITION. CharlieN, JoshuaA, Ringo and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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