December 11, 201014 yr comment_104836 Flume needs... Something desperately... It's extremely hard to theme the entire layout with only the tunnels and queue providing any form of chance for theming to occur...I'm not sure if it should be replaced or not... Certainly about one of the few big layout rides at Towers that would be relatively simple (in comparison to others) to remove and hence replace...But as to the original question, removal of branding is currently the most we can hope for, unless they decide to throw some money at it since they lost Shrek...
December 12, 201014 yr comment_104837 A retheme/rebrand will be wise. Unless they create an entirely new area themed aroud bathing which will be highly unique as there is no park in the world that has such a theme although it would be unique for all the wrong reasons . I'm tired with Pirate themes tbh and probably most ethuiasts are really, too many parks have a pirate land/attraction but that is the theme in Mutiny Bay so it is a certainty that any retheme will be geared towards Pirates . If the ride is removed, I hope they replace it with a more innovative flume ride and it would be great if they were to use the same layout (it will please the council as trees won't be destroyed) we'll pretty much end up with a very similar ride experience only much smoother and with a modern feel to it. I suppose they could re-track it but Alton probably can't be asked to spend money on doing that .
December 12, 201014 yr comment_104838 A retheme/rebrand will be wise. Unless they create an entirely new area themed aroud bathing which will be highly unique as there is no park in the world that has such a theme although it would be unique for all the wrong reasonsTry again, Tripsdrill has the original bathtime themed log flume attraction... Including animatronic half naked ladies... And personally I'm not bored with pirate themes... Towers were clever with it as an addition as it didn't require too much work (with the pre-existing buildings already being piratey), pirates regaining popularity due to the films, and it actually looking pretty decent and revamping a rather dull area by giving it a much more obvious identity...Pirate themes are also very simple for guests to understand, as they are very general knowledge... That's why lots of parks have them... Nice, simple and can be very effective if done well...Replacing Flume does provide an interesting choice for Towers, removal could involve a good old arguement with the council, whilst revamping would be the cheapest idea, but not provide anything truly exciting and new... Plus they will need to consider throughputs as Peter said, it's one of the highest in the park...A conundrum...
December 23, 201014 yr comment_105376 It should either fit Kantanga Kanyon or Mutiny Bay. It shouldnt have its own random area, I'm a little sick of ducks and bubbles now.
December 23, 201014 yr comment_105380 Well, not Katanga Canyon since it is in the wrong location.Katanga Canyon is built around its own little African "hub" area, which sits in the middle of the rapids circuit, from which the entrances to the rides and outlets branch off from. if a third ride was brought in, its entrance would have to be stuck on to the access path leading to the bridge into the main Katanga Canyon area. This would not fit and could detract from the area on the whole rather than add to it.So, keep in in Mutiny Bay at all costs. I would like to see the back on the Flume actually, it is a rather old fashioned ride and not really exciting enough to have a long future ahead of it. Things like Dragon Falls are better because they are built into the surroundings a lot more, whilst having very good interaction with pathways at the same time. However, the Flume is a bit of a poor ride for a theme park that is usually considered to have higher standards.
December 23, 201014 yr comment_105382 I'll be so sad if they get rid of the Flume. I know it doesn't interact with the landscape much but it's such a lovely ride that's actually really relaxing in between the drops and nightmare ducks. Also, whatever they build to replace it (if they do of course!) will inevitably be compared with nostalgia for the flume and I don't know if it could really win. Especially if they build a thrill ride there, it'll just frustrate the families who visit the Towers and remember that they used to have a fun flume there.
December 24, 201014 yr comment_105493 Has anyone else ever noticed that on the drops just before it goes down the flume it jolts quite hard and on the last drop it hurt my back? Thorpes doesnt do this?
April 16, 201213 yr comment_136389 *Dusts off topic* http://old.towerstimes.co.uk/news/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1334345973&archive=&start_from=&ucat=1,9& Surprised this hasn't been brought up actually...Saw this article on TT, saying that The Flume has had some modified boats installed to allow for children above 1.0m on the ride. Of course, last season, all Mack flumes increased from a 0.9m restriction (1.1m to be unaccompanied by an adult) to 1.2m (1.3m unaccompanied). I guess it's a good thing, and maybe a sign of things to come at other Merlin parks?
April 17, 201213 yr comment_136443 Whatever happens to The Flume, I will really miss what I have nicknamed 'Evil Duck'. The giant duck that quacks and prompted me to scream giving me a sore throat all day. Thanks ducky..
April 17, 201213 yr comment_136452 *Dusts off topic* http://old.towerstim...from=&ucat=1,9 Surprised this hasn't been brought up actually...Saw this article on TT, saying that The Flume has had some modified boats installed to allow for children above 1.0m on the ride. Of course, last season, all Mack flumes increased from a 0.9m restriction (1.1m to be unaccompanied by an adult) to 1.2m (1.3m unaccompanied). I guess it's a good thing, and maybe a sign of things to come at other Merlin parks? Interesting, any pictures knocking around?
April 17, 201213 yr comment_136459 Has the duck gone now ?! It has, or at least it could not be seen or heard a couple of weeks back. Instead you get a squirt in the face in the dark, which actually takes you quite by surprise (or would do if you hadn't read this!)
April 17, 201213 yr comment_136464 It has, or at least it could not be seen or heard a couple of weeks back. Instead you get a squirt in the face in the dark, which actually takes you quite by surprise (or would do if you hadn't read this!) I didn't read that bit... dammit! Can see why it would make you jump though!
April 17, 201213 yr comment_136486 Ducks still there, I presume light is not working. As for water, the water hits you by the bathtub doesn't it? Somewhere around there. I can barely remember, one or the others (or both) light isn't usually working.
April 17, 201213 yr comment_136488 At the mo whole tunnel is pitch black - no duck or bath visible. Thought this was deliberate as the sound was off as well, just a squirter in the face. Quite like it like that tbh.
June 15, 201510 yr comment_211338 Unusual video I came across of some people stuck in the trough of The Flume. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiJMQay8MA8
June 15, 201510 yr comment_211341 Might seem light hearted but that's a hugely damaging video for the park and staff involved. Would be very helpful if it was taken down. Extremely lucky videos like this don't appear more often (well stoppages like this don't occur often, so hopefully it won't become a trend)
June 15, 201510 yr comment_211343 How on earth did that happen?! Not great that the staff just seemed to blank them for ages though.
June 15, 201510 yr comment_211344 How on earth did that happen?! Not great that the staff just seemed to blank them for ages though. I don't blame you for assuming those things because I imagine most people will (if not jump to much WORSE conclusions) but it would have been a controlled stoppage (just misfortunate that they were in the tunnel at the time) and staff would have known they were there but had to follow procedures forced on them that meant they couldn't get to them first. Honestly this video throws up so much trouble that it's just not worth it.
June 15, 201510 yr comment_211349 Especially given that it happened before the Smiler which is the media latched onto this, they'd have a field day over, imagine the headlines, Towers staff ignore hysterical teenagers trapped on ride! In the staff's defence though, I can imagine it would be very hard for them to hear and comprehend it, as I expect a lot of kids scream when going through that tunnel.
June 15, 201510 yr comment_211351 And there you have it, exactly the negative responses that this video is likely to cause. I don't blame you for assuming those things because I imagine most people will (if not jump to much WORSE conclusions) but it would have been a controlled stoppage (just misfortunate that they were in the tunnel at the time) and staff would have known they were there but had to follow procedures forced on them that meant they couldn't get to them first. Honestly this video throws up so much trouble for the ride and park. It's still not great that they were just left in the tunnel like that, there should be a sound system in there so that they can inform people that they are aware of them in situations such as this.
June 15, 201510 yr comment_211353 In the staff's defence though, I can imagine it would be very hard for them to hear and comprehend it, as I expect a lot of kids scream when going through that tunnel.Had they just remained silent the staff would have still got them out of there eventually, there's no possibility that the boat could have gone missing (all boats are logged when the ride opens). Again this is something the video makes look like the family had to scream and phone for help to be rescued. The whole situation would have been accordingly resolved on the day. But now this footage is online there will be repercussions. It would just make life a lot easier for everyone if it gets removed. It's just a hugely embarrassing and regrettable situation that point to flaws in the ride.
October 3, 20159 yr comment_219442 I have just been informed that The Flume will be closed for the rest of the season. That completely rules out Scarefest for me this year, I am not prepared to make the effort to travel to a park with three rides closed. It's just poor, plenty of people go on The Flume at this time of year (I have queued ages for it at Scarefest before), they should be trying to get guests back not closing even more rides! Rubbish!
October 3, 20159 yr comment_219456 Yeah see, the problem is people aren't going to Towers. Previous Scarefest's have been packed but there is no way that this will be the story this year. The only way the park can even get back to profitable ways is to close the biggest drains on rescources. Sub terra is one, the other is the flume and the rapids. Towers is one of the biggest crises's in its history and its only going to get worse before it gets better. If it takes three rides (two if we take out the Smiler as thats special circumstances) to stop you going, that says more about you then the average guest.
October 3, 20159 yr comment_219459 I have just been informed that The Flume will be closed for the rest of the season. That completely rules out Scarefest for me this year, I am not prepared to make the effort to travel to a park with three rides closed. It's just poor, plenty of people go on The Flume at this time of year (I have queued ages for it at Scarefest before), they should be trying to get guests back not closing even more rides! Rubbish! Needs must and all of that... how many rides were removed at Blackpool during the harder times?
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