January 20, 20169 yr comment_226752 Yes the Dino Chase is the old Flying Frog coaster, but I believe it has been repainted. Stunning stuff coming from Paultons on the theming front, I wonder if it's been done in-house or by an external company?
January 20, 20169 yr comment_226759 Really liking how Paultons is starting to become of the leading theme parks in the Uzk, especially since they now have several definitive areas (Lost Kingdom, Peppa Pig & Critter Creek). They're on track to be the Uk's best family park.
January 20, 20169 yr comment_226766 Really liking how Paultons is starting to become of the leading theme parks in the Uzk, especially since they now have several definitive areas (Lost Kingdom, Peppa Pig & Critter Creek). They're on track to be the Uk's best family park. They already are the Uk's best family park, I think you mean best theme park in the UK!
January 20, 20169 yr comment_226773 Paultons is fab. Anyway, as I'm guessing this will be deemed a big investment for the park and they seem to quite like freshening up areas, I'd love to see them work on the area with Cobra and Edge. Magma is nicely themed. Go Karts just need to go. But Cobra and Edge don't really fit in anywhere now. Cobra is a great little coaster and Edge good for the thrill seekers, but I wish they'd work on the area, retheme it or even give it a theme. Cobra's station is horrid. So yeah theming that up would be a great small investment in my eyes, maybe even add a smaller family style flat down there to make it less thrill seeker end dominant. Then a nice dark ride after thanks.
January 20, 20169 yr comment_226775 Yeah, looking at the map it does seem those rides mentioned above do sound a little out of place in their current forms, so theming them up would be great to see. Assuming next year will be a smaller year (seeing the medium-large investments we've seen) theming the Cobra Edge area to something on the lines of recent themes (but different) would be nice. I'd like to see their next big thing after Lost Kingdom maybe be either a small, but decent dark ride or a family wooden coaster. The Go karts could make for an ideal location, or even the compact Flume ride which I expect is also starting to look out of place in contrast to the recent upgrades.
January 20, 20169 yr comment_226776 The latest rumours I heard were that Paulton's were spending anything up to £8-9 million on the Lost Kingdom investment. I don't know how true that is, but if it is, then they've gotten a pretty good deal for being able to get 2 new coasters, a few new attractions and what looks to be good theming for the most part.
January 20, 20169 yr comment_226782 The latest rumours I heard were that Paulton's were spending anything up to £8-9 million on the Lost Kingdom investment. I don't know how true that is, but if it is, then they've gotten a pretty good deal for being able to get 2 new coasters, a few new attractions and what looks to be good theming for the most part. I've heard the £8-9 million figure around the place too, it would make sense considering their last major investment was in Peppa Pig World, which was £6 million.
January 20, 20169 yr comment_226783 I doubt an SFC and Jr Boomerang would cost more than £3-4m... Its classic Vekoma though, cheap rides meaning more to spend tarting it up... Got to remember that Cobra and Edge were built before the park had much money... They will probably continue their form of improving existing areas though assuming Lost Kingdom is a success... Which it should be...
February 7, 20169 yr comment_227680 The link also shows the park map for this year, and it seems the Junior Boomerang is being called 'Velociraptor', rather than 'Raptor'. Because, you know, they want everyone to struggle to spell the names of their new coasters
February 7, 20169 yr comment_227685 Apparently, the Raptor thing is because Merlin own the rights to that name on an attraction across the whole of Europe so they had to change it
February 7, 20169 yr comment_227688 Apparently, the Raptor thing is because Merlin own the rights to that name on an attraction across the whole of Europe so they had to change it Oh wow, that's pretty unfortunate.
February 7, 20169 yr comment_227690 Velociraptor doesn't have the same buzz as Raptot did. Nonetheless still excited for this area. It'll be easy to bash Merlin, but I won't.
February 7, 20169 yr comment_227691 Apparently, the Raptor thing is because Merlin own the rights to that name on an attraction across the whole of Europe so they had to change it I heard that too, but after having a look, I can't see anything to suggest that is actually the case? More sounds like a story of someone trying to needlessly bash Merlin than anything else...
February 7, 20169 yr comment_227692 Seriously? They copied Paultons with "Kobra" but they just spelt it wrong! I wouldn't be surprised if they've got it in for Paultons though, they are making CWOA look rather silly with two new coasters!
February 7, 20169 yr comment_227694 I wouldn't say this is Merlin having it in for Paultons if the Raptor thing is true. Merlin will have decided upon the licensing rights of the Raptor name on merch etc for their attraction back when it opened at Gardaland in 2011. No way can that be seen as Merlin having it in for Paultons if its been in place for 5+ years. There must be a reason behind the change though, because Raptor is easy, Velociraptor not so much. https://oami.europa.eu/eSearch/#details/trademarks/013767801 Here it is actually, but it was opposed. Was applied for beginning of last year. So yeah, not sure on this one. Just seems odd to change the name as it was on the trains etc.
February 7, 20169 yr comment_227699 Raptor is a trademark of Merlin's for European attractions. Ordinarily, I'd be happy to take statements like this at face value and accept it, but I just can't when: 1) https://oami.europa.eu/eSearch/#details/trademarks/013767801- This link suggests Merlin haven't acquired distinctiveness of 'Raptor'. 2) There's no evidence to support Raptor is trademarked. 3) It seems like too big an oversight for Paulton's to make (they'd surely be extra careful about doing things right after not properly applying for permission to build Edge). If it is trademarked by Merlin, then really there should be no fuss about it. Merlin would have the rights to the name and Paulton's shouldn't be allowed to use it. It's not Merlin having it in for the park or anything; unless they got wind that Paulton's were planning to build a coaster called 'Raptor' over 5 years ago...
February 8, 20169 yr comment_227724 ^ they don't have to own it exclusively, just prove to whoever is listening consumers could become confused by the name. If Merlin 'own' the name it's up to them to enforce it not Paulton's job to go searching copyright databases, so it's quiet likely Paultons were oblivious until someone at Merlin took a double take at the Paultons literature and called down to legal who served a C&D. Nothing sinister about it, just business, you can bet if Merlin opened a coaster called Peppa Pigs Fartocoaster Paultons would be on them quicker than a fly on crap.
February 8, 20169 yr comment_227753 There's defenitly compitition, as Paultons often advertise on the busses around Kingston and Chessington. Probably exactly where Chessington took the idea for Kobra in the first place.
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.