Graw Posted October 15, 2012 Report Share Posted October 15, 2012 Storm Surge I wouldn't mind, but don't actually WANT them to remove, and X they should keep and refurbish, not get rid of. Never. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sully1311 Posted October 15, 2012 Report Share Posted October 15, 2012 Storm Surge I wouldn't mind, but don't actually WANT them to remove, and X they should keep and refurbish, not get rid of. Never. How anyone can actually like X:\No Way Out is beyond me. It really is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coaster Posted October 15, 2012 Report Share Posted October 15, 2012 How anyone can actually like X:\No Way Out is beyond me. It really is.Different people have different opinions. Personally I think that X:/No way out a great ride, but it has more potential in terms of effects etc... As for Storm surge, I'm not bothered really as to what they do with it. The fact that it usually has a big queue just means less people on the other rides in my opinion (If Storm surge still had functional spinners on the slide and it wasn't so ugly then I would like it - when it opened last year I thought it was good but now that it doesn't spin it is completley boring.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graw Posted October 15, 2012 Report Share Posted October 15, 2012 Agreed, X is a good, fun ride and takes in lots of crowds quickly as well, yet it does have potential to be a better ride, but Thorpe obviously don't see this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkC Posted October 15, 2012 Report Share Posted October 15, 2012 X no way out shakes you around like this and they wonder why people throw up.... holtjammy16, ste193 and mah boi 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graw Posted October 15, 2012 Report Share Posted October 15, 2012 Yeah, but its a good ride and fun with friends, Colossus shakes you around like that, even worse. I bet you still like it don't you? Because its bigger and faster? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pluk Posted October 15, 2012 Report Share Posted October 15, 2012 Personally I think that X:/No way out a great ride, but it has more potential in terms of effects etc... Yes, that is it. X is not a great ride, but it is absolutely full of potential as an unusual bit of hardware, if only they'd put the effort in theme wise. I'd be more than happy with the 'new' for 2013 being an x full of sounds and lights and smoke and effects, it would be a totally new ride experience if they did it properly, even if the track stayed the same. ste193, Coaster, Bubbles1 and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilPho Posted October 16, 2012 Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 Let's be honest, there isn't going to be a new major attraction next year, the most we will get is a flat rid. But I hope they will refurbish the whole park. They should give al the rides a fresh cost of paint, retheme some of the dated rides and replace some rides with newer models eg. Detonator, x no way out and vortex Erm, no, this will never happen and has never happened in any theme park... This also sort of happened when Thorpe replaced Zodiac with Cyclone. Was probably the exact some model, but they did replace it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c1hrisin Posted October 16, 2012 Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 Yes but detonator and X are nothing like that ride. They are theme park rides, not carnival attractions which can be swapped and changed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benin Posted October 16, 2012 Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 This also sort of happened when Thorpe replaced Zodiac with Cyclone. Was probably the exact some model, but they did replace it. Because the original Zodiac model was ancient and prone to throwing pods into trees... Sometimes rides do need replacing, but why replace rides which have nothing wrong with them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBobJones Posted October 16, 2012 Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 If Thorpe have been heavily investing in the last 10 years, maybe they need to increase the amount of investment as the park is lacking behind all of the other Merlin parks in my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshC. Posted October 16, 2012 Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 If Thorpe have been heavily investing in the last 10 years, maybe they need to increase the amount of investment as the park is lacking behind all of the other Merlin parks in my opinion. You what? Thorpe have added a new attraction to some description every season since, and including, 1998. In the past ten years, they've spent around £80 million on new attractions (quick guestimate to be honest there, but it seems about right). I really can't think of many parks that have had this level of investment, and if you exclude Disney and Universal parks, I can't think of any (though correct me if I'm wrong here). Thorpe have thrown ride after ride at the park, and realistically, the list of options available to them for 'round rides' (ie non-coasters) is becoming smaller and smaller. Their level of investment does not need to be increased really. However, one year with no new additions would not be a bad thing. There's plenty of things which can be done to attract guests, and rides at the park which could do with a revamp and even be marketed as new due to that. The park has plenty of options open to them, and with their two year marketing strategies that seem to occur for coasters, no doubt next year there'll be some form of Swarm-related pulling power to try and bring in the guests. The introduction of the Snoozeboxes will certainly be an interesting factor. Say what you want about how they look, the troubles it may show with the plans for a hotel at Thorpe or whatnot, but they will be used, and they will attract guests to come to the park (even if it's for longer, as opposed to completely outright). In other words, what I'm saying is that a new ride / attraction is not necessary to bring in new guests / more guests, or to be recognised. The last time the park didn't add anything, 1997, they won awards for being the best family park in the country (or something along those lines), so no new rides never spell doom and gloom necessarily. Meh, I'm probably rambling now, but pretty much - Thorpe's investment is high enough, whether or not there's a new attraction next year, Thorpe will still do things to attract people and all should go to how they plan.. UnderItAll, aTOMic and Ryan 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benin Posted October 16, 2012 Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 They don't need a new ride... They need to improve the atmosphere and look of the park, as currently, it's a bit lacking in both those areas... BigBobJones 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Posted October 17, 2012 Report Share Posted October 17, 2012 As long as it doesn't do a towers and lose 250,000 guests in a year due to lack of new ride aTOMic 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoelPagett Posted October 17, 2012 Report Share Posted October 17, 2012 I think there is a fundamental point there... No new attractions = no real reason for a memeber of the GP to return that year. Alton Towers did indeed loose 250,000 guests the year they added nothing... it speaks for itself really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benin Posted October 17, 2012 Report Share Posted October 17, 2012 Ahhh, but was the loss of guests solely because of no new attractions? There's always something more to things, as last year was a HORRID year for all Merlin parks, not just Towers... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark9 Posted October 17, 2012 Report Share Posted October 17, 2012 I think there is a fundamental point there... No new attractions = no real reason for a memeber of the GP to return that year. Alton Towers did indeed loose 250,000 guests the year they added nothing... it speaks for itself really. Which is ridiculous in itself. Alton did lose 250,000 guests but then the year before they added a very successfully advertised rollercoaster. The attendance year per year has been sustainable for a while if I'm right. Our parks rely to heavily on new rides. If they gave people excellent value for money and a right royal good time, people would attend regardless of whether there was a new attraction or not. pluk and BigBobJones 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodge2002 Posted October 17, 2012 Report Share Posted October 17, 2012 The difference is AT marketed a glorified runaway mine train for two years. Thorpe will be marketing a world class coaster experience. Luke_A and aTOMic 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benin Posted October 17, 2012 Report Share Posted October 17, 2012 Yep, and that's been EXTREMELY successful in bringing in the crowds this year hasn't it? Oh wait, no, Thorpe aren't hitting the numbers they expected are they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexander Posted October 17, 2012 Report Share Posted October 17, 2012 It's also arguable that some guests don't return because of the state/running of the park. Because I'm an enthusiast it's different but when I had been with my parents before they were disgraced with the state of some of the rides (mind this was a few years back), the lack of atmosphere and the closure of 4 rides (2 roller coasters, 2 flats). So just reiterating my point, I would much prefer them to not add a new ride and give some TLC to the current infrastructure of the park. Sidders and Zappomatic 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoelPagett Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 Which is ridiculous in itself. Alton did lose 250,000 guests but then the year before they added a very successfully advertised rollercoaster. The attendance year per year has been sustainable for a while if I'm right. Our parks rely to heavily on new rides. If they gave people excellent value for money and a right royal good time, people would attend regardless of whether there was a new attraction or not. But many people wouldn't make the very long trip to Alton Towers from the south if there isn't anything new to experience.... I know many people who didn't, Myself included! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weeksy Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 Not to mention the price... haven't really paid much attention, but Alton is now £45 on the door... I appreciate there are BOGOF and online booking discounts, but thats a hell of a lot of money. Organising a work outing there next week and naively thought it was in the £35 region still. Hmmph. The days do sting and you have to work really hard to get value for money - I.e. eat at the right restaurants, bring your own drink, don't buy a beer, don't play any of the games, pick a quiet day so you don't get fasttrack, try to avoid parking... It adds up and puts me off going. And thats as a fully employed, coaster enthusiast - god knows how kids can afford it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benin Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 Not to mention the price... haven't really paid much attention, but Alton is now £45 on the door... I appreciate there are BOGOF and online booking discounts, but thats a hell of a lot of money. Organising a work outing there next week and naively thought it was in the £35 region still. Hmmph. The days do sting and you have to work really hard to get value for money - I.e. eat at the right restaurants, bring your own drink, don't buy a beer, don't play any of the games, pick a quiet day so you don't get fasttrack, try to avoid parking... It adds up and puts me off going. And thats as a fully employed, coaster enthusiast - god knows how kids can afford it. Is that Alton specific? Because the same can be said of ALL the Merlin parks... But many people wouldn't make the very long trip to Alton Towers from the south if there isn't anything new to experience.... I know many people who didn't, Myself included! And I'm sure Storm Surge made loads of the North stream down the M6 to experience it... Would rather a park get a well thought out addition rather than cheap and rushed (which is why Towers' 2011 addition didn't materialise)... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattgwise Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 when I had been with my parents before they were disgraced with the state of some of the ridesMust add that several of my non enthusiast friends have also said this during this year. It doesn't help that Saw Alive and Canada Creek Railway (and Fungle Safari the last three years) are all standing as if they are rides that should be open, but simply closed that day. On top of that one of my friends who had never been before commented on the poor condition of the foilage in Saw The Rides queue line and said "Are they that tight and money grabbing that they don't employ gardeners". If time was spent making the place look nice and removing SBNO rides then I believe they could easily get away with not having anything new as people would want to return. The place looking run down And no new ride could possibly put people off. Zappomatic 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexander Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 To be fair we have to give Thorpe credit because it's all man-made (I think) and it doesn't have the natural beauty that Alton Towers have but it would be nice to see at least a little effort go into maintaining rather than re-investing, re-investing and then add second-hand eyesores which really (in my eyes) don't help the ride line up at all, especially with the marketing strategy they're going down. Storm Surge does not scream 'thrill', although it's great fun with friends but never worth a queue longer than 15 minutes. I posed a question to Thorpe about the state of the park (must notably Colossus) and they responded and acknowledged the feedback and said they'd pass it on to the relevant team, I just hope it really isn't just thrown out the window. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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