CallumSyxr Posted June 14, 2018 Report Share Posted June 14, 2018 I rode Wickerman for the first time a couple of weeks ago and I think it is a great ride at the park and in the UK altogether. I thought wickerman had an amazing ride experience on thw back and the ambience around the whole area amazed me and some of the themeing elements were just amazing, it is a high class woody in the UK imo its my favourite woody in the UK and my 2nd fav coaster in the UK. Although I dont normally rate GCI's but I love the wickerman and the pre show and the effects are just sick and Alton defiantly need to maintain this as knowing merlin the effects will stop working in a couple years time and if they do maintain the ride, hands down to towers!. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yeah Posted June 17, 2018 Report Share Posted June 17, 2018 Having been at Alton two weeks ago, I'm kind of starting to see your point @BaronC. Not from the kid's point of view, as they don't really know what it's about, but from the parent's point of view. Quite a few times I saw kids asking to go on Wicker Man, and their parents have taken one look at the statue itself, and said no, to the kid's confusion. Even my dad, who still let my sister on the ride, intentionally gave her the wrong definition for words like ritual when the technical difficulty announcement played. She didn't get any of the theme at all, being 9. Got to admit, I'm not the biggest fan of some of it myself. Only because I'm worried I'll look like a bit of a weirdo with ram skull related stuff all over my room Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyMoo Posted July 15, 2018 Report Share Posted July 15, 2018 Looking like a potential 3rd day of downtime for Wickerman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshC. Posted July 15, 2018 Report Share Posted July 15, 2018 Back up now. The flames clearly were hungry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyMoo Posted July 15, 2018 Report Share Posted July 15, 2018 Indeed! We have to Jart to thank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted October 21, 2018 Report Share Posted October 21, 2018 So after riding it, I found it an enjoyable ride. Not the best Woody I have ever been on in terms of the rollercoaster itself, but the overall experience of everything coming together was very well executed However one thing that has kept me a little bit puzzled...Previous Secret Weapon Rides have all had a world first or something new that's not been done in the industry before within the area at least. But for Wickerman...what was the secret weapon element? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marley Posted October 21, 2018 Report Share Posted October 21, 2018 On 10/21/2018 at 1:48 PM, P J said: So after riding it, I found it an enjoyable ride. Not the best Woody I have ever been on in terms of the rollercoaster itself, but the overall experience of everything coming together was very well executed However one thing that has kept me a little bit puzzled...Previous Secret Weapon Rides have all had a world first or something new that's not been done in the industry before within the area at least. But for Wickerman...what was the secret weapon element? Expand worlds first coaster to incorporate wood and fire? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted October 21, 2018 Report Share Posted October 21, 2018 Wood and fire though, is it really that groundbreaking? Like the pyros are likely encased on steel which has cleverley been designed to have a wooden structure just far enough away from it. Surely it must be something else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ringo Posted October 21, 2018 Report Share Posted October 21, 2018 On 10/21/2018 at 2:11 PM, P J said: Wood and fire though, is it really that groundbreaking? Like the pyros are likely encased on steel which has cleverley been designed to have a wooden structure just far enough away from it. Surely it must be something else? Expand No, just the fire and wood... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coaster Posted October 21, 2018 Report Share Posted October 21, 2018 Doesn't need a world's first, it's a quality long-term ride which is the most important thing. IMO. L7123456, HermanTheGerman, JoelAllen and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted October 21, 2018 Report Share Posted October 21, 2018 I'm not saying it needs to be a world first but generally I've got accustomed to a secret weapon being something that brings something new. Its a decent attraction but if it's a 'normal' addition in that sense then I personally found it a little bit misleading with the tag etc...but that's just me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HermanTheGerman Posted October 21, 2018 Report Share Posted October 21, 2018 On 10/21/2018 at 5:08 PM, P J said: I'm not saying it needs to be a world first but generally I've got accustomed to a secret weapon being something that brings something new. Its a decent attraction but if it's a 'normal' addition in that sense then I personally found it a little bit misleading with the tag etc...but that's just me Expand Wicker Man was the first time they actually used the idea of a “Secret Wepon” in the advertising though? It only started out as a code name for projects internally. It’s a bit of a shame really that it’s become some sort ‘series’ in the park. The rides are just meant to be fun; and ironically, wicker man being the first big addition to the park since Rita without some sort of gimmick, is actually the most fun of all since then! Just enjoy the ride no need for it to have any silly advertising feature Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted October 21, 2018 Report Share Posted October 21, 2018 The ride I did enjoy as mentioned earlier, it just left me confused with what the secret bit was that's all. Interesting, you mention it was the first one advertised as a weapon, must of been how I found out about it being coded as that. Probably what happened was is that I heard it in passing and then linking it up with the knowledge I learnt when I was younger when I delved into all these things. Knowing that these things were internal codes and then not looking into it further just made me assume there was a bit more. However on a general note, I'm not one for gimmicks if it focuses too much on that and they then forget the fun throughout the rest of the ride. Ultimately wickerman is fun, exactly what is needed and for me I have it in the leagues at the park as 13, something that is just ultimately fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshC. Posted November 16, 2018 Report Share Posted November 16, 2018 An interesting note from John Wardley about his involvement in Wicker Man... http://www.john-wardley.co.uk/wickerman.html Nothing that hasn't really been reported before, but his tone of voice is certainly interesting.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pluk Posted November 16, 2018 Report Share Posted November 16, 2018 That, on the whole, is a thoroughly depressing read. Bet John felt sick to his stomach when her received that first call, such disrespect from a company he gave so much to. How on earth can the hierarchy of Merlin be in such a mess that the people a the top think the most prominent and prolific ride designer they have, that they are clearly well aware has for a number of years been actively designing the exact thing they now want, is involved in a project which has progressed all the way to the contracts being signed, when he knows nothing about it. Shambles. People seem generally happy with Wickerman, mostly because the theme is well delivered while the ride just scrapes 'good enough'. I wonder how amazing the whole could have been if the actual ride was decent in the first place? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yeah Posted November 17, 2018 Report Share Posted November 17, 2018 On 11/16/2018 at 7:32 PM, pluk said: People seem generally happy with Wickerman, mostly because the theme is well delivered while the ride just scrapes 'good enough'. I wonder how amazing the whole could have been if the actual ride was decent in the first place? Expand I love the ride itself, probably only behind Smiler and Nemesis for me and thats without taking into account any of the theming. My friend who doesnt really care about the theming who came with us also loved it, he put it above Stampida. Maybe it comes down to the fact you have been on so much more rides than me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TPC Posted November 17, 2018 Report Share Posted November 17, 2018 Wicker Man is so much better than stampida, based on smoothness alone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlesberg Posted November 17, 2018 Report Share Posted November 17, 2018 Stampida isn’t really the best comparison in the first place though given it is complete s*** and Wicker Man is a fine coaster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
profburp Posted June 24, 2019 Report Share Posted June 24, 2019 Anyone heard anything about what is up with Wicker Man, being down the last few days. I’m visiting Tues-Thurs this week and would be gutted if it’s closed all 3 days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ringo Posted June 24, 2019 Report Share Posted June 24, 2019 On 6/24/2019 at 3:59 PM, profburp said: Anyone heard anything about what is up with Wicker Man, being down the last few days. I’m visiting Tues-Thurs this week and would be gutted if it’s closed all 3 days. Expand Awaiting a replacement part, rumour is down for two weeks unfortunately Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
profburp Posted June 24, 2019 Report Share Posted June 24, 2019 On 6/24/2019 at 4:16 PM, Ringo said: Awaiting a replacement part, rumour is down for two weeks unfortunately Expand Oh what a shame! Not like Alton have been the most forthcoming in their replies on twitter as usual. Be nice if they told people the situation, but hey thanks for the update. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyMoo Posted June 28, 2019 Report Share Posted June 28, 2019 Touch wood (no pun intended), Wickerman has had a pretty reliable couple of years - fingers crossed it's back up soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshC. Posted June 29, 2019 Report Share Posted June 29, 2019 Wicker Dude reopened today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark9 Posted June 29, 2019 Report Share Posted June 29, 2019 Thats great but what about Quantum and Enterprise? THIS IS AN OUTRAGE. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattgwise Posted June 29, 2019 Report Share Posted June 29, 2019 It sure did. We are having a great time on the TPM meet and although busy, rides working well and staff efficient. There's even a point about a third through the queue where you can get a ticket to leave and get water or use the toilet and return at that point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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