TPC Posted October 13, 2017 Report Share Posted October 13, 2017 I've had quite a few discussions with @Project LC out of the forums and it is very easy to tell his dislike for Merlin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveJ Posted October 15, 2017 Report Share Posted October 15, 2017 On 13/10/2017 at 6:16 PM, ChessingtonSam said: That's not what I'm saying - obviously Merlin are nowhere near perfect. But I would say there are one or two users on here who have a proper agenda against Merlin That's ok I wasn't referencing your post "it is very easy to tell his dislike for Merlin. " Again why is dislike for Merlin an "agenda"? Why are we required to like a place we're paying to visit if we don't like the product? It's very reasonable to not visit (or at least go in with low expectations), considering the consistent poor quality and disappointments of many projects in the past, and the product Merlin tends to offer. Optimism is fine, but saying others have an agenda is jumping the gun. The problem with Merlin is that there is very little alternative for big theme parks and themed rides in the UK, so you can't just choose to visit somewhere else like you would with any other product. That's more reason to be vocal. Yeah there may be some people with a closed-minded agenda, unfortunately, if they're constantly criticising with no justification behind what they say. But I mean more in general . OlivusPrime and yeah 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Project LC Posted October 15, 2017 Report Share Posted October 15, 2017 I'd say I just have a strong dislike of Merlin rather than an agenda. Merlin can sometimes do good things but there marketing hype and constant errors have led me to not visiting anymore. I had an agenda against reserve and ride as I'm sure many people picked up on. But currently I do not have an agenda against Merlin Entertainments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshC. Posted October 15, 2017 Report Share Posted October 15, 2017 28 minutes ago, Project LC said: I had an agenda against reserve and ride as I'm sure many people picked up on. I definitely didn't pick up on this - you should have been more vocal about your dislike for it... Project LC 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benin Posted October 15, 2017 Report Share Posted October 15, 2017 1 hour ago, Project LC said: I'd say I just have a strong dislike of Merlin rather than an agenda. Merlin can sometimes do good things but there marketing hype and constant errors have led me to not visiting anymore. I lol'd... CharlieN, Matt 236, JoshC. and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyMoo Posted October 17, 2017 Report Share Posted October 17, 2017 Can't be bothered to dig it out but one of the Towers fan pages on FaceyB posted that Alton Towers had implied SW8 will open in April next year from one of their early bird booking deals for hotels. Now I've got that getting married lark out of the way, and going to Japan in a few weeks on honeymoon, I can finally get back to visiting Merlin parks again next year, hurrah! (I do miss The Smiler though, just sayin) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coaster Posted October 17, 2017 Report Share Posted October 17, 2017 Haven't filled any threads with photos of a coaster being built for at least two weeks, so here's some construction photos from SW8 taken this weekend just gone; The queueline interaction looks fantastic; After seeing it in person I'm really looking forward to SW8, it doesn't look incredible but it's the wooden coaster Alton Towers has been missing for years, and frankly I think it looks like a lot of fun. The fact it's already well on the way to being complete both in terms of the ride and surrounding buildings/landscaping impresses me and seems a definite step forward from the construction of The Smiler or Derren Brown's Ghost Train. pluk, holtjammy16, Marc and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Posted October 17, 2017 Report Share Posted October 17, 2017 Nice pictures - quite looking forward to this actually - as you say it’s not going to be incredible but it’s a solid addition to the line up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyMoo Posted October 17, 2017 Report Share Posted October 17, 2017 Queue line interaction is fantastic until they put up safety fences and nets Mysterio Ka 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyMoo Posted October 23, 2017 Report Share Posted October 23, 2017 There's a new SW8 video out from Alton Towers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yeah Posted October 23, 2017 Report Share Posted October 23, 2017 And it's a whopping 48 seconds long! The runes say: "We interrupt this to bring you good news. You are invited to a celebration; a celebration of our Earth and its beauty. All this noise. All this technology. It's too much, isn't it? There's no time or space to think, is there? Deep down you know the truth, don't you? The technology has now taken the reigns. How did you get here? Maybe it doesn't matter. What matters is this chance; your opportunity to reconnect with the Earth. Come join us near the woods and partake in our celebration. How far you choose to go ... that is your choice. What part you choose to play ... only you can decide. Be chosen on the night where the living meets the dead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexander Posted October 30, 2017 Report Share Posted October 30, 2017 It's so pretty! Don't care if it's short, I'm just super pleased that there's a real, genuine woodie in the UK after all this years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mega-Lite Posted October 30, 2017 Report Share Posted October 30, 2017 If you count Pointless Weapon/Tunnel:The Ride/The Fall of GCI as a real genuine woodie but don't count Wild Mouse, Big Dipper or Megafobia then I'm not sure there's anything I can do to save you. Unless all you need is a lift to Blackpool? ste193 and Martin Doyle 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benin Posted October 30, 2017 Report Share Posted October 30, 2017 It'll have been 21 years since Megaphobia opened; and modern woodies are pretty much a different beast nowadays... To have an actual modern wooden coaster built in an UK park is still something to be grateful for, even if it's not the layout many wanted... Especially if the thing is actually enjoyable to ride, rather than an unforgiving terrifying death trap (Wild Mouse), bouncing along the track (Big Dipper) or barely maintained (Megaphobia)... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexander Posted October 30, 2017 Report Share Posted October 30, 2017 2 hours ago, Mega-Lite said: If you count Pointless Weapon/Tunnel:The Ride/The Fall of GCI as a real genuine woodie but don't count Wild Mouse, Big Dipper or Megafobia then I'm not sure there's anything I can do to save you. Unless all you need is a lift to Blackpool? ...did I say any of those weren't genuine woodies? Did I say this is better than any operating woodie in the UK? First genuine wooden roller coaster in the UK after all these years. I meant in relation to all the hybrids popping up everywhere and last time I checked this thing was primarily made of wood? Regardless of what you think of this ride, it's definitely reassuring that there is still belief in these coaster types being a thing here, especially given how long it's been since one has been installed - as said by Benin, 21 years ago. Hopefully other parks will soon follow suit, but I guess that will depend on the reception of the ride when it opens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mega-Lite Posted October 31, 2017 Report Share Posted October 31, 2017 Just the way your statement came across seemed to belittle the nice toys we already have. Wild Mouse and Big Dipper are in my opinion better than quite a few so called "modern" woodies anyway. It's great we are getting a nice new wooden coaster here and GCI are up there with Mack as my favourite manufacturers, it's just the product on show looks very unimpressive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benin Posted October 31, 2017 Report Share Posted October 31, 2017 Unfortunately we were never going to get something like Troy, Joris, etc. through either current budget restraints or planning permission (it's a real shame they couldn't really use the woods for this, certainly would've made it more interesting from the off)... I wouldn't be surprised if this ends up being in the same bracket as Thirteen for guest satisfaction though... Of course we'll always never see that rumoured launched RMC before the incident happened... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benin Posted November 2, 2017 Report Share Posted November 2, 2017 Some ITV guff on the ride... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshC. Posted November 2, 2017 Report Share Posted November 2, 2017 Let's see... -Merlin representative not calling it a ride. -Reference to Smiler incident (though fairly done). -Francis Jackson interview. -Shipping container in-joke. -MYSTERIOUS THING. That covers a good majority of the Merlinisms for my bingo. Just need a 'during routine excavations...' backstory and I'm done. Marhelorpe, Kerfuffle, ste193 and 1 other 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyMoo Posted November 2, 2017 Report Share Posted November 2, 2017 It's more than just a wooden rollercoaster, it's an experience - at least, it is for the first three years until we remove any live actors, or pre-shows JoshuaA, Kerfuffle, Marhelorpe and 1 other 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark9 Posted November 6, 2017 Report Share Posted November 6, 2017 Should have gone for the 'we've built a rollercoaster that we hope you'll enjoy' instead of pretending its something more. Ah well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt 236 Posted November 6, 2017 Report Share Posted November 6, 2017 Me when the press stop referencing 'The Smiler accident' when Alton Towers/Merlin appears in the news. I just hope they look after this new ride when it opens and it's not a rough uncomftsble run-down device two years later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshC. Posted November 15, 2017 Report Share Posted November 15, 2017 Posted over on TT forums by member 'burgertaster': Looking at its size, I'd say it's most likely not related to the main theming feature. Could easily see something like that being part of an entrance feature though. CharlieN 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshC. Posted November 22, 2017 Report Share Posted November 22, 2017 A little timelapse video is now on the SW8 minisite... https://www.thewelcoming.co.uk/story-so-far/taking-shape Naturally is skips the construction of the mysterious theming feature... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshC. Posted November 23, 2017 Report Share Posted November 23, 2017 A new page has appeared on the minisite, with a new video... https://www.thewelcoming.co.uk/the-beornen The ruins translate to 'Pay homage and unite' This teaser feels a lot less horror / scare in feel to me. Feels more mysterious and tribal; more akin to Hex in style. If they can translate that into the ride (pun intended), then I'd be happy and it'd work for a family-oriented attraction in my eyes.. And as you can see, this page is called 'The Beornen' - presumably the name of the tribe / people involved, and not anything to do with the Hobbit character... Though Beorn comes from an Old English term meaning warrior, so the Berornen could be some form of warriors against technology, blah blah blah, I'm reading too much into this... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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