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2016: Air - Re-theme to VR Coaster - Galactica

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I don't think it's being rethemed. More like refurbished. Air was never really finished, it never had any theming or storyline. Every other secret weapon had some story line (angry alien, sinister military facility, -----, magic Forrest, sinister military facility) so why didn't air. I think they are just finishing what they started whilst they are slowly rebuilding the area that has so much potential
 
Looks like that theming piece will be going on the lift hill, just after the track goes over the pathway. Plans also say that the station will have walls essentially hiding the train/track from the rest of the station, suggesting they will be making the currently mostly unused space on the platform floor into more of a show area?
 
+1 on the original concept with lots of waterfalls, streams and ponds. That's what I'd like to see.

I have no issue with screen's in queuelines, particularly the way Air's original cue had them overhead at certain points, as with Oblivion. Black Hole also had overhead screens but they were just showing MTV as BH never had a proper theme.

However, the preshow room on The Smiler is the most pointless thing I've ever seen. What a total waste of the budget. It serves no purpose to anything, as with the screens outside. Does anyone outside of the coaster nerd community even understand what the Marmaliser is supposed to be? Unlikely. Even to us, most of The Smiler's theming is just a random collection of junk.

Hex is the clear winner when it comes to preshow, but it's not a rollercoaster so doesn't count.

Oh and yeah, Merlin suck!
 
I have a really bad feeling that Smiler was just a test for the Oblivio queueline at Garda (even though you don't actually queue in it, but on the B&Q stairs instead)...

Imagine if that last cattlepen section was all indoors instead? Allowing for a similar Oblivio style queue?

I have some concerns about what concepts Merlin are considering bringing to the table on Air... It all points towards some random connection that will be extremely pointless at the end of the day and not actually add anything to the ride experience...
 
The biggest question though - why?

This. I don't quite understand why Towers/Merlin are doing this to Air, although no doubt it is related to the fact that they feel they'll be able to make more money from retail/photo sales. By Towers standards Air is actually in pretty decent shape.

I suppose it is also linked to the new restaurant; they probably want the whole area to feel fresh. But what there is of Air is ok - the station still looks pretty cool, the landscaping is very settled and planting has grown well, the area generally feels clean and it is a very strong brand. The 50% off all Air merchandise does suggest a potential change of brand which I do think would be a shame.

Now I am all for improvements so am not complaining about additional theming to Air. However there are coasters in far worse state than Air is. Rita, The Smiler, Nemesis and to an extent Thirteen are all in need of work ahead of Air. Rita is a thematic mess and has no station. The Smiler looks horribly run down after a couple of years. Nemesis is fine track and lanscaping wise but the station is in a real state. All of these need money pumped in ahead of Air!

In terms of what they are doing to Air I do have concerns. I am not at all happy about a green screen photo point in the queue, I can only hope it is operated on an only use if you want to basis and those that don't want to can avoid waiting for it. They slow queues down no end. I have no doubts that you will be forced to pass through it though even if you don't want your photo taking. I also expect it to be a cheap 'box' building covered in vinyls for the exterior 'theme'.

Enclosing the station is an interesting one, the application talks about how it is currently exposed to the elements however Rita is more so! I actually quite like how Air's station is a bit open, but I hope that with its enclosure comes more interior theming and maybe some more lighting effects.

Who knows what the two theming objects will turn out to be. I just hope they add to the current theme and are no sponsors boards or something. Proper theming please!

Final point - please don't destroy Air's brand Alton Towers! "Pepare for Air... assume the position... niow fly" etc are brilliant! The current Air theme also works well, so please just let this be enhancements.

:)
 
I think Air was always in line to receive some TLC in the near future. It's true that DF is in a much worse state, but Ripsaw has had work done, Blade has been removed from the line-up before being hastily reinstated and Sub-Terra has been altered - clearly the area is going through some changes, most likely related to SW8. I think the Air restaurant and station enhancements will give us our first glimpse at the 'new' Forbidden Valley.
 
On the subject of enclosing the Air station and adding the flaps to block out the light. I can see the projectors from The Smiler's pre-show room being used in the Air station (two on each side). With The Smilers future being unknown at the moment and there being a possible re-theme if it does re-open, it would make sense they're moving the equipment to Air instead of it sitting unused in X-Sector.
 
The photo point in the middle of the queue on Universal Studios escape from gringotts is annoying, luckily they do have multiple photo booths so doesn't hold queue too much, but would flow much better without it.
 
Would be better if the photo point was outside the ride, next or near to the entrance (they have the space for it). It wouldn't slow down the queue and they can still have upselling going on at the same time.
 
Would be better if the photo point was outside the ride, next or near to the entrance (they have the space for it). It wouldn't slow down the queue and they can still have upselling going on at the same time.
They want to force you through it though, that's the whole point of doing it like this. You definitely won't buy a photo if you never have one taken, you might buy one if it's already been taken, you see it and you like it. Chance of making a sale is more important than guest experience, that's the Merlin way.
 
They want to force you through it though, that's the whole point of doing it like this. You definitely won't buy a photo if you never have one taken, you might buy one if it's already been taken, you see it and you like it. Chance of making a sale is more important than guest experience, that's the Merlin way.

Oh yes I know that. I was getting at more of having it right next to the entrance and staff coming up to your face, and pretty much dragging you into having a photo taken. A bit like how Towers Street sales staff were a few years ago. They wouldn't benefit as much as they would forcing every guest to have a photo taken, but it would help with the ride queueline having a backlog of guests, and keep people less frustrated in the queue. I perfectly understand the purpose of it, I've been through enough of these things to know that it's a money spinner. :p

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The main problem with these photo points though is that they stay forced on guests for one season at most, then the following years most people skip it or even the park sets up a diversion in the queue for it. Sharkbait Reef and Ice Age are prime examples of this, first years both opened every guest had a photo taken, the years after you get the odd one or two people who bother with it, and staff are more relaxed about letting people skip it. It's such a waste of money to install when a few years down the line it's hardly used.
 
Personally, I think it would be better to have the booth on towers Street and have a selection of possible photos, and create new ones every season.
 
Personally, I think it would be better to have the booth on towers Street and have a selection of possible photos, and create new ones every season.

They had so,etching similar in Mutiny Bay and closed it in favour of a Lego store.

Done right early in the queue line, it won't slow the queue as people move along and catch back up, like a queue line store. But at the fasttrack merge point?!? That is a bottleneck to start with. And do you merge first or after and when do they send you to left or right queue.
 
Also what I don't get is why after the merge point (green screen booth) there are 3 queue lines. At the moment, there are only 2, so why do they need another?
 
I really hope they will sort the single rider queue situation out because at the minute it's dire..
 
From the plans, Fast Track now goes directly into the right hand station, so there is a third dedicated fastrack line out of the merge point. It also appears to replace the single rider queue.
 
Also what I don't get is why after the merge point (green screen booth) there are 3 queue lines. At the moment, there are only 2, so why do they need another?

There are three currently, but single rider bypasses the merge and then continues to right hand station.
 
Unless they use the third queue as fastrack and single riders. I have seen this done before but can't remember where, think it could have actually been air but really not sure, correct me if I'm wrong.
 
I think the reason air is getting some changes is because of the way Merlin operates budgets. This will all have come from the project to install the new restaurant.

Also they have removed the staff room building next to the Air access gate that goes in the direction of the hotels.....
 
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