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The World of David Walliams: General Discussion

Altonadvocate1 said:
They need to be looking to beat Valhalla (the only ride at PBB of which AT need be envious (with the possible exception of the Grand National)).

Whether they use the CATCF building as part of the course or not, Valhalla needs to be the yardstick in terms of epicness to make it worthwhile.
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I'm not sure I agree with this.
Whilst it would be fantastic to get a Valhalla type ryde at AT. Charlie/Toyland aren't really water rides. They're dark rides with a boat transport system. They are more comparable with River Caves and Wallace and Gromit at BPB than Valhalla, which is a log flume with Dark Ride elements.

If I were in charge of come up with a new theme for the whole area, nothing too 'out there', I've suggested Wild West elsewhere on this forum but there's plenty they could do, and create 4/5 well themed rides that fit in well. This could keep the transport system in place, and the Merlin Magic folk can create some nice animatronic scenes. Like a classic dark ride. Over the top silly coyboy shoot-outs with water jets coming from the guns and going over riders etc.

The park does need a new water ride (probably one than can be somewhat scaled back if it's a cold day ala River Rapids/Ripsaw), but I'm not sure turning Charlie into it is the correct move.
 
I think SW9 needs to be a new log flume of epic proportions as part of a new area to the park (if possible?). But back on terms of CCL I don't see why charlie can't be some sort of London dungeons style ride. Maybe not as long but with the right investment into live actors it could be done well. I think just a respray and releasing the same rides / cinema with a do up isn't enough to get people back through the door.
 
There is no way Merlin will tie themselves into a ride needing lots of staffing at a theme park site, unless the could monetise the offering like Scarefest.
Animatronics like Pirates ofmthe Caribbean would be great... but I think they would try and get away with too few.
Whatever goes into Charlie, I think it will be reliant on screens and projections, because they offer the biggest bank for the buck.
 
I think a well themed, dual loading steel wild mouse would fit perfectly at Alton Towers.

I'm not saying it would be my #1 choice, but it would be far from my last.

I'm still certain 2019 will see a Cloud Cuckoo Land makeover.

I was half expecting it to be closed next year but given gate figures are slowly rising, they need the ride capacity.

It should remain open till the end of next season, they can crack on with work to Charlie well in advance and get the rest of the area done over winter.

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I've refined my original ideas on CCL.
For me, I'd love them to turn CCL in to an area with the ideals that Keith Sparks and John Wardley had for the Transylvania, which shouldn't be too hard for Towers; an area that in itself has its own backstory, and the rides work around the area rather than the other way around. I think if there was an area themed around a Tudor Town/Late medieval Town, it would be a great opportunity to recreate Tudor Staffordshire and have old inns and the like to explore, and a river running through the area , and the entrance to the area being a bridge(think of what Bourton on the Water looks like and blend it with Stratford upon Avon) but it'd also be great if the ride entrances, including the entrance of the 'star attraction', would be a Building within the area. A mack watercoaster, at a riverside wharf in the area would be fitting. The queueline and entrance would lead out on to the wharf, where boarding would take place. There would be a short cruise down the river towards the woodland at the edge of the park before going in to a tunnel next to a water mill. The machinary attached to the mill could give the appearance of turning a mechanism that would lift the boat in the same way as the intamin Divertical ride around 30 foot to the top of the mill building. There would then have to be a hole dug around the area where the boat/car would leave the building in a tunneled chute and plunge down below. There could then be a mystical indoor segment full of creatures from Tudor folklore. The boat/car would then go towards the dark forest section at the edge of the previous CCL area and begin a chainlift again, as if entering a gothic church with bat and churchbell sound effects. The building could be up to 70 foot tall at the treeline where an even more forceful drop could occur in the dark with an airtime segment at the end, before going back up a bit, and the track would steeply turn back in the direction of the main themed area, perhaps to a block brake segment. There would then be another couple of sound tunneled (with red and green lighting) drops before going up one final chainlift hill to the left of where the Skyride is. The drop would be 100 degrees, and go outdoors for the first time and land in the river area at the entrance to the town. The boat would go underneath the main bridge and towards the wharf where the ride started.
Other ride ideas for the CCL rethemed area:
-Stables where a steeple chase ride is, encompassing the top segment of the area
-Sewers underneath the river, where a small indoor bobsleigh coaster could be. If a big hole is made in to the area before construction was to begin, I'd imagine a 40 foot drop with twists and turns could be possible
-Twirling toadstool keeps its theme, and is in a manorhouse garden like area.
Building ideas:
-Tavern which could sell beverages and hot meals
-Museum like building(s) showing what life was like back then for nobles and peasants, including a Manorhouse
-A large statue of George Talbot (4th earl) who was owner of the Towers in the Tudor period
-An outdoor food stand with a small picnic area next to where Twirling Toadstall is
Ahhhh the costs for this would be crazy, and I'd even prefer it if the buildings were designed in the same way as historically made, with the thatched roofing and all,but it would sure make Alton Towers able to compete with the better themed European parks a lot more, but so much investment would be needed, and the area would have to be heavily marketed to appeal to the Public I'm sure, but I feel that the CCL area is rather expanse, yet with a lack of actual rides and attractions, so this would do the area proper justice.
 
Sauron97 said:
I've refined my original ideas on CCL.
For me, I'd love them to turn CCL in to an area with the ideals that Keith Sparks and John Wardley had for the Transylvania, which shouldn't be too hard for Towers; an area that in itself has its own backstory, and the rides work around the area rather than the other way around. I think if there was an area themed around a Tudor Town/Late medieval Town, it would be a great opportunity to recreate Tudor Staffordshire and have old inns and the like to explore, and a river running through the area , and the entrance to the area being a bridge(think of what Bourton on the Water looks like and blend it with Stratford upon Avon) but it'd also be great if the ride entrances, including the entrance of the 'star attraction', would be a Building within the area. A mack watercoaster, at a riverside wharf in the area would be fitting. The queueline and entrance would lead out on to the wharf, where boarding would take place. There would be a short cruise down the river towards the woodland at the edge of the park before going in to a tunnel next to a water mill. The machinary attached to the mill could give the appearance of turning a mechanism that would lift the boat in the same way as the intamin Divertical ride around 30 foot to the top of the mill building. There would then have to be a hole dug around the area where the boat/car would leave the building in a tunneled chute and plunge down below. There could then be a mystical indoor segment full of creatures from Tudor folklore. The boat/car would then go towards the dark forest section at the edge of the previous CCL area and begin a chainlift again, as if entering a gothic church with bat and churchbell sound effects. The building could be up to 70 foot tall at the treeline where an even more forceful drop could occur in the dark with an airtime segment at the end, before going back up a bit, and the track would steeply turn back in the direction of the main themed area, perhaps to a block brake segment. There would then be another couple of sound tunneled (with red and green lighting) drops before going up one final chainlift hill to the left of where the Skyride is. The drop would be 100 degrees, and go outdoors for the first time and land in the river area at the entrance to the town. The boat would go underneath the main bridge and towards the wharf where the ride started.
Other ride ideas for the CCL rethemed area:
-Stables where a steeple chase ride is, encompassing the top segment of the area
-Sewers underneath the river, where a small indoor bobsleigh coaster could be. If a big hole is made in to the area before construction was to begin, I'd imagine a 40 foot drop with twists and turns could be possible
-Twirling toadstool keeps its theme, and is in a manorhouse garden like area.
Building ideas:
-Tavern which could sell beverages and hot meals
-Museum like building(s) showing what life was like back then for nobles and peasants, including a Manorhouse
-A large statue of George Talbot (4th earl) who was owner of the Towers in the Tudor period
-An outdoor food stand with a small picnic area next to where Twirling Toadstall is
Ahhhh the costs for this would be crazy, and I'd even prefer it if the buildings were designed in the same way as historically made, with the thatched roofing and all,but it would sure make Alton Towers able to compete with the better themed European parks a lot more, but so much investment would be needed, and the area would have to be heavily marketed to appeal to the Public I'm sure, but I feel that the CCL area is rather expanse, yet with a lack of actual rides and attractions, so this would do the area proper justice.
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I think that's a great idea I really think they should put more emphasis on building rides that tell British tales and stories just like Hex. I think something else Merlin should look into is using their own name to create an area. Why not put a Merlin and King Arthur area into the Cloud Cuckoo land and back of house areas at thier biggest Uk resort. I think something like this could work really well at Alton whatever they build it should be focussed on British stories. If they where to build an IP Shrek wouldnt be too bad.
 
I personally think it would actually be OK if Merlin just majorly revamped the area, because I do quite like the initial premise of CCL (pre-Ice Age) what with the whole fantasy/wonderland type vibe. Merlin, if you're reading this, you don't need to do a full retheme, just revamp the area at least back to its 2009 standard and add a couple of new family rides including a retheme of CATCF and a ride to replace Toadstool if it doesn't reopen in 2018. Also, they could reopen the Ice Age theatre and put a CCL-themed 4D film in there.
 
Matt N said:
I personally think it would actually be OK if Merlin just majorly revamped the area, because I do quite like the initial premise of CCL (pre-Ice Age) what with the whole fantasy/wonderland type vibe. Merlin, if you're reading this, you don't need to do a full retheme, just revamp the area at least back to its 2009 standard and add a couple of new family rides including a retheme of CATCF and a ride to replace Toadstool if it doesn't reopen in 2018. Also, they could reopen the Ice Age theatre and put a CCL-themed 4D film in there.
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I would prefer them to simply get rid of CATCF altogether. To me, it just doesn't deliver on what could be an amazing concept. CCL is a large area that, in my opinion, does not live up to it's potential, with the exception being Twirling Toadstool and the area music (which I admit is really good). I agree with you that a fantasy/wonderland undertone is great for the park, and I would definitely encourage this, but I think with the right investment, the area could become outstanding, which, I believe is necessary if Alton Towers wants the same kind of overall visitor experience as some of the European theme parks.
 
I know I'm going to draw yet another comparison to the land of Roland as so many on this forum have done before, but I personally think that Alton should revamp CCL to something like Kingdom of the Minimoys (I think that's what it's called. If it's not could someone tell me.) at Europa Park. Of course not indoors, but I more mean an area with a fantasy-ish vibe and some nice family rides. I think they could put a kiddie drop tower where Toadstool or Gallopers currently is and they could retheme the CATCF ride system to a relaxing boat ride through CCL. Or, in a dream world, they could gut the CATCF building and put in a nice Mack Suspended Powered Coaster a la Arthur. And while we're in dream world, why couldn't they even add a nice mid-ground family coaster (Mack YoungStar?) and some family flats on the fabled Coaster Corner? I'm only drawing comparisons to Arthur because it looks like a really good area from having not ever visited. I personally think that CCL started out as quite a nice area for the budget they spent on it and was an excellent starting base for Merlin to expand upon. Then, in 2012, Ice Age came along and wrecked most of the area's immersion. After that, I sort of think that the closures in 2016 and 2017 put some additional nails in the area's coffin. I think all that we will see happen to the area now is it getting put out of its misery (in its current form) after the 2018 season and it getting either rethemed or overhauled for 2019. I would prefer the overhaul option, but I think Merlin will go with the retheme option as it's much more marketable in their eyes, especially if there's an IP involved. Also, I agree with @Sauron97 about the area's music. It's a great score for the area.

P.S. Sorry about the long post. Also, I guess that on the positive side, the current configuration of CCL is sort of immersive again!
 
I think everyone would like an Wild Asia and Mutiny Bay retheme of Cloud Cuckoo Land but I think we're at a point with Merlin where they simply can't be bothered if it's not a large investment or IP related, Shame that as Merlin did some really nice non IP themed areas as mentioned when they first took over the parks.

As much I would like to see it happen, It's too optimistic...
 
Sorry for double posting, but I would just like to ask some of the enthusiasts who have been visiting Alton for longer; Is CCL in its current state worse than Cred Street was before it closed?
 
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