Galactica's Future

[Kraken27]

I wouldn't be so sure. The parks in the rest of the world are much cheaper.

Universal Osaka, Singapore and Beijing are all between £40-55 for a day ticket.

Don't forget that:

- Mid June is peak in the US as it's already summer holidays for many.
- The US parks, particularly Orlando, operate on a multi-day model so tickets bought that way are far cheaper than what you've paid.

I think Universal are treating EPIC differently - certainly in it's first few months. If you have a 2 or 3 park UOAP, you can only buy one single day ticket per Annual Pass for EPIC. Other forums are suggesting that even with a 14 Day Explorer ticket for 2 or 3 Universal parks, you will only be able to visit EPIC once.

I agree with your comment about multi-day tickets being popular with overseas visitors (as they give very good value). However the majority of guests visiting Orlando are from the USA. Americans get very little annual leave compared to us, so a 3 or 4 day break to Orlando would be quite normal for them. If they want to do Disney, SeaWorld & Universal, they will be buying single day tickets & maybe one two day one. I remember chatting to an American lady & her husband in the Watering Hole at IoA a few years back & we got the obvious "where are you from & how long are you here?" When we said the UK & in town for 18nights her face was a picture. She said she had to beg her boss for 3 days annual leave to be tagged onto a weekend.

 

[MaxPower]

Going back to Galactica, I was listening to this interview with John Wardley who mentions that he's been consulted by the other John about possible Galactica retheme ideas.



This interview was from 6 months ago, so I'd assume that the intention was to have it implemented next year but budget cuts have kiboshed that idea for now.

 

[Imagination]

I just really hope this won't be butchered and executed poorly but instead, not shelved, just popped on the back burner for a season or fifteen.

 

[Trooper Looper]

Firstly, sorry for bringing this thread back from the dead. Anywho...

Knowing the current state of Merlin, I actually do hope it's shelved. Outside of the Enthusiast fan-circle, is there even a demand for a retheme? Guests generally prefer the more light hearted themes from my own experience at Towers, and I think that's why Galactica/air seems to be really popular to guests, with the flying element as well helping with it's popularity. What the ride desperately needs at the moment personally is a massive technical refurbishment for better reliability. We've seen how unreliable it can be for the last few years, and I'm not surprised with it's prototype system.

And personally, I'd take what John has said with a grain of salt. I remember seeing a blog of the BTS tour with Vampire, and someone asked him what he thought of the Gruffalo, and he said he really liked it and thought it was a good replacement for Bubbleworks. Remember, he never rode the Imperial Leather version, so to him, he's most likely comparing the original 1990 version to the Gruffalo.

It's quite obvious that since Curse, he's been made to sign an NDA, not that theres anything inherently wrong with that. Before that, I remember in numerous events and videos he always liked to prod Merlin a little, but since Curse, it's been quite the opposite, seemingly praising Merlin at every opportunity. Maybe it's just me, but it's something I've definitely noticed.

 

[GooseOnTheLoose]

It's quite obvious that since Curse, he's been made to sign an NDA,

That's not how Non-Disclosure Agreements work. An NDA prevents you from discussing something specific, from disclosing privileged information. It's not a blanket ban on being able to speak negatively about a contractual partner.

Anti-Defamation of a contractual partner is a common contractual clause, but again it would have to cover specific behaviour and couldn't be blanket. Contracts also have to have time limits, and are only in effect for a specified length of time.

John is not an employee of Merlin. He's possibly been paid for some consultancy work recently, but that agreement is unlikely to have an indefinite Anti-Defamation contract clause. It might have one covering the length of the project. Even then, you can't put invalidating or restricting clauses, into a contract, that are deemed unfair or unreasonable.

Aside from all of this, there wouldn't be much of an incentive for Wardley to agree to a contract "muzzling" him.

It could just be that he genuinely believes what he's saying. I don't think there's a conspiracy of silence here.

 

[Matt N]

I actually agree with @Trooper Looper on this one.

I wouldn’t like to speculate on whether or not John was forced to sign anything, as we don’t know that and will likely never know that, but it makes sense that John is going to be slightly nicer to Merlin when he’s in their employ. “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you” and all that!

With John being employed by Merlin for some recent consultancy work, he’s naturally going to walk the line a little with regard to word on the future. And that’s fine; it makes sense to not admonish your employer!

 

[jon81uk]

Knowing the current state of Merlin, I actually do hope it's shelved. Outside of the Enthusiast fan-circle, is there even a demand for a retheme? Guests generally prefer the more light hearted themes from my own experience at Towers, and I think that's why Galactica/air seems to be really popular to guests, with the flying element as well helping with it's popularity. What the ride desperately needs at the moment personally is a massive technical refurbishment for better reliability. We've seen how unreliable it can be for the last few years, and I'm not surprised with it's prototype system.

I just want the silly plywood removed from the bridge and anything else redundant from the Galactica stuff. Remove projection screens if not projecting onto them etc. Basically restore it closer to Air.

 

[GooseOnTheLoose]

I actually agree with @Trooper Looper on this one.

I wouldn’t like to speculate on whether or not John was forced to sign anything, as we don’t know that and will likely never know that, but it makes sense that John is going to be slightly nicer to Merlin when he’s in their employ. “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you” and all that!

With John being employed by Merlin for some recent consultancy work, he’s naturally going to walk the line a little with regard to word on the future. And that’s fine; it makes sense to not admonish your employer!

He isn't and wasn't employed though. He was a contracted consultant, which is a very different thing. He's been a contracted consultant, and not employed, by Merlin throughout its existence and has never been shy of handing out criticism where due.

 

[DistortAMG]

Firstly, sorry for bringing this thread back from the dead. Anywho...

Knowing the current state of Merlin, I actually do hope it's shelved. Outside of the Enthusiast fan-circle, is there even a demand for a retheme? Guests generally prefer the more light hearted themes from my own experience at Towers, and I think that's why Galactica/air seems to be really popular to guests, with the flying element as well helping with it's popularity. What the ride desperately needs at the moment personally is a massive technical refurbishment for better reliability. We've seen how unreliable it can be for the last few years, and I'm not surprised with it's prototype system.

And personally, I'd take what John has said with a grain of salt. I remember seeing a blog of the BTS tour with Vampire, and someone asked him what he thought of the Gruffalo, and he said he really liked it and thought it was a good replacement for Bubbleworks. Remember, he never rode the Imperial Leather version, so to him, he's most likely comparing the original 1990 version to the Gruffalo.

It's quite obvious that since Curse, he's been made to sign an NDA, not that theres anything inherently wrong with that. Before that, I remember in numerous events and videos he always liked to prod Merlin a little, but since Curse, it's been quite the opposite, seemingly praising Merlin at every opportunity. Maybe it's just me, but it's something I've definitely noticed.

What is your basis for concluding that the ride seems to be really popular with guests? Do you have specific data or information, or is it based on usual rather long queue times.

The latter being an important factor because of mentioned technical difficulties meaning the ride is very often on severely reduced capacity, leading to longer queues.

I am not saying you are wrong. I am just curious as to how you concluded that.

 

[Trooper Looper]

What is your basis for concluding that the ride seems to be really popular with guests? Do you have specific data or information, or is it based on usual rather long queue times.

The latter being an important factor because of mentioned technical difficulties meaning the ride is very often on severely reduced capacity, leading to longer queues.

I am not saying you are wrong. I am just curious as to how you concluded that.

I've just always noticed whenever I've visited, the ride seems more popular to the GP, compared to Enthusiasts. I probably should've added the latter in earlier sorry. My bad.

As in how popular it is, I meant as in the theme and ride itself sorry. Not the wait times. I meant that the Galactica theme seems to appeal the GP more than it is to Enthusiasts.

Is it as popular as other rides like Wicker Man and Smiler? Heck no! And the reduced capacity is definitely the cause of longer queue times. I have seen people complain about how long the wait is for the ride, that seems to he a universal complaint.

Then again, it could vary as this is all from my own personal experience whenever I visit the park with friends and my family.

Sorry if the whole popularity bit on my previous post was vague.

 

[DiogoJ42]

As a freelancer in television, I've done plenty of gigs where the first interaction I have in the morning, is someone shoving an NDA in my face and saying "sign this now or go home". They are often so ridiculously broad in wording that all you are "allowed" to say is "I worked on this show".
.... Not that anyone cares. I think the only time people take them seriously is when it's some kind of royal event, and it's for security rather than "plot secrets".

 

[DistortAMG]

I've just always noticed whenever I've visited, the ride seems more popular to the GP, compared to Enthusiasts. I probably should've added the latter in earlier sorry. My bad.

As in how popular it is, I meant as in the theme and ride itself sorry. Not the wait times. I meant that the Galactica theme seems to appeal the GP more than it is to Enthusiasts.

Is it as popular as other rides like Wicker Man and Smiler? Heck no! And the reduced capacity is definitely the cause of longer queue times. I have seen people complain about how long the wait is for the ride, that seems to he a universal complaint.

Then again, it could vary as this is all from my own personal experience whenever I visit the park with friends and my family.

Sorry if the whole popularity bit on my previous post was vague.

No need to be sorry mate. I was just curious thats all...

 

[flyingguitar]

Knowing the current state of Merlin, I actually do hope it's shelved. Outside of the Enthusiast fan-circle, is there even a demand for a retheme? Guests generally prefer the more light hearted themes from my own experience at Towers, and I think that's why Galactica/air seems to be really popular to guests, with the flying element as well helping with it's popularity. What the ride desperately needs at the moment personally is a massive technical refurbishment for better reliability. We've seen how unreliable it can be for the last few years, and I'm not surprised with it's prototype system.

I've just always noticed whenever I've visited, the ride seems more popular to the GP, compared to Enthusiasts. I probably should've added the latter in earlier sorry. My bad.

As in how popular it is, I meant as in the theme and ride itself sorry. Not the wait times. I meant that the Galactica theme seems to appeal the GP more than it is to Enthusiasts.

Is it as popular as other rides like Wicker Man and Smiler? Heck no! And the reduced capacity is definitely the cause of longer queue times. I have seen people complain about how long the wait is for the ride, that seems to he a universal complaint.

Then again, it could vary as this is all from my own personal experience whenever I visit the park with friends and my family.

Sorry if the whole popularity bit on my previous post was vague.

I acctually really like the galactica theme as a concept, and I think it if expanded uppon it would be great

however I really do think it needs a retheme,
galactica was not a big retheme, it was done with minimal themeing as essentially they just closed in the station, added projectors, some stickers, VR and a portal. I would guess it was due to 2015. however I feel it sticks out due to the lack of quality and now with nemesis reborn and toxicator, two of the most heavily themed rides at the park, it stands out masivly without its VR, and I think it really needs some quality themeing

I would love for them to come in and add tons of theming to galactica to make it really nice looking, however I can't see that happening without a retheme unfortunately.

 

[Smiley]

Maybe John is a being paid as a "Brand Ambassador" behind the scenes.