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Area retheme ideas

I’ve read this place for a while but never dared create an account to actually post till yesterday but here’s my take on what I would like to see. I’m not a devote enthusiast like some people here so my take will probably fit somewhere between most peoples views and the non enthusiasts.

Forbidden valley: This for me is the most complete area now, but it really needs something for the under 1.4s to do. Blade did partially fill that void but that is gone now. The area needs something to replace that and maybe another flat for the smaller family members to be occupied in that area. It is quite a way to walk and if you have kids there is nothing at all for them to do other than pose in front of the Nemesis eye for a photoshoot. Galactica really does stick out and needs to be brought up to the same standard as Nemesis and Toxicator and also themed to more fit in with that area.

Gloomy wood: It needs something else there, curse of Alton is great but now that the skyride is back open I can see less reason to walk along there and go on it. Theming is very good in that area though.

Katanga area: crying out for a log flume! Doesn’t need to be as big as the previous one and I’m sure they could fit one there somehow with decent capacity.

CBeebies area: I’m not going to sugar coat this, but it’s a bit **** really. The animatronics on the night garden boat ride are terrible, also that ride takes up lots of space and is too long for what it is. Justin’s house needs a rethink as well. Hopefully the new Bluey coaster will spark a bit of investment around it as the area looks a bit tired overall.

Mutiny Bay: I love this area but a decent themed pirate ship next to Battle Galleons would be good and ease off load on spinball. Currently what happens is people walk in and spinball is the first biggish ride they see so it ends up with huge queues, an imposing pirate ship next to battle galleons might tempt people to split off and ease queues elsewhere.

Spinball area: move the ride photos and get in a twister flat or something to help ease queues.

X Sector: pretty well documented this area needs a refresh and theming to be brought up to the standard of forbidden valley. A thrill flat and a family flat needed in this area, again nothing for the younger ones here and would ease pressure on the smiler.

Towers, WoDW and Dark Forest: merge into one big area, progressing the theme from the ruins into the dark forest encroaching it with WoDW area looking more like old England to compliment the towers. Project horizon could help gel this all together. Get rid of the ug land stalls in dark forest and open it out to get a few family flats in there. Get the boat ride rethemed and reopened in the dungeons to add a bit more capacity to the area and reroute Rita’s queue line to go behind the skyride area.

Monorail: every time I see it it just looks stuck in the nineties, now that skyride is complete perhaps give this a big overhaul.
 
Putting aside the fact that the ride has been recently revamped, I'd turn Gloomy Wood into Snowy Wood. The Curse at Alton Manor facade would be turned into a Christmas mansion, and the showbuilding would be used for a festive ride. You'd start out in a winter village, going in and out of the decorated houses. Then, you'd go through the snowy countryside, in scenes reminiscent of the early parts of The Snowman, with native animals - hares, deer, foxes etc - running in and out of the woods. You'd then take off and fly through the night sky, over land and sea, all the way to the North Pole, where there'd be animatronic reindeer, snowmen and polar bears. Finally, you go through the elf workshops and see Father Christmas preparing for the night ahead.

If there was room in the rest of the area, I'd also put in a reindeer-themed Pony Trek. Although it'd be this theme all year round, this would make Alton at Christmas the must-attend event of the season.
 
East Coast Mariner said:
Putting aside the fact that the ride has been recently revamped, I'd turn Gloomy Wood into Snowy Wood. The Curse at Alton Manor facade would be turned into a Christmas mansion, and the showbuilding would be used for a festive ride. You'd start out in a winter village, going in and out of the decorated houses. Then, you'd go through the snowy countryside, in scenes reminiscent of the early parts of The Snowman, with native animals - hares, deer, foxes etc - running in and out of the woods. You'd then take off and fly through the night sky, over land and sea, all the way to the North Pole, where there'd be animatronic reindeer, snowmen and polar bears. Finally, you go through the elf workshops and see Father Christmas preparing for the night ahead.

If there was room in the rest of the area, I'd also put in a reindeer-themed Pony Trek. Although it'd be this theme all year round, this would make Alton at Christmas the must-attend event of the season.
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Sounds like that would be a nice idea for a Christmas event, though would be a lot of effort for a few weeks ha!
 
1. Dark Forest: Change to Legends Grove and really lean into the Gardens and Towers backdrop for easier theming - it would be very fitting for the location and soften the current themes - a garden/courtyard of legends. Incorporate Hex, Thirteen, and further legend themes with a launch coaster replacement for Rita and supporting rides.

2. World of David Walliams: Change to Discovery Road/Avenue/Mews - Redevelop the street, as Talbot Street once was - more kinetic with a lot more to do/look at - again, in keeping with the Towers backdrop, with three family adventures (re-themed Gangsta Granny, re-themed Dungeon and new Horizon), supported by a walkthrough adventure, Theatre adventure and family flat rides.

But that's only worth it, if these critical enhancements are made elsewhere:

3. New Monorail trains.
4. Rebuilt toilets, eateries, shops, and revised infrastructure.
5. Enhanced maintenance programme for aging hardware.
6. Support rides added in X Sector, Adventureland & Blade site.
6. A high capacity water ride with a long ride time - modern flume or water coaster.
7. Additional non-rider experiences in areas and along pathways.

And all of that either needs a new owner with serious investment, or a massive (and unlikely) cash injection from Merlin. It's baffling that the above is not already how the park is, 25 years after the 90s heavy-investment programme.
 
dumbdumb said:
1. Dark Forest: Change to Legends Grove and really lean into the Gardens and Towers backdrop for easier theming - it would be very fitting for the location and soften the current themes - a garden/courtyard of legends. Incorporate Hex, Thirteen, and further legend themes with a launch coaster replacement for Rita and supporting rides.

2. World of David Walliams: Change to Discovery Road/Avenue/Mews - Redevelop the street, as Talbot Street once was - more kinetic with a lot more to do/look at - again, in keeping with the Towers backdrop, with three family adventures (re-themed Gangsta Granny, re-themed Dungeon and new Horizon), supported by a walkthrough adventure, Theatre adventure and family flat rides.

But that's only worth it, if these critical enhancements are made elsewhere:

3. New Monorail trains.
4. Rebuilt toilets, eateries, shops, and revised infrastructure.
5. Enhanced maintenance programme for aging hardware.
6. Support rides added in X Sector, Adventureland & Blade site.
6. A high capacity water ride with a long ride time - modern flume or water coaster.
7. Additional non-rider experiences in areas and along pathways.

And all of that either needs a new owner with serious investment, or a massive (and unlikely) cash injection from Merlin. It's baffling that the above is not already how the park is, 25 years after the 90s heavy-investment programme.
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Love those ideas!
 
spotweld said:
When does TWODW licence expire again?
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We don't know, it was installed in 2020, it could be 5 years (expiring 2025), 10 (2030), etc

If I was guessing, they invested quite a bit in a new dark ride, and a land, so I would guess it would be a longer term deal (like 10 years) with options to extend.

they could also end it early, given the controversies, and give the land a retheme with project horizon, however there may be penalties
 
flyingguitar said:
We don't know, it was installed in 2020, it could be 5 years (expiring 2025), 10 (2030), etc

If I was guessing, they invested quite a bit in a new dark ride, and a land, so I would guess it would be a longer term deal (like 10 years) with options to extend.

they could also end it early, given the controversies, and give the land a retheme with project horizon, however there may be penalties
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This year seems the most logical if Project Horizon breaks ground next year.
 
Ok, so I’ve given some thought on what I’d like TWODW and the wider area to be developed into. My overall theme plays on the Port Discovery ideology which I’m led to believe the park still owns the rights to, whilst also building on this beyond the name and creating an area that truly suits all ages. Some of these ideas may be naff, it’s all just a bit of fun though.

The overall area would be called Pioneer Heights, with a steampunk and other-worldly explorer theming overlay to tie in the wider area, which would encompass Project Horizon and the mothballed Dungeons building. I haven’t thought about F&B or retail, but there are obviously several unused buildings that can be used to expand the current offering.

Headline Attraction: 1.2m indoor coaster aka Project Horizon, named Icarus. A thrilling indoor coaster themed around space exploration with the final drop involving a signature theming piece that makes you feel like you’re colliding with a sun.

Major Supporting Dark Ride: An indoor boat ride in the former Dungeons building, named Port Discovery. A height restriction free boat ride taking you on a tour of a mystical port onboard Sir Algenon’s ship.

Outdoor Flat, named Chairorama. A wave swinger themed up with steampunk decor allowing you to take flight and circle around Pioneer Heights, taking in the sights and sounds.

Minor Indoor Dark Ride (GG retheme), named The Jailhouse. Every land of adventure attracts its miscreants. Come and take a ride through The Jailhouse as you listen and watch their hilarious tales.

Indoor Theatre Attraction: The Adventures of Sir Algenon. A 4D experience fit for the modern age. Sit back and awe at the spectacle while Sir Algenon regales his tales of his wildest adventures.

Outdoor Flat, named The Inventor’s Carousel: a standard carousel attraction replacing the driving school, featuring various mad inventions as ride cars.

Indoor Play Area: The Pioneer’s Fun House. Soft play area themed around the misfortune of a crashed air balloon as the centre piece theming element.



As I said, just a bit of fun but perhaps not beyond the realms of impossible.
 
I would make TWODW into a generic area with multiple different themes the area was at its best during Land of Make Believe, Cred Street and Cloud Cuckoo Land not really a cohesive theme but each attraction was very different
 
I'm sorry to say that I don't know enough about budgeting to make this realistic but replace WODW with Toy Land and do a new version of Toyland Tours. I just feel like large toys make for appealing theming.
 
The park desperately needs some flat rides in X Sector and Dark Forest, but without the gimmick that Toxicator has under the concrete platform soaking people walking by. Strange choice in my opinion.

Another dark ride, or log flume, or both, would be very beneficial and certainly help with capacity. This would also give anyone under 1.4m a bit more to do. I think a lot of people would love to see a flume back at the park!

Towers Street could do with being freshened up. It is looking very old in places. My last trip I noticed paint and wood work peeling off the side of some of the buildings.

I have seen it mentioned in another forum but the gardens need immediate attention.

Do they still offer guided tours through the ruins? Perhaps that could help generate some extra funding, and give people an idea of the history behind the Towers. Again a great thing for anything too small or just not interested in the rides!
 
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