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The World of David Walliams: General Discussion

Poisson said:
I'd rather they flattened everything except Charlie building and started again.
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To be honest, I agree.

I think something akin to the coming Minecraft land at Chessington, which has completely flattened Wild Asia, would be a good thing for that area at this point. As much as Gangsta Granny is fun enough, it’s years since anything genuinely attention grabbing was built in that part of the park, and the buildings up there are so old that I almost wonder if demolishing it all and starting again might be a good idea.
 
It may actually just be better closing the area off completely. I could see them doing it as part of the whole cost cutting by Merlin. Move the Carousel somewhere else, maybe near CBBs land.
 
Quantum said:
Move the Carousel somewhere else, maybe near CBBs land.
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I mean it wouldn’t hurt moving the ride to Fountain Square nearer to Hex
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Should have been a Minecraft retheme back when it was rumoured and before it was announced for Chessington. Said it at the time and stand by it to this day.

If World of David Walliams was to go then they'd need another IP / Original themed land to fill in the age gap of cbeebies and the thrill areas of the park.

Project Horizon could have been a Minecraft coaster. Gangster granny changed into a Minecraft dark ride and the 4D cinema reopened with a film around the Minecraft Movie.

Think that would have been a much better decision than sending it to Chessington personally.
 
Hid said:
I would say it needs a retheme but try and keep and use the buildings quite like the shape of the buildings next to each other just require a different coat of paint and more detail
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The problem is these buildings have repeatedly been painted over and over wit each retheme and the insides are for the most part pretty much unusable for attractions anymore. They really need to demolish and start again.
Dave said:
Wouldn’t shock me if they de-IP’d the area and closed Gangsta granny (all the other rides could be quickly made generic.

Wait and see I guess.
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Gangsta Granny could easily be made pretty generic. They’d need to redo some of the audio and Walliams specific characters but a Crown Jewels heist is generic.
 
AltonLover123 said:
Gangsta Granny could easily be made pretty generic. They’d need to redo some of the audio and Walliams specific characters but a Crown Jewels heist is generic.
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I suspect this will be the cheapest option and probably most likely to happen. However it will stand out like a sore thumb when the rest of the area is left to rot.

Dark Forest and WODW need major rethinks over the next 6 years.
 
In a (my) perfect world, what I'd like to see is:
  • Merlin begin crisis talks with the publisher about dropping the name/closing the IP rides, getting out of the contract early (if still in contract of course)
  • Internal planning and development talks start/resurrected about Project Horizon (with possible expansion to include TWODW if that wasn't already planned)
  • [Emergency] funds given to start and develop PH (if funds haven't already been allocated of course)
  • By opening day 2026, the carousel and the mini drop tower thing moved to Fountain Square and rethemed as required. Hoarding put up blocking off sight and access to TWODW at its entrance and on the side of Cuckoo Cars that face it
  • Development of PH starts next year
  • Opens in 2027 or 2028.
They're doing whole lands at Chessington with Paw Patrol and Minecraft both with multiple rides and attractions over the next couple of years, so its not impossible to think they couldn't do the same with this area and develop more attractions in the area other than just PH.
 
Last edited:
Latest headline "BBC cuts ties with Walliams following Telegraph investigation" - Full article

Shows that his brand is quickly becoming toxic. If I were towers I'd do as @Fammy suggested. Close the entire area off, move the carousel, and quicky rebrand the driving school.

Use the next 2 years to completly refurbish the area, add new attractions and give it the love it needs. With the addition of the new bluey ride this year (RIP Pat & Jess) kids are catered for. You could possibly even move the carousel to the end of towers street? And completely close that section off. If more attractions are needed then maybe add a few small child flat rides about towers street or fountain square with some generic happy theme? Then re-purpose them for a new big land at the back of the park in a few years with a new big ride or two and a retheme of granny?
 
SuperMuscleMan said:
Latest headline "BBC cuts ties with Walliams following Telegraph investigation" - Full article

Shows that his brand is quickly becoming toxic. If I were towers I'd do as @Fammy suggested. Close the entire area off, move the carousel, and quicky rebrand the driving school.

Use the next 2 years to completly refurbish the area, add new attractions and give it the love it needs. With the addition of the new bluey ride this year (RIP Pat & Jess) kids are catered for. You could possibly even move the carousel to the end of towers street? And completely close that section off. If more attractions are needed then maybe add a few small child flat rides about towers street or fountain square with some generic happy theme? Then re-purpose them for a new big land at the back of the park in a few years with a new big ride or two and a retheme of granny?
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If you read the full article it's not quite as scandalous as the headline.

The BBC have confirmed that they have no plans to work with Walliams in the future, or adapt any more of his books.

Planned and scheduled screenings of material which has already been adapted will go ahead, they will also remain on iPlayer.

It's a softly, softly quiet quitting, or "dropping" if you like. At least for now.

I could see Gangsta Granny remaining open next season, with a quiet drop of the area's name, as plans are quietly expedited for replacement.
 
At this point, I would bulldoze the whole lot and make it the park’s next major investment area rather than doing a short term sticking plaster solution. The area could do with bigger investment after years of sticking plasters, I feel.

As such, I’d advocate any replacement for Walliams being a longer-term plan rather than a short-term switch.
 
GooseOnTheLoose said:
I could see Gangsta Granny remaining open next season, with a quiet drop of the area's name, as plans are quietly expedited for replacement.
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Thing is, it would likely require them to go back to Harper Collins to remove any mention of David Walliams from the area. His likeness is in the queue line for Gangsta Granny, and is the narrator within the ride. Any changes would need to be signed off, they could get Simon Allen’s company to re-record the audio perhaps, but then they’d need to spend the money on making changes for one season only.

I can’t see Gangsta Granny getting the IP dropped in favour of a Jewel Heist as that would require the screen content to be re-produced, and making new screen content isn’t a do it cheaply, and in a week scenario. They didn’t bother making any changes when the Queen died, just as a reference.
 
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