Merlin Entertainments: General Discussion

[BennyBoy]

I always took the Jumanji movies as fun little family-action flicks, but I am shocked at the mileage Merlin is getting out if the IP.

Are they really that popular, or is this obsession another Merlin-ism?

Yeah they are quite big films, baring in mind Sony has done a trilogy on it and the cast of the films with the Rock/Jack Black etc.

It's a lot of dark rides on one IP though lol, as well what they have at the minute.

 

[Plastic Person]

There's another film in the series due this year, at Christmas. They have each performed very solidly at the international box office, although this new one will directly be up against The Avengers, so even with Marvel's general cinematic decline, I can't imagine it'll have an easy ride. Still, as long as Merlin can't access those very top-tier IPs, it'll work for them. Personally, I thought the Jumanji dark ride at Gardaland was deeply unconvincing, but the IP holder seems easily pleased with both that and the big styrofoam snakes decaying at Chessington.

 

[John_P]

They recently moved the Jumanji film from early December to an Xmas day release obviously trying to counter programme Dune and Doomsday which are still both currently due to release on the 18th.

Jumanji seems like a sort of beloved ip for the whole family and the announced Tussauds and two theme parks must have almost zero overlapping guests.

 

[Skyscraper]

4 Madame Tussauds sites (New York, Hollywood, Las Vegas and Sydney) are to open new Jumanji-themed dark rides in July this year.

Merlin Entertainments | Merlin Joins Forces With Sony Pictures Entertainment And Triotech To Bring The World Of Jumanji To Life At Madame Tussauds

www.merlinentertainments.biz

Interestingly it looks like the film will be able to be licensed by other operators of the dark ride system, so won't be unique to Merlin/Madame Tussauds.

Additionally, the Marvel 4D experience in London is closing next week, as per the official website. Could a Jumanji ride be added here?

Here is the product page for those who are interested;

XD Dark Ride Motion Simulator | Interactive Attractions | Triotech

Triotech's XD Dark Ride is a 3D motion simulator theatre designed to provide a multisensory interactive group experience for amusement parks. Learn more!

www.trio-tech.com

 

[BennyBoy]

Here is the product page for those who are interested;

XD Dark Ride Motion Simulator | Interactive Attractions | Triotech

Triotech's XD Dark Ride is a 3D motion simulator theatre designed to provide a multisensory interactive group experience for amusement parks. Learn more!

www.trio-tech.com

Will all be screen shooter rides then.

 

[Joeythorpe]

Interesting to see Merlin are now putting their branding in a banner at the top of its uk attractions

It’s not yet rolled out across them all, and is not on Legoland’s, maybe it’s to make its clear what they operate now especially with some Blackpool’s attractions under licence

 

[Bowser]

Very satisfying screenshot work @Joeythorpe

 

[Joeythorpe]

Very satisfying screenshot work @Joeythorpe

Merlin’s websites have been nice to look at since they all went uniformed still kept some sort of unique identity to them, not thorpe’s though as it’s very … bland

 

[Call_um]

Since the VP of Thorpe Park moved to Legoland Windsor, former Legoland VP Ramesh Ganeson has announced that his new role is 'VP of Hotel Operations & Global Performance.'

Unsure who has stepped into the VP role at Thorpe.

 

[Secret Weapon]

Quick question: the Blackpool annual pass includes admission to overseas parks as well (e.g. Emerald Park in Ireland and Europa Park in Germany), and so should the British Merlin Annual Pass also include free admission to European Merlin parks such as Gardaland and Heide Park?

Most people probably wouldn't go there anyway, but it would make the passes feel like better value, and may raise awareness of Merlin's global presence for those who do?

Replying to my own post: a former employee of Alton Towers said in a video that the staff at AT are given free entry to overseas Merlin parks, including Gardaland in Italy (see link below around the 24:36 mark)

I'm not sure why the staff are given free entry to overseas parks, but the general public is not?

Is it because Merlin are encouraging British staff to explore overseas parks and take notes on how they can improve their own customer service and/or want to encourage their staff to remain engaged and interested with theme parks in general?

Or am I reading too much into all of this, and it was simply a way of providing staff benefits at no extra cost (perhaps instead of additional pay) ?


From: https://youtu.be/Cz_161SoiJk?t=1476

 

[Islander]

Or am I reading too much into all of this, and it was simply a way of providing staff benefits at no extra cost (perhaps instead of additional pay) ?

This one

 

[GooseOnTheLoose]

I'm not sure why the staff are given free entry to overseas parks, but the general public is not?

Pretty terrible business plan to let everybody in for free.

 

[JAperson]

Since the VP of Thorpe Park moved to Legoland Windsor, former Legoland VP Ramesh Ganeson has announced that his new role is 'VP of Hotel Operations & Global Performance.'

Unsure who has stepped into the VP role at Thorpe.

They do seem to be playing musical chairs with their VP's (the new Towers one if from Chessington isn't he?), but I suppose that happens when big companies go through big reshuffles.