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The 'flat ride' future

If Charlie and the Cardboard Factory can have fast-track a flat can have fast track too!
 
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BPBBBPPPBBPBPBPBPBs has a licensed partner in the Red Arrows which will have added to it, the marketing and presumably fountain budget will be included in that price too.
 
a Full sized Zamperla Air Race is around rge £1m,with customised themeing would be more. Most Huss rides back in the early 00's where over £1m something like a Huss Giant Frisbee was about £3m.

The problem as already stated new flats dont bring in guests, but are needed to soak up the crowds etc. When investment agreed by merlin they will have to show the return on invesment which is easier if adding an attraction that will instantly increase attendance or icrease hotel bookings. This isnt just a merlin issue though lots of big theme parks around the world arnt adding flat rides like they used to.
 
Wait.

2 MILLION.

http://www.gerstlauer-rides.de/products/flat-rides/sky-fly-en-US/#SkyFlyLego01

Watching that video, it's an interesting family flat, with poor through put, looks dull as anything if you don't get a spin on really slow.

Not saying I agree with it, but I CAN understand why parks would go for something like the.... Volare.... rather than a flat for that money. It's going to draw more people in, rightly or wrongly.... well... wrongly.... obviously.... that thing looks HIDEOUS.
 
But if you look at the statistics of flats v coasters Alton is lagging a long way behind. (This comparison is coasters v 'flat rides' not ride experiences such as Duel, Sub Terra, Indoor Shooting Rides, 3D Shows etc)

Towers has 8 coasters to 6 flats.
Thorpe has 7 coasters to 8 flats.
Gardaland has 5 coasters to 6 flats.
Drayton Manor has 4 coasters to 8 flats.

I remember Submission getting a marketing - including tv - budget and while the ride itself was pants it made an impact.
 
Ben said:
But if you look at the statistics of flats v coasters Alton is lagging a long way behind. (This comparison is coasters v 'flat rides' not ride experiences such as Duel, Sub Terra, Indoor Shooting Rides, 3D Shows etc)

Towers has 8 coasters to 6 flats.
Thorpe has 7 coasters to 8 flats.
Gardaland has 5 coasters to 6 flats.
Drayton Manor has 4 coasters to 8 flats.

I remember Submission getting a marketing - including tv - budget and while the ride itself was pants it made an impact.
Click to expand...

I agree about Submission, I also remember being disappointed it wasn't a coaster :D

However, you are absolutely correct, they really went all out for those adverts and marketed it like a proper new addition. I can still picture the advert now!
 
I think it might be the only time a flat ride received a marketing budget.
 
Ben said:
But if you look at the statistics of flats v coasters Alton is lagging a long way behind. (This comparison is coasters v 'flat rides' not ride experiences such as Duel, Sub Terra, Indoor Shooting Rides, 3D Shows etc)

Towers has 8 coasters to 6 flats.
Thorpe has 7 coasters to 8 flats.
Gardaland has 5 coasters to 6 flats.
Drayton Manor has 4 coasters to 8 flats.
.
Click to expand...

But the difference is at Alton Towers compared to Thorpe on the dark rides/experiences. Thorpe has one, Angry Birds 4D. AT has Duel, Sub Terra, Hex, Charlie, Ice Age, Sharkbait Reef and CBeebies stuff.

Thorpe has more flat rides as they pushed towards the thrill ride market back when Tussaud's decided to split Chessington to the family market.

Although I love Rush, there are very few other flats I would go out my way to ride at Thorpe. Dodgems are always a good thing though at Chessington too.
 
About as much as you can about air movement, eh @TheMan ;)

There's nothing stopping them from getting something like Mulan at Great Yarmouth or Feria Swing at EP, both can be well themed and could be placed in a building, underneath something else like a restaurant or even offices!
 
Just had a look on YT to remind me of the Ripsaw advert, 11 seconds, simple yet effective. I remember watching it and wanting to ride it. The same with Submission actually, and whoever thought it was a roller coaster... :/ ;)
 
What Towers need in terms of flats just isn't going to happen. They could do with three to four basic flats just to be there as additional ride options. They would not be massively appealing and draw in huge crowds. They probably wouldn't cost much either. But they would be there to support the park. Right now though there is no chance of Merlin giving them the money for this. If it did happen they could be complemented by a bigger thrill flat addition also.

:)
 
I think Ripsaw needs to be removed and soon, we need something along the lines of Talocan. Maybe in the DF, themed around the magic of the forest, with Fire and Water effects and a theme track that works with the effects.
I would like to see:
S&S Junior screaming swing either as an addition to CBeebies Land or in CCL.
A new floorless Top Spin in DF.
IF SW8 is in FV and the air car park is opened out I think a Huss frisbee or a full screaming swing would be suited.
A new pirate ship in MB.
A mack splash n spin in Katanga
And some form of spin and spew ride on Submissions old site.

I think Towers should do what Heide Park did one season and add a load of supporting rides.
 
CJH said:
S&S Junior screaming swing either as an addition to CBeebies Land or in CCL.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't expect anything more thrilling than a small coaster or frog hopper to come to CBeebies Land, But Cloud Cuckoo Land needs new attractions!
 
Alton Towers just won't install thrill flat rides. There is a chance that they might refurbish/replace some of the existing ones, but growing flat ride stock is not on the agenda in my view.

Most major European resorts simply do not go for them. The reasons? They aren't really designed to be run and run and run like a rollercoaster or dark ride. Phantasialand, for example, have a lot of problems keeping Talocan ticking over. Europa-Park and Disneyland Paris, the two biggest players in Europe - don't have any thrill flat rides. PortAventura do not either.

Kids flat rides (carousels and other round rides) are different. But generally it is all about water rides, dark rides and rollercoasters!

:)
 
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