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2017/18: SW8 Speculation

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That video is certainly a bit disappointing but seems to be an accurate representation of the planned layout.

We've been here before though, both with Th13teen and The Smiler, and while there were some subtle differences the enthusiast recreations were pretty accurate tbh. Th13teen's layout for example is just abysmal, both the visualisation and the real thing. Same goes for this SW8 I reckon.
 
It is listed as a "Full - MINOR" application, so they could just be applying for building permissions and we won't get to see any of the layout.

Or they've' made a mistake and it'll get rejected :p
 
PeteB said:
That video is certainly a bit disappointing but seems to be an accurate representation of the planned layout.

We've been here before though, both with Th13teen and The Smiler, and while there were some subtle differences the enthusiast recreations were pretty accurate tbh. Th13teen's layout for example is just abysmal, both the visualisation and the real thing. Same goes for this SW8 I reckon.
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Really? The sw8 enthusiast pov doesn't really look like the smiler. It might have some of the same elements, but it's not the same. Any secret elements are missing. I'm not expecting this to be a normal coaster with no gimmicks, I'm almost certain thing will be hidden.
 
A big thank you to whoever created that mock up. It does look underwhelming especially considering the epic scale of the woody plans submitted years ago.

Whoever created this, has taken their best guess and I think it's a good attempt.

The only way that we can have a world beating woody at alton is if they utilise the valley and that isn't going to happen. The height restriction puts a limit on both the intensity and the length.

As it happens, I think they are going for the family thrill market anyway, so we are not going to get something terrifying, but it could still be a lot of fun.

I would still like something longer so here''s hoping the plans have evolved from the first draft.

This is a SW project and our limited look at the plans so far, do not seem consistent with a SW level investment so fingers crossed.

I'm a fan of those Japanese creature features. In 1998, the Americans bought the Godzilla licence from Toho. American Godzilla was a complete wimp compared to Japanese Godzilla and spent the entire movie running away from the US military and was eventually killed by a missile (Japanese Godzilla would have laughed at a missile impact). The Americans had basically taken a dump on Godzilla's good name.

Godzilla fans cams to know American Godzilla as GINO (Godzila in name only).

Here's hoping we are not going to get a SWINO.
 
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Ash123uk said:
The plans for the cross valley looked terrible. Boring as hell. I'm more excited about these plans than the others.
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That's the ironic thing, while the plans for the original woody looked boring, the NoLimits POV someone created actually showed it was a fast and exciting ride. This new one on the flume site however, just looks slow and pointless.

Leah said:
Really? The sw8 enthusiast pov doesn't really look like the smiler. It might have some of the same elements, but it's not the same. Any secret elements are missing. I'm not expecting this to be a normal coaster with no gimmicks, I'm almost certain thing will be hidden.
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Considering that it was created just from line drawings on the plans i'd say The Smiler is amazingly accurate. The only differences I see between that and the real thing are the plaza under the ride, which had to be scrapped for some reason, and the fact its missing a handful of inversions, but that's only because AT were hiding how many inversions it had, however the direction of the track is accurate.

It's amazing what people can do with NoLimits, and that's precisely why im not impressed by these plans for SW8. :(

It's a shame the ride is so small considering how much land is available in that area, and even going up behind the rapids. It would have been amazing to have another coaster interact with a different section of the rapids. I also think its a shame the ride is taking up a large portion of the flume's lake (hinting that the lake will be removed), I would have liked to have seen the lake stay there and they could have plonked a big old pirate ship right in the middle of it. Would have completed mutiny bay just nicely.
 
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PeteB said:
but that's only because AT were hiding how many inversions it had, h
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That's exactly my point though. Towers could be hiding anything. Sadly though, we won't know until it's announced, probably late next year. World's first 4D wooden coaster perhaps ;)

We're the original (not cross valley) woodie plans submitted? I know they've had plans for fv, but we're they official?
 
Given the typical SW budget and assuming this has not been dramatically reduced following the smiler incident there has to be more to this.

A budget of ten to eighteen million would buy significantly more than a wooden coaster of this scale. The possibilities are.

1. The SW investment budget has been scaled back.

2. The real plans are significantly bigger.

3. SW8 is part of a multi ride development (coaster and new flume please).

4. The theming is on an unprecedented level for a UK park.

5. Enormous groundwork is consuming a significant proportion of the budget.

6. There is an expensive world's first element.

7. B and M have a new wooden coaster concept that Costs more than any other, but has unrivalled build quality (unlikely).

These are the only possibilities I can think of.

Hoping for 2 and 3, but knowing Merlin...

Place your bets now!
 
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Don't Intamin pre fab coasters cost as much as regular steel coasters from them? That would bump up the price a bit assuming SW8 is one.
 
I think it's fair to assume that it's #1. The plans have been scaled back, and we won't be getting anything on the scale of what was initially planned for Forbidden Valley. Alton is going to take years to recover.
 
You're all such a bunch of moaners!

I think this is a great investment. AT are due a really good family coaster and a woodie, so I'm glad they're doing both. The flume was well overdue being scrapped and, as others have pointed out, the new ride can't use the same ride area due to new planning restrictions.

They seem to be using what available space well.

If it's pirate themed (as expected) it'll fit in well with the theme of the area. For all we know the current lake may kept and the new ride interact with it somehow.
 
My reaction is 'meh'. The only thing which makes a woodie exciting for me is speed and airtime. You can only achieve that if you go high enough and the only place where they can get the biggest drops is across the valley. I hope it's either a steel or a hybrid otherwise they may as well just have a kiddies ride there.
 
Stuntman707 said:
My reaction is 'meh'. The only thing which makes a woodie exciting for me is speed and airtime. You can only achieve that if you go high enough and the only place where they can get the biggest drops is across the valley. I hope it's either a steel or a hybrid otherwise they may as well just have a kiddies ride there.
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I have to agree with you - I was starting to wonder if I was the only person here who's not into woodies! I mean they're not awful, The Ultimate at LWV was my first ever rollercoaster and I love it - but AT aren't about to build that are they? I think woodies mostly only appeal to coaster enthusiasts who've been so for years.

I feel like they'd be moving backwards instead of forwards with the times if they built one now. A launch woodie? I'd just go on Rita! (Don't kill me)
 
Lizkatewells said:
I have to agree with you - I was starting to wonder if I was the only person here who's not into woodies! I mean they're not awful, The Ultimate at LWV was my first ever rollercoaster and I love it - but AT aren't about to build that are they? I think woodies mostly only appeal to coaster enthusiasts who've been so for years.

I feel like they'd be moving backwards instead of forwards with the times if they built one now. A launch woodie? I'd just go on Rita! (Don't kill me)
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The Ultimate isn't a woody. It's a steel coaster.

Woodies can definitely be good, if the layout is good. I kinda see Hyper coasters being their modern steel equivalent - it's all about speed, ups and downs, air time, nice banked curves. Alton could never get a hyper coaster but they could definitely get a woody.

Altonadvocate1 said:
Given the typical SW budget and assuming this has not been dramatically reduced following the smiler incident there has to be more to this.

A budget of ten to eighteen million would buy significantly more than a wooden coaster of this scale. The possibilities are.

1. The SW investment budget has been scaled back.

2. The real plans are significantly bigger.

3. SW8 is part of a multi ride development (coaster and new flume please).

4. The theming is on an unprecedented level for a UK park.

5. Enormous groundwork is consuming a significant proportion of the budget.

6. There is an expensive world's first element.

7. B and M have a new wooden coaster concept that Costs more than any other, but has unrivalled build quality (unlikely).

These are the only possibilities I can think of.

Hoping for 2 and 3, but knowing Merlin...

Place your bets now!
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I worry that you're right about a number of things there. They can't scale back the SW budgets though surely? I mean Th13teen upped the SW's from £12m to £15m, Smiler £18m. The next one should be £20m I'd expect.

Although having said that they did pour £20m into The Swarm and regretted it, did they not?
 
skyscraper said:
technically, with a steel track and wooden supports, it's a "hybrid coaster".
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Technically, only certainly parts of it's supports are wooden, so it's a "steel very slightly hybrid but mostly steel coaster". :D

Meh, it's a stupid ride anyway. Bulldoze it.
 
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