I vividly remember the old Legoland Windsor.
Having visited almost every year since 1997, the original park featured countless models, displays, intricate walk ways and interactive features. This included animatronic lego models not just in miniland, but in pathways and next to rides.
Attractions in the early years featured much charm. Whether that be the simplistic but effective story telling in Fairy Tale Brook and Pirate Falls “this way not that way”, interactive walk throughs like Magic Theatre and Explorer’s Institute and the beutiful landscaping throughout much of the park.
Sadly since 2007, much of the above has begun to diminish throughout the years. Attractions have been rethemed/replaced with ones using less impressionable storylines and less sophisticated effects, many of the walkthrough attractions have been removed and the original landscaping is lessening, as a result of less creative and logical thinking. The increasing appearance of concrete foundations and exposed warehouses/ride buildings.
Don’t get me wrong, the park isn’t necessarily bad now. However there is definitely less charm and creativity compared to the early years, especially when a charming selection of mazes is torn out for a ‘concrete hesvy’ Rapids and eventually a screened dark ride where 70% of it’s walls are exposed.
As exciting it may be, the Haunted House Ride will probably have similar result, at least cosmetically. The park was once a charming attraction, but is now very commercialised in the U.K. and worldwide. As a brand atleast.
There’s no denying Lego’s values have changed too in the years. The 80’s/90’s brought us Pirates, Castle and Adventure, whereas a lot now is popular IP’s such as Super Heroes, Star Wars, Jurassic World and pricey exclusive models such as the Ghost Busters HQ and Voltron model.
I guess demographic markets have changed a lot in time.
