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Legoland Windsor

Nothings been announced as far as I’m aware, however it’s not Lego movie world anymore. No idea on the new theme. Knowing legoland Windsor it will be Tin Shed the ride.
 
I thought it was going to be The Lego Movie World like all the other parks?

The Lego Movie 2 flopped at the Box Office compared to the original and expectations. Florida's LMW opened prior to the film, whereas none of the others have been built yet.
 
The two versions that where due to open this year California and Denmark are both still Lego Movie World themed. Denmark's has been pushed back to 2021, although construction is at an advanced stage.
 
This change doesn’t surprise me, Merlin were putting big weight behind Lego Movie 2 in their investor presentations prior to its release and were suddenly very quiet about it afterwards!

The second movie took $195 million worldwide versus $470 million for the 1st.
 
I was going to say I thought they'd flopped but then I thought if they're building lands everywhere it can't be too bad.

I wonder what it'll be themed to now? I haven't seen any more large sets or brands come out lately.
 
Why would they have changed the theme? The first one is still quite popular (I certainly liked the first Lego Movie very much!), and I’m not sure how some of the rides would be applicable to another theme. For example, that flying theatre like the one they have in Florida looks very much tailored to the Lego Movie.

I suppose they probably have their reasons if they have changed the theme, but I’m not entirely sure whether it’s something worth them doing.
 
Why would they have changed the theme? The first one is still quite popular (I certainly liked the first Lego Movie very much!), and I’m not sure how some of the rides would be applicable to another theme. For example, that flying theatre like the one they have in Florida looks very much tailored to the Lego Movie.
At the end of the day they're standard rides - a flying theatre, a pair of drop towers and Zierer jet skis. They can be rethemed to whatever is wanted.
 
Talking with the family and can anyone remember what was served at the resturant when it was know as city wok or whatever it was called? What replaced it and what is it now?
 
Talking with the family and can anyone remember what was served at the resturant when it was know as city wok or whatever it was called? What replaced it and what is it now?
Originally opened as the Marché restaurant in 1996 - was a new and unique concept for visitor attractions in the UK at the time, where you essentially had a sort of market stall layout, with counters serving fish dishes, or cooked meats, oriental, fresh fruits, pancakes etc. etc.

You'd collect what food you wanted, and have a card stamped with what you selected - the card would then be used on exit to tot-up your bill.

It didn't prove popular, though, and so within a few years was re-branded to simply 'The Big Restaurant". This served basically standard theme park fair for many years - pasta, pizzas, chips, chicken etc. (all menu-based, not buffet).

Around 2008-10 it was renamed City Walk, but the food offering was mostly unchanged. For the 2011 season, it then took on the pizza-pasta buffet concept from the rest of Merlin, and has been set up as that ever since.
 
Legoland appear to be the first Merlin attraction stating which rides will not be opening on their attractions page. A few rides including Monster Party and Laser Raiders are closed, along with the larger shows.

Amazingly I suspect all of the Merlin parks will have their most recent significant addition(s) closed.

Towers - Gangsta Granny
Chessington - Gruffalo / Room on the Broom
Thorpe - Derren Brown
Lego - Monster Party

It's fair that that can be considered really unfortunate given Merlin's reputation for not building dark / indoor rides.
 
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I wonder if there is more to house party than linked to corona. Surely it would just say closed like the other closed rides if it was corona linked. As for all we know by later this year distancing could be gone and the rides could open.

Also other mad houses are all opened across the world, so shouldn’t be any reason as to why it’s closed.

I know it had restraint issues when it opened, so maybe it’s still got issues? And it’s a easy way to blame corona to jut keep it shut pm save a bit of cash and fix the issues.

I imagine squid surfer is also a bit of cash saving, I know it’s part of the new area, but unless the building work is right where the ride is, I’m sure there is no reason to close it.
 
Also other mad houses are all opened across the world, so shouldn’t be any reason as to why it’s closed.

I know it had restraint issues when it opened, so maybe it’s still got issues? And it’s a easy way to blame corona to jut keep it shut pm save a bit of cash and fix the issues.
It's not necessarily only about the ride itself, it's also people's ability to social distance as they enter and exit the building, etc. The 2m rule is quite difficult in this regard, far more so than if it was 1m - which it could well be by opening time.

If Merlin have opted to not take the risk, I don't think that's a problem - naturally they will be criticised here irrespective.
 
I imagine squid surfer is also a bit of cash saving, I know it’s part of the new area, but unless the building work is right where the ride is, I’m sure there is no reason to close it.
Squid Surfer is one of those that I can understand why it’s closed, the exit / entry queue proximity is extremely close and you often touch people who are leaning over the fence as you exit.

Then you need to lift the arm to get on and off and then you are holding on to the wheel to swing in and out.
Cleaning all that as a precaution occasionally / after every ride would slow it down.
 
So looking across the attractions page and the ride availability page, the following attractions are closed:
  • Dragon's Apprentice (Until 2021 for refurbishment)
  • Squid Surfer (Until 2021 for refurbishment)
  • Haunted House Monster Party (Until 2021 (unknown))
  • Laser Raiders (Social Distancing)
  • Scarab Bounces (Social Distancing)
  • Sky Rider (Social Distancing)
  • Lego Reef (Social Distancing)
  • Deep Sea Adventure (Social Distancing)
  • Pirate Gold Wash (Social Distancing)
  • Apocalypsburg (Social Distancing)
  • Model Making Studio (Social Distancing)
  • Lego Games Zone (Social Distancing)
Now nearly all of those I can understand, it makes sense for Dragon's Apprentice to be closed for refurbishment because it really needed it and now the Duplo Dino Coaster is open it still leaves younger guests with a kiddie coaster. What puzzles me is the Haunted House Monster Party, I understand it would need to be be temporarily closed until social distancing is relaxed but that wouldn't mean it needs to be closed until next year, which would make me think it's for prolonged maintenance.
 
When originally updated, it was stated it was closed for social distancing.

pv2PFi4.jpg


Edit: As of this morning it's again listed as in the image.

Could simply be they haven't budgeted staff for it?
 
When originally updated, it was stated it was closed for social distancing.

pv2PFi4.jpg


Edit: As of this morning it's again listed as in the image.

Could simply be they haven't budgeted staff for it?

I suspect it’s the way the attraction flows, you have a group of people in a non linear flow through the building until you get to the mad house. Mix this with the low light levels and a load of children into the mix and you would need a lot of staff to manage that flow, which then makes the attraction expensive to operate.
 
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