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Spike
TS Contributor
- Favourite Ride
- Taron
The Southern Parks all get a budget and all excel in their perspective areas ie Clientèle.
Alton gets a bigger budget Vs potential revenue and guest numbers so - of course - they're going to get the bigger slice of cake.
Thorpe follows it's 'chav' clientèle and therefore provides many mazes of low/mid standard to maximise profit from fast-tracks and pretty much has a small footprint so is easily lit to create the effect required from Fright Nights.
Chessington, really has no room or planning permission to create anything like the other Merlin parks and so uses it's own in-house resources (Hocus Pocus) but their budget is spent on lighting the park to a world class level. Then there's the fact they wouldn't any ways, the park is for families and so has no need for mazes.
Legoland, seem to do nothing of major significance for Halloween but their budget is pumped into their Fireworks which - from reviews - are stunning and massive every year.
Alton gets a bigger budget Vs potential revenue and guest numbers so - of course - they're going to get the bigger slice of cake.
Thorpe follows it's 'chav' clientèle and therefore provides many mazes of low/mid standard to maximise profit from fast-tracks and pretty much has a small footprint so is easily lit to create the effect required from Fright Nights.
Chessington, really has no room or planning permission to create anything like the other Merlin parks and so uses it's own in-house resources (Hocus Pocus) but their budget is spent on lighting the park to a world class level. Then there's the fact they wouldn't any ways, the park is for families and so has no need for mazes.
Legoland, seem to do nothing of major significance for Halloween but their budget is pumped into their Fireworks which - from reviews - are stunning and massive every year.
Coolbeans14
TS Member
legoland's way is quite an interesting one, and would i be right in thinking that this year's were the first that are kind of halloween-ey?
Islander
TS Member
LiamC
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Hex
The unloading part of that video at the beginning reminded me of the beginning of Jurassic Park, except a lot less violent 
I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product of this development. I think it's going to be a perfect addition for Chessington, clientele wise
I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product of this development. I think it's going to be a perfect addition for Chessington, clientele wise
Tom
TS Member
Does anyone else find the pictures they've released of the rhinos to be disturbing?
Their transportation in a cramped wooden box is far from brilliant, but not unexpected. At least they have only travelled from Europe.
But the pictures of the rhinos in an empty steel warehouse with a concrete floor and only half a tractor tyre for company is beyond belief. If this isn't where the animals are currently being kept, or is the only area they currently have, then the park should be a little more selective - because they give a terrible impression.
Few things are as damaging as bad PR over animal welfare, so even if Merlin don't particularly care about the animals, they might want to consider the business implications of bad reputations over things like this. They tend to stick for a long time in the public's mind.
Their transportation in a cramped wooden box is far from brilliant, but not unexpected. At least they have only travelled from Europe.
But the pictures of the rhinos in an empty steel warehouse with a concrete floor and only half a tractor tyre for company is beyond belief. If this isn't where the animals are currently being kept, or is the only area they currently have, then the park should be a little more selective - because they give a terrible impression.
Few things are as damaging as bad PR over animal welfare, so even if Merlin don't particularly care about the animals, they might want to consider the business implications of bad reputations over things like this. They tend to stick for a long time in the public's mind.
pluk
TS Member
Tom said:
No, not really. I'm pretty sure the small crate for transport is the best way to do it, they wouldn't want them moving about as it would be dangerous for the animal. Once a rhino gets moving it takes a lot to stop it and the side of a lorry is going to hurt. In a small area they can't get any momentum up.
As for the enclosure, I think they are stuck inside there for a few weeks quarantine which isn't ideal but again is in their best interest, once that is out of the way the enclosure looks quite a size and much better than you'll see most places in captivity.
Compared to some of the older enclosures I think they are heading in the right direction animal welfare wise.
Dave
TS Founding Member
Tom said:
The indoor enclosure will be their home for a couple of weeks, it seems to be on-par with what you would expect from a modern zoo. The animal house will not be able to hold much enrichment equipment for something the size of a Rhino but obviously they will have the outdoor enclosure to roam in once they are deemed settled.
I'm sure they will be well looked after.
A
Anonymous
I really cant grasp how this attraction works! Probably me being dumb! But I assumed that the cars would follow a track as in like Vintage Cars that follow a circuit.. Looking at this photo though im completely wrong! Assuming this is a off road vehicle isn't the costs going to soar for the park having to keep refueling the vehicles?
Sam
TS Member
Wow, those vehicles look lovely! I really like the fake splattered mud on the front. They look a lot more heavy-duty than Animal Kingdom's safari vehicles:
I hate to say it but Chessie has pwnd Disney here on the vehicle front! I think though, like a few other people, I'm just a bit disappointed that this isn't a proper ride system. Just some vehicles driving around on a dirt track.
Also, people drive cars around every day. I think the cost of the diesel for these vehicles will be pretty trivial in the grand scheme of things - it's peanuts compared to the rest of Merlin's operating budget.
I hate to say it but Chessie has pwnd Disney here on the vehicle front! I think though, like a few other people, I'm just a bit disappointed that this isn't a proper ride system. Just some vehicles driving around on a dirt track.
Also, people drive cars around every day. I think the cost of the diesel for these vehicles will be pretty trivial in the grand scheme of things - it's peanuts compared to the rest of Merlin's operating budget.
Rob
TS Team
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance
I must admit that the vehicles do look very nice indeed, I just couldn't resist that little joke! I can't say I've been following this addition much at all though so I'm not 100% sure what to expect. I assume it will just be a truck driving around through animal enclosures. I remember really enjoying Animal Kingdom's one, so if this is similar then great although I'm guessing it's on a much smaller scale.
I can't say I've been following this addition much at all though so I'm not 100% sure what to expect. I assume it will just be a truck driving around through animal enclosures. I remember really enjoying Animal Kingdom's one, so if this is similar then great although I'm guessing it's on a much smaller scale.
nickhutson
TS Member
I think you need to look more toward Rhino Rally, that was once at Busch Gardens in Tampa. They had stand alone vehicles that (when it was working... which was hardly ever) floated across a river on a bit of track.
BigAl
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Forbidden Journey
Rhino Rally is still there. We went on it a few months back. It was a little disappointing as we'd seen videos of it before they hacked it up for Cheetah Hunt and it looked very good. What was left was still enjoyable, mind. But then again, Screamscape heard reports that Busch Gardens were going to go back to it at some point and improve it again. Fingers crossed!
Back to Chessie...
What other animals are going in again, besides the rhinos? From the map I can see Flamingos, Giraffes and then there's obviously the Zebras and whatever you'll be able to see in the Wanyama Reserve.
Also, is the Safari Trail Phase 3 section on the plans an area that Chessington would like to expand the Zufari attraction into in the future?
I don't know much about the project so please forgive me if I've not seen something.
It was a little disappointing as we'd seen videos of it before they hacked it up for Cheetah Hunt and it looked very good. What was left was still enjoyable, mind. But then again, Screamscape heard reports that Busch Gardens were going to go back to it at some point and improve it again. Fingers crossed! Back to Chessie...
What other animals are going in again, besides the rhinos? From the map I can see Flamingos, Giraffes and then there's obviously the Zebras and whatever you'll be able to see in the Wanyama Reserve.
Also, is the Safari Trail Phase 3 section on the plans an area that Chessington would like to expand the Zufari attraction into in the future?
I don't know much about the project so please forgive me if I've not seen something.
A
Anonymous
It looks a really neat attraction! Again my only concern is using petrol/diesel.. I really would have thought it would been more effective and beneficial for the park if the cars followed some kind of track based off electric, Obviously still having the attendant on board being able to stop the vechical if a animal gets in the way but surly this is more beneficial in the long run too?