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[202X] Project Horizon (SW9?): Planning Approved

James said:
As much as I love Doctor Who and would love a Who-themed ride/area, I don't believe it would have any involvement in the delay/scrapping of Project Horizon. More often than not, if an IP falls through, they will move on to something else/a backup plan, which has been the case for some Merlin projects.

I think @MrCoaster's thoughts on the planned Doctor Who animated show on CBeebies leading to characters/an attraction/ride in CBeebies Land are a bit more realistic, even though that will be a number of years away. That's the closest we're likely to see Doctor Who in a theme park anytime soon.
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A very small possibility is that Project Sunshine is a dr who coaster to sort of build up hype for the show. Give it some publicity. But we practically know it's going to be bluey themed anyway so ignore me 😄
 
I don’t think Dr Who would be big enough to be a huge pull factor anyway if they were going to chosen an IP. The golden years of New Who are over and the IP in general is on the decline even after this latest reboot, the whole show is up in the air.

Planning permission wise maybe they’re just not that stressed about it lapsing, they received the go ahead extremely quickly and mostly likely will do again even if it lapsed.
 
Blackrock said:
I don’t think Dr Who would be big enough to be a huge pull factor anyway if they were going to chosen an IP. The golden years of New Who are over and the IP in general is on the decline even after this latest reboot, the whole show is up in the air.

Planning permission wise maybe they’re just not that stressed about it lapsing, they received the go ahead extremely quickly and mostly likely will do again even if it lapsed.
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The show is in a bit of a pickle, you could say. The most recent episode ended with a cliffhanger yet the show might not even continue. So what do they do?
 
MrCoaster said:
So what do they do?
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I'm sure various people have opinions on this, but maybe this discussion could be continued over in the dedicated Doctor Who thread, rather than further derailing the Project Horizon discussion.

Back on topic...

I think it is fair to say that whatever has happened to Project Horizon, it will be something fantastically dull and corporate.

If it's been delayed, it will be due to something dull and corporate.

If it's been scrapped, it will be something dull and corporate.

Alas, it would seem that the romantic era when plans changed due to exciting new developments (such as JW riding a new coaster type and jettisoning existing plans) are some way behind us. I fear, we are deep in the era of 'reallocating budgets' and 'realignment of customer expections' and other such buzz phrases.

And it's not like both Merlin and Alton Towers are short on corporate drama that could account for a sudden shift in plans. I don't think we've ever known a more unstable time for Merlin as a parent company or most of its parks.
 
Do we think Horizon will still happen they have until middle of next year for it to start.

I really don't believe it's been cancelled as Lift Hills and Thrills has said given he uses he every opportunity to talk the the park down
 
I think what is most realistic in my opinion is that funds got directed elsewhere. Bianca joined in Feb-2023 and perhaps she fought a good enough corner to redirect the funds into refurbishing the Skyride, Hex and installing Toxicator, which would mean that Horizon got pushed back assuming no additional funds were granted. Perhaps we’ll continue to see a couple more years and flats installed and hopefully even the reopening of the indoor boat ride next to TWODW. If spades start going in the ground next year then we could be looking at a 2028 opening for Horizon.

Alton is in need of a new headliner as I have said here several times, but let’s imagine we had Horizon this year at the sacrifice of Hex, Skyride and Toxicator. Would it really be worth it? Obviously in la la land it would be great to have it all, but it’s never going to happen.
 
Hid said:
Do we think Horizon will still happen they have until middle of next year for it to start.

I really don't believe it's been cancelled as Lift Hills and Thrills has said given he uses he every opportunity to talk the the park down
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I don't think Chessington have been given the attraction but i do wonder if it's part of the picture based on them being potentially very similar rides. Chessington's will be a big deal due to the Minecraft IP whereas AT producing a lesser version isn't really in the spirit of what they do with major coasters.
 
Bowser said:
I don't think Chessington have been given the attraction but i do wonder if it's part of the picture based on them being potentially very similar rides. Chessington's will be a big deal due to the Minecraft IP whereas AT producing a lesser version isn't really in the spirit of what they do with major coasters.
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Maybe Chessingtons is the test to see if Altons will work
 
Bowser said:
I don't think Chessington have been given the attraction but i do wonder if it's part of the picture based on them being potentially very similar rides. Chessington's will be a big deal due to the Minecraft IP whereas AT producing a lesser version isn't really in the spirit of what they do with major coasters.
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This is the most logical explanation I've seen so far.
 
Bowser said:
I don't think Chessington have been given the attraction but i do wonder if it's part of the picture based on them being potentially very similar rides. Chessington's will be a big deal due to the Minecraft IP whereas AT producing a lesser version isn't really in the spirit of what they do with major coasters.
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My only real argument with this would perhaps be Rita/Stealth being installed round about the same time, and one triumphing over the other. There's been a few other instances such as the spinners and inverts, but one wasn't as big, and the other so close.

Although of course there's been a million management changes since.
 
mo237 said:
My only real argument with this would perhaps be Rita/Stealth being installed round about the same time, and one triumphing over the other
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I think that further validates it though as Stealth came after and is far more impressive. In which case Horizon would need to be a notable leap over what Chessington are doing, which considering the IP is hard to envision.
 
At this point I honestly think construction will start mid 2026 just before the planning runs out. With the ride opening for the start of the 2028 season. 4 years after the last major capex (Nemesis Reborn) as per Alton’s normal capex spend cycle.

Personally I’d love to see the dungeons and 4D cinema reopened for 2027 in readiness.
 
Ash said:
At this point I honestly think construction will start mid 2026 just before the planning runs out. With the ride opening for the start of the 2028 season. 4 years after the last major capex (Nemesis Reborn) as per Alton’s normal capex spend cycle.

Personally I’d love to see the dungeons and 4D cinema reopened for 2027 in readiness.
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People won't like it but I can see World of David Walliams Closing next year for a major retheme and overhaul of that area reopening the Theatre, Boat Ride and Café with a new flat or 2, reusing the Nicklodeon Outta Control building for an indoor space.

And the entire area being redone whilst Horizon comes the following it's currently my least favourite area in the resort
 
Hid said:
People won't like it but I can see World of David Walliams Closing next year for a major retheme and overhaul of that area reopening the Theatre, Boat Ride and Café with a new flat or 2, reusing the Nicklodeon Outta Control building for an indoor space.

And the entire area being redone whilst Horizon comes the following it's currently my least favourite area in the resort
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Fingers crossed.
 
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