-
ℹ️ Heads up...
This is a popular topic that is fast moving Guest - before posting, please ensure that you check out the first post in the topic for a quick reminder of guidelines, and importantly a summary of the known facts and information so far. Thanks.
2018: Wicker Man - General Discussion - SPOILERS! - Part One
- Thread starter ThemeParkCrafter
- Start date
- Status
Altonadvocate1
TS Member
The more I see, the more I like and I'm starting to think that AT may have got this just right.
Many will think I'm crazy, and only a ride on the finished coaster will know for sure, but I'm starting to thing this could be better than Icon in 2018. Don't get me wrong, I think Icon will be great, and clearly pull more G Forces, but I think SW8 will be bloody good fun for the whole family and that's what it's all about. You don't need huge drops to get airtime (it looks great on Sean Sanbrookes's latest video),just a well designed designed track profile. I think the first airtime hill will pack some serious airtime (though a few more would be nice). Looks to be a good combination of different forces.
Many will think I'm crazy, and only a ride on the finished coaster will know for sure, but I'm starting to thing this could be better than Icon in 2018. Don't get me wrong, I think Icon will be great, and clearly pull more G Forces, but I think SW8 will be bloody good fun for the whole family and that's what it's all about. You don't need huge drops to get airtime (it looks great on Sean Sanbrookes's latest video),just a well designed designed track profile. I think the first airtime hill will pack some serious airtime (though a few more would be nice). Looks to be a good combination of different forces.
CoasterCrazyChris
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Nemesis
I am usually one of the biggest whingers on these forums regarding the quality of new developments at this park (and with good reason the majority of the time) but for once I am impressed and pleasantly surprised with a development at Alton Towers.
I know you can build a woodie just about anywhere and it will look good but this really does suit its location beautifully and the theming and general style of finish so far just blends in so nicely with the areas around it. I still honestly can't believe they started building the queue line 6 months before planned opening!
It's not perfect by any means....I do not like the theme at all and think it's a completely wrong choice, the station has ruined the Katanga pathway and the lack of any water features or lake in the plan is a shame especially as the park now has no flume.
Best thing everyone on these forums can do between now and March is to try and ignore the marketing for this ride and pretend it doesn't have a SW tag.
If you do that and arrive on opening day without your head filled with Merlin's overhyped marketing nonsense I think you will find an enjoyable (if slightly conservative) woodie and a sorely needed solid family ride.
Yet despite my overall positivity I would be lying if I said I was excited about this ride. It's a step in the right direction granted but it is not enough to entice me back to Alton Towers.
I know you can build a woodie just about anywhere and it will look good but this really does suit its location beautifully and the theming and general style of finish so far just blends in so nicely with the areas around it. I still honestly can't believe they started building the queue line 6 months before planned opening!
It's not perfect by any means....I do not like the theme at all and think it's a completely wrong choice, the station has ruined the Katanga pathway and the lack of any water features or lake in the plan is a shame especially as the park now has no flume.
Best thing everyone on these forums can do between now and March is to try and ignore the marketing for this ride and pretend it doesn't have a SW tag.
If you do that and arrive on opening day without your head filled with Merlin's overhyped marketing nonsense I think you will find an enjoyable (if slightly conservative) woodie and a sorely needed solid family ride.
Yet despite my overall positivity I would be lying if I said I was excited about this ride. It's a step in the right direction granted but it is not enough to entice me back to Alton Towers.
Matt N
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Shambhala (PortAventura Park)
Really random SW8 question about the ride layout here. You know the turn with very little banking by the queue line shop? Do you guys think that it will be like the really jerky unbanked turns on Megafobia? I hope not, as those are the only real detraction from Megafobia's layout for me.
With Th13teen, the main part of it was a mystery right up until press night but with this, people have been eying almost the entirety of the ride, all year!
The only way to do the Th13teen thing this time is to either use the giant statue (although, I doubt enough people care enough for this to work)
Or do a half hearted #whatsintheshed, type thing, and they only have a corner of a shed to work with!
If there was ever a time when merlin might market a new ride, AS A RIDE, it would be now.
Bert2theSpark
TS Member
It's not being marketed as a ride though, It's being marketed as a 'World Class Experience'...
Matt N
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Shambhala (PortAventura Park)
Phew!
Matt.GC
TS Member
If you were a Merlin exec reading many forums at the moment (although you'd have more important things to be doing I'm sure), you'd probably be quite confused with all the negativity around.
But a lot of it seems to centre around the fact that it has an SW tag but is clearly a small woodie with nothing remarkable about it, it's theme (where I've seen more negative comments than anything else), the "world class" claims and other marketing hype making it out to be some sort of world beater and the anticlimax of realising that those days of Towers building real world class coasters has gone and went out with the 90's.
My own criticisms are the ruining of the KC pathway and final turn of the Rapids. I know Towers like building fences so a couple more here would be nice just to keep KC visually secluded from the impact of the new ride area.
But I think most would agree this doesn't look a bad coaster at all. I think it looks quite good. It looks like a good quality build, with some of the best thought put in to the landscape and theming in years! No flooded square concrete pits or shipping container shops here.
I think there's a missed opportunity to really finish off the theme of Mutiny Bay nicely, but this could still look OK in the area as long as the coaster theme doesnt spill out from the ride area.
It's also filling 2 gaps in Towers line up, namely a wooden coaster and another family coaster. I have no doubt it'll be enjoyable and popular and will give the park a much needed boost. This will be a good and worthwhile attraction.
I think when you see the ride for what it is, you can appreciate it. But it can't be compared to the real secret weapon show stoppers of the past and Merlin have made it abundantly clear that they have no ambitions for the park to return to that.
But a lot of it seems to centre around the fact that it has an SW tag but is clearly a small woodie with nothing remarkable about it, it's theme (where I've seen more negative comments than anything else), the "world class" claims and other marketing hype making it out to be some sort of world beater and the anticlimax of realising that those days of Towers building real world class coasters has gone and went out with the 90's.
My own criticisms are the ruining of the KC pathway and final turn of the Rapids. I know Towers like building fences so a couple more here would be nice just to keep KC visually secluded from the impact of the new ride area.
But I think most would agree this doesn't look a bad coaster at all. I think it looks quite good. It looks like a good quality build, with some of the best thought put in to the landscape and theming in years! No flooded square concrete pits or shipping container shops here.
I think there's a missed opportunity to really finish off the theme of Mutiny Bay nicely, but this could still look OK in the area as long as the coaster theme doesnt spill out from the ride area.
It's also filling 2 gaps in Towers line up, namely a wooden coaster and another family coaster. I have no doubt it'll be enjoyable and popular and will give the park a much needed boost. This will be a good and worthwhile attraction.
I think when you see the ride for what it is, you can appreciate it. But it can't be compared to the real secret weapon show stoppers of the past and Merlin have made it abundantly clear that they have no ambitions for the park to return to that.
jon81uk
TS Member
I think given it is all wood (both the ride and all buildings) it thematically won't clash too badly with Mutiny Bay or Katanga Canyon. The wooden tiled rooves particularly don't look like they will be out of keeping with either area. As you say it is just the massive walls of the buildings opposite the gate next to Sea Life that look out of place. Hopefully as well they will jet wash everything properly and not let mouldy stuff build up.
Matt.GC
TS Member
Seeing bits of a wooden coaster pop up whilst on the Rapids is fine. What isn't ok is to be able see right across the coaster site and into the pirate themed area beyond like you currently can.
It's the pathway that most concerns me. A big Katanga Canyon sign welcoming you to Africa with loads of African plant life with the familiar KC tune and sound of elephants to your left. To your right, the back of a green clad building and an area themed to pagan sacrifice with ritual music blaring out.
jon81uk
TS Member
To be fair the Katanga sign has always been in the wrong place. It used to be that you had Africa with loads of African plant life with the familiar KC tune and sound of elephants to your left. To your right, an area themed to showers, bath tubs and ducks with upbeat music with duck quacks blaring out.
It was slightly better when the log flume was logs not baths, but the sign always has been too close to Merrie England / Mutiny Bay.
Matt.GC
TS Member
It has but not to that extent. The Flume was nowhere near the pathway, and was gone out of sight within a few yards. This new ride sits virtually on top of it for half its length.
- Status