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2018: Wicker Man - General Discussion - SPOILERS! - Part One

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I'm sad now... From the YouTube Description on the official AT YouTube post

NEW FOR 2018 – WICKER MAN AT ALTON TOWERS RESORT - THE WORLD’S FIRST ROLLERCOASTER EXPERIENCE FUSING WOOD WITH FIRE!

Wicker Man is a multisensory rite of passage guaranteed to get your heart pumping and senses tingling!

Join the chosen ones on the world’s most immersive rollercoaster experience to date, unifying cutting edge special effects with classic wooden coaster technology for the first time!

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I think they've done very well with the imagery. The actual ride looks really nice on the eye. I will always have my reservations with regards to the length of the ride and what could have been, but I can't see that much has been done wrong with what they've come up with so far. I can see a stronger year for Towers this time around. Hope the ride rides well and the gate figures are good. That's all.
 
TheAverageNerd said:
I’m curious because it’s not the worlds first wooden rollercoaster with fire effects, so what do they mean? Are they literally gonna set us on fire on ride?


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Wouldn't surprise me if the advert we have seen this past week (the Hotel break one) with the wording of "WORLDS FIRST" was an accident, and they've been worriedly trying to throw something together that could pass as a Worlds First.

I mean, look at Galactica - "Worlds first rollercoaster FULLY DEDICATED to VR". THAT is a push, so this would be more than plausible that this joke of a worlds first was thrown together on the fly.
 
Full press release from Alton Towers:

WICKER MAN ANNOUNCED AS LATEST GROUNDBREAKING ROLLERCOASTER EXPERIENCE FROM ALTON TOWERS RESORT

Following years in development, work is nearly complete on the globally unique rollercoaster experience fusing wood and fire – due to open in Spring 2018
  • Wicker Man is the world’s first rollercoaster experience fusing wood and fire - incorporating a giant, flaming Wicker Man who stands six-stories high
  • Wooden track will race through the flaming structure of the Wicker Man three times
  • Wicker Man is the UK’s first new wooden rollercoaster experience in 21 years, reconnecting riders with the primal essence of rollercoasters
8th JANUARY 2018: Alton Towers Resort has announced its latest ground-breaking thrill attraction set to open in Spring 2018 – Wicker Man.

Wicker Man is the UK’s first new wooden rollercoaster experience in 21 years and comes with a globally unique twist – bringing together wood and fire for the very first time. A Wicker Man structure standing at 57.57ft (17.55m) tall – the height of a six-storey building – will dominate the very centre of Alton Towers Resort, appearing to burst into flames as the wooden track races three separate times through the structure.
The project, previously known as ‘SW8’*, is the latest in a series of mould-breaking ride launches from the Staffordshire theme park that have helped define the industry. A worldclass team of experts continue to work on the new attraction, led by Great Coasters International, the world’s leading creators of wooden rollercoasters. The safety of guests has been paramount in the design and build of Wicker Man, incorporating the latest in proven safety technology, rigorous testing and hundreds of training hours for ride operators.
Bradley Wynne, Creative Lead at Alton Towers Resort commented:

“We are delighted to finally be announcing Wicker Man as the latest ground-breaking thrill attraction from Alton Towers Resort for 2018. Guests will be ‘chosen’ to take part in a celebratory ‘rite of passage’ as they race through the flaming Wicker Man.

“We hope visitors will be blown away by Wicker Man’s breath-taking scale whilst the primal essence of the wooden coaster and astonishing effects will leave them delighted, exhilarated and eager to ride again.”
Visitors to Alton Towers Resort in 2018 will embark on a multi-sensory rite of passage, in which they’ll be drawn into the mysterious world of The Beornen, a shadowy group living in the woods surrounding the theme park.

The first publicity pictures hinting at the nature of the forthcoming attraction include artwork created by globally-celebrated illustrator Kyle Lambert – known across the world as the artist behind the imagery for award-winning show Stranger Things, alongside other Hollywood movie work including Jurassic Park, Super 8 and Jumanji.

Andy Hine MBE, Chairman of the Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain commented on the announcement saying:

“We’ve been hoping that Alton Towers would invest in a wooden coaster for a long time, and we’re so pleased it’s finally coming with Wicker Man. GCI are known for building really exciting, smooth coasters, and this will be a great complement to the ‘Big Six’ steel rides already at the park. It’s a big investment which is great for thrill-seekers everywhere, and I for one can’t wait to ride it.”
And new for 2018, guests can purchase their Alton Towers 2018 Season Pass for just £55 by visiting altontowers.com meaning customers can pay for a day, and come back all year. (Exclusions apply. Full terms and conditions can be found online.)

Keep up to date on the latest Wicker Man details by visiting altontowers.com/wickerman or searching #WickerManRide across social media.

Key Information
  • Wicker Man is the latest ground-breaking rollercoaster experience from Alton Towers Resort
  • The world’s first rollercoaster experience fusing wood and fire
  • Due to launch at the Staffordshire theme park in Spring 2018
  • The UK’s first new wooden coaster experience in 21 years, reconnecting riders with the primal essence of rollercoasters
  • Riders must be at least 1.2m tall, the track is 2,028 ft. (618m) long
  • Giant, flaming Wicker Man structure stands at six-storeys high (57.57ft / 17.55m)
  • Wicker Man has been in development for more than four years
  • World-class team constructing the ride lead by Great Coasters International, the world’s leading creators of wooden rollercoasters
  • Alton Towers Resort has invested £16m into the creation of Wicker Man
  • Launched with teaser artwork created by world-famous illustrator Kyle Lambert
  • The latest in proven safety technology has been used, and rigorous testing is now taking place before launch
  • Ride operating team will undertake over 100 hours of training each between now and the opening of Wicker Man so guests know that they are in safe hands and can ride in complete confidence
  • By launch, more than 1,000 people will have worked on the unique project, the majority coming from the local area
:)
 
DziXdo9.jpg


I mean...there's clutching at straws, and then there's just making stuff up
 
There is a big emphasis on the word “fusing” so perhaps they are actually just going to set fire to the big theming element and let guests toast marshmallows on it for a £50 fee.


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TheAverageNerd said:
I’m curious because it’s not the worlds first wooden rollercoaster with fire effects, so what do they mean?
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Just like Galactica wasn't the "worlds first rollercoaster fully dedicated to VR", this isn't actually the worlds first wooden coaster with a fire effect.

But it doesn't even matter, because if they didnt come up with a horribly forced-in world first tagline (regardless of if it was even true!), then the company's "marketing" board wouldnt have approved the ride to be built, such is the bizarre way the UK industry works now.

Really nice promo poster though, even if its another giant exaggeration of what the ride will actually look like, but whatever.
 
Anyone have any idea on an opening date? I'd like to think it'd be ready for the start of the season but knowing AT they'll make us wait until Mid-april like they did with Galactica.

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Wilko said:
Anyone have any idea on an opening date? I'd like to think it'd be ready for the start of the season but knowing AT they'll make us wait until Mid-april like they did with Galactica.

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I can't see why they would need to wait, I fully expect there to be queues from the RBO to the ride waiting for a day 1 ride.

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Wilko said:
Anyone have any idea on an opening date? I'd like to think it'd be ready for the start of the season but knowing AT they'll make us wait until Mid-april like they did with Galactica.

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Unless anything goes wrong it should open on opening day which is March 17th.

:)
 
Rob said:
Unless anything goes wrong it should open on opening day which is March 17th.

:)
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If that's the case I'll wait a couple of weeks to ride it. You'll probably be queuing 3 hours plus to get on day 1.

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Wilko said:
If that's the case I'll wait a couple of weeks to ride it. You'll probably be queuing 3 hours plus to get on day 1.

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When I say I expect queues from the RBO I'm not kidding.

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Just had a look at the hotel prices for Saturday 17th. An Enchanted Lodge is over £800. That would suggest to me that it will be open on 17/03.

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Interesting, they do seem to be speaking about the theming structure as if the entire thing will be perpetually on fire rather than just a small section. Of course, that’s most likely just stretching it a bit but that would certainly be interesting. Also, you make it through the structure 3 times as opposed to the 2 that I originally thought.


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