[2023] The Curse at Alton Manor

[Altonadvocate1]

Providing that John Wardley s role is substantial, I would be amazed if poorly implemented screens were implemented throughout the ride if at all.

He is a props, magic, illusion and (clever rather than expensive) effects guy. His contribution to the Mystique Magic show at Blackpool Pleasure Beach about 20 years ago made it a real spectacle in its early years.

Let him blend all of the above together with tonnes of the imagination and I believe he will deliver way more than you would expect for whatever budget.

It needs to have a perfect combination of fear, fun and imagination. JW has always talked about how he wants his rides to instill feeling and emotion.

He can do that unlike certain other recent Merlin attractions (Derren Browne's Snoozefest, TWODW, etc).

Merlin has some talented people who can achieve much, but can't hit your emotions like JW can.

Credit to all the set decorators, engineers, painters, modellers, lighting specialists, composers. They just need a little magic to turn average or good to great.

 

[Matt N]

Projections and projection mapping has it’s place as background theming but can’t be the lead technology for scenes in a dark ride succesfully. Especially when wearing 3D glasses.

Each to their own, of course, but the consistently high ratings of some of the newer Universal and Disney rides that heavily employ screen technology in this manner would suggest that not too many agree with you in the current age.

Many rate things like Gringotts, Forbidden Journey, TransFormers and Spider-Man very highly out of the Universal crop (they’re certainly some of my favourite dark rides), and things like Flight of Passage (which effectively is a screen) are very highly rated at Disney.

Some of the highly rated Asian Disney rides, such as the new POTC in Shanghai and Mystic Manor in Hong Kong, also seem to use screens and projections a fair amount while marrying them with plenty of physical props.

It is down to opinion, after all, but screens generally seem to be liked among the average modern park goer.

 

[Trooper Looper]

Interestingly, the HH and Duel don’t actually look that different at all in the context of this one scene…

You're right, but with the target lights, and the occasional relight that happens every season or 2, it can be quite a difference sometimes. When it doesn't have that purple light on, it's pretty much the same lighting style to the HH, that's why it's my favourite scene. If only the Demon props and the walls were the same before their reprints...

 

[Blackhole_Sun]

Each to their own, of course, but the consistently high ratings of some of the newer Universal and Disney rides that heavily employ screen technology in this manner would suggest that not too many agree with you in the current age.

Many rate things like Gringotts, Forbidden Journey, TransFormers and Spider-Man very highly out of the Universal crop (they’re certainly some of my favourite dark rides), and things like Flight of Passage (which effectively is a screen) are very highly rated at Disney.

Some of the highly rated Asian Disney rides, such as the new POTC in Shanghai and Mystic Manor in Hong Kong, also seem to use screens and projections a fair amount while marrying them with plenty of physical props.

It is down to opinion, after all, but screens generally seem to be liked among the average modern park goer.

Average park goers are perchance younger than me, and far more interested in screen quality and graphics than I ever will be. I don’t think it can be ruled out completely I just prefer it to take a back seat. All fair points and I hope if Duel is to incorporate this technology that a significant budget it used for it all.

 

[RIPCorky]

Each to their own, of course, but the consistently high ratings of some of the newer Universal and Disney rides that heavily employ screen technology in this manner would suggest that not too many agree with you in the current age.

Many rate things like Gringotts, Forbidden Journey, TransFormers and Spider-Man very highly out of the Universal crop (they’re certainly some of my favourite dark rides), and things like Flight of Passage (which effectively is a screen) are very highly rated at Disney.

Some of the highly rated Asian Disney rides, such as the new POTC in Shanghai and Mystic Manor in Hong Kong, also seem to use screens and projections a fair amount while marrying them with plenty of physical props.

It is down to opinion, after all, but screens generally seem to be liked among the average modern park goer.

The dolls house and Emily Alton is a great example of them not knowing any different.

When you first look at the dolls house with her in it you think oh I wonder how they did that or that looks genuine. As soon as you see a screen on a ride or projector you know it's a screen and the "magic" is gone.

Given modern technology it should be easier for them to create realistic illusions and not be lazy and create a computer game.

 

[GaryH]

It may be a mix of real effects and screens I think. The trommel tunnel for example may be possible now using lights and screens than a real rotating barrel

 

[QTXAdsy]

It may be a mix of real effects and screens I think. The trommel tunnel for example may be possible now using lights and screens than a real rotating barrel

TBH, I honestly wouldn't be surprised if that is the case. If it means that there is a better chance for it to work than an actual spinning barrel, then I guess I wouldn't mind if that is the case. Damn thing has never worked for me anytime I went on it, in fact I bet it didn't when I first went on it in 1997.

 

[The Big Mack]

Screens aren't all bad anyway. It's just the badly integrated screens or an excessive use of screens that give them all a bad name. Disney probably implement screens best (if we ignore Avengers Campus and Ratatouille). Space Mountain in California does screen tunnels very well, so if that's any indication on what an updated trommel as a screen could be like then I'm all for it.

 

[Themeparksandy1981]

It would be good if they had a small projector that moves which could be Emily as she guides you round the house.
I wonder if the speed of the vehicles will be changed to suit the new scenes?

 

[Trooper Looper]

It would be good if they had a small projector that moves which could be Emily as she guides you round the house.
I wonder if the speed of the vehicles will be changed to suit the new scenes?

IDK... sounds like something A Disney ride would do... what would we even gain from a Narrative in every scene, the ride layout isn't designed for it. Also, the ride cars speed can't be altered. The only reason they speed up is because of the gaps between each car. The computers communicate to each other, telling the distance from the one behind and in front. If the car im front is too far ahead, the car were situated I'm will speed up, same case if the car ahead too slow, we'll slow down too. So you can't really fundamentally alter the ride system

Each scene in the Haunted House was always different and unique to each other, so having Emily alton in every scene would probably devalue each scenes uniqueness.

 

[Matt N]

IDK... sounds like something A Disney ride would do... what would we even gain from a Narrative in every scene, the ride layout isn't designed for it. Also, the ride cars speed can't be altered. The only reason they speed up is because of the gaps between each car. The computers communicate to each other, telling the distance from the one behind and in front. If the car im front is too far ahead, the car were situated I'm will speed up, same case if the car ahead too slow, we'll slow down too. So you can't really fundamentally alter the ride system

Each scene in the Haunted House was always different and unique to each other, so having Emily alton in every scene would probably devalue each scenes uniqueness.

You could accommodate a narrative without necessarily altering the ride system. Any dialogue or story elements added could easily be tailored to fit the current ride system.

I personally think that adding a narrative, or some subtle layer of story, would add a new edge to the ride for those who are interested in such things, which it has previously lacked.

You could also do this in a way such that the core aim of the ride is still delivered, and that those who aren’t interested in narrative can just sit back and take the ride at face value.

 

[The Big Mack]

The Haunted House was originally designed to be a laugh in the dark dark ride, having a full blown narrative might detract from this.

 

[Trooper Looper]

You could accommodate a narrative without necessarily altering the ride system. Any dialogue or story elements added could easily be tailored to fit the current ride system.

I personally think that adding a narrative, or some subtle layer of story, would add a new edge to the ride for those who are interested in such things, which it has previously lacked.

You could also do this in a way such that the core aim of the ride is still delivered, and that those who aren’t interested in narrative can just sit back and take the ride at face value.

I'm not even gonna start a discussion as we'll just be talking back and forth aimlessly.

 

[Matt N]

The Haunted House was originally designed to be a laugh in the dark dark ride, having a full blown narrative might detract from this.

I’m not suggesting they go too overboard, but I feel like just adding something to build a subtle narrative would add a new edge to the ride and enhance it.

As much as the 1992 ride had no narrative at all, modern dark rides are mostly built with a degree of narrative integrated in nowadays, so I would suggest that a mild integration of narrative into the experience would make the ride fit the modern age a little more and further the immersion.

 

[rob666]

I'm not even gonna start a discussion as we'll just be talking back and forth aimlessly.

Too late brother, by about nine hundred posts.

 

[Trooper Looper]

Just wanted to post these, but I never knew how different HH's Gift Shop was to when it was turned into Duels.

Credit for the HH one: Parksmania.it

Check out his videos! Lots of old archive footage from the 90s on his playlist.

 

[Zeock]

Just wanted to post these, but I never knee how different HAS Gift Shop was to when it was turned into Duels.

Credit for the HH one: Parksmania.it

Check put his videos! Lots of old archive footage from the 90s I'm his playlist.

The HH version looks way better.

 

[Trooper Looper]

The HH version looks way better.

Definitely. Hopefully the new gift shop will look better. Really hope that pruple-pink paint test they did back on September on one of the panels isn't what it's going to look like next year.

 

[Dave]

Is this where you mean from where they can access from the side of it?

Maybe they had to get rid of the face (if that's true) to potentially install new motors. Would be a huge shame if that section of the ride was just replaced by a static scene. The Trommel looked great when it worked!

The trommel wasn’t broken because of its motors, the cylinder had distorted over time so it didn’t turn properly and couldn’t be fixed as it would need to be fully replaced with a new tunnel and that was not really possible.

 

[Trooper Looper]

The trommel wasn’t broken because of its motors, the cylinder had distorted over time so it didn’t turn properly and couldn’t be fixed as it would need to be fully replaced with a new tunnel and that was not really possible.

Maybe we're getting a new Tunnel of Doom? New face, new spinning tunnel, etc... would be a shame if it was just replaced with a motionless set piece.