- News all the latest
- Theme Park explore the park
- Resort tour the resort
- Future looking forward
- History looking back
- Community and meetups
-
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. - Thread starter Craig
- Start date
- Status
- This topic has been locked. No further replies can be posted.
- Favourite Ride
- Journey to the Center of the Earth
- Favourite Ride
- Your Dad
- Favourite Ride
- POTC Disneyland Paris
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance
- Favourite Ride
- Shambhala (PortAventura Park)
- Favourite Ride
- The Smiler
- Status
- This topic has been locked. No further replies can be posted.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
[2023] The Curse at Alton Manor
Matt.GC
TS Member
Can we please go back to The Haunted House now?
The Haunted House was a ride that was partially rethemed to Duel a couple of decades ago. So shouldn't we be discussing the new ride opening in 2023 and not The Haunted House?
Zeock
TS Member
The Haunted House was living proof of this.Whilst the latest technology at enormous cost can help, it is nothing without creativity, imagination, originality, immersion, emotion, mystery, wonder, magic, etc.
Sometimes a lot can be achieved on a smaller budget. If it's done right, it can live with or beat the big boys.
I'm confident in AT's 3 projects at this time.
Trooper Looper
TS Member
Either way, it'd be nice to go back on topic.The Haunted House was a ride that was partially rethemed to Duel a couple of decades ago. So shouldn't we be discussing the new ride opening in 2023 and not The Haunted House?
Trooper Looper
TS Member
I'm sure with John Wardley being most likely heavily involved with Duels refurbishment now, it probably won't.Hope it doesn't end up like that Jumanji ride.
Ben
TS Founding Member
John Jr as you called him was very vocal about how good Jumanji is. After watching the POV I can think of many words Id use and I don't think any have 'good' as a pre-requisite.
After the initial marketing I was optimistic about the Duel refurb. Now, much less so.
After the initial marketing I was optimistic about the Duel refurb. Now, much less so.
Trooper Looper
TS Member
Do I really have to send them my 600mm Fluorescent UV Tube now just for some decent lighting in Duel? Aw man, I just got it!Good god the lighting in that Jumanji ride is even worse than Duel's.
Doesn't fill me with confidence.
What happened to Dark rides being 'Dark'?
DistortAMG
TS Member
Good god the lighting in that Jumanji ride is even worse than Duel's.
Doesn't fill me with confidence.
Bear in mind that cameras have great low light visibility settings now, so they could give a somewhat inaccurate representation of the actual lighting.
The Big Mack
TS Member
Other POV's show that it's not completely in the light like that POV posted on the last page, it's just the camera's low light settings. The feedback I have heard from people who've ridden it themselves have been very positive about.John Jr as you called him was very vocal about how good Jumanji is. After watching the POV I can think of many words Id use and I don't think any have 'good' as a pre-requisite.
After the initial marketing I was optimistic about the Duel refurb. Now, much less so.
I have every confidence in John Burton after speaking to him a number of times a few years back. He is a very well travelled enthusiast who has ridden some of the best dark rides in the world. I'd blame any lack of quality on a lack of budget, because I know for a fact that John is a very ambitious creative with great ideas. And with John Wardley's involved in the creative process, there is also no reason for this re-imagining of the Haunted House to skimp out on quality, and he was very positive in the interview posted on here earlier.
Last edited:
Plastic Person
TS Member
I have ridden Jumanji. The ride system is impressively dynamic and the quality of the visuals is decent, but their integration is poor, and the depth of the video ironically shows up the bare nature of the segments in between. I am afraid that the video does give a fairly accurate representation of the experience, including the "Is that it...?" feeling come the offload. The ride's walls are indeed screamingly obvious throughout and then regularly lit with bizarrely placed strobes. The placement of the otherwise impressive skeleton animatronics reminded me of that screaming 'split face' thing at the end of what used to be the Trommel on Duel, funnily enough.
Nonetheless, I still think The Haunted House 3.0 will be decent.
Nonetheless, I still think The Haunted House 3.0 will be decent.
The Big Mack
TS Member
I'd boil that down to bad lighting design then. I don't think that can be blamed completely on John Burton or the lighting designer though. A lot of Merlin dark rides tend to end up the same way, minus Gangsta Granny, due to high ambitions but a lack of budget to realize those ambition adequately.
Anyway, yes, John Wardley says in the interview that this will require a number of re-rides to absorb all the fine details, so I'm confident that we'll end up with something on a level that we're hoping for.
Anyway, yes, John Wardley says in the interview that this will require a number of re-rides to absorb all the fine details, so I'm confident that we'll end up with something on a level that we're hoping for.
Last edited:
Plastic Person
TS Member
I am not blaming John Burton, or anyone, for anything. Merlin is obviously not wanting for creative individuals. I expect they are just hamstrung in the case of a project like Jumanji, expected to deliver a ride synonymous with the large budget of the associated IP, but without the support needed to do it. They are then also contractually obliged to talk it up.
Benjsh
TS Member
Is Jumanji that bad then?
I have just seen the POV and it looks perfectly fine to me. Granted it's not going to win any awards for best dark ride any time soon or ever but it doesn't look that bad. Some of the scenes actually look quite well done too.
I have just seen the POV and it looks perfectly fine to me. Granted it's not going to win any awards for best dark ride any time soon or ever but it doesn't look that bad. Some of the scenes actually look quite well done too.
Matt N
TS Member
I think Jumanji looks really good myself! The screens look decent, and there appear to be some decent animatronics in there too!
Although with that being said, I generally have a higher tolerance for screens on dark rides than most in this thread. I don’t really have an issue with screens in most cases, and when done well, I thoroughly believe that they can enhance an attraction rather than detract from it.
Although with that being said, I generally have a higher tolerance for screens on dark rides than most in this thread. I don’t really have an issue with screens in most cases, and when done well, I thoroughly believe that they can enhance an attraction rather than detract from it.
Last edited:
Danscott22
TS Member
I have a different opinion on screens based on the ride I’m experiencing/the ride I’m expecting to experience.
I’ll use Gangsta Granny as an example. I was expecting lots of screens in there and actually think they are suitable and work well enough for the ride that it is.
However, with this re theme, screens are not something I’d want to see. I wouldn’t be expecting loads, and I’m not they’d fit the experience very well. Screen overuse may make this a damp squib, whereas with Gangsta Granny they’re fine. I’m not expecting screens in this ride, I’ll be surprised if even 1 makes it into here.
EDIT: to clarify, I don’t mean Peppers ghosts. I mean a standard, conventional screen a la Gangsta Granny that you just move around a track, stop in front of, watch and then move on.
I’ll use Gangsta Granny as an example. I was expecting lots of screens in there and actually think they are suitable and work well enough for the ride that it is.
However, with this re theme, screens are not something I’d want to see. I wouldn’t be expecting loads, and I’m not they’d fit the experience very well. Screen overuse may make this a damp squib, whereas with Gangsta Granny they’re fine. I’m not expecting screens in this ride, I’ll be surprised if even 1 makes it into here.
EDIT: to clarify, I don’t mean Peppers ghosts. I mean a standard, conventional screen a la Gangsta Granny that you just move around a track, stop in front of, watch and then move on.
Last edited: