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[2025] Project Ocean: New Forbidden Valley Flat Ride

TBoy535 said:
All looks great but they do need to get some better contractors, compared to many other construction projects I follow around the world they’re insanely slow. This is all my opinion and I can be of course wrong so feel free to challenge my mindset. But I feel this could potentially be deliberate, like many companies I’ve had first hand experience in construction where they deliberately drag out their jobs, add more remedial works to make more money from a bigger corporation as no one questions it not being closely monitored?

I’m not sure if it’s the same construction company but nemeses and forbidden valley went well over there allocated timeframe, it wasn’t even finished for opening day and they started well in advance before last year closing season? I believe it also went completely went over budget and still elements like the water falls and galactic are incomplete. I understand problems arise and weather comes into this but other bigger projects I’ve followed have been completely far more efficiently regardless of the climate. So I’m sorry foundations for a flat ride I don’t believe should take this long and I feel Merlin should look more into this if they’re going to be so tight on their budgets.

I cannot wait for the sky ride works to be completely as that would be sucking so much money out of there capex.
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I think the issue is two fold.

1) it’s in the middle of a public access area so they can only bring material on and off site before and after the park is closed.

2) pretty sure the deer wall runs behind the site and that’s protected so they probably have to be a little cautious.
 
TBoy535 said:
I believe it also went completely went over budget and still elements like the water falls and galactic are incomplete.
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Citation very much needed here. I don't believe that there's ever been confirmation that the water falls were to be refurbished / included, and I certainly don't recall a Galactica overhaul either.

The Nemesis Reborn construction suffered a slight set back when some of the track didn't fit correctly, which is why you see the unused pieces dotted around the queue line.
 
GooseOnTheLoose said:
Citation very much needed here. I don't believe that there's ever been confirmation that the water falls were to be refurbished / included, and I certainly don't recall a Galactica overhaul either.

The Nemesis Reborn construction suffered a slight set back when some of the track didn't fit correctly, which is why you see the unused pieces dotted around the queue line.
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I agree here.
My view is:
- Budget is x
- As in with all construction projects, things happen - eats into budget
- budget not increase, cut backs in project (man hours, theming, etc)
- Project looks rushed and incomplete upon opening

It’s a Merlin thing.
 
TBoy535 said:
All looks great but they do need to get some better contractors, compared to many other construction projects I follow around the world they’re insanely slow.
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for the amusement industry they aren't that slow, the slowest I have seen is Disney with Tron took like 6 years to build at Disney world (it was delayed by covid, but still 6 years is a lot) epic universe took like 5 years, velocicoaster took 2 years (also over covid), also consider that the construction is essentially in the middle of public area, even for nemesis but especially for ocean this means they need to consider the public when getting stuff like deliveries. (I haven't seen anything of them pouring concrete and it would make sense if they are only pouring during non operating hours).
 
There's Tron and there's Epic Universe, and then there's a Top Spin on a concrete base at a Merlin park.

There's no reason why it shouldn't be complete by March as far as I can see. So as long as it's within budget, there's no need to rush. They have half a year.
 
TBoy535 said:
Oh and the new scare maze wasn’t completed
On time either it just storage containers and they started construction way in advance again?
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Which scaremaze wasn’t completed on time? If you are discussing the darkest depths site that was never intended to be a scaremaze for this year and was never announced as such. We haven’t lost a scaremaze or had a maze in the lineup that will be delayed?
 
AltonLover123 said:
Which scaremaze wasn’t completed on time? If you are discussing the darkest depths site that was never intended to be a scaremaze for this year and was never announced as such. We haven’t lost a scaremaze or had a maze in the lineup that will be delayed?
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How do you know there wasn’t plans for a Scare maze here, there was strong rumours it was for the Attic replacement? I mean why else would you construct it this season before Scarefest I’m guessing it fell behind?


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TBoy535 said:
How do you know there wasn’t plans for a Scare maze here, there was strong rumours it was for the Attic replacement? I mean why else would you construct it this season before Scarefest I’m guessing it fell behind?


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These scaremaze locations were also listed as storage areas on the planning docs, so for all we know, the darkest depths one was never intended for a maze (this year) and may start to be filled up with stuff from the Project Horizon site, ready for that area to be cleared. We just don't know, its all speculation.
 
Steve74 said:
These scaremaze locations were also listed as storage areas on the planning docs, so for all we know, the darkest depths one was never intended for a maze (this year) and may start to be filled up with stuff from the Project Horizon site, ready for that area to be cleared. We just don't know, its all speculation.
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I mean that is a possibility but very unlikely I feel they had every hope of getting this up and ready for Scarefest due to the timing, location and the way they surfaced the stones for ascetics and access?


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It’s kind of irrelevant, based on the planning application timings they were cutting it fine for this year anyway. Maybe they would have used it if they had a fair wind but it’s clear the ruins where the back up if not.

Sometimes things are not delays or poor planning, just the way things happen.
 
TBoy535 said:
I mean that is a possibility but very unlikely I feel they had every hope of getting this up and ready for Scarefest due to the timing, location and the way they surfaced the stones for ascetics and access?


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They would surface it as it will need access at some point in the future anyway.

Either way, there's nothing to prove whether or not it was intended to be a maze this year.

This seems like a pointless debate. Maybe everyone should disagree and move on.
 
TBoy535 said:
How do you know there wasn’t plans for a Scare maze here, there was strong rumours it was for the Attic replacement? I mean why else would you construct it this season before Scarefest I’m guessing it fell behind?


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Click to expand...


If it was due to replace the Attic then the Attic sets would have been removed a long time ago. They were left as they always intended to have Attic return, as is the case with Mine Tours.

It was announced back in August the line up for scarefest (both returnees and two new scaremazes).

The planning documents for both depths and compound state use for storage and the “opportunity” to be used as a visitor attraction.

If they wanted depths site as a maze for this year, they’d have made it happen. They didnt, so why rush the construction of both sites for this year when they could focus on the one that willl be guest facing this year..

Just becuase one of them is being used for the option they submitted planning for doesn’t mean it was always going to be both this year.
 
Ocean is going fine? It's a very small site, with access problems, adjoining buildings, possible heritage aspects as well. At work we have well known projects that are taking 10+ years to complete. It is how it is.
 
Also, I don’t see why people are thinking it’s running late?

How many times have we complained about Merlin started projects late and it not being ready in time for opening day?

It’s pretty clear it was never meant to open this year and they just wanted the concrete base and ground works to be completed before for the wetter and colder weather.
 
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