[2025] Toxicator: New Forbidden Valley Suspended Top Spin

[Rob]

A lot will depend on whether or not they pre-batch like they did on Ripsaw. If they don't start counting people through until the previous cycle has finished there's no chance it'll achieve 500/hr

They'll probably pre-batch for the first few weeks before deciding they don't actually need that member of staff doing that job, and it will never be seen again!

Pre-batching on flats is essential though, so let's hope.

 

[James]

Pre-batch on peak days/busy periods and leaving it on quieter periods would be sensible.

It would be amusing if they cut that staff member, given how they waste extra staff on other rides (e.g. staff member batching outside Hex).

 

[jon81uk]

Pre-batch on peak days/busy periods and leaving it on quieter periods would be sensible.

It would be amusing if they cut that staff member, given how they waste extra staff on other rides (e.g. staff member batching outside Hex).

The person outside Hex is needed now for Fasttrack, therefore on busier days the Fasttrack sales should effectlivly pay for that person.

 

[Benzin]

The person outside Hex is needed now for Fasttrack, therefore on busier days the Fasttrack sales should effectlivly pay for that person.

The infamously busy days where Hex's queue stretched past the current location of the batching point?

 

[jibbsie]

The person outside Hex is needed now for Fasttrack, therefore on busier days the Fasttrack sales should effectlivly pay for that person.

This is the same though, they would need that staff member, the queue is set up such that the fast track and RAP merge at the bottom of the stairs so they will have to have someone checking them there, I can't really think of a method of them not having another staff member.

 

[Josh555]

To be fair, couldn’t you also apply the same criticism to Tussauds in 1997 if we’re criticising Merlin for building a low throughput Top Spin in 2025? Toxicator is a very similar style of ride to what Ripsaw was, so surely any capacity flaws of Toxicator were shared by Ripsaw to a large extent?

You could but then it's less on an issue in a 1997 park which had UG Swinger, Energizer, Enterprise and Dynamo to help spread the capacity.

Of course this is a welcome addition and there's no disputing it's an improvement over Blade but the reality is that from a capacity perspective, as you've said yourself, there is little difference and if there is a difference it's likely to be negative in a park desperately lacking for capacity.

 

[jon81uk]

The infamously busy days where Hex's queue stretched past the current location of the batching point?

Now that ambulant RAP and Fasttrack enter via the main door they are holding the main queue back to keep the indoor queue slightly shorter. Although I guess on quieter days if the queue is only halfway down the armoury anyway then no need to have that host, ambulant RAP can just go straight in.

This is the same though, they would need that staff member, the queue is set up such that the fast track and RAP merge at the bottom of the stairs so they will have to have someone checking them there, I can't really think of a method of them not having another staff member.

True, if they are merging then might as well batch and merge at the same time, but on busy days may even need a merge host and a batcher. On very quiet days then maybe not needed, but I expect most of the time it will be needed just for RAP (unlike Hex due to the longer indoor queue).

 

[jibbsie]

True, if they are merging then might as well batch and merge at the same time, but on busy days may even need a merge host and a batcher. On very quiet days then maybe not needed, but I expect most of the time it will be needed just for RAP (unlike Hex due to the longer indoor queue).

looking at the plan I struggle to think how they could get away with out the merge host (or a specific batcher) batching it,
it is quite a cramped area I think it will be similar to sub terror with it being counted, and people are batched onto the stairs and area on top as anything differnt it would probably slow the opperations down too much and make it quite difficult to merge.

 

[Kraken27]

Take it from me (as an ex-staff member who worked on Ripsaw), the batching never worked properly. Quite simply guests did not want to risk getting wet before they were on the ride, even on a rainy day. With Ripsaw on the right program (normally 7) and an evil operator with the fountains 2/3 of the way up at the right point, you could drench the batching area - and with the wind in the right direction a lot of guests on the upper level viewing area would get it too.

Towers will continue to cut staff where it can - ride entrance hosts who used to enforce height checks there have gone. Leave the height checks to be done in the station with the associated hit on throughput when a parent disagrees with a "too small to ride" decision.

 

[Smiley]

Doesn't matter. It's down for maintenance... Never quite understand how they expect you to pay £100 to cut out the queues, but not ask everyone for an extra £1 to cut the queues by 5-10% for everyone....?

 

[Dave]

I'll always remember Wardley's comment in Themes, Dreams, and Scream Machines about capacity being one of the major considerations when deciding a new attraction. Shame Merlin don't think the same most of the time.

I think that’s misunderstanding the purpose of capacity. Not every ride in a theme park needs 1000+ an hour otherwise you can only ever really install roller coasters and dark rides. Flat rides are about boosting park capacity, they always have a ride capacity problem in the first year when they are the new ride, but after year one they do their intended job which is increase park capacity.

Issue we have is they are removing a flat at the same time as installing one, so overall this ride is achieving nothing because what we gain with Toxicator we lost with blade.