[202X] Project Horizon (SW9?): Planning Approved

[Steve74]

@Steve74 thanks for this
Ps what’s the 74 refer to?

No problem.

Thankfully not my age It's the year I was born so I celebrated half a century back in September!

 

[Matt N]

TPW has today posted an update on Project Horizon:

In summary:

• Shawn’s sources are leading him to believe that Project Horizon is still going ahead and will be opening in 2027, with land clearance beginning in early 2025 and major construction work starting in mid-2025.
• Shawn has suggested that the ride could potentially be an Intamin Multidimensional Coaster, with some form of “double deal” having been formed encompassing both Horizon and the upcoming Chessington coaster. He’s alleged that “a number of manufacturers” were consulted for the attraction, but that Intamin “were the key frontrunner”.
• He has heard rumours of the ride being space-themed.

Now of course none of this is confirmation, and Shawn himself was keen to stress this, but if true, it is certainly quite exciting and promising with regard to the ride’s status!

It is worth noting that minor stuff is still happening with this project, albeit slowly. Just recently, the updated Woodland Management Plan, submitted by Alton earlier this year, was approved.

 

[Bowser]

Opening essentially the same ride in two parks in the same year but one benefitting from Minecraft IP would be an.... interesting move?

I suppose the closest thing to that would be the Nemesis rides but they were opened almost 10 years apart.

A new indoor attraction will be great of course but opening them together and leaving one very open to claims of being lesser seems risky. Has anyone compared the building sizes of the respective projects?

 

[AltonLover123]

It is worth noting that minor stuff is still happening with this project, albeit slowly. Just recently, the updated Woodland Management Plan, submitted by Alton earlier this year, was approved.

For sure. It’s a small update but encouraging nonetheless. It shows they’re still actively aiming towards building.

A new indoor attraction will be great of course but opening them together and leaving one very open to claims of being lesser seems risky. Has anyone compared the building sizes of the respective projects?

I don’t have the figures to hand but they’re vastly different in size and footprint shape. Chessies looks to be the smaller “prototype” version of anything.

 

[Matt N]

Opening essentially the same ride in two parks in the same year but one benefitting from Minecraft IP would be an.... interesting move?

I suppose the closest thing to that would be the Nemesis rides but they were opened almost 10 years apart.

A new indoor attraction will be great of course but opening them together and leaving one very open to claims of being lesser seems risky. Has anyone compared the building sizes of the respective projects?

The question is, though; are the wider populace outside of enthusiast circles likely to make that connection? I don’t think so.

More so than something like a B&M Inverted Coaster, I think the Intamin Multidimensional Coaster is quite a versatile ride type that’s quite easy to differentiate from other installations. Heck, proof of this comes in the form of Thirteen technically being one; no one’s conflating Chessington’s coaster or the likes of Uncharted with Thirteen!

I’d also say that with a coaster like these two, the theme will be a more important element of differentiation. In a dark ride roller coaster, the theme is arguably more important for differentiation than the ride hardware, and it sounds like the two rides couldn’t be more different in that sense.

 

[Danny]

But this doesn't fit the narrative for those who believe Horizon has gone to Chessington?!

 

[Mick]

I think the video’s a little bit clickbaity for those who’ve kept an active interest in the project as there wasn’t really anything new in there, but still cause for some cautious optimism on this. Would still love them to wrap the dungeons and Walliams World into some new huge brilliant themed family / family thrill area

 

[Bowser]

The question is, though; are the wider populace outside of enthusiast circles likely to make that connection? I don’t think so.

Hard to say at this stage but it potentially eliminates any USP/“worlds first” claims they are fond of (though of course Minecraft itself will do that). I would argue the audience are more savvy than ever, even if that is still a minority and the potential for influencers telling people “go here to ride the better version” is there.

Heck, proof of this comes in the form of Thirteen technically being one; no one’s conflating Chessington’s coaster or the likes of Uncharted with Thirteen!

Again I think it depends how similar they end up being. Do agree with what you’re saying about the dark ride aspects and theming being crucial.

AT having the more thrilling version whilst Chessington have the IP seems the most sensible outcome.

 

[AT86]

I guess the closest comparison is Spinball and Dragon’s Fury opening at both parks in the same year, although admittedly these were not on the same investment scale as Horizon and Minecraft seem to be.

In terms of them not cannibalising the visitation of their respective parks I guess it can all be managed by the marketing. As long as they are differently presented to the public in terms of theme/experience it doesn’t really matter if they are essentially the same underlying technology, especially since they will be inside and mostly in the dark.

It’s a potential risk for sure, but one they can mitigate quite easily.

 

[AltonLover123]

But this doesn't fit the narrative for those who believe Horizon has gone to Chessington?!

I mean that was never the case. People are funny.

I think the video’s a little bit clickbaity for those who’ve kept an active interest in the project as there wasn’t really anything new in there, but still cause for some cautious optimism on this. Would still love them to wrap the dungeons and Walliams World into some new huge brilliant themed family / family thrill area

I’d like to think that would happen but it’s Merlin.

 

[Zeock]

TPW has today posted an update on Project Horizon:

In summary:

• Shawn’s sources are leading him to believe that Project Horizon is still going ahead and will be opening in 2027, with land clearance beginning in early 2025 and major construction work starting in mid-2025.
• Shawn has suggested that the ride could potentially be an Intamin Multidimensional Coaster, with some form of “double deal” having been formed encompassing both Horizon and the upcoming Chessington coaster. He’s alleged that “a number of manufacturers” were consulted for the attraction, but that Intamin “were the key frontrunner”.
• He has heard rumours of the ride being space-themed.

Now of course none of this is confirmation, and Shawn himself was keen to stress this, but if true, it is certainly quite exciting and promising with regard to the ride’s status!

It is worth noting that minor stuff is still happening with this project, albeit slowly. Just recently, the updated Woodland Management Plan, submitted by Alton earlier this year, was approved.

This seems positive for the park, but I feel like flat rides still need to be prioritised over this attraction, especially considering the new rollercoaster for 2026.