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Alton Towers 2014 and Onwards

Do they even exist within RCT? Technically I wouldn't count that ride type as a splitting coaster. It's more like a duelling coaster that happens to share the same track.

Now a true splitting coaster would actually have the trains joined together (so that one side can't fall out of sync with the other) but then midway through the ride split to be reattached later, probably when back in the station. I suspect the reason they haven't done it would be because it would be an engineering nightmare when a similar effect could be gained by just building a good duelling coaster.
 
well:

2014: new family area retheming adventure land, storybook land and (possibly not but ah well) old mcdonalds farm. a nice beasty replacement an some good flat rideage.

2015: a new flat ride in dark forest/gloomy wood or both

2016: SW8 of some description ( i want one like x2! or the swarm maybe.........both look epical )

2017:an area retheme but not sure which or how.

ok so i will shut up now. it is probably too much to think for 2016 yet but hey-ho that is what i have done.
 
Tim said:
Do they even exist within RCT? Technically I wouldn't count that ride type as a splitting coaster. It's more like a duelling coaster that happens to share the same track.

Now a true splitting coaster would actually have the trains joined together (so that one side can't fall out of sync with the other) but then midway through the ride split to be reattached later, probably when back in the station. I suspect the reason they haven't done it would be because it would be an engineering nightmare when a similar effect could be gained by just building a good duelling coaster.
Click to expand...

Yes, Diffrence between a Duelling coaster and a Splitting coaster is that a splitting coasters seat can be set to rotate at certain points in the track to change the angle the rider is at, that is what the diffrence is.
 
hobohippie95 said:
Tim said:
Do they even exist within RCT? Technically I wouldn't count that ride type as a splitting coaster. It's more like a duelling coaster that happens to share the same track.

Now a true splitting coaster would actually have the trains joined together (so that one side can't fall out of sync with the other) but then midway through the ride split to be reattached later, probably when back in the station. I suspect the reason they haven't done it would be because it would be an engineering nightmare when a similar effect could be gained by just building a good duelling coaster.
Click to expand...

Yes, Diffrence between a Duelling coaster and a Splitting coaster is that a splitting coasters seat can be set to rotate at certain points in the track to change the angle the rider is at, that is what the diffrence is.
Click to expand...
So it's 4D coaster split in half, I still don't see how it's a "Splitting Coaster" rather than just Duelling 4D?
 
I think it'd cost more money than it'd be worth. Besides that and the fact that it could be a technical pain in the arse, it'd take up a lot of room. People talk about B&M creating a 4D wing rider for SW8 but I can't help but wonder where the hell they'd put one. SW7 is pretty cramped as it is and that's just a Eurofighter.

The only place I can think of for such a ride would be the car park behind Air, but it'd still probably be too small for such a big ride. They can't exactly fit one in anywhere else without removing either lots of rides or lots of trees. Or both.

Once SW7 is built, Alton will have covered inverted coasters, drop coasters, launches and inversions. Their next big ride needs to either be an airtime coaster or a woodie, although Merlin don't want wooden coasters anyway. A new dark coaster might be good, but I'm not sure whether it should be as a SW project or not.

Personally, I'd love for Merlin to see the success of the RMC wooden coasters in the US like New Texas Giant and allow Mr Wardley to finally build a wooden coaster at Alton Towers. They're as smooth as steal and as insane as woodies. They can tick-off airtime, sharp turns and even throw in an inversion if they want to, as well as aim to create the longest drop on a wooden coaster on the planet... if they ever get to use the valley for a ride. Everyone's a winner! :p

That'd also be pretty damn easy to market as well. Why risk your reputation and dignity by pulling silly PR stunts for the papers when you have a ride that good?


...


Ah, who am I kidding? SW8 won't be that at all. They'll never get a woodie and they'll never use the valley either.

:(
 
They'll never use the valley because of how much trouble it seems to be to actually build anything down there more than not wanting to use it... Thirteen was bad enough with tree issues, the valley would be worse...

I must be one of the few who doesn't like the look of the RMC coasters... Would rather the UK get a GCI first...
 
I believe they will use the valley but only when they find a project that's absolutely perfect for it.

Last year during SW7's planning there were several reliable sightings of one B&M's founders (can't remember which one) taking measurements from Rita's 1st and 3rd corner and down into the valley. There were also rumours that SW7's current design was not the first choice, but the original plan was deemed not to be ready yet. If both the rumour and the sightings were correct it would suggest they had plans for a new valley coaster but probably a new type of hyper coaster rather than a woody (shame really as a woody would suit the natural environment).
 
I don't think Towers will ever get permission to build down the valley unfortunately. It would be a fantastic location for a coaster but I don't think it will ever happen. There are too many planning hurdles to clear.
 
I can see a valley coaster for SW9 - i get the feeling SW8 will be the ride SW7 was meant to be on the AIR car park. The next coaster after that I think will be a Valley Crossing B&M. I can see AT getting two B&M's in the next 5 years or so
 
I think perhaps gauging the public reaction to the new woodie hybrids in the US (Outlaw Run) would be crucial in deciding whether to build one here. This new hybrid idea could be the key to whether one will ever be built at AT - having some steel in it might convince the public that it's safer than the traditional styles.
 
I don't understand why the park insists on SW projects being world's first coasters. So far as I can see it isn't:

To make a new ride more marketable.
When the general public visit a park, they're just looking for a line-up of really good rides that make them feel that they've got their money's worth from the high ticket price. They don't really care what a coaster does that no other in the world can. Sure, a world's first element might be something that they'll specifically mention to friends after the visit, but if they've had a really good time they'll tell people about their day anyway.

Alton Towers is the UK's favourite theme park, and at the moment its reputation means that if people know there's a new coaster they'll visit. As I seem to recall Rupert saying ages ago when we were all on TT, the park could in theory be very simple and easy to market; given the chance it could sell itself. "Here's a picture of some very excited/terrified people aboard a train on our big new coaster, and here are our other fantastic rides. Come and visit. You'll probably like it a lot."

Instead there always has to be some sort of unnecessary claim about the ride or a mention of how it should make guests feel. Building insubstantial attractions that lack lasting appeal and marketing them in this way could completely undermine the park's aforementioned reputation; much as I like Thirteen and Sub-Terra, the last couple of seasons indicate that guests already have less faith in the park's ability to deliver the standard of attractions they expect. We'll just have to see how SW7 is received.

To differentiate a new ride at the park from other parks' new rides.
Merlin's parks have a certain amount of competition, but none of it could be considered serious competition at the moment. When not even the larger rivals like Drayton and Pleasure Beach have built a serious coaster in years, Alton don't exactly need to build something vastly different to anyone else. It actually seems like madness for Alton to go out of its way to build an unconventional coaster just for the sheer hell of it, and in fact with the attitude to investment Merlin have been displaying of late it doesn't seem like a very Merlin park thing to do at all! "Spending huge amounts of money on R&D to build something nobody else has done before? Why would we bother when we can build a standard coaster type with a reasonable layout and dress it up with shipping containers for much less?"

Because the park's fans and enthusiasts demand it.
This can be immediately discredited because in the park's view we're a minority audience. We can be an annoyance, but we're mostly harmless, good for a bit of free word-of-mouth marketing and fun to tease. I imagine the latter helps to offset how much of a pain we can be. ;) We're certainly not important though, and aside from a steady stream of AP renewals, merch and food we're not a great source of profit.

Ignoring this, ever since I was just a lurker on TT in 2009 it's always seemed that most of the forum would rather see the park build one of the world's best coasters than a world's first coaster. It's a sentiment that many people express at the first mention on here of a new coaster at any park! Discussing secret elements or world's firsts can make for interesting discussion, but following an amazing project that a park is happy to talk about openly can be just as interesting. Frankly if the park looked to us for guidance on what to build the SW concept would probably be no more. However, they'd have an awesome Mack launched coaster and GCI woodie... :p

Alton, to sum up I'll echo the sentiments of many other members of this forum. I'm optimistic that SW7 will be a good experience, but how about something less innovative yet truly incredible for next time?
 
NastyPasty said:
Something long-life would be far more effective. I'm just gonna say it; Doctor Who would make a fantastic IP; it's ongoing, British and very unique. The theming opportunities would be mind-blowing. It would be immensely popular but would require huge investment, something which Merlin would be unlikely to support such a great project.
Click to expand...

I actually think Doctor Who would make a great IP for a theme park. Genuinely surprised that it hasn't been done yet, as it has such a broad appeal.
 
The odd thing is I agree entirely with you Cheese... except for the main point of your argument. Innovation is very important and I'd still like to see future projects as SWs and doing innovative things. Any park with enough cash can build a standard Mack launched coaster or GCI but I've always preferred Alton’s rides because they do something more. However I agree with all your points because I think they should stop chasing Worlds Firsts.

Case in point Oblivion:
What I find so appealing about the ride is not that it is the first vertical drop ride but the way it treats the drop as a symbol. There are a lot of theatrics involved to make it work in a way that most standard rides don't deliver. Replace the 90 degree drop with say an 80 degree one and while it would not seem as impressive it would still be as good a ride.

The problem I find with the current attitude of the park is as you pointed out; their reliance on a Worlds First as a marketing feature. With Oblivion and Air It felt more like they were Worlds First rides in order to complete the designer’s vision rather than coming up with the Worlds First and working it backwards.
 
New Land and New Indoor Coaster in Forbidden Valley

FutureofairareaFV.png


-Red is the enterance to the new land from Forbidden Valley
-Green is the new plaza for the area-Pink is the Food Outlet
-Blue could be the new indoor rollercoaster
-Black New rollercoaster enterance
-Orange-Air's possible new enterance

The far end of Nemesis (the end with the loop) should be the cut off point. Trees could be planted to give the impression of a dense forest, even though its only about 50 yards to the new land. The Blade should either be removed and shipped off to Thorpe or Chessington, or rethemed to fit in Mutiny Bay with a new smaller flat taking up Blade's old space. The new land could be themed very futuristic (Tomorrowland at Disney Florida comes to mind) with Air being rethemed very slightly to fit the theme, perhaps with a storyline of some sort. And for god sake, someone please do something with that Air tunnel The entrance for the new land would be built pretty much directly next to Air's disabled entrance, which could possibly be moved to allow a larger entrance and some food outlets. The Air Shop would remain in the same place but the entrance and queueline for Air should be completely re-built, allowing for a queueline up towards the new indoor ride. The plaza below Air would be transformed into some new shops and food outlets, including some of these Carnival Games which turn up in almost every land.This new land would also see a better footpath being build up towards it from the FV entrance so that you don't need to walk through mud to get to it.

But i was think if Alton Towers had a indoor water ride similar to Vahalla at Blackpool as it would be a great addition to the park.

Valhalla-768x579.jpg


I wasn't able to find a decent inside image or ariel shot but i can tell you Vahalla covers around the same ground as Duel
 
Scott please don't copy other peoples posts. I do read TowersTimes as well as this forum so I know you've just reposted what other people have said. There's nothing wrong with reporting someone's idea or tweaking and rewriting it to fit your own opinion but you've literally just copy and pasted what they wrote. It’s even worse given that the people whose posts you’ve copied have already told you off for doing so.

As for the bits you have added yourself it's an ok idea but with two major problems. Firstly you've suggested building an indoor ride on the hill next to Air. Why not on the flat section of land behind it? Second (and this is as a result of you just copying someone else’s image) why turn Airs entrance into a plaza area and move its entrance so that there is no reason to be there? Plus how would this linked in with future plans to link between Forbidden Valley and the Hotels?
 
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