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Chessington World of Adventures Resort

As much as us enthusiasts hate the worlds first title it must work. From a business perspective they must anticipate it will attract more people and I'm sure it does help. Most of merlins investments have usp's and marketing them like must work.

I doubt the smiler would have been as popular without the world first tagline.
 
Given that the world's first tagline was announced late in the Smiler marketing, I would disagree with that statement...

Also for the record that's not concept art, Merlin never release that sorta stuff to the public eye...
 
CSLKenny said:
Yes but the IP and fact it is a new family ride is enough to attract people. No need for the desperate need to say it is a world's first.
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MaxPower said:
I think most people will be enticed enough by the Gruffalo I.P on its own, there's absolutely no point in adding 'worlds first' in any of the marketing IMO.
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Enthusiasts aversion to using this label blows my mind.
 
That awkward walk when you realise your ride replaced Bubbleworks...

gruffalo-walking.gif


(in all seriousness I hope this is done well, but I don't have high hopes)
 
MaxPower said:
The reason people are so averse to this is because with most new Merlin attractions, they attempt to shoehorn this label into the marketing irrespective of how frivolous the world first actually is.

The 'worlds first' label tends to lose it's effectiveness if it's overused in the way Merlin have done over the years.
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Mind still blown. I don't for a second understand what the problem is. It's one of their things... they spend a fortune on market research, the world's first label must be something that people relate to. I guess people want to experience world firsts, irrespective of how tenuous they are. Plus, so what if they are... marketing is about having the maximum impact on the market you're targeting.

I still don't understand the point you're making.
 
Imo having a worlds first attached isn't going to negatively impact opinion of a ride only positively impact opinion hence why merlin do it!!
Enthusiasts may get in a bit of a twist about it but we are in a minority


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I understand why Merlin frequently use the term "World's First", as I think it does work with the general public. It can make even the most mediocre attraction seem slightly more interesting, and I have heard people around the parks using the term when describing some of the rides, so it does catch on.

For me personally, it's a tired phrase now. It has been overused and it doesn't create any real excitement anymore. But I think us enthusiasts are part of a minority here.

As for Gruffalo, it looks perfectly fine. Not for me, but it is what it is.
 
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Firstly, I just want to point out that the use of "world's first" really doesn't deserve the discussion it's had. Yes, it's overused, but merlin know what they're doing here (shame the same can't be said when it comes to the parks themselves)

Secondly, im going to contradict myself and discuss it. I personally hate the use of world's first when it such a pathetic, meaningless claim as this. "World's first coaster fully dedicated to virtual reality" comes to mind aswell. World's first used to mean something when it came to new rides at these parks. The world's first on air, oblivion, and even th13teen were groundbreaking. World's first Gruffalo themed ride? World's first coaster fully dedicated to VR? Who cares?

I do agree though, that the GP seem go for theses weak claims. It's a marketing strategy that obviously works for merlin. But in this case, would "world's only" not work better? It's not like other parks are desperately trying to create a second Gruffalo ride to beat Chessington's world first claim is it?

To be completely honest, I don't care. It's such a minor thing that I'll forgive it if the end project works out. If this is the worst thing about this ride I'll be very impressed.
 
The advert is cute.

Worst bit about it is that they have the actual audacity to have Dragon Falls on there with all its theming intact.

What even happened to that "redesign our ride" thing they were doing for Dragon Falls?
 
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