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Drayton Manor Park

Here's an interesting fact which might not be well-known. The audio for Excalibur was triggered using infrared. IR transmitters were secured to posts around the lake, while IR receivers were mounted on the boats. One of the main reasons for the unreliable audio was the inconsistent water levels of the lake. When the water level dropped, or dirt and grime blocked the infrared, the transmitters and receivers wouldn't align properly, resulting in audio not being triggered, and the familiar 'please remain seated' effect to play on repeat. Boats used a car battery to power the speaker, and the audio effects were numbered MP3 files, which were targeted by each IR transmitter.
 
Ciaran said:
Here's an interesting fact which might not be well-known. The audio for Excalibur was triggered using infrared. IR transmitters were secured to posts around the lake, while IR receivers were mounted on the boats. One of the main reasons for the unreliable audio was the inconsistent water levels of the lake. When the water level dropped, or dirt and grime blocked the infrared, the transmitters and receivers wouldn't align properly, resulting in audio not being triggered, and the familiar 'please remain seated' effect to play on repeat. Boats used a car battery to power the speaker, and the audio effects were numbered MP3 files, which were targeted by each IR transmitter.
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Yeah I believe the sensors also were not water resistant
 
Is it a possibility Excalibur could be used for something whether it be a new boat ride or a new coaster because is the theming still there never actually been able to see the lake.
 
Hid said:
Doesn't mean it can't be repaired
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It would make no sense to do that. Because all the scenes and scenery were built around and specifically for a boat ride. If you built a new ride you would have to build the new ride to that route which makes no sense.

It is all completely rotten anyway, we had a look a few years ago. Plus, part of the rides route, just before the waterfalls, has been filled in to extend the maintenance area.
 
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rob666 said:
...or just scrap the zoo and have a cheaper, quicker new ride site, and a nice lake next to it.
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They are updating the Zoo at the moment so it ain't going anywhere to make it in line with the new animal welfare rules. That's why you'll notice many parks who have animals implement changes over coming years
 
rob666 said:
They have been "updating the zoo" since the millennium.
Yet it remains in a very poor state for a modern animal facility.
Anyone seen any great updates in the last quarter century?

No excuses now they are in partnership with WMSP.
Shift them over to better accommodation.
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100% agree with this. Zoo’s in the format of Draytons are a thing of the past. Much better to send them to the safari park.

The only zoos I can cope with are London, Chester and Twycross. The rest just seem …. Cruel.

Going off topic but I haven’t been to Dudley zoo in years. The last time i did the enclosures were just concrete pits and those poor animals looked so depressed.
 
If you want the very worst of the old school...

I remember the Tower Zoo.

Absolutely rancid steaming Victorian hell hole.

Right at the start of the safari park movement.

We were promised no animals in cages...in primary school science lessons...fifty years ago.

But progress, while in the pursuit of profits, can be difficult.
 
rob666 said:
If you want the very worst of the old school...

I remember the Tower Zoo.

Absolutely rancid steaming Victorian hell hole.

Right at the start of the safari park movement.

We were promised no animals in cages...in primary school science lessons...fifty years ago.

But progress, while in the pursuit of profits, can be difficult.
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I want bigger cages like you and no animal in a cage but they are making the upgrades now and shifting the animals to better locations.

Things take time to complete and with the new rules in place it forces them to do it.

That Sealion enclosure no animal should be in that in its current state
 
rob666 said:
They have been "updating the zoo" since the millennium.
Yet it remains in a very poor state for a modern animal facility.
Anyone seen any great updates in the last quarter century?

No excuses now they are in partnership with WMSP.
Shift them over to better accommodation.
Click to expand...
I did think the same about Drayton’s to I went to Dudley Zoo and there’s makes Drayton’s look world class.
The Zoo up to the early 90’s was the main reason to go Drayton Manor just after they started to install Pirate Adventure the investment in the zoo has got less and less and ever visitor numbers to the zoo is getting less.
Even if they can’t built rides on most of the land with it been the closest areas to the housing estates they could built a year round all weather entertainment venue which could house events, meet and greets and live events. Even the Santa experience could go in here and they then can remove the castle of dreams area and really open up that area of the park.
 
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