Drayton Manor Park

[Excalibur]

But it's been ramping up recently I stood near the building the other with a gust coming through the building startled me as wasn't expecting it with a smell of a galleon very creepy and eerie

The smell of a galleon?

 

[rob666]

I smell a rat...

 

[Hid]

The smell of a galleon?

The atmospheric smell of old lumber the musty sort you typical associate with Pirates

 

[DiogoJ42]

I'm pretty sure the smell of a tall ship in active use would be "very bad" to modern noses.

 

[Excalibur]

The atmospheric smell of old lumber the musty sort you typical associate with Pirates

Like people have said, we’ve heard all sorts throughout the years since it’s closed and nothing has come of it. I hope this time that it is the case that something is being worked up, however I do have little faith in the re-theme as for the bodge job they have done on one of the turrets that got damaged. I understand this may have been a quick temporary fix, however I think it sticks out like a sore thumb and is awful.

Has looping group ever attempted a dark ride or a re-theme of an existing dark ride do we know? Or is this new for them?

 

[DistortAMG]

It would be new for them, and I don't think their theming of all the new attractions since taking over the park fills me with much confidence that they could do it justice. Lots of painted wood and some off-the-shelf props anyone can buy seem to be the bulk of their theming for everything since taking over the park.

Sure, it is nice that many areas are looking fresh and nice, but this is just an observation more than anything.

 

[Hid]

Like people have said, we’ve heard all sorts throughout the years since it’s closed and nothing has come of it. I hope this time that it is the case that something is being worked up, however I do have little faith in the re-theme as for the bodge job they have done on one of the turrets that got damaged. I understand this may have been a quick temporary fix, however I think it sticks out like a sore thumb and is awful.

Has looping group ever attempted a dark ride or a re-theme of an existing dark ride do we know? Or is this new for them?

This may be new to them but they did retheme and reopen the River Rapids so it wouldn't be too Farfetched.

Personally think the Turret looks alright as a temporary solution however I do agree it will need redoing.

To be honest Pirates Adventure and Excalibur are now the two blatant areas for development two of the largest plots in the park and they are literally some of the first things you see in Drayton Manor

 

[DistortAMG]

This may be new to them but they did retheme and reopen the River Rapids so it wouldn't be too Farfetched.

Personally think the Turret looks alright as a temporary solution however I do agree it will need redoing.

To be honest Pirates Adventure and Excalibur are now the two blatant areas for development two of the largest plots in the park and they are literally some of the first things you see in Drayton Manor

The re-theme of the river rapids consisted of lots of painted wood, some rope, and a few life rings—easily obtainable stuff. Yes, there were a few more 'bespoke' items, but not many. Plus, most of what is there with River Rapids was there before as Splash Canyon. Making the project even easier from a logistical point of view.

This is a very different beast, a major indoor-themed dark ride, which requires many, many more bespoke custom items, especially to make it convincing and decent, and where the theming literally IS the ride, as it is what makes up the bulk of the thrills and excitement. Very different from a coaster or rapids ride, where the transit system makes up the majority of the thrills, with scenery just complementing those thrills.

I struggle to see who could take on such a large project and have the manpower and skills to do it justice. All the big theming houses in the UK that were able to take on such a large project are either in-house (Merlin Magic Making), although even they might struggle these days. Or have long closed or are a shadow of their former selves (Sparks, Farmer Studios, Space Leisure, Rex Studios, etc.).

I am happy to be proven wrong in this case, however.

 

[TBoy535]

The re-theme of the river rapids consisted of lots of painted wood, some rope, and a few life rings—easily obtainable stuff. Yes, there were a few more 'bespoke' items, but not many. Plus, most of what is there with River Rapids was there before as Splash Canyon. Making the project even easier from a logistical point of view.

This is a very different beast, a major indoor-themed dark ride, which requires many, many more bespoke custom items, especially to make it convincing and decent, and where the theming literally IS the ride, as it is what makes up the bulk of the thrills and excitement. Very different from a coaster or rapids ride, where the transit system makes up the majority of the thrills, with scenery just complementing those thrills.

I struggle to see who could take on such a large project and have the manpower and skills to do it justice. All the big theming houses in the UK that were able to take on such a large project are either in-house (Merlin Magic Making), although even they might struggle these days. Or have long closed or are a shadow of their former selves (Sparks, Farmer Studios, Space Leisure, Rex Studios, etc.).

I am happy to be proven wrong in this case, however.

Who do Paultons park outsource to do all of there theming out of interest?