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Hex [2024 Refurb]: General Discussion

How much would it cost to replace the ride mechanism? I’d imagine a lot of the cost back in 2000 went into the refurbishment of the towers and the main construction. Assuming some of the vault theming could be salvaged, it might not cost a prohibitively high amount for Merlin to replace it. I know they have the retrack project coming up, but I don’t think they can afford to lose such an integral part of the ride lineup.
 
s_g_k said:
Hex can’t go. If it does, it’ll be a dark day. It epitomises the ambition and excitement to make AT a world class resort. The theming, setting and music are incredible. The moment you enter you know you’re in a world class dark ride,

Can you tell I love Hex 😀
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Funny how it is held in such a high regard.
It is a haunted swing in a shed, well themed, but nothing more.
A one trick pony that is a good "first time" ride, but then becomes little more than a shelter in a storm.
The moment you enter, you know you are out of the rain for about twenty minutes.
Fix it or rip it out, but no lingering death please.
Bring back the big gift shop, planetarium and model railway, real progress!
 
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Merlin really don’t look after there non-coaster rides they didn’t install. Look at what they did with Charlie and now Hex, Duel, Rapids and the enterprise.
With the shell of the ride been installed before the building was installed it may not be worth it for the park to build another 1 if it doesn’t get more guests thought the gates. Like they could bring back Hex live and just use the queue and both pre show rooms then you exit before the ride.
 
I really wouldn't be surprised if we see Hex just closed for a long period of time, maybe some of it might be utilised as a scare maze, until a time when they either decide they have money to spend getting it sorted for good or just get rid. Sounds rather familiar doesn't it (yes, I'm talking about you N:ST).
 
For me, Hex is Iconic is Nemesis or Corkscrew.

It is part of what makes Alton Towers special.

Hex uses the Towers and its history to take you through that journey, with a little fantasy added. It is one of the best dark rides I have been on.

Alton Towers would lose a bit of that magic if Hex was to close forever, and I always feel sad after a visit when I have not been able to ride due to it being closed. Dont get me started on how much the Towers are closed themselves as well now.
 
rob666 said:
Funny how it is held in such a high regard.
It is a haunted swing in a shed, well themed, but nothing more.
A one trick pony that is a good "first time" ride, but then becomes little more than a shelter in a storm.
The moment you enter, you know you are out of the rain for about twenty minutes.
Fix it or rip it out, but no lingering death please.
Bring back the big gift shop, planetarium and model railway, real progress!
Click to expand...

Are you just trying to rile people up here? Haha.

Nemesis is just a 2 minute jolly down a trench, and so on.
 
It does sound like the sort of mechanical issue that may require an almost demolish and rebuild fix. Not too surprising for a 22 year old attraction I suppose, but it will probably be a difficult and expensive fix. Probably worth it though.
 
I like Hex a lot, and it is probably one of my favourite UK dark rides, as well as my favourite non-coaster attraction at Alton Towers, but I do possibly agree with @rob666 in that I don’t regard it as highly as others or view it as being quite as “important” as others do. It very much sits on the sidelines within Alton Towers for me; it’s very good at what it does, but I don’t personally agree with some of the massive hype surrounding it.

I enjoy Hex, don’t get me wrong, but I view it more as a “don’t mind if I do” filler attraction that I only do from time to time as opposed to an essential attraction I do every visit. I haven’t actually ridden it since 2020, come to think of it; I didn’t do it at all last year.

It’s among my favourite UK dark rides, and it is my favourite Madhouse of the 4 I’ve done, but not among my very top worldwide dark rides. One thing I’ll give it is that it’s perhaps the epitome of a “simple but effective” immersive attraction, which I think is very clever.
 
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I'd say while Hex is not a headline ride, it does a lot to reduce pressure on the headline rides.
Given that ride reliability is not great this season and Nemesis the throughput-monster is expected to be out next season, Alton Towers need all the throughput they can get.
 
It's also very important to acknowledge that whilst most enthusiasts see it as a great dark ride and part of AT's identity; most visitors do see it as little more than a novelty.
 
There is no evidence to support that the drum is distorted, just an assumption based on the fact that the trommel in Duel has suffered that fate.

I am not saying it is not distorted, but it is worth remembering that the mad house structure is a far more robust and 'fit for purpose' structure than the trommel is. It is clear to see from photos that lot more structural engineering goes into the structure of these mad houses than what went into the trommel.

Vekoma mad houses are also hexagonal based structures, when braced correctly along the length of it (the in-between parts which turn the hexagon ends into a hexagonal cylinder, aka the vault / drum), they are very very strong structures and it appears they do build them braced correctly. While not as strong as a triangle, they are very rigid in their own right - it is a naturally strong shape. This is probably one of the reasons they are made a hexagon shape to begin with.

I am not saying the vault is not warped, but they are not built at all like the trommel in Duel is, so cannot be assumed it is based off that.
 
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I don’t think it’s a matter of not having the cash to fix it, I think it’s a mixture of not really knowing what the issue actually is, the fact it’s taking so long to get parts and stuff from abroad with massive lead times and also the lack of techies at towers.

They’ve tried to fix it at least twice this season, and they haven’t sorted the issue, which says to me they aren’t too sure where the actual problem is. Then of course it might be another 2 month wait on a different part to fix the issue.
 
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