Just something I've been pondering, since Merlin have taken over, we've not actually seen many, if any 'flat ride' additions.
Alton Towers has seen: The Smiler, a new aquarium, 13, Nemesis Sub Terra (Not really a flat ride as such, more a dark ride) and Ice Age (Which I definitely wouldn't count as a flat ride)
Thorpe Park has seen: The Swarm, The Swarm Backwards, The Saw Ride itself and the spin off scare maze and Storm Surge.
Chessington has seen: Zufari, and Wild Asia, which included Kobra which is the closest (Even though to the general public it looks like a rollercoaster) thing to a flat ride that they've installed.
So has the flat ride gone out of fashion? I understand that rollercoasters are the most marketable and 'best' return on your money. I can also see the need for themed visitor attractions such as Nemesis Sub Terra and Zufari. Thorpe Park also has pretty much every variation on a swing/spin ride you can think of and a couple beside, so installing a new flat ride would be harder.
It's a shame because personally I think Alton Towers needs at least 3: one for the dark forest, one to replace Beastie and one for Gloomy Wood, just as crowd munchers, don't even get me started on the used fairground rides still hiding! It's time for Blade and Enterprise to move on and let something big and thrilling take their place.
Chessington needs a kick up the bum.
So yes, do you agree? Is the flat ride dead in the Merlin investment cycle?
Alton Towers has seen: The Smiler, a new aquarium, 13, Nemesis Sub Terra (Not really a flat ride as such, more a dark ride) and Ice Age (Which I definitely wouldn't count as a flat ride)
Thorpe Park has seen: The Swarm, The Swarm Backwards, The Saw Ride itself and the spin off scare maze and Storm Surge.
Chessington has seen: Zufari, and Wild Asia, which included Kobra which is the closest (Even though to the general public it looks like a rollercoaster) thing to a flat ride that they've installed.
So has the flat ride gone out of fashion? I understand that rollercoasters are the most marketable and 'best' return on your money. I can also see the need for themed visitor attractions such as Nemesis Sub Terra and Zufari. Thorpe Park also has pretty much every variation on a swing/spin ride you can think of and a couple beside, so installing a new flat ride would be harder.
It's a shame because personally I think Alton Towers needs at least 3: one for the dark forest, one to replace Beastie and one for Gloomy Wood, just as crowd munchers, don't even get me started on the used fairground rides still hiding! It's time for Blade and Enterprise to move on and let something big and thrilling take their place.
Chessington needs a kick up the bum.
So yes, do you agree? Is the flat ride dead in the Merlin investment cycle?