As shown in Figure 7.2, previous and planned investments at the Park give rise to certain changes in demand. The previous and proposed major investments at the park during the period identified are as follows:
1) „Air‟ opened during 2002;
2) Changed ownership at the end of 2007 resulted in proactive marketing;
3) Replacement of the „Corkscrew‟ coaster (opening of TH13TEEN coaster) and extended opening hours during 2010;
4) New roller coaster during 2013;
5) Large indoor ride during 2016;
6) Replacement thrill ride and potential third hotel during 2018; and
7) New large coaster and indoor attraction during 2019.
Looking back on this statement, and considering the lack of some notable rides (Rita and N:ST mainly), it is clear that these new rides will be on a major, major scale. All will either be large, 10 million+ coasters or exquisitely themed, expensive dark rides or similar. I'm thinking that the 2016 ride will be in coaster corner, as this seems to be the most likely situation, with it possibly being a dark ride of some sort, a flat or possibly even a indoor coaster.
The references to 2018 tell me that this could be the creation of the new entrance to the park- due to the new hotel possibly being made. As well as this, it looks as if the ride will be either a replacement to the Flume, or the Blade and Ripsaw. On the Flume site, it will either be a coaster or a water ride, to me, looking at the size. This could be interchangeable with the 2016 plan (ie. if that is a dark ride, this will be a coaster, and vice versa). If it is the replacement of the Blade and Ripsaw, I'm either thinking a coaster- could even be the cross-valley one, should it go into the heart of FV (which would look fantastic) or a large dark ride. Thoughts are, new flat rides wouldn't be major enough to be included in this plan- as I've mentioned above- and so could fill in gaps between years, which is why I don't believe this to happen.
2019 coaster is most likely SW8, and possibly the 4D coaster, in FV. The only reasons to suggest this is not the case is if: the technology is not developed enough or it's built in one of the locations above. Most likely to be built in the Air car-park, with the possible hotel entrance/entertainment centre connecting this with the hotel.
And just a bit on the cross-valley coaster, and the one I find most intriguing. If it's built, it will be either a Intamin or B&M hyper- I just don't see anything else happening. The woodie is not going to happen, and the scale of the valley means it should be a 200 foot+ drop, according to James' figures on the first page. The bottom of the valley (I believe, it's phrased really badly as a "camel-back"- which is very confusing) is 40 m (or about 130 feet) below the highest point at Dark Forest, with the lift-hill possibly going to tree height- which is approximately 70 feet- making about 200 feet. Possibly going into the middle of FV- as mentioned above- could be a difference from the planned woodie- as the turnaround (from memory) would be where the Air car-park coaster is (I think). The coaster would probably be given more justice as a Intamin- and would increase the number of Intamin Forest- but a B&M would be fine by me. It would probably be one of the most highly rated coasters in the world, possibly even more so than Nemesis, if done well. Almost a Boulder Dash sort of coaster, but steel, is what I'm imagining. Probably won't be built before 2019, but still would be worth the wait.
Anyway, this whole plan looks hugely exciting, although we'll be lucky if two of the above happen, but they are all fairly realistic. Looks great nevertheless.
