-
ℹ️ Heads up...
This is a popular topic that is fast moving Guest - before posting, please ensure that you check out the first post in the topic for a quick reminder of guidelines, and importantly a summary of the known facts and information so far. Thanks.
Major Ride Closures 2016
- Thread starter AstroDan
- Start date
What else is left that isn't a "non-core" ride? Enterprise, blade, frog hopper and gallopers all come to mind. Sorry, did I just give towers a list? Really, the only safe rides are the coasters (with the possible exception of spinball, but not until a replacement is planned), Congo, and hex (I'm fairly certain it will return).
Rick
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Crux
How do the two things have any relevancy to each other?
Tom
TS Member
My interpretation of Varney saying they won't be putting back in "non-core" rides means that it's far from certain that Sub-Terra, Hex and Charlie will reopen next season as everyone assumed. I find it more likely that if and when they do reopen, it will be under an IP that they have secured. Perhaps Hex may reopen without one, but not sure that is certain to be in 2017.
The reality is that things like Ripsaw will never be replaced. Merin do not identify with flats in my opinion, and I think once they are gone, they are gone.
I should add that Varney said he saw the future having an increase in operating days and hours.
The reality is that things like Ripsaw will never be replaced. Merin do not identify with flats in my opinion, and I think once they are gone, they are gone.
I should add that Varney said he saw the future having an increase in operating days and hours.
To be fair, they're not *just* rollercoasters are they? They are a pretty impressive line up. The flats are needed, but they're certainly not on an equal billing as the coasters.
PeteB
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Nemesis
Just hitting home that Merlin are a far cry from anything remotely Disney. There are other park operators who are leaps and bounds ahead of Merlin. Under their ownership, Towers has sunk deeper and deeper into a depressed state.
Hate to say it but that's the way I interpret this as well. What a great shame! Charlie has needed replacement since it opened so I'm fine with that but Sub Terra and especially Hex are a great loss. Same with the flats, I guess because they don't have significant "pulling power" like the headline attractions do they are seen as not necessary in Merlin's eyes.
Further proof Merlin have absolutely no idea how to operate leisure facilities and visitor attractions.
Jonathan
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Helix <3
It's all well and good having coasters, but they won't cope if there aren't any other rides to help soak up the crowds. This is why it's so crucial that the rides which have been closed this season are either reopened after any refurbishment works or replaced. And I'm not currently getting much of an impression that either of those things are happening, though I do believe work is still ongoing with Hex at the very least.
DiogoJ42
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- The Metropolitan Line
Merlin's ideal attraction:
A Sealife hotel, with a single black tracked Gerst. coaster wrapping round and through the shark tank (made out of shipping containers), surrounded by a thirty foot high unpainted wooden fence. It only opens two nights a week and costs more than your house did.
A Sealife hotel, with a single black tracked Gerst. coaster wrapping round and through the shark tank (made out of shipping containers), surrounded by a thirty foot high unpainted wooden fence. It only opens two nights a week and costs more than your house did.
Last edited:
Jonathan
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Helix <3
Don't forget the VR goggles that break every five minutes.
Rick
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Crux
If there is a time to introduce filler rides to handle crowds, it's not right now or in the immediate future.
I think you know that's not true, not least because they will (and do) sell Fastrack for almost anything.
Matt Creek
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance
The problem with Towers are at the moment, they don't seem to see the importance in flat rides.
Whilst they will never be a main draw there (like fairs, amusement parks and Thorpe currently) they are essential rides to quench up queues on busy days and when coasters break down.
Even five years ago (a time when Dark Forest was wiped flat clean), they had an acceptable number of flats. X Sector had Submission and Enterprise and Forbidden Valley had Blade, Ripsaw and Sub Terra (not really a flat).
In the last five years, aside from coasters, the only park additions we have seen are a failed dark ride, updated cinema and a kids area (CBeebies land) most of which already existed before. In this time, not only has investment on flats been stagnant but we've seen two essential flats removed. Blade and Enterprise will likely follow before long in the next 2-5 years.
2017 certainly doesn't give me much optimism considering they're investing in the target audience (young families) which are arguably best served in the park's current sorry state. This is despite the middle family market offering considerably less prior to 2016.
Despite getting the much welcomed SW8 in 2018 (though it's layout is a differen matter), my fear and concern is that 2019 could be yet another CBeebies land year, despite the rest of the park continuing to rot away.
Whilst they will never be a main draw there (like fairs, amusement parks and Thorpe currently) they are essential rides to quench up queues on busy days and when coasters break down.
Even five years ago (a time when Dark Forest was wiped flat clean), they had an acceptable number of flats. X Sector had Submission and Enterprise and Forbidden Valley had Blade, Ripsaw and Sub Terra (not really a flat).
In the last five years, aside from coasters, the only park additions we have seen are a failed dark ride, updated cinema and a kids area (CBeebies land) most of which already existed before. In this time, not only has investment on flats been stagnant but we've seen two essential flats removed. Blade and Enterprise will likely follow before long in the next 2-5 years.
2017 certainly doesn't give me much optimism considering they're investing in the target audience (young families) which are arguably best served in the park's current sorry state. This is despite the middle family market offering considerably less prior to 2016.
Despite getting the much welcomed SW8 in 2018 (though it's layout is a differen matter), my fear and concern is that 2019 could be yet another CBeebies land year, despite the rest of the park continuing to rot away.
I get that, but at the moment the park doesn't often get big queues so there's less of a need to have rides designed to quench up the queues. We can't really compare to five years ago when in the past 18 months the park's reputation has taken the worst hit in its entire existance. Visitor numbers are drastically down from 2012, so it's a different playing field.
When the after effects from the crash completely die down and park numbers rise significantly - and with the incident at M&D's having brought it all back, Vicky Balch still frequently appearing in the media, and minor ride breakdowns still being blown out of proportion and making big news, I'd say that's a LONG way off - then we might see more filler attractions like flats popping up. But I reckon we're talking 2018 at the very earliest.
Not saying this to anyone in particular, but to the people saying flats are not important:
Thorpe has a similar coaster line up to towers. I found though, that I had a much fuller day at thorpe than towers. I'm going to give the credit of that to the flats. Most of them may be on their last legs, but thorpe have an amazing selection of flats. It's something towers miss, something to break up riding coasters. I'd love to see some new flats at towers (and we know merlin have considered them several times in the past), but unfortunately, I doubt it's going to happen any time soon. Still, we never thought towers were going to go for a woodie, yet here we are.
I'm also hoping that the success of DBGT will make merlin consider dark rides in the future. I know it could be considered a failure so far, but it has consistently had a 100+ minute queue every time I've seen it open. I think in terms of dark rides, a lot rests on the success of bubbleworks replacement.
Thorpe has a similar coaster line up to towers. I found though, that I had a much fuller day at thorpe than towers. I'm going to give the credit of that to the flats. Most of them may be on their last legs, but thorpe have an amazing selection of flats. It's something towers miss, something to break up riding coasters. I'd love to see some new flats at towers (and we know merlin have considered them several times in the past), but unfortunately, I doubt it's going to happen any time soon. Still, we never thought towers were going to go for a woodie, yet here we are.
I'm also hoping that the success of DBGT will make merlin consider dark rides in the future. I know it could be considered a failure so far, but it has consistently had a 100+ minute queue every time I've seen it open. I think in terms of dark rides, a lot rests on the success of bubbleworks replacement.
I do whole heartedly agree the park needs more flats at some stage. Even with Ripsaw and Submission there, they could have done with having more. I just think it'll be a while before it's even considered. And I do think when some of Thorpe's go, they won't be replaced.
Matt Creek
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance
I understand the current status of the park is the worst it's been during its whole existence and things will get worse before they get better. However, in the eight years under Merlin, the park has never received any true flats. The nearest types being Sub Terra & Heave Ho (a young family ride).
Submission's site has remained a vacant grass spot for three seasons now and Ripsaw's is now home to an upselling game inflatable. It is very likely both of these sites will remain this way for at least a few seasons left.
Unfortunately with the exception of kids rides, I cannot see the park adding any sort of flat ride anytime soon. Especially seeing Blade & Ripsaw originally planned for removal for SW8 before the crash back this up for me.
Parks can't just prosper on kids rides and coasters (even if most/all are of top quality). Parks in the UK such as Drayton, Blackpool, Thorpe and even Chessington and Legoland have a considerably better lineup than Towers here, let alone the gems of Europe.