It was when it ran both sides a spectacle to watch, it just died a death limping its wounded way to the end. At least it was a flat ride, the only other we've had has been Heave-Ho! (Although don't tell anyone, but I adore Heave Ho)
Submission was a decent flat ride when it was first put in. Especially when both were running, and the tv ad was great. Also Hex was missed off the list. Really well planned. And great tv ad.
Hex is good because it was pre- DIC & Merlin. Like I pointed out there hasn't been any good quality investment post 2005.
I have vague recollections from Wardley's book that he went to see 'The Haunting' at Drayton Manor and was impressed which spawned the idea for Hex. It could have been one of the other guys in the team at the time though, not too sure.
Submission was a pure pelvis crusher from start to finish. You could hear the wails of agony from the ground but it was good in its heyday. I'm not sure that Sub-Terra will be with us for much longer even if it is open next year. Merlin are seemingly having to spend a lot of money on it recently, and if it's one thing they don't like its letting the moths out of their wallets. I think by the time SW8 is here sub terra will be no more.
Spinball Whizzer opened in 2004 replacing the Adventure Land play area and was also the year the Log Flume was refurbished to become 'The Flume: Unplugged' with Imperial Leather sponsorship. I think the park was already in decline by this point, but there was no denying it by 2005. The place was looking shabby and had a general image/identity crisis going on in terms of the brand.
I honestly wouldn't be surprised if sub terra did go before 2020, the GP usually walk past and go 'what's that?' And it's not exactly re ridable, it barely ever had/has a queue and it's unreliable. A few days after opening they closed it for improvements, the ride stayed at its peak for about a season, then it just went downhill again when the actors were removed, then they threw money at its restraint system, that's gone down the drain pretty much and now we have no idea what maintenance it's going through now. It's a good concept, poor final product.