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Occasional big investments or regular small investments?

A

Altonadvocate1

TS Member
There are many forum members who berate the disappearance (and non replacement) of flat rides at AT.

Personally, I've always thought that most flat rides can be experienced at a travelling fun fair, so their absence at a "world class theme park" is of no consequence to me.

At Merlin Parks we generally get a SW level investment every 4 years. Whilst we will probably never get anything as good as Nemesis again, I am a fan of Thirteen (though I wonder where the alleged 15 million pound budget went, I love The Smiler (but god its rough for a new coaster) and I think SW8 is on the right track (just give me pun of the year award right now).

Merlin's mid level attractions however, rarely hit the spot, though I do like battle galleons).

Ice age, Nemesis Sub Terra, and their associated mid level attractions at other Merlin parks always seem a waste of money and various independent parks seem to get more for a similar budget ((Viking Voyage anyone).

Whilst Derren Brown's Snooze Fest shows that even big budget attractions can be poor, what are everyone's thoughts.

Do we want loads of flats, slightly less, but better themed flats, an intermediate number of mid level attractions, a SW every 4 years or something even more epic but rarer?
 
I'm sure we could have had a flat from the money that's been spent on Galactica. I would have much preferred this. I don't think it's the case of merlin not having the money it's the opposite. I do like the SW projects - it would be nice for them to maybe have some flats built at the same time as them.
 
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Towerslover said:
I'm sure we could have had a flat, maybe even 2 from the money that's been spent on Galactica. I would have much preferred this.
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That's too simple an approach. The lifetime ownership cost of the VR element of Air/Galactica is 'virtually' nothing vs. that of two flat rides.
 
Rick said:
That's too simple an approach. The lifetime ownership cost of the VR element of Air/Galactica is 'virtually' nothing vs. that of two flat rides.
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I didn't mean from a business perspective or from merlins perspective. Just that me and probably lots of other park guests would have found the flat rides much more enjoyable. Surely merlin have enough money it's jut wether or not it would be a worthwhile investment :)
 
Rick said:
That's too simple an approach. The lifetime ownership cost of the VR element of Air/Galactica is 'virtually' nothing vs. that of two flat rides.
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If by ownership you mean upkeep I'd disagree. All those VR headsets would be far more expensive to maintain than 2 new flat rides. A new flat ride would last years before needing any major replacement, Galactica has already been replaced once.
Apologies if this is not what you meant.

However I will agree that Galactica is more marketable than 2 flats. Flat rides are great filler attractions to accompany a new themed land but by themselves they don't have much of a draw.
 
Personally, I would like a year where they built, like 10 flatrides across the park (not just cbebies land) they could market it as NEW FOR (year) 10 NEW RIDES!

As it is, on a quiet day, you go there, ride the big six, ride duel, ride hex, ride RMT, then spend the rest of the day bumming around the hotels or cbebies land because there is literally nothing else to do!

Regardless of quality or hell, even weather or not you go on them, the mare presence of flats stops you feeling like there's nothing to do.

Its very much a question of, having rides you haven't decided to ride yet, vs having nothing.
 
Britford said:
Personally, I would like a year where they built, like 10 flatrides across the park (not just cbebies land) they could market it as NEW FOR (year) 10 NEW RIDES!

As it is, on a quiet day, you go there, ride the big six, ride duel, ride hex, ride RMT, then spend the rest of the day bumming around the hotels or cbebies land because there is literally nothing else to do!

Regardless of quality or hell, even weather or not you go on them, the mare presence of flats stops you feeling like there's nothing to do.

Its very much a question of, having rides you haven't decided to ride yet, vs having nothing.
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This would be brilliant for the 40th anniversary if they decide to celebrate!
 
This is similar to what Six Flags Great Adventure tried in 1999 with their 'War on Lines campaign. Didn't go so well...
 
AT's problem is a lack of variety more than lacking flats specifically. I mean how many more does the park realistically need? 2, 3 maybe?

You're spoilt for choice with coasters, also well catered for if you have pre school children. But the park could do with 2 new flats, a new high quality dark ride and a Flume.

Sadly though, the park seems to be going the other way. There is "plenty to do" in terms of numbers of attractions, but there's a massive gap between Cbeebies and the thrill coasters in whole family offerings.

It can't be a good long term plan for their ever increasing reliance on accommodation to rake in the cash. Compelling people to stay overnight by shutting the park at 4 in the afternoon can only work for so long.
 
I have felt for a while that each area could do with a new flat just to enhance the experience of each area.
1) Replace ripsaw it's greatly missed in Forbidden valley . It was as much fun to watch as it was to ride attracting decent queues whenever I was there and a crowd watching it go which added to the atmosphere. And this was in the dark summer after the smiler incident.
2) a flat ride is needed in the dark forest. There is nothing there except coasters and only one if one is down (which is pretty often )
3) x sector needs something as enterprise is on last legs so something is needed ready to replace it.
In my opinion this would be valued as well as a replacement for CATCF before SW9 because the last thing needed right now is another coaster!

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I miss Ripsaw, it was a great flat on top of the reasons you mentioned. But it wouldn't be worth replacing it when you could simply just reopen Sub Terra. It would be far more logical to reooen that and replace Blade when it's done. That would still leave FV with 4 attractions.

Dark Forest desperately needs a flat. But again, no need to go splashing the cash on new hardware. Just retheme Twirling Toadstool to an Evil Tree and put it in the area by the Thirteen entrance. Spend the money instead on utilising the space and buildings in CCL for new attractions.

X sector only really needs another flat if Enterprise packs it in. Another flat on the Submission sight would certainly be welcome though, although I don't think it needs to be a show stopper, just a decent filler ride would fit the bill.
 
i think 3/4 flat rides are needed. But Im against them putting in standard ones for the sake of having them. i would much rather 2 that improve the park than 4 which are never used
 
Customers of a major theme park should be thinking.... "Lets go and see what is new THIS year".

Some years, it will just be retheming and entertainment, others a Secret Weapon mega investmentl
But, there should always be novelty and innovation apparent to get people excited each year.

Alton Towers feels like it has been coasting along inside the gates as it focused on expanding its hotel estate. The scale of the offering seems to be contracting (hours,, rides, entertainment) in some areas, whilst compensatory new offerings are introduced at a slower rate. Very much a Toblerone approach.
 
Britford said:
Toblerone?

(Yes, I know its chocolate)
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I think @TheBolt might be referring to this

161108090601-toblerone-design-1024x576.jpg


we all are getting less offering for our money ;)
 
A new flat/support attraction with a Secret Weapon would be ideal.

Th13teen - New flat/support attraction in Dark Forest

The Smiler - Submission (and Enterprise?) replacements

SW8 - Could have been a Ripsaw replacement the opposite side of the park.

Building smaller/cheaper rides/flats/attractions with a SW removes any risks with advertising a flat ride on its own one year.

I don't really think lack of flats is the main problem, it's a lack of anything to do between the big rides, a lack of shows, a lack of street ents, a lack of indoor attractions... a lack of variety.

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