Occasional big investments or regular small investments?

[Benzin]

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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That's the most important problem at the moment, once you scratch the surface off the big rides (or CBeebies if you;'re at the young side of the spectrum) then the things to do lower to milling around trying to find something open...

Flat rides I feel also help boost guest ride count, which provides a further positive view of value for money...

 

[Olivus Prime]

Recently went with a friend and it was more evident than ever that more filler rides, particularly flat rides, are needed. As much as it sounds odd, especially at a park with at least three excellent roller coasters, riding coasters for the majority of the day can get quite tiresome - it's like eating chocolate all day long, the novelty wears off and the treat becomes bitter.

Merlin never seem to have been good at smaller investments (whenever they get around to them), since they tend to hype every attraction they build as the best thing in the world since sliced bread. Two or three flats would be a massive step in the right direction for Towers, though I can't imagine the same level of thought and detail being put towards them as was with Ripsaw, Energizer or even The Blade.

 

[Rick]

Two or three flats would be a massive step in the right direction for Towers, though I can't imagine the same level of thought and detail being put towards them as was with Ripsaw, Energizer or even The Blade.

The Blade?! Christ... if that's the level of expectation, I am not sure we can go wrong, can we?

 

[Sauron97]

Forbidden valley to me feels like an area that you can easily tell has some great attention to detail in terms of theming with the (previously red) water, the giant artillery infested by Nemesis, and the crashed bus.
But it's true, it has issues, and I feel that Merlin havn't put measures in to make sure it has aged well. I think we can all agree that the fate of Ripsaw and it's... replacement.... is perhaps the poorest decision that even normal non enthusiast visitors will take notice to that has hit AT in recent times. Air to Galactica felt far too gimmicky and was clearly a very small investment that doesn't fit the Valley theme. Blade is okay, but it's an old ride rethemed to fit more modern times and can only last so long.
My answer to the OP is: Big investments needed. Huge if I might say. Suggestions would be a stand up floorless drop tower where the blade is, requiring a deep hole and a complex queue line entrance.

 

[themeparkfan]

What I don't get is merlin seem apprehensive of flat rides which we will ride again and again and enjoy yet throw cash around to build gimmicky one ride experiences which cost a fortune to operate with staff. Why????? DBGT N:ST and IACGMOOH spring to mind in addition their popularity doesn't last long.! Give us some good flats! Please

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[GothMonsieur]

I really think we take Nemesis: Sub-Terra for granted. Should that re-open, Forbidden Valley will have a good variation between the family oriented Galactica and the more "thrilling" side of things with Nemesis and Sub-Terra (even though Sub Terra costs more to operate than 2 flats probably would). The space where Ripsaw used to reside could even be used for a small-scale show using the Phalanx operatives or something until a new flat is installed in the area. I still think that Dark Forest is the area that would benefit the most from a flat due to the unreliable nature of Rita and Th13teen. The crowds in that area can really get quite bad and having something over by the entrance to Th13teen could really benefit the whole section of the park.

 

[Olivus Prime]

The Blade?! Christ... if that's the level of expectation, I am not sure we can go wrong, can we?

So you'd think... I'm not sure a Merlin-level investment would go as far as to tape spikes to a rocking ship and paint the supports with rust and hazard stripes. Heck, the recent TLC on The Blade just painted the supports black with no detailing!

 

[PeteB]

If I recall correctly, Merlin were supposed to install the first of it's kind flat ride using Robo Arms in Dark Forest to launch with Th13teen, but they were so badly butt hurt when it was revealed Harry Potter and The Forbidden Journey were using a tracked version of the Robo Arms.

Merlin = losers.

 

[Benzin]

If I recall correctly, Merlin were supposed to install the first of it's kind flat ride using Robo Arms in Dark Forest to launch with Th13teen, but they were so badly butt hurt when it was revealed Harry Potter and The Forbidden Journey were using a tracked version of the Robo Arms.

Merlin = losers.

Wonder what the first of it's kind thing would've been, Legoland California has had it's Robo-Arm attractions since 2005...