The Future of Dark Forest

[Blackrock]

Personally I think this is just nothing but could this be the start of something? Scare maze, a flat ride


From: https://www.instagram.com/p/DMdhDS0NRD4/?igsh=ZmducnoyZ29ocGk3

I watched a video on TikTok and there’s blue markers on the floor outside the exit of Rita, usually indicates water mains doesn’t it usually?

Maybe connected, maybe not, maybe nothing at all.

 

[Skyscraper]

Hoping this scare maze is different to Compound though because it is the same building has me slightly nervous for it

I wouldn't worry mate, there's so much they can do with the space they've got! Mazes can have different layouts and configurations.

 

[Alphe86]

I watched a video on TikTok and there’s blue markers on the floor outside the exit of Rita, usually indicates water mains doesn’t it usually?

Maybe connected, maybe not, maybe nothing at all.

Water dispenser in dark forest would be my guess

 

[Hid]

I wouldn't worry mate, there's so much they can do with the space they've got! Mazes can have different layouts and configurations.

I would like it to be a proper maze. Mazes are something you should get lost in and be difficult to Escape something you could be spending hours in

 

[rob666]

That would do very well for throughput and capacity...

 

[Quantum]

Starting to think Rita is on borrowed time. Increased unreliability and I'd imagine maintaining it is getting excessive. Can see it getting the chop in a year or two

 

[s_g_k]

Personally I think this is just nothing but could this be the start of something? Scare maze, a flat ride


From: https://www.instagram.com/p/DMdhDS0NRD4/?igsh=ZmducnoyZ29ocGk3

I’d be highly surprised if this was anything more than a site office for the new scaremaze. I would expect a new thrill or family thrill flat may be added in X Sector over the closed season to compliment the new junior coaster in CBeebies land is a more realistic option. There’s just not a huge amount of clearance room at the bottom of Dark Forest for a flat of any substance until Rita goes, unless they plan on removing some buildings.

If we have nothing but the new junior coaster for 2026 it’ll be a pretty poor look.

 

[Steve74]

I’d be highly surprised if this was anything more than a site office for the new scaremaze. I would expect a new thrill or family thrill flat may be added in X Sector over the closed season to compliment the new junior coaster in CBeebies land is a more realistic option. There’s just not a huge amount of clearance room at the bottom of Dark Forest for a flat of any substance until Rita goes, unless they plan on removing some buildings.

If we have nothing but the new junior coaster for 2026 it’ll be a pretty poor look.

Why's it a pretty poor look if all we get next year is a brand new multi-million pound attraction in CBeebies? They've just spent the best part of £20 million (or more?) over the last 3 or 4 years on refurbing Nemesis, Forbidden Valley, Sub-Terra, The Curse and the Skyride and bought and installed a brand new flat ride. I think that's damn good going (works out at about £6m-ish a year on average) so I think their bank account deserves a small break! Having said that, the new junior coaster probably costs somewhere near that £6m mark too, if not more.

I can't see a flat going in next year, if it does, then I don't think it would be very much better than a Retrosquad one theming-wise. Considering how they marketed and themed Toxicator, I'd be surprised if they didn't do something similar for other flats along with a refresh of the area it'll end up in. Toxicator was 2 years in the planning, so if they've started planning on a new flat this year straight after Toxicator - and there is no reason to think they haven't - then we could see something in 2027. I'd rather they take their time and get it right rather than rush and get a flat in for the sake of it in 2026.

 

[Hid]

I should mention to we don't know the full layout of this new coaster the plans may contain hidden elements

 

[s_g_k]

Why's it a pretty poor look if all we get next year is a brand new multi-million pound attraction in CBeebies? They've just spent the best part of £20 million (or more?) over the last 3 or 4 years on refurbing Nemesis, Forbidden Valley, Sub-Terra, The Curse and the Skyride and bought and installed a brand new flat ride. I think that's damn good going (works out at about £6m-ish a year on average) so I think their bank account deserves a small break! Having said that, the new junior coaster probably costs somewhere near that £6m mark too, if not more.

I can't see a flat going in next year, if it does, then I don't think it would be very much better than a Retrosquad one theming-wise. Considering how they marketed and themed Toxicator, I'd be surprised if they didn't do something similar for other flats along with a refresh of the area it'll end up in. Toxicator was 2 years in the planning, so if they've started planning on a new flat this year straight after Toxicator - and there is no reason to think they haven't - then we could see something in 2027. I'd rather they take their time and get it right rather than rush and get a flat in for the sake of it in 2026.

I understand your point totally. Us as theme park forum members know how much the park has spent over the past couple of years, but from the general public’s perspective, Nemesis has had a paint job, they’ve brought back Ripsaw, Hex has reopened, Skyride is back and they’ve rethemed the Haunted House.

You only have to look at the comment sections on social media to get an understanding of what the public opinion is.

Don’t get me wrong, everything the park has done over the past couple of years has been great but it’s also been heavily required. There’s a huge amount of rot still to fix, but the wider public are crying out for the park to install something big now.

And I’m still not on board with the park removing a height restriction free ride for a coaster. I just hope it’s worth it.

 

[Blackrock]

Why's it a pretty poor look if all we get next year is a brand new multi-million pound attraction in CBeebies? They've just spent the best part of £20 million (or more?) over the last 3 or 4 years on refurbing Nemesis, Forbidden Valley, Sub-Terra, The Curse and the Skyride and bought and installed a brand new flat ride. I think that's damn good going (works out at about £6m-ish a year on average) so I think their bank account deserves a small break! Having said that, the new junior coaster probably costs somewhere near that £6m mark too, if not more.

I can't see a flat going in next year, if it does, then I don't think it would be very much better than a Retrosquad one theming-wise. Considering how they marketed and themed Toxicator, I'd be surprised if they didn't do something similar for other flats along with a refresh of the area it'll end up in. Toxicator was 2 years in the planning, so if they've started planning on a new flat this year straight after Toxicator - and there is no reason to think they haven't - then we could see something in 2027. I'd rather they take their time and get it right rather than rush and get a flat in for the sake of it in 2026.

They can’t afford to take their time. They have 6 years until Universal (should) open. And we all know 6 years really is no time at all, it’ll fly by.

They don’t just need to be installing new attractions over the next 6 years, they need to be increasing brand awareness and improving public perception of the park which quite frankly has sunk massively. That all takes time and granted the improvements they’ve made that you mentioned will help with this but to the general public most of those things aren’t new, they’re just general maintenance which should be the status quo anyway.

They can’t afford spring into action in 2027/2028 and rush things last only adding a couple of things before 2031.

 

[Hid]

They can’t afford to take their time. They have 6 years until Universal (should) open. And we all know 6 years really is no time at all, it’ll fly by.

They don’t just need to be installing new attractions over the next 6 years, they need to be increasing brand awareness and improving public perception of the park which quite frankly has sunk massively. That all takes time and granted the improvements they’ve made that you mentioned will help with this but to the general public most of those things aren’t new, they’re just general maintenance which should be the status quo anyway.

They can’t afford spring into action in 2027/2028 and rush things last only adding a couple of things before 2031.

They don't need to worry about Universal Towers is the least threatened by it as its a different market. Its why Chessington receiving most investment st the moment as the most impacted by Universal

 

[Blackrock]

They don't need to worry about Universal Towers is the least threatened by it as its a different market. Its why Chessington receiving most investment st the moment as the most impacted by Universal

I don’t know. Everyone here locally thinks it’ll shut which means most of the pubs will shut They’re not as positive haha

 

[Steve74]

They can’t afford to take their time. They have 6 years until Universal (should) open. And we all know 6 years really is no time at all, it’ll fly by.

They don’t just need to be installing new attractions over the next 6 years, they need to be increasing brand awareness and improving public perception of the park which quite frankly has sunk massively. That all takes time and granted the improvements they’ve made that you mentioned will help with this but to the general public most of those things aren’t new, they’re just general maintenance which should be the status quo anyway.

They can’t afford spring into action in 2027/2028 and rush things last only adding a couple of things before 2031.

Yeah but they're not springing into action in 2027/28 though. Because all rides take years of planning and development, I'd be very surprised if nothing is currently being planned. So if they have started planning rides, they have already sprung into action and we'll see the results of that in 27/28 and onwards. That was the point I was trying to make. If they can't/don't want to plan then we'll just end up with Retrosquad v2, which lets face it, none of us want to see!

 

[Hid]

Yeah but they're not springing into action in 2027/28 though. Because all rides take years of planning and development, I'd be very surprised if nothing is currently being planned. So if they have started planning rides, they have already sprung into action and we'll see the results of that in 27/28 and onwards. That was the point I was trying to make. If they can't/don't want to plan then we'll just end up with Retrosquad v2, which lets face it, none of us want to see!

Isn’t there a rumour Toxicator was brought in a 3 Huss rides deal

 

[Steve74]

Isn’t there a rumour Toxicator was brought in a 3 Huss rides deal

Yeah that is the rumour and presumably the 2 other flats would go in Dark Forest and X-Sector. If the rumour is true and the rides are already ordered/paid for then you'd hope that planning/development for them has already started.

 

[jon81uk]

they need to be increasing brand awareness

They are. Merlin just signed a deal to sponsor Sky Cinema. But I don’t actually think brand awareness is an issue, most people know the Merlin attractions exist but so many years with discounts and voucher means the perception is they aren’t worth more than £30 for a day out when in reality the price should be much higher.

 

[Mick]

One new investment a year won’t cut it at a time when significant holes remain and other things are liable to go down. Sadly I see Bianca leaving as a sign that there are no imminent plans for any areas such as Dark Forest or Walliams, and the park will be in limp along fire-fighting mode for a while longer yet.

 

[Hid]

One new investment a year won’t cut it at a time when significant holes remain and other things are liable to go down. Sadly I see Bianca leaving as a sign that there are no imminent plans for any areas such as Dark Forest or Walliams, and the park will be in limp along fire-fighting mode for a while longer yet.

Leaders in positions like that frequently do rotate it's not the first time it's happened

 

[jon81uk]

One new investment a year won’t cut it at a time when significant holes remain and other things are liable to go down. Sadly I see Bianca leaving as a sign that there are no imminent plans for any areas such as Dark Forest or Walliams, and the park will be in limp along fire-fighting mode for a while longer yet.

Why would you see that as a sign? She is leaving for a better job, I don't think it has any indication of the future plans at the park.