As for people defacing the themeing, this really annoys me We all complain how much all the theme parks looks run down and not maintained. But why should Merlin put money back into the parks in regards to keeping the parks looking great if the general public do not respect them. When the Smiler very first opened back in May 2013, the single queue line entrance was already full of graffiti by the 3rd day. While I queued for the DBGT back in June, I witness people pulling at and destroying the themeing, not just the posters. People just got no respect nowadays.
With regards to the ride, as an ex Magician and themepark enthusiast, this ride is right up my street. As a stand alone ride, I wouldn't rate it, but for me its one big magic trick/illusion. Like I've mentioned in an earlier post, I've never read any of the spoilers before I rode it and I got to experience it first hand and despite being an ex magician, it baffled me. But after riding it for the second time, I knew what to look out for and you have to appreciate the complexity of how the effects were achieved.
The ride is not perfect and like all new rides, it will have it teething problems which need to be improved or ironed out. But understanding the complexity of the ride and what needed to be in place to overcome certain challenges to create the illusion, I think they have done a really great job on a very challenging project.
With regards to the ride, as an ex Magician and themepark enthusiast, this ride is right up my street. As a stand alone ride, I wouldn't rate it, but for me its one big magic trick/illusion. Like I've mentioned in an earlier post, I've never read any of the spoilers before I rode it and I got to experience it first hand and despite being an ex magician, it baffled me. But after riding it for the second time, I knew what to look out for and you have to appreciate the complexity of how the effects were achieved.
So I had no idea what to expect on my very first ride. When I first saw the train suspended from the ceiling by chains, I was just expecting to get on the train and with the combine use of the VR and a simulator. When the first section was finished, I thought that was it, the end of the ride, what I didn't expect was that when I got off to be in another place and the carriage had change. Having an understanding on how mirrors can be use to hide things, the mirrors used under and around the Victorian carriage has been carefully arrange so that you can't see the mirrors or your own reflections. The other cleaver thing is that there is 3 trains waltzing around each other. I have to agree that some of the VR where you are left in the smoke with the monster looking at you can seem to take for ever. This part is on a loop and is required to hold you until the next train ahead of you has moved.
The ride is not perfect and like all new rides, it will have it teething problems which need to be improved or ironed out. But understanding the complexity of the ride and what needed to be in place to overcome certain challenges to create the illusion, I think they have done a really great job on a very challenging project.