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Thorpe Park: General Discussion

Sam said:
The park have confirmed to Thorpe Park Mania that this Sunday will be the last day of operation for the park's carousel.

If they're trying to shift back towards the family market, why don't they just move it like they did with Flying Fish? Baffling decision.
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Let's get the family market back by removing more family attractions and replacing it with another apparent thriller/horror/disaster themed one?

Totally agree with you Sam! (There's a novelty ;) )

That is also a VERY early start for a 2016 attraction?
 
To be fair the carousel was pretty dated anyway, as a good chunk of the rides represented either look completely different or simply no longer exist. I would like for the carousel to still exist - they're not that exciting but they are classic - but maybe updated to show the park as it now is. Give it a modern twist.

Once this goes, it looks like Mr Monkeys Banana Ride will be the only reference left of the Thorpe Park Rangers.
 
Not yet looked at the plans in great detail but Merlin really do leave a lot to be desired when it comes to theming. Will they ever do a theme that is not run down and ugly? It is just so boring now.

Good to see a new dark ride though, will be very interesting to see how it turns out.

:)
 
There's always the chance the gritty-looking exterior could be a placeholder (what with the 'sensitive nature' of the IP), and may be different when it becomes a reality.

But then, Merlin specialise in theming that looks run-down, so that could be wishful thinking.
 
I'm thinking its going to be along the lines of the Smiler, some sort of correctional facility only indoors.

its about as far as the merlin team seem to think these days
 
I am just pleased Merlin are now willing to invest £20-£25m (the rumoured ride budget) on a dark ride rather than the safer option of adding a new coaster. I am surprised that they are trying this first at Thorpe as would have thought Alton would have been the first park in the chain to get a new dark ride of this scale. I am sure it will have an IP as cant see merlin investing that amount of money on a non coaster ride without an IP to back it up. I did hear a rumour earlier this year that it could use a ride system in a similar style to ride system in Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey , don't know if there was any truth it that though.

I really hope this works out for the park as will help ensure Merlin invest in other big budget dark rides/non coaster rides at their other parks.
 
The removal of Chief Rangers Carousel will also signal the final demise of part of the 2006 Towers Street audio, which is used on the ride!
 
I wonder if the Carousel will reappear after some TLC elsewhere in the park?

Equally I would like to think that this ride will probably shape any plans for a new dark ride at Towers. We know one is mentioned on the LTDP, so perhaps Merlin are trying their hand at Thorpe first before moving onto Alton?
 
Sam said:
The park have confirmed to Thorpe Park Mania that this Sunday will be the last day of operation for the park's carousel.

If they're trying to shift back towards the family market, why don't they just move it like they did with Flying Fish? Baffling decision.
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A carousel is a kiddy ride, not really a family ride. The park doesn't want to compete with Chessington, Thorpe is going after families with older children and teenagers, a carousel won't draw in any extra guests.
 
I hope they redo all of Rangers County because the run down theme of this ride will clash hideously with the tropical landscaping and theming in that area at the moment.

The centre of Thorpe Park is already a hideous mess of themes now what with Storm Dirge and Angry Birds Land, this huge grimy façade will make it even worse right in the centre of the park.

I am excited about the prospect of a proper new dark ride though, if it pays off it might make Merlin reconsider them as viable investment options for all their parks. I can't help but feel that it will be some 4D crap though too reliant on technology rather than a decent transit system with props and scenery.
 
Pfff. Real, actual 3D scenery is old fashioned. Everyone knows kids are only interested in projected "3D" these days.
 
DiogoJ42 said:
Pfff. Real, actual 3D scenery is old fashioned. Everyone knows kids are only interested in projected "3D" these days.
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Except the best dark rides in the world are the ones that mix the screens seamlessly with the real 3D scenery ;)
 
Scott said:
Except the best dark rides in the world are the ones that mix the screens seamlessly with the real 3D scenery ;)
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In the modern setting, that's probably the right answer, but how many parks can get it right? Not many...

There's always something much better with having a ride with purely physical environments though...
 
Benzin said:
In the modern setting, that's probably the right answer, but how many parks can get it right? Not many...

There's always something much better with having a ride with purely physical environments though...
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It's very difficult to get it right and that's why it costs so much money...

I think it's hard to say that something with purely physical environments is much 'better' though. Forbidden Journey would be nowhere near as immersive or fun were it without screens.
 
Benzin said:
In the modern setting, that's probably the right answer, but how many parks can get it right? Not many...

There's always something much better with having a ride with purely physical environments though...
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Charlie and the cardboard factory?
 
jon81uk said:
A carousel is a kiddy ride, not really a family ride. The park doesn't want to compete with Chessington, Thorpe is going after families with older children and teenagers, a carousel won't draw in any extra guests.
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That's neither here nor there; you can't expect a carousel to attract guests, but it's definitely something to do for younger and older guests who aren't able to do the big coasters.

If Thorpe are looking at appealing to families more, removing one of the few rides for children isn't the best way to go about it. Having said that, they don't explicitly state the carousel is going to be scrapped, only that it's the last day Chief Rangers Carousel will be operating. There's no reason why it can't be refurbished and moved towards Flying Fish, making a new kiddy area.

On an unrelated note, I went on King Pigs Wild Hog Dodgems for the first time yesterday and thought it was really, really fun. I know Angry Birds Land gets a lot of flack (and deservedly so), but the new additions are definitely entertaining.
 
Unfortunately, I've got a gut instinct the Carousel won't be moved to another area in the park. It's a shame, as even though they're basic, they're also classic attractions which nearly every major park on earth has at least one. If I'm proved wrong however, then I would love to see it refurbished to include attractions after 1994 (when it originally opened) as someone already mentioned on this thread.
 
Do theme parks really need a carousel? They are found in just about every fairground on the planet. Surely parks are supposed to offer something a bit more special?
Some parks will go to town and have a really elaborate model, possibly double tiered, and make it a centrepiece of an area, and that's fine. But the removal of a knackered old roundabout which moves slower than walking pace is hardly a great loss.

The only sad thing about this is the last reminder of Phantom Phantasia will be leaving the park.

We'll be getting a dark ride of some description. I'll take a terrible one (yes, even Hollywood Tour) over a carousel any day.
 
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Benzin said:
In the modern setting, that's probably the right answer, but how many parks can get it right? Not many...

There's always something much better with having a ride with purely physical environments though...
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This. It's the reason Indiana Jones Adventure is my favourite dark ride. Screens, however well done, are just no match for proper themed spaces.
 
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