127 replies to this topic

[HAJiME]

This is 100% speculation on the part of Alton fanboys, but I think it's a nice solid one. And an exciting one at that, because we want to know what difference Merlin owning the park will have on choice of ride. We've already seen Merlin go for the odd choice of a Eurofihter for Thorpe. Regardless of how good or not you may think Alton's major coasters are, they are all unique and interesting, pushed to be so by the park's restrictions.

Alton's classic Vekoma Corkscrew apparently needs new trains... And the cost of a refurbishment outweighs the popularity of the ride. Corkscrew currently sits behind Rita, forgotten. It's rumoured the to be 30 year old coaster that put Alton on the map, along with a chair swing ride next to it, is planned to go next year. This is all a rumour.

Senior managers and John Wardley have been seen in Ug Land (where Corkscrew currently lives), looking at plans. John Wardley is the man behind Nemesis, Oblivion and Air. Something is going on.

It's well known how obsessed John Wardley was with getting the Tussauds attractions a Woodie. Alton's 200ft plummiting airtime machine was denied due to concerns for noise levels and rumours of a smaller woodie have been flying ever since. The park's restrictions are the least hindering in Ug Land.

So is it finally time for the long awaited woodie? Or will Merlin provoke something else?

[TwiDragon]

I would love to see one of my favorite European Parks get a wooden coaster, I may like Thorpe Park a bit better but they both need a wooden coaster. I hope the don't put in an euro fighter because I mean Thorpe Park is getting one soon and I don't wanna see a copy of it because Alton Towers has a lot of Original Rides some of them were first of there kind. If they add a wooden coaster it would be cool to see them break Colossus's recorded of highest wooden coaster in Europe, so if we see a wooden coaster there will be something that no woodie has accomplished yet. I also remembering hearing very strong possibility's in 2005 about a huge wooden coaster to go in the back, but the due date was 08 and its 08 so they were wrong. I would like to see something done with Oblivion as well maby upgrade it a bit.

[Wood Dragon 1988]

^How much about European parks do you know to be calling Alton one of your favs??

You seriously think that a wooden could be taller than Colossos with Alton's height restrictions?

[The BeastFan]

Uhh..Alton Towers can't build above tree height, hence why none of their coasters are very tall. But, they manage to pull off blockbuster attractions everytime they lay footers. In all honesty, I doubt they'll ever get a woodie cause of the complaints from the neighbors from the sound it would make (they already complain about Oblivion as it is).

[HAJiME]

Update already! Wow!

Check out this concept art and mood boards!

http://www.towerstim.../plans/2010.htm

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Looks like they are playing with 3 or 4 different theme concepts there.

For anyone who's been to Alton Towers, the foresty stuff should excite your "FINALLY SOMETHING THAT FITS!" tastebuds!

[TwiDragon]

^How much about European parks do you know to be calling Alton one of your favs??

I don't know it has a nice collection of rides and everything.

[Wood Dragon 1988]

^^That was just from a fan though, right?

Alton of all places doesn't need to defunct a coaster to build a new one.

[Coasteridiot]

Does Corkscrew even run anymore?

Oh and is that a Euro Fighter in one of those pictures?

[nicktellephone]

Judging by those pictures and the fact that Alton Towers can't build above tree height, that robo-arm coaster will most likely be the coaster they get. I don't really know anything about europe parks at all. That was just a guess.

[HAJiME]

The images are real concept and mood boards.

You can't tell the type or anything from them, because they are CONCEPT images clearly focusing on theme. One of the images used is Oblivion. It's only there as a filler image to convay the feel of the sort of thing the park might look into.

I'm so sick of explaining what "concept image" means I can't tell you.

[The BeastFan]

If you know nothing on European parks, maybe do some research. Also, don't even try to guess what they're getting next. They keep everything way more secretive than any American park ever would. I doubt the blue prints and such from what we've seen with KI's hyper for example, would never, ever be seen from Alton.

You know HaJiME, how sad would it be if all these n00bs guesses turned to be true?

[Vicarious Chair]

The robo-arm idea looks crazy, especially if they can get as close to the concept as possible. How much free-space does Alton have -- enough for another coaster?

[HAJiME]

Alton has a lot of "free" space... there's just trees in it. Alton has nowhere it can build tall or loud. So it's hard. But there is a lot of space in Ug Land and next to it, for an Alton sized coaster at least. I'd like to see them utaise the environment more. If you've been to Alton, again, you'd understand what that means. Themeing should be based on what is already there.

They aren't as secretive with plans as they used to be. I doubt we'll ever see another Oblivion in terms o secrecy, for example. No one knew what Oblivion was till the day it opened.

From those concept images, it looks to me like Alton are looking for something that is quite similar in what it does to Expedition Everest with theming standards reminiscent of what Phantasialand do.

[nicktellephone]

Whatever. I can careless about european parks. I doubt I would ever be going to one. I don't even want to go to one as well. And I'm not a n00b by the way.

[Ryan Shrout]

^that's funny

Anyway, of those concepts, I love the robo-arm. It looks like it would fit with what Alton already has so well. Of the coasters I saw, I think you would be more likely to get a steel ride because of noise concerns. I like the idea that both coasters appear to be falling through a floor. Still this is concept and I'm not really sure how well something like that could be pulled off without going vertical and Alton isn't the type to do something that they've already done before.

[Wood Dragon 1988]

If you know nothing on European parks, maybe do some research. Also, don't even try to guess what they're getting next. They keep everything way more secretive than any American park ever would. I doubt the blue prints and such from what we've seen with KI's hyper for example, would never, ever be seen from Alton.

You know HaJiME, how sad would it be if all these n00bs guesses turned to be true?

Yea, that's why we were able to figure out what all 12 of the failed secret weapons were.

[nicktellephone]

Let me ask how many of you are actually going to go to Alton Towers? Everyone is getting excited over nothing. And if everything is "so secretive", what is the point of this thread if no one will even know anything? The only thing we can do is guess...

[drachenfirebgw]

This site isn't just American. We have a quite a few Europeans with us so yes; we do have a nice group of people that go to Alton Towers.

Well actually... like Wood Dragon 1988 stated. We do know what all of Alton's failed 'secret weapon' projects were. I have also found various blueprints for several European attractions at parks other than Alton Towers. Specifically ones that were in initial planning stages, however, were never built.

That concept art looks pretty cool. I love the RoboArm idea, which has been utilized in several US parks. I personally don't think we'll see a wooden roller coaster, even though it would fit perfectly. However, another terrain-based roller coaster to replace Corkscrew would fit nicely as well. It's nice to see that this would be a revamp of the Ug Land area.

[Wood Dragon 1988]

Let me ask how many of you are actually going to go to Alton Towers? Everyone is getting excited over nothing. And if everything is "so secretive", what is the point of this thread if no one will even know anything? The only thing we can do is guess...

Actually, I am going to be living in England next spring.










I care.

I'm offended

And we can't forget HAJiME and TheLegendaryMatthew, who go to Alton all the time

[The BeastFan]

Let me ask how many of you are actually going to go to Alton Towers? Everyone is getting excited over nothing. And if everything is "so secretive", what is the point of this thread if no one will even know anything? The only thing we can do is guess...

Hey, thats just one of the great things about being a coaster enthusiast. You try and guess what a park is coming out with, and then you get surprised on what actually turns out. You might get a little cultural education out of it, too. Just because you're not going there and left in the dark doesn't mean you have to totally disreguard it. Alton Towers, IMO, is a very unique and interesting park, especially considering the history of the site and the restrictions they have to deal with. If you're really that ignorant about European parks, why post here in the first place?

[Wood Dragon 1988]

You might get a little cultural education out of it, too.

Yup, especially at Alton Towers of all places. The sad thing was I didn't even know there was a castle and ruins there for a few years after I had heard of the place.

If you're really that ignorant about European parks, why post here in the first place?

Exactly, better yet, why even READ this topic?

[nicktellephone]

Hey, thats just one of the great things about being a coaster enthusiast. You try and guess what a park is coming out with, and then you get surprised on what actually turns out. You might get a little cultural education out of it, too. Just because you're not going there and left in the dark doesn't mean you have to totally disreguard it. Alton Towers, IMO, is a very unique and interesting park, especially considering the history of the site and the restrictions they have to deal with. If you're really that ignorant about European parks, why post here in the first place?

^Well I actually was interested at one point until I get told not to guess. I take an educated guess at what might be going into the park according to the concepts and the height restrictions and then Beastfan tells me not to guess. Now he is saying to try to guess what the park is coming out with. How about making up your mind?

[HAJiME]

Ugh.

I hate people who don't care about "parks I'll never get to go to."

First we need to question why you are so uninspired to travel the globe, but it's okay you just let your people down and got the stereotypical American xenophobe stamp. Congrats. When I went to Mauritius last year, I checked if it had any parks or coasters. Doesn't EVERY enthusiast do that?

Yeah, you don't care about Oblivion, but I bet you care about Griffon and Sheikra and any other potential dive machines that come your way. Because see, If I'd been an enthusiast at the time of when Nemesis was built... Or PMBO maybe, I'd have looked up their US sisters to see what they did and what other enthusiasts thought of what they do to add to my excitement of a new ride type or style coming my way.

And when I look on the top ten and see Superman Ride of Steel at SFNE sitting comfortably on it's throne... I go, "Hm, I wonder what is so great about that" and I look it up. Are you the ONLY person in the world who dont look up Eagles Fortress when it made the top 5?

And, I would have thought, to top it all... Since Alton's coasters are so weird by American standards that it would have been really interesting to look them up for you guys. Sorry, clearly not.

Alton Towers have got two prototypes from the most loved coaster company in the word and one world class coaster that's been sitting in the top 10 since it opened 14 years ago and... You're not interested in what they are getting next? Is there something wrong with your brain...? Seriously?

I don't expect you to be getting excited... but complete lack of interest and saying that other people are"wasting their time"? Come off it, seriously.



As for Alton and it's secret weapons. Yes, people "guessed" what they all were... Or the plans got out, It happened with all of them but Oblivion. Unless there are some we don't know about. That in mind, fans have convincingly faked them too. Anyone remember the Alton broomstick coaster? There is still more excitement surrounding coasters when you have to play the guessing game... I hate knowing that Thorpe is getting a eurofighter before the track has even appeared.

[Disney Dood]

I really love the Dark Forest idea. It's pretty original and from the artwork, the atrractions look top-notch, too.

As for the racing idea. I mean it looks cool, but:

A. The Towers already has a racing ride.
B. Isn't anybody else getting sick of the racing theme? It's just not all that creative. It's like these people are sitting around designing a ride like "what things go fast?" "RACE CARS!" "FANTASTIC idea!"

[nicktellephone]

Ugh.

I hate people who don't care about "parks I'll never get to go to."

First we need to question why you are so uninspired to travel the globe, but it's okay you just let your people down and got the stereotypical American xenophobe stamp. Congrats. When I went to Mauritius last year, I checked if it had any parks or coasters. Doesn't EVERY enthusiast do that?

Yeah, you don't care about Oblivion, but I bet you care about Griffon and Sheikra and any other potential dive machines that come your way. Because see, If I'd been an enthusiast at the time of when Nemesis was built... Or PMBO maybe, I'd have looked up their US sisters to see what they did and what other enthusiasts thought of what they do to add to my excitement of a new ride type or style coming my way.

And when I look on the top ten and see Superman Ride of Steel at SFNE sitting comfortably on it's throne... I go, "Hm, I wonder what is so great about that" and I look it up. Are you the ONLY person in the world who dont look up Eagles Fortress when it made the top 5?

And, I would have thought, to top it all... Since Alton's coasters are so weird by American standards that it would have been really interesting to look them up for you guys. Sorry, clearly not.

Alton Towers have got two prototypes from the most loved coaster company in the word and one world class coaster that's been sitting in the top 10 since it opened 14 years ago and... You're not interested in what they are getting next? Is there something wrong with your brain...? Seriously?

I don't expect you to be getting excited... but complete lack of interest and saying that other people are"wasting their time"? Come off it, seriously.



As for Alton and it's secret weapons. Yes, people "guessed" what they all were... Or the plans got out, It happened with all of them but Oblivion. Unless there are some we don't know about. That in mind, fans have convincingly faked them too. Anyone remember the Alton broomstick coaster? There is still more excitement surrounding coasters when you have to play the guessing game... I hate knowing that Thorpe is getting a eurofighter before the track has even appeared.

Ok, let's get this straight.
First of all, I'm only 16 years old. Do you really think a 16 year old teen would travel to Europe by themselves? I'm the only coaster enthusiast in my family. If I ask my parents to take a trip to Europe just to go to an amusment park, they will think I'm crazy.
Second, I already said I was interested in this new coaster. I was interested in trying to predict what type of coaster they will get next. It is pretty fun on my opinion. So I take a guess and get told not to guess. After that, I lost interest.