Alton Towers | Wicker Man | GCI Wood
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Martyn B
CF Legend
I've been on the Wicker Man a few times now, and I have to say that for me, it's probably the best coaster experience we have in the UK (before WM, I really couldn't say what that was).
For me, the biggest factor is that I just wasn't expecting anything from it. Through-out the construction I just wasn't really feeling it, just expecting it to be another run of the mill "good fun" GCI. I'm glad I had that mind-set though, I might not feel the same way about it if I was bumming it during construction...?
It surpasses anything Merlin have ever created in the UK (IMO), although there are still touches of Merlin around, like the seemingly endless miles of the ugly queue line fencing. I'm being picky I know, but it does look nasty and cheap. They've put this fencing along parts of the ride structure for some reason. But the music, effects, the roar of the coaster and the general atmosphere really do make it something special (for the UK).
At front and the middle, its good, but at the back, it's really good. Really wasn't expecting that tiny first drop to feel so powerful (at the back). The tunnels surprisingly really add to it too, especially if the smoke effects are working well (they seem to be really temperamental in the tunnels). Second hill, you get pulled over that wonderfully in to the s-bend drop thing. That start to the ride truly is awesome.
The other part that really took me by surprise was the two tiny little bumps just as you enter WM for the second time. Actual air time on them that I wasn't expecting. Again, with the smoke everywhere and the flames, it really is a great experience.
I believe the unbanked turn is like that due to the focus on the WM (that's also supposedly why the original plans for the first drop were so awful, so the main focus would on entering the structure). I don't find it that bad really, if you're at the front you get some ejector going into it, at the back its just floater, but then going down the drop is equally awesome at the back (seriously, GCI make some awesome straight drops, they need to do it more!). I look at that turn like the stall turn on Nemesis, a bit of clam before some more carnage.
One thing I don't get, is the brake run and why the brakes are so far away. There's an unusual unbanked s-bend just before the brake run.... this is a GCI coaster, why haven't they stuck in some little quirky bumps/jolts that they are famed for?
Also, I was a little disappointed that nothing happened in the shed at the end. That guy who created WM said something about when the ride ends, the experience doesn't, so I was expecting something to happen. Filling that shed with more of the same basic smoke effects with red lights and burning sound effects would have been good. Nothing spectacular I know, but better than a pitch black shed.
It's great that they want to run it on 3 trains, but why do they? It's stacks like Oblivion, so they may as well keep it on 2. And what is the deal with the restraints? I get that some restraints need rechecking, but with MW is practically every train, with multiple seats. And why do they need to release them and push them down again? What happened to just pushing them down more? I've never seen anything like it on any other coaster, let alone any other GCI I've been on. It's just so time consuming and painful.
And with regards to the RAP nonsense, I agree with what's been said, it infuriates me that a ride can open with a huge disabled queue, with no one in the queue having any physical disabilities (that's what it's for isn't it?). Yes not all disabilities are visible blah blah, but why should every family get a disabled pass because one of their kids has ADHD? or "he gets anxious in queues" - don't go to a theme park then? Coz your kid who can't queue seems to be doing just fine in the long RAP queue...
If there really are these restrictions in place, why is the WM RAP queue constantly full all day? I've had to bite my lip around some people that I know who use it. One guy I know, who is very much physically disabled, used his RAP and then queued normally, sort of proving that he doesn't need the RAP. I also know someone who claims to have anxiety when in big crowds, yet they'll visit Towers during Fireworks and Scarefest... it just winds me up so much.
I actually saw this morning in that poisonous Annual Pass group on Facebook someone woman wanting to know what to do to get their passes as her precious little boy who she can't raise properly has just been diagnosed with ADHD....
For me, the biggest factor is that I just wasn't expecting anything from it. Through-out the construction I just wasn't really feeling it, just expecting it to be another run of the mill "good fun" GCI. I'm glad I had that mind-set though, I might not feel the same way about it if I was bumming it during construction...?
It surpasses anything Merlin have ever created in the UK (IMO), although there are still touches of Merlin around, like the seemingly endless miles of the ugly queue line fencing. I'm being picky I know, but it does look nasty and cheap. They've put this fencing along parts of the ride structure for some reason. But the music, effects, the roar of the coaster and the general atmosphere really do make it something special (for the UK).
At front and the middle, its good, but at the back, it's really good. Really wasn't expecting that tiny first drop to feel so powerful (at the back). The tunnels surprisingly really add to it too, especially if the smoke effects are working well (they seem to be really temperamental in the tunnels). Second hill, you get pulled over that wonderfully in to the s-bend drop thing. That start to the ride truly is awesome.
The other part that really took me by surprise was the two tiny little bumps just as you enter WM for the second time. Actual air time on them that I wasn't expecting. Again, with the smoke everywhere and the flames, it really is a great experience.
I believe the unbanked turn is like that due to the focus on the WM (that's also supposedly why the original plans for the first drop were so awful, so the main focus would on entering the structure). I don't find it that bad really, if you're at the front you get some ejector going into it, at the back its just floater, but then going down the drop is equally awesome at the back (seriously, GCI make some awesome straight drops, they need to do it more!). I look at that turn like the stall turn on Nemesis, a bit of clam before some more carnage.
One thing I don't get, is the brake run and why the brakes are so far away. There's an unusual unbanked s-bend just before the brake run.... this is a GCI coaster, why haven't they stuck in some little quirky bumps/jolts that they are famed for?
Also, I was a little disappointed that nothing happened in the shed at the end. That guy who created WM said something about when the ride ends, the experience doesn't, so I was expecting something to happen. Filling that shed with more of the same basic smoke effects with red lights and burning sound effects would have been good. Nothing spectacular I know, but better than a pitch black shed.
It's great that they want to run it on 3 trains, but why do they? It's stacks like Oblivion, so they may as well keep it on 2. And what is the deal with the restraints? I get that some restraints need rechecking, but with MW is practically every train, with multiple seats. And why do they need to release them and push them down again? What happened to just pushing them down more? I've never seen anything like it on any other coaster, let alone any other GCI I've been on. It's just so time consuming and painful.
And with regards to the RAP nonsense, I agree with what's been said, it infuriates me that a ride can open with a huge disabled queue, with no one in the queue having any physical disabilities (that's what it's for isn't it?). Yes not all disabilities are visible blah blah, but why should every family get a disabled pass because one of their kids has ADHD? or "he gets anxious in queues" - don't go to a theme park then? Coz your kid who can't queue seems to be doing just fine in the long RAP queue...
If there really are these restrictions in place, why is the WM RAP queue constantly full all day? I've had to bite my lip around some people that I know who use it. One guy I know, who is very much physically disabled, used his RAP and then queued normally, sort of proving that he doesn't need the RAP. I also know someone who claims to have anxiety when in big crowds, yet they'll visit Towers during Fireworks and Scarefest... it just winds me up so much.
I actually saw this morning in that poisonous Annual Pass group on Facebook someone woman wanting to know what to do to get their passes as her precious little boy who she can't raise properly has just been diagnosed with ADHD....
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Howie
Donkey in a hat
I gotta say, had an absolutely storming ride on Wicker Dude today.
The fire effects are busted already, operations are still abysmal (400pph, tops), the constant cloud of mist engulfing the statue is making the wood go green already, and it was pissing down. I mean torrential. But man, the thing was flying! What a different beast to just a few weeks ago.
Front row this time (well, 2nd row actually, but they couldn't close the restraints on 2 fat blokes in row 1 so they had to do the walk of shame, and staff didn't bother letting anyone else on so we had an unobstructed view which felt like front row
).
Yeah man, great stuff. Had a back row ride last time, which was decent enough, but believe it or not there was far more genuine airtime near the front. The problem with the back is the drops are too small. Yes, you get that snappy, 'pull down' effect at the top, but just as it's about to get really good you start going up again so any airtime is kinda cut short in its prime. At the front though, when it's hauling ass on a wet track, you get 'pushed up' and over with some serious force - and it's hilarious!
In fact, the best bit, the very best bit, was the first half of boring corner! My arse wasn't even touching the seat. 'Holy sh*t' I thought. 'That was boring corner??'
So yeah. Howie's handy hints when next riding Wicker Dude.
1. Ride in the rain.
2. Push the beer gut out when boarding so you don't get stapled too much.
And 3. Don't get too hung up about riding at the back. It's not all it's cracked up to be.
Wicker Duuuuuude
It's still too short though.
The fire effects are busted already, operations are still abysmal (400pph, tops), the constant cloud of mist engulfing the statue is making the wood go green already, and it was pissing down. I mean torrential. But man, the thing was flying! What a different beast to just a few weeks ago.
Front row this time (well, 2nd row actually, but they couldn't close the restraints on 2 fat blokes in row 1 so they had to do the walk of shame, and staff didn't bother letting anyone else on so we had an unobstructed view which felt like front row
).Yeah man, great stuff. Had a back row ride last time, which was decent enough, but believe it or not there was far more genuine airtime near the front. The problem with the back is the drops are too small. Yes, you get that snappy, 'pull down' effect at the top, but just as it's about to get really good you start going up again so any airtime is kinda cut short in its prime. At the front though, when it's hauling ass on a wet track, you get 'pushed up' and over with some serious force - and it's hilarious!
In fact, the best bit, the very best bit, was the first half of boring corner! My arse wasn't even touching the seat. 'Holy sh*t' I thought. 'That was boring corner??'
So yeah. Howie's handy hints when next riding Wicker Dude.
1. Ride in the rain.
2. Push the beer gut out when boarding so you don't get stapled too much.
And 3. Don't get too hung up about riding at the back. It's not all it's cracked up to be.
Wicker Duuuuuude
It's still too short though.
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davidm
Strata Poster
Been to see it today...
Yeah was nice enough. Not a patch on the big GCIs for "thrills" but much better than it looked "on paper" and a decent family-thriller ride. My family-members who I was with thought it was good, liked the speed and the whole themed setup, so its working for those who don't really geek out on the details like us lot.
No fire effects running, just the screens in the structure. Lift chain was stupid noisy though when you are stood in the Q underneath it ; bad bit of design that.
Rode it twice ; once at the start of the day (advertised 70min Q - was about 50mins) and at the end of the day (advertised 40min Q - was about 50 mins). Was about the only thing we had to Q for in the day (apart from Galactica which was a slow loading faff related Q, and maybe 10 mins for Rita) so normal-punters do seem to like it - so that's good.
Yeah was nice enough. Not a patch on the big GCIs for "thrills" but much better than it looked "on paper" and a decent family-thriller ride. My family-members who I was with thought it was good, liked the speed and the whole themed setup, so its working for those who don't really geek out on the details like us lot.
No fire effects running, just the screens in the structure. Lift chain was stupid noisy though when you are stood in the Q underneath it ; bad bit of design that.
Rode it twice ; once at the start of the day (advertised 70min Q - was about 50mins) and at the end of the day (advertised 40min Q - was about 50 mins). Was about the only thing we had to Q for in the day (apart from Galactica which was a slow loading faff related Q, and maybe 10 mins for Rita) so normal-punters do seem to like it - so that's good.
davidm
Strata Poster
Not wrong, the Q mid afternoon today apparently ; I was back at work, sis & family were on day#2.
Howie
Donkey in a hat
Which one? The amazing view of the ride, or the queue board showing a zero minute wait? Both are fairly mind blowing tbf.
JoshC.
Strata Poster
I did this yesterday. I'd seen reviews saying this has "incredible" transitions, is a "breathtaking" ride with "lots of airtime" and "the best roller coaster experience in the country".
Honestly, after riding, I'd have thought those reviews were written by 7 year olds who have just hit 1.2m tall and skipped the pre show because they were too scared.
Don't get me wrong, this is a fun little family coaster. Kids who are just hitting 1.2m will love it, and it fills a gap in Towers' line up (kids who are potentially too creeped out by Th13teen and the drop, or don't like the idea of spinning on Spinball). But the coaster doesn't really offer anything to me as an older member of the family going on it. And again, that's fine, as it's fine for it to be like that.
The trouble is that the presentation of the ride, in particular the intense pre show and the pitch-black brake run at the end, feels overbearing for kids. I know that if I'd have ridden Wicker Man when I'd just hit 1.2m, I'd have hated the pre show to the point of not wanting to ride it..
Maybe I'll making too much out of the divide. And I guess you could argue I shouldn't complain personally as there's a new, well-themed ride at Towers which has a pre show I like and a coaster section which is perfectly fine for what it is. But it just feels a bit too much of a mismatch for me to go 'meh, okay' and gloss over it.
I was told that yesterday it was running noticeably slower (both from an off and on ride perspective). So hopefully I've caught it on a bad day and I'll like it more next time. But I'm always cautious of rides which have good and bad days, as that's never a good sign in my books..
Honestly, after riding, I'd have thought those reviews were written by 7 year olds who have just hit 1.2m tall and skipped the pre show because they were too scared.
Don't get me wrong, this is a fun little family coaster. Kids who are just hitting 1.2m will love it, and it fills a gap in Towers' line up (kids who are potentially too creeped out by Th13teen and the drop, or don't like the idea of spinning on Spinball). But the coaster doesn't really offer anything to me as an older member of the family going on it. And again, that's fine, as it's fine for it to be like that.
The trouble is that the presentation of the ride, in particular the intense pre show and the pitch-black brake run at the end, feels overbearing for kids. I know that if I'd have ridden Wicker Man when I'd just hit 1.2m, I'd have hated the pre show to the point of not wanting to ride it..
Maybe I'll making too much out of the divide. And I guess you could argue I shouldn't complain personally as there's a new, well-themed ride at Towers which has a pre show I like and a coaster section which is perfectly fine for what it is. But it just feels a bit too much of a mismatch for me to go 'meh, okay' and gloss over it.
I was told that yesterday it was running noticeably slower (both from an off and on ride perspective). So hopefully I've caught it on a bad day and I'll like it more next time. But I'm always cautious of rides which have good and bad days, as that's never a good sign in my books..
MouseAT
Hyper Poster
I think the eye opener for me was when I rode it on the day it opened. Wicker Man wasn't bad by any means, but wasn't doing anything particularly impressive in the cold weather. Across the park in Forbidden Valley, we had Nemesis, which was crawling over the loop during testing, yet once the train was loaded was still packing a pretty solid punch right from the off.
I think most of us have been riding enough to know that ride experience is likely to vary over time due to a variety of factors, but I think you're right on this one - a "good" ride delivers at minimum a good experience every time you ride it, rising to "excellent" or maybe even "outstanding" if it's having a good day. A ride that isn't consistent good, and often falls into "meh" territory just isn't enough, especially when the inevitable comparisons are made to similar rides, or rides with similar target audiences that provide a consistently better experience.
CrashCoaster
CF Legend
I wish I actually knew my coaster count, I've been riding coasters since before I can even remember. I'd estimate my coaster count to be in the region of 100-150, based on what I know I've been on.
Will
Strata Poster
^
It's not difficult to find out. Next time you're bored, go on one of the many websites that you can compile your list on (I think www.coaster-count.com is the go-to for most of us). You can even get a nice signature banner Then, when you feel like upgrading to true goondom, you can turn it into an excel spreadsheet
It's not difficult to find out. Next time you're bored, go on one of the many websites that you can compile your list on (I think www.coaster-count.com is the go-to for most of us). You can even get a nice signature banner
Then, when you feel like upgrading to true goondom, you can turn it into an excel spreadsheet