Mike I used people at works view as they are the public, and they do not see getting on 3 rides at Thorpe as a good day out with their kids upset. Many will not go back to Legoland but will go back to Flamingoland. A family is not just made up to 2 adults and 2 4 years old, a family day out can be 2 adults and 2 teens so every park is a family park in my view. Some cater for younger families some for older ones and each has something different to offer. What I said was not from a coaster fan view.
A big coaster like a B&M etc will cost around the 12 million mark to build in the uk as it has been said many a time. Small parks could not afford this without taking a risk, which is what I meant. So they go for smaller family rides that draw in new people and this has worked well for them. But how many new people will be drawn to Thorpe next year with their 2nd hand ride?
You are totally missing the point btw. Dont fix something that is not broken just means lack of development and change which is the rut they are in. This is the reason they get away with it as people just put up with it which is why I visit Alton maybe once every other year now and not every year. The park actually used to be a lot better than it is now.
A few years back you were one of the people that complained the most about Thorpe at GF when we got on hardly anything and everything kept breaking down
Granted Six Flags was a bad example but Universal and Disney have built up from ground zero and try to add new things and improve thing every few years. Please tell me what Merlin have done to improve the attractions that were already at the parks they took over? Bugger all the rides have just got in worse and worse condition with people complaining how rough some are now.
I am only looking at parks I have been to, granted you have been to more in the USA so know more about them, I would not even try and talk about them. But a Six Flags pass costs what? $54 which is £100 less than the Merlin pass lol.
I am not saying the parks are not successful at all I never did say that, people go and put up with the poor standard, and yes I am comparing it to Disney and Universal as Merlin are meant to be in the same league by their own admission.
I can near enough say if Disney and Universal opened up in London or the South of the UK Alton would be in trouble, as I doubt very much people from down south would not bother to travel to Alton for the same stuff they have been on for the past 10 years.
Benin in a way the Thomas thing was a risk as it has not worked for Six Flags, but saying that Thomas was huge in the UK anyway. Pepper Pig is also causing big interest so it shows the small parks can do it
Where as Alton were going for Shrek 4D lol until they were told no as they tried to do it on the cheap.
