The thing with shapes to come...

[slappy mcguire]

I started really going to theme parks in the mid nineties, and remember reading a book by the RCCGB, 'Britain's greatest Coaster', and remember being fascinated at the predictions as to the future of the industry in the UK.

Things like a UK park being bought by an American giant, and all the talk was to how the UK was going to match the US punch for punch for some years to come.

The reality? 1994 was the UK year of the rollercoaster, but sadly, after every peak, comes a trough, and with the likely demise of Camelot due, along with the closure of some high profile parks over the last few years, the UK theme park industry, is looking a little bedraggled, to say the least.

So where does the future lie, in say 2020?

What parks will merlin have inevitably swallowed whole? Which parks would have become a distant memory? Will other industries muscle into theme parks (maybe we'll get the Tesco Value Coaster... :wink: ), will the industry go the way of the broken Seaside funparks? Will there be a second UK industry rebirth? Will all the parks finally keep the chavs happy and install a gregg's on every corner? What non parks will become parks?

I don't know! You tell me...

 

[furie]

Good topic actually - well done

I think ten years we won't see a massive change.

Dreamland will be back and will show that there's a future or not for seaside parks. If it's still there, it'll be running along nicely. However, there's a chance it may not make it - we'll see.

I was discussing Alton with Rach yesterday. Trying to work out exactly where they can go. Likewise, discussing with others over the weekend (mostly Mark and Marc). They need to step up their game, tenfold! Without huge investment in rides they can make without upsetting the locals, Alton will stagnate. If that means millions a year in sound proofing and local improvement schemes, then it needs to be done. They also need a professional overhaul. I'd say if Alton keeps on ticking over as it is now, it will be in the same position Chessington is in right at this moment - a great park once that has long since seen better days.

I think Thorpe will go from strength to strength in the thrill arena. Ten years for a fledgling park in a good place like Thorpe isn't long at all. Let's hope that they get park management sorted.

I'm not sure about Chessington. Zoo-wise, they need to "do a Flamingoland". Really uprate their enclosures. With the lack of expansion at Chessington, the zoo is their future. They have a great theme park at the back end (for families) if it gets a good remedial improvement process in place. The zoo is where they need to go.

Blackpool - complete mystery. To the wall or giving ever decreasing returns. They need to do something major and special there, but I have no idea what.

Drayton Manor? WIth their great investment in Thomasland, they'll be one of the top family parks if they can keep on top of maintenance. At least one new thrill coaster is needed though. Again, they need somebody to walk the park and say "this is shoddy, that's poor, fix this, look after that".

Flamingoland? Best hope for the UK industry. Lots of space, good ideas for improvements and expansion. I don't think it will ever have world class rides, but it's going to be a park chock full of a wide range of things for everyone to enjoy. It's certainly the park with the most "easy" options available, and who (apart from staffing issues) seem to be making the correct moves in improving itself.

I doubt we'll see any new parks pop up, though Southport is still a bit of an enigma. I think we'll see a small resurgence over the next two or three years - Interest in Saw, Mumbo Jumbo and SW6 will see to that. If Drayton challenge with a new coaster next year too, and maybe FL with another - it could be interesting into 2012.

 

[Tom]

I think in 2020 Merlin will have realised that each of their major parks have completely different ways to develop.

Like furie said, Chessington should concentrate on its zoo. I never knew Chessington in its prime but it's clear even to me that its glory years are behind it. I see great potential in the zoo as well, whenever I go I always visit that area because there's a lot to do and see. I think the atmosphere of the park does a lot for the zoo and I think this area may see a lot more development (Merlin have already started expansion with Sealife).

I reckon Legoland should become less of a theme park and have more areas like miniland and so forth. Unfortunately they have almost lost the novelty of the lego because of rides like the dragon coaster. Now, people are more likely to miss out on the just lego areas and just ride the coasters. Legoland really does need a revamp and unless it comes up with a hidden gem, it won't be around in 10 years time.

Alton - I don't agree with furie on this one. Alton have always managed to get round the sound problem before and as long as they are careful with how they deal with locals who don't like the sound of fun, they should be alright. They have some clever peopl working for them at Alton. Most of the rides there are quite old and could do with revamps, but if Alton carries on the way it is now, I don't think there will be a problem.

Thorpe - I think in 10 years time we will see astounding things at Thorpe. Namely, £50 tickets. I have no doubt the thrills will be immense as they can expand very quickly but I think they will lose visitors as it's just too expensive. Hopefully, over 10 years they will conentrate on improving the park as a whole and get their managing sorted out. It's no good having rides if you aren't able to ride them.

At the moment we are seeing some new rising parks like Drayton Manor and Flamingoland. Drayton Manor needs to sort out its management in terms of the rides. Having one train on Shockwave when there is an hour long queue is never going to work. They are progressing with their family market though, especially Thomas Land which is a brilliant idea. I pity any poor child who never knew Thomas. They are exploiting the family industry in a good way and I reckon in 10 years there will be some amazing family attractions there.

Flamingoland feels generally a little bit run-down and very fairgroundy to me. I think over 10 years they ought to sort out their current situation before adding any new major additions. I also think they need to stagger their construction with Thorpe a bit more. They launched Kumali when Stealth came out and their new one (what's the name?) just after Saw. Stealth and Saw have been two of the most successful rides in England purely because of the advertising. Launching their main rides in the same years just means that they will get little to no advertising which they desperately need.

Blackpool really needs to pull something special out of the bag to stay in business. They have very many mediocre rides and coasters with very few 'gems'. They also need to understand that you can't create space. To put in new things you have to get rid of old things, that's the way it works. If they halt construction for two or three years and if they spend lots of time on one project then they could really come through. Other than that it seems to be doing fine.

I'm tired now...

 

[Pokemaniac]

Can I go outside the UK as well? Here are my two øre:

TusenFryd, I'll start with this one. Given that the 2010 family coaster rumours are true, we won't see any big rides there until 2012, and that won't be a coaster either. My bet is something along the S&S Screamin' Swings, now that Liseberg's Uppswinget has lost its novelty. They will propably keep their relative monopoly as the only thrill park in Norway, and may still take high entrance fees/prices on everything, and expande slowly because lack of competition. By 2016, I bet they will have placed an Invert in the park, if Liseberg hasn't built one. Loopen will be no more.
2020, the park won't look much different than today. The Viking area near the parking lot may look a lot different, but all in all they won't have added much. The Skycoaster may have been torn down in favour of the new Invert, we may have some attractions at the spot where Loopen once stood, but due to lack of competition, TusenFryd won't expand much. Not as much as their prices, at least.

Kristiansand Dyrepark is a zoo park near Kristiansand (hence the name). It caters mostly to families, but it has a KMG Afterburner and a fairly big log flume. I think that by 2020, the park's thrill department will have grown. A Pirate-themed family coaster is the most likely new addition, but I think one or two other attractions may have found their way to Kristiansand.

Hunderfossen Familiepark in Lillehammer is an even smaller family park. Its largest and most thrill-reminiscent ride to date is a rapids ride, and I think it has a Swinging Ship as well. The closest thing to a coaster we'll see there may be a Wild Mouse, or perhaps a Spinner. Family friendly will always be the keyword for this one.

Kongeparken will be bankrupt. Easy as.

On the other side of the World, China will stand as a giant in theme park business. I bet we'll see a new park in India as well, and perhaps Greece finally gets its own proper theme park.

 

[Ormerod]

Interesting reads :wink:
Hmm, where to start.

Alton Towers. I think by 2020 Alton will no longer be in the limelight as the UK's leading theme park. I think they will probably be a close 2nd behind Thorpe Park. After the addition of SW6 I would estimate that we won't see another coaster land in the acres for about 5 more years. Even then I don't think their next coaster will be anythin on the major side. My thoughts remain that Alton Towers will carry on investing, but more in the younger market of the Theme Park industry. A firm concentration would lead Merlin to splash some of their budget on additional theming here and there possibly some new outlets.
My final belief would be that Nemesis will be gone by 2020.

Thorpe Park will carry on astounding the industry with it's radical investments into it's older market. Merlin would surely have turned Thorpe into a large resort by 2020 and will be pioneering in some World's first developments, reaching its market out of the UK and aiming for Europe too.
We would say goodbye to collossus by 2020 and most definately a lot more rides, to prepare for some massive new investments into the park.

Not much more I can predict from Thorpe.



A turn for the worst would come in Blackpool, as another seaside amusement park bites the dust. I think PBB would react to it's market competitors by adding a few relocated rides, but by 2010 would be massively shrinking in land size. Eventually I think Thompson would sell the land to a small travelling fair company who would hire rides for a short period of time who would eventually sell it off for housing.



In basica terms, that's how I roughly think it will be.

 

[marc]

By 2020 I think there will be no more Chessington, if there is Merlin will not own it.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach will be bought by someone else. So much work needs to be done by someone who is interested in theme parks.

Adventure Island will expand if possible, yes I know the sea is next to it but they could somehow build over it?

Dreamland I can not see lasting more than maybe 5 years sorry to say

Alton is the biggy. Their main rides will be so out of date by 2020. People will not want rubbish rapids and a log flume. Nemesis will be gone as people have said, Air is already miles behind other flyers. I just dont know Alton will go. They need to start getting their act together now and plan for the future. I can see Alton getting left behind and could even end up like the American Adventure park, people will not drive all the way there for nothing.

Drayton Manor needs work simple. If they sort out staff and keep the place tidy its a great family park. 2 more big rides and they will be ok.

I also think in the next 20 year we will see a Disney Park in the UK.

 

[Tomatron]

OK here's what I reckon...

Alton Towers will still be going strong is 2020. They'll be looking to improve on the resort experience they currently offer, and compliment the rides they already have, whilst removing the stuff which isn't cost-effective anymore. Nemesis will still be there (unless every part of the ride needs replacing I really can't see it biting the dust), the Rapids should have a big makover, and the X-sector area should get a new ride there to fill the former Black Hole space. But my big hope is that they finally build a proper road around the back of Alton village.

Thorpe Park will go from strength to strength as well. It's difficult to say whether they can make it more of a one-day affair, the park is not geared to being a resort just yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if they built a hotel there in the next 10 years and followed a similar business model to Alton Towers. They'll get at least one more new coaster (nothing to rival the size and speed of Stealth, but it'll no doubt have a gimmick that the marketing team will feast over. On a personal note, I'd love to seem them take out Detonator and put in a higher capacity and taller drop tower.

Chessington is an interesting one. There's a lot of potential for the park, but it'll all be down to how Merlin see it as a long term investment. I really hope that Vampire is still knocking about, because it's a great ride for the park and who it's aimed at. But it's not getting any cheaper to keep it running. I can't see them adding another coaster, but a couple of rethemed areas and a big zoo expansion would help keep the park's resort's raison d'etre very much alive.

As for Blackpool, until recently I honestly thought this place was doomed. But I have got reason to believe it will survive. Amanda, for all her misgivings is a very smart businesswoman who is the park's best hope of keeping it afloat. She'll be pushing the park as a resort and give the place more reasons to go there for more than a day. The old deadwood will be gone and new rides will take over and give the place some much needed life, and she will be trying to do what the park should have done about 15 years ago to bring it up to the level it needs to thrive and suceed.

Drayton Manor - another tough one. Thomas Land has been brilliant from them. But now they have to build on that success, and give the rest of the park the TLC it needs. The catering outlets need a complete overhaul, and the staffing issues and the people responsible for them need a serious kick up the backside. I wouldn't expect much in the thrill department, due the planning restrictions they have in place. Their best hope would be to spend a bit of money on the stuff they already have - getting a second train for G-Force would do them wonders on busy days. As for Shockwave, anything could happen. Ride gets taken down, they sort the trains out, get new ones, put floorless cars on it, who knows. But they need to do something.

Flamingoland's future looks bright. A new hotel would be nice, because it's becoming more than a one-day park with the zoo and the rides they have put in. But if they keep filling the caravans and chalets and getting the revenue from them, they'll be doing quite well.

 

[Inverse]

Will other industries muscle into theme parks (maybe we'll get the Tesco Value Coaster... :wink: )

Heh, maybe not tescos. But a corporation like Virgin always seem likely to give anything a go. Maybe a Virgin park that'll go huge straight away and then disapear just as quickly?

I feel Blackpool need to pull out another Big One to survive to 2020. If they don't maybe they're top woodies will end up in Dreamland.

Thorpe will keep growing. They'll eventually reclaim so much land for rides there won't be a lake left.

I agree with Furie that Chessington must make more of the Zoo to differentiate themselves from rival parks.

I don't think the UK industry could ever catch up with America due to the number of restrictions on development. We all know Alton's planning issues, how extreme can they go without breaking the tree line? They usually dig pits, but earth works cost money. An american park would just build straight up and have more money for the actually ride.

There is a great example on Google Street View.
Link
On one side of the road you see a nice, middleclass surburban road full of bugalows... turn around 180 degrees and you get 200ft of Sheikra, right there!

Thorpe need to build islands for new coasters, cost again. Reducing the quality of the actually ride for the money availible. Non-Merlin UK parks just don't have the money to compete on the rollercoaster front.

I see Legoland eventually over taking Alton as the UK No.1. They're building Hotels and pumping money into it. Whereas Alton is stagnating a little bit.

 

[slappy mcguire]

Virgin park - despite sounding like a porno film, that's actually quite feasible; or possibly Stellios could introduce us to Easypark... :--D

Here's my own humble opinion.

North
Blackpool won't have died by 2020, but it will really be struggling, which to be honest is a shame. I just have a hunch that Gullivers at Warrington will start to take the North West more seriously, and I suspect this by proxy will deliver Blackpool a bigger blow than should be feasable.

Flamingoland will go from strength to strength, although I suspect by 2020, it will have been acquired by some huge faceless organisation from the middle east or the US, and I imagine it's future to follow the path of Chessington fairly exactly. LWV will have either closed, or started to flourish, as the status quo is simply not an option.

Midlands
AT is showing signs of a middle age spread, and I suspect will be damaged by merlin's new found obsession with Thorpe. The park won't become bad by any means, I just suspect we have seen it's finest hour, and it will start to live off former glories, in much the way Blackpool is often accused of.

Drayton, again is likely to have been acquired, and I suspect that the advent of Thomas Land offers a hint as to the future path of the UK industry, and will probably start to theme the whole park around just that, or a handful of character based rides.

South
Thorpe, again will begin to dominate in the UK, as it appears not as badly hit by planning regulation as AT and Chessington (who will follow a similar path to Alton, but probably as many have said, more family orientated.) I Also have the impression that Thorpe may also be taken out of the Merlin Portfolio, and become something of a pet project of the uber wealthy parent company.

Legoland and Paultons are likely to increase attendances slightly, but largely remain as are now.

There is also likelihood that more small parks and seaside attractions will close, as it becomes increasingly unprofitable to compete with the big boys.

 

[The Grape Wizard]

Blackpool

I think they need to get rid of one of their woodies and get a good GCI or something along the lines of Valhalla. I think the park will get a tidy up and some more theming put in.

Alton Towers

I think after SW6 they will spend a few years on younger attractions and the resort. Add the thrid hotel and maybe a few new thrill slides at cariba creek. A couple of years after SW6 they will put a family thrill in the black hole tent. By 2010 definatly either Nemesis or Oblivion will be gone. The flume will be a new flume with the typical pirate theme or even a water coaster. The rapids will have had a clean up or even a new rapids.

Thorpe Park

I think thorpe will be like Alton between 94-05, Saw is nemesis, 4 years go by and they will have another coaster, then another one, 3 years go by, they will have a family thrill, next year they will have another coaster.

 

[#pmbo]

This topis doesn't seem to proving very popular, even though it's probably one of the most interesting discussions around (to me). Well, it's time to put my unexpeirienced two peneth in.
ALTON TOWERS
As a business, Alton Towers is doing well. The park is generating a large number of visitors and has 4 big rides, soon to be 5. The way I would go about things is to install a family ride every year (to claim a new annual ride) and every 2-5 years install a rollercoaster and a possible thrill ride. This would attract families and thrill-seekers. Alton Towers seem to be following this. 2006 - Rita (thrill), 2007 - something in the dung heap (family/kiddies), 2008 - Mutiny Bay (young families), 2009 - Sea Life Centre (families), 2010 - sw6 (I imagine thrill).
If Alton Towers keep following this method, then they would attract the majority of the public. This, making enough money that would keep Alton Towers running for several decades. Right now it's up to the management to keep the business choices good, keep the park looking nice and keep the visitors coming. But it seems as if Thorpe Park are catching up :wink: