Tussaud Group [TTG] Bought Out By Merlin

[sebo]

The Tussauds Group has been bought out by Merlin, who owns Legoland and other attractions over the world. For any of you who don't know who Tussauds are, they own Thorpe Park, Chessington World Of Adventures,

Alton Towers, Port Adventura and Heide Park.

Story here

 

-Sebastian

[IceDragon]

noooooo!!! oh you have got to be joking!!! (i managed to prevent any profanities)

 

ummm... does anyone know anything about this new company...

 

 

 

 

now that ive read it wholly, it truly doesnt seem to be too bad. i hope some other company buys it, Tussauds were doing sooooo well!!!

 

will this change any of the up-coming plans? 0_o

[calum666]

It says something about speeding up growth...

Do you think this means that they are going to introduce new rollercoasters into these parks soon?

[sebo]

I hope not. One thing I would not like to see is a Vekoma coaster for 2009. I think it would ruin the skyline, but who knows what we might get for 2009. [Thorpe, i'm talking about]

 

Alton may be something totally different.

[IceDragon]

It says something about speeding up growth...

Do you think this means that they are going to introduce new rollercoasters into these parks soon?

 

probably, but it should be better, otherwise im left with effing Adventure Island

[sebo]

DIC, a multi million pound company, Merlin, maybe a few billion. I'm annoyed, as I would have liked to keep DIC in it, but at the 20% it has now, I

I'm still not happy.[/code]

[coastermaniac1]

Was'nt it sold to the Dubai company just around a year or 2 ago.

 

Do you think this means that they are going to introduce new rollercoasters into these parks soon?

 

Well when they just bought Gardaland last year, a coaster for 2008 was announced very soon after they bought it.

 

It is said to be something like Big Thunder Mountain at Disneyland so hopefully new coasters will be themed really well in their parks.

[IceDragon]

Was'nt it sold to the Dubai company just around a year or 2 ago.

 

Do you think this means that they are going to introduce new rollercoasters into these parks soon?

 

Well when they just bought Gardaland last year, a coaster for 2008 was announced very soon after they bought it.

 

It is said to be something like Big Thunder Mountain at Disneyland so hopefully new coasters will be themed really well in their parks.

 

well, i hope they do introduce something solid; not a record-breaker, but another B&M, either floorless or a launched B&M Flyer... that would be interesting

[sebo]

For Thorpe 2009, I hope it's a Flyer, but noone knows. My source who knows a few people high up, says it could be a 4D.

[coastermaniac1]

For Thorpe 2009, I hope it's a Flyer, but noone knows. My source who knows a few people high up, says it could be a 4D.

 

The only chance of a 4d coaster at Thorpe is an Intamin Ball Coaster but I doubt that will happen because of the low capacity.

 

I hope Alton Towers still gets it's new coaster in 2008 and Thorpe in 2009.

[sebo]

No, a proper 4D. It would be an S+S [Ha, obviously,as they are the only people making them] and will be in Canada Creek area of teh park.

[dc006f5086]

No, a proper 4D. It would be an S+S [Ha, obviously,as they are the only people making them] and will be in Canada Creek area of teh park.

 

Highly doubt it, Trying to get planning permission would prove a nightmare, for one S&S 4D's need to be quite high to pick up speed due to the large train size, Thorpe cannot build anything over 100ft, Stealth was and will be there only exception, so you will not see anything any higher than 100ft from Thorpe....

 

Plus 4D's have a very dense support structure, this might prove a problem with the land plus it would be rather un-pleasant for the locals, although I cannot see that being much of a major issue.

 

Plus the ride type in itself is far too expensive, Tussauds never invest over £12million for an attraction, your looking at almost double that for 4D in the UK!

 

So I doubt a 4D...

 

As for this new purchase, it will be interesting to see how it develops, I really cannot see what direction Merlin plan on taking for the Tussauds parks as there much larger to the parks they currently run, mainly Alton Towers... So it will be interesting indeed...

[calum666]

...What ever happened to the woodie Alton Towers was supposed to get last year...

[sebo]

It would be a smaller scale 4D. You can believe me or not on this, your choice.#

[BrownStreak]

For any of you who don't know who Tussauds are, they own Thorpe Park, Chessington World Of Adventures,

Alton Towers, Port Adventura and Heide Park.

[-Sebastian

 

I though Port Adventura was owned by Universal Studios...?

[sebo]

It's now owned 100% by Tussauds. They bought the rest of it from Universal last year.

[dc006f5086]

...What ever happened to the woodie Alton Towers was supposed to get last year...

 

You mean 2005 ?

 

Tussauds pulled the plug on it, instead they constructed Rita. But Alton Towers currently are in the process of planning another smaller scaled wooden coaster for 2008, along with a new themed area...

 

Not much is known about it apart from it will be similar in size to Megafobia at Oakwood!

 

It would be a smaller scale 4D. You can believe me or not on this, your choice.#

 

I'm not saying I do not beleive you, I'm just doubting it, it's not a ride type that I can see Tussauds investing into and the whole smaller scale thing I cannot see happening due the to train weight and size, they need a fair sized drop to gain enough energy to make it through a course, even with smaller inversions, it just does not add up to me, Thorpe are a park that like to play it safe...

 

I could be wrong, I'm not saying I do not beleive you, I just doubt the idea, until I see cold hard facts and plans I will doubt it...lol

 

I though Port Adventura was owned by Universal Studios...?

 

Tussauds only own about 2% in Port Aventura, the rest is owned by some spanish bank, so Tussauds only have a small share in it, therefore they do not own it outright like there other parks!

 

Universal was the majority share holder for a while, then they sold it onto the current owners, throughout that time Tussauds still had there 2% share in PA.

[calum666]

You mean 2005 ?

 

Tussauds pulled the plug on it, instead they constructed Rita. But Alton Towers currently are in the process of planning another smaller scaled wooden coaster for 2008, along with a new themed area...

 

Not much is known about it apart from it will be similar in size to Megafobia at Oakwood!

 

Oh, wow that sounds like fun then, I forgot it was 2005...

[sebo]

Alton Towers 1998: Oblivion, worlds first vertical drop coaster

Alton Towers 2002: Air, worlds first Flying Coaster

I think they may...

[calum666]

Alton Towers 1998: Oblivion, worlds first vertical drop coaster

Alton Towers 2002: Air, worlds first Flying Coaster

I think they may...

 

Yay hopefully another world first!

[BorisTF]

Alton Towers 1998: Oblivion, worlds first vertical drop coaster

Alton Towers 2002: Air, worlds first Flying Coaster

I think they may...

Air wasn't the worlds first flying coaster though...why does everyone forget Vekoma.

 

Also, Aquatrax in Thorpe for 2009...going where the log flume is, nice watery area and the good relationship with Intamin lately

[sebo]

Yeah, if they do that i'll just smash the place up. Loggers is such a good ride, I would be upset if they did.

[Nemesis Inferno]

^And the source there?

 

I've heard 4-D bandied about, but even stranger were a Thrill Lift/Tilt Coaster, dunno what'll happen really future-wise at any of the parks with new attractions and such, but I'd much rather see more work put into the looks of the parks, rather than mutli-million rides, especially at Thorpe.

 

Here's a wish-list...

 

Alton - Flat rides mainly, nice one to replace Black Hole, and a couple smaller ones around Katanga/Gloomy Wood to support the woodie (if built)

 

Chessington - Not much really, would like to see Dragon Falls' rocks return, and perhaps a small family coaster, preferably wood...

 

Thorpe - Dunno where to begin here, how about maintenance for one thing, much nicer environment is needed as well, cos with the main audience being the teen, sometimes you feel dirty when you see 9/10 year olds smoking... Then investing in some actual theming on the rides, plus remove Zodiac and get a Chaos or something...

[IceDragon]

Alton Towers 1998: Oblivion, worlds first vertical drop coaster

Alton Towers 2002: Air, worlds first Flying Coaster

I think they may...

 

dont forget

 

Corkscrew: worlds first inverting

Nemesis: one of the first inverting inverts

 

 

Air was a prototype, doesnt mean to say it sucks, it just doesnt compare to the others

[sebo]

Ultimatley, They are owned by same company as Six Flags....