Attraction Source Forum

For anyone who hasn't been following the new SW6 topic, a few members have reported that the ECC members mailing list has "confirmed" not only a Rita retheme but a Spinball retheme/rename next year as well.

[quote=""bohoboy""]It's not wholly unsubstantiated it's lifted straight from news on the ECC mailing list.[/quote]
[quote=""Lotte""][quote=""bohoboy""]It's not wholly unsubstantiated it's lifted straight from news on the ECC mailing list.[/quote]
Yep just got mine.
Both Rita and Spin ball whizzer will be renamed for next season.
Why rename Spin ball whizzer when its going to be moved as per the 10 yr plan details.
Would be nice to see it in the Black hole tent.[/quote]
Unfortunately you have to be an ECC member to recieve it, obviously. The only one I know on here is Diogo so if you're reading this could you confirm it for us? I wouldn't think the ECC would write something unless they were pretty sure it was true.

Also Screamscape had this to say, presumably reported by another ECC member.

[quote=""Screamscape""]News - (11/5/09) Another reader confirms hearing that not only will Rita be painted a new color, but also given a new name for the 2010 season to tie somehow into the new SW6 coaster. They also mentioned that we may see some kind of name change for Spinball Wizzer next season as well, though I’m not sure why.[/quote]
This seems a bit of a curveball to me. It doesn't really make any sense at all to retheme Spinball now, presuming it's not moving to a new location next year. If they're retheming it, that kinda implies the whole idea of moving it has been scrapped entirely...

[quote=""Sam.""] The only one I know on here is Diogo so if you're reading this could you confirm it for us? [/quote]
Sadly, I don't subscribe to the ECC mailing list, as I can't stand my inbox being filled with spamy conversations! Why they don't have a proper forum I will never know.

I don't really see the point of a spinball retheme, especially at the moment. I'm a tad concerned it will divert funds from SW6.

Personally, I'd rather they would increase the line-up in Cloud Cuckoo Land and leave Spinball alone for a while longer.
Unless they are moving it to Coaster Corner? Planning and stuff would be a big issue then though.
I'd prefer for Alton Towers to have a nice timetable as they work around the park by introducing a new area one year and then a new addition to it a year later.

There is a lot of money going into UG Land, so this Retheme/Rename just seems like a pointless exercise, in my opinion.

Obviously, this should be taken with a pinch of salt until something more official comes out.

Obviously its not something I would like but there is always the possibility that Alton have sold the naming rights for Spinball to generate funds for SW6 or other future endeavors. We could be getting a sponsered named for the ride like 'Cash4Gold presents Spinball Wizzer'

maybe rita will keep its existing name and the ride will get tied in with the sw6 story line?

I'd love it to happen but don't see the point at this stage when AT have enough on their plates with SW6 and Spinball is likely getting moved in the next few years!

Seems very strange to rename it now - especially with a move in the pipeline.

Just asked my "insider" and he knows nothings about a Spinball retheme. Rita is getting a rename and possibly a retheme but to what is unknown

They should retheme rita for the dark forest too.

Then rename her to "The Dark Passenger"

lol :mrgreen:

Hmmm, other than maybe a possible flume style sponsorship deal, I can't see this happening. The words pointless and pointless spring to mind. I think Spinball is fine and dandy as it is. It's the surrounding area that needs spruced up, to bring it up to Spinball's standard.

I don't see much point in renaming Spinball unless this is only half the story. (Re-theme as well)

Personally I always thought Spinball whizzer was a unique idea for a ride. Ok so it wasn’t executed brilliantly but what other ride is based on a pinball machine. I would like to see Rita get a re-them as racing is very generic but if Spinball does change I still like the core idea.

Maybe it is going to be sponsored by Hotpoint

Do they really need to do anything to it though? Ok us enthusiasts may think more theming would be nice but would the majority people going to AT care?

It is a good, fun ride which is suitable for younger thrill seekers and adults alike - I had 5 goes today and loved it!

Does make me wonder, given the above, if a retheme is not happening, why AT are selling off the Spinball Medals in the shops for just 50p down from £4.00? Maybe a retheme really is on the way? Or is it just a random sale?

I do wonder whether they're gonna simply decide to close it this year?

I get the feeling that Spinball will not remain in its current state with Merlin leading the park. The overall impression/ location of the ride is poor. CCL, the Blackhole tent?

They could move it into the Blackhole Tent and retheme it. Could be like some sort of out of control space mission then.

Could be fairly cool

As part of the 10 year development plan, it was proposed to move Spinball to what would be the new entertainments area where the Air car park is now. It is unlikely that it would be moved in to the Black Hole tent, even on a temporary basis.

General consensus now is that a Spinball retheme for next season is a dead cert.

[quote=""Vik""]General consensus now is that a Spinball retheme for next season is a dead cert. [/quote]
...because I kept going on about it all day...? :P

Cheers Nick btw, none of us noticed any reduced Spinball prices amidst all the selling off of Rita tat. But surely if they were getting rid of all the merchandise it would have been reduced for a while, like Rita's has been? Maybe they just don't sell much Spinball merch...

I really think they could have done a much better job with spinball. It just sits on top of the ground.

They could have literally lowered the ride a few meters. Then the low bits before the two "halfpipe" elements could have been under the paths and the helix could have been going into the ground a bit. Then the bits in line with the station could have sat level on the ground instead of being raised.

This would have hidden the ride a bit and made it much more thrilling. Also, more people would probably go on it because it wouldn;t look so high