The John Wardley Interview - Questions

General discussion regarding the UK's No.1 Theme Park. Talk about anything and everything Alton Towers here.
Locked
User avatar
Chris W
Member
Member
Posts: 3079
Joined: Mon Jul 02, 2007 3:42 pm
Location: Liverpool

John Wardley: Ride Consultant for Merlin Entertainments. Creator of Nemesis, Oblivion, Air and Chessington World of Adventures. In the 90s Tussauds era John Wardley was instrumental in the development of Alton Towers, and his work firmly placed Alton Towers as the UKs number 1 Theme Park.
And of course in 2010 be came up with the initial concepts for Th13teen.

Recently, TowersTimes contacted John to arrange an interview, he has agreed to this and we want YOU to ask the questions.

John's work has been varied throughout the years, from roller coasters to dark rides. There are a wide variety of topics you can ask questions about.

You can submit your questions in this topic and do feel free to discuss the questions that people propose. Within reason, you can also submit more than 1 question.
Also, if you feel that another TTFer has posted a question that you would like answered, repeat/quote the question and it will increase the chance that it will be put to John Wardley.

The closing date for questions is Sunday 5th December at 5:00pm. You must have submitted your question by this date.

Please be aware, we are expecting a large number of responses so it would be impossible for every question to be answered. Questions will be chosen based on popularity and also randomly.

If anyone has any other comments or if you require further information please PM me.

I look forward to seeing what you guys come up with! :D

EDIT: You can find the answers here - Link
Image
Image
Joelio

*edited*

If SW7 is at the rear of Forbidden Valley, would it attempt to blend into Nemesis or Air, or would a new theme be considered?
Last edited by Joelio on Sat Nov 20, 2010 11:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
MattH

How Big Are Your Guns ;)
User avatar
Mike
Member
Member
Posts: 613
Joined: Mon Apr 23, 2007 8:21 pm
Location: Ramsgate/Bedford
Contact:

OK I'll start us off shall I :P

Q: If you were put in charge of theming at Alton Towers, which area of the park would you say is best themed, and which would you say needs most work? And for the latter, what would you do to improve it? :)
Last edited by Mike on Sat Nov 20, 2010 7:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Image

Thanks to Ian for the sig!
.Will

I has question!

Which of the Alton Towers rollercoasters are filled with sand in their supports, really want to put this baby to bed to be honest!

:P
User avatar
mattbailey
Member
Member
Posts: 567
Joined: Sun Jul 20, 2008 2:03 pm
Location: Worcester

John, where did you buy your infamous coat?
User avatar
Tom G
Member
Member
Posts: 1642
Joined: Thu Jun 10, 2010 1:09 pm

Can you see a day when you retire, or would you like to continue for as long as possible?
User avatar
Ritadz
Member
Member
Posts: 1410
Joined: Sat Jan 16, 2010 10:09 pm

Out of all of the rides you have personally been involved in, which do you consider to be your best achievement?
MattH

What has to be your most favorite coaster that you have designed so far?

mine is technically different to Ritadz's q btw, as his fave and his greatest CAN be different :P
Joelio

If hypothetically Nemesis were to be removed and melted to form a Vekoma Boomerang, what would you build to replace it?

(real question)
User avatar
starbugger1303
Member
Member
Posts: 699
Joined: Wed Oct 08, 2008 10:31 pm
Location: Phalanx Research Facility - Forbidden Valley

How did you feel when you found out that The Haunted House was being changed to Duel?
User avatar
The its man
Member
Member
Posts: 264
Joined: Fri Jun 01, 2007 2:19 pm
Location: Medway - breeding ground for TP's main audience

Out of the ride and rollercoaster companies you have worked for, which company would you say you have had the most pleasure of working with?

Are the stories true about your love nests? :P
Last edited by The its man on Sat Nov 20, 2010 7:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.
ImageImage
Screw the entrance fee, I have an annual pass!
Image
User avatar
Nightfall
Member
Member
Posts: 2195
Joined: Wed Sep 09, 2009 11:10 am
Location: Cambridge

[quote="".Will""]I has question!

Which of the Alton Towers rollercoasters are filled with sand in their supports, really want to put this baby to bed to be honest!

:P[/quote] Seconded.

[quote=""MattH""]What has to be your most favourite coaster that you have designed so far?[/quote]It's Nemesis, he was asked at the Th13teen event :wink:
[align=center]Image[/align]
djtruefitt

If you could have designed and help build any other ride in the world, which ride would it be and why?
User avatar
mattbailey
Member
Member
Posts: 567
Joined: Sun Jul 20, 2008 2:03 pm
Location: Worcester

John, what did you have for breakfast?
User avatar
Jared
Member
Member
Posts: 428
Joined: Mon Mar 09, 2009 11:33 am
Location: Black Hollow
Contact:

You've mentioned prior to this that you have a great relationship with Walter Bollinger and Claude Mabillard, but when it comes to helping with the development of new rides and concepts with them, how much creative control do they allow you to have?
Image
User avatar
James
Member
Member
Posts: 2740
Joined: Thu Jan 22, 2009 4:43 pm
Location: Newport, Wales
Contact:

What kind of attraction/ride do you think the UK theme park industry is missing?
User avatar
Nathan
Member
Member
Posts: 1372
Joined: Sun Oct 30, 2005 5:18 pm
Location: Sunderland
Contact:

Would you ever consider working with a smaller UK park, such as Lightwater Valley, and the tighter budget constraints that come with it?
User avatar
Rollercoaster5000
Member
Member
Posts: 492
Joined: Fri Jul 10, 2009 4:43 pm
Location: North London
Contact:

Who came up with the concept for the world first element on Thirteen and what is the ride's top speed?
Would you say that the UK is lacking in world class attractions?
Last edited by Rollercoaster5000 on Sat Nov 20, 2010 7:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Benedique
Member
Member
Posts: 590
Joined: Tue Nov 17, 2009 2:41 am
Location: Somewhere in the Manchester area

I'd love to know who his favourite coaster manufacturer is, but I doubt he'll tell us, he'll say something polite like 'they are all unique in their own way' blah blah...

I think he's secretly a B&M fanboy tbh ;)
Image
Locked