Heide Park

[BULBOUS]

That is poor. It looks like Corkscrew, just there, just hideous.

Given this picture : http://www.rcdb.com/ig4146.htm?picture=5 , there's not a lot they can do with such a layout. But, you know, caves, rocks, tipis? Anything to look old-western. At least cover those brown support structures?

[AstroDan]

My main point is why is a park owned by such a huge company as Merlin investing in a Zierer coaster and theming it very, very sparsley?! This is no way to even attempt to compete with Disney - let alone the other major German parks such as Europa-Park and Phantasialand.

If Alton had installed that I would be most alarmed!

[Mankey]

This is pretty awful... you'd think an addition that minimal would be compensated with alot of theming, I prime example of what can be done with a layout like that is Chessingtons Runaway Train, i mean sure the ride sucks, but the theming is pretty damn good on that ride.

And Zierer? Why? Thats like getting your bog standard Pinfari ZL-42 or something.

*sigh* Sometimes i wish i knew what Merlin were up to!

^^ Chris ^^

[Kaz]

[quote=""AstroDan.""]My main point is why is a park owned by such a huge company as Merlin investing in a Zierer coaster and theming it very, very sparsley?! This is no way to even attempt to compete with Disney - let alone the other major German parks such as Europa-Park and Phantasialand.

If Alton had installed that I would be most alarmed!

[/quote]

The contract for this coaster was probably signed late 2007. Merlin didn't really have a grip on Tussauds at that point so I would assume it's safe to say this is more of a DIC era ride.

Come to think of it I doubt the holding companies have much say attraction wise. They simply set targets and it is down to the park management to meet them.

[Wes]

[quote=""Kaz""]They simply set targets and it is down to the park management to meet them.[/quote]

Yeh. Its very much the management's choice as to what happens - just like what is happening at Alton Towers at the moment.

Looking at the picture Nickdaegg posted - the area doesn't look too bad to be honest?

[AstroDan]

I think it looks sparse and far too open with a lack of theming for cover! That new coaster looks no better than Beastie which is over 20 years old!

Whilst a lot may come down to management, I wonder what Heide Park are playing at when Europa-Park and Phantasialand are such massive players.

[Rob L]

That coaster looks poor, if your going to get a small cheap coaster like that then at least spend more money on theming it well. It looks like a boring coaster to ride even for young children.

I just hope that that it's Heide Park's management that are mainly responsible for this ride and not Merlin, I would hate to wee something like this at Alton. However after Mutiny Bay I am hopefull that Alton's future attractions will be better than this one, and have more theming.

[Luce]

Considering the rest of Heide Park is so well themed this new coaster does look as if it's lacking some themeing but it's not as bad as I thought!

[Ash]

Haunted Hollow was worse...

[jonathan leake]

Its a thriller
http://www.rcdb.com/ig4146.htm?picture=5

[Coke]

Picture update posted here
[url=http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/vi ... hp?t=50274" target="_blank]http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/vi ... hp?t=50274[/url]

[Mankey]

Nice looking theme going on there! All flats though? reminds me of when Thorpe started on lost city!

[John]

Nice to see its not all white and green!

They've somehow managed to fit about twice as many flats as alton have in total into a patch of land half the size of x-sector.

Also, now heide park have some new flats, can alton have some too, or at least a new (fully working) top spin, thx Merlin.

EDIT: Not too fond of some of the colours though, and what's that blue thing in the middle supposed to be?

[caffeine_demon]

looks quite nice, if a little uninspiring

[AstroDan]

I don't think they're all "new" - indeed all/most are re-themed.

[Big Dave]

[quote=""duckman""]EDIT: Not too fond of some of the colours though, and what's that blue thing in the middle supposed to be?[/quote]

Looks like a mast for a swing ride aka Ugswinger/twirling toodstool.

[Khanage]

What a lovely looking area. What I like about it most is the integration the rides have with the theming. I like it when rides are built into an area rather than just plonked on the ground. Great stuff.

[amcmaster1]

Does anyone know what the full list of attractions and the name of the new area?

[Khanage]

I think it's called The Maya Valley according to their website.

Not sure about the attractions though.

[Skumfidus]

It isn't an Egyptian theme, it's Mayan.....hence the name.

It looks ok, but on closer inspection there isn't much going on really!