NEW RIDE: Raptor Attack

[slappy mcguire]

Actually, the silenced panicky monitor to me, would actually be more creepy, on reflection.

[Lee Turner]

The ride is meant to be scary, but looks like it's a little too scary for little children!

[Nathan]

It has a 1.2m height restriction, it's not like 6 year olds are down there.

As I said, I find it baffling that the TV has been removed despite there being bigger horrors within the ride itself. Heck, they have a blood soaked office right next to it...?! If kids are getting scared then it's obviously doing its job?!

To me it represented how far the park had gone to get the little things right and was subsequently my favourite touch on the whole attraction.

[Tom]

I wondered why I couldn't hear the monitor when I went the weekend before last. I was looking forward to seeing/hearing it. The ride is genuinely quite scary and edgy, so I fail to see why the monitor before it was removed.

[Matt]

Totally stupid if you ask me.

It was a great, and fantastic touch to the ride. What a waste of money filming was then...

[Nathan]

You can make out the TV in this photo.



I guess it looks more at "home", but without sound it's completely wasted.

[Lee Turner]

Is that where it's always been?

When I went last weekend it was there but not playing any audio.

[Nathan]

It used to be just before it, on the right hand side.

There was a bear underneath it too, I wonder if it's gone?

[slappy mcguire]

Eaten.

[Morgan]

While it is a shame that it has been toned down, I don't think the lack of audio on the monitor will greatly affect the overall atmosphere and experience of the ride. If anything it could enhance it, as a mysteriously silent warning of what might lie ahead, instead of a obvious and possibly over time cheesy warning with the audio. It's amazing what pieces of subtle theming can add to an attraction, without having to go for the in your face "scares".

As I'm new on here I might aswell give my opinion on the ride itself. I think it is a triumph for Lightwater, admittedly my memories of The Rat are fairly faded now, but the difference is amazing. The Rat was always an atmospheric ride with the sewer entrance and exit, but the transformation is amazing. From the entrance of the mineshaft, right until you step out into the shop/paintball area, the theming and experience is top notch. Fair enough the coaster itself won't win any awards, although I do like it (I have a soft spot for Schwarzkopf rides), the addition of the raptors really take it to a new level.

The raptors themselves are really good, I went to Florida in February and they move in a more realistic and believable way than those on the Jurassic Park ride at Islands of Adventure, which is amazing to think that a UK park like Lightwater can rub shoulders on aspects of animatronics. Fair enough the raptors do look a bit 'shiny', but over time when they've worn themselves in, they will look more natural. Also their positioning around the ride is faultless, they are located around the track to perfection, to give the best atmosphere, especially the last one on the helix, which seems extremely closed to the track.

Overall I really love Raptor Attack, if The Ultimate wasn't as insane as it is, it would easily be my favourite ride at the park, and is one of my favourite in the country.