Please be advised that this video does contain spoilers. Check out our off ride footage and queue-line walkthrough of Wicker Man here: th-cam.com/video/It3HUmS4mCc/w-d-xo.html Check out our full Q&A with the designers behind Wicker Man here: th-cam.com/video/iuIo4C5-81w/w-d-xo.html
Theme Park Worldwide We were supposed to be going on the 3rd of March as well but they emailed to say the park was closed because of fears of the snow Was it open as normal?
I’m happy that John Wardley managed to get briefly involved changing the first two drops of the ride. I’m also glad the ride’s queue isn’t a cattle pen. Thank god for that. Lastly great review Shawn.
I recently went on wickerman this Easter 2019 I also went on when it came out it has gotten a lot rougher than when it first came out but nonetheless still amazing
I finally experienced Wicker Man this week (8 times) and I can say is is my second favourite UK coaster. I hope some day to get a back row because I bet that's an experience.
Theme Park Worldwide wow! That's bizzare, can't wait to try it for myself this weekend. I'm sure I'll prefer the smiler to this, not a big fan of nemesis (still love it of course) but excited to experience the ride.
Haha, I knew someone would bring that up. Of course it has nothing to do with any film version of the Wicker Man, the original film with Christopher Lee is a decent film but the newer one with Nicolas Cage is just far too ridiculous. XD
Finally got to visit Alton for the first time Sunday, had a Gold Pass and didn't realise I could cross off a ride to re-ride another! So I had another six rides to cross off by the end of the day! Damn! I didn't mind waiting in the 45 minute queue the second time I rode Wicker Man though, as it's incredibly atmospheric with the music, the ride roaring past and the clattering of the lift chain overhead. I was _chosen_ (got the front row purely by chance on my first ride!) which made me incredibly happy. The ride is my very first wooden coaster and I was impressed with the speed, the intensity of the turns and simply how fun it was. The fast turns after the first drop felt completely out of control and me and my friend couldn't stop laughing and cheering. I kept my arms down but on our second ride (row four) I tried keeping them up but couldn't as the airtime freaked me out each time! The ride was smooth as a supermodel's ass but the lift hill ''pumped' the train up, which felt strange. It was sunny and warm by the time we rode it and the cloudy weather earlier would have suited the ride more, but maybe the heat had made it faster by then. I loved the bursts of cool mist which were most welcome, and the pop of fragrant smoke in the shed at the end.
I’ve been on it twice now. I’m not much for coasters, but I think Wicker Man might have changed that. I absolutely love the theming and the coaster is really well done.
Great video! After my first visit to Alton Towers since I was 8, this is my top coaster! It just looks unbelievable, the music is great and the ride is great fun! I didn’t mind queuing for it as it is such a picturesque area and ride!
I can't wait to ride it now!!! My trip to Alton Towers is in heavy planning, I won't be at the opening day as I'm at a comic convention in Birmingham! But watch this space
Are you related to them Ropers and would complain if it was noisy eh!!!????? Despite the untold pollution your factories have caused in Stoke on Trent for years!!! Hypocrites!!!! Lol!!!
ez icarus A rollercoaster can be built anywhere. A lot of us have an emotional attachment to a part like AT but that's nothing compared to the emotional attachment of a family home you lived in before the theme park became internationally recognised.
I know they already have 13 but if they could of added the drop coster effect like 13 think it would of made it diffrent from other wooden normal costers ??
My first time going on wickerman the cart got stuck at the tunnel bit right at the end and we were there for 30 mins turns out a bottle flew out of someone’s pocket and went of the track and they had to get it off before they sent the next cart. Apart from that I loved wickerman the theming is amazing and the air time is perfect it’s my sort of ride as it’s not too big but not babyish
idk i found this ride really rough and uncomfortable to ride especially on the middle rows. i thought since it was a GCI it would be buttery smooth but i guess im wrong. i have ridden three times, once on the back row, on sixth row, and fifth row just today. but i absolutely love the theming, the queue line is nice and it has an epic pre show! overall i love the ride but i just found it rough, more so then the smiler!
people keep mentioning a preview night on the 16th, is it for the public or just for the press again? and can I get in with an annual pass? sorry for the questions but I think some of you may know. : )
At over 20 ft tall at its highest point it's one of alton towers bigger rides and a full circuit takes over 8 seconds to complete so slightly longer than oblivion
cool cause im going this week with the 55 pound season pass and yeah thirteen only has the drop and the iconic fall.... bit simplistic.. thx for replying your content is amazing
Sorry Shawn, its been a while since I've been to AT and gotta say seeing Wicker Man for the first time in person I did have a giggle because it looked a bit like you! Maybe it was Merlins way of thanking you for all the great coverage.
Amazing vid, great to here your views. Your no.1 coaster has a height resection of just 1.2. A low height restriction means nothing these days. Going to ride it on the 20th March. Can't wait after watching your review.
Sean what is your all time favourite ride at Alton towers ? And where does the wicker man come into if you were to list the worst to best rides at Alton towers? Thanks.
200% jealous. Only thing opening in my home park this year is a giant loop that Six Flags Great America is trying to push as a 'roller coaster' LOL. Fortunately the existing coasters are world class......(most of them anyway).........
I think Alton towers is the best park in the UK I just love that Merlin have darker themes like saw,wicker Man,13, the smiler. Because of the dark themes they are really atmospheric I think 13 is probably my favourite for atmosphere.
random question Shaun.. Is the unbanked turn around a "block" section? Just wondered how they dispatched the next train before the current train has finished?
I know it's a bit late but I was just wondering if anybody else here has watched the documentary of them building this, only just found it and it's really good.
Great video, thank you for sharing your experience of Wicker Man. I'm semi interested in going but last time I went to Alton Towers two of the Big 6 weren't running and two of the other rides broke down while we were queuing. Meaning that even midweek we were waiting 90+ minutes for other rides.
Peter Hunter on the splash landings video of the new lights on one of the water slides you can see the lighting option “big 7” which may suggest that it has joined the line up
Okay so i went on the ride earlier today (it was great btw) but there's something I'm not sure about cos I don't know a lot about what a Wicker Man is. Why does he have a ram in the back of his head
Is it worth to wait the long queue as I'm going in may and and I only have 2 days in the park. I want to go on the big 6 coasters so i s it worth giving it a go??
I think if i owned Alton Towers and had £16 million to spend on a ride i would want better value than a short woody coaster that you get banged around on. Saying that i am looking forward to going on this ride.
I think Thorpe is gonna get a new coaster in 2019. Rita- 2005, Stealth 2006. Wickerman 2018, ??2019. Also, it was built where the log flume was, and loggers leap is closed at the moment. 🤷🤷🤷🤷
Please be advised that this video does contain spoilers. Check out our off ride footage and queue-line walkthrough of Wicker Man here: th-cam.com/video/It3HUmS4mCc/w-d-xo.html
Check out our full Q&A with the designers behind Wicker Man here: th-cam.com/video/iuIo4C5-81w/w-d-xo.html
Theme Park Worldwide
We were supposed to be going on the 3rd of March as well but they emailed to say the park was closed because of fears of the snow
Was it open as normal?
It was closed on this day
Theme Park Worldwide it should have been open to nhs
Theme Park Worldwide great video 😃😀
go on wicker man
I’m happy that John Wardley managed to get briefly involved changing the first two drops of the ride. I’m also glad the ride’s queue isn’t a cattle pen. Thank god for that.
Lastly great review Shawn.
All I can say is this coaster will look phenomenal during Scarefest.
Yea imagine riding that with all the fire effects in the dark
Imagine being on the lift hill looking down on the park with fog and screams
i just went to alton towers and i was in the back row, man it was fast! definetly worth the 65 minute wait!
Yeah I got on the back row and I would say I preferred it to rita
I was pleasantly surprised with wicker man it packs quite a punch. Fast with some fab airtime. Deffo my fave UK wooden coaster
Going in April!
This will be the first on my ride list.
Not been to the towers since 2016!! I can't wait!
hugesod I’m going in May and it’ll be my first ever time
Great review! We're all super excited try it out soon :))
I recently went on wickerman this Easter 2019 I also went on when it came out it has gotten a lot rougher than when it first came out but nonetheless still amazing
I have woke up at 6:30 and now it is worth it
I finally experienced Wicker Man this week (8 times) and I can say is is my second favourite UK coaster. I hope some day to get a back row because I bet that's an experience.
shawn do you think the queues will be long with the amount of trains on the track?
Initially yes but it will have 3 trains in action!
Theme Park Worldwide I waited 200 minutes to get on! It was Easter Sunday tho!
I waited 25 mins even tho it said 45, got in line 10 mins before the park closed. Such a good end to the day
Where do you rate it in terms of Alton towers rollercoasters
Number 2 after Nemesis!
Theme Park Worldwide that’s amazing
Theme Park Worldwide wow! That's bizzare, can't wait to try it for myself this weekend. I'm sure I'll prefer the smiler to this, not a big fan of nemesis (still love it of course) but excited to experience the ride.
i rode it back row and it was the most intense ride i have ever been on! amazing video!
All that wood is gonna look very green in less than a year...
trevor random not true
It literally does 😂
Josh Brown no it doesn’t ive just been yesterday
@@notmelegacy6185 been today it wasn’t green can confirm lol
It’s treated. It doesn’t look green at all plus the actual wicker man is made of steel and concrete.
Now this is what I call ART....... Masterpiece
Not the bees!
Haha, I knew someone would bring that up. Of course it has nothing to do with any film version of the Wicker Man, the original film with Christopher Lee is a decent film but the newer one with Nicolas Cage is just far too ridiculous. XD
ABALABA MY EYES AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
And the coaster's not the bees knees either. Family coaster.
My family have not stopped talking about this ride. We all can't wait to ride this impressive coaster at Alton Towers
P.S love your videos x
Looks miles faster than I was expecting. I was dreading another 13 which was a massive let down. Can't wait for this though 🕺
th13teen is only good the first time. after that you can tell when it will drop
@@aviabyte completely true but I love it probably because I know it well and can wear my glasses I know I can on wicker man to but I’m not as keen
Finally got to visit Alton for the first time Sunday, had a Gold Pass and didn't realise I could cross off a ride to re-ride another! So I had another six rides to cross off by the end of the day! Damn!
I didn't mind waiting in the 45 minute queue the second time I rode Wicker Man though, as it's incredibly atmospheric with the music, the ride roaring past and the clattering of the lift chain overhead. I was _chosen_ (got the front row purely by chance on my first ride!) which made me incredibly happy.
The ride is my very first wooden coaster and I was impressed with the speed, the intensity of the turns and simply how fun it was. The fast turns after the first drop felt completely out of control and me and my friend couldn't stop laughing and cheering. I kept my arms down but on our second ride (row four) I tried keeping them up but couldn't as the airtime freaked me out each time! The ride was smooth as a supermodel's ass but the lift hill ''pumped' the train up, which felt strange.
It was sunny and warm by the time we rode it and the cloudy weather earlier would have suited the ride more, but maybe the heat had made it faster by then. I loved the bursts of cool mist which were most welcome, and the pop of fragrant smoke in the shed at the end.
Sounds like you had a great day, thanks for watching!
This looks stunning, and it's only going to look better with age!
I’ve been on it twice now. I’m not much for coasters, but I think Wicker Man might have changed that. I absolutely love the theming and the coaster is really well done.
Great video! After my first visit to Alton Towers since I was 8, this is my top coaster! It just looks unbelievable, the music is great and the ride is great fun! I didn’t mind queuing for it as it is such a picturesque area and ride!
I can't wait to ride it now!!! My trip to Alton Towers is in heavy planning, I won't be at the opening day as I'm at a comic convention in Birmingham! But watch this space
Good to see Alton Towers finally has a woody coaster. Best I ever ride was "Mean streak" at cedar point. I'm sure WM will be great.
I think wicker Man is fire at night excuse the pun. I just hope the next coaster has heavy theming I think it makes a ride
Does wickerman feature an onride photo?
It does indeed
Yep
As a local residence, I thought the noise was going to be huge! But it isn't that bad. Can't wait to be there on opening day!
I hate Alton locals 😂
Are you related to them Ropers and would complain if it was noisy eh!!!????? Despite the untold pollution your factories have caused in Stoke on Trent for years!!! Hypocrites!!!! Lol!!!
Nearby residents should leave so they can build taller rollercoasters
some embarrassing people in this comment section (looking at above replies)
ez icarus A rollercoaster can be built anywhere. A lot of us have an emotional attachment to a part like AT but that's nothing compared to the emotional attachment of a family home you lived in before the theme park became internationally recognised.
I know they already have 13 but if they could of added the drop coster effect like 13 think it would of made it diffrent from other wooden normal costers ??
In the disabled queue do you go through in to the pre show or just the ride?
Alex The Film Guy you see the pre show :)
Becky Timmis thank you! I have a few other questions about disabled stuff if you happen to know is there a way I can message you?:)
Yeah ask away. My Twitter or instagram is @becky_rixton if you wish to ask on there
You can see the pre-show!
Exactly my q. I I’m a guide dog owner and wanted to know if anyone has had any experience/recommendations.
I'm going to Alton Towers in May, I can't wait to ride this.
The thumbnail got me SO HYPED!!!
WOW ! I'm super excited to ride it ! It sounds amazing!😄👌🔥🎢
Going in about 3 weeks! Super excited! Wicker Man looks insane!
Going on wicker man today! Can’t wait !
Have a fantastic time
Wonder how long Merlin will keep the fire effects working. Can't see them being used daily.
adam4757 neither can I, but it’s secret weapon title is due to the fire being used, so it must be used daily bro surely?
adam4757 the wicker man story does not work without the fire. the whole point is you are a pagan sacrafice
Pretty sure they’ll turn it off on the not so crowded days to save some money.
Ezra24rct2 most of it is special effects anyway
Went yesterday,the queue was around 90-120 mins but the fire wasn't on-to be honest it's that fast it doesn't really break the effect/story that much
OMG I HAVE TO RIDE THAT THING! (Also how much oil is that chain going to chuck at people waiting in the queue).
My first time going on wickerman the cart got stuck at the tunnel bit right at the end and we were there for 30 mins turns out a bottle flew out of someone’s pocket and went of the track and they had to get it off before they sent the next cart.
Apart from that I loved wickerman the theming is amazing and the air time is perfect it’s my sort of ride as it’s not too big but not babyish
idk i found this ride really rough and uncomfortable to ride especially on the middle rows. i thought since it was a GCI it would be buttery smooth but i guess im wrong. i have ridden three times, once on the back row, on sixth row, and fifth row just today. but i absolutely love the theming, the queue line is nice and it has an epic pre show! overall i love the ride but i just found it rough, more so then the smiler!
Wow I totally forgot about that log flume! Can’t believe that was where it used to stand!
people keep mentioning a preview night on the 16th, is it for the public or just for the press again? and can I get in with an annual pass? sorry for the questions but I think some of you may know. : )
The press night is on the 16th March and is invite only
At over 20 ft tall at its highest point it's one of alton towers bigger rides and a full circuit takes over 8 seconds to complete so slightly longer than oblivion
For me the ride won't be as insane as the grand national or Megafobia. But the theming will be fantastic
Megafobia for life!
The pre show is really cool I just wish they would turn it down a bit. So many people complain about it.
nice video im going soon i think it looks good i havent watched your vid all through yet but is it better then 13 the other big cart ride
I much prefer it to Thirteen
cool cause im going this week with the 55 pound season pass and yeah thirteen only has the drop and the iconic fall.... bit simplistic.. thx for replying your content is amazing
I'm so exited I'm going on the 18th and I'm definatley going on wicker man!!!
Sorry Shawn, its been a while since I've been to AT and gotta say seeing Wicker Man for the first time in person I did have a giggle because it looked a bit like you! Maybe it was Merlins way of thanking you for all the great coverage.
i can't wait to see you friday, satureday and sunday for my birthday coming on monday! it was so good meeting you on the smiler last year.
Will you be uploading a POV?
mjr999 shaun won't as he follows the rules of the park, he would do if it was at a different park that allowed cameras on their coasters.
The park didn't allow us to film on ride but they did record us on board and will be sending us the footage soon
Amazing vid, great to here your views. Your no.1 coaster has a height resection of just 1.2. A low height restriction means nothing these days. Going to ride it on the 20th March. Can't wait after watching your review.
Will there be an ‘On ride’ video? Hope so 👍
WOOP WOOP! I have found the Alton Towers mugs in the background!!! 😂
Amazing video Shawn!! Hopefully I’ll be able to get myself down to Alton towers at some point to experience this ride! 💜
Sean what is your all time favourite ride at Alton towers ? And where does the wicker man come into if you were to list the worst to best rides at Alton towers? Thanks.
I would rate it second after Nemesis
Theme Park Worldwide
Thanks do you have a video where you rate all the Alton towers rides if not could you make one please
Been here since 6k subs ... and you and the team are as awesome as ever !!! Keep up the great work
Thank you very much!
Can't wait to get on this Monday after official opening
Looks really good Shaun. Thanks so much for the heads up on this 👌
Didn't watch the whole thing to avoid spoilers, but can you access the pre-show via the ASD queue?
You can indeed
Is Wicker Man technically in Mutiny Bay? And is the path between Mutiny Bay and Gloomy Wood still open since Katanga Canyon has reopened?
That pathway looks like it'll be closed
200% jealous. Only thing opening in my home park this year is a giant loop that Six Flags Great America is trying to push as a 'roller coaster' LOL. Fortunately the existing coasters are world class......(most of them anyway).........
I think Alton towers is the best park in the UK I just love that Merlin have darker themes like saw,wicker Man,13, the smiler. Because of the dark themes they are really atmospheric I think 13 is probably my favourite for atmosphere.
Did you do a on ride vid too Shaun .this construction has finished really quick since christmas .looks amazing .
Filming is not allowed on ride sadly
I like the look of Wickerman. But are they going to build another log flume to replace the old one
DannyGamer101PRO Doubt it, Merlin have been closing their log flumes left right and centre
Alasdair Clift your right! My mistake!
I saw 15 alton towers mugs behind you.
also what a good video! looking forward to going on the actual ride. thanks for this review!
Ooh I'm so jealous you got an early access :P the track layout and path is absolutely stunning!
random question Shaun.. Is the unbanked turn around a "block" section? Just wondered how they dispatched the next train before the current train has finished?
It can't leave the lift hill until the train before it has reached the second block in the brakes
Is it the best ride at the park? Best GCI you've been on??
No where near but it's a great ride
Can't wait! Great video!!!
Yes! Another wicker man video.
Thanks Shaun will be going in June...
Can't wait to see you guys and to ride wicker man on 17th and 18th xxx
FUEGOOOOOOOOOO!
I know it's a bit late but I was just wondering if anybody else here has watched the documentary of them building this, only just found it and it's really good.
Thanks for watching
THE UNIFORM IS STUNNING
Alton towers Magic it is good but the Smilers uniform is still the best
I think they should have a uniform for each ride it brings the ride to life even more but great comment 🤩
Great video, thank you for sharing your experience of Wicker Man. I'm semi interested in going but last time I went to Alton Towers two of the Big 6 weren't running and two of the other rides broke down while we were queuing. Meaning that even midweek we were waiting 90+ minutes for other rides.
Great video. Thank you for the posting! What is a sound tunnel however?? :)
A tunnel that the track passes through the contain sound
I will be going to Alton towers this month
My friend is working on this ride cal
Sounds Great Roll On 17Th March 😁🔥
Hello Shawn, I absolutely love this review, very well detailed and delivered, such a fantastic and well informed video. Cheers Peter :-)
I love the theming of it and the overall atmospheric experience is conveys/portrays throughout even to the non-rider. Cheers Peter Mc 🙂
Thank you!
@@ThemeParkWorldwide Hello Shawn, you're welcome, you deserve it, I will definitely be riding it! Cheers Peter :)
Been looking forward to this review :)
Going on 17th March & looking forward to trying it out
Any news about the wickerman food outlet and what cuisine it might be?....Something mexican!..... barburrito @ Alton Towers would be nice.
Looks sick!! 😱😱 Can’t wait to ride it!! 😁🎢
Was gonna rid this but the queue was 3 hrs and 25 mins and haven't been back since 😔
Great Vid! But is there any fire?
There's fire from the Wicker Man structure
I wonder if this will replace any of the rides as apart of the Big Six.
Peter Hunter possibly Th13teen? Or it could change to big seven, but that doesn’t have the same ring to it haha
Maybe they won’t add this ride as a big six but still classed as a secret weapon
Peter Hunter on the splash landings video of the new lights on one of the water slides you can see the lighting option “big 7” which may suggest that it has joined the line up
We gotta wait. I don’t think Towers are running it at the moment. I hope it gets added.
Will be on this next Sunday 😍😍
Okay so i went on the ride earlier today (it was great btw) but there's something I'm not sure about cos I don't know a lot about what a Wicker Man is. Why does he have a ram in the back of his head
Did you know if you look at the first part of the queue from a birds eye view it reads SW8
Never actually seen it myself but saw it on another channel
I can't wait.
Is it worth to wait the long queue as I'm going in may and and I only have 2 days in the park. I want to go on the big 6 coasters so i s it worth giving it a go??
It's well worth it!
Looks absolutely amazing!
running 3 trains? do you think this will actually happen? I can see them running 2 and having 1 on the transfer track.
going on 10th april cant wait!!
Personally Alton towers is my best theme park it's a shame they have a height limit because of the trees
Paul King havent been to many then ey?
It is kinda good that everything is surrounded by trees and isn't visible from a mile away but the restrictions must be annoying
It is but, just shows u can still build gr8 rides!
I am going tomorrow for a corporate day with my parents, do you think it will be running for us?
The ride opens March 17th
I think if i owned Alton Towers and had £16 million to spend on a ride i would want better value than a short woody coaster that you get banged around on. Saying that i am looking forward to going on this ride.
beach life Just because a wooden coasted is rough doesnt make it bad
It isn’t even rough lol it’s very smooth
@@laurs5551 Agreed. It has that feel and sound of a wooden coaster but it's a very enjoyable ride.
Great review, love your enthusiasm!
It looks absolutely amazing I’m looking forward to paying a visit to the theme park sometime this year 😍
Do u get to see the pre-show if u go through the accessible queue?
Unfortunately not
I think Thorpe is gonna get a new coaster in 2019. Rita- 2005, Stealth 2006. Wickerman 2018, ??2019. Also, it was built where the log flume was, and loggers leap is closed at the moment. 🤷🤷🤷🤷