Oli Barnacle πŸŽ’πŸŽ΅πŸ–ŒοΈ's Avatar

Oli Barnacle πŸŽ’πŸŽ΅πŸ–ŒοΈ

@olibarnacle

composer and sound designer | maker of stuff | I have opinions on theme parks

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Latest posts by Oli Barnacle πŸŽ’πŸŽ΅πŸ–ŒοΈ @olibarnacle

I wish they wouldn't bother with "reimagining" it and just put in enough money to get it back open. With them struggling it'd make more sense financially. And I don't really have much faith in their design choices given how everything recently has been AI rubbish

09.03.2026 16:54 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Same, I suspect that may have been the plan originally but every department is stretched super thin right now (theres literally just 2 people in the model shop doing all the scenic work for all their deteriorating rides). But Mandys gotta have her two Hot Ice shows I guess πŸ™ƒ

09.03.2026 14:24 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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As excited as I am for Aviktas I'm more anxious to know what is or isn't happening next door. It's been 2 years since River Caves last operated. I hope management realise what an important piece of history it is. Whatevers happening, swinging over a sad derelict looking ride will sure be interesting

09.03.2026 13:30 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Its not a huge step above the classic Fantasy land dark rides.

09.03.2026 13:01 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Yeah, I mean obviously I knew it wouldn't be that. I've done the Florida version. But seeing the POV I couldn't help but think wow... that's really THE main draw of this new expansion?

09.03.2026 13:00 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

The new Frozen ride in Paris looks so... okay.

08.03.2026 21:54 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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Microsoft's Project Helix logo looks familiar for some reasonπŸ€”

06.03.2026 11:46 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Went to a screening of the 1925 silent film The Phantom of the Opera yesterday. It was super cool to see the visual influences on DLP's Phantom Manor! (miss you original finale PhantomπŸ’€)

27.02.2026 17:22 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Brean is... back?
Shortest closure ever.

10.02.2026 16:43 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Some of you people talking about the Merlin disability passes really sound a lot like the "lazy people claim benefits" crowd. Just sayin.

05.02.2026 16:40 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Another small UK park gone. Sign of the times innit. I visited briefly a couple of years ago just for the Astro Storm coaster and their surprisingly decent ghost train, Terror Castle. I hope Astro Storm can survive yet another closure!

05.02.2026 11:06 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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The saga continues. So their excuse for the closure boils down to "we'd have to do daily safety checks". You mean like every ride ever? What a joke. Classic health n safety coverup for a spineless financial decision.

29.01.2026 18:20 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I had the same thought :(

28.01.2026 15:32 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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The "Creative Call Out" is hilariously lazy too. They haven't got any ideas, so why not give it to the public?? It reads like a uni project brief. Side note, given that 100k+ is listed last, I expect they don't want to spend a huge amount of money on it.

28.01.2026 11:27 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Interesting statement from the Dreamland Heritage Trust on the closure of the Scenic Railway. Evidently Live Nation have the means to continue operating the ride but simply don't want to. They obviously don't care about the park, besides it serving as a backdrop for the music venue.

28.01.2026 11:18 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1

Everyone losing their minds over Merlin's bland rebrand. Where was the outrage when they attempted to ban trans people from their park bathrooms?

23.01.2026 10:30 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I don't love the current logo either but at least it looks like they're an ents/attractions based company!

22.01.2026 17:31 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Not much, just the new Merlin branding that makes them look like a banking app X)

22.01.2026 16:56 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Yes! More bland corporate minimalism in our theme parks! That's what we want!

22.01.2026 16:02 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

I still use it, regrettably, tho I try to limit my interactions. Cos I've not had much success sharing my work/thoughts anywhere else. I did notice a sharp drop in engagement but it didn't pick up anywhere else.

13.01.2026 16:53 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

There was, but it dropped off pretty fast =/

13.01.2026 12:00 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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The Flying Trunk was one of my favourite attractions at Tivoli. A very charming dark ride that takes you on a whistle-stop tour through the stories of Hans Christian Anderson. Perfect for the park that inspired him!

06.01.2026 17:45 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Surprised that there aren't any head chopper elements on Falcons Flight considering where it is.

01.01.2026 18:16 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Somehow I don't think much thought went into it :P

30.12.2025 17:10 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Its just soooo lazy. Like, you're already spending all that money. Why not try just slightly harder with the design before immortalising it in fibreglass?

30.12.2025 17:02 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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Let's play trace the snake! Can you follow the Aviktas snake from its head to its tail? No? It must be the mysterious power of Aviktas!

Or maybe its because its a recreation of something spat out by AI. You could just... draw a snake. Or at least look at a picture of one.

30.12.2025 15:26 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

I'm tempted to make Efteling's Chinese Nightingale next.

29.12.2025 15:59 πŸ‘ 9 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

It was honestly quite overwhelming, I might've got a bit teary eyed πŸ˜…

24.12.2025 14:18 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Tivoli Gardens may well be the prettiest place I've ever stepped foot in. And that's especially true at Christmas, at night!

24.12.2025 12:28 πŸ‘ 8 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1
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Crazy how this is the first thing you see leaving Copenhagen central station ❀️

22.12.2025 09:36 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0