What will Alton Towers do with the World of David Walliams? Project Horizon might help… Ep 2

Video Description

Alton Towers finds itself facing a complicated problem — and it’s not just about rides or attendance. In this episode, we take a deep dive into the future of the World of David Walliams and why it has become such a difficult area for the park to navigate. From recent allegations and the resulting public relations issues, to questions around intellectual property contracts and long-term viability, this corner of the park now raises more questions than answers. We explore why the land has struggled since opening, what rides could realistically be rethemed or removed, and why closing the area — at least temporarily — might actually make financial sense for Merlin. The conversation then turns to Project Horizon: the long-rumoured development planned for this part of Alton Towers. With planning deadlines approaching and new documents quietly submitted, is the project still alive, and could it offer a solution to several problems at once? This episode looks at Alton Towers through a more business-focused lens, asking whether a controversial situation could ultimately lead to a much-needed reset — and possibly one of the park’s most important developments in years. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Drop a comment below! Join or Support my Channel here - https://kiphak.es/support Join the Instagram Channel for exclusive updates and BTS stuff.. it's FREE! https://kiphak.es/IGChannel VPN powered by NordVPN - https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=612&aff_id=137391&url_id=14830 Cameras from Wex - https://wex.pxf.io/kO5R7N Filming Equipment POV Camera - Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses - https://kiphak.es/RayBanMetaYT Microphone - RODE Wireless Pro - https://kiphak.es/rodewirelesspro Face Camera - Canon EOS M6 Mk 2. - UK - https://kiphak.es/CanonM6-Mk2-UK - USA - https://kiphak.es/CanonM6-Mk2-USA Face Camera Lens - Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM Lens - UK - https://kiphak.es/Canon-Lens-UK - USA - https://kiphak.es/Canon-Lens-USA Overhead Camera - Sony ZV-1 - UK - https://kiphak.es/Sony-ZV1-UK - USA - https://kiphak.es/Sony-ZV1-USA Our channel is powered by Hyperoptic fibre broadband - https://hyperoptic.kiphakes.tv If you fancy getting me a coffee go here - https://www.ko-fi.com/kiphakes Peruse my Wish List here - https://wishlist.kiphakes.tv Or follow me on Instagram - https://instagram.com/kiphakes Threads - https://www.threads.net/@kiphakes Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/kiphakestv TikTok - https://tiktok.com/@kiphakes 0:00 Intro – Alton Towers’ “world of problems” 0:27 Housekeeping – likes, reviews, where to listen 0:57 David Walliams allegations & publisher drop 2:01 Why this creates a problem for Alton Towers 2:40 What’s inside the World of David Walliams? (ride rundown) 3:54 The contract question – 5 years, 10 years, or ending now? 5:52 Why the land already feels like a failure / “ghost town” 8:00 What can be easily rethemed? What can’t? 8:39 365-day opening, indoor rides & why this matters 10:16 Theatre storage + lost potential of this corner 11:24 What happens next? PR vs legal reality 12:46 Why closing the land could save Merlin money 13:51 Project Horizon – what it was meant to be 14:26 Why plans changed (Toxicator, budgets, priorities) 15:44 Where Project Horizon would go on site 16:15 Late 2025 planning updates explained 18:45 Planning expiry (June 2026) & sunk costs 20:28 What Project Horizon might be (indoor coaster rumours) 22:22 How Project Horizon could solve the Walliams problem 25:41 Bigger redevelopment potential & final thoughts 26:57 Your thoughts, comments & future episode ideas 28:37 Outro – thanks for watching/listening