When we reported on the coming-soon Dickens World theme park a couple of months back, we were cautiously optimistic that a combination of fun and education might make for a good day out. But with opening day coming a month ago, we've heard that the Great Expectations were all a bit high.
A few visitors have already posted their impressions of Dickens World on web message board sites, and they're universally not great. One of the better experiences was simply kinda dull and quiet, while others described it as "over hyped, over priced, and a great disappointment" and demanded (and got) a full refund on their way out! Tales of soggy rides on the unexciting "sewer boat", an unthrilling 3D animation and uninformed and unenthusiastic dressed-up characters abound. Poor Charles must be turning in his grave.
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[Photo: notnilc] ]]>
Book-lovers take note, there's a theme park just for you opening soon in England: Dickens World will be ready for visitors in late May. Even most book-loathers would have to admit to knowing something from the works of Charles Dickens: from the nasty Ebenezer Scrooge to tiny Oliver who asked for more, or some of the Hollywood successes like Great Expectations.
All of these stories and scenes will come alive in Dickens World, a huge recreation of Victorian-era England, complete with petty thieves roaming the streets. There'll be rides (including one that starts in a sewer, apparently), interactivity galore and a gloomy feeling of what life was like back then. (Okay, the gloomy feeling is our own interpretation of Dickensian life). They say it could be the largest covered attraction in the world, so it sounds like they are keeping the sun out.
Unfortunately the opening has been delayed twice already so whether the May 25 deadline will be met seems unsure, but you'll need a bit of time to read a few more Dickens classics first anyhow.
[Photo: Jon's pics]
Related Stories:
· Six-Week Delay For Dickens World [BBC]
· Dickens World [Official Site] ]]>
