I was really looking forward to this ride, but I was really let down due to the lack of theming. It did not relate to the book at all apart from the plot, and alas the great glass elevator was nothing to boast about. And what was that at the end? I was expecting a shop which sold Wonka bars or something, but instead we are "treated" to a grotty blue corridor with no relevance to the ride at all (except the logo of course). Overall I give it 1 out of 5 stars, sorry Alton...

Initially, I was really looking forward to this ride, the story is absolutely excellent for children (and those who remember reading it as children and enjoying Dahl's wonderfully vivid narration) and the characters and sections of the story potentially fit very well to a dark ride adaption... However, upon first viewing the attraction I began to feel let down, I really like Quentin Blakes animation style, but the facade really doesnt need to be almost entirely two dimensional, my imagination definately wasnt as a child! The factory does not look like a factory, real or make believe, it simply looks like a large shed with a facade stuck onto the front of it. The attraction *immediately* does not feel immersive. First impressions are important and on viewing the exterior of the ride excitement about what i inside starts to lul. The capacity of queue line provided for the ride is absolutely ridiculous and on each of my visits to the park this season, the queue has stretched out as far as the hex area. (Perhaps Tussauds realised that this ride wasnt that great and know that next season no-one will want to queue for it anyway!) The first animation is where Willie Wonka introduces the factory and it is quite good. Tussauds must have stumped a fair amount of cash into the CGI animations, but the lack of theming in the queue line area detracts from the overall experience and the ride itself starts to feel cheaply made. The boat ride itself is so poor I dont really wish to over elaborate; I've been on Toyland tours, and I went on around the World in Eighty days; for me, with each re-theme the boat ride experience has got gradually worse. The large areas of black painted walls with little or no theming are just shameful. The vibrant storytelling of Dahl is let down on a grandiose scale, every part of the ride should be themed in some way. The ride and storyline does not flow as well as it could have, the veruca salt section of the ride in particular is extremely poorly placed and the animation is almost over before you have realised that it is there. Once the boat ride comes towards the unloading section, their is a good strobed lighting effect; but again there is a distinct lack of themeing around the unloading area. Another note in case, this *NEW* ride is simply a retheme; members of the public on the boat with me were dissapointed, and felt quite cheated as they didnt really see any *major* difference between CACF and Toyland tours (afterall it is the same boat ride). The elevator section of the ride is the part that Tussauds themselves were probably the most excited about, an interesting and forward thinking use of technology provides a mildly entertaining experience, but the lift animation itself lacks real purpose and to me felt like an animation for the sake of an animation; others may really enjoy it but to me the overall effect was no more impressive than the old cine 2000! The technolgy has moved on, but the concept and more importantly from my point of view, *the experience* has remained basically the same. The coloured spot system does not work for loading the elevator, and does need a rethink. Once the elevator section is over the exit to the ride is very confusing and poorly marked. Overall I was dissapointed, with a little more thought and attention to detail CACF could have been so much better, there are not enough good dark rides in the UK and CACF hasnt really changed that fact! I really wish that this ride had turned out differently. If Tussauds fancy building this type of ride in the future I hope that they take a leaf out of the book of some of the much touted European parks....