AstroDan

The fact is, that if 2016 offers a below-par theme park offering, it's hardly going to entice guests and give them the best impression. Merlin were already making cuts at Alton Towers and the like before The Smiler caused a downturn in guests... people must not forget that! I do worry whether this is a race to the bottom. It isn't like there's that much competition in the UK. All that said, as much as Merlin have to report good news to shareholders, if the parks quality declines, then that isn't going to give the shareholders anything long term. At all. Worried. I dread to find out what Alton Towers have planned.

Do not let them cloud your judgement with their refurbishment lies. There is no reason a refurbishment could not be completed between now and March. Or even mid-season, if it was that drastic. This is the next of what I expect to be a great many cuts to theme park operations across Chessington, Thorpe and Alton Towers. I fully expect to see some rides slashed at Alton Towers, too.

Just a quick heads up - we've just launched a competition where you can win 2 tickets to Europa-Park. Just visit the EuropaStreet Facebook page to enter. www.facebook.com/EPStreet

I can't be bothered to shell out for this yet. Coaster looks very good but not mind blowing. Hopefully they'll add more to make the trip worthwhile.

Disneyland Paris? How stereotypical. Germany or bust frankly.

I'm not doing it due to price but this is a replacement for Scare Rooms/Ultimate Sleepover. In theory it means you get the scare part of the sleepover for £80 compared with the sleepover price of £200 or whatever last year. I'll stick to the regular mazes.

Chessington has been on this lurching trajectory for 15 years now. Merlin have owned it for 7 years and very little has really happened.

They will be doing it for both reasons. Firstly, a thorough analysis of hotel stays and take-up will have been done around 2010, before the project development of the original ATH extension and Enchanted Village got underway. At that point, they will have worked out what the average occupancy levels are/were, how many nights a season the hotels were full and thus they were having to refuse guests and what the projections were for the future. They will not build more accommodation if they do not believe there is any demand at all. It's too much of a risk. Saying that, they clearly want to grow the business - especially in winter.

It is a shame that more theming has been removed from what were classic rides with good theming. The new entrance/queue is truly miserable to see compared to what went before. Dragon Falls had theming removed, which was not replaced. And now the same can be said of Rameses.

They may well be "desperate", to use your words - but there were rumours going back 10 years that they were looking to add a third hotel. The original ATH extension plan went in several years ago! Also, the DLP/PA situation is entirely different. I don't know how it has any connection with AT's resort growth.

Even if you add up the total room stock of the Enchanted Village + this development, it is still less room stock than the whole of Splash Landings. They are taking it steady.

Alton Towers aren't just adding room stock for the sake of it! Like Europa-Park, Alton Towers have steadily increased room stock over the past 20 years - in stages! 1996: 216 rooms, ATH 2003: 230 rooms SL 2015: 120 rooms, EV 2017: 74 rooms, ATH extension 2018+: 50 rooms, EV phase 2 (permission not yet granted) This isn't a PortAventura or Disneyland Paris situation where they're adding far too much room stock, with no idea id there's demand.

A few updates to the 2015 parade, including the new talking Euro-Maus character, and a new Volo da Vinci float. You can watch the parade here: Click: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViUCyGqir0

Full details: https://towersstreet.com/news/2015/new-plans-to-extend-the-resort/ Open for 2017.

Can't wait for news on this! Love Griffon and Sheikra is pretty good too.

I don't really think Nick Varney's comments about Paramount Park, a brand new, yet to break ground park, in any way impact on what happens at Alton Towers, itself established over 35 years. I agree it would be nice to see some more rides in the park, but ultimately they will do what they feel necessary to satisfy market forces.

Surely it's positive that they want to grow the resort? They are only going to add capacity if they feel it is in the interests of the resort to do so. For years people moaned that AT was not a resort. Now, with the ancillary attractions and choice of accommodation - it certainly is. Extra bars and restaurants in the evening, with entertainment space - can only be seen as a good thing in my eyes.

It certainly wasn't busy on Saturday. The longest queue for a larger ride we waited in was around 5 minutes for Air! I was shocked at how quiet it was.

TowersStreet have posted that the plans for a 'hotel extension / third hotel' have been posted online today. Based on the plans, it will - Be located behind ATH, at the other side of the garden - Include a new garden development - Feature its own reception, toilets, bar and new 204-seat buffet restaurant Great to see!

Britain everybody.

Mamba is OK. Stunning but just "alright" really when you look at inverted coasters in general. I agree RQ is a bit of a concrete jungle. Some of the other stuff though... <3

Europa-Park have been giving every guest who visits today a free glass of bubbly. It's their birthday after all.

I'm not usually one for size over theme. But sorry. GRIFFON <3 <3 <3

Indeed. Rita would never run 1 train unless there was a problem.

You pay a fortune at somewhere like Shake Shack so this is going to be £4od.