Coaster

Mr Monkey's Banana Ride (5) Nemesis Inferno (6) Rocky Express (4) Rumba Rapids (5) Storm in a Teacup (5) The Swarm (5) Tidal Wave (5) Nemesis Inferno + Rocky Express -

So you don't think that closing seven rides at the same time would put people off visiting?

Mr Monkey's Banana Ride (6) Nemesis Inferno (6) Rocky Express (6) Rumba Rapids (4) Storm in a Teacup (5) The Swarm (5) Tidal Wave (5) X (3) Nemesis Inferno + Mouldy Rapids -

Disagree with this given the amount of profit Merlin makes. Yep, fair enough. Merlin only have themselves to blame for that. Hex, The Flume and CATCF were key family attractions that appealed to everyone. Sub Terra didn't really appeal to anyone (was usually walk on), and Ripsaw was a much needed filler attraction for Forbidden Valley. How on earth would visitors at the park not notice the closures? You only have to read complaints on the park's social media pages, listen to people talking on the Skyride as it goes over The Flume, or look at the queues for the few food and beverage places that are open; particularly on the park's fireworks event. There's nothing magical about the park at present as far as I'm concerned, it feels dead, void of any atmosphere and a shadow of its former self in every way - that's just my opinion though.

Mr Monkey's Banana Ride (6) Nemesis Inferno (7) Rocky Express (7) Rumba Rapids (5) Stealth (0) Storm in a Teacup (5) The Swarm (5) Tidal Wave (6) X (3) Stealth - (OUT!) RESET Mr Monkey's Banana Ride (5) Nemesis Inferno (5) Rocky Express (5) Rumba Rapids (5) Storm in a Teacup (5) The Swarm (5) Tidal Wave (5) X (5)

But cutting costs is only going to have more bad repercussions on the park. The Smiler is not the reason for the lower gate figures this year as far as I'm concerned, people go on it without thinking twice. The fact that there is nothing for families to do (in a family park) is more than likely the reason. Another thing is staff loyalty; making staff who have been there for 12 years and supported the park through good and bad times redundant is terrible, and it's going to have a negative impact on staff morale, which is one of the most important things in a theme park. Alton used to be all about happiness, "the magic," where did all that go? Alton needed to bounce back into 2016 with a fantastic year; this is something Merlin could afford to do. Now it seems that 2017 will be as bad as (or possibly worse than) 2016.

Mr Monkey's Banana Ride (6) Nemesis Inferno (7) Rocky Express (6) Rumba Rapids (5) Stealth (4) Storm in a Teacup (5) The Swarm (4) Tidal Wave (5) X (3) Nemesis Inferno + The Swarm -

Alton Towers have announced plans to axe up to 70 more jobs; http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/alton-towers-announces-plans-to-axe-up-to-70-more-jobs/story-29888221-detail/story.html Awful news, Alton is already in a dire state this year and it seems it's only going to get worse. I'm starting to wonder whether Merlin are trying to run the park down to the ground, because that's what it looks like. I'd like to put focus on this; Of course visitor numbers are down, they've shut half the park! Ride closures, food and beverage closures, entertainments budget cut, the list goes on... then they wonder why visitor numbers are down?! There isn't enough for families to do anymore, therefore they won't go, it's as simple as that.

Mr Monkey's Banana Ride (5) Nemesis Inferno (6) Rocky Express (5) Rumba Rapids (5) Stealth (5) Storm in a Teacup (5) The Swarm (4) Tidal Wave (5) X (5) Nemesis Inferno + The Swarm -

Average throughput?! There was a continuous convey of boats in the station and the queue always moved very quickly (going by my own experiences), it must have been one of the highest throughputs on park.

Mr Monkey's Banana Ride (6) Nemesis Inferno (6) Rocky Express (5) Rumba Rapids (5) SAW - The Ride (4) Stealth (5) Storm in a Teacup (5) The Swarm (4) Tidal Wave (5) X (5) Nemesis Inferno + SAW - The Ride -

Just for clarity, are you saying that you would consider it okay for Loggers to sit SBNO for five years? I think we'll have to agree to disagree if that's the case.

Mr Monkey's Banana Ride (5) Nemesis Inferno (6) Quantum (0) Rocky Express (7) Rumba Rapids (5) Rush (4) SAW - The Ride (6) Stealth (6) Storm in a Teacup (5) The Swarm (5) Tidal Wave (5) X (6) Nemesis Inferno + Quantum - (OUT!) RESET Mr Monkey's Banana Ride (5) Nemesis Inferno (5) Rocky Express (5) Rumba Rapids (5) Rush (5) SAW - The Ride (5) Stealth (5) Storm in a Teacup (5) The Swarm (5) Tidal Wave (5) X (5)

I'm not suggesting that there isn't a replacement organised, I'm saying that it shouldn't take an entire year (possibly even two) before any work towards a replacement taking place. Not necessarily, the official line on the website states "rennovation."

Mr Monkey's Banana Ride (4) Nemesis Inferno (5) Quantum (5) Rocky Express (6) Rumba Rapids (5) Rush (5) SAW - The Ride (5) Slammer (6) Stealth (5) Storm in a Teacup (5) The Swarm (3) Tidal Wave (6) X (5) Slammer + Mr Monkey's Banana Ride -

SouthParks have reported that Merlin have submitted a new trademark for 'Rise of the Demon'. Wasn't sure where to post this, as I doubt it relates to DBGT, but it could? https://www.facebook.com/southparks/?fref=ts

They have. The park was in very heavy debt for quite a few years, hence why a lot of rides were SBNO. At the time I was furious, so I'm not making any defence for it, but I will say that the circumstances were extremely different to the Merlin parks; Blackpool's rides were SBNO so the park could actually survive (and individual reasons but that was the main one), whereas Merlin are a big company making a huge profit year-on-year. That thing was delayed twice (or was it three times), hardy open even when it was supposed to be and major elements not functioning! I'd take having Loggers Leap open over DBGT any day!

Depth Charge (1) Mr Monkey's Banana Ride (6) Nemesis Inferno (5) Quantum (5) Rocky Express (8) Rumba Rapids (5) Rush (5) SAW - The Ride (6) Slammer (3) Stealth (5) Storm in a Teacup (5) The Swarm (5) Tidal Wave (6) X (5) Slammer + Depth Charge -

I know there will be a reason for Loggers Leap being closed - of course there will. My point (in line with Pluk's comparison with Blackpool's Log Flume) is that Blackpool's Log Flume was nearing the end of its life, and they knew it. BPB organised a replacement for it and deconstruction work started immediately after the ride's (announced!) closure, ready for Infusion to open the following year. The Log Flume was not at any point throughout this process sat idle, rotting away behind a fence. Deconstruction started the day after the ride closed. Then you look at Loggers Leap, which in some ways is a similar situation; the ride has got to a state where it is unable to run, so the choice is essentially refurbishment or replacement. Oh, but wait. Neither has happened. The ride has been left sat behind a fence, rotting away, for an entire park season, and (soon to be) two closed seasons. If BPB (who were at the time in heavy debt) can organise a replacement, remove the Log Flume and get the replacement built and open within a short space of time, why is the so-called "second biggest theme park operator in the world, second only to Disney" leaving rides rotting?

Depth Charge (2) Mr Monkey's Banana Ride (6) Nemesis Inferno (5) Quantum (5) Rocky Express (6) Rumba Rapids (5) Rush (5) SAW - The Ride (6) Slammer (5) Stealth (5) Storm in a Teacup (5) The Swarm (5) Tidal Wave (5) X (5) Slammer + Depth Charge -

Blackpool's Log Flume ran until September 2006, after which deconstruction work started immediately, ready for Infusion to come in which opened after Easter in 2007. It was not left sat festering like Loggers Leap and The Flume. (The removal of BPB's Log Flume was IMO a huge loss to the park, as it was by far the best standard log flume in the UK, but at least they announced the closure giving people a final chance to ride it, and it was removed for a reason; not just left to rot).

Depth Charge (4) Mr Monkey's Banana Ride (5) Nemesis Inferno (5) Quantum (5) Rocky Express (6) Rumba Rapids (4) Rush (5) SAW - The Ride (5) Slammer (6) Stealth (5) Storm in a Teacup (5) The Swarm (5) Tidal Wave (5) X (5) Slammer + Depth Charge -

Why does something have to be "the best" to be kept though? In all honesty I think it just needed needs some refurbishment, as there's no denying it was in a state of neglect in terms of presentation and appearance of the ride. Aside from the required maintenance, I think that a new tunnel (with some sort of feature inside), some new items of theming and a general cleanup of the ride and surrounding area would have made a huge difference.

Depth Charge (2) Mr Monkey's Banana Ride (5) Nemesis Inferno (6) Quantum (4) Rocky Express (6) Rumba Rapids (5) Rush (5) Samurai (3) SAW - The Ride (5) Slammer (5) Stealth (6) Storm in a Teacup (5) The Swarm (7) Tidal Wave (4) X (6) Slammer + Depth Charge -

I don't agree that water rides are only popular for 2-3 months in a year, having seen one of the wettest rides in the country with a queue out of the extensions on some of the coldest days of the season! The Flume at Alton is another example, that always had a queue when I was there, and I usually visit out of the summer months. Log Flumes are a staple ride and IMO, every theme park should have one. They appeal to everyone (families, thrillseekers etc) and Loggers was consistently popular, not just in the summer months.