March 12, 201510 yr comment_204884 Those views are actually a lot better than I thought they would be; I stand corrected! I wouldn't be surprised if Oblivion and Smiler are the more popular ones though (much like how Swarm is the most popular one at Thorpe) simply because people would expect the best views from them.
March 12, 201510 yr comment_204888 ^ More than just a few trees, but nothing stands out to me about that view - you can see those two coasters from a similar perspective on the monorail. You would, IF you could actually SEE out of the Monorail clearly...
March 12, 201510 yr comment_204898 ^ More than just a few trees, but nothing stands out to me about that view - you can see those two coasters from a similar perspective on the monorail. You mean that gorgeous view over Staffordshire does nothing for you? Imagine how gorgeous that view would be on a sunny day. I wouldn't pay £50 for it, but the views are good nonetheless.
March 12, 201510 yr comment_204903 It's good but it's not quite Swarm (though Nrmy is still the superior ride (just))
March 12, 201510 yr comment_204906 I don't know if it has been said but Blade has been taken off the ERT list and doesn't appear on the 2015 map anymore, imminent closure perhaps?
March 12, 201510 yr comment_204912 Blade will be closed all season under the guise of 2017 coaster but is in fact cost cutting.
March 12, 201510 yr comment_204975 If I had to pay to walk a lift hill, I'm pretty sure it's a much more pleasant experience having a walk on a coaster lift at Thorpe (preferably Swarm although Inferno's is amazing to see Thorpe), or really any at Towers; than to walk up the Pepsi Max Big One... Oh look, some sand, oh look, an oil mark, oh look their last major thrill investment in the form of a relocated Vekoma SLC that's rougher than a bear's behind...
March 13, 201510 yr comment_205029 If I had to pay to walk a lift hill, I'm pretty sure it's a much more pleasant experience having a walk on a coaster lift at Thorpe (preferably Swarm although Inferno's is amazing to see Thorpe), or really any at Towers; than to walk up the Pepsi Max Big One... Oh look, some sand, oh look, an oil mark, oh look their last major thrill investment in the form of a relocated Vekoma SLC that's rougher than a bear's behind... Don't see what the point being made here is - Swarm and Inferno's lifthill show you the view across Thorpe, PMBO's lifthill shows you the view across BPB, I don't see why it's being brought up. Personally I'd much rather climb PMBO's lifthill as it's taller and offers a much better view in my opinion.
March 13, 201510 yr comment_205041 It offers a view of Blackpool... Automatically makes that view worse than any other ride's lift hill in the UK...
March 13, 201510 yr comment_205044 It offers a view of Blackpool... Automatically makes that view worse than any other ride's lift hill in the UK... I know it was a joke but I don't get all the hate for Blackpool. Sure, as a place to live in it's probably awful, and it's not exactly picturesque but the promenade and attractions make it a great place for tourists - where else can you find a theme park, water park, tower, circus, dungeons and a beach all in one place? I know that some of the people there (I.e. people asking for money for "beer") let it down, but then the same could be said about London and lots of other places across the country! I also think it's unfair to rate a park based on where it is. Anyway, back on topic...
March 13, 201510 yr comment_205052 Blade will be closed all season under the guise of 2017 coaster but is in fact cost cutting. The original plan was apparently June closure. But yup. A whole one member of staff is a huge saving. Love it.
March 14, 201510 yr comment_205119 As reported by Towers Street, off peak days are to 16.30 close! That Chuckle Brothers pic is going to get a hell of a workout this season I think.
March 14, 201510 yr comment_205121 For a park that claims to be world class (which is in some cases), this is a very disappointing move from the park. Opening hours for a park of this size should be more like this: Weekdays during term time 10-5 Weekends during term time 10-6 School holidays easter 10-7 School holidays summer 10-8 Scarefest 10-9
March 14, 201510 yr comment_205122 I take it merlin has cut budgets across the board. Hence why a lot of rides seem to not have finished winter maintenance. I understand they are trying to maximise returns for shareholders but I don't think that cutting budgets so much that rides have to close and park hour are reduced to stupid times is the right way forward. Alton is in the middle of no where. If the park isn't open for very long then people just wont go.
March 15, 201510 yr comment_205205 Unsure if this has been mentioned yet but... I have heard "Rumours" that Nemesis Sub-Terra will only be opening from 12pm onwards each day this year and will no longer have the 2-3actors at the end it used to due to the budget cuts. The way Merlin runs completely baffles me sometimes.
March 15, 201510 yr comment_205209 Unsure if this has been mentioned yet but... I have heard "Rumours" that Nemesis Sub-Terra will only be opening from 12pm onwards each day this year and will no longer have the 2-3actors at the end it used to due to the budget cuts. The way Merlin runs completely baffles me sometimes. Yet another example of introducing something good and then letting it deteriorate over time. Hopefully they will at least be creative and introduce dummies made to look like people with gas masks on and strobes that flash infrequently (therefore tricking people into thinking that they are real people), but they probably won't even do that.
March 15, 201510 yr comment_205210 Nemesis Sub-Terra has been a complete failure of a ride for Alton Towers. It is sad, because it actually represented a step forwards in many ways - thematically/experience it is quite strong. But it has no re-ride factor, no queue and the height restriction is too high.
March 15, 201510 yr comment_205211 Personally I would say that Nemesis sub terra was never good and a waste of the money they spent on it. Rides with actors are so not the way forward. They are so expensive to run and as a result end up with a short life span.
March 15, 201510 yr comment_205214 What concerns me more is that Nemesis Sub Terra requires an ABSURD number of staff given how unpopular it is. There are typically around 10 staff in total... madness. Alton Towers need to add rides that don't require such absurd numbers. Perhaps automated locker facilities would help, too.
March 15, 201510 yr comment_205215 When riding NST last year, I thought it was a really good experience. Our whole group was really getting into it; screaming, laughing, running as fast as we could. The actual experience was really exciting, intense and dramatic for us and the actors at the end who jumped out at us with the torches continued to add to the experience. I wouldn't say that it has a particularly high re-ride factor, however I found it really enjoyable first time and it's a shame to see a quality themed, exciting experience essentially be put to waste. I won't be surprised if this attraction is SBNO by next year along with the blade and ripsaw to make way for the "new ride".
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