Matt 236 Posted March 12, 2016 Report Share Posted March 12, 2016 safe to say 2016 isn't a great year to visit towers with a family around the 7-12 age group. With three staple attractions closed (one permanently) and another supporting, the lineup is pretty limited. The only attractions left for families too old CBEebies but too young for the thrill rides, the line up will only consist of: Runaway Mine Train Congo River Rapids Duel Spinball Toadstall Battle Galleons Sky Ride Marauders Blade Ice Age, Enterprise & Thirteen (at a push) That makes a total of 12 rides (of a previous offering of 16), so the line up there is comparatively weak at least for 2016. Even Thorpe now has a better selection of older family rides now, unless Galsctica's HR drops to 1.3 or something. Merlin do need to get out of this 'reduce park offerings if we have an unsuccessful year' thing though. 2016 will be a bizarre year to say the least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stretchy Posted March 12, 2016 Report Share Posted March 12, 2016 The thing is, everyone thinks that the theme parks have an infinite source of money to 'plow into the parks'. Merlin as a whole were hit quite hard by the Smiler accident. They have no option but to cut back. BUT they are trying. The TLC shows that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian-S Posted March 12, 2016 Report Share Posted March 12, 2016 They still made a profit which is better than a lot of companies, their biggest problem isn't their management, it's the need to please shareholders first, customers second. Â If they were not a public company then they wouldn't need to pay shareholders and could plough some of the profits back into the attractions. Â I have some sympathy, it's not nice to want to do things that are then countermanded by bean counters, but on the flip side this is the bed they made for themselves, so they only have themselves to blame. Benin and Coaster 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liam T Posted March 12, 2016 Report Share Posted March 12, 2016 There is no excuse for closed rides in reality when you're paying over £50 PER A PERSON to visit, unless they're planning to do something to 'improve' these attractions (which I doubt).  It's interesting to note that Sonic Spinball has been renamed Spinball Whizzer on the ride times website, did Sega decided not to renew the sponsorship? It's certainly going to feel different on opening day, I'm nervous to see the outcome of this season. Han30 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nathanevans1010 Posted March 12, 2016 Report Share Posted March 12, 2016 On the digipass it also shows that it's now called spinball whizzer and Alton towers has confirmed that it is no error Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattgwise Posted March 12, 2016 Report Share Posted March 12, 2016 Lets just consider ourselves lucky they didn't decide to close the ride following the sonic sponsor removal! Would have been another ride closed! After all isn't Spinall another ride earmarked for removal/relocation as part of latest MTDP? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Han30 Posted March 12, 2016 Report Share Posted March 12, 2016 Hex and the flume is a bit of a bummer, had hoped to see the wife puke, sorry enjoy Hex later in the year, I guess I'll just have to trick her into going on The Smiler now.  That made me laugh probably more than it should have done!  There are some angry people over on Alton Towers FB page and to be honest I can understand why. Merlin and Alton Towers knew about these ride closures but only announced The Flume and Ripsaw initially - they should have just been honest from the get go about the other SBNO rides - I expect there are people who have gone out and bought an AP only to be royally p***ed off. If it were my local park I would be more annoyed especially if I had kids.  Not sure if it has been mentioned but (and this is from Wiki so not sure how reliable) It is rumoured that the Roald Dahl Intellectual Property licence for the ride ends at the close of the 2015 season. This does fit with the 10 year anniversary of the ride. However there has been no confirmation of the licence length.  Maybe that is the reason behind CATCF closure this year? Who knows - I think personally that yes, Alton Towers need to make back money but with all the SNBO rides its going to turn a lot of people away - their mistake was not admitting these closures sooner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark9 Posted March 12, 2016 Report Share Posted March 12, 2016 There is no excuse for closed rides in reality when you're paying over £50 PER A PERSON to visit, unless they're planning to do something to 'improve' these attractions (which I doubt).  This yes. The price should have come down to reflect the loss of six rides.   The park had two choices with this season, the route they have taken, which is focus on saving money first and foremost, or the alternative was to go all out with this season in order to gain that trust back...    That was never going to happen. We were never going to see an all guns blazing theme park in 2016. Hell, even without the Smiler incident we were going to see the loss of Ripsaw and possibly Log Flume.  I'm not surprised we're seeing more ride closures, but I am amazed at how many we've got. From four dark rides to one in less then five months and I've no doubt that if Duel required more staff to run it, that would be closed too. Liam T and TraX 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yeah Posted March 12, 2016 Report Share Posted March 12, 2016 Just been confirmed - 2016 means no Hex, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Driving School, NST - as well as The Flume & Ripsaw. NST has been a bit of a nightmare for the park hasn't it? Is that all permanent!?Sent from my SM-G361F using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whatever Posted March 12, 2016 Report Share Posted March 12, 2016 Is that all permanent!? Sent from my SM-G361F using Tapatalk If you'd read this thread, you would have come to the conclusion that Flume and Ripsaw are the only permanent closures (photos of Ripsaw in pieces and the Flume being confirmed by the park) and the others are SBNO Kerfuffle 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graeme Posted March 12, 2016 Report Share Posted March 12, 2016 It's disgusting that they took so long to announce the closures. They must've known they were coming, otherwise the entirely accurate rumour would not have started back in November.  It goes to show what I have said for many years, Merlin do not really give a toss about their customers or guest experience. They are a brand that have let customers down time after time. Whether it's annual pass "sales" or closing rides for a season without any real notice.  Merlin/Alton....whoever, need to create a brand that guests think "yeah that's the mark of quality" a brand that people are happy to shout (positive) things about, a brand they can feel associated with....they've failed at every opportunity.  Yes, I will visit Thorpe this year before my pass expires, Yes I will visit Alton once before my pass expires (only because I have a free nights stay). Beyond that....I will take my £1500+ that I spend on Hotel stays within the merlin group and food etc etc and take it elsewhere.  I view Merlin as a very unethical company....pulling a fast one on their customers where possible! Coaster 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yeah Posted March 12, 2016 Report Share Posted March 12, 2016 If you'd read this thread, you would have come to the conclusion that Flume and Ripsaw are the only permanent closures (photos of Ripsaw in pieces and the Flume being confirmed by the park) and the others are SBNOThe way the post was worded I got confused Sent from my SM-G361F using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattgwise Posted March 12, 2016 Report Share Posted March 12, 2016 All closures must be permanent as they are not on the park map at all. Picture from Towersstreet Facebook page.  https://www.facebook.com/TowersStreet/photos/a.346943978709386.76261.345107215559729/1022674691136308/?type=3&theater Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coaster Posted March 12, 2016 Report Share Posted March 12, 2016 It's disgusting that they took so long to announce the closures. They must've known they were coming, otherwise the entirely accurate rumour would not have started back in November. Â It goes to show what I have said for many years, Merlin do not really give a toss about their customers or guest experience. They are a brand that have let customers down time after time. Whether it's annual pass "sales" or closing rides for a season without any real notice This. Â The closures are bad in their own right but the lateness of the announcement is completely unacceptable. TraX 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TraX Posted March 12, 2016 Report Share Posted March 12, 2016 Well to be fair, look what they've done to Nemesis under TLC in just a few months, it looks fantastic. So in an entire season and with another closed season ahead, imagine how great Hex and Charlie will look (and who knows NST might not continue to injure people). Alton Towers have just demonstrated what they can do in a closed season, and TLC have even longer to work on all these closed rides, they're going to look like new. Assuming they're not using TLC as an excuse to close rides (which is exactly what they are). LOL The positive spin about painted mushrooms and shutters on closed shops is shocking and all done to prepare for this news. Very calculated as we knew these rides would be closing LAST year, the gate map has been altered, yet Towers delay the bad news train. I can't wait to see what bin or door frame they paint next. How lucky are we in the UK that the park is being maintained. Cal, SteveJ, Imagineer and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshC. Posted March 12, 2016 Report Share Posted March 12, 2016 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weeksy Posted March 14, 2016 Report Share Posted March 14, 2016 I went yesterday for the Services day. Very disappointing.  The park looks extremely rough, lots of rubbish visible from the fright nights mazes, gates left open all over the place. Most of the food stalls were shut, leaving only 1 of the Burger Kitchens and Chicken in X Sector. Plenty of breakdowns, but unfortunately none of the old reliables to get you through. Hex was sorely missed, as is Ripsaw and Flume -  they just soak up some queues.  Appreciate most of the staff were new and effectively it was a paid training session for the park,but most were very slow and really struggling- maybe  10,000 on the park but queues were very very heavy.  Generally just very disappointing, and a sad indictment of whats to come I suspect. Felt extremely money grabbing too; note most of the food stalls were shut but pretty much every paid side show was open.   Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pluk Posted March 14, 2016 Report Share Posted March 14, 2016 I went yesterday for the Services day. Very disappointing.  The park looks extremely rough, lots of rubbish visible from the fright nights mazes, gates left open all over the place. Most of the food stalls were shut, leaving only 1 of the Burger Kitchens and Chicken in X Sector. Plenty of breakdowns, but unfortunately none of the old reliables to get you through. Hex was sorely missed, as is Ripsaw and Flume -  they just soak up some queues.  Appreciate most of the staff were new and effectively it was a paid training session for the park,but most were very slow and really struggling- maybe  10,000 on the park but queues were very very heavy.  Generally just very disappointing, and a sad indictment of whats to come I suspect. Felt extremely money grabbing too; note most of the food stalls were shut but pretty much every paid side show was open.  I very nearly went, glad I didn't bother now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weeksy Posted March 14, 2016 Report Share Posted March 14, 2016  Look at the state of ground below Nemesis . Bags of rubbish, wood, dried paint. Sad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weeksy Posted March 14, 2016 Report Share Posted March 14, 2016  Silver track underneath the paint looks nice though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam P Posted March 14, 2016 Report Share Posted March 14, 2016 Its the drips on the supports that make that look really good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benin Posted March 14, 2016 Report Share Posted March 14, 2016 No park can prevent the paint on track being rubbed off be the wheels... Â Like, let's bash things that are under their control, not things that happen all the time... Even brand new rides have this issue, look at the Paultons creds once they've opened for a week... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Project LC Posted March 14, 2016 Report Share Posted March 14, 2016 The paint on the rails has lasted far longer than the smiler. That paint was gone after half a day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zach Posted March 14, 2016 Report Share Posted March 14, 2016 They got in an astronaut (Chris Hadfield) for some photos and things, heres a picture and a news [article pluk, dragon2000 and stretchy 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yeah Posted March 14, 2016 Report Share Posted March 14, 2016 They got in an astronaut (Chris Hadfield) for some photos and things, heres a picture and a news [articleI like the Birmingham Mail. They don't bash Alton for everything and don't tie everything back to the crash.Sent from my SM-G361F using Tapatalk dragon2000 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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