Mark9 Posted October 4, 2018 Report Share Posted October 4, 2018 Not sure if that post is aimed at me but I'll be more clearer. When we were there, Raptor, Rougarou and Gatekeeper were on three trains. Each time, one train was stacked outside the station whilst one loaded. It doesn't make a ride have a higher throughput if a train is stationary, doing nothing and it doesn't improve dispatches. America in general (outside of Disney) has far more stringent and harsher checks on it rides which means there is no point running three trains if the safety procedures take longer than a ride cycle. Maverick was running six trains but it could have run four and would have still had the same people per hour. The main reason I felt it necessary to praise Towers and Blackpool is because their dispatches were near perfect. Minimal stacking on full capacity is hard work but they did it near flawlessly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt 236 Posted October 4, 2018 Report Share Posted October 4, 2018 Definitely not directly aimed at you and more intentionally as a perspective thing than any. I can see your point on the stacking as trains waiting does nothing for throughputs. When I was there, sometimes they wouldn’t stack for long, whereas sometimes all three trains stacked which was not ideal. every park will naturally have their good and bad ride teams regardless of size and location. Gate Keeper’s operations were slightly better on our second ride whereas Maverick’s were worse as 4 trains (two loads) were stacking more. Apparently China has very strict legislations and operations in parks like Happy Valley are paint dry slow. I'm not taking anything away from Towers or Bpb. As things go, Towers is generally still one of the better parks for operations. Wickerman and Nemy were run well on my previous visits. The only coaster with iffy operations generally is Galactica (VR to thank There). Blackpool’s operations have definitely improved in the last few years and found all major rides run efficiently except Nash. P.A is amongst the worst for operations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coaster Posted October 5, 2018 Report Share Posted October 5, 2018 PB is very hit and miss, I've had both amazing and atrocious days there this year in terms of ride operations. I struggle to get more than 10 rides in a day at Alton due to early closing times/lack of SRQ's etc - WM seems to be running more efficiently now though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuntman707 Posted October 31, 2018 Report Share Posted October 31, 2018 Another FF classic - Inside Alton TooT Matt A, Ringo, Robert.W and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt 236 Posted November 6, 2018 Report Share Posted November 6, 2018 Did someone say Fireworks? Honestly can’t believe how quick this season has gone, especially being what is arguably one of the most exciting in the U.K. for some time. Fireworks for me were largely enjoyable and great to see more used compared to 2016’s event, plus fire. The storyline was hit and miss but the pacing of lights was great. The park was busy but not necessarily rammed, which is surprisingly considering both days were sold out. Event also gave a perfect excuse to ride Wickerman at night, which was just incredible in the back row and looked great, both on and off ride. Operations were a mixed bag. Rides like Nemesis, Wickerman and Rita were overrated pretty efficiency during the trip, however Thirteen’s and Oblivion’s has room for improvement. Galactica by far had the worst operations. Good riddance to the VR if they are actually getting rid of it! The discounted merch implies they might be. Last ride of the (UK) season was Nemesis which for me was the best ride I’ve experienced on it this season (or even the last 2/3). Wickerman has likely been a very very successful investment in the park, giving them the best guest figure probably for many seasons at least. Hopefully they can retain this for next year, although we shall have to see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshC. Posted January 29, 2019 Report Share Posted January 29, 2019 Opening hours for 2019 have been revealed. Overall, more open days compared to 2018, but still a lot of 10-4 days... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJ99 Posted January 29, 2019 Report Share Posted January 29, 2019 10am-4pm opening throughout June and early July during the week is crazy for a park claiming to be both a resort and a premier UK tourist attraction 2542464 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt 236 Posted January 29, 2019 Report Share Posted January 29, 2019 Well, least it’s better than nothing. The important thing is, it isn’t worse than 2018’s opening hours (yet). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benin Posted January 30, 2019 Report Share Posted January 30, 2019 10 hours ago, JJ99 said: 10am-4pm opening throughout June and early July during the week is crazy for a park claiming to be both a resort and a premier UK tourist attraction To be fair, the only real trips going on at that time of year are school ones... *shudders* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyMoo Posted January 31, 2019 Report Share Posted January 31, 2019 I've got my visit pencilled in for 4th April, so am anticipating the park to be dead considering it's closed the day before. Should ruddy hope so anyway. Last year we went at a similar time - most things were walk on except Wickerman (obvs) and Galactica, because of slow loading (obvs). Maybe this year my mates I'm going with will actually get to go on Galactica, and Rita too since that was down all day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt A Posted February 12, 2019 Report Share Posted February 12, 2019 CATCF parts are being auctioned off for charity: https://www.nottinghampost.com/whats-on/music-nightlife/alton-towers-auctioning-parts-ride-2535595 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pluk Posted February 19, 2019 Report Share Posted February 19, 2019 Last day of bidding, if you are in the market for some right old tat... https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/magicwand2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshC. Posted February 19, 2019 Report Share Posted February 19, 2019 I love how one of the Oompa Loompas is on £1000 whilst the rest are around the £200-300 mark. Someone's going to be feeling like a right old muppet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyMoo Posted February 19, 2019 Report Share Posted February 19, 2019 21 minutes ago, JoshC. said: I love how one of the Oompa Loompas is on £1000 whilst the rest are around the £200-300 mark. Someone's going to be feeling like a right old muppet. That's no way to talk about Shawn Sanbrooke ? Whatever 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshC. Posted February 20, 2019 Report Share Posted February 20, 2019 Given that Thorpe's social media has taken a bashing lately, only fair for Alton to receive the same. I'm all for banter between parks, but for there to public admittance that it's going to take a long time for part of the same company to 'sort itself out' (especially since it's actually true) seems like a rather large faux pas, surely? Maybe I'm just getting old and don't get social media. Or I'm just looking for things to moan about. But I just don't get it. Ryan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyMoo Posted February 20, 2019 Report Share Posted February 20, 2019 Seems very counter productive to me too. Don't get it. Looks unprofessional. But hey ho... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark9 Posted February 21, 2019 Report Share Posted February 21, 2019 5 hours ago, JoshC. said: Given that Thorpe's social media has taken a bashing lately, only fair for Alton to receive the same. I'm all for banter between parks, but for there to public admittance that it's going to take a long time for part of the same company to 'sort itself out' (especially since it's actually true) seems like a rather large faux pas, surely? Maybe I'm just getting old and don't get social media. Or I'm just looking for things to moan about. But I just don't get it. Love it. It's like when Bob Iger slagged of Expedition Everest and the creator of that attraction Joe Rhode did a massive long instagram post about the inspiration behind Everest and why it wasn't just some non descript ride around India or whatever. Wonderful. More of that please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benin Posted February 21, 2019 Report Share Posted February 21, 2019 Think you're looking way too into it Josh... *logs out of Alton Towers Twitter account* JoshC. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt 236 Posted February 21, 2019 Report Share Posted February 21, 2019 Think I’ll be staying at Europa Park even longer then, if this is the quality of our parks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark9 Posted February 21, 2019 Report Share Posted February 21, 2019 3 hours ago, Loggers Creek said: Think I’ll be staying at Europa Park even longer then, if this is the quality of our parks! We've got Paultons, they give a damn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt 236 Posted February 21, 2019 Report Share Posted February 21, 2019 1 hour ago, Mark9 said: We've got Paultons, they give a damn. True, but I was just waiting for Tornado Springs! They seem to be one of the few UK parks that seem to know what they are doing and actually build stuff that makes sense! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ringo Posted April 5, 2019 Report Share Posted April 5, 2019 Heads up for anyone who’s booked hotels or made arrangements for Fireworks this year, they’ve now changed the opening calendar and fireworks are now a week later with an added day -Friday 8th, Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th November. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuntman707 Posted April 24, 2019 Report Share Posted April 24, 2019 A new bus service to Towers is comming soon for those who don't drive: https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/burton/bus-service-to-alton-towers-2787552.amp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshuaA Posted April 24, 2019 Report Share Posted April 24, 2019 I think more transport is a step in the right direction as current buses are a pain in the ar**.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coaster Posted May 7, 2019 Report Share Posted May 7, 2019 A few thoughts from my first visit of the season yesterday. Ride operations were fantastic all day with the exception of a delay on Galactica. Wicker Man's dispatch times were nothing short of incredible, with the train entering the lift as the train before arrives back into the brakes. Similarly across the park queues were moving very fast, the staff seemed focused on efficiency and despite the crowd level being fairly busy queue times were kept largely manageable. Having the single rider queue back on Smiler is brilliant, long may it last! Areas of the park look in need of a clean, Oblivion's and Nemesis's station for example (even though the latter has only just been re-done, it's looking tired again already on the queue-line side). The cut scene in Oblivion's station video is horrendous and needs reinstating properly. Wicker Man had no fire, it's unbelievable that this has become a persistent issue considering the ride is only in its second season and the foundation of the marketing was based around the (nonexistent) fire. They knew about issues with the effect last year yet it still doesn't work consistently. Extremely poor. Hex was absolutely stunning. To my knowledge everything was working with the exception of mist and the audio is back to its best in the vault. Gave me goosebumps, it was that good! Duel remains a complete waste of potential, despite having all the foundations of a great dark ride it continues to be let down by unprofessional lighting and broken effects. What happened to phase 2 of the promised refurbishment? My main criticism of yesterday would be that a 5pm close just isn't long enough when the park is anything but dead. Even with good ride operations and planning our day around the shortest queues the only ride we managed a re-ride on was Wicker Man (joining the queue at the end) and we had to skip the rapids and mine train due to not enough time. I'd therefore say the park still offers poor "value" in terms of a good day out, as there just isn't long enough to enjoy everything properly. Overall, a decent day at Alton helped by hugely improved ride operations, but there's still a long way to go. 2542464 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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