Alton Towers General Discussion

[Mattgwise]

Certainly a good thing. Not many would openly discuss. Let's hope she is on board for several years as these divisional directors seem to move on rather rapidly in Merlin.

[Glitch]

Really hate the influencers going to an experience and wanting to film the whole thing to make ad revenue on their YouTube channel. £80 still seems like an ok price for a track walk, but the entitlement is through the roof. Influencers think they own the parks nowadays….. If the park want professionally recorded content they will come to the influencers directly.

[Cal]

I was in the area due to work so I thought it would be rude not to pop in Tuesday and Wednesday, so thought I'd share some thoughts from this season below.

 

I didn't bother visiting with no Nemesis last year so was my first time in a couple years, meaning it was also my first time on the Curse. Was really impressed with this, couldn't comment on what effects were working/broken as I'd never been on before. Easily my favorite dark ride in the UK.

 

Main reason for visiting was to get as many rides as possible on Nemmy. Got 5 on Tuesday, but was only open half a day so was expecting a better day on Wednesday, but with it only operating with half a train I only went on it twice. One of them I got in the queue just before 4pm, and it still took 85 mins with no fastrack/rap. 

Got back on Sub Terra for the first time in yearssss, same as I remember nothing special but nice to have a filler attraction back, something towers really lack.

 

The park in general looks really fresh. Oblivion in particular looking really good. Could tell the Smiler has had some touch ups but still looking pretty poor in some places. Towers always seem pretty consistent on the effects and audio front. Audio everywhere was sounding great, didn't notice any broken/distorted speakers. A lot of their speakers are still bose too which I prefer. 

 

Operationally wise, pretty poor. The staff were all doing a great job with what they had, but every major coaster bar Nemesis has started the season on reduced capacity. This isn't just due to it being a weekday as well, as I've heard it was the same on the weekend.

Rita - 1 train

Thirteen - 2 trains (3rd train currently in pieces under the lift hill) 

Oblivion - 4 trains 1 station. No complaints here, team were smashing it and it didn't have a queue. 

Smiler - 3 trains

Wickerman - 2 trains

Galactica - 2 trains 1 station

Nemmy - 2 trains Tuesday, till around 20 mins before closing 1 train. Opened on Weds on half a train and remained like that all day.

 

Few other points;

 

- Never been the biggest fan of Wickerman but I was really enjoying it this trip. It was absolutely flying round in the rain on Wednesday, the back row and front row rides I had are the best I've ever had on it. 6 years on its still looking like a brand new ride, solid edition to their lineup and nice they're looking after it.

- Same goes for Smiler, never been the biggest fan but no matter where I was sat was riding really smooth and really enjoyed it. Single rider queue on it is lovely too.

- Pleasantly surprised to see roaming actors at Nemesis, Curse and Wickerman on an offpeak weekday. They do add to the areas, and I wish Thorpe had this approach rather than the cringe we get there. Would prefer a few actors at Swarm and Saw than the 'thrill makers' 

- Love the fact the park opens early, believe the entrance opens at 9. On Wednesday I got in just after 9:30, went straight to dark forest. By just after 10, I had done 2 rides on Rita and and Thirteen thanks to them both opening early.

 

- Galactica really doesn't fit in with Forbidden Valley anymore and is looking in a state. The track looks pretty terrible, half the TVs off, projector off in the station. Just looks like they've given up with it, so hopefully a re-theme coming with the new flat next year.

- 4pm close. In my opinion if queues are anything more than 10 minutes, especially a park the size of Towers, it should never close at 4. 5pm minimum.

- As someone who really likes flats, there really isn't a lot to do apart from going coaster to coaster. It seems they're going to address this though, I do hope there is more coming than the 1 they've already put plans in for.

[Benin]

The distinct lack of filler rides was far more telling yesterday with 3 big coasters down (Thirteen, Galactica and Wickerman) for a considerable time. Fortunately Nemmie was on full capacity but the park need far more than the one they're getting next year. There's at least 2 spots free in X-Sector, and could definitely fit more elsewhere with some ingenuity. 

 

Meant lots of 50 minute plus queues across the board for the majority of the day (exacerbated by many school trips mind). Which severely limited our choices of ride due to the 4pm close. Granted we did spend a fair chunk of time in CBeebies Land though. I'll probably contact the park regarding not being able to combine RAP with Parent Swap as it is very much a killer to our day if we don't have 2 RAP users in the group currently.

 

Also a lack of decent eateries needs to be addressed. Not asking for much but there are so many Burgers & Hot Dogs across the park but few alternatives. Especially if you want a sit down inside. The prices are obscene too. Not visiting Pizza Pasta whilst it's £21 per person (plus baby isn't big on pizza. She's strange).

 

Alty Mans is fab. Dark and creepy as. Couple of iffy effects here and there but on the whole is a fantastic refurb. Between that and Nemmie the future could be bright. Does mean other areas look awful comparatively though. 

 

It was great to have Nemesis back. Had a good day overall but that was the only coaster we did due to the limited capacity and queues. There's still a lot of work to be done.

[Stuntman707]

Call me mad but I visited on the opening day as Nemesis is a very missed coaster. All the park updates this year justified a new annual pass for me. I didn't run to FV but I knew if I didnt go there first thing, the queues were going to be mental. Anyway, only ended up waiting 2 hours which wasn't bad for the insane popularity that day. One thing I've not experienced before is the positive energy and enthusiasm in that morning queue. The atmosphere really was electric. I'll go in depth on Nemesis on the other thread.

 

Forbidden Valley was a nice surprise to me. I wasnt expecting such an overhaul of that whole area. The atmosphere there now is just top level. Frankly I could happily spend all day just in that area and Gloomy Wood. It feels like a different park.

 

As I did not go last season, The Curse was also new to me. Feels like a proper ghost train again now. my favourite effect was the hall of mirrors where Emily is riding in an empty carraige in your reflection and then it turns back into your own reflection at the end. I love all the little references and easter eggs in general, such a nice nod to the parks history.

 

Oblivion was smashing it in terms of operations. It had all 6 trains going round and not stacking for too long. The repainted hole was looking vibrant and a bit of a taster for the sparkle project to come. This did however make the station feel very worn and looking like it's in need of a modernisation itself. X-Sector felt very empty even with the end now blocked off to guests. Surely that area must be in sight of a Forbidden Valley style update.

 

Rita was probably the worst for operations. Didn't even bother. If it was on two trains, they were stacked in the station. Thirteen was fine, nothing negative to say although it always seems to have a massive RAP queue which I find funny considering it's supposed to be for those who have issues with queueing.

 

Thought I'd give Burger Kitchen another chance this year. My god the burgers are still awful but they are charging a premium for quality worse than a fast food chain. The burgers are literally like the frozen horse meat you get in the freezer isle. They need to get rid of that Aramark contract and bring back the fast food franchises because I'm not eating there again. It's one thing if they were running it themselves but now they are outsourcing again this is just not acceptable.

 

They are smashing it with the merchandise, some great offerings and proper embroidered items that are going to last. When I went to Engerylandia I was rather disappointed with the lack of branded merch so Merlin in general do a great job here.

 

Overall I had a good day. Nice to see Towers busy and as popular as ever. The new areas are a great sign of the future for Towers if they can sort out the food.

 

[Cal]

56 minutes ago, Stuntman707 said:

Oblivion was smashing it in terms of operations. It had all 6 trains going round and not stacking for too long. The repainted hole was looking vibrant and a bit of a taster for the sparkle project to come. This did however make the station feel very worn and looking like it's in need of a modernisation itself. X-Sector felt very empty even with the end now blocked off to guests. Surely that area must be in sight of a Forbidden Valley style update.

 

 

A staff member told me Oblivion was meant to have a huge station overhaul for this year, including 5 lines into the station (not sure what the 5th would be for?) which would include the return of the SRQ, but was pushed back to next closed season. Hopefully that still happens for next year! 

 

And agreed was nice to see them smashing throughputs on it for once. On Tues they were using 2/4 trains (every other train) as it had no queue, first time in years I've not had to wait on the break run! 

[Benin]

Blivvy is one of the few coasters on park where retrofitting a fully accessible queue wouldn't be problematic. 

 

Didn't go anywhere near X-Sector yesterday due to the queues. Plus that hill probably would've killed the wheelchair. 

[Cal]

Looks like the new flat in Forbidden Valley is set to be a top spin! 

 

Buzzing about this. Flat rides are exactly what towers need right now and love a good Topspin. Such crowd pleasers off ride too.

 

Fingers crossed its a Huss 

 

 

[Matt 236]

Went to Towers yesterday with work mates, to check out the reimagined Nemesis (Reborn).

 

The ride looks different although striking with the new track colour and other features. I especially love the new giant eye effect/ animatronics, which really enhances the area. The other area theming is fitting too, amongst the new soundtrack and station updates. 
 

The ride was running relitively well, albeit maybe the tiniest of judders. However it was a front-row ride first thing in the day. The queue line has seen a slight but noticeable route change, but still feels fitting to the landscape.

 

I did Alton Manor, not once but twice. I really enjoyed and appreciated this ride so much more this time and adored the story, effects and set pieces within the ride. Can safely say it’s my favourite U.K. dark ride now. 
 

As for the rest of the park, it’s very trial and error. I love oblivion, but it needs some updates and TLC, Smiler was a little bumpy and breakdowns were noticeable, even to my (mostly ) non ride-enthusiasts group. The lack of support rides was showing, more-so with Sky Ride and Hex (still) closed.

 

Numerous areas need jetwashing, repainting and replacing. 4pm is just too early to close for a park this size, even if it is low peak. Towers isn’t a bad park by any means, but there’s a number of basic things they could do to become a great one! 

[Benin]

Went against yesterday to raid the Nemesis shop and the CBeebies event.

 

Weird day for queues, still a bit of an issue with staff not signing RAP correctly or at all in some cases. Reliability of rides not great but Galactica was being operated superbly and was walk on in the afternoon. Blivvy and Smiler both got evacuated in the day and we were fortunately walking past X Sector when Blivvy reopened. Was still having problems so loads left but waited about 15 mins for it to start up. Rapids were down all day (as well as the 3 rides advertised as such).

 

Wickerman and Nemesis both running outstandingly well. 

 

CBeebies event was cute and lil one enjoyed it. Can't ask for much more.

 

Good day all in all.

[Benin]

The price of these you might ask?

 

THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY ENGLISH POUNDS.

 

Insanity. And it'll sell out by 12:05.

 

 

[Inferno]

2 hours ago, Benin said:

Insanity. And it'll sell out by 12:05.

 

I've just read it actually sold out by 12:01.

 

How on earth do people have this much spare money to burn.

[JoshC.]

If they had the price point at £500 it would have sold out just as quick.

 

And therein lies the issue.

[Glitch]

Have Alton towers updated their booking system? Doesn’t look like Accesso anymore!

[Cal]

Towers have continued cutting hours, with some Scarefest dates now cut to 8pm instead of 9pm. 

 

Think 2024 is the first season we've seen a 5pm close in August and Scarefest earlier than 9pm. 

 

What a shame. Hardly going to encourage more bookings for them dates is it...

[JoshC.]

Not great.

 

In the past, when Thorpe ran Fright Nights consecutively for most of October, they would only be open until 8pm on off peak days, and that was with mazes opening at 4pm. And, to be fair, it worked well then, although was ultimately cut because it wasn't worthwhile.

 

The difference here is that we are seeing a real time cut in hours with the week before half term, in that they are open one hour less. You have to wonder too, given Towers' location, how worthwhile and appealing those hours are for staff, and how much of an impact that hour lost has on them.

 

One does have to wonder why there's these cuts. What's the reason for them? The park seems lively enough with visitors. When I went at the end of July, a day which was reduced from 6pm to 5pm, the park was more than busy enough to justify at 6pm close.

 

Presumably it is to do with staffing. If that's the case, reducing opening hours makes it less appealing to would-be, and existing, staff surely? But then, how do they attract and keep staff? A vicious circle.

[Cal]

Yeah I'd be interested to know the reason for the cuts, to me it seems more a cost cutting measure rather than staffing but who knows. They've been doing it all throughout the season, and also now open a small number of rides at 11 too. Chessington have had their 7pm closes stripped towards the end of summer and are closing popular attractions on off peak days, so it isn't the only merlin park to have cuts.

 

Something I've said before re Fright Nights, regardless if its cost cutting or staffing issues surely they'd be better off cutting the first hour and do 11-9? An 8pm close wouldn't really allow a lot of time for night rides, especially when you factor in doing the scare attractions. Maybe I'm wrong but to me that would be more appealing as a consumer.

[Inferno]

I agree, my visit this year was a busy one, and from what I've seen it's certainly been busy throughout the year.

 

Alton Towers is such an odd place to me.  They seem to have bouts of good operations and success which appear to lead to delusions of grandure - resulting in situations like the seven million hotel rooms that are currently at the resort, but then in the next breath they close half of the hotels over winter and cut the hours in the park, even on peak event days, and keep rides closed for very long periods of time (Hex for instance, I mean come on).

 

It always seems to be a very oddly run place to me, lurching from a "We're a massive world-class resort" attitude to "We're closing early because someone's called in sick" sort of thing...

 

I think at smaller parks, cutting an hour off the end of quiet days isn't so bad, but given AT's size it really does have an impact on the day even on the quietest of days.

 

I do understand that staffing etc is an issue, but with the very well-connected and well thought out Universal probably opening in the coming years, I think really they need to get a grip of all this and decide if they want to be a realistic competitor, or be a small regional theme park where these sort of cuts-to-hours, staggered openings and ride/hotel closures are more normal.

 

That said, if the issue is down to staffing, that isn't a problem I'd like to be tasked with solving... It can't be an easy place to recruit for being where it is.

As stated above, maybe cutting 30mins off the start of the day would be better? I don't know.

[Mark9]

The cry of a dying theme park. Opening later is much more preferable than cutting the night time riding which is one of Scarefest selling points.

[Cal]

SRQ is back on Thirteen from today, and will be back on Spinball too in a few days once that reopens. 
 

Good to see - hopefully we saw more of this too. Heard the Oblivion station is due to receive some major work so could see it return on there. 

[Cal]

And the cuts at Towers continue...

 

- Rapids closed for the season from from 14th October

- CBeebies land closes at 5pm daily on scarefest dates (previously 7pm) 

 

And worst of all, more staggered openings.

 

 

To me they just make no sense. 

Why have Spinball closed till 11 when its close to the entrance and popular in the mornings? 

Why open Thirteen at 10 when pretty much everything around it opens at 11? 

 

Just an absolute pain when everything is so far away from eachother. You can't just complete an area and move on as there'll be attractions closed. 

 

Can imagine there'll be a lot of confused guests in the morning finding closed rides. Just open at 11 if you can't commit to opening everything at 10 in my opinion.

 

[JoshC.]

They're also charging £12 for a one shot maze ticket over Scarefest.

 

TWELVE POUNDS.

[Inferno]

Is it even worth the “savings” to open those rides 30 - 60 mins later, given all the disappointment and confusion it will cause?

 

Also why on earth is Hex of all things opening at 11? I thought that would be quite popular given it’s been closed for all this time.

 

I wonder if this is all down to working time for engineers? I can only assume there simply aren’t enough of them to properly spread across the whole day - so some would be on early to open the rides up, and others on later in the day/evening, leaving not enough to get everything open without having them start ridiculously early??
 

Cebeebies land closing so early is also surprising.  I wonder if this is again out of desperation for staff? They have been advertising for staff surprisingly recently, so perhaps they’re having to re-assign staff from here to elsewhere to run the event? 🤷‍♂️ 

 

All very odd, and disappointing given how much money they charge for Scarefest now.  I do wonder if an event like this is just requiring more staff than they can recruit these days?

 

All guesswork - but I’m just trying to think why this could all be (other than corporate greed)

[Benin]

I'm gonna be visiting Guest Services to log a complaint about the early closure of CBeebies. It's a terrible decision (ohhh yay Walliams World remains open though, no good if your child is under 0.9m) and shows how far gone from caring about the guest experience we are. 

 

Everytime there's a poor season (you know, cos most of it was miserable weather wise, plus the cost of living issues) there's a knee jerk reaction to it that lessens the product on offer, and then they wonder why people don't come back or renew passes. Which leads to more cuts and the prices remain the same so we end up in a horrible cycle.

 

The more things change the more they stay the same. Quite funny when people took them for their word as "Best Season Ever".

[Benin]

On positive side, good to have Hex back.