As previously reported as a rumour last month, TowersStreet can confirm the rides and attractions which will be opening an hour later than park opening during the 2014 season. Nemesis Sub-Terra (One of the resort’s newest attractions), Hex – The Legend of the Towers (a popular family ride in the year of CBeebies Land), Ripsaw and The SkyRide (an important mode of transportation) will be opening at 11am starting from opening day this Saturday. This is in addition to water rides such as The Flume and the Congo River Rapids not opening until 11am.
Previous ride closures have been reversed due to the high number of complaints that Alton Towers Resort recieved, although it is not yet known how much impact these reduced operating hours will effect guests visiting the UK’s number one theme park.
Recently, Merlin Entertainments plc have posted record profits with an increase of 12.8 percent to £390 million, which is likely partially due to the increased guests visitors after Alton Towers unveiled The Smiler in 2013.
A spokesperson for Alton Towers Resort provided the following statement to TowersStreet after we approached them about the rumour back in February:
“The Alton Towers Resort represents excellent value for money for a unique short break for the whole family. With the investment in two major new attractions over the past two years, The Smiler and CBeebies Land, together with a host of other exciting world class thrill rides and unique experiences, we continue to reinforce our position as the UK’s favourite Theme Park.
Our operating season remains amongst the longest of any similar attraction type in the UK, running as it does for the half term week in February and then from 22nd March until the 9th November this year, and we’ve always adopted a flexible approach to ride opening and closing times throughout the season. We have for example always closed earlier during our shoulder periods of March, April, May and September when the weather is usually poorer and guest demand, and throughput, is therefore far lower.
Our busiest times are still during the October half term when we are open until 9pm. Our incredible Scarefest event brings in hundreds of thousands of families from across the UK, as do the end of season Firework Spectaculars. This year will therefore be no different to any other and all rides will be subject to variable opening and closing times which will be confirmed on the day. We believe any changes we may make will have minimal impact on the overall guest experience but of course we will monitor guest feedback on a daily basis and review all of our operations regularly as appropriate.”
The news comes weeks after Submission was announced as leaving Alton Towers Resort due to “long-term plans for the Resort”.
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