• ℹ️ Heads up...

    This is a popular topic that is fast moving Guest - before posting, please ensure that you check out the first post in the topic for a quick reminder of guidelines, and importantly a summary of the known facts and information so far. Thanks.

Midweek Theme Park Closures

Stubpb

TS Member
Favourite Ride
Hex
As some of you may know already or you may not know - Chessington and Thorpe are shutting on some midweek dates. (see below)

Chessington will host a preview weekend for annual pass holders on 12/13 March, while its main season will commence on 18 March.

It will then open every day until 31 October, with the exception of 19-20 and 26-27 April, 10-11 and 17-18 May, 13-14, 20-21 and 27-28 September and 4-5 and 11-12 October.

Thorpe Park will open on the weekend of 12/13 March, but this is also expected to be announced as an annual pass preview weekend.

Its main season begins on 17 March and will open every day until 2 November, excluding 13-14, 20-22 and 27-29 September and 4-6, 11-13 and 18-19 October.

My question is do you think Alton Towers will do this too.
My point is that ticket prices keep going up - foot and drink prices keep going up - shop prices keep going up - TBH the only thing that aint gone up is the car park fee. The point being they keep banging the prices up and giving us less not more. I have a MAP and think its shocking tbh that they are doing this at the two other parks if they do this at Alton i,ll hit the roof.
 
Personally, I dont see how they will be able to keep up the title of a "Resort" if they close the theme park midweek. That will effectively make the hotels redundant as no one will bother staying in them, whereas the weekends will be absolute chaos.
 
Historically, Alton hasn't done this. I think it is because of the hotel. Also as Alton has the water park it does make it more worthwhile for a special two day trip.
I also think that is why Chessington & Thorpe stopped doing weekday closures, they were trying to fill the hotel during the week. But obviously the running cost of the park is greater than the cost of having the hotel empty.
Also historically Alton had more all-year staff than the other parks.
 
If budgets are that tight for next year they will need to keep the theme park open but continue to cut opening times during very quiet periods and continue to stagger the ride openings. Alternatively, as opposed to closing the entire park early, maybe if they close certain areas earlier and keep others open later (and they open later in the morning), e.g.

Dark Forest open at 10am Close at 3pm
Forbidden Valley open at midday Close at 5pm

That kinda thing.
 
Personally, I dont see how they will be able to keep up the title of a "Resort" if they close the theme park midweek. That will effectively make the hotels redundant as no one will bother staying in them, whereas the weekends will be absolute chaos.
Thorpe and Chessington are both resorts and do mid week closures.

Tbh, this doesn't annoy me so much, but I VERY rarely visit mid week term time (due to not being allows out of school) but i understand where you all coming from (would hate it if i could actually choose when i went)

I would understand next season, just to compensate for the low profits this season. My Main concern is that if we see it next season, its more than likely they would do it in 2017.
 
If they cut the odd few days here and there then it wouldn't bother me too much personally. However, if it came to the stage where they were cutting most quiet mid-week days then I'd no longer bother with a pass any more as I can't stand the place being rammed when I go (and without a pass I doubt I would visit more than once, and let's be honest, that wouldn't be paying full face value on the day). I often choose to visit mid-week as that's also what suits me with my days off work most of the time. My days of regular visiting would be a thing of the past if they were to ever over-do shutting on quiet days. I'm aware that I'm in the minority though so understandably Towers/Merlin will do what works for them at the end of the day. Just thought leave my thoughts on the matter :)
 
It only seems logical to follow their Southern siblings, are LEGOLAND doing the same?
If so, I'd probably dock one of the overall least profitable weekdays - or heck I'd rather have more in favour of closing more rides, but I guess 7 days of secondary spend with less rides over 2-5 days of less rides is indeed more palatable. For The Towers.
 
Legoland has long been closing on Tuesday's and Wednesday's during September and between Easter and half term. However they are in a slight different situation as their sole target market is young children. If they did open the park would be deserted anyway.

Midweek closures are not all bad. From a maintenance perspective they can be a very good thing. Say for example you have something that needs repainting or repairing that would normally have to wait until closed season. Suddenly there are 2 days to give the park a freshen up. Will this happen? Probably not much but other parks that have midweek closes use them for this.
 
Closed 19/20th April which is Easter school holidays for many schools in Lancashire - go figure!
 
Closed 19/20th April which is Easter school holidays for many schools in Lancashire - go figure!

:tearsofjoy:

Sorry but it is.

The golden days for passholders were the quiet days.

They're carrying on the slippery slope folks!

Every year, it gets worse, and worse, and worse.

At least they're consistent. Give them that, eh?

Of course, Merlin's theme park arm, never mind the entire company, made 100s of million of pounds in losses so it's underst......

Oh... wait.

Screw you Merlin.
 
Closed 19/20th April which is Easter school holidays for many schools in Lancashire - go figure!

They must be so confused with all the Easter holidays all over the place this year!

Mine start on the 21st March so I'm hoping for a quiet day with others at school and pre-Galactica!
 
just had my confirmation email for a hotel stay and.. a info pack

"Alton Towers Resort is open from 19th March 2016 - 6th November 2016. Opening times vary throughout the season. For further information on specific opening times please go to https:http://www.altontowers.com/usefulinfo/opening-times/
Please note: The Theme Park is shut on the following dates in 2016:
19th, 20th April
10th, 11th, 17th, 18th, 24th, 25th May
6th, 7th, 13th, 14th, 20th, 21st, 27th, 28th September
4th, 5th, 11th, 12th October
1st - 4th November"
is there any point in going this year, I know Im a bit late at this and it may have been mentioned many many many times before somewhere else. but I take no notice of anything :)
 
Wait, does that mean that the park will shut a few days, then open for two days and then close for the year? :rolleyes: what's the point?

Also, does that mean there's only two fireworks days this year.
Those November weekdays have always been some of the quietest in the season. They tried doing Adrenaline Week to get some extra people with mixed success.
But I think it's too cold/wet for most guests and it is half term the previous week so most people go then for Scarefest. The weekend gets busier with fireworks. But as the Friday of fireworks is a school day that isn't busy either except for the evening, so if they are trying to cut costs it's an easy day to save staff costs. But the fireworks weekend are some of the busiest days in the season so it is very much worth them opening.
 
Top