• 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.

Major Operational Changes for 2018

I feel as this could really damage attendance figures and inparticular repeat purchase. Us enthusiasts are some of the most loyal customers and if we are put off, what will the gp think?
 
Yet another new low for Towers. A brand new coaster opens, and yet they decide to implement staggered openings across the park, plus making the Rapids a seasonal attraction. The amount of contempt that guests are being shown here is frankly reprehensible, and I'm now seriously questioning whether I want to go to Towers again with the place being in its current state. It really breaks my heart to say that. Making cuts and doing stuff like this is NOT going to help the park in the long term. It's only going to put more and more people off going. But I guess that so long as Merlin are getting more money, they don't really care about the experience from a guest's point of view.
 
Funny thing is, "when does the park open?" Is actually an unanswerable question now.
The conversation between a member of the general public and AT social media.

"So when does Alton Towers open?"
"Alton Towers opens at 10am"
"Oh ok, I'll guess I'll head over to Galactica and Nemesis first then"
"Forbidden Valley opens at 12am"
"So when does the theme park open?"
"Alton Towers opens at 10am but selected areas of the park open between 10am and 12am"
"What about the Rapids?"
"The Rapids open at 12pm"
"Ok, Then why is the Rapids closed, It's 1pm"
"The Rapids are open May to September"

I feel sorry for the poor staff that will have to endure the backlash already.
 
Last edited:
You never know, with a bit of luck, this might make the news.

There's such a big enthusiast presence at the moment, look at the news of the Mouse, tons of papers started broadcasting articles, mainly due to so much enthusiast uproar.

With a bit of luck, this **** news will reach out beyond enthusiasts to the general public, and even further.

Email the news outlets. Basically write the story for them. I bet the likes of Metro will put it out. Then Towers will have to take notice.
 
They've completely destroyed any point on prebooking now as well by removing the ert from people booking like that. So it heavily increases the chances of the park not being able to anticipate busy days.

The main draw of pre-booking will be the price now. Although the effectiveness of that depends how widespread 2for1 vouchers are this year.
 
I would also like to point that the only way you can make your opinion well and truly heard is by boycotting the park.

There are lots of people I know who voice their dismay all too often however visit the place every weekend.

Merlin do not give a damn about how many nasty posts you write about them. ALL they care about is YOUR money.

Vote with your wallets, people.

:)
 
Last edited:
Announced after the push for annual passes of course. I will now be putting my £55 towards and EP clubcard instead. I've really lost any excitement I had to visit the park this year after reading this.

Fully agree with @rob666 Forbidden valley at 12 is suicide. They would have got away with it at 11 but 12 is basically laughing at you whilst happily taking your money.
 
Unfortunately folks this is not even the full raft of operations changes this year.

As per some of my previous posts, which have now all been confirmed, I also anticipate:

  • Removed baggage hold points on any rides that used to utilise them
  • One train operations/reduced capacity on even busy days, in line with Thorpe Park's measures
  • 2 closed F&B outlets compared to the 2017 season
  • Tree Top Adventure to be condemned for the entire 2018 season
  • The demolition of the plaza area, in preparation for this season, with touch screen ticketing systems
  • The entirety of CCL to close later in the year in preparation for the 2019 product.
  • And please wait until you see the proposed opening hours ;)
I'm sure the opening hours will be no worse than 2017's apart from maybe a few weekends at 10am-4pm. Also, where are we to store our bags without baggage holds? Do we have to hide them behind bushes or something? Furthermore, what do you mean by the plaza area? Do you mean the bit with the tall blue tower and the corkscrews?

I don't personally see all of these happening. I can see some, but not all. For example, I can see the entirety of CCL closing towards the end of the year, but I can't see 1 train operations, as isn't it Towers' maintenance department that dictates that, not Merlin? Also, I can't personally see Tree Top Quest going for the whole of 2018, what with Nick Varney's emphasis on second gate attractions in Merlin's October 2017 trade report.

I personally find it peculiar that it's Towers that Merlin seems to be applying the most drastic cuts at. Yes, they've had substantially lower guest figures and substantially lower profits since June 2015, but they still get higher guest figures than say, Heide or Chessington. Whoops, just realised I sort of answered my own question there.
 
Very sad to hear about this. It will be tough for the minimum wage, zero-hour staff. There aren’t a lot of British parks where you can make being a ride operator (or any other frontline role) a fulltime job. These days even the big parks aren’t offering fulltime hours outside of school holidays. I know a few enthusiasts who have risen through the ranks at different parks and made a career out of it. These days it would be very difficult to do a frontline position without either living in real poverty for some years, living with your parents, or doing a second job (which can be very tiring and give you little work life balance).

Not only do these staff have their hours cut, but the cherry on top will be getting grief from customers about changes that they themselves are likely to resent. And not just resent, but actually get hurt by (in a financial sense).
 
Absolutely disgusted at these changes, such a shame to see one of the best theme parks in the going down the drain. Some of my favourite memories of Towers are running through the gates to peg it to Nemesis and getting loads of re rides in. Amazing wake up call and really gets you buzzing for the day ahead. :(

Surely this will effect their beloved fastrack sales as well? If I was going to buy one of the silver or gold fastrack packages I would be put off if the whole of Forbidden valley was shut until 12pm, which is pretty much half of your day.

Hope that Merlin will quickly u turn on this and realise that visitor numbers and sales of fastrack will vastly decline.
 
I'm sure the opening hours will be no worse than 2017's apart from maybe a few weekends at 10am-4pm. Also, where are we to store our bags without baggage holds? Do we have to hide them behind bushes or something?

Cages to be installed on ride platforms.

I'm sure the opening hours will be no worse than 2017's apart from maybe a few weekends at 10am-4pm. Also, where are we to store our bags without baggage holds? Do we have to hide them behind bushes or something? Furthermore, what do you mean by the plaza area? Do you mean the bit with the tall blue tower and the corkscrews?

I don't personally see all of these happening. I can see some, but not all. For example, I can see the entirety of CCL closing towards the end of the year, but I can't see 1 train operations, as isn't it Towers' maintenance department that dictates that, not Merlin? Also, I can't personally see Tree Top Quest going for the whole of 2018, what with Nick Varney's emphasis on second gate attractions in Merlin's October 2017 trade report.

I was being subtle.

Tree Tops is closing for the entire season. The maintenance department is dictated by the maintenance budget, which has been greatly reduced, by Merlin.
 
Absolutely disgusting news but to be honest I'm not the least bit surprised.

Selfishly the only thing that effects me is FV only opening at 12. Everything else I can live with but I can see why others wouldnt.

Merlin.......It's time to do the right thing and look for a buyer. You're finished.
 
Very sad to hear about this. It will be tough for the minimum wage, zero-hour staff. There aren’t a lot of British parks where you can make being a ride operator (or any other frontline role) a fulltime job. These days even the big parks aren’t offering fulltime hours outside of school holidays. I know a few enthusiasts who have risen through the ranks at different parks and made a career out of it. These days it would be very difficult to do a frontline position without either living in real poverty for some years, living with your parents, or doing a second job (which can be very tiring and give you little work life balance).

Not only do these staff have their hours cut, but the cherry on top will be getting grief from customers about changes that they themselves are likely to resent. And not just resent, but actually get hurt by (in a financial sense).

I agree with your post. Very well said.
 
I think closing the baggage holds is a really bad move. Are they going to install baggage bins on the platforms to compensate this?
 
I think removing the baggage holds is a really bad move. Are they going to install baggage bins on the platforms to compensate this?
Knowing Merlin they’ll install more lockers and change to £2 per open like Thorpe, save money on staff but make a profit on lockers.
 
YOU are to blame.

Yes, you.
You, who keeps handing over Your money to Them.
You, who bought shares in Them.
You, who swapped your Merlin pass for a Towers pass, as if that makes any difference to Them.
You, who have defended the years of small cuts as "necessary".
You, who keeps on parroting that They are a business and owe Us nothing.
You, who says We should be thankfull that They open at all.
You, who says that times are hard and this is only temporary and We should support Them.
You, who complains and calls Them out... yet still visits anyway.
You, who when They bend You over and shaft You, cries "thank you Sir, may I have another?"

They are millionairs.
They laugh at You.
They will not change.
They do not care.
They. Do. Not. Care. About. You.
They will continue to make cuts.
They will forever raise Their prices.
They will not read your comments, will not listen, will not care.

Unless...
We starve them out.
We cut off their supplies.
We besiege their wallets.
We hit them where it hurts.
We make Them learn.

Because as long as You keep handing over money to Them, They will see no reason to change what They are doing.
 
Last edited:
Top