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2018: Park Operations & Ride Availability

True it could even require brand new boats which no doubt comes at a huge cost.

Pretty sures the Popeye seatbelts can't be opened until you're back at the station.
The belts on Bildge Rat Barges and the rapids at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay have always been ones you could open at any point unless there have been any modifications to the rafts since our last visit a few years ago.

Quite frankly the idea of any restraint system on a rapids that can't be opened at all times is one that terrifies me due to what might happen in the event of a capsize. There is no way I would go on any rapids that had such a system instanleed into them.
 
Just have a big sign at the entrance saying "by crossing this line (paint a line on the entrance to the ride) you acknowledge that if you stand up on this ride you may get injured or die, and its not our fault". Then anyone crossing the line enters a contractual agreement to release towers of any legal claims should someone stand up and die (or get injured).

Easy.
 
Just have a big sign at the entrance saying "by crossing this line (paint a line on the entrance to the ride) you acknowledge that if you stand up on this ride you may get injured or die, and its not our fault". Then anyone crossing the line enters a contractual agreement to release towers of any legal claims should someone stand up and die (or get injured).

Easy.
Dm-"killer park washes hand after deaths"

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Just have a big sign at the entrance saying "by crossing this line (paint a line on the entrance to the ride) you acknowledge that if you stand up on this ride you may get injured or die, and its not our fault". Then anyone crossing the line enters a contractual agreement to release towers of any legal claims should someone stand up and die (or get injured).

Easy.
If only it were that easy...

From the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977:
A person cannot by reference to any contract term or to a notice given to persons generally or to particular persons exclude or restrict his liability for death or personal injury resulting from negligence.

So it ultimately depends if the park were negligent (which is something that a court would have to decide), and that would be based on evidence demonstrating that the risks were not being managed effectively.
 
The belts on Bildge Rat Barges and the rapids at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay have always been ones you could open at any point unless there have been any modifications to the rafts since our last visit a few years ago.

Quite frankly the idea of any restraint system on a rapids that can't be opened at all times is one that terrifies me due to what might happen in the event of a capsize. There is no way I would go on any rapids that had such a system instanleed into them.
I could be mistaken but I'm sure I couldn't open them - similar to Tower of Terror's. Maybe they're just child/idiot proof!
 
What I'm seeing on trip advisor isn't really filling me with much confidence about returning. I'm not sure when to go back now we were thinking the last week in July now not sure due to all of the ride breakdowns
 
What I'm seeing on trip advisor isn't really filling me with much confidence about returning. I'm not sure when to go back now we were thinking the last week in July now not sure due to all of the ride breakdowns
Can you go at all during school time? I had a great time, but that was second week of June and the park was very quiet. I think as for breakdowns it's just luck.

Also bear in mind that TripAdvisor is usually the worst experiences, especially for a place as large as Alton Towers. I know myself I visit many places and usually have a good time, very very rarely do I write a review.
 
Can you go at all during school time? I had a great time, but that was second week of June and the park was very quiet. I think as for breakdowns it's just luck.

Also bear in mind that TripAdvisor is usually the worst experiences, especially for a place as large as Alton Towers. I know myself I visit many places and usually have a good time, very very rarely do I write a review.
Exactly, people are always quick to complain but rarely complement about their experiences and services they receive.

What I'm seeing on trip advisor isn't really filling me with much confidence about returning. I'm not sure when to go back now we were thinking the last week in July now not sure due to all of the ride breakdowns
I wouldn't even contemplate this side of the summer holidays. Leave it until after the August bank holiday and the kids are back at school - so the first couple of weeks in September.
 
Reading those TripAdvisor reviews reminded me why I never read TripAdvisor (except for my work's)

Sounds like the situation with breakdowns has been really bad over the past few days. I don't understand the comments on the staff though.
 
No shuttles in sight on Oblivion today. Presumably a couple in the station but it's not 'broken down' - it's closed without a full complement of staff. Perhaps waiting for a part, maybe.

Anyone ever ride (or go near?) Enterprise? It goes up, stops for a micro second and then starts to inch down for 10 seconds or so, then moves down at normal speed. How long has it been doing that?
 
What I'm seeing on trip advisor isn't really filling me with much confidence about returning. I'm not sure when to go back now we were thinking the last week in July now not sure due to all of the ride breakdowns

I probably would avoid weekends and school holidays where possible this year, as mentioned before, try and get there for when the gates open and a leave after ride close. Alton is a great place with great rides, just run badly this season

Also bear in mind that TripAdvisor is usually the worst experiences, especially for a place as large as Alton Towers. I know myself I visit many places and usually have a good time, very very rarely do I write a review.

I think the bad reviews are justify this season. I've been a regular visitor to Alton since 1997, this season has to be the worse ever
 
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To be fair, I've not see much difference in ride availability this season compared to any other apart from getting them all open on time. So mainly overall.
Gotcha. What's the driver for that, if not availability?

Today seemed to be fairly hit and miss according to Ridetimes. We only rode Nemesis as we left so haven't been paying too much attention to be honest.
 
It seems worse to me.

It seems as though every time I queue for oblivion some idiot gets their phone out and refuses to hand it over when the poor guy has climbed all the stairs.

Also in one visit both smiler and Galactica got taken down to retireve personal property which I've never had happen before (bad luck maybe)?

It seems the procedures are having a big impact, causing more down time and taking longer to get a ride back up and running.

None of that is really Altons fault, but it does impact customers.
 
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