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There's still magic somewhere...

These points seem to somewhat overlook that these forums are based around Alton Towers... which is definately north of the M25, if a little shy of the North of England.
 
As Alton is about a hundred miles north of the Watford gap, it is firmly in the north.
The magic left when they stopped taking cash in the courtyard tavern.

Nope. While 100 miles north of the Watford gap is north of London yes, but not 'the north'. Lioe what is referenced on motorway signs for example. 100 miles puts you firmly in the middle of the land. Aka the Midlands. Which by there very name are not 'the north' so to speak. We are not northerners around here at all. But we are north of Londoners. Lol.
 
Wikipedia covers this quite well
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_England

Northern England largely sees the Midlands as the South, the South largely sees the Midlands as the North. Only the Midlands sees the Midlands as the err... Midlands ;-)

AT is in the Midlands, Blackpool is almost stereotypically Northern (whilst in reality being a completely unique place).
 
People from the south don’t realise there is a country beyond the M25 ;-)
"The South" isn't just London and the south east you know? The same criticism could be levelled at people who think anything below the Midlands is all London..... Fair comment?

Anyway, magic at Towers is predominantly through its heritage for me - both as an historic site and finding evidence of it's more golden years as a theme park. There's glimpses of it in the modern ere, from the musical scores around the park, Wicker Man, Thirteens station etc.

But it's quickly lost when the sound of Katanga Canyons great musical themes don't distract you from the visual car crash of the state of the rapids. Or the excellent facade on Duel luring you in to the crushing disappointment of sitting on a train to see neon LED lit mechanisms. The roar and visual feast of Nemesis being let down by the site of weeds engulfing the original theming as nature slowly takes the ride back.

As for those who wonder why so many are so critical of the park yet remain on here - think of AT as an old friend. A friend who used to be fun and lively, who's let himself go, dresses in George lumberjack shirts and tracky bottoms, has put on 4 stone, doesn't brush his hair anymore and become an alcoholic. He's still the same smart, fun guy deep inside, you just find it sad to see how much he's let himself go and you tell him that in the hope that he'll face into it.

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The duel courtyard is the start of an excellent area, but they should have done more there.

They should build a large toilet block in Katanga, an area where people are forced to sneak into the tiny restaurant toilets, which are arguably the worst on park because they are over used.
That would allow the Duel toilets to be scaled back or relocated nearer Forbidden valley, to make space for a 2nd attraction in that area.
I always wish they would make a cutting between Duel and Katanga Canyon too, as that slope is brutal. Anybody with mobility issues must find it tricky to get up to that side ofthe park when the Skyride is not running.
 
The duel courtyard is the start of an excellent area, but they should have done more there.

They should build a large toilet block in Katanga, an area where people are forced to sneak into the tiny restaurant toilets, which are arguably the worst on park because they are over used.
That would allow the Duel toilets to be scaled back or relocated nearer Forbidden valley, to make space for a 2nd attraction in that area.
I always wish they would make a cutting between Duel and Katanga Canyon too, as that slope is brutal. Anybody with mobility issues must find it tricky to get up to that side ofthe park when the Skyride is not running.

Just leaving the Katanga bypass that goes round the back of the rapids (that was used during Wickerman construction) open would remove the need for the hill climb for Duel. The issue with the site you describe (where the toilet block is) is the monorail depot is located behind it, so you couldn't build anything large as the site is quite constrained. Going the other side of the Duel building and using the unused car-park would be a better option.
 
It's not a car park it's a storage area
The storage area is directly behind Duel.

I meant the Duel graveyard queueline and the area outside it, is one possible expansion area, would be difficult to use, but easier than the previously suggested toilet block area.
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