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Future of the Congo River Rapids

With regards to cost of running (electricity) - Alton Towers is on an un-metered electricity supply, they just pay a (doubtless very high) amount each month/year to their supplier irrespective of what they use.

It is quite common to see notes in Op cabins / Maintenance sheds saying "leave heater on overnight". Not a very green approach I know!

I've spoken to Mr Varney, he's on a comparison website as we speak.
 
With regards to cost of running (electricity) - Alton Towers is on an un-metered electricity supply, they just pay a (doubtless very high) amount each month/year to their supplier irrespective of what they use.

It is quite common to see notes in Op cabins / Maintenance sheds saying "leave heater on overnight". Not a very green approach I know!
My argument about the cost of running it would be more about the cost of staff and maintenance as the ride is getting on a bit now. I wonder when it will need significant work.
When I said I thought it would closed I wasn't thinking short term I was thinking 2025-2030.
Katanga canyon would have to be reworked but there's lots of land there to play about with in the future i'm sure more family attractions and a coaster could be built there.
 
Going to bring this thread back from the dead rather than start a new one.

In the minor changes a lot of people had thoughts on the river rapids.

Is it time to say goodbye? I think if they can't bring in any improvements and make it a bit more exciting then the best option is to close it and rethink the area
 
Closing the CRR permanently would be a massive blow to the already sparse family offering at Towers, and one less water ride. I don't think they'll want to risk turning the waterfalls and such on even a little bit, because even the tiniest drip of water can make guests move around the boat, and as I said in the other topic seatbelts aren't an option given the size of the boats.

The only option I think would solve all the problems would be to widen everything to allow for bigger boats with seatbelts, which would enable both the effects to be switched on and a higher capacity/throughput. Obviously the only issue with that is the cost, although I can't think of any other way to improve the ride.
 
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On the Popeye and Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges ride in Universal, they have a lap seatbelt like above, and their rapids are a LOT more choppy than CRR. I know the legislation would be a lot different though
 
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On the Popeye and Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges ride in Universal, they have a lap seatbelt like above, and their rapids are a LOT more choppy than CRR. I know the legislation would be a lot different though
I also like the fact that they have a cover for bags in the centre ring. I have to hold my rucksack on the seat next to me on CRR. :p
 
I have no idea what they will do with it going forward but it would be a nightmare to take remove and be an absolute fortune to actually place a new ride in that area. I’m sure they will find something to help it along if not i gues it would just be sbno for a while.
 
I guess its too close to Wickerman for SW9 to go there although oblivion and Smiler are pretty close.

If we are talking endless money I would be inclined to redo the whole area but doubt that'll happen. if they bring back the AltonTLC then maybe that will be at the forefront
 
Surely the easiest way out of the issues HSE/coroner guidance have thrown up is to amend the boats in such a way that falling out is not an option? I'm thinking netting at shoulder height around the boat supported by vertical poles, similar to a childrens trampoline. Shouldn't upset the weight distribution significantly, easy zip up openings, escapable in case of capsising, quite a simple cheap retrofit. Water comes in, people cant come out.
 
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On the Popeye and Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges ride in Universal, they have a lap seatbelt like above, and their rapids are a LOT more choppy than CRR. I know the legislation would be a lot different though

The high backed boats help prevent it capsizing and allow for easier escape if it did. The low-back boats used in the UK could capsize and therefore seatbelts prevent a risk as people can't get out from the seat underwater.

I also like the fact that they have a cover for bags in the centre ring. I have to hold my rucksack on the seat next to me on CRR. :p

Disney removed the cover and switched to providing lockers after too many ruined phones. To much trust was put into that cover by users and then someone else didn't close it properly (not everyone in the boat is from the same group). So Guest Bs phone got ruined as Guest A didn't close the cover properly. Easier to provide free for two hours lockers outside the ride.

Personally, I think it will stay because they have few water based attractions, and it would cost a fortune to remove or replace.
Cheapest option...do nothing, just turn the waves and waterfalls back on with less flow in the falls.

This to me is the correct answer. Put the wave machines back on, keep the squirters off and run the waterfalls on low so they are theming instead of a major splash risk. Keep up with the remain seated warnings.

Ideally I would like a bit more theming to the tunnel, just some rockwork to the entrance/exit and maybe a bit of mine theming like a dynamite stick and a light effect of it going boom. Would be a perfect low year investment to improve up the Katanga Canyon theming, maybe find some minor ride that fits in the area too (no idea what). But improving theming, although would help with guest satisfaction wouldn't give a quick return on investment so is unlikely to happen.
 
As much as I love it when the train and the rapids go through the tunnel together, if they blocked it up with some wood, they could theme both sides better
 
I think doing anything to the tunnel with be difficult due to some wild bats have taken up residency there which are a protective species.
Does this even begin to make sense, I think the bats main problem will be there's two ride running through the tunnel every few seconds

Removing the interaction between the two rides would be awful too and it would be easy to theme the interior if there was just a budget
 
I have deleted a post, and the subsequent replies. The initial post was a little borderline in terms of the acceptability in relation to the DMP fatality. Let's keep it decent.

Cheers.
 
Realistically does anyone think they are even considering doing anything to the rapids? Or will it be far down the list as a family ride which isn't deemed worth the investment?
 
Realistically does anyone think they are even considering doing anything to the rapids? Or will it be far down the list as a family ride which isn't deemed worth the investment?

Realistically they will probably only do what is needed to keep them safe and open.

But it doesn't stop us dreaming of having a rockwork cave entrance for the tunnel.
 
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