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2022: General Discussion

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Trooper Looper said:
Does anyone know when they're taking the stage down in the upcoming future?
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Presuming you mean the large stage on the lawns? If so it stays there during main season, then in November it moves over to Fountain Square for the Winter season before returning to the lawns in March 2023. They have permission to do this until November 2026 under the current granted planning application.
 
Craig said:
Presuming you mean the large stage on the lawns? If so it stays there during main season, then in November it moves over to Fountain Square for the Winter season before returning to the lawns in March 2023. They have permission to do this until November 2026 under the current granted planning application.
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Okay. So we've got until 2026 to tolerate this eyesore? Yikes!! I miss the Large view the park had with the Towers before the benches and the stage :(
 
It must be said, though, the benches and the stage are a good way of getting scheduled entertainment into the park, which many cite as a problem.
 
I dont get how people don't mind it personally.
Pre Covid, you had a lovely and calm vibe of the Towers and the lake thay gave you a magical impression with its heritage like the gardens, with all the rides hidden behind trees. It gave you a wonder adrenaline feeling of excitement you can't hold in anymore, with each area being a portal to a different time and place.

Then next year you had a huge obstruction in the view, ruining the feeling and atmosphere entirely. There's no magic anymore, no excitement when you look at the view, just a stage plopped down and a lot of Benches while a remix of In the Hall of The Mountain King was played through speakers. Just ruins the Parks first impression for me. This is something I expect at a Six Flags park, not The UK.
 

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Trooper Looper said:
I dont get how people don't mind it personally.
Pre Covid, you had a lovely and calm vibe of the Towers and the lake thay gave you a magical impression with its heritage like the gardens, with all the rides hidden behind trees. It gave you a wonder adrenaline feeling of excitement you can't hold in anymore, with each area being a portal to a different time and place.

Then next year you had a huge obstruction in the view, ruining the feeling and atmosphere entirely. There's no magic anymore, no excitement when you look at the view, just a stage plopped down and a lot of Benches while a remix of In the Hall of The Mountain King was played through speakers. Just ruins the Parks first impression for me. This is something I expect at a Six Flags park, not The UK.
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Those two photos you have chosen really are not comparable. One is taking looking directly at the Towers, and the other is clearly deliberately taken to focus on the stage etc.

Here are a couple of photos I took on opening day:

20BB83C6-57C6-4987-841B-60C7ADBE4CBE.jpeg

07CE376C-3F75-405E-9B4B-55B92CC0F834.jpeg

Hardly obstructive or offensive.
 
Trooper Looper said:
I dont get how people don't mind it personally.
Pre Covid, you had a lovely and calm vibe of the Towers and the lake thay gave you a magical impression with its heritage like the gardens, with all the rides hidden behind trees. It gave you a wonder adrenaline feeling of excitement you can't hold in anymore, with each area being a portal to a different time and place.

Then next year you had a huge obstruction in the view, ruining the feeling and atmosphere entirely. There's no magic anymore, no excitement when you look at the view, just a stage plopped down and a lot of Benches while a remix of In the Hall of The Mountain King was played through speakers. Just ruins the Parks first impression for me. This is something I expect at a Six Flags park, not The UK.
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Questionable comparison images there considering the completely different angles! The below is from TowersStreet's Facebook at the end of March.

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Of course you can see the stage edging into view on the right, but the overall view is still there, and from the top of Towers Street the stage is barely in view.

I'd argue the complete opposite in terms of the atmosphere being "ruined", in my visits this year I've not seen anything like "just a remix of In The Hall of the Mountain King" being played through the speakers. Whether it be on the main stage, or the likes of the temporary ones erected for Mardi Gras, for me the events have breathed life into Towers Street. What was once just full of Picsolve photographers and queues for Guest Services now has a real buzz at the start of the day. Then throughout the day when the lawns are in use for the event, there's a real atmosphere thanks to the entertainment going on on the stage. Later in the day when everyone is leaving, particularly during Oktoberfest there's no longer that weird lull as you head out of the park. There's a lasting, upbeat impression upon guests now as they leave through the turnstiles - something that was missing for so long.
 
I couldn't find a great photo for the stage one sorry.

It still doesn't feel right. I think it should just be an empty field, not even benches there. I prefer the atmosphere of it before the stages and events were introduced (excluding scarefest). When I think of Alton towers, I imagine its unique theme, setting, vastful scenery, it felt like you were walking into a living painting, not a blue contemporary stage that just sits there all season. Again, that's something I expect from Six Flags. TBF, I've never a fan of the new festivals they've introduced in anyone of the Merlin Parks, they just don't suit the parks feeling or atmosphere.

If they want to have a staged show in the park, just try the 4D Cinema and convert it into a standard theatre. Maybe even expand it a little. It'd really suit the David Walliams Area.

Does anyone know when the Park isn't celebrating these events, or is it literally every single day of the year now?
 
Trooper Looper said:
I couldn't find a great photo for the stage one sorry.

It still doesn't feel right. I think it should just be an empty field, not even benches there. I prefer the atmosphere of it before the stages and events were introduced (excluding scarefest). When I think of Alton towers, I imagine its unique theme, setting, vastful scenery, it felt like you were walking into a living painting, not a blue contemporary stage that just sits there all season. Again, that's something I expect from Six Flags. TBF, I've never a fan of the new festivals they've introduced in anyone of the Merlin Parks, they just don't suit the parks feeling or atmosphere.

If they want to have a staged show in the park, just try the 4D Cinema and convert it into a standard theatre. Maybe even expand it a little. It'd really suit the David Walliams Area.

Does anyone know when the Park isn't celebrating these events, or is it literally every single day of the year now?
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Hang on, so you think Alton Towers would be better to get rid of the events they have (except Scarefest)!? Christ. For years and years we have been crying out for events at Alton Towers to bring atmosphere and variety to the park. The atmosphere you talk of before was almost non-existent.

This is not about having a staged show in the park. It is about having events that provide a mix of entertainment, theming, food and drink. I think you have got the wrong end of the stick to be honest.

And the events are not every day of the year. There was Festival of Thrills earlier in the season, Mardi Gras which not long finished and then Oktoberfest in September.
 
The problem with indoor shows is that you have to be there at a certain time for a specific length of time, you can't just dip in and out. Remember the majority of people are paying a large chunk of money to be there, so having something that's accessible when they want a quick 5 minute breather without having to stick to a schedule is ideal. In addition, parents/group leaders may want to plonk themselves down somewhere to chill, and they need that place to be easily accessible to kids who might want to pop back after doing some rides. With a theatre that's just not possible. In an ideal world, we'd see both as an option, but they're two completely different experiences in my view.

I get that they may not be your cup of tea, but the expansion of outdoor entertainment has shown it's clear that the majority of guests do appreciate having it around. The view is still there for those that want it, and there's still plenty of spots in the gardens to get away from it all. But to me and probably to most, a day at a theme park that you've paid a lot of money for should bring with it a real party atmosphere, and the stage helps to set that scene.
 
Whether you like the new events or not, they do seem popular, they are increasing the non-ride offering in their respective parks (which is often cited as a problem area in Merlin parks), they boast increased opening hours, and they are quite a genius way of driving up spend per capita (things like the food stands during Mardi Gras will get people spending more), which provides a win-win situation for both the guests and the park.

The park can provide something that people really enjoy, so the guests win, while the park also wins because they generate greater profits per guest, and people are also encouraged to visit outside of typical peak season. All this has a knock on effect of more money being able to go back into the park through CAPEX investment, so the guests win again.
 
I get that it isn't ideal, I would much rather they build a permanent show venue somewhere before 2026. The stage on the lawns is a good temporarily replacement but I think they really should get a good venue, it really should be a staple of a major resort like towers.
 
Want The ice Skating show an indoor show? Because from what I've gathered here, that was a well loved show by many? So, what excuse is there to have another indoor stage show?
 
I think there is some confusion here between shows and events.

Shows are at set times for a set length, Alton Towers has none of these outside of CBeebies Land. They really should have at least one major show in the park that runs all season.

Events take place for roughly a month during part of the season, and incorporate live entertainment (and this may include smaller shows), additional park theming/decoration as well as food and drink that fits in with the event. Someone may spend none of their day, an hour of their day, or even all of their day enjoying what the event has to offer.
 
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