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Park Hours: Updates and Discussion

A marketing email for Oktoberfest came out today. I might be reading too much into this (and I hope I am), but the wording around ‘over 5 hours of entertainment’ is a little concerning, and looks a bit like spin.

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Finishing the entertainment at 5pm would be well within the ‘over 5 hours’ period if they are starting at 11.30am. Since the shows have always gone on past ride close in previous years are we looking at 4pm ride close with entertainment until 5pm midweek?
 
AT86 said:
A marketing email for Oktoberfest came out today. I might be reading too much into this (and I hope I am), but the wording around ‘over 5 hours of entertainment’ is a little concerning, and looks a bit like spin.

C8BDFDDF-7D2C-4335-9938-0289B017B921.jpeg

Finishing the entertainment at 5pm would be well within the ‘over 5 hours’ period if they are starting at 11.30am. Since the shows have always gone on past ride close in previous years are we looking at 4pm ride close with entertainment until 5pm midweek?
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Which is to be expected. Says 4pm on the website so that is what it'll be. Queues are minimal on off peak weekdays so 6 hours is more than enough. I sometimes leave within 4 hours because I'm bored of lapping rides. If it's a quiet day you can easily fit in loads of rides and watch entertainment if you wish
 
Ethan said:
Which is to be expected. Says 4pm on the website so that is what it'll be. Queues are minimal on off peak weekdays so 6 hours is more than enough. I sometimes leave within 4 hours because I'm bored of lapping rides. If it's a quiet day you can easily fit in loads of rides and watch entertainment if you wish
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We've had this before.

Many times.

You simply can't appreciate an Oktoberfest event properly and enjoy the rides in six hours.

Just because you want to "lap the rides" and "get bored" doesn't mean anybody else's experience is that. It will be the case for very, very, very, very few visitors each day.

I have spent over six hours JUST sat watching entertainment at the event before. I still want to go on rides too. Granted, this is at the other extreme end of the spectrum and most guests will be somewhere in the middle.
 
I think for September even on peak days ride close at 6 or 7pm and entertainment through to 7.30-8.30 is fine.
If off-peak does stick to 4pm ride close then entertainment should run to at least 6pm I think. Even if it’s 11.30-2 and then 4-7pm or similar. So still over five hours in total but as two stints.
 
4pm Oktoberfest is a disgusting open time, no many how anyone tries to spin it. I assume anyone arguing 4pm is acceptable has never watched any Oktoberfest entertainment or isn’t bothered about it. The best atmosphere on the front lawns for Oktoberfest were between 6-8:30-ish. Dire if it’s going to be 4pm. And let’s not argue about staff shortages either because if a 10-9 is acceptable on short staff for scarefest then I’m damn sure a 10-7 minimum is for Oktoberfest
 
D4n said:
We've had this before.

Many times.

You simply can't appreciate an Oktoberfest event properly and enjoy the rides in six hours.

Just because you want to "lap the rides" and "get bored" doesn't mean anybody else's experience is that. It will be the case for very, very, very, very few visitors each day.

I have spent over six hours JUST sat watching entertainment at the event before. I still want to go on rides too. Granted, this is at the other extreme end of the spectrum and most guests will be somewhere in the middle.
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I agree with what you're saying and that's what I meant regarding the opening times. I meant I think 6 hours is enough on quiet days not just for rides but for other things too. If the park is somewhat busy then its not ideal but they'd likely extend opening if that was the case
 
Ethan said:
Says 4pm on the website so that is what it'll be. Queues are minimal on off peak weekdays so 6 hours is more than enough. I sometimes leave within 4 hours because I'm bored of lapping rides. If it's a quiet day you can easily fit in loads of rides and watch entertainment if you wish
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I've come to the conclusion that you could possibly be just a bait poster who likes to purposely post inflammatory things to see others get upset. That or you're so consumed by the way you see the world that you're completely incapable of seeing it the way others do.

Time and time again we go back to the fact that you - travelling a short distance to the park, sometimes on your own - just to whore a small selection of coasters you personally enjoy over and over again - does not = what is best for the park, what is best for everyone else and, generally, what everyone else wants to do.
 
Matt.GC said:
I've come to the conclusion that you could possibly be just a bait poster who likes to purposely post inflammatory things to see others get upset. That or you're so consumed by the way you see the world that you're completely incapable of seeing it the way others do.

Time and time again we go back to the fact that you - travelling a short distance to the park, sometimes on your own - just to whore a small selection of coasters you personally enjoy over and over again - does not = what is best for the park, what is best for everyone else and, generally, what everyone else wants to do.
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I'm just trusting in whatever towers decide to do. If they say opening times are 4 then there must be some reason for it and we just have to accept their decisions. Whilst I understand that 4 is far from ideal for most I've accepted that towers have stuck with the shorter off peak opening hours and they evidently aren't bothered to change it in any rush. Nothing we can do unfortunately and moaning about their opening times, or lack of, won't change the managements mind
 
Ethan said:
I'm just trusting in whatever towers decide to do. If they say opening times are 4 then there must be some reason for it and we just have to accept their decisions. Whilst I understand that 4 is far from ideal for most I've accepted that towers have stuck with the shorter off peak opening hours and they evidently aren't bothered to change it in any rush. Nothing we can do unfortunately and moaning about their opening times, or lack of, won't change the managements mind
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Trusting in what Alton Towers do?

Jesus Christ.



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AstroDan said:
Oktoberfest entertainment ran until 8pm last year with 7pm ride closes on weekends.

The entertainment as darkness fell is absolutely superb.

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Without sounding dramatic, they'll kill Oktoberfest if they close any earlier. We absolutely loved the atmosphere and didn't end up getting off the car park until almost 9pm one night last September.

If they get away with closing at 4pm for Oktoberfest 2022, then ya'll can look forward to 5pm Scarefest closes in 2023 - they'll save a fortune on those stupid diesel LED towers.
 
tech said:
Without sounding dramatic, they'll kill Oktoberfest if they close any earlier. We absolutely loved the atmosphere and didn't end up getting off the car park until almost 9pm one night last September.

If they get away with closing at 4pm for Oktoberfest 2022, then ya'll can look forward to 5pm Scarefest closes in 2023 - they'll save a fortune on those stupid diesel LED towers.
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100% agree with this! The event will die with lacklustre opening times! We are not just talking about a quiet non event midweek day here we are are talking about an event which could potentially have had 4 hours shaved off of its opening times since it began! We were also on park until 8:45pm last year, the atmosphere was quite something, especially as it had been a lovely sunny day!

EDIT: I also agree closing Oktoberfest at 4 is like closing Scarefest at 5. Both are meant to have that late night/evening atmosphere. I’d actually argue Oktoberfest warrants it equal to/more than Scarefest. The tables being lined up last year were almost all full after ride close, I don’t see how it’s something they can keep getting away with.
 
Steve74 said:
I've said many times before, if they'd not used the money to hire those things over the last 15 years, and instead invested it in lighting infrastructure, we'd have permanent lighting around the park paths by now
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Money to hire, staff and vehicles to tow them into place, ents techs having to spend half a day going around powering them up and about a million gallons of diesel. At least they're LED now so the lamps don't have to be manually switched out for blue and green ones any more :rolleyes:

It never made sense to me.
 
Danscott22 said:
100% agree with this! The event will die with lacklustre opening times! We are not just talking about a quiet non event midweek day here we are are talking about an event which could potentially have had 4 hours shaved off of its opening times since it began! We were also on park until 8:45pm last year, the atmosphere was quite something, especially as it had been a lovely sunny day!
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I just worry it'll mark a significant return to 'give us your money and get out' instead of what we've seen more recently which has been a serious and sustained effort to invest more into the guest experience in terms of entertainment and atmosphere.

4pm close times are never fun, but on an event themed around drinking, dancing and partying....it's a bit of a joke.

Let's hope those opening hours get adjusted.
 
Ethan said:
Whilst I understand that 4 is far from ideal for most I've accepted that towers have stuck with the shorter off peak opening hours and they evidently aren't bothered to change it in any rush. Nothing we can do unfortunately and moaning about their opening times, or lack of, won't change the managements mind
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No, that's not all what you said. You claimed that you could do what you wanted to do in that timeframe so that makes it all good. Once again passing your own personal opinion as gospel for everyone else.

You didn't "trust" what park management have decided, you decided on your own that it's good enough for you, so good enough for everyone else. Just a quick cursory glance back at the last few posts and that's clearly evident. It's all there in black and white.

Justifying a potential 4pm close (I don't think it will be in the end) during Oktoberfest is all well and good, but at least have the guts to back up and debate why you feel this way other than just stating your own personal preferences. You've now only back tracked under scrutiny when it would be polite and considerate to other forum members to explain your views other than the usual "I'm OK Jack, but sod the rest of you" claptrap that your initial posts often spout.

This ain't Facebook.
 
Matt.GC said:
No, that's not all what you said. You claimed that you could do what you wanted to do in that timeframe so that makes it all good. Once again passing your own personal opinion as gospel for everyone else.

You didn't "trust" what park management have decided, you decided on your own that it's good enough for you, so good enough for everyone else. Just a quick cursory glance back at the last few posts and that's clearly evident. It's all there in black and white.

Justifying a potential 4pm close (I don't think it will be in the end) during Oktoberfest is all well and good, but at least have the guts to back up and debate why you feel this way other than just stating your own personal preferences. You've now only back tracked under scrutiny when it would be polite and considerate to other forum members to explain your views other than the usual "I'm OK Jack, but sod the rest of you" claptrap that your initial posts often spout.

This ain't Facebook.
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Surely I can only give a justification on personal experience? I can't say how anyone else's days on the 4 close have been so can't speak for them. I gave my opinion because that's the viewpoint I have as I am me and everyone else is them. Just because I said it doesn't affect me doesn't me I don't acknowledge its not great for others. I'm aware that me just going to lap rides puts me in the minority so I agree that the hours should be longer however from experiences I've had I can say that if you want to get on plenty of rides then it's a guarantee you'll get on more in the weekdays, even with the shorter opening hours, than you will at weekends.
 
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