Yes I get there is the need to salt/grit more paths if the weather is bad but getting Fountain Square and Walliams World open would be better than Katanga Canyon. Having the Carousel, Frog Hopper and Gangsta Granny open would be perfect for the family half term event.
Hex, Curse and Wickerman (aware it is now but I mean as standard) should open as well tbh
That then goes back to debate on the type of event AT want to run and the price charged, is it a smaller scale family focused event for those with small children or a bigger event with multiple rides for those over 1.2m and who are happy doing scary dark rides. This in turn potentially pushes the price up but also may attract more passholders so the whole thing gets busier. Additionally if weather is worse then more paths need salt/grit rather than just focussing on Mutiny Bay and CBeebies land.
Thats all parks really you can have good days and bad days.
Although the weather is predictably unpredictable, they have had large amounts of snow and other cold temperatures several times before. I think this is why they stopped trying to open Runaway Mine Train and concentrated on the pirate theme, they had a couple of Feb half term weeks and even start of season in March with cold weather causing issues.
I was there today and it was a nice suprise to be told by a member of staff they would be opening wickerman later in the day to replace spinball, and to then get my first coaster credit of the year on wickerman rather than spinball
I do feel sorry for those who had gone earlier in the week and had the only real ride aimed at older kids closed for the first 5 days of an 8 day event but good on Alton Towers for changing the ride lineup, its not something I've seen them do before. Maybe they actually listen to feedback and it's not all about greed.
As already discussed though, they need a greater selection of rides aimed at 0.9m if they are going to run this event in it's current format next year. Obviously Bluey will add some extra capacity but it will also attract even more visitors. Seeing Octonaughts on 80 minutes is just wrong and all the families looked fed up today especially when the rain started coming down and the lack of indoor facilities was quite apparent with a 30 minute queue for the sea life centre.
Overall the actual pirate takeover event is still really good with the treasure hunt, as well as the battle galleon ride with actors is great. If they do open wickerman as a planned ride next year with spinball and Bluey that will be 4 coasters for a half term event which is pretty good. Open RMT and Curse and you could start to have a pretty good lineup.
An extra flat ride in mutiny bay like a proper pirate ship as well as another flat or indoor attraction in cbeebies aimed at 0.9m is still needed unless we see the return of World of David Walliams or whatever it is called these days.
Either way a walk on ride on wickerman to start the year was not something I thought I would be taking away from today. Let's hope it's the start of a good season.
