2026: General Discussion

[GooseOnTheLoose]

(hence why they chose purple in the first place)

As explained by others earlier, the purple was the result of planning restrictions.

I believe the planners wanted it darker, so it couldn’t be seen from outside the park.

They settled on the corporate colours of the park of purple and gold.

There has been 16/17 years of tree growth since this was originally moved to the plaza. Concern about it being seen from outside the park could be mitigated by the extra cover this would give.

 

[AT86]

Like sorting out the security placement should be after you pass the turnstiles

Security finding folks bringing in something they shouldn’t once they are already inside the park doesn’t feel quite the right way round.

 

[Hid]

Security finding folks bringing in something they shouldn’t once they are already inside the park doesn’t feel quite the right way round.

But not a fan of those security tents obscures the view of the Towers, Towers Street and Monorail overhead

 

[AT86]

But not a fan of those security tents obscures the view of the Towers, Towers Street and Monorail overhead

They would be better off making the current turnstiles into the security area and reconfiguring the top of Towers St as the turnstiles.

 

[Bowser]

But not a fan of those security tents obscures the view of the Towers, Towers Street and Monorail overhead

Could install one of these at the monorail exit. Added bonus of the increased radiation will reduce MAP uptake and create shorter queue times for all.

 

[rctneil]

I think the colour decision is quite tricky. They pretty much have two options:

1. Blend it in so it matches the location and brand with purple and gold, but ignores its history as Corkscrew

2. Go all in on ride nostalgia with the original yellow, but knowing that it will look slightly out of place in location.


Practically impossible to cover both options.

 

[Steve74]

I think the colour decision is quite tricky. They pretty much have two options:

1. Blend it in so it matches the location and brand with purple and gold, but ignores its history as Corkscrew

2. Go all in on ride nostalgia with the original yellow, but knowing that it will look slightly out of place in location.


Practically impossible to cover both options.

Well they could've done one loop yellow, the other purple. Or painted alternating support rungs yellow and purple

 

[rctneil]

Well they could've done one loop yellow, the other purple. Or painted every support rung alternating yellow and purple

Oh jees!...

 

[RicketyCricket]

The sound of my car boot opening sounds a little bit like the Corkscrew lift hill; it's very satisfying.

I like the new paint, Corkscrew should always be yellow.

 

[Josh555]

I think it looks good, but Corkscrew was my first inverting coaster back in 94 so I’m bias.

 

[Secret Weapon]

Could install one of these at the monorail exit. Added bonus of the increased radiation will reduce MAP uptake and create shorter queue times for all.

Am I naive for thinking that the infra red cameras / screens at the end of Sub Terra were actually real?

 

[spotweld]

From: https://x.com/rickcooper02/status/2029179129145487737?s=61&t=NSbpoT7NpRrd-a2pTo6wLQ
better look at the colours

Awful.

 

[Secret Weapon]

Awful.

Am I imagining it, or is the new 2026 yellow colour scheme a much brighter shade of yellow than the original paintjob from 1980 ?

Or maybe it faded over time?

I only saw the original yellow Corkscrew a handful of times in person, and so I can't clearly remember...

 

[rob666]

It faded.

 

[WickerWonder18]

Updating it to keep things fresh which is good. See what colour they paint the supports.

 

[Squiggs]

As the conversation was straying quite far away from the topic of the repaint, let alone discussion about 2026, I've just moved the discussion about the pros and cons of the Corkscrew's removal (and its origins) over to the dedicated Corkscrew thread.

Edit: Just to be clear, all the discussion about the 2026 repaint can stay here, it's just discussion of the ride itself, it's operation and its closure I've shifted into the history topic... as all these things happened many, many years ago.

 

[Dave]

If we are going all nostalgic and bringing back 1980’s VIBES then BRING BACK HENRY HOUND!

And breath…

 

[Bert2theSpark]

If we are going all nostalgic and bringing back 1980’s VIBES then BRING BACK HENRY HOUND!

And breath…

They still have the costumes for Henry Hound in storage, probably needs a refurb but really not that out reach!

Probably a lot of merchandising and entertainment production they do with the character. Perhaps they could bring him back at an event like Feb Half Term or Christmas alongside Alton Bear and Finn the Shark.

Darwin, Eric, Squirrel Nutty and the others still make appearances at the Run Alton Towers event so would love to see them brought back too. Maybe they could have it so the non-IP led family areas get a mascot. Meet & Greets and Shows can also go a long way to alleviating guest dissatisfaction when the rides breakdown. It doesn’t have to be year-round but with entertainment contracted out, there’s no reason why they couldn’t just run things during peak season for a limited run.

Mascots and Costume Characters are coming back into style with the growth of Asian cultural soft power, as well as being fairly prevalent at European parks too (they Liseberg bunnies shift a hell of a lot of merch).

 

[Steve74]

Corkscrew close up:

From: https://x.com/RickCooper02/status/2030200699426873836?s=20

 

[Secret Weapon]

Sorry for asking a silly question, but if the park is closed to the general public until next week then how were people able to go there today? I don't remember seeing this advertised?

Ride Times is saying that it is only open for private hire today, but how would somebody have gone about hiring the park?

Did AT do this last year as well?