Ride Availability/Operations 2022-26

[Quantum]

Coasters get major attention when they are not open or delayed opening but the truth is, if the park had sufficient supporting rides it would not be as big an issue.

As other posters have pointed out, Towers has capacity issues. One flat ride in the last 10 years isn't going to solve that. Towers needs major investment and I don't think Merlin are the ones to do it

 

[John]

Galactica has 2 trains today - trains 2 and 3 are in use

 

[Poisson]

Galactica has 2 trains today - trains 2 and 3 are in use

I assume they had the same situation that they had on Wicker Man a couple years back. 1 train not ready, 2 ready and then 1 failed morning inspection so it was on 1 all day.

 

[Skyscraper]

Galactica now opens at 10:30 instead of 11, according to the app;

 

[Danscott22]

Galactica now opens at 10:30 instead of 11, according to the app;

Galactica, Spinball and Thirteen all said 11:00 this morning but then Spinball changed to 10:05 (again) and Galactica changed to 10:30. I'd imagine the plan is still 11 which is still awful but if they're ready earlier than that then theyll open them

 

[chilli2]

Does make me wonder if their maintenance staff just leave for better pay constantly and this leaves them in the mire.

Ultimately wages just arent good enough at theme parks to keep them going as cost of living is going up much quicker.

At the moment im currently pondering on whether or not to make a group booking (group of scouts) later this year/season
As for maintenance staff -if you are in the local area and within commuting distance what would you prefer, a maintenance job at JCB inside a building with a roof over your head, or working for Merlin at Alton Towers sometimes/often exposed to all weathers the novelty of working on a major ride soon wears off

 

[Dave]

Galactica now opens at 10:30 instead of 11, according to the app;

As said before the staff are in for a 10am start, it’s tech services dictating the opening. Going to guess these will all keep fluctuating.

 

[GooseOnTheLoose]

As said before the staff are in for a 10am start, it’s tech services dictating the opening. Going to guess these will all keep fluctuating.

So can we finally agree it's not a budget cut dictating this, but an inability to recruit and retain staff? Admittedly because of a poor budget, but not one that's been actually cut.

 

[s_g_k]

As said before the staff are in for a 10am start, it’s tech services dictating the opening. Going to guess these will all keep fluctuating.

It appears like they simply don’t have enough staff to get everything open on time and ready for the start of the season anymore.

Merlin are currently advertising for Electrical Maintenance Managers at the park with a salary of £45k, and fairly basic employee benefits. I have a friend who recently joined JCB in the same role and is being paid £55k, plus he gets to enjoy some really decent employee benefits.

£45k for a job in a rural location with what seems to be a very unstable company, or £55k for a job with a stable and growing business who offer great career progression. If I was trained as an electrical engineer, needed a new job and still lived in Uttoxeter, I know where I’d rather work.

 

[Danscott22]

From an operational standpoint, it looks like they've dropped the 11am openings for Galactica, Spinball Whizzer and TH13TEEN. They changed them to 10am the other day on the app, and it still reflects that.

 

[s_g_k]

From an operational standpoint, it looks like they've dropped the 11am openings for Galactica, Spinball Whizzer and TH13TEEN. They changed them to 10am the other day on the app, and it still reflects that.

That’s good. It sounds like opening weekend was more of a soft opening in that case. It still shouldn’t have happened though.

 

[AT86]

I wouldn’t be surprised if there is an operational distinction between after dark dates and non-after dark dates.

Friday will be the test of that.

 

[John]

Yeah I'd certainly not be celebrating just yet - a 10-4 operating day is a different beast to an 10-8

 

[Danscott22]

I know but the point I was making is that they'd actually changed them from 11 to 10 on Sunday whilst Alton After Dark was on.

I'm actually visiting on Friday so will be interested to see what happens

 

[Danscott22]

Oblivion set to be closed all day (again). Not sure what the issue is buts it’s so, so poor.

 

[dgp17]

I’ve heard Oblivion could be closed for the foreseeable future.

 

[Danscott22]

We always get silly rumours about a ride being closed for ages when it’s down though. I’m not sure what the issue with it is, but they need it open again as soon as possible.

 

[Benzin]

We always get silly rumours about a ride being closed for ages when it’s down though. I’m not sure what the issue with it is, but they need it open again as soon as possible.

I'm sure the park want it open too. Unless we just shout COST CUTTING every time a ride goes down now?

Getting parts in from abroad now is such a pain. On top of their maintenance issues we already know about.

 

[Danscott22]

Not that you should need new parts for a ride that’s just come out of it’s winter maintenance period mind.

 

[Benzin]

Not that you should need new parts for a ride that’s just come out of it’s winter maintenance period mind.

Depends. Something that was checked 2 days ago and passed could potentially fail.

Then your supplier is on a 4 week lead time.

You can prevent all you like but there's always going to be unexpected maintenance.