Ride Availability/Operations 2022-26

[GooseOnTheLoose]

Last season's Spinball Whizzer wet weather change, where they halted all operations at the slightest bit of drizzle, appears to have been reversed. 3 riders per car in wet weather is back.

 

[Matt N]

Are things looking good more generally @GooseOnTheLoose?

We’re currently stuck in a queue merging from the M5 onto the M6, with a forecast ETA at Alton of around 1pm!

 

[Bert2theSpark]

Last season's Spinball Whizzer wet weather change, where they halted all operations at the slightest bit of drizzle, appears to have been reversed. 3 riders per car in wet weather is back.

I was watching Coaster Dad’s opening day vlog, and he mentioned that the new Vice President had said to him that they had reviewed the ride closure policy during thunderstorms, and had managed to reduce the closure period down to 15 minutes from one hour like it was last season.

I think it’s good that Towers are making these improvements to operational procedures, even if it’s been overshadowed by worsening ride availability from maintenance issues.

 

[GooseOnTheLoose]

Are things looking good more generally @GooseOnTheLoose?

We’re currently stuck in a queue merging from the M5 onto the M6, with a forecast ETA at Alton of around 1pm!

All coasters open apart from Oblivion and Runaway Mine Train.

Hex is currently closed. Major coasters are around an hour, exception is The Smiler at 90. Single Rider for that looks just as long.

With it being mostly school trips, I'm hoping it thins out a bit later!

Actual ride uptime is fine.

 

[Secret Weapon]

...and schools are getting wise on the fact that school trips at the end of June and early July are hopeless crushfests. with only two or three rides all day.

One thing I like about AT is that at least many of their rides use the giant metallic fences in the queue-line, which helps to prevent relentless queue-jumping whenever schoolchildren are there.

(Drayton Manor use the small fences instead, which are all too easy to climb over or under)

That said: I think a few AT rides still use the smaller fences, but the children seem to behave better at AT than they do at other parks anyway, for whatever reason.

 

[GooseOnTheLoose]

at least many of their rides use the giant metallic fences in the queue-line,

What? No they don't. Two do. Two isn't many. Two is a couple.

 

[dave___]

One thing I like about AT is that at least many of their rides use the giant metallic fences in the queue-line, which helps to prevent relentless queue-jumping whenever schoolchildren are there.

(Drayton Manor use the small fences instead, which are all too easy to climb over or under)

That said: I think a few AT rides still use the smaller fences, but the children seem to behave better at AT than they do at other parks anyway, for whatever reason.

13 is queue jumping kingdom where it weaves through the woods. It’s like a pre made parkour course

 

[Secret Weapon]

13 is queue jumping kingdom where it weaves through the woods. It’s like a pre made parkour course

Thirteen was actually the ride that I was thinking of that still uses an old fashioned type of queue, and also has a remote location (away from surveillance).

I rarely ever ride it, though (except on quiet days), which is probably why I haven't noticed much queue-jumping on it.

The 'metallic'-fenced rides I was thinking of were The Smiler and Nemesis, but I think Toxicator and Galactica may also have metallic fences in parts of the queue as well (I can't remember).

That said, even the 'wooden' queues at AT are still much better than the ones at Drayon Manor, as they are often taller and more solid / less porous, and sometimes even spiked at the top (I think).

The Haunting has no queue line fencing whatsoever and so kids just walk straight past you.

 

[Rob]

Pretty sure this is the ride availability/operations thread and not the queue line fences thread....!

Thanks.

 

[Squiggs]

It looks like the first of our Essential Maintenance rides has finally opened today.

Possibly not the most exciting, but I'm sure that little guests will be pleased that the Bugbie Go Round has managed to open ahead of the busy Bluey weekend.