I guess this is a step backwards, but at least it is only a small step backwards, and they have replaced the maze with a scare zone, which I am guessing will be a lot cheaper to run. With the budget not been increased, and money not going as far this year as last, it was inevitable that something was going to have to be cut or reduced.
In General, if there was a year to spend the cash on events at Alton Towers, this was the year. With the influx of families who might not have visited for several years, or just their first time, this was the year to have had several events through out the year. Even if guests had not come back this year for those events, they might have thought about next years trip or told friends about them.
I just think that it is one of those things that we are going to have to learn to live with, and the best way is to treat Towers Scarefest event as the starter, and then look further abroad for the main course.
Ian