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What would Alton Towers be like if Towers Street was in charge?

Thameslink Rail

Thameslink Rail

TS Member
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The Smiler
I have been wondering this question while reading the future discussion because what we want to see at Alton Towers is clearly very different to what Merlin want.
Given the standard laws of economics, physics, health and safety etc.
1. What should the parks opening times be?
2. What should be added next season?
3. How should queue times be improved?
4. How much should entry cost?
I am interested to know what enthusiasts think.
If anyone has any other questions to add to this list then please tell me.
 
Going by the topic title here..
To be really honest Im suspicious of the kind of decisions enthusiasts often make behind the scenes in parks. Not all of course, and everyone should be enthusiastic in their job and care about what theyre doing obviously, that's vital!

But if we're talking typical enthusiasts who've lived and breathed the enthusiast ways, I feel like the decisions are often a bit fan service 'the enthusiast community', not necessarily seeing the bigger picture for the park and all its visitors.

I'm not trying to knock enthusiasts, it's just what I've noticed creep up in recent years. A feeling like they already know best so they dont need to think outside the box.

We need enthusiastic theme park professionals running parks. But often we get either disinterested corporate managers, or well-intended but often unprofessional enthusiasts.
 
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I do agree, I also think that enthusiasts are likely to neglect the children's areas
of a park because they rarely visit those areas.
 
TakeYourMedicine said:
Going by the topic title here..
To be really honest Im suspicious of the kind of decisions enthusiasts often make behind the scenes in parks. Not all of course, and everyone should be enthusiastic in their job and care about what theyre doing obviously, that's vital!

But if we're talking typical enthusiasts who've lived and breathed the enthusiast ways, I feel like the decisions are often a bit fan service 'the enthusiast community', not necessarily seeing the bigger picture for the park and all its visitors.

I'm not trying to knock enthusiasts, it's just what I've noticed creep up in recent years. A feeling like they already know best so they dont need to think outside the box.
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This is essentially the argument I use when debating against some of the things you raise in other topics. Enthusiasts can talk at length about how someone is using the wrong gel on a par can and really lose sight of the big picture, entirely misjudging the mood in the public at large.

TakeYourMedicine said:
We need enthusiastic theme park professionals running parks. But often we get either disinterested corporate managers, or well-intended but often unprofessional enthusiasts.
Click to expand...
If you believe the hype, we do have a number of these people but they're crushed by the corporate machine that they operate within. I'm not sure I buy that, it feels like a pretty lazy narrative.
 
Rick said:
This is essentially the argument I use when debating against some of the things you raise in other topics. Enthusiasts can talk at length about how someone is using the wrong gel on a par can and really lose sight of the big picture, entirely misjudging the mood in the public at large.
Click to expand...
You're right but you're wrong. To be honest I think you just dont get theatre at all so you seem to get annoyed whenever anyone cares.

The public shouldnt have to care about the specifics, but it all amounts to the experience they get. They wont care about theme park H&S, engineering, business or whatever else either, without realising how much their guest experience relies on it all under the surface.

The public dont consciously care about what kind of light is used, if the sound is at the right level, etc.. of course they dont. If done right, all the work goes into it so that you don't specifcally notice these things! It's all about the overall effect it makes. That's what really makes the difference between guests coming off underwhelmed or really entertained.

Honestly, a Disney ride could end up just like Duel is now if it was left to rot in the same way. The sets would show up, the timings would be off, illusion not working, the effect gone.. But after a while nobody would know it could be any different and just think "it's ok" until it inevitably gets removed.

Either that or some enthusiastic staff comes in thinking they know how to fix it and you end up with the 'DIY' jobs you see cheapening older UK rides all the time. Or lame fan service changes that miss the wider appeal.

The same attitude plagues theme park operations currently, the idea that anyone can run rides on no effort, so long as no safety rules are broken then job done. There's no reference to high standards anymore. Nobody realises that these things can actually be worked out and solved to massively improve guest experience.
 
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1. What should the parks opening times be?
12-6pm Weds to Sunday off peak
11-8pm summer & schools hols,
10-10pm special events

2. What should be added next season?
Funfair 2020 quick fix, on the lawn until they get more flat rides installed for 2021
Make it a summer promotion... for this year only.... Dodgems, Walzter, chain swings etc. included in your entry
Reopen the 4D cinema in CCL with Shrek 4D, a show, something.... to widen the variety
Self service buffet in tower street restaurant

3. How should queue times be improved?
Stop expectation that fastpass or disability pass means instant access... make people queue a few minutes even if they have priority options.

4. How much should entry cost?
£35 online, £40 on the gate, drop BOGOF promotion but offer £5 off instead.
Season pass £80
 
Thameslink Rail said:
I do agree, I also think that enthusiasts are likely to neglect the children's areas
of a park because they rarely visit those areas.
Click to expand...

Incorrect.

barnens-paradis-puff.jpg


The new for 2016 play area at Liseberg. Inspired by self-confessed geek Andreas' visit to the Blackpool Tower.
 
Do you think most enthusiasts would do that?

Most really talented designers are huge fans but they're great designers first and foremost, I wouldnt say most enthusiasts are great designers. They dont have to be, they're mostly there to enjoy it after all.
 
Things I would do:
  • Scrap Fastrack (or at least make it prohibitively expensive)
  • Do something about the number of guests (ab)using RAP
  • Bring back baggage holds, SRQs and improve throughputs
  • Have at least one decent show that's suitable for all the family
  • Add some flat rides
  • Use a documented, qualitative process to decide on park extensions and enforce it amongst the park's managers
  • Keep some restaurants and shops open after ride close. It ensures you keep making money and thins out the traffic leaving the car parks
  • Demolish the Stargazing Pods and use the wood as biomass to offset the park's carbon footprint.
Things I wouldn't do:
  • Scrap the mid-week closures. No point opening if you don't make money
  • Scrap 4pm closures on off peak days. As above. If the park is busy then the opening should be extended to continue to monetise from those guests staying later
  • Reduce the entrance fee. The entrance fee is expensive but most people use 2-for-1 vouchers and they're a good form of promotion.
 
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