• ℹ️ Heads up...

    This is a popular topic that is fast moving Guest - before posting, please ensure that you check out the first post in the topic for a quick reminder of guidelines, and importantly a summary of the known facts and information so far. Thanks.

2021: General Discussion

Status
This topic has been locked. No further replies can be posted.
Such great news.

It really is a great feeling being at Towers in the summer months knowing you actually do have time just to soak up the atmosphere, sit on the lawns in the sun for a little while etc. It’s been quite a long time since I’ve been able to do that :D


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
Matt N said:
I
Out of interest, do we know what it is that’s caused this sudden surge in budgets, for things like events and longer opening hours?
Click to expand...

I think it's largely due to this season's big push being around rides-per-head (e.g. the number of rides guests accomplish per day). The addition of the 4 temporary rides, plus extended hours will allow this to happen. By adding events, this should also increase secondary spend. Furthermore, the reduction in annual passes will also ensure that the value that each guest brings with them through the turnstiles will be far higher than it was previously.

As long as Alton communicate the ride closing times well, have reasons for guests to stay - then we're on to a winner.

RE: Midweek closes - we can still expect 4pm on the quietest days. Simply put, if there are 4,000 on park - there's no money being made and I believe the online ticket price is a few pounds less, too.

I would envisage every weekend this season being at least 8.00pm unless it's a disaster the first couple of weeks.
 
One thing I will say slightly negative, its a shame this announcement has come so late. Had I know I absolutely would have been there from Essex for a midweek day. As it is I have too many plans made already to make it work.
 
pluk said:
One thing I will say slightly negative, its a shame this announcement has come so late. Had I know I absolutely would have been there from Essex for a midweek day. As it is I have too many plans made already to make it work.
Click to expand...
Don’t worry @pluk; there’s plenty more 8pm closes coming up after the first week, and it’ll be Mardi Gras before too long, where the midweek days will likely be at least 8pm, if not later!
 
Matt N said:
Don’t worry @pluk; there’s plenty more 8pm closes coming up after the first week, and it’ll be Mardi Gras before too long, where the midweek days will likely be at least 8pm, if not later!
Click to expand...

I'm not a fan of the weekends, I'm a quite park kind of guy. One of the perks of my irregular shift pattern is freedom on week days, but its a long old journey to Towers for a 6 hour 'day' out. I'll see how the weekends at capacity go before risking committing to a weekend...
 
pluk said:
I'm not a fan of the weekends, I'm a quite park kind of guy. One of the perks of my irregular shift pattern is freedom on week days, but its a long old journey to Towers for a 6 hour 'day's out. I'll see how the weekends at capacity go before risking committing to a weekend...
Click to expand...
Probably a good idea, to be fair; I’d imagine the first few weekends could be busy!

As I said, though, there’s plenty of opportunities for late midweek closes yet, what with the likes of Mardi Gras and Oktoberfest coming up, not to mention whatever the park is planning in the summer!
 
In terms of the 10-4 days, would people rather have closures on Tuesdays for a four day week with at least 10-5 on the remaining days? Or is 10-4 for all five weekdays better?

i do think the park should at least keep Extraordinary Golf to at least 6pm daily. That way you could always extend the day out slightly, or if staying at the hotel fill the time til dinner playing golf.
 
jon81uk said:
In terms of the 10-4 days, would people rather have closures on Tuesdays for a four day week with at least 10-5 on the remaining days? Or is 10-4 for all five weekdays better?
Click to expand...

I think for the size of the park 10-4 is simply inadequate. I'm basing this on my own needs, and if that continues to make financial sense then so be it, but it surely must be that the lower the hours the lower the geographical reach of the park. I would literally spend longer driving than I would at the park for a day trip on those hours. To my mind it changes the proposition from a national park to a regional park.
 
jon81uk said:
In terms of the 10-4 days, would people rather have closures on Tuesdays for a four day week with at least 10-5 on the remaining days? Or is 10-4 for all five weekdays better?

i do think the park should at least keep Extraordinary Golf to at least 6pm daily. That way you could always extend the day out slightly, or if staying at the hotel fill the time til dinner playing golf.
Click to expand...

I don't think ATR should close at 4pm on any day because, even with the reduced online price, it's just not enough time to get around the park. You also tend to have less staffing on those days, so Galactica may, for example, be on 1 station. So the queues aren't necessarily that short.

I think opening the park every day is much easier from an operational point of view. Everyone knows where they stand. The 4pm closes also allow Tech Services a little 'catch up' time - as these late nights are going to mean that Tech Services really have their work cut out.

Although I would never visit on a 4pm close, I wish they would abandon them.
 
I’m after some advice and apologies in advance if this isn’t for this thread. I’m looking at booking a 2 night AT break for my birthday in early June before the school summer holidays and during term time. I’m torn between the cheaper prices of booking mid week with the promise of some instant ride ons, but there’s the early park closure and potential of the lack of full Mardi Gras line up. The alternative is paying more for a weekend break but having longer weekend opening hours, yet potentially longer queue times, but I reckon they’ll be much more operational effort across the park due to higher visitor numbers which may mean a better experience overall.

thoughts?
 
pluk said:
I think for the size of the park 10-4 is simply inadequate. I'm basing this on my own needs, and if that continues to make financial sense then so be it, but it surely must be that the lower the hours the lower the geographical reach of the park. I would literally spend longer driving than I would at the park for a day trip on those hours. To my mind it changes the proposition from a national park to a regional park.
Click to expand...
Interesting take and completely understandable, but would counter that the short operating days have made it more appealing for us to stay over ... I wonder how prevalent that cause/effect is.
 
s_g_k said:
I’m after some advice and apologies in advance if this isn’t for this thread. I’m looking at booking a 2 night AT break for my birthday in early June before the school summer holidays and during term time. I’m torn between the cheaper prices of booking mid week with the promise of some instant ride ons, but there’s the early park closure and potential of the lack of full Mardi Gras line up. The alternative is paying more for a weekend break but having longer weekend opening hours, yet potentially longer queue times, but I reckon they’ll be much more operational effort across the park due to higher visitor numbers which may mean a better experience overall.

thoughts?
Click to expand...
Why don't you try for a Friday and Saturday? Sometimes, a Friday night is cheaper than Saturday for the hotels and you get the best of both worlds - weekday and weekend crowds and operations.

I've booked Scarefest this year on a Friday and Saturday staying in the AT Hotel on the Friday night for those reasons - it was cheaper on the Friday night by quite a bit.
 
s_g_k said:
I’m after some advice and apologies in advance if this isn’t for this thread. I’m looking at booking a 2 night AT break for my birthday in early June before the school summer holidays and during term time. I’m torn between the cheaper prices of booking mid week with the promise of some instant ride ons, but there’s the early park closure and potential of the lack of full Mardi Gras line up. The alternative is paying more for a weekend break but having longer weekend opening hours, yet potentially longer queue times, but I reckon they’ll be much more operational effort across the park due to higher visitor numbers which may mean a better experience overall.

thoughts?
Click to expand...

you might also want to look at staying off site.
Chained Oak B&B is walking distance to the park and a lovely place to stay. We had a great breakfast and paid about £100 I think for a night.
 
It's very rare I get to go to alton towers but I'm going on 11th and 12th of June, I can't wait just really hope it's extended openings
 
Whilst it would be very helpful for them to confirm later closing times sooner, I think they are worried about being caught short and having to operate an empty park to 8pm.

For the 11th June, I think attendance will depend on how many year 11/13s have finished their assessments.
 
Status
This topic has been locked. No further replies can be posted.
Top