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Park Hours: Updates and Discussion

Hopefully a little extra entertainment here and there would be nice!
 
I think we're going to see some pretty good hours over the summer holidays! I can't imagine this Sunday will warrant an 8pm close though! Not now anyway!
 
Opening times have been updated to be 10:00 till 19:00 from 23rd July through to 31st August. Do we think this is what they will be or will they continue to get updated closer to the time? For example, next Saturday is now until 7pm rather than 6pm, but tomorrow is open until 8pm.
 
Opening times have been updated to be 10:00 till 19:00 from 23rd July through to 31st August. Do we think this is what they will be or will they continue to get updated closer to the time? For example, next Saturday is now until 7pm rather than 6pm, but tomorrow is open until 8pm.
I wonder if they are doing it because of staffing shortages and isolations. If they are then I can see it carrying on for a while.
 
I guess its possible that Fridays/Saturdays may still go to 8pm closure, but has it really been that busy into the evening?

I still think some kind of phased closure could work, keeping Nemesis, Air and Rollercoaster Restaurant open a bit later as guests leave through the gates that way.
 
With Oktoberfest just around the corner and the main Alton Towers website advertising 'ride opening into the evening', do you think they'll update their opening calendar soon for their Oktoberfest event in September? Hoping for at least 6pm ride close during weekdays
 
With Oktoberfest just around the corner and the main Alton Towers website advertising 'ride opening into the evening', do you think they'll update their opening calendar soon for their Oktoberfest event in September? Hoping for at least 6pm ride close during weekdays
I was thinking about this, they were caught out with Mardi Gras when they advertised "as the sun goes down", but I do think we'll see a mix of 6pm, 7pm and 8pm for Oktoberfest.
 
Last year, Oktoberfest had 6pm closes during the week and 8pm closes at the weekend.

Speaking of Oktoberfest, I’m actually headed to it this year, on 12th & 13th September!
 
I imagine the park want to be open later hours during Oktoberfest but it's not that simple. I imagine that they are having lots of staffing issues, like everywhere else, they just don't know if they are going to have the staff to be able to do it until nearer the time.
 
I imagine the park want to be open later hours during Oktoberfest but it's not that simple. I imagine that they are having lots of staffing issues, like everywhere else, they just don't know if they are going to have the staff to be able to do it until nearer the time.
Yes I suspect that'll play a big factor in when they'll announce the times
Last year, Oktoberfest had 6pm closes during the week and 8pm closes at the weekend.

Speaking of Oktoberfest, I’m actually headed to it this year, on 12th & 13th September!
I'll be there on the 17th/18th - best of both worlds hopefully - a quiet(ish) weekday and a weekend day!
 
I'm going on Friday 17th September as well with 5 friends so I'm really hoping it is open later. I know it is an off peak day because schools are open again but I really want to get on everything at least once as I don't go that often and some of my friends haven't been since they were kids (we're in our 30s). Any idea when we will find out for sure?
 
I'm going on Friday 17th September as well with 5 friends so I'm really hoping it is open later. I know it is an off peak day because schools are open again but I really want to get on everything at least once as I don't go that often and some of my friends haven't been since they were kids (we're in our 30s). Any idea when we will find out for sure?
Probably towards the back end of this month.
 
Knowing the way Towers have operated for much of this season, it'll be within a few days of visiting we'll know, maybe even on the day. They like to take your money before telling you what you're buying these days.

6pm weekdays and 8pm weekends sounds very reasonable to me and you'd like to think that's what they'll do. But the opening hours lottery needs to end.
 
Knowing the way Towers have operated for much of this season, it'll be within a few days of visiting we'll know, maybe even on the day. They like to take your money before telling you what you're buying these days.

6pm weekdays and 8pm weekends sounds very reasonable to me and you'd like to think that's what they'll do. But the opening hours lottery needs to end.

Totally agree - I find it baffling a business of ATs size has the capacity to extend opening hours on the day! Would of assumed everything is all planned in advance with their hours calendar and budgets etc. Hopefully we'll see confirmed September hours soon
 
Totally agree - I find it baffling a business of ATs size has the capacity to extend opening hours on the day! Would of assumed everything is all planned in advance with their hours calendar and budgets etc. Hopefully we'll see confirmed September hours soon

On the day extensions seem to be a lot fewer now that the park is open to 6/7/8pm more regularly. With the park open to 7pm all month there is no need for extensions compared to when it was open to 5pm in the last few years.

I agree with the general talk that September hours should be confirmed really, but confirming 6pm closures 2-3 weeks out is still better than sticking at 4pm as they were doing 2-3 years ago. Hopefully next season they will move the default to at least 5pm instead of 4 and confirm the 6/7/8pm days much further out.
 
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