There hasn't been any audio or videos in either monorail station all season (on all my visits anyway), I think they must have new videos and audio, but it all mentions CBeebies Land. Either than or something is broke, which would be odd in both stations. I don't know why they dont just play the old audio even with videos turned off.
I have to say the one area of the park that is really letting Alton Towers down this season is the food and beverage (F&B) department.
Price
Firstly the prices at all outlets is getting far beyond a joke now, I mean £7.50 for a 3 piece meal in Fried Chicken (KFC its about £5)!
Closed!
Secondly the amount of outlets that seem to always be closed around park, not only does it look bad having a closed outlet, but also it surely must mean people spend less money. The following were closed yesterday (and on my other visits this season):
- Ben & Jerry's
- Refresh @ Ripsaw
- Waffles & Ices
- Wobble World Cafe
- Spinball Noodles (OK it may have been closed for a year or so now, but please take the signs down Alton Towers! For a normal guest it just looks like a closed outlet!)
- On top of that Towers family restaurant (and the two kiosks outside are closed till May),
Surely these outlets don't cost much to run, most of them have one or two staff, and the fridges/freezers will be running all the time anyway, I just don't see the logic with closing them. You would only need to sell a few Ben & Jerry's to cover the staff wages.
Deals
My final issue with F&B was yesterday, in corner coffee they now have a new deal on where you can buy a sandwich or panini, bag of crisps and hot or cold drink for a set price (around £6 I think). I then tried to get annual pass discount on it, but was told as it was already a deal I couldn't use annual pass, which is strange as last season I have had annual pass discount with similar deals. Yet you can get annual pass discount on the deals in Towers Trading (currently 2 drinks for £2.50).
So we went and asked at guest services and was told she would imagine we should get the discount, but we are best to ask at the box office. So we asked at the box office, the woman wasn't sure but thought we should do, but would ask someone else. The other person then said she didn't see why we shouldn't get the discount, but would ask a F&B manager. However she couldn't get hold of one so told us to come back later. We come back later and she still couldn't find out, but the staff in corner coffee told her they have been told not to give discount on deals.
We then went back at the end of the day and a different manager was there and told us that it will be in the annual pass terms and conditions, however it will be one of them things that chances are come back tomorrow and you will get the deal, and its just a bit of luck really.
So firstly why can't you get annual pass discount on a F&B offer yet you can in all the retail outlets? And why can you get discount on something like a burger meal or chicken meal, but not a sandwich meal? Surely they are both the same thing? And once again towers lack of communication mean we spoke to 4 different people and still never really got a proper answer to it, and no one manager from food and beverage could be found to answer it.
The worst thing is I bet I could go back tomorrow and get the discount, yet go back on Friday and you would probably be told no!