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2015: Alton Towers Enchanted Village

Proof that these were a bad choice of accommodation for the resort. Over the next couple of years they'll discover the cost of maintaining an empty area and buildings over winter months will prove more hassle than it was worth. They'll become a money drain on the balance sheet with not generating any income.
 
PeteB said:
Proof that these were a bad choice of accommodation for the resort. Over the next couple of years they'll discover the cost of maintaining an empty area and buildings over winter months will prove more hassle than it was worth. They'll become a money drain on the balance sheet with not generating any income.
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I don't think they needed more accommodation over the winter anyway. Even if they built a traditional hotel with indoor corridors it almost certainly would be empty during the winter (especially Jan/Feb). Hopefully they were smart enough to insulate all plumbing etc from frost.
 
Funny you say that @James because thats exactly what I was thinking, but, they kinda messed that up with the Crooked Spoon. If they had themed Enchanted Village around an actual old village, with a themed village shop, cozy pub, restaurant and entertainment then it would have worked really well. They could have santa coming through the middle of the village on a sledge with reindeer and the kids coming out of the lodges to see him. They really missed a trick with this one.
 
Yeah that's kind of the problem. There's none of those facilities on offer.

This is why when/if a phase two of the village happens they need more in the village, an entertainments building with a large show area, a bar and arcades, and a small adults only pub/bar for those who want a quiet drink. If those facilities were in place then it can be used to attract guests for winter/Christmas stays in the village.
 
phildenholm said:
They still will just no one will be staying in them, that might make them better as no one will trample the snow
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I must then ask.. Who will benefit from the freshly fallen slow and idyllic view? The unlikely few who decide to book a Treehouse? The staff who wander the grounds on a whim?

Snow or no snow, I find it a little odd that accommodation would be built that is not available (or even useful) for four months of the year. I realise that anything inside the park suffers the same fate, but the Resort *should* be available year-round.

I'm also disappointed to find that from when the plans first came around, I've gone from expecting budget accommodation to seeing overinflated charges for a stay.

I haven't even been to see the development during my visits this year, despite being enthusiastic about the plans.
 
Sazzle said:
Snow or no snow, I find it a little odd that accommodation would be built that is not available (or even useful) for four months of the year. I realise that anything inside the park suffers the same fate, but the Resort *should* be available year-round.
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You answered your own question, the theme park is closed over the winter, so they don't need as much accommodation. I think the lodges were planned this way at Alton Towers know their occupancy rates and know what they need at different times of the year.
I'm pretty sure even Disney stop booking some rooms at certain times of the year, for example in January they might decide not to use one whole building of a hotel as they know they aren't as busy. By not spreading the guests out at much it makes it easier for the cleaners.
 
There is a practice in during low use time, to shut down areas of buildings for preventive maintenance. To save unnecessary down time during the fully use times. I dont know if this practice is used in parks like disney or merlins
 
jon81uk said:
You answered your own question, the theme park is closed over the winter, so they don't need as much accommodation. I think the lodges were planned this way at Alton Towers know their occupancy rates and know what they need at different times of the year.
I'm pretty sure even Disney stop booking some rooms at certain times of the year, for example in January they might decide not to use one whole building of a hotel as they know they aren't as busy. By not spreading the guests out at much it makes it easier for the cleaners.
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Can I get a Amen?
 
jon81uk said:
You answered your own question, the theme park is closed over the winter, so they don't need as much accommodation. I think the lodges were planned this way at Alton Towers know their occupancy rates and know what they need at different times of the year.
I'm pretty sure even Disney stop booking some rooms at certain times of the year, for example in January they might decide not to use one whole building of a hotel as they know they aren't as busy. By not spreading the guests out at much it makes it easier for the cleaners.
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phildenholm said:
Can I get a Amen?
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Lol alright lads, no need to be "liking", high-fiving and back-slapping like you've got one over on me :tearsofjoy:. Dear dear.

I'm sure the park do know their occupancy rates, they'd be pretty stupid if they didn't right? That doesn't mean that Disney, for example, shut down an entire hotel without just reason such as a grand scale refurbishment. There's this really cool thing called customer choice; offering guests the option of different accommodation because it's there. Disney hotels may well have large sections closed off to guests in order to facilitate lower guest numbers and therefore 'make it easier for the cleaners', but they damn well try their best to give choice. Refurbish Newport Bay? Great - close a couple of floors. Refurbish Sequoia Lodge? Excellent - close a few of the lodges. Low occupancy in Splash Landings? No problem - only use a few floors.

Build an entire 'village' complex of 'enchanted lodges' and have the whole thing close for 4 months? Erm. That's an investment with NO return for that period inclusive! I see the lodges are built in estate-type clusters... open one and strongly encourage the use of hotel facilities if you're really stuck for funds/staff to manage to Crooked Spoon?

As a second only to Disney company, I personally don't like that the new accommodation isn't available throughout the closed season. Unless you sell a kidney for a Treehouse...

Amen to that? :)
 
Given the Christmas hotel stays have been fully booked previous years and demand is generally high for the Christmas events. Wouldn't it make more sense to take full advantage of a lodge site and draw in more guests.

I'm not too bothered about then closing it for part of the closed season. Although closed for the entire winter season? Just plain silly. I think they'd at least get a decent return when the winter special events run.
 
Looks flammable buildings closed fire, insurance claim equals money money money
 
To be fair the whole park is closed for 4 months, is that not an investment for no return? It's hardly the end of the world given today's news.
 
phildenholm said:
To be fair the whole park is closed for 4 months, is that not an investment for no return? It's hardly the end of the world given today's news.
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But that's set by the park for legitimate reason - maintenance and weather. These 'enchanted lodges' have roofs and are flat pack, so what maintenance do they require? They clearly require heating, though I'm not so sure anything substantial has been installed due to this apparent planned closed season shut down.

Damn, I got no Amen :(
 
Unless the theme park is open all year, AT doesn't need that much accommodation in the Winter. Disney has parks open all year so can offer that choice of accommodation.
I understand what you are saying about offering a choice, but it's not as simple as just opening up 10 lodge rooms and keeping a floor of rooms closed in Splash Landings. If the lodge rooms are open they need several staff on that reception, bar staff, waiters and chefs and a Crooked Spoon and more. Closing the lodges and keeping all rooms at SL and ATH open makes a lot more sense.
 
Both splash and ath are both fully booked on Saturday the 19th of December pretty much a month beforehand they should open the village for these big weekends
 
Yeah that's the point I've been trying to get at. The hotels for Christmas weekends have been selling out every year for a while. With the lodges as additional accommodation there I find it bizarre they're not taking advantage of this custom. The Christmas weekends are very popular with families and the Enchanted Village fits a Christmas theme perfectly. Opportunity to expand the event and make more cash yet they don't bother.
 
The other issue with making a Christmas event bigger is getting it to scale up ok and still have a good event. Chessington had big issues a few Christmases ago when there was a two hour queue to see Santa. I think that is the main reason it is sold out, just to limit numbers. However if they can get Christmas to sell out and run well again this year, maybe they will expand next year.
 
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