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2016: General Discussion

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I do take the anti-social guest point.

But er, throwing stuff over a fence isn't that much harder if you increase it by a couple of feet.

"hey, quick, throw a quid at the boat Tarquin - damn paupers without fast track super VIP passes could use it".

"HAHAHA, OK!"....

"Oh no, I can't, the fence is two foot higher, damn - FOILED!"
 
Do they still sell ride photo's on the Rapids? Maybe too many people were getting their own free DIY family photo's from that bridge. No, I'm just too cynical. More likely health and safety gone way too far as usual at Towers.
 
They do actually have a myth-busting panel for precisely the reason of people citing and blaming 'health and safety' as an easy option or justification for unpopular decisions.
 
bluesonichd said:
It's been fine and dandy for the past 20 years ! H&S gone mad ! :mad:
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H&S needs to change to keep up with the stupid idiotic things guests do in this day in age.

In the 1930s/40s rollercoasters didn't have any restraints at all because people knew they had to hold on for dear life so they could make it round in one piece, nowadays people need to be tied to the seat with a straight jacket to stop them standing up on the rides to look "cool" in front of their mates.

All these changes come in because of the change in what the public are like, compounded by the fact that everyone seems to be a miniature news reporter through the use of Twitter/Facebook.

So 20 years ago no one would know about someone climbing into a ride area because there wasn't any way to immediately share what was happening live online to the world, whereas now if something happens at the park everyone in the vicinity posts it online, and the Mirror will have released an article within 5 minutes saying the park is a death trap!

As a result the park management is forced into making these stupid changes all for damage limitation, as they can't afford anymore bad press.

It's a real shame as the acts of a few people have ruined the park aesthetic for the rest of us. :(
 
No one has pointed out the fact that this photo should not exist as the pathway was blocked off due to a barrier so all we can do is hope that it is not finished, I can imagine them putting in windows to still allow you to view the ride off ride :)
 
What is that thing? Has merlin been hiring mirror reporters as their h&s? What happened to the rule of being a visual experience for the spectators as well as the rider?

Congratulations on towers loving care, towers. (If this is the finished product) you have succeeded in making the park look (even more) run down.
 
complete change of subject, but maybe AT marketing could take a leaf out of BPB's book. They had a WOW weekend offer for £15 online booking this weekend , and guess what........ It was ABSOLUTELY PACKED!!! great day out and the kids loved it (thought it was better than seeing pirates and princesses) what a shame they didn't think of doing a similar offer even it was £20, they really are going to have to up their game!!! They want us to book a break but cant tell us what rides are on offer??? Either management haven't decided or they are just too scared to be honest and just tell us. Which one do you reckon???
 
complete change of subject, but maybe AT marketing could take a leaf out of BPB's book. They had a WOW weekend offer for £15 online booking this weekend , and guess what........ It was ABSOLUTELY PACKED!!! great day out and the kids loved it (thought it was better than seeing pirates and princesses) what a shame they didn't think of doing a similar offer even it was £20, they really are going to have to up their game!!! They want us to book a break but cant tell us what rides are on offer??? Either management haven't decided or they are just too scared to be honest and just tell us. Which one do you reckon???
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To be honest I think they are holding back until after Feb Half Term is done and dusted. Once FHT is out the way we usually see the Theme Park map, opening times & stuff like that get revealed, and so I imagine the ride offerings would be released shortly after this to avoid any blow to FHT or the Annual Pass sale.

For example, if someone intended to buy a MAP in the sale, then Towers released that a proportion of their rides would be closed throughout 2016, this may put some people off buying a MAP all-together. It does make sense from a business prospective, but if I was honest whats more important is securing those for opening day/March & April than worrying about the amount of MAPs sold. It'd of been a better strategy to release ride closures earlier, market the hell out of TLC & what NEW stuff is coming to the park/updates already done to the park for the new season, and show off a few of the rides open on Facebook/Twitter a bit, and people will soon forget about the closed rides until they arrive on the day.

Marketing have a hard game to play to win back guests after the crash last year, they should be taking every opportunity possible to promote the park in a good way but also to win people around, something I feel they haven't really done this closed season at all.
 
I've seen a post in another forum recently which says Monday is the best day to release Negative PR material. Guess what, the Sale is over tomorrow and it's a monday...
 
GaryH said:
Course it isnt...... there's scaffolding to go on it yet!
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and don't forget the big ass banner advertising they're are doing fantabulous TLC all over the park,
are maybe advertising the Merlin Annual Pass is fantabulous value, go buy yours at the box office today
 
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KingNemesis said:
No one has pointed out the fact that this photo should not exist as the pathway was blocked off due to a barrier so all we can do is hope that it is not finished, I can imagine them putting in windows to still allow you to view the ride off ride :)
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I take it you didn't see the exact same fence put up last season on the Rapids bridge on the pathways from Katanga to Gloomy Wood? The idea that they might put in windows is almost laughable and it woudn't even be much of an improvement. Fences like this just destroy sighlines across the park, they go against everything a theme park stands for.

The only thing that is likely to change between now and March 19th is that they may put a couple of huge bright banners on the fences advertising Tree Tops or something.
Josh said:
H&S needs to change to keep up with the stupid idiotic things guests do in this day in age.

In the 1930s/40s rollercoasters didn't have any restraints at all because people knew they had to hold on for dear life so they could make it round in one piece, nowadays people need to be tied to the seat with a straight jacket to stop them standing up on the rides to look "cool" in front of their mates.

All these changes come in because of the change in what the public are like, compounded by the fact that everyone seems to be a miniature news reporter through the use of Twitter/Facebook.

So 20 years ago no one would know about someone climbing into a ride area because there wasn't any way to immediately share what was happening live online to the world, whereas now if something happens at the park everyone in the vicinity posts it online, and the Mirror will have released an article within 5 minutes saying the park is a death trap!

As a result the park management is forced into making these stupid changes all for damage limitation, as they can't afford anymore bad press.

It's a real shame as the acts of a few people have ruined the park aesthetic for the rest of us. :(
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I take your point and agree that H&S has to change to keep up with the times. And often in life the actions of the inconsiderate minority do ruin it for the majority. But if the reason for this stupid fencing is because people were throwing things into the rapids then is this really the best solution? For starters you could easily throw something over the fence. Secondly there are many other points on the walk up from Mutiny Bay where you can throw things into the Rapids. Is a huge fence going to be erected all of the way up?

If it is the reason there then there are other solutions. Put up a CCTV camera and if something happens identify the offenders and take the necessary action. Fencing off areas whereby people can throw things into a ride area is entering very dangerous territory for Towers. Almost every ride in the park has areas where you can stand and throw objects if you wish. If they were to put up tall solid fences in all of these locations then they might as well just close down the park.

I find it hard to believe that the real reason is objects being thrown in. We know how cautious Merlin have become with all of their bridges after recieving a massive fine for the Warwick Castle incident and I see this a part of a continued response to that.

My final thoughts - if you decide that the only option is a massive ugly fence then please at the very least give it some theming details. Just some tribal artwork/marking being painted on would make a huge difference. This could still happen but it won't.

:)
 
If it is in response to throwing objects, netting would of been just as practical, if not, more. Rather than a fence which can ruin the actual point that the bridge was erected for, so people can stand on it and watch riders on The Rapids as a part of guest & rider interaction. (Obviously to walk over it too).
 
To be honest, the reason its probably there is to stop people spitting at people on the ride from the bridge. Foul thing to do, but chav's seem to find it funny. I've seen it myself, and i've also seen it done to people on the rapids as they go under the footbridge.
 
I guess a themed fence that you can still see through was out of the question?
 
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