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2017: General Discussion

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PeteB said:
At the rate Towers are going, they're probably too scared to operate anything in the dark.

Heck, they're too scared to operate anything in daylight these days.

My vision of the future will be Towers turning in to a huge outdoor museum, where you can just walk around and look at these big old machines people used to ride and play on. They'll all have massive fences around them, with little windows you can peep through.
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Some of this already happens lol
 
Good post @Rob

I wonder if there is scope to redesign them. They're certainly some of the most spectacular in terms of the volume of water but also in that they drop further into the trough than others, that tend to drop 'down' rather than 'down and in'.
 
The thing is, people stand up at the waterfalls, yes, but there's nothing to hit there so how would anyone fall out? Even where he guns are I don't think there are any rocks, just meandering. I guess you could still hit the side and it knock you off your feet but the waterfalls bit is straight as a die. The actual waterfalls keep you well away from the edges too. Basically, I can understand the guns being removed, but the waterfalls is utterly pointless and a huge overreaction.
 
Yeah, the waterfalls thing probably would be ridiculous in the long term. I'm guessing that this is just a temporary measure to show in no uncertain terms that Alton/Merlin are 'playing the game' whilst the HSE investigate. Can't see it lasting too long. Nothing to worry about here.
 
smudge said:
Basically, I can understand the guns being removed, but the waterfalls is utterly pointless and a huge overreaction.
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Would you bet the future health and prosperity of your business and leave them on, whilst the health and prosperity of your business is recovering from another safety problem?

The irony with the water guns is that people will pay £1 to use them but seemingly won't go on battle galleons for free. I guess we prefer it when the game is one-sided.

I would suggest part of the reason for switching the waterfalls off is that if somebody does end up in the water it makes it incredibly difficult to see them throughout that stretch.
 
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Had another one of the parks desperate marketing emails in the last few days... still touting over 50 rides and attractions... which got me thinking.. is there anymore!?

Just been through their website and i counted 38 rides/attractions and that's including everything in cbeebies and even the towers, gardens and skyride as items too...

Anybody else get a different number?
 
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I too count around 38, but on there park map, everything is numbered 1 to 76 if you include F&B, shops and information kiosk's etc.. :rolleyes:

Also you have the games stalls and pay other for attractions etc...:rolleyes:
 
Does the smiler have a new train? They were running an empty one all day and it looked new, didn't get to catch the number of it though.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
 
rockstar223 said:
Does the smiler have a new train? They were running an empty one all day and it looked new, didn't get to catch the number of it
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They replaced the two with one other (we can have the debate as to whether it's completely new again...)

Three and an empty or two and an empty?
 
TomW said:
I think chances are with the Rapids, we will see the waterfalls off for the remainder of this season and then some more substantial changes made over the close season (seatbelts, netting over the openings), and have the waterfalls back on for next year.
Unless this is wishful thinking and Merlin just decide to completely remove the most iconic feature of one of their major family rides....
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I don't think we will get seatbelts as if the boat capsizes a belt slows down a quick escape and means you could get trapped under the boat and drown.
The rapids in the USA that have belts have tall seat backs that are higher than head height meaning you can't get trapped as easily and a full capsize is less likely, also the seatbelt rides generally have log flume style drops that would be very unsafe if stood.

Long-term all that can be done is to educate people about not standing. belt and exit netting cause too many other issues for both safety and exit/loading speed and capacity.
 
Rick said:
Would you bet the future health and prosperity of your business and leave them on, whilst the health and prosperity of your business is recovering from another safety problem?
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Yes; there is no risk - there is nothing the boats can hit.

I'm sure they will come back on soon, for that very reason.
 
PeteB said:
No, there really was that many.
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You make it up as you go along... let's talk rides first and move on to attractions. I've updated a piece of work I did many years ago - so excuse some of the lazy renames. But here's an overview of the line up in 1997 and 20 years later in the present day.

I'm doing it on the train, so excuse any errors, but I think it's about right - there are more rides now than there was then, no?

1997
Removed/closed ahead of the season start - Rowing Boats, Park Railway, Splash Cats, Thunder Looper
New rides for 1997 - Nickelodeon: Outta Control, Ripsaw

Total Ride Count - 35 (in age order)

Corkscrew
Pirate Ship / Blade
Baby Flug
Log Flume
Mini Apple
Cine 360 / 3D Cinema
Vintage Cars
Dragon Coaster / Beastie
The Black Hole
Enterprise
Wave Swinger
Crown Carousel
Kiddie Kingdom Play Equipment
Grand Canyon / Congo River Rapids
Swan Boat Ride
Tea Cup Ride / Marauder's Mayhem
Monorail
The Skyride
Alton Beast
The Animal Barn
Canal Boat Ride / Night Garden
The Gallopers
The Haunted House / Duel
Runaway Mine Train
Astrodancer / Dynamo
Children's World / Cred Street Playground
Toyland Tours
Nemesis
Energizer / Bone Shaker
Old MacDonald's Singing Barn
Old MacDonald's Tractor Ride
Doodle Doo Derby / Numtums
Squirrel Nutty Ride
Nickelodeon: Outta Control
Ripsaw

2017
Removed/closed ahead of the season start - Twirling Toadstool, Ice Age 4d
New rides for 2017 - Go Jetters Vroomster Zoom Ride, The Furchester Hotel Live

Total Ride Count - 37 (in age order)

Pirate Ship / Blade
Enterprise
Grand Canyon / Congo River Rapids
Tea Cup Ride / Marauder's Mayhem
Monorail
The Skyride
Canal Boat Ride / Night Garden
The Gallopers
The Haunted House / Duel
Runaway Mine Train
Nemesis
Doodle Doo Derby / Numtums
Squirrel Nutty Ride / Whatever it's called now
Oblivion
Frog Hopper
Hex: The Legend of the Towers
Air
Berry Bish Bash / Justin's thingy
Spinball Whizzer
Rita
Driving School
Training Camp
The Haunted Hollow
Battle Galleons
Heave Ho
Sharkbait Reef
Thirteen
The Smiler
Big Fun Showtime
Charlie and Lola's Moonsquirters & Greendrops
Mr Bloom's Allotment
Nina's Science Lab
Postman Pat's Parcel Post
Something Special Sensory Garden
Octonauts Rollercoaster Adventure
Go Jetters Vroomster Zoom Ride
The Furchester Hotel Live

+ Treetop Quest & Adventure Golf (not counted)
 
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