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2019: General Discussion

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Alsty said:
I remember a few years ago when everyone waited for the Merlin January sale, then they didn't do it and the prices went up instead... Merlin got absolutely slated. I'd like to think they wouldn't do that again but who knows...
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I think the plan for January is to have it renewal sale only.

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Predictions for opening times? I'd say:
Weekdays 10-4
Weekends 10-5
Holidays 10-6
And ERT to go back to 9
 
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Weekday off peak: closed.
Weekdays peak (not holidays): 10-4
Weekdays during school hols: 10-5
Fri, Sat during August: 10-6

ERT scrapped.
 
ERT will be returning, they have been advertising early theme park access as part of 2019 hotel packages and on the website it says stay tuned for 2019 ERT lineup.
 
MakoMania said:
ERT will be returning, they have been advertising early theme park access as part of 2019 hotel packages and on the website it says stay tuned for 2019 ERT lineup.
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Whilst I do also think ert will be returning, this is merlin we are talking about.

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Would the time it takes for tech services to do the extra checks on wickerman be the reason why they changed ERT last year ? They struggled to get all the rides up and running on time earlier in the season. They seemed to be down on manpower as they were advertising for engineers in spring. They also had a position open for a dedicated wooden coaster engineer a couple of months ago. Maybe with these positions filled ERT could return to the same time as in previous years.

I think ERT will still be for hotel guests only though.
 
ERT is listed for hotel & Merlin Annual Passholders for the 2019 season.

https://www.altontowers.com/theme-park/extras/early-ride-time/

Early Ride Time
If you are a hotel guest or Merlin Annual Passholder you are entitled to Early Ride Time. Selected rides and attractions will be open from 9:30am. The 2019 Early Ride Time line-up will be announced in 2019.

ERT does not take place after 4th October 2019 due to our Scarefest & Fireworks events.
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If you could trust the money saved would go into improving the overall opening hours I would have no problem with ERT going completely. It’s a perk for a minority and a lot of hotel guests don’t bother with it as they want a sleep in and breakfast.

I just don’t trust that the money saved will do anything other than increase profit margins.
 
Austin Towers said:
They struggled to get all the rides up and running on time earlier in the season. They seemed to be down on manpower
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This has always been the case for the past few seasons during the first few weeks, hence why I don't do first day of the season. Last season was the worse I've seen for this.

Dave said:
I would have no problem with ERT going completely.
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Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! :eek:

Don't take away my quiet time of riding just because people can't be bothered to get up out of bed and into to the park early :rolleyes:
 
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Dave said:
It’s a perk for a minority and a lot of hotel guests don’t bother with it as they want a sleep in and breakfast.
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Although with a checkout of 10 there's not much scope for a lay in. I saw some TripAdvisor reviews that housekeeping were knocking on their door by 9 to see if they were "nearly ready". It really is ridiculous when budget hotels give you a midday checkout as standard.
 
May aswell just have wicker man open for ERT cus that's the only ride people went to last season. Either that or they got into queue for smiler early so they don't have to queue long
 
With only 30 minutes ert the only coasters worth opening are wicker man and spinball as the others are too far away.

Always got a ride on the wicker man during ert last year and then headed towards another area away from the crowds.

The 10am check out times are pretty ridiculous for a hotel.
 
Alsty said:
Although with a checkout of 10 there's not much scope for a lay in. I saw some TripAdvisor reviews that housekeeping were knocking on their door by 9 to see if they were "nearly ready". It really is ridiculous when budget hotels give you a midday checkout as standard.
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This is a real gripe of mine 10am is ridiculous! Our last stay we had breakfast booked for 9 but the queue was pretty much back to the lifts. Went to tell reception we’d be late checking out due to the queue for breakfast being so long and were generously given a 15 minute extension and told we’d be charged the late check out fee if any later. Seems to really depend on who you speak to for quality of service
 
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