2019: Peter Rabbit Hippity Hop - Junior Drop Towers for CBeebies Land

[John]

The staffing budget issue of Sub Terra could be partially addressed if they removed the pointless baggage room and replaced it with double sided cages in the batching area (Mack ones if they're feeling fancy, Kobra ones otherwise). It wouldn't affect capacity, though the popularity was so low by the time it closed it would hardly matter if it did.

Then once you totally give up on the half-hearted scare maze finale and leave that unstaffed you're down to 1 op, 2 hosts and a batcher/pre-show op* which puts the staffing levels on par with Hex, albeit for a lower capacity and generally less popular attraction. They could probably make that many staff available just by ditching VR from Galactica.

There were other issues with the ride that would need solving before it can come back though, not least the hopelessly poor restraints which by the end prevented anyone who weighed more than a mouse from fitting on the ride.

As for Blade, I'm now slightly more optimistic for a replacement in the near-ish future, hopefully it lives long enough for there to be a seamless transition.


*unless I'm missing anyone, which I may be

 

[Themeparksandy1981]

Merlin are spending money on the Dungeon from the midway branding pot o cash - so its cost the towers budget nothing.

Blade removal should be happening, however Towers budget is so poor for 2019 they can't afford to remove it and fill the hole in. Honestly. It will remain into its 36th year.

So if towers cant afford to remove a ride older than most guests, what chances do they have on a new ride? Or even restoring Sub Terra which was binned due to its high staffing cost?

I wait with EAGER ANTICIPATION of what 2019 brings.

The Blade is 39 years old next year. It’s shocking that a the thrill ride is older than me but all the thrill rides added to the park after my 1st visit in 1993 have all been removed.

 

[speedy]

I was going to suggest lockers instead of the bag drops, but after forgetting my locker at Universal Studios and spending half an hour with an angry employee trying to find my stuff, no. Cages are fine!

 

[Alsty]

If I was on the management team, for 2019 I wouldn't install any new rides. I'd install a show venue and have two or three decent shows each day. The park really needs something other than rides.

I'd say the park needs an indoor or undercover show venue and a good quality show that the whole family can enjoy. Not a corny 10 minute pirate show but something decent and suitable for all weathers and all ages.

 

[Skyscraper]

I'd say the park needs an indoor or undercover show venue and a good quality show that the whole family can enjoy. Not a corny 10 minute pirate show but something decent and suitable for all weathers and all ages.

They do have one in Cebeebies Land, but yes, the main park could do with one too.

 

[Log Flume's Dennis]

there's talk of a new vending machine in Dark Forest

 

[michaelanthony1252]

there's talk of a new vending machine in Dark Forest

I would legitimately take a single lonely vending machine over the absolute train wreck that is the shops there

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[Stuntman707]

Any speculation as to what vending machine it will be? Maybe a Pringles hoover? What snacks are lacking in that area? Would be nice to have more of a variety of savoury snacks at Merlin parks.

 

[MattyH]

I'd like to see vending machinces upgraded to scan merlin passes and take contactless.

 

[Skyscraper]

I'd like to see vending machinces upgraded to scan merlin passes and take contactless.

Completely agree, and It would be great if they could take notes too.

 

[Brad97]

New suspended top spin to replace Ripsaw is what I would build, of course that won't happen. Also I'll echo what @Alsty said, a proper show venue is really needed for the main park. It seemed to be pretty popular at Scarefest.

 

[yoursilentface]

I'd like to see vending machinces upgraded to scan merlin passes and take contactless.

They can't get the turnstiles to scan Merlin passes so fat chance of that happening!

 

[jon81uk]

Completely agree, and It would be great if they could take notes too.

They won't want to have machines that take notes as then they need to reload with change. Easier for them to just get the ones that take contactless, they already exist as Coke have been installing them for the last five years.

Adding MAP discount won't happen as the machines are made by Coke (well the drink ones are) and therefore adding a 3rd-party barcode scanner, a network connection to check the barcode is valid and not expired and so on is really not going to happen.

This is one of the reasons that at one point they added a lot more staffed queue line shops, people are more likely to buy from a human and they can offer all the discounts etc. But then after the incident, AT cut staffing levels and replaced the shops with vending machines again.

 

[Stuntman707]

On the subject of turnstiles, is it Skidata they use like the really reliable ones you get at various Ski resorts and car parks? Has to be down to badly printed barcodes. Of course NFC solutions like Magic Bands are way more reliable.
There is a digital ticket solution they use for events but most the season, they make everyone still queue up in a massive line for paper tickets. But I guess when you're second to Disney, you don't have the budget for a fully contactless theme park system.

 

[Skyscraper]

On the subject of turnstiles, is it Skidata they use like the really reliable ones you get at various Ski resorts and car parks? Has to be down to badly printed barcodes. Of course NFC solutions like Magic Bands are way more reliable.
There is a digital ticket solution they use for events but most the season, they make everyone still queue up in a massive line for paper tickets. But I guess when you're second to Disney, you don't have the budget for a fully contactless theme park system.

Looking at Skidata's website, I think they are the ones that Towers have.

 

[evilcod]

I believe the turnstiles can and have previously scanned them directly but they are now blocked due to abuse of the system so a staff member can check the photo.

 

[yoursilentface]

I believe the turnstiles can and have previously scanned them directly but they are now blocked due to abuse of the system so a staff member can check the photo.

Last year our passes wouldn't scan at any Merlin theme park or Warwick castle but would at all Midway's

This year they will scan at theme parks but won't at Midway's

 

[djtruefitt]

I believe the turnstiles can and have previously scanned them directly but they are now blocked due to abuse of the system so a staff member can check the photo.

At some point last season they did allow passes to be scanned on the gates, however later in the season this stopped again.

However all the turnstyles on the right hand side do scan passes, as they are mainly only used for ERT.


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[Stuntman707]

I have a theory that Alton Towers is adopting the same tactics as popular video games. Sell the full entry ticket, then add on the season pass. Already got the stores and fastracks to skip the grinding. HB Leisure's your gambling. Now add in the premium attraction content behind the ticket gates you have to pay extra for and probably sell fastrack for that too. Anyone can slap a ham wafer on a burger and call it deluxe nowadays.

 

[Robert.W]

But the player repeatedly keeps losing the game, and after a while gets bored and stops playing it. Yeah, that strategy is definitely going to work.