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2020: General Discussion

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How have the rides that exit into shops been managed? I've seen that the Galactica shop has been cleared out, is that the same case for other shops across the park?

Looks like it was a bit of a shambles today but it's to be expected given 1) Opening day. 2) Lots of new practices in place that will take time to get used to/iron out. 3) It's Alton Towers... Personally I'm going to give Towers a miss for this season at least. Not sure if I could enjoy myself with the amount of changes, restrictions and reduction in rides/attractions on offer. Not particularly worth the 3-4 hour journey.
 
James said:
How have the rides that exit into shops been managed? I've seen that the Galactica shop has been cleared out, is that the same case for other shops across the park?
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No, Smiler & Wicker Man shops are unchanged, but have social distance floor markings.
 
They’ll cite the difference with rows being empty or not being that rides like Nemesis and Icon have a physical barrier (I.e larger, higher-backed seats) than Wickerman and Thirteen.

I still think it’s all stupid anyway as if someone in front of you sneezes or coughs then it’s going to come near you regardless of if you leave a row empty or not
 
Andrew said:
They’ll cite the difference with rows being empty or not being that rides like Nemesis and Icon have a physical barrier (I.e larger, higher-backed seats) than Wickerman and Thirteen.

I still think it’s all stupid anyway as if someone in front of you sneezes or coughs then it’s going to come near you regardless of if you leave a row empty or not
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Even if they argued that, that doesn't leave an excuse for Rita being closed.
 
rob666 said:
Could we please have a ride queue specific topic so I can ignore all unneccesary posts.
How is the queue for the toilets?
Do we have hot water?
Are Eastern Express doing chips?
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No queue for toilets.
Hot water - Yes.
Eastern Express doing chips - Yes.

Overall, today wasn't the best of starts. Whilst everything on a Covid basis was well covered, ride availability was poor.

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An entire area of the park closed off.

RCR the only restaurant open. Welcom Inn closed, Eastern Express shrinking sizes of food items but increasing prices at the same time. Many kiosks closed.

Hotel guests are permitted to enter the park via the Galactica gate. Hopefully, this becomes a permanent feature and is potentially rolled out to MAP holders in the future.

Issues galore with ride downtime it seems. The Smiler being a culprit and even Nemesis had a spot or two.

Plenty of hand sanatisers around the park which was good to see, although the sensor operated ones not always functioning as they should.

Also, a total lack of effort gone into the 40th-anniversary cake. They've just repainted it totally white and it looks bland.

They need to focus on getting ride reliability and availability at opening up to scratch, as well as the F&B offerings up to standard as well.
 
Got a question to anyone who went today.

What's the policy on single riders? I'm in Leicester and, because of our lockdown, i can't visit Towers anytime soon. But will pop over there midweek sometime, and it's usually on my own.

I know they're letting groups sit together, but what are the policies with Single Riders?
 
Also ppl that have been on spinball have been advised not to go to Leicester.
Although fastpass is a available


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Is alton towers offering a free day return for people who have paid full price for tickets in advance but turn up with rubbish rainy/windy weather so can't go on what is open? I would imagine smiler and spinball will be closed too in this weather so even less to go on!
 
Reading through this topic ( I've woke up due to the wind and can't get back to sleep ) I must say it doesn't take a rocket scientist to identify the main issue being that after you cut so many attractions after the 2016 cuts and then have to 'suspend ' some due to safety issues due to Covid, you are going to be left with very little to do! Unfortunately it is what it is! After operating a buisness though this covid 19 pandemic some guys are a bit naive to think duel, hex or battle galleons would be open. I have said for weeks they wouldn't. I just don't understand the vast number of the general public that still just don't get the issues of this time after over 100 days! We have to socially distance as much as possible aiming for 2 m and people have said already that some didn't in the queuelines. Also lots of things won't have the same level of choice! McDonald's have reduced menu, not as much choice in most shops it's no different in a theme park! It is the new norm unfortunately and you have 2 choices. 1) go somewhere (AT) in this case and deal with it or 2) Just don't go and save some money!
 
themeparkfan said:
Reading through this topic ( I've woke up due to the wind and can't get back to sleep ) I must say it doesn't take a rocket scientist to identify the main issue being that after you cut so many attractions after the 2016 cuts and then have to 'suspend ' some due to safety issues due to Covid, you are going to be left with very little to do! Unfortunately it is what it is! After operating a buisness though this covid 19 pandemic some guys are a bit naive to think duel, hex or battle galleons would be open. I have said for weeks they wouldn't. I just don't understand the vast number of the general public that still just don't get the issues of this time after over 100 days! We have to socially distance as much as possible aiming for 2 m and people have said already that some didn't in the queuelines. Also lots of things won't have the same level of choice! McDonald's have reduced menu, not as much choice in most shops it's no different in a theme park! It is the new norm unfortunately and you have 2 choices. 1) go somewhere (AT) in this case and deal with it or 2) Just don't go and save some money!
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You only have to walk into a shopping area of any town, and you can see the lack of any sense whatsoever regarding Covid-19. I genuinely think some people have either a) had their brains scooped out or b) have managed to somehow re-tune their brains to January 17th, when all was well in the world. (Judging by the number of people I'm seeing wearing winter coats when the weather was perfectly pleasant recently, I'm thinking it could be the latter).

I obviously haven't been to AT today, but judging by all the other rules and guidelines for various establishments and also keeping up to date with what AT have been putting out there, if people go expecting AT to be normal..... then that is completely their fault. Wah, wah, wah. It's never going to be the day out you wanted it to be, it's not going to be the day out you normally experience. Get over it. (Although I agree, it would be good if they were honest and say that rides are definitely going to be closed if they know full well before people book that they will be).

The only thing I would say about this is, due to the fact this weekends guests especially are guinea pigs, I think advertising AT at a much lower cost for 2 days only, with the idea that when you leave we request that you fill in a detailed form regarding your day, would maybe have solved a few problems. One, lowering guests expectations and maybe therefore exceeding them, and two, hopefully get constructive feedback rather than straight out complaints.
 
Tbh, first day of opening after 3/4 months of changes to lifestyle of living and businesses having to adapt I ask the question what the hell were you expecting?

The misinformation ride lineup, they’ve done many times but you seem to forget it’s the first day they’ve had a “live” run of these new changes that we or any business has had to adapt to.

You would of been a fool to think you’d be walking through a queue to a walk on Nemesis.

I went to the pub, it was a shambles and that was to just get a drink, again it was their first day their procedures went live.

Forget your damn coaster creds and stay away for a few weeks till hopefully/IF they fine tune procedures better. Even before ALL of this started on a good day - with how Towers is run, you’d be lucky to get on a handful of rides, now....Fool you paying that admission price.

I went on WM opening, never been again and that was before Covid implemented procedures.
 
Interesting that they opened the old section of Nemmy's queue (top part that goes past the turnaround after the lift). Also had social distancing arrows as well.
 
i don't think anyone was expecting a full line up. But prices should reflect this and customers should be made aware of the closed attractions before committing to a visit.

There is no mention of any ride closures on the home page and even if you dive into the Covid section they mention some indoor attractions may be closed.
 
smiler is currently down for high winds, absolutely nothing wrong with that at all but just curious as it doesn’t seem windy at all, what’s the wind speed limitation now?
 
MakoMania said:
smiler is currently down for high winds, absolutely nothing wrong with that at all but just curious as it doesn’t seem windy at all, what’s the wind speed limitation now?
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Well before the incident it was 34mph. Now I'm not sure, but it certainly will be lower than that
 
I am really, really annoyed with Merlin. Yep - I know they screw MAP pass holders over on a regular basis. Due to work, I struggle to book a visit more than a couple of weeks in advance - an I get that they are operating on limited capacity - so if they are full, they are full. I am so angry that they are selling out passholder slots so quickly, but day pass slots are continually available.

Merlin just don't get that we have paid - just in advance. So it looks like I have a MAP for the rest of the season that I will be unable to use :mad::mad::mad::mad:

I have messaged them to ask how may passholder slots there are - I know I won't get a response. I also suggest that if there are day ticket slots still available the evening before - why not turn half into passholder slots? Seems sensible to me.

It is amazing that Blackpool Pleasure Beach seem to be doing so much not to rip passholders off - but Merlin just want blood from a stone!

Rant over!
 
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