Think we'd struggle with the temperature at the moment, it's below the operating window for some rides.
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2020: General Discussion
Thameslink Rail
TS Member
I went on Blue Fire and Wodan at 2°C and they were running fine
Dave
TS Founding Member
It often requires the trains to have a full wheel change to faster compounds which obviously comes at cost, as well as increasing your maintenance staffing year round to compensate for the time lost in winter to do full train stripping etc, I imagine if the Christmas events become popular Merlin might free up some of the budget but they are not going to do that at risk.
Connor98
TS Member
im pretty sure I’ve heard Th13teen is the same, I’d also imagine Wickerman to run pretty slow in these conditions, hence the anti rollback on entering the flat turn.
Im sure us enthusiasts would love to visit all year round, but excluding Christmas, I don’t think the General Public would be too interested in a January ride for example. Realistically , I want to see the return of Towers Feb Half term openings.
Dave
TS Founding Member
I think Christmas expansion is more likely, generally the weather is better in December than February and Christmas is a big event that people will tolerate wrapping up warm to spend time outside. Not so much in February snow.
djtruefitt
TS Team
I think next year we’ll naturally get a bigger event, as we should get Davis Walliams, and hopefully without COVID they’ll have Hex, Duel and Sealife open.
I quite like the idea of entertainment and the panto on park, as it breaks the day up and makes people stay on park, rather than just spending the time in the hotel. It’s a shame they don’t have a purpose built theatre on park they could use for the panto...
I quite like the idea of entertainment and the panto on park, as it breaks the day up and makes people stay on park, rather than just spending the time in the hotel. It’s a shame they don’t have a purpose built theatre on park they could use for the panto...
jon81uk
TS Member
The Christmas events have been popular, it’s just they have been sold as an accommodation package to keep profits higher. I don’t think there is a need to add more coasters to what is mainly a family event with Santas Grotto. Maybe they could add Wickerman or one other coaster as they added spinball this year.
Weather is colder in Feb than it is in December I don’t think we will see them trying to run coasters in February again.
James
TS Founding Member
Something like Wicker Man would be good, as it's near the front of the park and it's a good family-thrill ride. I wouldn't expect more coasters to open and personally would rather see other rides open (Hex, Duel, Gangsta Granny - if/when The Dungeons gets a retheme that could open too) and more of an expansion on entertainments.
I'm impressed with everything I've seen online with the event. It's nice to see despite the panto being pulled they've still got some form of entertainment going on the stage.
I hope this paves the way for the Christmas event to be offered to day guests in future years.
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I'm impressed with everything I've seen online with the event. It's nice to see despite the panto being pulled they've still got some form of entertainment going on the stage.
I hope this paves the way for the Christmas event to be offered to day guests in future years.
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Dave
TS Founding Member
They have been successful as staycation events but it seems Towers were planning on moving to a more “winter season” event this year until Covid hit, for them to get to a point where they can invest in more rides opening they would need the park pulling in 5,000+ guests on most days if not more. That will take some time and development of the event.
Steve74
TS Member
Towers Street have just posted this short walkthough of the Garden Lights Walk: Twinkling Stars
I commented on the video and put this:
I thought they excelled themselves with the Whispering Souls for Scarefest but that looks amazing with the little tweaks they have done here and there. Those arches with the projection looks fantastic. Imagine in the future if they opened the entire gardens up with fairy lights leading the way through all the tiny paths on the other side, leading up to to the Swiss Cottage where they could serve warm mulled wine and mince pies with carol singers singing. The view from there over the lit gardens would be breathtaking. I really, really hope this is the start of something special for Christmas at Alton Towers - and for the general public, not just hotel guests.
I commented on the video and put this:
I thought they excelled themselves with the Whispering Souls for Scarefest but that looks amazing with the little tweaks they have done here and there. Those arches with the projection looks fantastic. Imagine in the future if they opened the entire gardens up with fairy lights leading the way through all the tiny paths on the other side, leading up to to the Swiss Cottage where they could serve warm mulled wine and mince pies with carol singers singing. The view from there over the lit gardens would be breathtaking. I really, really hope this is the start of something special for Christmas at Alton Towers - and for the general public, not just hotel guests.
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AT86
TS Member
So Staffordshire is to remain in tier 3 following the reviews announced today. This will likely mean the cancellation of the remaining Santa Sleepover dates that they had held off scrapping in the hope that today’s announcement would put the area in tier 2.
I guess they will also scrap the Festive Breaks which were due to run 27th Dec-3rd Jan and will open the park to locals as they have done recently.
I guess they will also scrap the Festive Breaks which were due to run 27th Dec-3rd Jan and will open the park to locals as they have done recently.
djtruefitt
TS Team
Yep they’ve announced the festive breaks won’t be happening, and the park remains open to locals as it has been the past few weeks. They will then announce what will happen on new year following next government announcements at the end of December.
The next review is on 30th December, just before new year but all breaks up to this date will be cancelled. I assume new year festive breaks for 31st December to 3rd January will still be penciled in for now.
AstroDan
TS Team
Alton Towers will now close after tomorrow.
I can assume it's either a) lack of bookings or b) jumping before the push.
Either way, I thank the park for the little Christmas event. It was well managed, beautiful and hopefully a good test for a larger scale event next year.
<3
I can assume it's either a) lack of bookings or b) jumping before the push.
Either way, I thank the park for the little Christmas event. It was well managed, beautiful and hopefully a good test for a larger scale event next year.
<3
Would be nice to see the Feb half term event back. They could open the B&ms
AstroDan
TS Team
They can't just open rides, it all depends on the maintenance schedules which are planned over several months.
I do think the park's opening date for 2021 is changeable, though - but we'll see.
Thameslink Rail
TS Member
I would have thought a February Half Term event would be unwise because the Park does not fare well in poor weather. Anyone who has driven to the Towers after heavy rain will know what I mean.
According to reports, parts of Staffordshire will be in Tier 4 soon, announcement expected tomorrow.