2020: General Discussion

[RoyJess]

Not on flikr
But am on twitter and fb
Posted it in towers discution chat on facebook

I use https://imgur.com/ to host pictures to post on here, you can post the image link directly onto here (please note that I use a laptop, might be different when using a smart phone).

I can't say if you can post using a link from twitter, however don't post pics via Facebook as the images do get timed out and will be unavailable to view on here after a while.

 

[blackholes crow]

I use https://imgur.com/ to host pictures to post on here, you can post the image link directly onto here (please note that I use a laptop, might be different when using a smart phone).

I can't say if you can post using a link from twitter, however don't post pics via Facebook as the images do get timed out and will be unavailable to view on here after a while.

Arrr ok thats handy to know thanks ^^
Never knew that fb messeges timed out well we all do now lol

 

[themeparkfan]

Provide alcohol gel at the ride exit so you clean your hands after touching things. Its almost impossible to sanitise every surface after every person so easier to clean your hands after touching.

Well health and safety will be over Alton Towers like a rash with that policy and testing the water in battle galleons and even CRR for traces of Covid-19! They will have to demonstrate regular sanitisation of hand guns etc you can't rely on public. To be honest it probably might be wiser for them to close battle galleons and duel to begin.

 

[jon81uk]

Well health and safety will be over Alton Towers like a rash with that policy and testing the water in battle galleons and even CRR for traces of Covid-19! They will have to demonstrate regular sanitisation of hand guns etc you can't rely on public. To be honest it probably might be wiser for them to close battle galleons and duel to begin.

No supermarkets been closed down because they aren’t cleaning the trolley or basket or fridge door after I touch them.
I just avoid touching my face until I leave and use alcohol gel when I get out, then soap and water as soon as I can.

Also it’s not just the guns you touch, many people touch the ride vehicle when getting up and down from the seat and you need to pull the restraint down on all the coasters.
Sanitation after every guest is not realistic so if that is a major concern to you then you may not wish to go out.

 

[monkeyboy]

Response from AT ref annual pass holders Pre booking tickets 4th July onwards:


Thank you for contacting Alton Towers Resort.The health and safety of our guests and our staff is our number one priority. In order to comply with government regulations and Merlin Health & Safety standards, we need to manage our capacity to ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable visit. Because of this, all guests will be required to pre-book a ticket online.Merlin Annual Passholders must purchase a £1 pre-book ticket to ensure that they get guaranteed entry into our attraction. We have brought in this temporary measure so that as many people as possible can experience the magic at our attractions as it will reduce the number of slots that are taken up by individuals who then do not show up. We would like to reassure guests that we have removed the restriction of there only being availability to pre-book your entry 7 days in advance. Please be advised that we are closely following government guidelines and information and therefore tickets will not be able to be pre-booked until we have confirmed reopening.


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[imanautie]

Response from AT ref annual pass holders Pre booking tickets 4th July onwards:


Thank you for contacting Alton Towers Resort.The health and safety of our guests and our staff is our number one priority. In order to comply with government regulations and Merlin Health & Safety standards, we need to manage our capacity to ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable visit. Because of this, all guests will be required to pre-book a ticket online.Merlin Annual Passholders must purchase a £1 pre-book ticket to ensure that they get guaranteed entry into our attraction. We have brought in this temporary measure so that as many people as possible can experience the magic at our attractions as it will reduce the number of slots that are taken up by individuals who then do not show up. We would like to reassure guests that we have removed the restriction of there only being availability to pre-book your entry 7 days in advance. Please be advised that we are closely following government guidelines and information and therefore tickets will not be able to be pre-booked until we have confirmed reopening.


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So typical merlin completely failing to read the email?

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[AT86]

Response from AT ref annual pass holders Pre booking tickets 4th July onwards:


Thank you for contacting Alton Towers Resort.The health and safety of our guests and our staff is our number one priority. In order to comply with government regulations and Merlin Health & Safety standards, we need to manage our capacity to ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable visit. Because of this, all guests will be required to pre-book a ticket online.Merlin Annual Passholders must purchase a £1 pre-book ticket to ensure that they get guaranteed entry into our attraction. We have brought in this temporary measure so that as many people as possible can experience the magic at our attractions as it will reduce the number of slots that are taken up by individuals who then do not show up. We would like to reassure guests that we have removed the restriction of there only being availability to pre-book your entry 7 days in advance. Please be advised that we are closely following government guidelines and information and therefore tickets will not be able to be pre-booked until we have confirmed reopening.


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What was the question you asked them?

 

[monkeyboy]

What was the question you asked them?

“Hi I can’t find anywhere on you website to pre book for £1 using annual pass.It only has full price days available”


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[AT86]

I did wonder why the Gardens were scheduled to be closed today.

Looks like this is why.

 

[KolonelKlink]

From the BBC press office (https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2020/top-gear-filming):

Paddy McGuinness, Freddie Flintoff and Chris Harris emerged from lockdown today to resume filming on Top Gear’s next series with a pulsating electric car race around Staffordshire’s empty Alton Towers Resort.

And Paddy came up with an unusual method to ensure the trio maintained social distancing guidelines when they were not in their respective vehicles - a two-metre stick with a red boxing glove on one end.

The presenters had to navigate a Honda e, Mini Electric and Vauxhall Corsa-e around a specially constructed Top Gear maze spanning the 550-acre theme park and found themselves hurtling by rollercoasters such as Oblivion and Nemesis.

Presenter, Paddy McGuinness, says: “I’ve always dreamed of having a theme park to myself for the day although these aren’t necessarily the circumstances I’d have chosen. Mustn’t grumble though, it’s great to get the gang back together after lockdown and we’re raring to go - two-metres apart at all times of course!”

Clare Pizey, Top Gear’s Executive Producer, comments: “We are so pleased to be able to start filming again and a deserted theme park is a great place to start. If what we’ve shot so far is anything to go by, social distancing doesn’t get in the way of Paddy, Freddy and Chris having a brilliant time and causing mayhem along the way.”

Following the success of the first two series with the new trio, it was announced that Top Gear’s next series will be moving to BBC One. It will debut on the channel later this year.

 

[Connor98]

Has anybody had any luck getting any more information for us Alton towers season pass holders regarding reserving days ? All I've had is "we are working on a system"... Which was over a week ago now.

 

[Mr Pearse]

Has anybody had any luck getting any more information for us Alton towers season pass holders regarding reserving days ? All I've had is "we are working on a system"... Which was over a week ago now.

I’m guessing they are waiting for a date that they can actually reopen. They have said July 4th but the date hasn’t been confirmed by the government.

 

[Connor98]

I’m guessing they are waiting for a date that they can actually reopen. They have said July 4th but the date hasn’t been confirmed by the government.

More than likely why they haven't been overly quick with it, but if I'm not mistaken you can purchase full price tickets for the theme park from the 4th of July. But the government do need to outline their plan, with precise dates for the tourism sector now.

 

[AT86]

You can purchase day tickets yes, but you have been able to purchase day tickets since lockdown started, they just keep pushing the date they are available back. For example when the opening date was initially cancelled they allowed ticket booking from 26th April onwards, then pushed it back to 1st June and again to 4th July. This is pretty easy to do because they are saying to people ‘it’s ok, you can use your tickets on another day once we do re-open’.

If they go ahead now and let thousands of pass holders prebook from 4th July and then for whatever reason can’t open (because the government haven’t actually confirmed that date yet), it’s not a case of saying ‘don’t worry just use those reservations another day’. They will have the task and cost of mass refunding loads of £1 booking fees or the admin headache of transferring the days etc.

It’s still 3 weeks away until they open, plenty of time for people to book once the tickets come out. People just need more patience.

 

[Matt N]

They need to do the reservation system quite close to when it opens, because they won’t know until probably a week before.

Is it known what the 2020 entry fee for the park is, out of interest? Are they doing their online rate, if you have to pre-book, or are they doing their on-the-day rate?

 

[RoyJess]

Colchester Zoo are allowing ticket holders to book timed gate tickets in advance, but pass holders can only book 3 days in advance, they claim to have reserve spaces for pass holders, I presume Alton will do something similar. At the end of the day, they are going to need gate ticket sales to make money, as for us pass holders, they have already got our money, so they are going to limit pass holders numbers entry.

https://www.colchester-zoo.com/plan-your-visit/tickets/

 

[ringo]

Has anybody had any luck getting any more information for us Alton towers season pass holders regarding reserving days ? All I've had is "we are working on a system"... Which was over a week ago now.

Pretty certain the “system” is already done, surely it’ll be just like the same process for Garden tickets.

 

[AT86]

It appears changes have been made to hotel booking availability, perhaps in anticipation of reduced demand in 2020.

Stargazing Pods are no longer available to book on any date in the 2020 season, suggesting they will be closed for the whole season.

This is on top of the already planned closure of the Enchanted Village Lodges for the whole of September and non-Scarefest dates in October.

 

[Dave]

It appears changes have been made to hotel booking availability, perhaps in anticipation of reduced demand in 2020.

Stargazing Pods are no longer available to book on any date in the 2020 season, suggesting they will be closed for the whole season.

This is on top of the already planned closure of the Enchanted Village Lodges for the whole of September and non-Scarefest dates in October.

Sheds with no toilets and shared sanitary facilities are not exactly Covid secure. I know hindsight is 20:20 but that development was a complete home goal from beginning to end.

 

[Matt N]

Judging by the reception among most enthusiasts last season, I’m also not sure the Stargazing Pods will necessarily be missed!