2021: General Discussion

[Craig]

I’ve not read this for a while so imagine my suppose to read that Alton have some travelling funfair rides. While I’ve mixed feelings about this I guess anything that lowers queue times across the resort is a good thing.

However.... I’m not sure about placing these rides in amongst established themed ride areas, such as the one in forbidden valley. A traditional funfair on the front lawn might have worked, having a fun fair inside a theme park and could have been part of Octoberfest later in the year.

Anyway I’ll reserve judgement until I go up later this year. We can’t moan that they are at least trying to improve the situation with limited funds after the pandemic. And after all, Enterprise, Energiser, 1001 Nights, amongst others (even Corkscrew) were all rides which could be taken down and transported somewhere else yet were highly popular.

My first thought was for the lawns to be used, but then it's not a great look on entering the park. Looks aside though, with the lawns now seemingly becoming an event space at least across the back end of the season with Oktoberfest, Scarefest and Fireworks the area is already heavily used. Considering the state of it at the end of the season without even factoring in fireworks, I really don't think plonking rides on it will do much good. Killing the grass off before it even gets muddy towards the back end of the season sounds like a recipe for disaster if they went down that route, especially come October/November. It wouldn't surprise me if it still needs another good few months to fully recover as it is even now.

 

[Mikw]

They are rides at the park now so I don't see why they wouldn't. They're no worse than the blade or enterprise

Too right, and Maurader's and Heave Ho too.

I'm not really a flat ride person, some can finsh me off for the day, but have no problem at all with 3 or 4 temporary ones being added.

Really can't see the problem. Given all days the park was closed due to Covid last year then it's good to get some new addtions we wouldn't have had otherwise.

People demanded entertainment, they got Oktoberfest.

people demanded more flar rides, they're getting them too.

 

[GaryH]

I demand free parking


(well - we can try ......)

 

[JugglersDoughnut]

I think this is great news because the gap between Cbeebies and the big stuff is so large with only a few (most of Mutiny Bay and Katanga Canyon, Blade/Enterprise) rides to take my daughter on outside of Cbeebies.

I don't mind whether it's temporary looking, it's about value for money and this will increase the enjoyment me and my family get on a day out at Towers. I'd be interested to see whether they will get some basic signage at the entrances of these and strip away the usual gaudy funfair type bikini babes and Elvis paintings that adorn the rides usually. It will also be interesting to see what music, if any, is played. A waltzer without sound would be awful, but I presume they wouldn't be using the usual pop music.

Hopefully this leads to a big effort from the park to get 3-4 permanent flat ride installations over the course of the next two years.

 

[Alsty]

I wonder if the travelling rides will be staffed by their owners, or if they'll provide training to Alton Towers who will then use their normal ride hosts? I can't imagine Alton Towers or Merlin being happy with staff riding on the Waltzer platform.

 

[JugglersDoughnut]

I wonder if the travelling rides will be staffed by their owners, or if they'll provide training to Alton Towers who will then use their normal ride hosts? I can't imagine Alton Towers or Merlin being happy with staff riding on the Waltzer platform.

On that note, I wouldn't be shocked if there is no ride host walking about the ride giving spins whilst it's at Towers. If they want family friendly predominantly out of these they might steer clear of making it too intense. Personally hope that isn't the case, it's just something I can see happening. I remember Lightwater Valley having a Waltzer without music and a host giving manual spins and it was a pretty depressing experience

 

[AT86]

It will also be interesting to see what music, if any, is played. A waltzer without sound would be awful, but I presume they wouldn't be using the usual pop music.

I believe the Waltzers are to go in the Submission location. If so, the 90s techno Oblivion music could fit quite well.

I wonder if the travelling rides will be staffed by their owners, or if they'll provide training to Alton Towers who will then use their normal ride hosts? I can't imagine Alton Towers or Merlin being happy with staff riding on the Waltzer platform.

Based on previous posts I believe these rides will be operated by the show-people they are hired from as opposed to Towers. Even so I suspect Merlin would have a heart attack at the thought of someone spinning the cars!

 

[GaryH]

I wonder if the travelling rides will be staffed by their owners, or if they'll provide training to Alton Towers who will then use their normal ride hosts? I can't imagine Alton Towers or Merlin being happy with staff riding on the Waltzer platform.

I’m also curious if they will use the traditional sound effects that come with these rides! Especially the “scream if you wanna go faster” and “attention!” ones. Obviously not the but your token for the next ride one (though you never know)

 

[djtruefitt]

I’m sure towers won’t let them use their own music or sound effects. I imagine they’ll either play area music (eg dark forest), or that of a nearby ride (like oblivion) or we could even have some nee audio created in-house for each ride, so that it does fit with the theme of the area a little bit.

 

[Thameslink Rail]

I’m sure towers won’t let them use their own music or sound effects. I imagine they’ll either play area music (eg dark forest), or that of a nearby ride (like oblivion) or we could even have some nee audio created in-house for each ride, so that it does fit with the theme of the area a little bit.

Not sure they could get someone to compose four substantial new audio tracks and get people to perform it virtually (and then edit the parts together) in the next month unless it's either just a few musicians or largely synthesisers.

 

[MattyH]

Don't expect full orchestral soundtracks. There are probably a few music producers who could get something together in a short timescale. It's not unheard off.

 

[djtruefitt]

They have that guy who works for them in ents who’s done a lot of recent music (duel, Oktoberfest, toxic junkyard, house of monsters, etc) and that seems to just be him on his own, so it’s certainly possible for him to make some music, in the same style as the area if required. No way would they get a full blown IMAscore piece done.

 

[James]

They still have Simon Allen? I'm sure he could knock up 4 tracks for the rides.

 

[JoshM]

In terms of the funfair attractions being added, honestly if it was a normal season I'd be a bit let down but in retrospect the leisure industry has been ravaged financially by covid.

It's not ideal but it's something quick and easy to attempt and get guest numbers up - plus Alton Towers lack flat rides anyway and they could make a nice little event out of it, not the end of the world.

Also lowkey want see the owners of these attractions run them - nothing comes close the lads who work on the waltzers walking across them like it's a treadmill

 

[kydog1299]

This might not have been the intention originally but sometimes businesses do leak information out subtly to ‘test the waters’ and opinions/general mood of those that know the information. It’s a good indication of how the information might land when (or if) publicly released.

As I said, it might not have been the actual strategy on this occasion and it might be plausible this has been a genuine leak/drip down of information, however it doesn’t mean the marketing dept cannot use it to their advantage to review the mood and opinions of those that know; it’ll help them ‘get it right’ when (or again if) they release any kind of marketing material publicly, or use the new additions as part of any promotional material.

i.e. if it lands badly, better to not release much information on the new rides publicly in advance of people visiting. If it lands more positively, there’s a case to really promote them as ‘new rides’.

I think on this occasion they’re more being used to bump up guest satisfaction than any kind of marketing campaign; that’ll be left to Gangsta Granny (I’d presume). Especially given restrictions will impact capacity so what’s the need to promote the entire ‘product’. The goalposts have definitely shifted from ‘generate as much revenue from as many guests as possible’ to ‘how can we create a positive (and safe) guest experience’.

 

[VerticalLoop123]

Music wise wouldn't mind seeing some old tracks reused like they did a couple of years for TLC in some areas- most notably path between Gloomy Wood and Forbidden Valley and around X Sector. Never a bad thing hearing stuff like old Black Hole music!

Staffing wise I wouldn't be surprised if Towers gave some of the operating staff for these rides some of their training. Remember the problems when they had externally trained staff in the food outlets in the early noughties? From stuff I've seen I believe they have quite specific training on interacting with guests and the merlin way.

I've got to say at first I was against these rides- due to the worry of bad look of these rides. But now I think the park desperately needs more filler rides, these sort of rides are popular with the public and a great laugh- who doesn't love a jolly good spin on the waltzers? and the park need to up capacity. If these do stay for a little longer than expected it maybe nice to pop some old bits of themeing in queue lines - I'm sure they've got lots of old props in Magic making North knocking about to spruce these rides up a bit and make them look a bit more than your standard seaside fair.

 

[Steve74]

If the Waltzers prove popular, are we likely to see staff walking round Marauder's Mayhem spinning the barrels for us next season?

 

[Benjsh]

I'm not a great lover of flat rides in general, even permanent ones, so I honestly don't care about these fair ground rides coming. Coasters and dark rides (when they can reopen) is enough for me.

Hopefully will keep the wait times down a little.

 

[Brad97]

The Smashing Jump ride looks pretty good from videos. I assumed it would be one of those bouncy rides you would find at any fair, so I'm pleasantly surprised that it's something more substantial.

Hopefully this will lead to some permanent flats in the future.

 

[jon81uk]

I think on this occasion they’re more being used to bump up guest satisfaction than any kind of marketing campaign; that’ll be left to Gangsta Granny (I’d presume). Especially given restrictions will impact capacity so what’s the need to promote the entire ‘product’. The goalposts have definitely shifted from ‘generate as much revenue from as many guests as possible’ to ‘how can we create a positive (and safe) guest experience’.

and hopefully guest satisfaction remains a focus after the pandemic.

Maybe they can shift from "we need a cheap annual/season pass to get people to come back" to "if guests have a great day they will return anyway".

The increases in annual pass prices will hopefully make the park go down the route of thinking how can we ensure people want to come back, instead of offering such a low price to return.