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2021: General Discussion

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Matt.GC said:
Better get the double denim out, work on my mullet and find my Human League cassette before firing up the Courtina in a few weeks time.

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I'm already getting a mullet, been working on it all lockdown! Cortina or Audi Quattro? :D
 
We now have an official announcement from the park; the scheme is officially being referred to as The Retro Squad, with all 3 rides being given retro names and themes:

In terms of the rides announced; 3 have been announced as part of this, and they are:
  • Funk’n’Fly - Super Trooper in Forbidden Valley.
  • Mixtape - Smashing Jump in X-Sector.
  • Roller Disco - Waltzer in Dark Forest.
For some reason, the Twist in The World of David Walliams doesn’t seem to be getting included...

What do you guys think of this?

Also, might The Retro Squad now be warranting its own thread, or do we think that keeping discussion within this thread is OK?
 
Matt N said:
We now have an official announcement from the park; the scheme is officially being coined Retrosquad:

In terms of the rides announced; 3 have been announced as part of this, and they are:
  • Funk’n’Fly - Super Trooper in Forbidden Valley.
  • Mixtape - Smashing Jump in X-Sector.
  • Roller Disco - Waltzer in Dark Forest.
For some reason, the Twist in The World of David Walliams doesn’t seem to be getting included...

What do you guys think of this?

Also, might Retrosquad now be warranting its own thread, or do we think that keeping discussion within this thread is OK?
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I think what they've done with that is great, quirky and fun. That promo has a real [original] Transformers/Mysterious Cities of Gold/Ulysses 31 cartoon feel about it (if you're a child of the 70s/80s you'll know what I mean!)

Still think they need to bring Bob Carolgees & Spit the Dog back along with Hold Tight!
 
I quite like how the park is selling this as a “nostalgia” type thing; I think it’s quite cool in that regard!

I also think it’s nice to see that the park has a passion for its history, and are almost taking visitors “back to a simpler time” as it were!
 
Absolutely LOVED that advert until the use of the word Cowabunga :D

It's great they're giving these rides an identity but it does devalue their existing themed areas.

Dark Forest = Scaffolding, a haunted crypt, a race track and a roller disco.
 
A huge mistake to promote these funfair rides that nobody wanted and Merlin havent paid for, but a fun video and spin if you really wanna go down that route

Plastic Person said:
makes me wish that the management and creative team at Alton had access to the resources they deserve.
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Seems more like when they don't get involved and just offload the whole thing to a freelancer who knows what theyre doing. Well just a hunch, I don't know obviously but seems a huge difference from the usual standard Alton Towers put out.

I cant believe more effort in this than their Scarefest, Oktoberfest or 40th anniversary promo videos!

Matt N said:
I also think it’s nice to see that the park has a passion for its history
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Huh?
 
OilyWater said:
Seems more like when they don't get involved and just offload the whole thing to a freelancer who knows what theyre doing. Well just a hunch, I don't know obviously but seems a huge difference from the usual standard Alton Towers put out (Scarefest/Oktoberfest promo videos).
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You're probably right, but what's wrong with employing an agency or animator? There's lots of detail and character in these. It was a good decision.

One thing that's notable and perhaps surprising is that they haven't pitched these as a 'for 2021 only' deal, or not at least as far as I've seen? I suppose that would be too much of a push, or seems like an unnecessary reassurance.

These shouldn't be in Alton Towers, but it will be interesting to see if the presentation on park is in key and tone with this trailer.
 
Knowing how Towers likes teasing things, has anyone noticed any Easter Eggs in the video? Two I've noticed is the name on the computer monitor - BT-OP and also the list of names the robot picked the 3 rides from. Probably nothing at all but clues for future things maybe?
 
OilyWater said:
Huh?
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I appreciate that that probably sounds like an odd thing to say, but what I meant was that rides of this style were what mostly padded out the park in the 1980s and in its early days, before the more elaborate rides we have today. The park themselves also seem to be promoting it as a “nostalgia” push, so in that regard, they really want to celebrate their history, and take people back to a simpler time.

So in that sense, I think that the park almost wants to give people a nice slice of the park’s early days again, and in that sense, I think that does mean that they have a passion for their history, personally!
 
Also, if this 2021 flat ride drive is successful, then I could possibly see 2022 providing something not too dissimilar to what Thorpe Park did in 2001; in 2001, Thorpe did the “sensory overload” and installed 3 brand new flat rides, in the form of Detonator, Zodiac and Vortex!


Once these rides (presumably) vacate at the end of 2021, that leaves 3 sites where the park could put 3 permanent flat rides in in a similar style to what Thorpe Park did in 2001.
P.S. Sorry for double posting!
 
I think a few folk need to take a step back. I was pretty WTF when I first heard about these additions for 2021 - in fact I don't know anybody who wasn't. But now the change cycle has continued round its course I am more tolerant of it.

Remember:
  • Alton has lost significant ride stock over the last decade due to a variety of reasons - most notably the post-Smiler downturn and Alton's own 'financial crisis'
  • Short Term planning and a reactive culture has meant that rides were pulled out with no immediate plans for their replacements. Everything was done for the balance sheet and not the guest experience nor reputation of the park
  • Indoor attractions remain out of use for the time being and therefore these rides will support social distancing
  • These attractions demonstrate that Alton Towers are well aware of the dire need for support rides and are likely to be used as an evidence base for a multi-million capex in such rides over the next couple of years
  • Dark Forest is hardly a quality area anyway. In fact, it's bloody awful. If anything the Waltzer will reduce the depression of standing outside Th13teen
  • They will reduce the waits for the rides you want to go on
  • It all adds up into this crazy season we're about to see at Alton. Random rides added. Extra hours. Extra events.
Crazy times.
 
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Honestly, I've got to give it to them with the marketing, I think they've done a really good job. I remember there being suggestions when we first found out that they might brush them under the carpet and not mention them but I'm so pleased they have!
 
I think it's also worth mentioning that an animation of that quality doesn't come about in a few hours work, so I really do believe the planning for these rides and how they'd be marketed has been in the works for longer than we anticipated, and that there will be more 80s themed stuff going on this year, maybe even the teased summer event? I really think you've got to be a huge debbie downer to still think these rides are a bad idea.

(also for the few people who mentioned it, take it from the youngster, mullets are actually back in style now ;) )
 
Hopefully they will be added to the electronic queue times system, which will make it easier to determine the best time to ride them. That would also give Towers a way of assessing their popularity and effect on the other rides' queue times.
 
Skyscraper said:
Hopefully they will be added to the electronic queue times system, which will make it easier to determine the best time to ride them. That would also give Towers a way of assessing their popularity and effect on other queue times.
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I think ATR will be rigorously assessing the impact of these rides in terms of how many rides people can do each day: by adding multiple rides (+ Walliams from May), guests should be able to experience a good 2 or 3 more rides per day on average this year vs. last - especially if hours are extended too.

Better guest satisfaction all round.
 
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