2021: General Discussion

[jon81uk]

Is that actually the case now they are up and running? I ask because there have been various comments I have seen about the slow loading times and low throughputs on these rides, which would surprise me if they are being run by the showmen because they are usually lighting quick at loading etc.

At a fairground there is an incentive to run them quickly as more riders means more tickets sold and more income. In a theme park maybe they don't feel the same urgency?

 

[stealthyjim]

Has the rusting, fading, scratched and filthy Oblivion queue line been sorted out yet? Other than the shocking state of Duel, the bereft Rapids and appalling area between fountain Square and the CCL "coming soon" fence - that was the most embarrassing area of the park for me last season.

Sent from my VOG-L29 using Tapatalk

It looked awful this afternoon. Paint peeling and graffiti all over the place. A real shame as the ride is quality, it just looks a state at the minute.

On the plus side at least covid is giving it the queue times it deserves!

 

[Squiggs]

Who wants to bet that people have been asking why the indoor attractions are shut

Well that update is about a year late. I'm surprised they've got away without mentioning that rides are closed due to the pandemic. Now it's just the website they need to update.

 

[Danscott22]

I don't think Justin's House Pie-O-Matic Factory has been on the app since the 2019 season, don't think it was open last season at all was it? Looks like it might be from next month to spread crowds in CBeebies a bit more.

 

[Craig]

Question for anyone who has been this week.

When the Retrosquad rides were first announced it was discussed that they would be run by the show people they are hired from as opposed to Towers staff.

Is that actually the case now they are up and running? I ask because there have been various comments I have seen about the slow loading times and low throughputs on these rides, which would surprise me if they are being run by the showmen because they are usually lighting quick at loading etc.

Ops are from the showmen the ride came from, although they are in Towers uniform. Hosts are Towers staff. However, as hosts they are solely responsible for batching and opening/securing entrances and exits. Anything to do with the ride such as securing and releasing restraints is handled by the showmen's staff. On Funk n Fly this is a single op, however on Mixtape there were two members of staff today. That's what's causing the slow loading at present, as at fairs they would normally have 2 or 3 handling that with the op staying put.

 

[Skyscraper]

Ops are from the showmen the ride came from, although they are in Towers uniform. Hosts are Towers staff. However, as hosts they are solely responsible for batching and opening/securing entrances and exits. Anything to do with the ride such as securing and releasing restraints is handled by the showmen's staff. On Funk n Fly this is a single op, however on Mixtape there were two members of staff today. That's what's causing the slow loading at present, as at fairs they would normally have 2 or 3 handling that with the op staying put.

I thought that would be the case. Makes sense.

 

[AT86]

It is great to see the park continue to be busy into the evening this week. Showing that people will stay in the park until late.

 

[stealthyjim]

It is great to see the park continue to be busy into the evening this week. Showing that people will stay in the park until late.

Smiler at capacity on a chilly April weekday at 7pm. There is definitely the demand for longer hours!

 

[Ethan]

Smiler at capacity on a chilly April weekday at 7pm. There is definitely the demand for longer hours!

They need to cap the queues for the other coasters when they hit capacity like they do on the smiler. Someone I know had been today and Rita, Th13teen and Nemesis queues all spilling out the entrance. Nemesis queue was past sub terra at one point apparently

 

[Danscott22]

I think Nemesis can afford to go up past Sub Terra though running along the wall because Sub Terra isn't operational. There isn't really anywhere else for The Smiler's queue to go when its at capacity without really blocking the pathway.

 

[Kraken27]

At a fairground there is an incentive to run them quickly as more riders means more tickets sold and more income. In a theme park maybe they don't feel the same urgency?

Exactly the same as when BPB went from tickets [so money] per ride to wristbands, the operations slowed down as there was no longer the incentive to achieve mega-high throughputs.

 

[Kraken27]

Ops are from the showmen the ride came from, although they are in Towers uniform. Hosts are Towers staff. However, as hosts they are solely responsible for batching and opening/securing entrances and exits. Anything to do with the ride such as securing and releasing restraints is handled by the showmen's staff. On Funk n Fly this is a single op, however on Mixtape there were two members of staff today. That's what's causing the slow loading at present, as at fairs they would normally have 2 or 3 handling that with the op staying put.

I trust that in true fairground showman style the Op has a cigarette on the go whilst operating the ride?!
I remember the not too distant days when the BPB staff would often check restraints with one hand, whilst holding the cigarette in the other!

 

[Skyscraper]

Anyone who's visiting Towers tomorrow (Satuday 17th April 2021), please take note of this:

What a lovely thing for the park to do! Huge repect to them.

 

[Thameslink Rail]

Anyone who's visiting Towers tomorrow (Satuday 17th April 2021), please take note of this:

What a lovely thing for the park to do!

I think this could cause a fair number of complaints because if the rides are stopped during that time then they are either going to have to stack for that minute or they will have to cycle the trains empty which could take some time. Or they keep the rides going and its not really a silence.

 

[AT86]

I doubt it will cause any issues. They have done this before on previous occasions, such as after the terror attacks in London in 2017 with no bother.

 

[imanautie]

I doubt it will cause any issues. They have done this before on previous occasions, such as after the terror attacks in London in 2017 with no bother.

Any idea on the specifics how how they did that?

 

[Kraken27]

Any idea on the specifics how how they did that?

Quite easily done really. Control can radio all rides with a couple of minutes notice of 3pm so they know to stop dispatching trains / boats. The only really ride that really needs downloading (emptying) is any train in the waiting area behind a Galactica station, as the flying position is not the most comfortable one to be stuck in. All other rides can stop with riders in an upright seated position, even if secured by a safety harness.

I assume all area themed music can be cut out either remotely, or by suitably placed technicians.

 

[Connor98]

I imagine there will be some sort of announcement over the sounds systems of each ride by the operator to notify/remind all guests in the area and queue lines of what’s about to happen too. guess it’s all planned out, however it will be interesting to see how towers handle it. Will also be intriguing to see the response by the public being asked to observe a minutes silence, will be a divide in opinions if you ask me, which I hope doesn’t result in any unwanted aggression or arguments.

 

[rob666]

...and to stay open well past midnight during the loonima

I think this could cause a fair number of complaints because if the rides are stopped during that time then they are either going to have to stack for that minute or they will have to cycle the trains empty which could take some time. Or they keep the rides going and its not really a silence.

Sense of proportion required.

 

[John]

Well 100000 people complained when the BBC delayed the MasterChef final so it's not completely implausible.