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2024: General Discussion

jon81uk said:
When was food served to your table at breakfast? My first visit was 2004 and it was a breakfast buffet. They had the same Nescafe machines as in the park for a long time before switching to the bean to cup for the 2019 season. Then of course they changed to filter in flasks this year, which is still better than the Nescafe machines! I'm assuming table service was before Splash Landings opened?
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As mentioned, the cafetière and pots of tea lasted until maybe the late 2000s, albeit that was only in ATH, which incidentally also offered a better pastry selection than Splash Landings.
 
dave___ said:
Removing Retrosquad has to be one of the most badly timed moves they could have ever made.

They weren't even bad even if they weren't exactly top theme park caliber, they just needed the flashing lights and Bon Jovi turning down a bit. They have managed to slap some signs on a Sizzler and it's a well-loved ride for the kids after all.
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Except everyone moaned about them every day they were at Towers.
 
jon81uk said:
When was food served to your table at breakfast? My first visit was 2004 and it was a breakfast buffet. They had the same Nescafe machines as in the park for a long time before switching to the bean to cup for the 2019 season. Then of course they changed to filter in flasks this year, which is still better than the Nescafe machines! I'm assuming table service was before Splash Landings opened?
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I can’t recall the year but I do remember they would bring out a black metal tripod then a large breakfast plate with everything on it for you to help yourself.
 
AT86 said:
This was 2003 when Splash opened.

They positioned ATH as the more premium hotel, so in contrast to the buffet at Splash it was table service at ATH.
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So it didn’t even last one year as we were at the Nemesis 10th event in March 2004 and it was a buffet breakfast in Secret Garden.
 
The problem is, Merlin and Alton have slowly over 20 years become a more down market offering.

The accepted state of the food, the awful hospitality standards (clientele wearing snoods and no shoes for breakfast) and premier inn style check in etc.

This is reflected in the dated built environment and the reviews on trip advisor. They are frankly utterly appalling and warrant kitchen nightmares and hotel inspector level intervention.

But as the money roles in they don’t care, nobody has any standards of note. I’d be embarrassed if I were the management there.

They are doing untold damage to their brand with no willing or plan to improve. The Merlin model of dictat from Poole, theme parks hamstrung by terrible contracts, a land lease I imagine robbing them blind and awful long term planning, is clearly broken.

Meanwhile Efteling, Phantasialand and Europa Park remain open for the winter season with new advanced offerings. Michelin level food offerings. With the reviews to match. The worst food in these parks is better than the best Alton has to offer.

Although there will be glimmers, the level of investment, management and change in direction/mentality to turn the tanker around, just isn’t there.
 
AT86 said:
This was 2003 when Splash opened.

They positioned ATH as the more premium hotel, so in contrast to the buffet at Splash it was table service at ATH.
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That was in ATH where we had the tripod on the table. I also recall the staff being dressed as gardeners!
 
AltonLover123 said:
Except everyone moaned about them every day they were at Towers.
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I hear this myth spouted alot. It's not true.

Their presence was polarising. We had a thorough and interesting debate when we found out they were coming, and this continued until they were removed. Some liked the idea, some hated it from the start, most of us didn't like them but accepted the reality. In fact, it was considered a minority view to celebrate their removal when it became apparent there wasn't anything coming to replace them.

All those opinions were fine to have. But this repeated legend that there was a popular consusus that they needed to go and not be replaced, and therefore we're all now reaping what we sow, is utterly false.
 
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AltonLover123 said:
Except everyone moaned about them every day they were at Towers.
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Nope not true.
Some of us didn't ride a single one of them, but were very happy to see them on the park as a meaningful alternative, and very helpful to shorten the queues.
I'm personally rather surprised they removed them before meaningful alternative rides were provided...but merlin.

Edit...bit late...what our Matt said above, I should read topics through to the end before commenting.
 
Just scanning through this vlog of the set up for this weekends run event. Seems Christmas set up is well underway and they have completely removed the stage on the lawns since last weekend.

Whilst they have permission to move this stage to Fountain Sq in the winter they haven’t bothered in the last few years, and given that side of the park isn’t due to open this Christmas season I can’t see much point in moving it?

IMG_8018.jpeg

Video link here
 
AT86 said:
Just scanning through this vlog of the set up for this weekends run event. Seems Christmas set up is well underway and they have completely removed the stage on the lawns since last weekend.

Whilst they have permission to move this stage to Fountain Sq in the winter they haven’t bothered in the last few years, and given that side of the park isn’t due to open this Christmas season I can’t see much point in moving it?

IMG_8018.jpeg

Video link here
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It could just be that they plan on putting it in storage to allow the lawns to regrow a bit before next season. They’ve been well-aware since the start about potential issues occurring from so much use of the front lawns, with a plan at one point to install a drainage system next to/around it, which never came to fruition.
 
Bert2theSpark said:
It could just be that they plan on putting it in storage to allow the lawns to regrow a bit before next season. They’ve been well-aware since the start about potential issues occurring from so much use of the front lawns, with a plan at one point to install a drainage system next to/around it, which never came to fruition.
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Maybe that - or something similar - is why they've taken the stage down. With this season pretty much being a literal washout weatherwise, and with the stage allowed to stay for a further 5 years (I think that's right?) perhaps the decision has been made to improve drainage. We've no idea what it was like backstage, maybe it was a mud bath at times!!
 
Bert2theSpark said:
It could just be that they plan on putting it in storage to allow the lawns to regrow a bit before next season. They’ve been well-aware since the start about potential issues occurring from so much use of the front lawns, with a plan at one point to install a drainage system next to/around it, which never came to fruition.
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What they really need to install is a blummin' toilet closer to the lawns. Oktoberfest was a killer!
 
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