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2025: General Discussion

rob666 said:
You can easily compare apples with oranges, they are both similar sized fruit, of around the same cost, with the same purpose!
After Dark is too much, too soon.
All those new and inexperienced staff being made to work longer hours on their first days?
I see that as a way of making the new staff more tolerant to dodgy hours.
I can understand them wanting to keep punters happy with a few rides in the dark, but with all the teething issues at opening, wouldn't it be sensible to make those events on weeks two and three perhaps?
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Or just extend scarefest later in the year by two or three weeks? By then any operational issues should have been long ironed out.
 
Bowser said:
How soon the memories of last years Scarefest have faded…

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Didn’t go.
Other issues at that time - with my last few trips ruined by other communities should we say.

My point kind of still stands though. In theory issues should be resolved by then making it a better time to host an extended hours event.

And I guess the queues is down to capacity more - surely?
 
Bowser said:
I don’t think this is a reasonable expectation for non-enthusiasts. The park is open, people will rightly assume it’s going to operate as advertised regardless of whether they require RAP. If anything it’s one of the most important dates for the park to get it right as they know all the influencers will be reporting on it.

If they repeatedly can’t get it open to a acceptable standard then they need to modify their opening plans, be it a longer soft opening period or reduced prices, not a lacklustre opening at the public’s expense and certainly not with special events that entice more people than they can handle.
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They did modify the opening plans. It’s been weekends only for the first few weeks.

And guess what? They’ve been getting in the neck for that.

They’ve significantly reduced the capacity, and they get it in the neck for that also.

So again, they can’t win.

Yeah it’s not perfect. I’m not saying it is. There are many issues. But they have done what you’ve suggested.
 
AltonLover123 said:
They did modify the opening plans. It’s been weekends only for the first few weeks.

And guess what? They’ve been getting in the neck for that.

They’ve significantly reduced the capacity, and they get it in the neck for that also.

So again, they can’t win.

Yeah it’s not perfect. I’m not saying it is. There are many issues. But they have done what you’ve suggested.
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They have modified their opening but they have not done what i suggested which was a soft opening or reduced prices. They have done the opposite by putting on an event to entice as many people as possible when they are ill prepared.

I'm not sure from who or where they've been "getting it in the neck" for only opening at weekends this month, i certainly haven't said that.

They can "win" by ensuring the park is ready for opening and full paying customers are satisfied. Is that an unreasonable expectation?
 
Alphe86 said:
The solution to the ops problem early season surely is to offer permanent contracts with guaranteed hours and find something for the staff to do through winter.
Many many years ago when I worked at WMSP they actually maintained over 60% of their ride staff through off season
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What, and give all those staff proper employment rights after a couple of years?
 
They have the buy out days, three this year - which are essentially a form of soft opening.

I’m not saying things are acceptable - just pointing out those days exist and are used to get staff operating rides with real guests before the main season starts.
 
rob666 said:
What, and give all those staff proper employment rights after a couple of years?
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I know right?

But then people might see it as a proper career path that might set them up to build a comfortable and productive life around a mutually beneficial relationship with their employer. Heck, it might even offer some folk the ability to have a mortgage, settle down and have a rewarding work-life balance.

Sounds risky.
 
We went last year - 2 nights at AT hotel, 2 days in park (not holidays). First day we left after lunch, deciding we'll get FP next day. By then we were just too disappointed as quite a few rides were down, so left the £260 in our pockets. Still £1000+ for a poor experience - give me Disney any day.

I suppose if Merlin want to be in the £30-£40 "theme" park business then fine - like Ryanair is for air travel. But don't sell it as anything else, because people arrive with the dream you sell them and leave disappointed.
 
AltonLover123 said:
They did modify the opening plans. It’s been weekends only for the first few weeks.

And guess what? They’ve been getting in the neck for that.

They’ve significantly reduced the capacity, and they get it in the neck for that also.

So again, they can’t win.

Yeah it’s not perfect. I’m not saying it is. There are many issues. But they have done what you’ve suggested.
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In a way weekends only might be worse as it means the new staff are straight into high crowds. It might give maintanance more time but not general staff the ability to ramp-up.

Maybe they need a Thursday/Friday of cheaper tickets each week with them being selected rides only, then the full park on the weekend.
 
Students tend not to attend actual education from around this time of year though.
Early start to Easter break, and the final term did not add up to much actual attendance in college, just deadlines for essays and write ups...
Or was that just me in the bad old days?
 
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Correct, all you have to do is attend sufficient lectures and classes to not get kicked off the course.
Back on topic, do we have hot water in the toilets this year?
 
Wow Im finding it quite despicable the comments left on AT new post regarding Staffs Tourism Awards. The negativity AT receives now is just getting out of hand, it’s clear to see people are upset regarding operations at the park understandably. But the constant negativity for everything even if not related to rides OPs is just not counter productive, sends out terrible message to young workers Joining AT and to all the people that actually do care and put so much passion into the park. What is there end goal at this point online to destroy the parks reputation, everyone involved and to close it for good? Why do people do this and create such an online culture of hate. Write a review, go on forum but to constantly bash every post I just think disgusting and sends out an awful message. Some of it gets really nip picky like other parks don’t have these faults to? If this continues more and more people will be put of coming to this park and eventually it will close its door for good. Is this really what we want?

I can see why Bianca has taken her instagram down and I don’t blame her and who ever gave her this advice knew what was coming. It’s a shame as I missed her content and seeing all the hard work the creative teams were doing behind the scenes!
 
rob666 said:
Back on topic, do we have hot water in the toilets this year?
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I think the science says hot or cold, doesn't matter. The important thing is the soap AND the washing (e.g. norovirus isn't killed by soap/anti-bac - you need to physically wash it from your hands).
 
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