2026: General Discussion

[Ash]

Only if your looking for it, Negativety gets clicks.

I critisize when necessary but not overly so. Even opening day there were some positives like the rides themselves are fun.

Absolutely maybe, hence why I was asking.

And it’s worth adding, I haven’t searched for any negative Alton towers content outside of watching the videos shared in this topic. So feels in some way organic.

 

[havaska]

Anyone else seeing a considerable amount of negative Alton news at the moment on social media (YouTube/TikTok) or just me?

From enthusiasts and non enthusiasts alike.

Cost, ride downtime, rides not open, presentation, hotel cleanliness, queue times, value for money all being mentioned

Feels like a corner may of been turned

Yes; and I haven’t clicked or engaged any of these videos or posts.

 

[Secret Weapon]

The truth is probably somewhere in the middle; Alton Towers has some problems, but probably not as bad as many people are saying

 

[Dave]

Absolutely maybe, hence why I was asking.

And it’s worth adding, I haven’t searched for any negative Alton towers content outside of watching the videos shared in this topic. So feels in some way organic.

I haven’t but vloggers may have spotted the high view counts some early videos got and jumping on the band wagon.

Vlogging is rarely so dynamic as to be a reaction to Towers itself, they are reacting to the algorithm, trouble is negative videos get a double wammy as you get the people who agree with it but also all the people defending it in the comments inadvertently push the reach.

It’s one reason why the smiler crash became click bait for years as it showed high social media reach which was mostly geeks rage defending the place ironically enough, making the posts even more common.

 

[Secret Weapon]

I wonder if Alton Towers could somehow market the park as a fitness resort? After all, they already host the annual Run at Alton Towers event! Perhaps they could have ‘markers’ along Haunted Hollow, which show the distance travelled / calories burned?

Responding to my own suggestion (quoted above): Dean on YouTube has just posted an Alton Towers vlog, and I noticed at the 11:49 mark that there are now exercise markers along the path which inform riders of the amount of walking that they have done (see link below).

Does anybody know whether these markers were already installed in the park before my post on the 4th April (in which case, it was simply a case of great minds thinking alike*!), or whether somebody from Alton Towers has read my post and copied the idea??

(*Either that, or I saw Alton Towers do it and pretended it was my idea !)

I don't remember seeing them there when I last went to Alton Towers in 2025...


From: https://youtu.be/k9gdCUjPLh0?t=709

 

[GooseOnTheLoose]

Does anybody know whether these markers were already installed in the park before my post on the 4th April

Yes, they were.

or whether somebody from Alton Towers has read my post and copied the idea??

I would certainly hope that the park isn't that desperate.

 

[Dave]

I don’t know how true this is, and I can only find proof on the resort side but apparently there was some significant electrical upgrades on the resort over the closed season that caused a number of periods of no or limited electrical supply. Might explain some of the delays in getting train maintenance completed.

Bit of evidence I can find is linked to the waterpark but it’s possible to complete that the sites power had to be interrupted, or the project was wider.

Alton Towers minimizes its energy risks and cuts annual costs by 12%

With two million visitors a year and complex energy requirements the resort selected a state-of-the art CHP unit generating 850kWh and energy efficiency of 80%.

www.centricabusinesssolutions.com

 

[Steve74]

Responding to my own suggestion (quoted above): Dean on YouTube has just posted an Alton Towers vlog, and I noticed at the 11:49 mark that there are now exercise markers along the path which inform riders of the amount of walking that they have done (see link below).

Does anybody know whether these markers were already installed in the park before my post on the 4th April (in which case, it was simply a case of great minds thinking alike*!), or whether somebody from Alton Towers has read my post and copied the idea??

(*Either that, or I saw Alton Towers do it and pretended it was my idea !)

I don't remember seeing them there when I last went to Alton Towers in 2025...


From: https://youtu.be/k9gdCUjPLh0?t=709

They were putting them up on Friday 20th March - I visited on that day and arrived mid-afternoon and there were 2 members of staff putting up the sign that is next to where the path starts out of the main car park near Nemesis. I never noticed any others on the walk to the entrance so I guess they all got put up that afternoon.

I don’t know how true this is, and I can only find proof on the resort side but apparently there was some significant electrical upgrades on the resort over the closed season that caused a number of periods of no or limited electrical supply. Might explain some of the delays in getting train maintenance completed.

Bit of evidence I can find is linked to the waterpark but it’s possible to complete that the sites power had to be interrupted, or the project was wider.

Alton Towers minimizes its energy risks and cuts annual costs by 12%

With two million visitors a year and complex energy requirements the resort selected a state-of-the art CHP unit generating 850kWh and energy efficiency of 80%.

www.centricabusinesssolutions.com

If that's the case that this delayed winter maintenance by some degree, in my opinion, Towers have shot themselves in the foot - this could've been a golden opportunity to say how they're investing to save energy for the future and they could've then mitigated all the negative social media posts about the park not being ready for opening by stating that this installation had caused some minor delays. Of course people would still not be happy but at least there would be an official reason for things not being ready instead of the rumour mill going into overdrive!

 

[Secret Weapon]

Just a quick question: does anybody know whether any flat rides have ever featured on-ride photography? Or was it only ever rollercoasters?

If it's only coasters, then what was the reason? Is it because coasters generally only pass each point once (except for the Runaway Mine Train, which has two laps of the same circuit*), whereas flat rides repeatedly traverse the same circuit and thus it's unclear which cycle the photograph should be taken in? Is it because it's harder to take people's photographs on a flat ride due to the wider seating arrangements?

(*I can't remember whether the Runaway Mine Train takes a photograph of each lap, or only one of the two laps)

EDIT / UPDATE: I think Apocalypse at Drayton Manor might have had on-ride photography, but this was a slightly different ride from most flat rides as (A) it came to a complete stop at the top; (B) it only dropped once; and (C) it was probably easier to physically position the camera close to the riders, as the ride only moved in a linear position (not rotary or swinging)

 

[Dave]

Just a quick question: does anybody know whether any flat rides have ever featured on-ride photography? Or was it only ever rollercoasters?

If it's only coasters, then what was the reason? Is it because coasters generally only pass each point once (except for the Runaway Mine Train, which has two laps of the same circuit*), whereas flat rides repeatedly traverse the same circuit and thus it's unclear which cycle the photograph should be taken in? Is it because it's harder to take people's photographs on a flat ride due to the wider seating arrangements?

(*I can't remember whether the Runaway Mine Train takes a photograph of each lap, or only one of the two laps)

Ripsaw did for a bit, it was pretty naff, it just took a picture at the end of the cycle.

Most flat rides have an erratic motion that a camera can’t predict, coasters have a fixed motion in most cases (spinning coasters are harder to do).

 

[flyingguitar]

Just a quick question: does anybody know whether any flat rides have ever featured on-ride photography? Or was it only ever rollercoasters?

If it's only coasters, then what was the reason? Is it because coasters generally only pass each point once (except for the Runaway Mine Train, which has two laps of the same circuit*), whereas flat rides repeatedly traverse the same circuit and thus it's unclear which cycle the photograph should be taken in? Is it because it's harder to take people's photographs on a flat ride due to the wider seating arrangements?

As you mention Drop towers have them pretty often, (stuff like on tower of terror)

it can be difficult to get a good photo of one set of seats and isolate it, often cameras are a set and forget system where they tune the camera and timings to be perfect, then leave it, on some rides the angle of the seats can vary wildly depending on the rider (such as tea cups)

the number of circuits isn't really that important as these rides opperate on a cycle and it can be done anywhere during that cycle (such as when you get splashed on toxicator)

Most flat rides have an erratic motion that a camera can’t predict, coasters have a fixed motion in most cases (spinning coasters are harder to do).

Alot of modern flat rides have computer controled systems, where they opperate on a cycle and know the position so they could have a part where it takes a picture, or where the seats are more predictable however this depends on the ride a break dance may be far more variable compared to a swinging ship

there is also a couple more reasons:

depending on the ride spinning even if predictable can cause vastly differnt speeds between seats (such as on a tea cups ride) meaning getting settings (such as shutter speed) would be difficult to impossible for a stationary camera

All of these technical issues could be over come (such as having cameras on the ride vehicle), but I think the main reason: who would want a photo from a flat ride, drop towers can be quite scary but often flat rides are filler rides and not the main attraction, whilst you may get a lot of people wanting a photo for Nemesis I ccan't imagine that number is high enough to justify the cost and maitanence required for photos.