2026: General Discussion

[GooseOnTheLoose]

Do you have a source to back that up?

The thread began with the question "What changes do we think have occurred?", and @Hid specifically used the qualifier "might".

Asking for a cited source for a speculative opinion is rather like asking for a peer reviewed paper on why I prefer blue to green. It is a thought, not a press release.

However, if you require an evidentiary basis for the speculation, one only needs to look at the planning portal.

The full planning permission for Project Horizon was granted on 22nd June 2023. Standard planning permissions in the UK come with a condition that development must begin within three years of the date of the decision. That gives them until 22nd June 2026 to stick a spade in the ground.

@Hid is logically correct. Work on Project Horizon must begin this year (specifically within the next five months), or the planning permission lapses and they have to start the entire expensive bureaucratic circus all over again. Therefore, there is a chance, as @Hid stated, that it might happen.

No source is required. Just a calendar.

 

[Skyscraper]

The thread began with the question "What changes do we think have occurred?", and @Hid specifically used the qualifier "might".

Asking for a cited source for a speculative opinion is rather like asking for a peer reviewed paper on why I prefer blue to green. It is a thought, not a press release.

However, if you require an evidentiary basis for the speculation, one only needs to look at the planning portal.

The full planning permission for Project Horizon was granted on 22nd June 2023. Standard planning permissions in the UK come with a condition that development must begin within three years of the date of the decision. That gives them until 22nd June 2026 to stick a spade in the ground.

@Hid is logically correct. Work on Project Horizon must begin this year (specifically within the next five months), or the planning permission lapses and they have to start the entire expensive bureaucratic circus all over again. Therefore, there is a chance, as @Hid stated, that it might happen.

No source is required. Just a calendar.

My bad, it didn't read like a speculative opinion.

 

[jon81uk]

Usually when we’ve had a quieter season/cutbacks we’ve usually seen some level of refurbishment/rearranging of the deck chairs. The Towers TLC program was a big front for this to try and re-ensure consumer confidence after some devastating cuts.

I don't think this is a completly nothing season, there is the Bluey coaster. But yes hopefully they do have a big plan for 2027 or 28.

Also TLC originally was just a plan to tidy-up and restore run-down things in the first year or two, it was later on when it got hijacked as an excuse for closures.

 

[Bowser]

I'm a member of another non theme park related forum but it has general topics pop up too and there was one about Universal UK. In response the topic of Alton Towers came up and i was quite surprised how overwhelmingly negative the comments were. I don't know how representative of the "general public" that is of course.

The main gripes were "two hour queues", "too many fast passes", "terrible food" and "undertrained child staff". It does seem like the park increasingly has a very poor reputation?

 

[jon81uk]

I'm a member of another non theme park related forum but it has general topics pop up too and there was one about Universal UK. In response the topic of Alton Towers came up and i was quite surprised how overwhelmingly negative the comments were. I don't know how representative of the "general public" that is of course.

The main gripes were "two hour queues", "too many fast passes", "terrible food" and "undertrained child staff". It does seem like the park increasingly has a very poor reputation?

Alton Towers resort is 3.8/5 on TripAdvisor, which reflects similar complaints on queue times and the like.

Legoland Windsor is only on 3.2 though, largely from a terrible Christmas offering.
Chessington also 3.2, Thorpe a little better at 3.7.
Drayton Manor is 3.9, Blackpool Pleasure Beach 4.0, and Paultons 4.5.

Not a surprise Paultons is the highest rated on Tripadvisor, but also Adventure Island Southend at 4.4/5 shows that just focusing on the rides works well.
I do think its the parks with accomodation and Christmas events that have higher expectations so when it does go wrong people are disappointed.

 

[Bowser]

Alton Towers resort is 3.8/5 on TripAdvisor, which reflects similar complaints on queue times and the like.

Legoland Windsor is only on 3.2 though, largely from a terrible Christmas offering.
Chessington also 3.2, Thorpe a little better at 3.7.
Drayton Manor is 3.9, Blackpool Pleasure Beach 4.0, and Paultons 4.5.

Not a surprise Paultons is the highest rated on Tripadvisor, but also Adventure Island Southend at 4.4/5 shows that just focusing on the rides works well.
I do think its the parks with accomodation and Christmas events that have higher expectations so when it does go wrong people are disappointed.

All the theme parks have Christmas events except Thorpe/Blackpool and all have accommodation except Paultons (though it’s coming) so not sure that correlates? Bookmark to check the ratings again in 6 months time!

 

[Benzin]

Would say the expectations are a huge factor into how the parks are rated.

Given majority of people visit in school holidays where the queues are awful, Fastrack is often essential and the food is the food it's little wonder that people would think negatively of the place. I'm guessing the "undertrained child staff" is a little Boomer-esque as ride host isn't going to pay the mortgage and is an entirely different problem to solve.

Towers has marketed itself as the No. 1 UK theme park for years and the quality has declined. Its a household name nationally so the expectation is still there to have a good day. Drayton will win out with lower expectation levels and having non-ride things to do on top of it all (the quality of the zoo notwithstanding).

You get the reputation you deserve.

 

[jon81uk]

All the theme parks have Christmas events except Thorpe/Blackpool and all have accommodation except Paultons (though it’s coming) so not sure that correlates? Bookmark to check the ratings again in 6 months time!

But I think the expectation of what a Christmas at Alton Towers with a hotel stay etc is very different to an event at Adventure Island or BPB. I think that's where a lot of the recent poor scores come from you go to Alton or Legoland with a level of expectation and then if the product doesn't live up to it (even if you do receive what was promised) the review scores are low.
Paulton is (as far as can see) is meeting peoples expectations and doesn't have accommodation which is lowering the scores at Alton Towers due to poor cleaning etc.

 

[rob666]

I'm a member of another non theme park related forum but it has general topics pop up too and there was one about Universal UK. In response the topic of Alton Towers came up and i was quite surprised how overwhelmingly negative the comments were. I don't know how representative of the "general public" that is of course.

The main gripes were "two hour queues", "too many fast passes", "terrible food" and "undertrained child staff". It does seem like the park increasingly has a very poor reputation?

I have never managed to get to the Towers with my best mate and his family.
His good lady had been on a corporate do in the hotels, with two free afternoons on the park with a couple of fasttracks.
Good times until the fasttracks ran out.
"Never, ever, again. Why do people queue two hours for thirty seconds of fun? Badly managed queues full of sad looking people."
I couldn't argue of course.