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2026: General Discussion
DiogoJ42
TS Member
I believe the difference between "park" and "traveling" in those days was: Traveling models had two huge water tank towers either side of the support arms to weigh them down, whereas park models took them off (along with the wheel bogies on the chassis), and had giant rebar "staples" holding them in to poured concrete footers.I know it was rumoured but I don’t think either was a traveling models.
Dave
TS Founding Member
I believe the difference between "park" and "traveling" in those days was: Traveling models had two huge water tank towers either side of the support arms to weigh them down, whereas park models took them off (along with the wheel bogies on the chassis), and had giant rebar "staples" holding them in to poured concrete footers.
To be fair if any company in the 90’s was going to make their traveling models as bulletproof as the park models it’s Huss. Though I wouldn’t be surprised if the motors were different as well.
However the rest (KMG etc) definitely have park models and fair models that are very different.
Squiggs
TS Team
The woes of Alton Towers opening weekends has managed to make national news. In their article on Minecraft World, the BBC asked Merlin about the issues:
Interesting use of the word 'just', there.
Merlin has faced complaints from customers about issues such as queues and ride closures at its recent Alton Towers opening weekend.
Jobson said it was still planning investment in its other parks and the company "wasn't pulling money just to put it into Minecraft".
Interesting use of the word 'just', there.
Thameslink Rail
TS Member
Playing devil's advocate, how much more do we think Merlin got in Fastrack sales compared to if everything was running? Given that one shots for the main coasters are £20, it won't take long to add up.
BarryZola
TS Member
Enough to pay an executive for that to be their actual job and presumably offer them a reason to make sure their job makes itself worthwhile.Playing devil's advocate, how much more do we think Merlin got in Fastrack sales compared to if everything was running? Given that one shots for the main coasters are £20, it won't take long to add up.
The Lynch Effect
TS Member
It was advertised in the app today from 7pm and also is advertised in the app for tomorrow from 7pm also. I didn’t get a chance to see it mind
John
TS Member
I saw (what I think was) the first show on Friday at 6.45, though I never checked the app for showtimes so I can't comment on how well it was advertised. Either way it had drawn quite an audience, though the later showing at 7.15 was notably quieter - I was just passing through for that one
Love the new signs that have been put up along the footpath from the car park to the entrance all along the lines of:
I almost admire the balls it takes to spin the inconvenience they’ve caused as ‘hey you could do with the exercise’Achievement unlocked
716 m
You have walked the track length of Nemesis Reborn
Matt N
TS Member
I think that sounds like quite a fun touch! It’ll certainly make that walk a bit more interesting!Love the new signs that have been put up along the footpath from the car park to the entrance all along the lines of:
I almost admire the balls it takes to spin the inconvenience they’ve caused as ‘hey you could do with the exercise’
Steve74
TS Member
They were putting them up on Friday afternoon when I was walking into the park.Love the new signs that have been put up along the footpath from the car park to the entrance all along the lines of:
I almost admire the balls it takes to spin the inconvenience they’ve caused as ‘hey you could do with the exercise’
Skyscraper
TS Member
I hope they've also added more lighting along that route, after I went flying over a rock I didn't see in the pitch black when walking back to the car after last year's ScarefestLove the new signs that have been put up along the footpath from the car park to the entrance all along the lines of:
I almost admire the balls it takes to spin the inconvenience they’ve caused as ‘hey you could do with the exercise’
Love the new signs that have been put up along the footpath from the car park to the entrance all along the lines of:
I almost admire the balls it takes to spin the inconvenience they’ve caused as ‘hey you could do with the exercise’
Got to keep sticking signs on everything somehow…
No risk walking next to traffic?
They don’t feel the need to stick a 7ft high fence around it or do cars not count as moving vehicles?
You have to laugh…
Secret Weapon
TS Member
Does anybody else think that there should be a bigger variety of staff outfits at Alton Towers?
The Smiler staff have their own distinct uniforms, and so do the Forbidden Valley staff and Curse staff, but should:-
- Mutiny Bay staff dress as pirates
- Project Horizon and/or Galactica dress as astronauts
- Katanga Canyon staff dress as safari explorers
- Thirteen and Wicker Man staff dress as druids
- Rita staff dress as... I don't know what the theme is
(Honourable mention goes to: Ug-Land staff dressing as cavemen - although some of them looked like they may have unintentionally done this anyway, to be honest)
The Smiler staff have their own distinct uniforms, and so do the Forbidden Valley staff and Curse staff, but should:-
- Mutiny Bay staff dress as pirates
- Project Horizon and/or Galactica dress as astronauts
- Katanga Canyon staff dress as safari explorers
- Thirteen and Wicker Man staff dress as druids
- Rita staff dress as... I don't know what the theme is
(Honourable mention goes to: Ug-Land staff dressing as cavemen - although some of them looked like they may have unintentionally done this anyway, to be honest)
MrCoaster
TS Member
With wickerman they already dress to look... haggard.Does anybody else think that there should be a bigger variety of staff outfits at Alton Towers?
The Smiler staff have their own distinct uniforms, and so do the Forbidden Valley staff and Curse staff, but should:-
- Mutiny Bay staff dress as pirates
- Project Horizon and/or Galactica dress as astronauts
- Katanga Canyon staff dress as safari explorers
- Thirteen and Wicker Man staff dress as druids
- Rita staff dress as... I don't know what the theme is
(Honourable mention goes to: Ug-Land staff dressing as cavemen - although some of them looked like they may have unintentionally done this anyway, to be honest)
Thameslink Rail
TS Member
I'm going to be unpopular and say I'd rather they didn't because I find it harder to spot staff amongst those wearing merchandise or cosplay in areas of the park where staff dress differently (particularly Smiler since there is quite a large cosplay community surrounding the ride's aesthetic).
Secret Weapon
TS Member
I've been told that I am wrong, but I vaguely remember hearing that it has also caused visual inconsistencies when Smiler staff have to cover for Oblivion, because their outfits don't match and thus they look out of place.I'm going to be unpopular and say I'd rather they didn't because I find it harder to spot staff amongst those wearing merchandise or cosplay in areas of the park where staff dress differently (particularly Smiler since there is quite a large cosplay community surrounding the ride's aesthetic).
I didn't realise that this was intentional... I thought Merlin simply weren't paying them enough :|With wickerman they already dress to look... haggard.
GooseOnTheLoose
TS Member
Galactica staff already have, or at least had, a blue flight jumpsuitesque uniform.Galactica dress as astronauts
Wicker Man staff are already dressed as The Beornen and have appropriate t-shirts.Wicker Man staff dress as druids
