QTXAdsy
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Black Hole
Well folks, finally after so long, 2016 I think, I finally made the long journey back to Alton Towers and it was clear that I have missed out on a lot, oh well. As some of you might remember, I was supposed to be joined by my then gf but as you might remember...yeah. However my own mother decided to tag along who was wanting a holiday herself so me be generous, I thought why not. Finally for those who probably don't know but many of you do, I'm from the theme park wasteland known as Scotland. I just laugh in bitterness when I read through TS comments about the state of the UK theme park industry down south when neither of them known just how lucky they have it all compared to some of us... 
Anyway, what made this different was that for the first time I would be staying on the resort complex, as in the Splash Landings Hotel and after what I've heard about many users grumblings, I honestly had no idea what to expect.
So I would arrive on the 4th in which would be my time at the water park. For a brief report on the place, I liked it yet like perhaps everyone else on here that has said already, could do with an expansion. Not so keen on the many loud children running about but that's probably just me. So anyway, time for the report you've been waiting for...a Fifer's madcap adventure in Staffordshire...
On entering the park, had to take a picture of Corky's remains. As rough as she was, do miss her. However what caught my attention was honestly the large amount of Scottish accents I heard throughout the day, I'm not joking, there were so many about I thought I was still in Scotland and there is more to talk about this later on.
Now then, I had hoped to get a ride on Wicker Man but sadly it (and Hex) would be closed for the day which was frustrating for me but alas, I had to make the most of the day so the first ride of the day would be with RMT. I arrived on park about 9:30am so it would be another first of waiting on a ride before it would open which may sound typical for many of you but quite an alien concept where I'm from!
For the first ride of the day RMT ran good and for those who don't know, it and Black Hole are two of the very first roller coasters I've ever riden on so I do have a soft spot for RMT. However I will say that I wasn't quite impressed with the tunnel connecting both it and CRR in which it lacked any theme and with the lights on it really took me out of experience and feel that this ought to be addressed and as I'm more of a stranger on here and very much out of the loop, I'm unsure if my feelings are shared on here. Seriously, how hard can it be to build some fiberglass rock face in there?
Moving on, next up would be Duel and given the rumours about it finally meeting its end at the end of the season and I had to ride it before it goes. While going into this hearing about the broken effects and bad lighting I was expecting something rather poor and the end result was...interesting. While I'm not that much of a geek knowing every square inch of the ride, I will say the lighting was very poor in which much of the walls and supports could be seen and the exit line was in a pretty ropey state. Honestly it's not hard to see why it might be facing its end soon. My mother though said she loved it though however she has no idea of just how flawed it was and I didn't decide to tell her about what was wrong as I would honestly exhaust myself out.
Anyway, onto FV and time to catch up with the big cheese of Towers itself, Nemesis! That said, I had to gander over to NST to see what has happened with it and it was rather sad seeing it in a sorry state and despite what many say of bringing it back, I think a total rebuild is needed E.G my proposed shooter dark ride concept for it which honestly the more you think about it works better in a setting like FV than that of GW. Who knows what we might see next...
So onto the old girl herself, Nemesis! As my trips to Towers are free and far between, this will likely me my last rides on the 'old' Nemesis before the new one takes place. Much like with Duel, I feel I must have timed it well.
Upon riding it, I was starting to feel the roughness on her and I can remember back when was smooth so it was shock to actually be there after hearing what everyone was saying about was real. That said, Nemesis never fails to deliver and weirdly rather than being thrilled, I felt rather sentimental after my ride. Perhaps with what will be happening with her soon but yeah, other than than looking grotty in areas, her queue line music and blood rivers off, she is a good girl that always wants to make anyone's day good.
After that, it was time for Galactica, or Air as I prefer to call her as mainly she is pretty much that now given she is that now since the stupid VR system was removed and I despite fearing a large queue as I always seem to get with that ride, I was shocked to have only a 20 minute queue and I couldn't pass up on it and went for it.
The fact I didn't have to wait that long on it for perhaps the first time in all my times at Towers was honestly a shock for me. I don't know what to say other than it's a fun ride and given how it's highly unlikely I'll ever get the chance to ride on any B&M flying coaster (actually any B&M TBH) I can't really compare it to anything else.
Only complaint I do have is that not only that I want Air to return but so too the original planned Oasis theming. Am I the only one who'd want that?
And I also in that time I first saw the first of Retrosquad rides on show...anyway moving on. A Skyride later would take us across the Valley towards Dark Forest. Rita was apparently having issues all day so I decided to head over for Thirteen in which not only did I get on the second row but also the ride car I was on just so happened to have a family of three on it who all of which came from Kilmarnock as in north of the border. Honestly, I can't believe my luck which of all the people you have to encounter...
However that aside, I will say that after much of my negative feelings for Thirteen, I will say that I was taken aback of how well she rode and was quite more forceful than I remember so while I'm not a supporter of it quite as you'd think, it did make me think, maybe the outdoor layout is just that pants and needed an extra length for it with a bit more air time. Oh well...
Now then, onto a more serious note, it was on the way to X-Sector that my mother received a phone call from home which was off shocking news in which a friend that my mother knew (for personal reasons I will not name) had suddenly passed away and my mother was shocked by this news and that did cause a cloud to cover the holiday and she needed time to reflect and would spend time in the Gardens which was actually fitting she said as it did give her time to reflect on what had happened.
With her taking her time to think it all through, I headed onto for X-Sector and on first impressions...fairly disappointed in how grotty the place looked with Oblivion and Smiler looking tatty needing either a jet wash or a repaint and deeply disappointed with Enterprising SBNO and another of the Retrosquad. Yeah, not very happy with first impressions on the area but nonetheless it was time for a go on Smiler.
For as rough she might be, I have never found Smiler to be a headbanger and I really enjoy Smiler despite all this for its sheer off the wall insanity which I do love! Would get a second ride later on but more on that later...Next up would be a ride on Oblivion and for the first time, this would be one time that would not be a walk on as I had to wait this time round. Like Smiler, could really do with a touch up here and there and some of the ride video screens weren't working plus Oblivion was prior during the day was closed due to problems and at one point pulled an hour long queue though I do suspect this was down to some poor through puts.
Still, Oblivion is always a great ride and I always get that one moment of anxiety just before you get onto that holding brake. Like Air, probably the only time I'll giver get to experience a dive coaster which is really sad for me. Someone needs to start a collection to get me away from theme park hell where I'm from...
After this though with the final hour of the park before closing, I reunited with my Mother again in which we both decided to head over to Thirteen given as it had a 10 minute queue so that's what we did. This time we got near the back and if the Scottish connection was crazy enough on the first time on Thirteen, this time it was ridiculous for I encountered yet another Scottish family from Glasgow I believe.
Riding Thirteen near the back was actually quite an experience for I managed to get some air time and even more funnier this time round was that some poor wee lad with that family in question got such a scare on it that he was crying his way off the ride with his mother saying, "Well, I'll nae win mother o' the year after this."
God knows how the poor wee boy would have coped with Oblivion...
Anyway, with Rita being down with many problems throughout the day I decided to wait for tomorrow and with some time left, I decided one final ride on Smiler which turned out to be more troublesome than it was worthed. Why's that? Just before I was about to board via the single rider section, damn thing was forced to stop and it would be another 10 minutes before it would start. That was bad enough but made worse that I was stuck right behind a rather intimate couple, intimate as in they were getting rather steamy in the queueline which was uncomfortable not only as I was trying to look away out of being polite but rather reflecting on my own love life and what might have been...thankfully the ride managed to get going again and thank God for that, anymore longer and we might have been seeing tounge between those two!
After that though, that was to mark the end of day one on the park but before I had left, I did manage to get something that was perhaps more important than you realise...that retro Black Hole t-shirt you might have seen. Given how you know that ride means for me, I'm very glad to own something of a ride that means much to me.
So all in all, a day filled with several degrees of emotion but far from over just yet for part two for the following day will be up shortly and, I'm pleased to say, a face reveal! Hope my first trip report for AT was OK, been ages since I did this short of thing so I might be a bit rusty at it. Looking forward to hearing what you have to say.
Anyway, what made this different was that for the first time I would be staying on the resort complex, as in the Splash Landings Hotel and after what I've heard about many users grumblings, I honestly had no idea what to expect.
So I would arrive on the 4th in which would be my time at the water park. For a brief report on the place, I liked it yet like perhaps everyone else on here that has said already, could do with an expansion. Not so keen on the many loud children running about but that's probably just me. So anyway, time for the report you've been waiting for...a Fifer's madcap adventure in Staffordshire...
On entering the park, had to take a picture of Corky's remains. As rough as she was, do miss her. However what caught my attention was honestly the large amount of Scottish accents I heard throughout the day, I'm not joking, there were so many about I thought I was still in Scotland and there is more to talk about this later on.
Now then, I had hoped to get a ride on Wicker Man but sadly it (and Hex) would be closed for the day which was frustrating for me but alas, I had to make the most of the day so the first ride of the day would be with RMT. I arrived on park about 9:30am so it would be another first of waiting on a ride before it would open which may sound typical for many of you but quite an alien concept where I'm from!
For the first ride of the day RMT ran good and for those who don't know, it and Black Hole are two of the very first roller coasters I've ever riden on so I do have a soft spot for RMT. However I will say that I wasn't quite impressed with the tunnel connecting both it and CRR in which it lacked any theme and with the lights on it really took me out of experience and feel that this ought to be addressed and as I'm more of a stranger on here and very much out of the loop, I'm unsure if my feelings are shared on here. Seriously, how hard can it be to build some fiberglass rock face in there?
Moving on, next up would be Duel and given the rumours about it finally meeting its end at the end of the season and I had to ride it before it goes. While going into this hearing about the broken effects and bad lighting I was expecting something rather poor and the end result was...interesting. While I'm not that much of a geek knowing every square inch of the ride, I will say the lighting was very poor in which much of the walls and supports could be seen and the exit line was in a pretty ropey state. Honestly it's not hard to see why it might be facing its end soon. My mother though said she loved it though however she has no idea of just how flawed it was and I didn't decide to tell her about what was wrong as I would honestly exhaust myself out.
Anyway, onto FV and time to catch up with the big cheese of Towers itself, Nemesis! That said, I had to gander over to NST to see what has happened with it and it was rather sad seeing it in a sorry state and despite what many say of bringing it back, I think a total rebuild is needed E.G my proposed shooter dark ride concept for it which honestly the more you think about it works better in a setting like FV than that of GW. Who knows what we might see next...
So onto the old girl herself, Nemesis! As my trips to Towers are free and far between, this will likely me my last rides on the 'old' Nemesis before the new one takes place. Much like with Duel, I feel I must have timed it well.
Upon riding it, I was starting to feel the roughness on her and I can remember back when was smooth so it was shock to actually be there after hearing what everyone was saying about was real. That said, Nemesis never fails to deliver and weirdly rather than being thrilled, I felt rather sentimental after my ride. Perhaps with what will be happening with her soon but yeah, other than than looking grotty in areas, her queue line music and blood rivers off, she is a good girl that always wants to make anyone's day good.
After that, it was time for Galactica, or Air as I prefer to call her as mainly she is pretty much that now given she is that now since the stupid VR system was removed and I despite fearing a large queue as I always seem to get with that ride, I was shocked to have only a 20 minute queue and I couldn't pass up on it and went for it.
The fact I didn't have to wait that long on it for perhaps the first time in all my times at Towers was honestly a shock for me. I don't know what to say other than it's a fun ride and given how it's highly unlikely I'll ever get the chance to ride on any B&M flying coaster (actually any B&M TBH) I can't really compare it to anything else.
Only complaint I do have is that not only that I want Air to return but so too the original planned Oasis theming. Am I the only one who'd want that?
And I also in that time I first saw the first of Retrosquad rides on show...anyway moving on. A Skyride later would take us across the Valley towards Dark Forest. Rita was apparently having issues all day so I decided to head over for Thirteen in which not only did I get on the second row but also the ride car I was on just so happened to have a family of three on it who all of which came from Kilmarnock as in north of the border. Honestly, I can't believe my luck which of all the people you have to encounter...
However that aside, I will say that after much of my negative feelings for Thirteen, I will say that I was taken aback of how well she rode and was quite more forceful than I remember so while I'm not a supporter of it quite as you'd think, it did make me think, maybe the outdoor layout is just that pants and needed an extra length for it with a bit more air time. Oh well...
Now then, onto a more serious note, it was on the way to X-Sector that my mother received a phone call from home which was off shocking news in which a friend that my mother knew (for personal reasons I will not name) had suddenly passed away and my mother was shocked by this news and that did cause a cloud to cover the holiday and she needed time to reflect and would spend time in the Gardens which was actually fitting she said as it did give her time to reflect on what had happened.
With her taking her time to think it all through, I headed onto for X-Sector and on first impressions...fairly disappointed in how grotty the place looked with Oblivion and Smiler looking tatty needing either a jet wash or a repaint and deeply disappointed with Enterprising SBNO and another of the Retrosquad. Yeah, not very happy with first impressions on the area but nonetheless it was time for a go on Smiler.
For as rough she might be, I have never found Smiler to be a headbanger and I really enjoy Smiler despite all this for its sheer off the wall insanity which I do love! Would get a second ride later on but more on that later...Next up would be a ride on Oblivion and for the first time, this would be one time that would not be a walk on as I had to wait this time round. Like Smiler, could really do with a touch up here and there and some of the ride video screens weren't working plus Oblivion was prior during the day was closed due to problems and at one point pulled an hour long queue though I do suspect this was down to some poor through puts.
Still, Oblivion is always a great ride and I always get that one moment of anxiety just before you get onto that holding brake. Like Air, probably the only time I'll giver get to experience a dive coaster which is really sad for me.
Someone needs to start a collection to get me away from theme park hell where I'm from...After this though with the final hour of the park before closing, I reunited with my Mother again in which we both decided to head over to Thirteen given as it had a 10 minute queue so that's what we did. This time we got near the back and if the Scottish connection was crazy enough on the first time on Thirteen, this time it was ridiculous for I encountered yet another Scottish family from Glasgow I believe.
Riding Thirteen near the back was actually quite an experience for I managed to get some air time and even more funnier this time round was that some poor wee lad with that family in question got such a scare on it that he was crying his way off the ride with his mother saying, "Well, I'll nae win mother o' the year after this."
God knows how the poor wee boy would have coped with Oblivion...Anyway, with Rita being down with many problems throughout the day I decided to wait for tomorrow and with some time left, I decided one final ride on Smiler which turned out to be more troublesome than it was worthed. Why's that? Just before I was about to board via the single rider section, damn thing was forced to stop and it would be another 10 minutes before it would start. That was bad enough but made worse that I was stuck right behind a rather intimate couple, intimate as in they were getting rather steamy in the queueline which was uncomfortable not only as I was trying to look away out of being polite but rather reflecting on my own love life and what might have been...thankfully the ride managed to get going again and thank God for that, anymore longer and we might have been seeing tounge between those two!
After that though, that was to mark the end of day one on the park but before I had left, I did manage to get something that was perhaps more important than you realise...that retro Black Hole t-shirt you might have seen. Given how you know that ride means for me, I'm very glad to own something of a ride that means much to me.
So all in all, a day filled with several degrees of emotion but far from over just yet for part two for the following day will be up shortly and, I'm pleased to say, a face reveal! Hope my first trip report for AT was OK, been ages since I did this short of thing so I might be a bit rusty at it. Looking forward to hearing what you have to say.
