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Alton Towers Resort closed due to snow
- Thread starter Wilsy
- Start date
We were hoping to visit the park today but had a feeling the park might not be accessible due to the weather 
never mind, plenty more days ahead!
Better that all staff and visitors are not trying to negotiate the roads in this weather around Alton, although this might be another day or two added to the Smiler opening date ;D
never mind, plenty more days ahead! Better that all staff and visitors are not trying to negotiate the roads in this weather around Alton, although this might be another day or two added to the Smiler opening date ;D
joelpagett
TS Member
They would complain about no rides being open if the main park was to open, they would complain if the rides were open and it was to cold, they would complain if the parks closed, they would complain if they fell over and hurt themselves. All in all people will complain. Alton Towers did the best they could do.
Slugjc
TS Member
Themeparkmania said:
GaryH said:
This all shows the massive downfall in our society, slowly but surely turning in to a nation that moans and maons and moans.
Think that they have learnt from last year when the weather was bad and have made a bold deciesion in my eyes. A big and huge well done to people in charge for this
Got to say, I'm quite annoyed.
Not that the park is closed, that was inevitable and what I had set myself up for, I understand why they have to and I agree that they should.
But I was on a group trip today, pre-paid. So we had to wait for official confirmation it was cancelled or risk the trip going ahead if we didn't turn up and losing out on the money we'd already paid.
This call could and should have been made yesterday. No forecast suggested the situation was going to improve, most said it would worsen. None predicted temperatures above freezing. We needed the official announcement of closure to know that we wouldn't be losing out on a fair amount of money we'd paid. Was in contact yesterday angling for this confirmation but they wouldn't give it. I know they can't know for sure until the day, but the forecast was pretty conclusive.
Not that the park is closed, that was inevitable and what I had set myself up for, I understand why they have to and I agree that they should.
But I was on a group trip today, pre-paid. So we had to wait for official confirmation it was cancelled or risk the trip going ahead if we didn't turn up and losing out on the money we'd already paid.
This call could and should have been made yesterday. No forecast suggested the situation was going to improve, most said it would worsen. None predicted temperatures above freezing. We needed the official announcement of closure to know that we wouldn't be losing out on a fair amount of money we'd paid. Was in contact yesterday angling for this confirmation but they wouldn't give it. I know they can't know for sure until the day, but the forecast was pretty conclusive.
Rose Of Dawn
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Eejanaika (Fuji-Q Highland)
I can kind of understand Towers' position - there's no way they could say with 100% accuracy that the park would be closed, even if all the signs seemed obvious. As frustrating as it is, it is something that they could only make the call on the day itself.
Sazzle
TS Administrator
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance
The nature of Mother Nature says nobody can ever accurately predict the weather. Towers wouldn't want to cut off their noses to spite their faces if the conditions improved overnight and they'd already told the world not to bother attempting their trip.
Being at such an altitude, there's no telling how much snow might or might not fall. I remember being snowed in up there one New Years Day despite a relatively minor snow forecast, and then getting a text from someone in Uttoxeter who said there was no snow there!
I can absolutely understand people being frustrated at not having anything in advance more than half an hour, but I'd rather they assessed the situation as close to the wire as possible to see if there was any chance of it opening rather than calling time last night and no snow falling!
Plus, I don't think it's Towers' sole decision on the matter.
Being at such an altitude, there's no telling how much snow might or might not fall. I remember being snowed in up there one New Years Day despite a relatively minor snow forecast, and then getting a text from someone in Uttoxeter who said there was no snow there!
I can absolutely understand people being frustrated at not having anything in advance more than half an hour, but I'd rather they assessed the situation as close to the wire as possible to see if there was any chance of it opening rather than calling time last night and no snow falling!
Plus, I don't think it's Towers' sole decision on the matter.
Anyone thinking they have an issue with the park being closed is mental. I used to have to drive the roads around Alton to get to work and was once stuck on a country lane till 2am since not even AA could get to me. One wrong move on some of those roads and your in a field and thats only going to make the situation worse.
Besides could you imagine the stick they would get if emergency services had to be called in to rescue guests. Only in the films does snow snow everyoe in so they all get to cozy around a nice fire some where.
Besides could you imagine the stick they would get if emergency services had to be called in to rescue guests. Only in the films does snow snow everyoe in so they all get to cozy around a nice fire some where.
I had planned to visit Alton Towers today, and as such, was consulting their Social Networking profiles for further updates last night on the situation. I was we'll aware of the forecasts, however I thought it worthwhile to see what it was like in the morning.
As Lincoln was relatively ok, as is Nottingham (the route to Towers from here), and with minimal reports of too bad conditions in and near Alton, I decided to make the journey, starting at 7am. This was before any announcement or even a notice of further updates on any Alton Towers social networking. I have to say I'm disappointed in this as THORPE PARK of all places, managed to put out an update to their situation circa 6am. This was adequate time for long journeys that some customers have.
Alton left it quite late in my opinion. It doesn't take a genius to look at a park, and say if its going to be open or not. I understand the complexities of such an event but surely staff already on resort could have reported the full situation early enough for Towers to out out a report earlier.
I am not bitter, luckily I had only got halfway through my journey and as such could turn back. I wasn't angry etc, just wish communications were better. I understand its hard, but I just think they could do with reviewing things earlier than they did do this morning. Some people travel hours to the park and would need to know further in advance than two hours. That's just not enough time to make adequate decisions on journey times.
Some of you may argue I was stupid to even consider the journey, but when it's fine where I am, and the route to Towers, and no reports of major trouble near Alton, it didn't look unpromising at all, so I was in a reasonable position to decide to travel.
As an AP holder I just have to accept the day won't be on resort. My friend with whom I was visiting with booked last night and as such has a revalidated ticket, which is useful.
To clarify. I, in no way, blame the park for the decision and accept and understand it completely. I just wish they'd made the seemingly obvious choice (from their position) earlier.
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As Lincoln was relatively ok, as is Nottingham (the route to Towers from here), and with minimal reports of too bad conditions in and near Alton, I decided to make the journey, starting at 7am. This was before any announcement or even a notice of further updates on any Alton Towers social networking. I have to say I'm disappointed in this as THORPE PARK of all places, managed to put out an update to their situation circa 6am. This was adequate time for long journeys that some customers have.
Alton left it quite late in my opinion. It doesn't take a genius to look at a park, and say if its going to be open or not. I understand the complexities of such an event but surely staff already on resort could have reported the full situation early enough for Towers to out out a report earlier.
I am not bitter, luckily I had only got halfway through my journey and as such could turn back. I wasn't angry etc, just wish communications were better. I understand its hard, but I just think they could do with reviewing things earlier than they did do this morning. Some people travel hours to the park and would need to know further in advance than two hours. That's just not enough time to make adequate decisions on journey times.
Some of you may argue I was stupid to even consider the journey, but when it's fine where I am, and the route to Towers, and no reports of major trouble near Alton, it didn't look unpromising at all, so I was in a reasonable position to decide to travel.
As an AP holder I just have to accept the day won't be on resort. My friend with whom I was visiting with booked last night and as such has a revalidated ticket, which is useful.
To clarify. I, in no way, blame the park for the decision and accept and understand it completely. I just wish they'd made the seemingly obvious choice (from their position) earlier.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD