Was at Towers yesterday & credit where it's due, it was a pretty good day from an operations point of view. Only Rita was shut all day with the hydraulic launch building being fenced off by temporary barriers. In the stupidly short day 10-4 ride opening, we managed Nemesis x2, Galactica x1, Curse x2, Rapids x1, Oblivion x1, Hex 1x, Spinball x1 & Thirteen x1. Add onto this a lunchtime shandy in the Welcome Inn & a sandwich in Corner Coffee. So not too bad a show.
Now for the not so good. Firstly, ride operation times should have been longer - it was a hot sunny day. Last week I was in Germany at Phantasialand & Europa Park [with not dissimilar weather] and we witnessed opening time extensions at both, including a double extension at Europa Park.
Food & Beverage at Alton is just crap by comparison to Germany. Overpriced & poor quality. I ordered via a kiosk in Corner Coffee and it would not accept my MAP discount - just said "discount applied on collection". Discount refused on collection & the staff member [no name badge so you could not complain about her] had to be told what the kiosk said. She managed to refund the purchase at a till (so I have her name on a receipt) and then re-do the transaction with discount. Guess what, the two debit transactions are pending on my account, but not the refund one! I have a receipt to follow this up with if need be.
So had I not been in Germany last week, I'd be giving Towers quite a high score for yesterday. As I had been in Germany & have seen what parks there can do (neither Phantasialand or Europa are run by huge conglomerates like Disney) I have to mark Towers down. They have about 6years to get their act in order before the serious competition arrives in Bedfordshire.
Now for the not so good. Firstly, ride operation times should have been longer - it was a hot sunny day. Last week I was in Germany at Phantasialand & Europa Park [with not dissimilar weather] and we witnessed opening time extensions at both, including a double extension at Europa Park.
Food & Beverage at Alton is just crap by comparison to Germany. Overpriced & poor quality. I ordered via a kiosk in Corner Coffee and it would not accept my MAP discount - just said "discount applied on collection". Discount refused on collection & the staff member [no name badge so you could not complain about her] had to be told what the kiosk said. She managed to refund the purchase at a till (so I have her name on a receipt) and then re-do the transaction with discount. Guess what, the two debit transactions are pending on my account, but not the refund one! I have a receipt to follow this up with if need be.
So had I not been in Germany last week, I'd be giving Towers quite a high score for yesterday. As I had been in Germany & have seen what parks there can do (neither Phantasialand or Europa are run by huge conglomerates like Disney) I have to mark Towers down. They have about 6years to get their act in order before the serious competition arrives in Bedfordshire.