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Cuts 2015: How the consistency of the product is being eroded.

CoventryBee said:
Talking of row 8, we were queuing up for it in Monday and right until the air gates opened were we then told we couldn't sit there and had to move to a different row. By this time, the train was full and we had to wait for the next one. It wasn't a major deal as the park was dead but I was disgusted that the member of staff was fully aware we were there and only chose to tell us at last minute as she let VIP fastrack users onto the back and she left row 8 chained off and we had to sit in row 7 on the next train with nobody on the back...
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I would have refused to move
 
GaryH said:
This happened to us last year in Thorpe when queuing for front row Nemesis inferno at the end of the day, disgusted, we went to guest services, complained and got fast track tickets for our next visits.
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;)
 
What is the actual reasons for closing the park so early, 5.00pm at the height of summer is pretty pathetic. Most parks extend opening to make more money, does Alton not shift enough food and merch to cover operating costs?
 
Ketz said:
What is the actual reasons for closing the park so early, 5.00pm at the height of summer is pretty pathetic. Most parks extend opening to make more money, does Alton not shift enough food and merch to cover operating costs?
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They have had a 15% operational budget cut.

That said the online calendar is only accurate for about a month ahead, so we have no idea what will happen in the summer.
 
An update on the Nemesis fastrack entrance: merge was in use today, despite the ride having no queue at all pretty much all day. Meanwhile in X sector, Oblivion opened with 2 stations (5 shuttles), but dropped to 1 station/4 shuttles later, which was more than sufficient to cope with demand.
 
I have to say the park was significantly better operated today compared to last weekend.

As John said, Oblivion started on 2 shuttles. Late openings only affected 4 rides, which didn't matter.

Was generally much, much better!

:)
 
Dave said:
Can't speak from experience but a few people who stayed over at the weekend said the new hotel entertainers where really good. But stuff like that is very subjective.
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Very true. However, the new "group" including the woman on the keyboard who looks like she would be having more fun sat at a checkout in Tesco are there to stay apparently, and all entertainment in ATH now stops bang on 9.30pm. This is due to it being the "premium" hotel.
 
Entertainment stops at 9:30pm?! o_O

Are the band gone for good now or will we see them during peak times?
 
I visited yesterday for the first time since October 2013 and found operations to be more than adequate for the numbers in attendance. They even got Thirteen open with only 20 minutes to go.

The fact is that everyone knows that when the park is dead you can have a satisfying day and be looking at re-rides by early/mid afternoon and 5pm is more than adequate for this time of year. From a crude business point of view, 4pm closures during term time weekdays at this time of year would not be unjustified. I think people would still be fairly satisfied.
 
GaryH said:
Very true. However, the new "group" including the woman on the keyboard who looks like she would be having more fun sat at a checkout in Tesco are there to stay apparently, and all entertainment in ATH now stops bang on 9.30pm. This is due to it being the "premium" hotel.
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I know there where plans to move the later entertainment to Splash Landings. Don't know if that's the case though. ATH get complaints about noise from guests in rooms near the atrium so they where looking at options around that. Margs is more distant to the Splash rooms so they have fewer problems over there.
 
The only problem with Splash is that when it comes to peak times it doesn't have the capacity to hold a large amount of hotel guests. They didn't really plan well when designing that hotel. Noise wise it's better than ATH but capacity wise it was just never designed to have much going on inside. ATH struggles during peak times too, although seems to cope a little more.

I was hoping with the Enchanted Village we would have seen some kind of larger ents venue built to ease the stress on both hotels although it looks like they've failed on that with a small stage planned to sit inside the main building.

I think they had the right idea by introducing large-scale shows inside the conference centre (before they made an awful attempt at charging people for it).
 
Always amazes me people complained about the noise in the ATH hotel, the entertainment usually finished by 10:30 though, not exactly late. But hey ho, can't please everyone! Best thing they could do in there is have a proper piano, a decent soloist and play some classy music and turn it into a piano bar sort of venue if they want to be the premium offering. I'm sure all the VIP guests would like that ;)
 
GaryH said:
Always amazes me people complained about the noise in the ATH hotel, the entertainment usually finished by 10:30 though, not exactly late. But hey ho, can't please everyone! Best thing they could do in there is have a proper piano, a decent soloist and play some classy music and turn it into a piano bar sort of venue if they want to be the premium offering. I'm sure all the VIP guests would like that ;)
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It late considering there are Lots of families staying there, with 8.00pm late for most kids 10.30 is very late. Just a bit of a tough compromise, cater for the families, or adults. Think it would probably be wise to cater for the families as that is where the money is. But the only way this problem will be solved is if they build a purpose built entertainment area slightly way from the hotels.
 
GaryH said:
Always amazes me people complained about the noise in the ATH hotel, the entertainment usually finished by 10:30 though, not exactly late. But hey ho, can't please everyone! Best thing they could do in there is have a proper piano, a decent soloist and play some classy music and turn it into a piano bar sort of venue if they want to be the premium offering. I'm sure all the VIP guests would like that ;)
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I think one of the main issues of noise is that the premium themed rooms are directly above the atrium. If you are paying extra for a Postman Pat room (or whatever the current one is) you are more likely to spend more time in the room. Also often it is a family with children under 10 who will be in bed well before 10pm.

Unfortunately when they built the hotel(s) they just didn't think about what people without children are going to do after the theme park closes. Some solutions I can think of, keep Extra-ordinary golf open later and encourage people to play after dinner, especially in the light summer evenings.
Build a new entertainment area with an additional bar area. This could be done near the lodges, but far enough out so noise is less of an issue. Potentially this means there is a sperate bar and restaurant for the lodges, but it could also offer alternative entertainment.
 
GaryH said:
Always amazes me people complained about the noise in the ATH hotel, the entertainment usually finished by 10:30 though, not exactly late. But hey ho, can't please everyone! Best thing they could do in there is have a proper piano, a decent soloist and play some classy music and turn it into a piano bar sort of venue if they want to be the premium offering. I'm sure all the VIP guests would like that ;)
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Friends of ours had this problem, they paid for the splosh splash room last year and its situated right above the bar. When guests are paying astronomical prices, surely they should have a peaceful room!

They were travelling with their 4 year old and he's not up to staying awake until 10:30. 09:30 is a happy medium....

That's why, (here comes the "E" word) Europa park sell rooms below bar colesseo at a reduced rate!

I've still not worked out why they haven't used the area out the back for an automated fountain show!
 
Ah I remember the good old days of entertainment in ATH until 11pm in the summer months, and around Halloween.

Who cares about guests complaints? They should be considerate of the other hundreds of guests and not be so selfish.
 
I think that off peak day tickets should be reduced, this might attract more visitors and therefore more money and funding to the park. Another way they could do it which would probably be more unpopular is have a wristband system like Blackpool pleasure beach. The could charge one price for a ride wristband and another for an entry wristband (towers and gardens) this would be another great way to attract families on a budget or people who are interested in the grounds but not the rides!
 
Quick question. Should the discount on food and drink on annual pass apply to the refillable hot/cold drinks? I used this several times last year with no problem, but last weekend I was told it was already discounted so the discount couldn't be used. Is that new or was it wrong last year?

I've had an annual pass for 1 year now, expires in two weeks, but not sure if I will renew now given various cuts and the huge price increase.
 
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