Is Alton Towers a world class theme park?

[Rob]

As I said, the vast majority of theme parks are very expensive. Of course the quality and subsequent percieved value for money varies but there is worse than Atlon Towers out there for that, a lot worse. I fully accept that F&B has gone downhill massively over the past couple of years, for me they need to address the quality and variety rather than the prices.

 

[jon81uk]

World class should also include guest satisfaction, which should include value for money. If it costs half of my entrance ticket to get my lunch, and when I get my lunch is tastes like dog poo, why would I think that park is world class.

If you find the food at AT so expensive & bad why not bring sandwiches? On my first visit with parents 20 years ago we packed sandwiches to eat in the queue and I don't remember buying anything.

I won't say the food is awesome, but I haven't eaten anything awful at Alton Towers. Service has been slow occasionally but food quality was always OK.
It is expensive but I don't see where you got a figure of £25 a day from. I can go with a AP and spend £10 all day (£8 pizza/pasta and £2 for an extra drink later). Even without an AP this year at fireworks we spent around £20 each (Pizza/pasta lunch, a pasty & a coffee and a rollercoaster toy).

Food prices at AT aren't that much worse than Drayton Manor or the cinema or any other similar venue. I find the food quality could be better, but is about what I expect in a theme park.

 

[Tarin Maria]

Like I said... I'm coming from London... I can't just pack a lunch. I did actually already mention that. If you'd read my previous posts.
So, charge a fortune for their awful food (which has made me ill previously), and charge a fortune for their fast tracks.
At Parque De Atracciones we paid 25 euros for an all day, unlimited fast track for almost all the rides.

 

[Rob]

Like I said... I'm coming from London... I can't just pack a lunch. I did actually already mention that. If you'd read my previous posts.
So, charge a fortune for their awful food (which has made me ill previously), and charge a fortune for their fast tracks.
At Parque De Atracciones we paid 25 euros for an all day, unlimited fast track for almost all the rides.

Well you can pack a lunch, I'm sure they sell lunch products in London shops? If you have to leave early make it the evening before!

And fastrack prices? You actually want these reduced so that they sell more, create longer fastrack queues, slow down the main queue further and reduce guest satisfaction in some areas? That is just a big no no for me. Fastrack needs reviewing completely (as I have outlined several times over the last few years) ensuring that you pay premium prices for premium products.

 

[jon81uk]

Like I said... I'm coming from London... I can't just pack a lunch. I did actually already mention that. If you'd read my previous posts.
So, charge a fortune for their awful food (which has made me ill previously), and charge a fortune for their fast tracks.
At Parque De Atracciones we paid 25 euros for an all day, unlimited fast track for almost all the rides.

Sorry I missed that you come from London, but then so do I and I would pack sandwiches or stop at a supermarket if I didn't want the food in park. As it happens I am happy with the food so will eat there

The issue with low priced fasttrack is summed up in this video

If anything they need to price even higher so less people have fasttrack and the regular queue moves quicker.

 

[smudge]

world-class
adjective

1. (of a person, thing, or activity) of or among the best in the world.

I wouldn't be alone on this forum by thinking that Towers is exactly that though.

As soon as you (the dictionary) use words like 'the best' makes the point suggestive/individual, therefore obviously there is no actual answer to this thread although I'm enjoying reading everyone's views.

As much as I'm late to add my thoughts, I prefer towers as a park than half the parks in Florida. I would rather spend a day at towes than HS or MK for example. I don't like the atmosphere at those two Disney parks tbh, and there is no doubting they are 'world class.'

Towers has many, MANY faults, but if you were to ask people to name a theme park in the UK, I would hazzard a guess that the majority would say Alton towers. So many people from all over the globe visit and, again only speculating, have a great time and think 'I'd love it if this was in our country.'

TLDR; I think towers is undoubtedly world class - it's visitor numbers say that alone.

 

[Tarin Maria]

Because I've always loved the idea of eating rotten fruit and gone off ham in a stale sandwich.
How am I supposed to keep it fresh, when I have to go there on the day before, on the train because I don't drive? Not that Towers should have better food, and it should be cheaper. Everyone should take a packed lunch.
Okaaaaaaaaay then.

 

[Rob]

Because I've always loved the idea of eating rotten fruit and gone off ham in a stale sandwich.
How am I supposed to keep it fresh, when I have to go there on the day before, on the train because I don't drive? Not that Towers should have better food, and it should be cheaper. Everyone should take a packed lunch.
Okaaaaaaaaay then.

I'm sure they would be fine, food doesn't go off that quickly. Fruit doesn't just rot when it departs the kitchen!

A packed lunch is not the solution for everyone, but if one really does not like any of the food at any theme park they visit then it is an option. The food at Towers is nowhere near the best theme park food I have had but it is also nowhere near the worst. For theme park food I think it is pretty decent and you can get good meals at the likes of Woodcutters and Towers St. Bar & Grill.

 

[Tarin Maria]

Shame about getting sick after going to Tavern though. However, that seems to be acceptable standards by some people.
If the food is bad and so overpriced people are actually recommending other people to take a packed lunch, how can it be world class?

 

[jon81uk]

Because I've always loved the idea of eating rotten fruit and gone off ham in a stale sandwich.
How am I supposed to keep it fresh, when I have to go there on the day before, on the train because I don't drive? Not that Towers should have better food, and it should be cheaper. Everyone should take a packed lunch.
Okaaaaaaaaay then.

Sorry (and I am not just having a go at you personally), I didn't realise you came up the night before. We have driven from London in the morning and packed crisps and snacks that don't need chilling.

There are a lot of food options at AT (fish & chips, ribs, burgers, sandwiches, ice cream, burritos, fried chicken etc) so I think there is something for everyone. Everyone knows that theme parks, cinemas etc have expensive food so if you are on a budget I would always advise taking your own snacks. I think they cannot raise the price much further (more than £11 for their pizza is silly) but things like fish & chips for £7 is about average really and the burger prices are in line with Burger King at a motorway services (although quality could be better it was still fine) and for a better quality burger £8.95 in Woodcutters is cheaper than most London pubs, for a similar quality, even better with AP discount.

 

[Rob]

Shame about getting sick after going to Tavern though. However, that seems to be acceptable standards by some people.
If the food is bad and so overpriced people are actually recommending other people to take a packed lunch, how can it be world class?

Did you have it confirmed as food poisoning by your doctor? And if so did you report it to Staffordshire Moorlands District Council? I don't know how their food safety teams works but they may have looked into procedures at a future inspection. You'll be pleased to know that all Alton Towers food establishments have good food hygiene ratings so it is not a major issue. One off events can happen anywhere every so often.

I'm not recommending that that people take pakced lunches because food is bad and/or overpriced. However if the food is not to your personal taste then it may not be a bad idea.

 

[jon81uk]

If the food is bad and so overpriced people are actually recommending other people to take a packed lunch, how can it be world class?

Because food is overpriced at every other world class theme park in the world.

Also go onto any forum dedicated to Disney and there will be people who love the overpriced food and those who hate it too. Overpriced food is part of the theme park experience

I always remember getting 20oz coke bottles at DisneyWorld for $2.50, or $1 in the mall outside the park!

 

[Tarin Maria]

a better quality burger £8.95 in Woodcutters is cheaper than most London pubs, for a similar quality, even better with AP discount.

I can pay that much at St Louis Bar in Europa and get a kids meal which is as large as a meal at Towers, yet the burger is made of joy and the chips are beautiful.
I can get a Nandos for that much, and that is made of nom.
I don't mind paying for food, if it's good. I've spent two hundred on a meal at a michelin star restaurant for a special treat. I was happy to pay that much because it was worth it.

Did you have it confrimed as food poisoning by your doctor?

Firstly, confirmed*. Secondly, don't get smart with me. Thirdly, do all people who end up with an upset stomach go to the doctors? No... Didn't think so. Do they go after its finished and they feel better? Nope... And have you tried to get an appointment at the doctors recently? Obviously not, since we are having to book two weeks in advance to see a doctor at our surgery.

Also, how irrelevant is this? The food is overpriced and not very good. The value for money is very poor. World class parks have a far better value for money.

 

[Rob]

Firstly, confirmed*. Secondly, don't get smart with me. Thirdly, do all people who end up with an upset stomach go to the doctors? No... Didn't think so. Do they go after its finished and they feel better? Nope... And have you tried to get an appointment at the doctors recently? Obviously not, since we are having to book two weeks in advance to see a doctor at our surgery.

Funny you say that as yes I have, twice. I got an appointment on the same day the first time a few days later the second time.

I'm not trying to get smart with you. I am stating that food hygiene is not a major issue at Towers. You may well have got food poisoning which is bad if you did. However you should have complained to either Towers (you may well have done?) and/or notified the council as at least then they would have it on reord for if there were regular future occurances.

I'm almost certain that people will have suffered food poisoning at Disney parks in the past. Doesn't stop them from being world class all of a sudden. And food at Disney parks is very expensive, and sometimes of a poor quality depending on where you eat/

 

[jon81uk]

I can pay that much at St Louis Bar in Europa and get a kids meal which is as large as a meal at Towers, yet the burger is made of joy and the chips are beautiful.
I can get a Nandos for that much, and that is made of nom.

Also, how irrelevant is this? The food is overpriced and not very good. The value for money is very poor. World class parks have a far better value for money.

Last comment on this topic as I think we are going around in circles, I have never ever been into a theme park and thought the food was cheaply priced (I haven't been to Europa yet). But Disney, Universal, Six Flags, Legoland etc are all overpriced. Disney I think does offer some value for money in places and some delicious food that I am willing to pay for. But given that the standard of world class theme parks is overpriced, I don't think the others are going to change.

If Nando's were in the park, then it would be an extra £2 per meal minimum, if you compare the KFC prices at Thorpe to a high street KFC it a lot more expensive. They know they have a captive market and therefore it is overpriced. This will never change.

 

[Rob]

Theme park food prices are like service station prices. Not market compeition so they can and will be higher.

 

[Tarin Maria]

Funny you say that as yes I have, twice. I got an appointment on the same day the first time a few days later the second time.
I'm almost certain that people will have suffered food poisoning at Disney parks in the past. Doesn't stop them from being world class all of a sudden. And food at Disney parks is very expensive, and sometimes of a poor quality depending on where you eat/

That's just bully for you, maybe your doctors aren't as busy as the ones in built up areas around London then.
I just wrote out about two paragraphs of stuff, I'm not going to post it because this has become completely pointless.

 

[TheMan]

Always lovely to see people making my posts look moderate!

Nice to see we've moved into healthcare and self catering debates too.

You know what all this proves to me, Alton Towers is no longer world class.

Go onto a football forum anywhere and find me a debate like this over say, Messi? Or Ronaldo?

Do you like them? Different question.

Perhaps we should debate those 2 and 3 star Michelin Restaurants? Rather easy to define. Heston? World Class. There. Easy.... now, Jamie Oliver... popular yes, WORLD CLASS? Debate chambers at the ready.

The thing is, unless you're an absolute ignoramus, there's no denying that say Heston is a WORLD CLASS chef. There's just none. He is. Do I LIKE the sound of most of his food? No. Not at all quite frankly lol. He's a mad scientist chef, but my lack of desire to try most of his products doesn't make him less world class, I don't define world class by whether I like it.

EUROPA PARK (may as well lol) is world class, it's Ronaldo, Messi, Heston etc (even got a 2 star restaurant). Universal. World Class. Who would disagree?

Essentially what you're trying to do, is rejig what World Class means to fit Towers into it, and it just doesn't belong there anymore. Could it? Yes, without a shadow of a doubt, and to be fair I don't think it's a million miles away, but I do think every season it gets a step FURTHER away. That doesn't make a world class theme park.

Nemesis and Oblivion, and at the time Haunted House, and arguably air for it's ingenuity, were world class attractions and they've not built one since.

Ergo.

Not world class.

 

[Tarin Maria]

Essentially what you're trying to do, is rejig what World Class means to fit Towers into it, and it just doesn't belong there anymore. Could it? Yes, without a shadow of a doubt, and to be fair I don't think it's a million miles away, but I do think every season it gets a step FURTHER away. That doesn't make a world class theme park.

Also, by everyone saying it isn't as good as those parks we all know with no doubt are world class, means it isn't world class.
(I had already made that point, but it was completely ignored)

 

[Rob]

Also, by everyone saying it isn't as good as those parks we all know with no doubt are world class, means it isn't world class.
(I had already made that point, but it was completely ignored)

No other theme park is (in my opinion) as good as Europa Park. That however does not mean that EP is the only world class theme park I have visited.

Like everything in life this all comes down to opinion. There is no real objective measure of what makes a theme park world class. It can never be actual fact. If people do not think that Alton Towers is world class then I respect that, we all have our different ideas of what it means.