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Major Operational Changes for 2018

Poopoohead said:
The 3:30 is a fact? No reason to doubt you, you’ve been bang on so far
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No - the quote is in reference to Tree Top Quest being condemned for the entirety of the season.

The opening times are just rumours at this present moment. I wouldn't expect any 3:30 ride closes to materialise with these staggered openings now. My whispers don't indicates 3:30 closes either.

:)
 
I just witness one comment saying that they and his family have been going to Towers for many years and that this is the last straw that they won't be going and will look else where. Where exactly you say? He says they'll be going to Thorpe Park instead...

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No words needed for that...
 
AstroDan said:
The park will not be closing at 3.30pm.

4.00pm will be the earliest, as has been the case for the past year.
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Yay! I had a feeling that 2018 opening hours would be the same as 2017's, and I was probably right! Positivity wins out sometimes!
 
I've defended them more than most. I've understood the need to remove small scale attractions in the short term, but this is taking the Mick.

Forbidden Valley, open from 12?

Rapids, one of the few rides that can really soak up the crowds shut most of the season.

AT, have a potentially great new coaster that they can aim at a wide demographic to get the gate back up. They have an opportunity to really give those people who come back a great day, leave them wanting more and turn them into repeat visitors.

What they will have is guests entering one third of a theme park, queuing even on quiet days for non headline attractions and these people will not return.

Bad service, bad VFM, , bad publicity, and bad business.

I suspect, they will do what they did with the Scarefest opening hours a few years ago, namely backtrack on PART of this and act like they are doing everyone a favour.

A million apologies will not be enough this time.
 
But look on the bright side folks, at least you lucky English and Welsh on here folk have at least a theme park when you have what's on offer up here...

Then again looking at M&D's opening times here...Christ if they have a better opening schedule than any Merlin park, how s***t must you be to be worse than them?! :eek:
 
RoyJess said:
With so many cuts announced during a year where we have a new major rollercoaster opening really shows either that they have absolutely no faith in their new ride or that Merlin are financially in #@%* Street.

They shouldn't have ploughed so much money into new accommodation if they are not getting the guests:rolleyes:
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Couldn't have put it better myself!
 
I've heard that Merlin have little influence on the budget cuts and it is Towers management who is in charge and these cutbacks because somehow Towers are making little profit/no profit, So I can see why these cutbacks are happening. At least it looks like it to me.

If the case that Towers just isn't profitable I'm certain that Towers are thinking on how they could be reducing budgets short term until they find a way to be profitable again.

(Yeah I'm expecting some backlash at this post but try and think of the park from a management prospective and not an enthusiast prosective).
 
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Ok
So this is the news we feared

I’m not going to bother this year- further reduced ride capacity and food offering. It’s getting a joke now. Part time park

I like the idea of Wickerman but it’s not enough to entice me to spend £200 for me and my family for entrance fee plus petrol plus food. It’s jist not worth it.

Shame. The end is nigh
 
Is AT actually losing money?

Why build all this new accomadtaion when splash landings is closed a significant part of the year.

If they can't turn this round in the year of a SW, and they clearly think they can't then I don't see how they can ever turn it round.

I'm starting to think that AT as a theme park may not exist in a few years :(
 
Bert2theSpark said:
I've heard that Merlin have little influence on the budget cuts and it is Towers management who is in charge and these cutbacks because apperently Towers are making little profit/no profit, So I can see why these cutbacks are happening.

If the case that Towers just isn't profitable I'm certain that Towers are thinking on how they could be reducing budgets short term until they find a way to be profitable again.

(Yeah I'm expecting some backlash at this post but try and think of the park from a management prospective and not an enthusiast prosective).
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This is far from the case. The reality is actually quite the opposite.

A budget is set from Justin Platt - the MD for RTPs (and other members of the board).

It is then down to AT management what to do with it. Obviously they cannot offer decent opening hours with full ride availability on the pittance they have been given. The budget they are allocated is just not enough.

:(
 
If there was new management who would people have their money on? I'm feeling gutted about everything to be honest. I expected 2018 to be one of the best seasons in recent years but it's not looking that way :(
 
Bert2theSpark said:
I've heard that Merlin have little influence on the budget cuts and it is Towers management who is in charge and these cutbacks because apperently Towers are making little profit/no profit, So I can see why these cutbacks are happening.

If the case that Towers just isn't profitable I'm certain that Towers are thinking on how they could be reducing budgets short term until they find a way to be profitable again.

(Yeah I'm expecting some backlash at this post but try and think of the park from a management prospective and not an enthusiast prosective).
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I've tried, I really have. I admire your optimism and had it myself until recently, but seriously - ,if they can't make it work in a SW year (and 2018 was AT's comeback year according to Varney himself), then how can they ever make it work.

They need to throw everything they have at guest experience THIS year.

They will never have a better chance.

The time is NOW!
 
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