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Major Ride Closures 2016

The GP don't care because they have never experienced parks or attractions that follow the quality of places like Europa, Disney, or even PortAventura. This is where the Merlin monopoly in the UK creates a problem, there's no competition out there, and no desire to create anything more than the bare minimum, because they know they can do bugger all, market it as new, slap 'Alton Towers' on the end and crowds will turn up because hey, it's Alton Towers!
 
Exactly, but there was a time when they did have to bring top quality attractions and a top quality experience which gained them the "Hey, it's Alton Towers" reputation. I've seen this season, a lot of families saying go to Drayton Manor or Paultons instead. For a small, family owned park like Paultons (That isn't that small anymore by guest numbers) to take over the best family theme park in the UK space over 4 Massive Merlin parks is quite frankly embarrassing for Alton Towers and Chessington, I do love the place, and they have done some good stuff, but for major chain parks to be outdone in quality and experience by small family owned parks is quite poor. If we carry on seeing TLC, and general improvements consistently then we will have a park capable of competing as one of Europes big parks again, but it all depends on 2017/2018. I saw a post about how bad Alton was for families with over 300 shares, while I don't personally agree with the post, mainly because most of the ride closures don't affect me, I can see where they are coming from. I say bring back Frank the magic bin man! :p I try not to be negative, but there are a lot of issues which aren't necessarily merlins fault, but they could be sorted. With the attendance fall they need to do some sort of thing similar to the 'magic' branding but more updated. The park needs to be an experience, not the rides. Towers street has the magic, Katanga Canyon has the magic, once Hex opens fountain square should have the magic, Gloomy wood has the magic (apart from when nirrogenie is playing bad music) X sector seems to have lost a bit of the magic, but it is still my favourite area and that isn't necessarily the parks fault, I understand why they had to get rid of the music on extra loud, and all the other stuff. I've noticed the ministry of joy welcomes you to X sector has Gone, which is one of my main annoyances as it's the little things. Cloud Cuckoo Land, and Dark forest don't have the magic, apart from thirteens station. The thing which
Annoys me most is Forbidden Sw**p. Ok it's most likely temporary, but seriously they put so much effort into that area, just for that to be added and it may just be me, but it ruins the magic there. CBeebies land doesn't have the magic for me, but I see its appeal. Its two steps forward and 3 steps back... I really do want to see the park be successful, and I may have been a bit extreme, but this year could have been the turnaround year, but the closures have added a dampner, but apart from them and a couple more bad decisions, the park is good. Next season will feel a lot better and to be fair this season was a bit of a write off, I just hope the atmosphere is better next season, although opening day did feel magical, and the park always leave me with the magic feeling, just at points it's a bit meh.
 
Great response @Imagination - I won't quote it all because that'd be crazy, but there are a few things I'd pick up on.

I think enthusiasts overplay the ‘second only to Disney’ phrasing and interpret it as they please and in turn decide to beat Merlin over the head with it. The phrasing started as “"Merlin is the clear market leader in Europe and second only to Disney worldwide in terms of admissions" and has since been used in a variety of forms. It primarily relates to size, not quality. You only have to look at visitor levels, ridership, budgets and positions in the market to make a fair distinction between the two. Merlin operates regional theme parks/resorts - Disney operates worldwide destinations and their product is representative of this.

I don’t think Merlin, or Tussauds before them were really interested in building Disney quality attractions – not to say they won’t build great quality attractions, but I don’t think that they will do consistently. I would argue the closest that they ever got was with Hex and even that was a shambles when it opened and the product of today is the result of quite a bit of trial and error.

Each of the theming elements that you mentioned were built outside of the Merlin tenure, I would suggest that Merlin have a responsibility to maintain what was in place when they bought the park and I think they will pursue lower maintenance theming going forwards, we've seen that with 13 and Smiler, the key standout would be Swarm. I feel like Merlin went about and beyond with Swarm and that theming still doesn't seem to get a lot of love - it's pretty impressive for a sub 3m visitor attraction.

Naturally, I am in a minority - but I would be quite happy for Alton and Merlin to take a more American approach to theming and build gimmick free, lightly themed rides that are providing Six Flags and Cedar Fair incredible results and record visitor satisfaction.

Also, I agree with @Ryan B - I think theming is something that is forever overplayed by enthusiasts and it feels a little bit like a lot of folks have a mythic level of perfection in their minds that we'll never see at Alton Towers, so with that in mind you have to either:
  1. Keep moaning about it on the internet and never accept that Merlin will do what they do
  2. Deal with it
  3. Move to Klugheim
And finally… the Yeti is still broken.
 
Based purely on visitors alone, an extra 1,000,000 on a budget to take a theme from average to exceptional, would require an extra 4000 visitors a year, based on the cheapest 2 for 1 offers, over a 10 year cycle, not including offsetting against tax, increased revenue from merchandise (which is a near psychological certainty - the human condition is almost entirely disarmed by this), plus other revenue generating opportunity from better word of mouth, increased customer satisfaction, and further up-selling opportunities.

A premium/memorable experience per £1 always creates a higher degree of satisfaction than any physical purchase.

Physical purchases associated to those memories will result in favourable marketing, or there wouldn't be a (as of 2012 latest figures I have) £762 million pound (dropped due to crisis) promotional merchandise market - and that's purely based from professional distributors, not independent suppliers, printers etc.

That also included a 2009 plummet of around 250 million pounds from the credit crunch.

The better your product and the experience, the more people will wish to buy, and the more you immerse them in that experience, the less psychological resisters to purchase you have.

Yes there's going to be a natural tipping point where expenditure out balances revenue long term.

I don't think Alton Towers are anywhere like near that.

Merlin are still penny wise and pound foolish.

(sorry aware this is off topic in line with previous posts)
 
TheMan said:
Based purely on visitors alone, an extra 1,000,000 on a budget to take a theme from average to exceptional, would require an extra 4000 visitors a year, based on the cheapest 2 for 1 offers, over a 10 year cycle, not including offsetting against tax, increased revenue from merchandise (which is a near psychological certainty - the human condition is almost entirely disarmed by this), plus other revenue generating opportunity from better word of mouth, increased customer satisfaction, and further up-selling opportunities.
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Unless I have misread what you're saying, these additional 4000 visitors are going to provide an additional £250 revenue each?

Furthermore, unless the spending of an extra £1m is going to increase the number of guests visiting the park, why spend it? Particularly in a world where most advertising is viral, cryptic CGI etc.

Also, £1,000,000 isn't a lot of money, the £10m Nemesis budget was reportedly split almost 50:50 between ride hardware and 'theme'. That £5m in 1994 is more than £9m in 2016.

if Alton chucked another £1m at Sub Terra, it'd still be poor and we'd be talking about why they didn't spend six million, instead of five.
 
Rick said:
I think enthusiasts overplay the ‘second only to Disney’ phrasing and interpret it as they please and in turn decide to beat Merlin over the head with it. The phrasing started as “"Merlin is the clear market leader in Europe and second only to Disney worldwide in terms of admissions" and has since been used in a variety of forms. It primarily relates to size, not quality. You only have to look at visitor levels, ridership, budgets and positions in the market to make a fair distinction between the two. Merlin operates regional theme parks/resorts - Disney operates worldwide destinations and their product is representative of this.
Click to expand...

Fair play @Rick

Well, the phrasing, no matter how it started should never had them compare themselves to anyone or anything. As soon as you start adding in a different brand and using comparisons, no matter if they are admissions, quality or whatever, you're setting yourself up for making people compare a company in multiple areas.

It's like Sainsbury's saying "we're second only to Waitrose in the amount of different potato varieties we have". Suddenly, customers start looking out for this comparison in the two stores and then compare taste, quality and size - even though that was never mentioned in the original press release.

But people are looking out for it because the company has made this statement. So they may have more varieties in Waitrose but suddenly people express how Sainsbury's have poor quality of size and taste and Waitrose has a better taste, more variety and start to complain about Sainsbury's etc etc etc...we get ourselves in to a viscous cycle that we (Sainsbury's) started and now can't ever go back on.

Rick said:
I don’t think Merlin, or Tussauds before them were really interested in building Disney quality attractions – not to say they won’t build great quality attractions, but I don’t think that they will do consistently.
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Absolutely, they're not a clone, they're different but Tussaud's (before 2003) arguably had strong visions for every park (bar Thorpe) at the time. Alton Towers was thrill primarily with family secondary and Chessington was family primarily. It wasn't about creating Disney or Universal scale attractions, it was about creating quality and fun. The haunted house, RMT, Toyland Tours, Nemesis, Oblivion etc. They were (and some still are) theatre and show us quality! The UK quality is very different to American quality - this is what makes us different! We have a wonderful and unique quality so let's show it! But you don't have to travel over the Atlantic to see quality when it's on our own doorstep at some far smaller parks.

Why can't they be consistent in quality of additions? That's like me taking a concept brief and only bothering with half? I would fail my targets, fail my promise and not get a good word about me or any bonus! It can't happen. N:ST, a great concept but Merlin studios didn't deliver the brief, that's unacceptable from a company who specialise in that!

Rick said:
I would argue the closest that they ever got was with Hex and even that was a shambles when it opened and the product of today is the result of quite a bit of trial and error.
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And here we are, things go wrong, absolutely and that's everywhere, Alton, Thorpe, Chessington, Drayton, Disneyland Paris, WDW and so on and so on...but it's the recovery that Merlin don't grasp. When an attraction isn't quite working as envisaged during the testing stages or even if just discovered when the experience is live, there needs to be action taken and improvements (no matter how little) to ensure the attraction can work.

Tussaud's studios were committed to making Hex acceptable and spending money on what was only meant to be a temporary 10 year attraction. Yet with SubTerra, MMM seem to have slapped a scare zone on the end (which didn't last long) and that's them basically saying "there we go! Scarier now!" they failed their brief the first time around and so a small scare corridor is meant to fix it?! How can this laziness be deemed as acceptable?! I know chucking even (what would seem to the GP lots but to the theme park) a small amount (500k/1mil)...it still wasn't and isn't to brief. They create these attractions (N:ST and Galactica are two we'll use) and seem to gloss over the actual staffing and throughput logistics and then tell them to cut back or close attractions because of staffing?

The company doesn't work as a unit.

MMM go about their ways, Midway go about theirs and Resort Theme Parks go about theirs...there's no consistency in the company. If MMM tell them (the park management teams) they need X amount of staff for the "optimum experience" but then Merlin HQ tell the park management get told they need to cut X amount of staff because of budgets and on X rides (remember this is on a ride MMM designed for the park from a brief) then that shows a serious lack of understanding. Merlin HQ/Park management will have a cost-saving and logistical head on but MMM will have a creative head on, create a brief which looks fantastic on paper and then the experiences get green lit and all seems to be OK? Wait, without the long term effects being thought of in a logistical way by any of the three mentioned areas? It baffles me! MMM, Merlin HQ and Park management should be discussing, ensuring and delivering a product which can be efficient, made to the brief, quality reflected in price and affordable in the long-term for the park.

Rick said:
Each of the theming elements that you mentioned were built outside of the Merlin tenure, I would suggest that Merlin have a responsibility to maintain what was in place when they bought the park and I think they will pursue lower maintenance theming going forwards, we've seen that with 13 and Smiler, the key standout would be Swarm.
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Hmmm...so I take it in the last few seasons when these (installed during the merlin tenure) have failed:

  • Ice Age effects.
  • Sub Terra TV's and certain effects.
  • Smiler's timed audio effects, optical procedure room, smoke and screens.
  • SAW's queueline effects.
  • SAW Alive.
  • Storm Surge....just Storm Surge...
  • Zufari Tunnel Effects.
  • Th13teen's Tesla Coil and electric shutter.
  • Half of Battle Galleons
  • 2011 saw no new ride for Towers yet NO TLC anywhere

I understand what you mean about the upkeep of the effects already in place but they don't maintain the ones created during their occupancy let alone those from before.

Lower maintenance theming...fair point but I actually think they're relying on too many tech heavy elements with 13 ...Tesla Coil, electric shutter, smoke...and Smiler...smoke, projectors, track sensor audio effects, TVs, marmaliser elements...

If Merlin want low maintenance then just stop making MMM add tech heavy "themed elements" in their brief? Galactica is also more tech heavy (ignoring the VR completely) aesthetically than Air ever was so I'm failing to see the low maintenance rolling out just yet. But this harks back to the company not working in unison across the board etc.

Rick said:
I feel like Merlin went about and beyond with Swarm and that theming still doesn't seem to get a lot of love
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I love the Swarm's area, it's really really good and the detail of what is there is wonderful - the area aesthetics were designed and planned well. The little details exist too like the ride station as a vehicle etc. It's just the story delivery and there could be way more to make it even better but we can settle with what we have.

I also love Galactica's area with the paving, the portal, signs etc and I love the marmaliser and it's interaction. I love these elements and I love the effort made, it's just frustrating that they're not as proud as they should be, given the budget to maintain all these effects. Cuts have been made and sadly, too much of the front line has been cut so it's starting to rub off on the public.

Rick said:
Naturally, I am in a minority - but I would be quite happy for Alton and Merlin to take a more American approach to theming and build gimmick free, lightly themed rides that are providing Six Flags and Cedar Fair incredible results and record visitor satisfaction.
Click to expand...

No no to the theming and lightly themed rides but YES to the gimmick free experiences! GOD PLEASE - they could have such a draw if they just marketed and designed it all correctly!

Rick said:
Also, I agree with Ryan B - I think theming is something that is forever overplayed by enthusiasts and it feels a little bit like a lot of folks have a mythic level of perfection in their minds that we'll never see at Alton Towers, so with that in mind you have to either:
  1. Keep moaning about it on the internet and never accept that Merlin will do what they do
  2. Deal with it
Move to Klugheim
Click to expand...

There's a lot of enthusiasts on here and around that get it, understand it's a business and know what's realistically achievable. They're valuable and most of the time, really loyal. Park's who disregard their fan bases/enthusiast opinion tend to lose a following.

Not all enthusiasts have a mythic level of perfection...they have sense and the clarity to see other parks planning projects and experiences for cheaper yet more immersive and impressive.

It's not moaning, it's discussing, listening and sharing. People will nitpick and moan but that's because this is the place to do it.

Rick said:
And finally… the Yeti is still broken.
Click to expand...

Really off topic but yes he is. Sadly with the base and foundations at high risk of structural damage, the hydraulics are far to powerful for the foundations to cope so he has been off for years now.

Some imagineer's seemed to have cocked that one up. Hopefully with Animal Kingdom relaunching with it's night entertainment brand we'll see the Yeti restored but I know there's been serious problems with actually getting to the area which needs work with not ruining the frame of the base, ride/scene supports and spinning out of control financially. Plus, with River's of Light's GPS auto-tracking barge coding and technology causing massive issues and delays (and more money) I think the relaunch of expedition Everest (with it's new night time ride version) will still have a static yeti.

Mods, I'm terribly sorry to go off topic and promise this is my last reply on here.
 
Just as a note, in terms of 'effects' upkeep. The tesla coil & shutter on 13 were working today, as was the Duel zombie complete with smoke. Lots of mist on Oblivion.

They are trying.
 
I was on park on Sunday and the shutter was working, does anyone else thing it goes up too early, if you're on the front as you start to go down the drop you can see it go up (it gets very light)
 
I must say from our visit on Saturday there is a noticable lack of atmosphere and rides on park now. It almost felt like a February half-term. Apart from Duel there was no filler rides available to break up the coaster riding which resulted in us feeling a tad ill after hammering all the coasters one after the other.

It was busy, but it wasn't. By this I mean the park was quiet by Towers standards but the coaster still drew large enough queues as that's all there was available really - Galactica - 90mins, Nemmy - 20mins, Rita - 40mins, Th13teen - 30mins, The Smiler - 60mins, Oblivion - 20mins. The paths were pretty much empty and general public only had coasters to choose from pretty much. It really didn't provide a balanced day between family and thrill, it was thrill or nothing.

For the first time since I can remember I didn't enjoy a day at Alton. Hex, Ripsaw, Charlie, Terry were very much missed in an already dwindling ride line-up. Alton really must step up their game and come through last years difficulties fighting. The park now looks wounded and broken, a shadow of it's former self. Arrived at 10.30am, left at 2.30pm, sad times :(
 
We went to AT in the easter holidays, on a Thursday. The 1st time for us in 5 years, and my 4 year old sons 1st ever visit.

We did not get there till about 12, my thinking was

A- to beat the crowds
B- we only went for our son to get uses to going on proper rides, so wasn't bothered about missing opening.

When we got there I couldn't believe how empty it was, considering it was school holidays.

The longest wait was for octonaugts, 30 mins. Smiler was a walk on, and everything else was about 10-20 mins.

The only rides I didn't do was the oblivion and galactica, as they don't do anything for me.

Tbh the amount of rides for children is fine by me. My son did postman pat, Justins house, octonaugts, duel, rmt, rapids, frog hopper battle galleons. He loved it

Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk
 
They've updated the website so that the ride closures are clearer:

TmU3h4L.png
 
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