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Opening Day
Rob
TS Team
I can't say that I'm dead excited about it like I have been in some years (especially 2010) but it is always a day I really look forward to. It's always nice to visit the park on the first day of the season and see what has or has not changed for better and for worse.
A coaster fix will be needed by then also, although visiting Europa-Park in the closes season does go a long way to aiding that during the long and cold winter.
A coaster fix will be needed by then also, although visiting Europa-Park in the closes season does go a long way to aiding that during the long and cold winter.
Towerslover
TS Member
I'm very excited, not been on a coaster since scarefest so in need of a visit! The only decision is where to head first? News on ert would help that decision, I wish they'd get a move on and just tell us!
MakoMania
TS Member
I can't make 2017 opening day but I did go to opening day 2016 and it was great fun! I'll be there the next weekend and I'm quite excited to ride Hex again as well as get back on Nemesis etc. I also think that they need to tell us the ERT lineup sooner rather than later, it was announced in January last year! I'm probably not as excited this year as last, so I'll be getting an AT annual pass at the renewal price instead of having an MAP which I have had every year since 2012. I also got a BPB pass this year so I'm getting my coaster fix there before the start of the season at Alton
themeparkfan
TS Member
What is there to get excited about? I'll enjoy hitting the coasters again, but like I keep repeating there is nothing new! (even a flat) I cant wait to see the v vlog with sean riding the new ride at AT this year the zoom rocket ride!!!! great you tube clip to get the visitors in. its not like they've seen one before at Gullivers world or your average funfair
MakoMania
TS Member
Erm, ERT starts at 9am and Hex opens at 10:30am. You must be really eager!
themeparkfan
TS Member
Oh you bet CBabies land will be one of them!! That's all AT seem to care about!!! pity they cant sell the rooms at the CBeebies hotel (judging from all the email and feeds I get advertising it and offers, which if it was selling fast they wouldn't need to do). Just imagine if the general public don't turn up for the hotel and the delights of CBeebies land, what then??? Perhaps they need to start thinking of other demographics?
On another note I see on TV they are constantly advertising LEGOLAND today (Disney style kids stay free) so perhaps that hotel isn't selling fast either. Oh the lovely world of hotel business!! I guess the general public aren't that gullible when local travel lodges and premier lodges only charge around £100 for a family of 4 with breakfast and who cares if lego city or upsy daisy and friends aren't plastered over the walls!!!
An interesting observation
On another note I see on TV they are constantly advertising LEGOLAND today (Disney style kids stay free) so perhaps that hotel isn't selling fast either. Oh the lovely world of hotel business!! I guess the general public aren't that gullible when local travel lodges and premier lodges only charge around £100 for a family of 4 with breakfast and who cares if lego city or upsy daisy and friends aren't plastered over the walls!!!
An interesting observation
But they are thinking of other demographics. I really don't agree with this notion that CBeebies is all Towers care about. It's their main focus this season, what with new CBeebies attractions and a new hotel, but last year the focus was the thrill seeker market, as it will be next year (well, family thrill).
Towers are marketing CBeebies very heavily at the moment which obviously isn't interesting to a thrill seeker, but it's understandable as that's where the investment is this year.
Towers are marketing CBeebies very heavily at the moment which obviously isn't interesting to a thrill seeker, but it's understandable as that's where the investment is this year.
themeparkfan
TS Member
But all the same the general public don't seem to be rushing to book these wonderful rooms at the hotel so whats to say they will turn up at AT to visit Cbeebies Land to visit all these new investments there which you keep reminding us of (the fairground ride and a walk in show). Last year I visited with some mates with a 4 and 6 year old who thought Cbeebies Land was boring and the queues where horrendous with the rides a big let down when they got on them. So they won't visit again or recommend to their mates. I'm just concerned they are putting all their eggs in one basket.
Can I ask what all the thrill investment was last year?
1)they reopened a ride which was closed 2015 ie not a new investment
2)they rethemed a ride with VR which was a good marketing gimmick but not a major thrill investment.
Poultons park and BPB seem to care about improving overall offering so why can't a company (second only to Disney ) care too??? Perhaps if these places thought of marketing a discount of 25 or 30 % to MAP holders and custom went there instead and saw what was on offer and spend money there instead Merlin might take some serious thought! !
Can I ask what all the thrill investment was last year?
1)they reopened a ride which was closed 2015 ie not a new investment
2)they rethemed a ride with VR which was a good marketing gimmick but not a major thrill investment.
Poultons park and BPB seem to care about improving overall offering so why can't a company (second only to Disney ) care too??? Perhaps if these places thought of marketing a discount of 25 or 30 % to MAP holders and custom went there instead and saw what was on offer and spend money there instead Merlin might take some serious thought! !
Galactica was still a thrill investment, regardless of whether it was an entirely new ride or not. Money was put into the project, therefore it was an investment.
And the main reason the hotel rooms may be struggling to sell is because of the ridiculous prices, not because there is a lack of interest in CBeebies. Amongst very young children, the area is still popular and the hotel is a good idea in theory.
And again, it's only this year where Towers aren't focusing their marketing on the thrill seekers. If we take the past decade alone, 2010 there was TH13TEEN, 2011 they had the battle of the coasters which was heavily advertised on social media, 2012 Sub Terra, 2013 The Smiler, 2015 the Big 6 challenge, 2016 Galactica and next year SW8. To suggest they're neglecting the thrill seeker market just isn't accurate. You have to have some years where the focus is on the younger market. The year Peppa Pig world opened at Paulton's, 90+ per cent of their marketing was aimed around that.
I get your point about not putting eggs in one basket, but it's still closed season. At a time when the park isn't open, most of the advertising posts on facebook are going to be regarding new attractions in anticipation of the new season, and this year that's all CBeebies. There's likely to be more posts regarding other, non-CBeebies attractions once the park is open again.
At the moment, I'd say thrill seekers are pretty well represented at Towers with the world-class lineup of coasters, as are very young children with CBeebies (I'm not surprised you know a six year old who was bored of CBeebies, as I'd say it's aimed at slightly younger children than that. And of course, not all young children are going to like the same thing). The family market, consisting of children too old for CBeebies yet too small for the big coasters, are the demographic most in need of attention. It's always bad when rides are closed without replacements, and yes Towers should look into replacing Submission and Ripsaw in the not too distant future, but I'd say rides like Charlie, The Flume and Wobble World are in more immediate need of being replaced.
And the main reason the hotel rooms may be struggling to sell is because of the ridiculous prices, not because there is a lack of interest in CBeebies. Amongst very young children, the area is still popular and the hotel is a good idea in theory.
And again, it's only this year where Towers aren't focusing their marketing on the thrill seekers. If we take the past decade alone, 2010 there was TH13TEEN, 2011 they had the battle of the coasters which was heavily advertised on social media, 2012 Sub Terra, 2013 The Smiler, 2015 the Big 6 challenge, 2016 Galactica and next year SW8. To suggest they're neglecting the thrill seeker market just isn't accurate. You have to have some years where the focus is on the younger market. The year Peppa Pig world opened at Paulton's, 90+ per cent of their marketing was aimed around that.
I get your point about not putting eggs in one basket, but it's still closed season. At a time when the park isn't open, most of the advertising posts on facebook are going to be regarding new attractions in anticipation of the new season, and this year that's all CBeebies. There's likely to be more posts regarding other, non-CBeebies attractions once the park is open again.
At the moment, I'd say thrill seekers are pretty well represented at Towers with the world-class lineup of coasters, as are very young children with CBeebies (I'm not surprised you know a six year old who was bored of CBeebies, as I'd say it's aimed at slightly younger children than that. And of course, not all young children are going to like the same thing). The family market, consisting of children too old for CBeebies yet too small for the big coasters, are the demographic most in need of attention. It's always bad when rides are closed without replacements, and yes Towers should look into replacing Submission and Ripsaw in the not too distant future, but I'd say rides like Charlie, The Flume and Wobble World are in more immediate need of being replaced.
themeparkfan
TS Member
Sorry to go off topic and perhaps we could start a specific one, but can I ask a few questions?
1) What year did CBEEBIES Land open?2014
2)Did it get a new attractions for 2015? Yes new junior rollercoaster Octonauts.
3)Where any 2016 "cuts" imposed on the area ? No they kept entertainment and no ride closures.
4)Was the area given investment for 2017? Yes lots new flat ride and walk in show.
It's a pity AT haven't shown that level of care to any other 7/8ths of the park . So I cannot see how people can say it isn't Cbeebies focused.
The point before also included that the 4 year old was bored too! Mum was a consultant and dad a GP. The kind of professional people they'll need with disposable income to spend. So if you're not catching their attention they are seriously going to have to look at the pricing strategy. Kids can be harder to please than us enthusiasts! So maybe AT better be aware not to oversell this new ride as I'm sure most kids will have been on a similar one at the visiting fairground. And would expect more after spending £30 or £60
Plus regarding CATCF . They've had 17 months to sort it!! Since closing November 2015 So why haven't they?? It's taken them only 7 months to retheme Bubbleworks. Once again showing all they care about is Cbeebies.
Oh I shouldn't forget hotels and rollercoaster restaurant (areas to spend more money in!!) not enhancing the actual park experience we spent admission money on.
1) What year did CBEEBIES Land open?2014
2)Did it get a new attractions for 2015? Yes new junior rollercoaster Octonauts.
3)Where any 2016 "cuts" imposed on the area ? No they kept entertainment and no ride closures.
4)Was the area given investment for 2017? Yes lots new flat ride and walk in show.
It's a pity AT haven't shown that level of care to any other 7/8ths of the park . So I cannot see how people can say it isn't Cbeebies focused.
The point before also included that the 4 year old was bored too! Mum was a consultant and dad a GP. The kind of professional people they'll need with disposable income to spend. So if you're not catching their attention they are seriously going to have to look at the pricing strategy. Kids can be harder to please than us enthusiasts! So maybe AT better be aware not to oversell this new ride as I'm sure most kids will have been on a similar one at the visiting fairground. And would expect more after spending £30 or £60
Plus regarding CATCF . They've had 17 months to sort it!! Since closing November 2015 So why haven't they?? It's taken them only 7 months to retheme Bubbleworks. Once again showing all they care about is Cbeebies.
Oh I shouldn't forget hotels and rollercoaster restaurant (areas to spend more money in!!) not enhancing the actual park experience we spent admission money on.
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Rob
TS Team
Please avoid triple posting if you can and make use of the edit feature if you wish to add to a post before someone else has replied. I have merged your posts together.
Also we've got off topic in this thread as well, so back to the subject of opening day please. There any plenty of threads to discuss the above issues, alternatively feel free to create a thread about whether CBeebies Land is taking priority at Alton Towers like Thomas Land is at Drayton.
Thanks.
Also we've got off topic in this thread as well, so back to the subject of opening day please. There any plenty of threads to discuss the above issues, alternatively feel free to create a thread about whether CBeebies Land is taking priority at Alton Towers like Thomas Land is at Drayton.
Thanks.
