AstroDan
TS Team
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance, Cedar Point
Park hours at Alton Towers have long been a bone of contention amongst enthusiasts, going back many years. Sometimes you get the ridiculous "they should be open till 10pm every night", but in practise, we know full well that would be absurd, not make business sense and nor is it necessary.
However, it is true to say, and I am sure Alton Towers themselves would privately acknowledge, that park hours over the past two years have not always been what they should have been.
I'll give an example.
Last season, it was a warm weekend day, and the park was moderately busy - with 45-60 minute queues for most rides (far longer for The Smiler). Yet, in spite of this, the park closed at 5pm - with many rides still sporting 30+ minute waits, including The Flume. Leaving the park was horrendous, as a mass of guests a) didn't want to leave and b) found themselves all heading to the monorail at the same time. It was awful.
Yet, of course - on some days, closing at this hour is fine.
What I would like to see is a commitment from the park as follows:
ERT
Early Ride Time should be flexible, to suit demand. This is the case at some other parks, including Europa-Park in Germany. During quieter periods, only 2 or 3 rides may be operating on ERT. During busier times, more rides are added. This way, the park can cut costs when it is quiet, and therefore save money to use when it's busier. Logical.
5:00pm ride close
Applies during school term time week days only. Some smaller family rides could be cut from ERT during selected periods in order to save money to put towards later opening at other times. This would be extended when a certain threshold is passed (around 10,000 guests).
5:30pm ride close
Applies on all Sundays through the year, apart from those Sundays when it's a bank holiday weekend or school holidays (see below). This would be extended when a certain threshold is passed (around 12,000 guests).
6:00pm ride close
Applies on all Saturdays through the year, all bank holiday Sundays and bank holiday Mondays, the entirety of the school Easter holiday and May half term. This would be extended when a certain threshold is passed (around 15,000 guests).
6:30pm ride close
This would not be pre-advertised, but this would be the closing time if the park was closing at 5/5:30/6:00pm and a threshold between 15 and 18,000 was reached.
7:00pm ride close
The standard during the 6-week school summer holiday. This would be extended when a certain threshold is passed (around 20,000 guests).
7:30pm / 8:00pm ride close
The absolute maximum during the season, with 20-22,000 guests correlating with 7:30pm and 22-25,000 guests with 8:00pm. Over 25,000 guests which would be incredibly unlikely, then the park could go later.
9:00pm ride close
Scarefest and Fireworks, as exists.
I do not believe the above is too much to ask. It is asking the park to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate the additional guests which visit the park during holiday periods and weekends. They have not always acted as such in recent years. If the park is particularly busy, they should allocate the funds to extend ride close, increase guests satisfaction and allow for extra spends on food, beverage and retail.
I don't want the park to close at 10pm every night, I don't think it's needed. But they do need to be more flexible, they should make ERT more flexible too, and they should alter ride closes as required. However, the benchmarks should be what is set out above.
Thoughts?
However, it is true to say, and I am sure Alton Towers themselves would privately acknowledge, that park hours over the past two years have not always been what they should have been.
I'll give an example.
Last season, it was a warm weekend day, and the park was moderately busy - with 45-60 minute queues for most rides (far longer for The Smiler). Yet, in spite of this, the park closed at 5pm - with many rides still sporting 30+ minute waits, including The Flume. Leaving the park was horrendous, as a mass of guests a) didn't want to leave and b) found themselves all heading to the monorail at the same time. It was awful.
Yet, of course - on some days, closing at this hour is fine.
What I would like to see is a commitment from the park as follows:
ERT
Early Ride Time should be flexible, to suit demand. This is the case at some other parks, including Europa-Park in Germany. During quieter periods, only 2 or 3 rides may be operating on ERT. During busier times, more rides are added. This way, the park can cut costs when it is quiet, and therefore save money to use when it's busier. Logical.
5:00pm ride close
Applies during school term time week days only. Some smaller family rides could be cut from ERT during selected periods in order to save money to put towards later opening at other times. This would be extended when a certain threshold is passed (around 10,000 guests).
5:30pm ride close
Applies on all Sundays through the year, apart from those Sundays when it's a bank holiday weekend or school holidays (see below). This would be extended when a certain threshold is passed (around 12,000 guests).
6:00pm ride close
Applies on all Saturdays through the year, all bank holiday Sundays and bank holiday Mondays, the entirety of the school Easter holiday and May half term. This would be extended when a certain threshold is passed (around 15,000 guests).
6:30pm ride close
This would not be pre-advertised, but this would be the closing time if the park was closing at 5/5:30/6:00pm and a threshold between 15 and 18,000 was reached.
7:00pm ride close
The standard during the 6-week school summer holiday. This would be extended when a certain threshold is passed (around 20,000 guests).
7:30pm / 8:00pm ride close
The absolute maximum during the season, with 20-22,000 guests correlating with 7:30pm and 22-25,000 guests with 8:00pm. Over 25,000 guests which would be incredibly unlikely, then the park could go later.
9:00pm ride close
Scarefest and Fireworks, as exists.
I do not believe the above is too much to ask. It is asking the park to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate the additional guests which visit the park during holiday periods and weekends. They have not always acted as such in recent years. If the park is particularly busy, they should allocate the funds to extend ride close, increase guests satisfaction and allow for extra spends on food, beverage and retail.
I don't want the park to close at 10pm every night, I don't think it's needed. But they do need to be more flexible, they should make ERT more flexible too, and they should alter ride closes as required. However, the benchmarks should be what is set out above.
Thoughts?