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Park Hours: Updates and Discussion

Just think, if they kill off a few more rides, they could cut the hours even more then!
The problem isn't just a shortage of hours, it is a shortage of filler rides.
 
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Double post, bite and whip me.
I've puzzled on this topic since AstroDan first posted, knew the probable correct answer, but just couldn't dig out the name of park and coaster from the deepest, darkest recesses of this ageing dull brain.
A month on, without any googling...honestly...the name Stricker's Grove just bobbed up to the surface of my addled mind.
Shortest hours...eight days a year unless you book out the whole park.
Coaster...woodie... is the Tornado, considered one of the hardest credits to get due to the restricted opening.
And if you fancy it, it is open this coming Sunday.
 
Just had an amazing 10-8 day at Walibi Holland.

I also learnt from the taxi driver that Oakwood does 10am to 10pm (!!) openings on summer Wednesdays and Fridays, and their normal hours are 10-6. This obliterates the "Alton Towers can't open longer because it's too difficult to get to" argument.
 
I'm not sure it was the main argument. I'm sure it was just a way to save costs etc and increase profitability. However as usual with these "cost cutting " ideas it reduces customer satisfaction etc having an effect on future footfall and reducing the chance of growth into the future.
 
speedy said:
I'm more surprised that Oakwood can afford to stay open that long, to be honest
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When you have 5 times more people selling Nemesis photos as you do operating Megafobia, the wage bill stays in check.
 
speedy said:
Just had an amazing 10-8 day at Walibi Holland.

I also learnt from the taxi driver that Oakwood does 10am to 10pm (!!) openings on summer Wednesdays and Fridays, and their normal hours are 10-6. This obliterates the "Alton Towers can't open longer because it's too difficult to get to" argument.
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But why would you want to stay at Oakwood for any more than a couple of hours?
 
It's worth noting that Oakwood's 10pm closures are event days named 'After Dark', with DJs, entertainment and a light/fountain/firework display.

Oakwood also has the benefit of being close to a busy seaside resort.

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It’s worth pointing out that Oakwood have also made cuts to their opening hours over the years.

Pre-2009, the 10:00-10:00 opening hours took place every day in August. In 2009, the late night openings were totally scrapped for two seasons and then in 2011, they returned but only for two nights a week in August, a model which I believe they’ve stuck with every summer since.

Oakwood operate these late night openings in the summer only because the park is in Pembrokeshire, one of the UK’s most popular tourist counties. Pembrokeshire explodes with visitors in the summer holidays, but is a pretty dead affair the rest of the year. Oakwood’s hours reflect this as the park spends most of the year opening only at weekends (or just Saturdays in Sept) and, on these days outside of summer, the park only opens 10:00-4:30.

People seem to be comparing Oakwood and Alton because they’re both in remote locations, but this is literally the only similarity the two locations have. In every other way, they’re two completely different places.
 
Having been on park today I would say there’d have been little point going any later than 6pm. Given the weather and queues they were getting I don’t think 5pm was too unreasonable.
 
Thameslink Rail said:
Also in my defence, Thorpe Park was open until 10pm so why couldn't Alton Towers open late?
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Because Thorpe was hosting an event in which late night opening is intrinsic to its happening, Alton will do the same for Scarefest, but Alton have challenges that Thorpe do not in terms of late night opening.
 
Closing time was inadequate today.

Was hell leaving and multiple queues 1 hour +.

Yet more whimsical decisions made by the individual in charge rather than basing it on how many guests are actually in the bleedin' place.

Absurd.

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It’s not really worth visiting on Saturdays with a 5pm close unless you get there bang on opening, It feels like a real rush to get everything done.
 
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