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Park Hours: Updates and Discussion

RoyJess said:
No, just an additional 3 days for the fireworks weekend which was announced after everyone booked hotel stays and time off work for the previous weekend for what we all thought was going to be the fireworks dates
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Ah right. Thanks for the clarification @RoyJess!
 
I saw a comment from somebody saying there was an exclusive ride hire in the evening by a scouting group. I hope they didn't avoid extending just because of that?
 
Alsty said:
I saw a comment from somebody saying there was an exclusive ride hire in the evening by a scouting group. I hope they didn't avoid extending just because of that?
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I suspect it could have been. Was it one of those events where they camp on Towers St lawns? That has been known to prevent ride close being extended before.
 
Rick said:
For comparison, today's opening times from across the division and some from LLP:

Gardaland - 10:00 - 23:00
Heide - 10:00 - 18:00
Thorpe - 10:00 - 18:00
Chessington - 10:00 - 17:00
Warwick - 10:00 - 17:00
Lego California - 09:00 - 21:00
Lego Deutschland - 10:00 - 20:00
Lego Windsor - 10:00 - 18:00
Lego Dubai - 10:00 - 18:00
Lego Florida - 10:00 - 19:00

Merlin aren't ideologically opposed to long(er) hours, but only where they see adequate performance. Plus... culture, climate, costs yada yada yada.
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Indeed to be fair Merlin don’t set opening times, they do set the operating budget and my understanding is Towers is one of the more budget consuming of the parks for various reasons.

I think 3 days of fireworks is the right decision but I do wonder if some years they start the season a bit too early and could save some budget for the rest of the season, particular as March weather is getting more variable.
 
Yesterday should have been 6 or 7pm.

The people on social media declaring it should close at 10pm. Please. There's no point opening much later than 7pm outside of Halloween because there's no reason to stay. Until they put an event on/lake show etc. there's little purpose to the park opening much beyond 7pm even on a very busy day.

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I think we should write a letter to Alton Towers Customer Service and ask them for more reasonable opening times. e.g. 10-5 weekdays, 10-6 weekends and 10-7 holidays.
 
Dave said:
I think 3 days of fireworks is the right decision but I do wonder if some years they start the season a bit too early and could save some budget for the rest of the season, particular as March weather is getting more variable.
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A very slight correction - 3 days of Fireworks is all Alton Towers are allowed under the noise abatement order issued following the Roper case some years ago.

I would imagine the Park would quite happily return to 5 nights of fireworks if they could. Sure, the fireworks nights cost a lot to setup & stage, but the park is invariably very busy on a fireworks night, so there is a lot of profit to be made.
 
Kraken27 said:
I would imagine the Park would quite happily return to 5 nights of fireworks if they could.
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Maybe not, as for the past 2 years there have only been 2 fireworks nights, the return to 3 wasn't even confirm until a few weeks into the season.
 
People seem to forget that opening times are also governed by the impact on the local community. Stayed in various B&B's in and outside of Alton, it is surprising particularly if the wind is blowing the right way, just how loud the park can be when in operation. Having a 5pm close means that noise continues until 6pm, 8pm becomes 9pm etc. Then there is the impact of the traffic late at night passing through the village. Then there are the staff, many of whom would have started early morning.

Dont get me wrong, I want later opening in the summer evenings, but, I dont believe everything is down to Merlin , there are other factors at play here....
 
Kraken27 said:
A very slight correction - 3 days of Fireworks is all Alton Towers are allowed under the noise abatement order issued following the Roper case some years ago.

I would imagine the Park would quite happily return to 5 nights of fireworks if they could. Sure, the fireworks nights cost a lot to setup & stage, but the park is invariably very busy on a fireworks night, so there is a lot of profit to be made.
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I was referring to the fact they had returned to three days as opposed to the last few seasons of only having 2. I think everyone on the forum knows about the noise restrictions placed on the park due to the Ropers.
 
Whatever happened to the Ropers? Did they move? Did they insulate the walls of their house with all the money they have in the bank? Have they passed away? Have they become converts and spend every day riding Smiler?
 
GaryH said:
People seem to forget that opening times are also governed by the impact on the local community. Stayed in various B&B's in and outside of Alton, it is surprising particularly if the wind is blowing the right way, just how loud the park can be when in operation. Having a 5pm close means that noise continues until 6pm, 8pm becomes 9pm etc. Then there is the impact of the traffic late at night passing through the village. Then there are the staff, many of whom would have started early morning.

Dont get me wrong, I want later opening in the summer evenings, but, I dont believe everything is down to Merlin , there are other factors at play here....
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It is true that noise can affect the local community, but there's no actual bylaws saying ATR cannot operate at 8 or 9pm. It is merely a conveniene that by closing earlier, they irritate less locals.They can open until 4,5,6,7,8,9, 10pm as much as they like.

If anything, by closing later - traffic is far more staggered than 15,000 people all leaving at once.
 
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