Quick Questions

[NuttySquirrel]

Does anyone know if it's still possible to get paper copies of this year's park map? I didn't see any leaflet stands last time I was there and I'm guessing with the introduction of the app and Covid restrictions they're trying to phase them out.

Still it's a tradition of mine to hang onto physical copies of park maps from the years I've visited and it would be nice to keep this up...

 

[Matt N]

Does anyone know if it's still possible to get paper copies of this year's park map? I didn't see any leaflet stands last time I was there and I'm guessing with the introduction of the app and Covid restrictions they're trying to phase them out.

Still it's a tradition of mine to hang onto physical copies of park maps from the years I've visited and it would be nice to keep this up...

As far as I’m aware, no it isn’t.

It saddens me too; I have a surprisingly extensive theme park map collection now, containing maps from most of the places I’ve visited; it ranges from Alton Towers right through to the Universal & Disney parks in Florida!

 

[NuttySquirrel]

As far as I’m aware, no it isn’t.

It saddens me too; I have a surprisingly extensive theme park map collection now, containing maps from most of the places I’ve visited; it ranges from Alton Towers right through to the Universal & Disney parks in Florida!

Oh that is a shame, I thought you might at least be able to get one from Guest Services. Aren't there accessibility issues in phasing them out? Not everyone has a smartphone!

 

[Matt N]

Oh that is a shame, I thought you might at least be able to get one from Guest Services. Aren't there accessibility issues in phasing them out? Not everyone has a smartphone!

I don’t really know, to be honest, but I’m sure you could get a physical one if you so desired, and it’s worth remembering that there are also the big maps around the park marked with “you are here” dependant on where you are, so non-smartphone users are not completely lost.

 

[AT86]

My understanding is they haven’t had any physical maps printed this year, so they aren’t available at all.

 

[djtruefitt]

There are no paper maps this year at all. There was some last year if you asked (of course had Walliams on so we’re wrong) but they would have been printed before COVID.

 

[NuttySquirrel]

There are no paper maps this year at all. There was some last year if you asked (of course had Walliams on so we’re wrong) but they would have been printed before COVID.

That's a shame, I wonder if they will bring them back for 2022. Probably not, in an effort to be Green. Can't really argue with that, they do generate a lot of litter as well. But it's a pity.

 

[djtruefitt]

Legoland still have them this season.

I guess they have to weigh up the cost of printing them vs the profits they make from what’s on the map (eg adverts for events, hotels, etc) but guess it’s hard to measure that.

And with more and more people using apps and phones then I guess paper maps will become less important.

 

[s_g_k]

Does anyone else’s app only load queue times if you’re connected to WiFi? I can never get queue times to show when it’s on 4G which will be frustrating for my visit tomorrow - it just says no internet detected. I’m on version 5.4

 

[Skyscraper]

Does anyone else’s app only load queue times if you’re connected to WiFi? I can never get queue times to show when it’s on 4G which will be frustrating for my visit tomorrow - it just says no internet detected. I’m on version 5.4

Yeah it requires wifi to work properly unfortuntely. I have that problem at Towers.

 

[DavidRock]

Does anyone know when they are releasing the membership prebooked dates for September onwards?

Was supposed to go tomorrow but wife is injured so went to change date and all of September to November is not allowing to book.

I think it was mentioned in a thread when dates for prebook we going to be released but can't remember which thread it was in (looked at last 6 pages in Merlin Annual pass thread)

Thanks

 

[Kraken27]

My understanding is they haven’t had any physical maps printed this year, so they aren’t available at all.

Good move. Whilst not everyone has a smartphone, at least those who do can no longer pick up a printed map and proceed to rip it up into hundreds of tiny pieces when they get bored in a queueline! Those pieces were an absolute sod to litter-pick up. The likely side-effect is that the marker pens will come out in the queuelines instead.

 

[Alsty]

Does anyone know when they are releasing the membership prebooked dates for September onwards?

Craig posted that mid-August is when they're expected to be released for September onwards:

Yup there's three waves for ticket releases as follows:

Wave 1 – Released March 10th 2021
Attraction reopening date – June 30th 2021

Wave 2 – Released End of May 2021
July 1st – August 31st 2021

Wave 3 – Released Mid-August 2021
September 1st – December 31st 2021

Regarding park maps, I'm pretty sure most of them were taken by enthusiasts for their collection . Online maps are better for the environment but I do think it's a shame kids can't keep one as a free souvenir.

.. at least those who do can no longer pick up a printed map and proceed to rip it up into hundreds of tiny pieces when they get bored in a queueline! Those pieces were an absolute sod to litter-pick up.

That and fag butts, and don't forget ripped toys that spread thousands of polystyrene pieces everywhere!

 

[Kraken27]

That and fag butts, and don't forget ripped toys that spread thousands of polystyrene pieces everywhere!

Yep - remember them both well. The ripped up toys used to be particularly prevalent on Easter Sunday & the first Sunday of Scarefest. Certain guests would win a toy to impress the girl they were trying to "grab" then rip it up when everything went wrong & she was not interested.

 

[Matt N]

Out of interest, how long is it between dispatches from one station on Galactica?

I’m only wondering because I’m intrigued to know what the ride’s throughput would be if it didn’t have the dual station.

 

[Kraken27]

Out of interest, how long is it between dispatches from one station on Galactica?

I’m only wondering because I’m intrigued to know what the ride’s throughput would be if it didn’t have the dual station.

You'd be pushed to get a train (craft) out every 3 mins on one station. 28 riders to disembark & 28 to load - plus both lots will faff around with shoes & baggage hold.

 

[Matt N]

You'd be pushed to get a train (craft) out every 3 mins on one station. 28 riders to disembark & 28 to load - plus both lots will faff around with shoes & baggage hold.

Seeing as that would lead to a throughput of around 560pph, I’m not surprised that Towers went for a dual station on Galactica!

 

[Rick]

You'd be pushed to get a train (craft) out every 3 mins on one station. 28 riders to disembark & 28 to load - plus both lots will faff around with shoes & baggage hold.

Seeing as that would lead to a throughput of around 560pph, I’m not surprised that Towers went for a dual station on Galactica!

Interestingly, Six Flags bought three Ultimate Flight models, with the Georgia ride opening in 2002 a few weeks after Air and the others the following year. They were all intended to be dual station / 3 trains, but the later rides were revised to have a single station / 2 trains (with an additional row) before construction.

If anything, I think a dual station does sometimes mean that you have extra time between dispatches and therefore you have less pressure to get trains out. Last time I rode the Chicago ride, the ops were checking each row in maybe half the time an Alton crew would do so, hopping between seats with one leg on the ground and the other on the foot restraint pedal.

 

[tayspru]

Bit of a strange one ...

Is there any danger to a 78 year old woman if she decides to ride a larger coaster ? She has no known heart / joint conditions, but I don’t want to say to her yes it’s fine and her end up in harms way. Im thinking mainly Galactica / Thirteen being ones she may decide to try.

Its a surprise trip with my baby nephew and she hasn’t been to the park for 40 years, so there’s a chance she’ll make up her mind to ride something and I want to know if it’s safe or if I should say no x

 

[pluk]

There is a danger to anyone of putting the body under such stress, noone can possibly say otherwise. Last month an otherwise healthy 40 year old woman ruprured something important and died on a coaster in America.

Chances are those at greater risk will have an underlying condition or weakness that they may not know about, and the chances of having such a condition will only increase with age. The elderly frequently pop their clogs with a relatively gentle fall a 50 year old would barely notice.

I'd always say go for it, what's the point of being alive if you aren't living? But I think if you are going to hold yourself responsible you need them to very much make their own decisions.