I think it only wise for scare mazes to run on a 3 year cycle - 4 at absolute maximum if the story is evolving and adding new scenes. Towers used to run all of their mazes on 3 years but now it seems they just stick with the same thing for as many years as they can get away with.
"Guests don't want storylines" - John Wardley. Unfortunately, I think that is true, in part. How many people just wander through with the key desire to be scared in some way - that's what it's all about. A loose theme or narrative is fine, but a storyline that evolves etc - it's wasted effort for the bulk of guests (but the majority of this forum, no doubt). I've been through ToTT every year it's been there and I don't think I could tell you if anything has changed/stayed the same. That's not what I am there for.
Also, below is relevant to your comment.
what lies within... I can tell you what lies within... Nothing exciting
You'd be surprised actually. The people who I've been to school with these past few years have complained about how boring Scarefest has gotten, as there's nothing new to entice them back - And these people live minutes away from the park.
Also, I'm sure I've read some negative comments on the Alton Towers Facebook page regarding the lack of investment in the event.
I hear you - but, I would suggest that the decision to keep the attractions relatively similar is being made by the company who have access to the Scarefest balance sheet. If those attractions were under performing, something would change, but the cost to replace them must vastly exceed the potential that is generated with what currently exists.
Don't forget (and I think enthusiasts forget this all too often) that some attractions (whether regular or seasonal stuff) are 'new' to a whole new generation every year. The fact that they are old and tiresome to you guys, is irrelevant in that case.
If ToTT wasn't hauling in the £s, it wouldn't be there, you know that. There are lots of things that enthusiasts accuse Merlin (or M£rlin if you're a true hater ;-)) of - but leaving money in the wallet of guests is not one of them
What I do think we could see is the shifting of props between Merlin properties - that's an easy way to provide 'new' attractions/themes to this kind of event relatively cheaply. The Sea Life model, if you will.
ToTT has practically been unchanged since opening in 2009 IMO
You could take the view that it's a brand and an attraction in itself that comes out once a year and that you don't want it to change - but again, some people want it to evolve, I am sure. In some ways, with an up-charge attraction enclosed in a building, it's not a bad thing for guests to know what they're getting. Also, my above comments links to this.
You'd suit a top job at Merlin with that mentality!
One would suggest that those without that mentality wouldn't have a top job at Merlin (or any other public company) for very long if they didn't
Also with guest numbers down in a big way this year, Towers need to push Scarefest and Fireworks like crazy!
Absolutely, but whether that translates to huge cap-ex with an already lacklustre balance sheet remains to be seen. Depends what view they take. If the finances are hurting, you've got to wonder if they'll do what they can with what they've got, busting cap-ex projects is the quickest/easiest way to cut costs particularly if the project isn't going to recoup its investment for x years.
