Scarefest 2025

[Steve74]

With the amount of new park staff who were being on boarded today, and shown various aspects of the park, I think they will be fine. Lots of brand new black and red coats being ushered around in large groups today.

As far as I'm aware, there haven't been any cuts to operational staff this year?

You've pretty much proved my point here. We heard of cuts everywhere, events cancelled across Merlin. ents team gone etc so its logical to assume that some budgets will have been cut as well. But from what you've seen yesterday, maybe that isn't the case and that proves my point that we just don't know unless we have inside information.

 

[GooseOnTheLoose]

You've pretty much proved my point here. We heard of cuts everywhere, events cancelled across Merlin. ents team gone etc so its logical to assume that some budgets will have been cut as well. But from what you've seen yesterday, maybe that isn't the case and that proves my point that we just don't know unless we have inside information.

There haven't been any events cut at Alton Towers this year. We also didn't see a mid year cut / drop off in operating hours, which we saw mid-season last year.

Whilst the Entertainments team at Alton Towers were made redundant earlier this year, resulting in the park not having the same level of background actors as recent years, it's a little more nuanced than a straight cut. The budget is still there, it's being spent elsewhere.

Entertainments have now been outsourced to RWS, but UK employment legislation prevented Merlin from having a direct replacement for a certain period of time. You can't make the grave digger outside Curse redundant on Day 1, and then immediately replace them with an outsourced grave digger on Day 2.

I agree that Scarefest will be a litmus test. The Ents team, by all accounts, smashed it out of the park with Fireworks last year, and I would be concerned about being able to top that performance regardless of the outsourcing.

 

[Matt N]

There haven't been any events cut at Alton Towers this year. We also didn't see a mid year cut / drop off in operating hours, which we saw mid-season last year.

Wasn’t Oktoberfest cut this year?

 

[GooseOnTheLoose]

Wasn’t Oktoberfest cut this year?

Oktoberfest was cut last year.

Edit: My mistake, last year was the last year of Oktoberfest. It's been a long season.

https://www.towerstimes.co.uk/news/2024/09/18/oomptastic-oktoberfest-fun-returns-to-alton-towers-resort-for-2024/

 

[Steve74]

There haven't been any events cut at Alton Towers this year. We also didn't see a mid year cut / drop off in operating hours, which we saw mid-season last year.

Whilst the Entertainments team at Alton Towers were made redundant earlier this year, resulting in the park not having the same level of background actors as recent years, it's a little more nuanced than a straight cut. The budget is still there, it's being spent elsewhere.

Entertainments have now been outsourced to RWS, but UK employment legislation prevented Merlin from having a direct replacement for a certain period of time. You can't make the grave digger outside Curse redundant on Day 1, and then immediately replace them with an outsourced grave digger on Day 2.

I agree that Scarefest will be a litmus test. The Ents team, by all accounts, smashed it out of the park with Fireworks last year, and I would be concerned about being able to top that performance regardless of the outsourcing.

You're right, Scarefest will be the true litmus test as to whether there is any noticable difference in quality/value which, if there is a dip, could point to budget cuts. But as I said originally, we just don't know for sure what cuts, if any have been made across the resort.

Yes, they did smash it out of the park last year for the Fireworks, and to be honest - ents outsourced or not - I don't think it will be topped for a long time to come.

Anyway back to Scarefest, just seen this on TikTok which was reported on ITV Central News (presumably on Friday). Hidden in a spoiler as it shows some of the inside of the Edge Of The Forest maze.

Spoiler: Edge of the Forest sneak peak

From: https://www.tiktok.com/@coastertog/video/7551806177932234006?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7436472868849026593

 

[Squiggs]

Unfortunately it doesn't really matter how nuanced you get with it, there are clearly cuts in place this season, even if some of those cuts are unlikely to actually save Merlin any money.

So far this season, we've definitely seen cuts in ents and events, with two major events cut from the calendar (Oktoberfest and CBeeies) and whilst CBeebies was clearly a limited time event, last year it was sitting on top of slots that had previously been occupied by other 'events'.

It does also look like we've seen cuts in ops as well, but here things are slightly more nuanced than previous years. For example, the Rapids has seen significant additional cuts to its operating season and the Skyride has also come back on a significantly recuced operation (I wouldn't be surprised if it was down to less than half a full operational season this year).

And we already know Scarefest has been scaled back, as one way or another we have less attractions than last year, given that Sin Bin has been booted, and the stageshows have been downsized to the much more cost-effective courtyard stage.

It does of course remain to be seen whether the new scare attractions are on the same level, or better, than what they have replaced, but it would be surprising if they came in at a level that suggests the budget for the event has been increased.

 

[Matt N]

and the Skyride has also come back on a significantly recuced operation (I wouldn't be surprised if it was down to less than half a full operational season this year).

What’s your logic with this one, out of curiosity?

The ride did open late, admittedly, but we haven’t seen it go down for the autumn like the Rapids.

 

[rob666]

Not that I watch queuetimes Matt...
The skyride was closed a great deal through the main summer holidays due to the heat.

 

[Danscott22]

You're right, Scarefest will be the true litmus test as to whether there is any noticable difference in quality/value which, if there is a dip, could point to budget cuts. But as I said originally, we just don't know for sure what cuts, if any have been made across the resort.

Yes, they did smash it out of the park last year for the Fireworks, and to be honest - ents outsourced or not - I don't think it will be topped for a long time to come.

Anyway back to Scarefest, just seen this on TikTok which was reported on ITV Central News (presumably on Friday). Hidden in a spoiler as it shows some of the inside of the Edge Of The Forest maze.

Spoiler: Edge of the Forest sneak peak

From: https://www.tiktok.com/@coastertog/video/7551806177932234006?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7436472868849026593

Seems a multiple route maze then by the sounds of it. I did get that impression from the trailer, looking forward to experiencing it

 

[Hid]

Unfortunately it doesn't really matter how nuanced you get with it, there are clearly cuts in place this season, even if some of those cuts are unlikely to actually save Merlin any money.

So far this season, we've definitely seen cuts in ents and events, with two major events cut from the calendar (Oktoberfest and CBeeies) and whilst CBeebies was clearly a limited time event, last year it was sitting on top of slots that had previously been occupied by other 'events'.

It does also look like we've seen cuts in ops as well, but here things are slightly more nuanced than previous years. For example, the Rapids has seen significant additional cuts to its operating season and the Skyride has also come back on a significantly recuced operation (I wouldn't be surprised if it was down to less than half a full operational season this year).

And we already know Scarefest has been scaled back, as one way or another we have less attractions than last year, given that Sin Bin has been booted, and the stageshows have been downsized to the much more cost-effective courtyard stage.

It does of course remain to be seen whether the new scare attractions are on the same level, or better, than what they have replaced, but it would be surprising if they came in at a level that suggests the budget for the event has been increased.

It's not cuts but restructuring the money to other places

 

[Danscott22]

It's not cuts but restructuring the money to other places

I think it’s quite clearly just cuts.

 

[Squiggs]

It's not cuts but restructuring the money to other places

That is what a cut is... if you don't have the budget or capacity to continue doing the same level of activity as before you have to cut something.

Clearly, this year they did not have enough budget to continue with the same level activity as last year, so they have had to make cuts, for example to the Scarefest entertainment budget.

It's just a fact of life, it's easier to acknowledge it and move on, rather than pretend it hasn't happened.

What’s your logic with this one, out of curiosity?

The ride did open late, admittedly, but we haven’t seen it go down for the autumn like the Rapids.

Yeah, as @rob666 said, its season has been reduced in the middle rather than at the end. The new temperature rule they've introduced has really done a number on it, and even before its summer closures, the reduced daily hours were already eating into its up time.

Without weather closures, it was already only due to be open for just over half the park's operating hours this season, so almost certainly it will be less than half, following the summer closures.

In former times the Skyride would operate from park open to close, almost every day of the season (it was far more common for it to close for wind then temperature), but this seasons 11am/12pm openings along with more stringent weather closures have really minimised it's operation.

 

[Bert2theSpark]

There seems to be a lot of pressure on the park to perform during Scarefest this year, and to make the outsourcing to RWS look like a success and not damage customer feedback like outsourcing F&B to Aramark.

From what I’ve heard the park has been determined to bring back some legacy Entertainments staff, whilst RWS has been focused on bringing in mostly new actors to the event. I’ve even heard of one actor who’s previously heavily been featured in Scarefest promo over the years, be rejected. Seems to be a lot of confusion with the RWS hires too.

From what I understand, this Scarefest has been planned to be a heavy-hitter but with the restructure of the business, there’s a lot of pressure on pulling it off but until the event is in motion, no one’s really sure how it’s going to play out.

They’ve put a lot of focus into making the event operate smoothly, and invested a lot into new offerings in the lineup but whether the quality and consistently of previous years will be the thing to watch.

 

[Steve74]

There seems to be a lot of pressure on the park to perform during Scarefest this year, and to make the outsourcing to RWS look like a success and not damage customer feedback like outsourcing F&B to Aramark.

From what I’ve heard the park has been determined to bring back some legacy Entertainments staff, whilst RWS has been focused on bringing in mostly new actors to the event. I’ve even heard of one actor who’s previously heavily been featured in Scarefest promo over the years, be rejected. Seems to be a lot of confusion with the RWS hires too.

From what I understand, this Scarefest has been planned to be a heavy-hitter but with the restructure of the business, there’s a lot of pressure on pulling it off but until the event is in motion, no one’s really sure how it’s going to play out.

They’ve put a lot of focus into making the event operate smoothly, and invested a lot into new offerings in the lineup but whether the quality and consistently of previous years will be the thing to watch.

That's quite sad if some of the in-house Scaremaze acting talent aren't coming back, but obviously there are reasons. However, the Oktoberfest Compere is back for Scarefest this year as per his Insta post (he did do Scarefest in previous years as I remember seeing him in a maze once)


From: https://www.instagram.com/p/DOdEqRSEf2w

 

[Skyscraper]

There's a fence blocking off a wooded path just behind the path you'd use for Edge of the Forest and I'm wondering if that's were Dark Hollow will be specifically located

Looks like it'll be on the path behind Rita, near where Roller Disco was located;

It could also utilise the wooded path behind as well, though.

 

[Danscott22]

Looks like it'll be on the path behind Rita, near where Roller Disco was located;

It could also utilise the wooded path behind as well, though.

It looks like it's actually on the wooded path behind but may use a little bit of the path you've highlighted. Just seen a construction update vlog and there's some sort of picnic bench theming on the path above the steps near Swiss Cottage. There's also a ramp leading up to what I assume is the entrance to Edge of the Forest, and it seems it would clash too much if it was on that path.

I'm visiting this Wednesday so will see if I can see anything from the Skyride