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Stargazing Pods

In general, the main issue for these projects was a lack of time, with the Pods the main issue was a complete lack of cash to actually accomplish anything of quality in the first place - even before things were no doubt cut following the initial concepts.

Remember Merlin want to expand the number of beds in each resort theme park, all whilst diverting other investment capital over to creating new attractions mainly in the midway sectors. With the minimum wage rising staff are inherently more expensive for the park now. To me it would be better to have a premium experience, charge a bit more and that quality will encourage people to spend more. Instead, in terms of accommodation we're just getting quantity over quality yet inexplicably with a huge premium price.

This isn't just in terms of Stargazing Pods where this is happening either, you only have to look at the drop in breakfast quality, bland group-wide restaurant menus and drinks selection across the hotels too. Likewise on park too, but that's best for another topic!
 
Just one more thing on the tipi too - why are there picnic benches?! This is family accommodation, the last thing a parent wants to do after dragging kids/lumping pushchairs around a theme park is to sit hunched on a wooden bench without any back support. There's no food being served, surely some bean bags for the kids, some chairs with backs and some small tables would be much more suitable than picnic benches.
 
These sheds symbolise the overall bargain basement direction that Towers has gone in recent years. They have absolutely adopted a short term Quantity over Quality at everything they do.

The short sited season pass is evidence of that. A bargain for sure, but the fact that they are able to offer this at such a price is due to the detrimental effects it has on the park experience.

On a recent visit to DLP, I did remember scoffing at how much money I was spending, but weeks later it's the nice memeries that I'm left with long after the credit card bills have been paid. At a Merlin park, the "not quite as good as I'd hoped" feeling over takes the excitement of getting in for cheap.

Like most things, they'll get away with these extorniate sheds this season, but do long term damage to the reputation of the park.
 
Merlin come across as very impatient. They want instant profits and seem to show a lack of care for the long term affects of their business decisions.

It's all about getting as many people in as possible, emptying their pockets and then getting the next lot in.

Stargazing Pods is just the latest example of this.

Fastrack overselling, cuts in staff, cuts in operating hours, upcharge attractions, poor ride availability/maintenance - it all adds up and your average visitor is unlikely to return for a while if they've had a bad experience. The best parks in the world make sure that they provide a memorable day out for the right reasons, and guests will spread the word and return more frequently. These parks can also charge a fortune for entrance, food and accomodation but still give a good value for money experience.

@Matt.GC - great minds!
 
Kraken27 said:
2000 - Hex - opened on time, albeit with a complete rush-job final theme with Prof Graham Nicholson, that was rubbish. Theme was changed within a couple of months of opening - probably back to the original plan they had been unable to get done in time.
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The Prof Nicholson videos where the original intent, they just realised it was naff. The production value on the original video and audio was fine, the guests just didn’t go with it.

Some of the original ride announcements from the Prof Nicholson theme are still programmed into the announcement system.
 
Kraken27 said:
2000 - Hex - opened on time, albeit with a complete rush-job final theme with Prof Graham Nicholson, that was rubbish. Theme was changed within a couple of months of opening - probably back to the original plan they had been unable to get done in time.
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This isn't true, the ride was planned to be the Graham Nicholson thread from the start. It was the new version that was the rush job, but by removing it they went with a fresher approach that just got on with telling the story and worked better. Interestingly though, the original video and script was much more in the vein of attractions like Sub Terra, Derren Brown and Zufari.

Kraken27 said:
1994 - Nemesis - opened on time, but Towers grossly underestimated the demand & were running night shifts rapidly building additional queuelines.
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Kraken27 said:
2006 – Charlie & the Chocolate Factory – another cock-up. They grossly under-estimated demand & had to introduce “family hours” [that were not policed] to try and ensure the target market could ride it without a horrendous queue.
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Kraken27 said:
Construction workers quickly leaving the area as guests arrived
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Personally I think you're sensationalising slightly here. Merlin's track record has certainly been poor when it comes to construction, but it's got to be said the above situations have been happening since the very first theme parks in this country. Also Nemesis was relatively a very successful project considering the complexity of the construction and the new coaster technology, was very interesting.

It's also a standard process for adjustments to be made post-opening to cater to less predictable factors like queue demand. Often these are quickly sorted out and don't continue to affect the ride in the following years. This is quite different to the very poor planning of Smiler or poor project/design management that affected Sub Terra.
 
I would not have exactly associated having to build queue lines at night to meet demand as a bad thing at all. I think that from 1990 to the early 2000's. Alton's major infrastructure projects were a huge success. The park was transformed beyond recognition, with major investments and huge jumps in visitors.

Yes there may have been some delays and reworks, that is a given for most construction projects these days. Comparing the Pearson Tussauds days to now, is like comparing night and day, it really really is, that is not an opinion it is a fact in my eyes.

Finally, having rides open the first day of the season is not from a lack of sense, it is knowing they were the market leaders and leading the market by setting the examples. It should be expected that one of the larger parks in Europe should have their latest and greatest attractions open from day one.
 
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I think we need to probably move back toward the Stargazing Pods here as we're moving toward a more general discussion on past developments at Alton Towers - thanks :)
 
Went back to the pods and Tipi at the weekend, and it was much nicer with the sun out and people sat outside, playing football, etc. However it really shows the lack of space. Most of the sheds had their doors open, with suitcases, bags, clothes, covers, bin, etc all outside as there is a lack of room inside. It doesn’t help that there’s not much room in there to relax other than lay down.

As for the Tipi it was the complete opposite of my previous visit, in that it was boiling hot in there and too hot. You could sit outside on the gravel, but that’s hardly a nice environment either. The Tipi was pretty empty, then you go over to ATH and the queue for the bar was joining with the queue for secret garden and there wasn’t a spare seat in there.

I also had a look at food on Resort for the Sunday night, the only option was 9.45 at crooked spoon or you turn up at flambos and join the massive queue as you can’t book there.
 
I cant see the pods lasting long before they are ripped up. I think once peak season hits and people find themselves queuing for hours to use the toilet/shower and to get a bacon bap, the reviews will be so bad people will refuse to stay in them.

What they should have done is one of two possibilities.

1. Expanded the Enchanted Village, maybe with a mix of tipi style accommodation, more lodges, more treehouses and then in turn, expand the Crooked Spoon to make the restaurant bigger, have a separate bar area for just drinks, and include and small stage for entertainment.

2. Built a completely new hotel, heavily themed, maybe a true 5 star hotel which would perhaps encourage more couples and adults to stay over in more adult focused surroundings where they can have good food, wine, and accommodation.


Either way, I still cant get my head around the fact they have mothballed Treetop Quest. Guests staying in the sheds are made to walk under it and admire how fun it looks to get their room keys, only to be told its closed!!!!!!
 
They need, urgently, a proper, purpose-built, restaurant AND bar adding to the resort. Only at a Merlin resort would new accommodation be constructed without any budget for a proper job.

The use of the Conference Centre is hardly ideal and the Tipi is simply not permanent.
 
And the great reviews just keep flooding in!

"1 out of 5
Pods are a disgrace
Well don’t stay in the shoe box that is the new accommodation. We stayed first week it opened so no reviews and didn’t notice the comment that toilet and showers were on site!!
For money paid we expected them in the accommodation.
So, couldn’t find where to check in for ages no signs and people asking each other.
Pod are ridiculously small, crazy, no storage no kettle, no idea. And considering they shut the park at 5 you are a long time in.
Toilet bloke for men doesn’t have urinals and kids and maybe adults just wee on the seats.
Hot water to brush your teeth!!! What’s that about?
Also clearly not big enough to facilitate maybe 400 people.
No where sit and kids hitting footballs at you pod and people looking in as they past on the way to the toilet! Nice
When it gets wet and muddy the place is going to be a mess.
Tent as a bar, cold and bottled drinks for GBP 5 and an awful singer keeping people awake.
Breakfast an disgrace long queues and don’t bother.
Dinner you have to have a booking? Or go to the over priced awful buffet.
Then no priority to get on monorail for a further day of queuing.
This place has been knocked up by IKEA and no thought of the additional people it’s adding to the site.
For the money either pay more at the hotels or stay off site.
Disgrace."


Seems everyone is having problems finding the reception for the pods and the lack of any cold water. Amazed there are no cold water taps!!!!!
 
GaryH said:
And the great reviews just keep flooding in!

"1 out of 5
Pods are a disgrace
Well don’t stay in the shoe box that is the new accommodation. We stayed first week it opened so no reviews and didn’t notice the comment that toilet and showers were on site!!
For money paid we expected them in the accommodation.
So, couldn’t find where to check in for ages no signs and people asking each other.
Pod are ridiculously small, crazy, no storage no kettle, no idea. And considering they shut the park at 5 you are a long time in.
Toilet bloke for men doesn’t have urinals and kids and maybe adults just wee on the seats.
Hot water to brush your teeth!!! What’s that about?
Also clearly not big enough to facilitate maybe 400 people.
No where sit and kids hitting footballs at you pod and people looking in as they past on the way to the toilet! Nice
When it gets wet and muddy the place is going to be a mess.
Tent as a bar, cold and bottled drinks for GBP 5 and an awful singer keeping people awake.
Breakfast an disgrace long queues and don’t bother.
Dinner you have to have a booking? Or go to the over priced awful buffet.
Then no priority to get on monorail for a further day of queuing.
This place has been knocked up by IKEA and no thought of the additional people it’s adding to the site.
For the money either pay more at the hotels or stay off site.
Disgrace."


Seems everyone is having problems finding the reception for the pods and the lack of any cold water. Amazed there are no cold water taps!!!!!
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That review is quite frankly disgraceful! Saying it is like it has been knocked up by IKEA is a huge insult to IKEA.
 
So the target market appears to be single, childless, affluent, hard of hearing midgets who are not nesh, will eat anything, love queing have few possessions and hardly any luggage and have little in the way of personal hygeine requirements.

Guess they need a sense of humour too.

Surely, not a big market Merlin?
 
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Altonadvocate1 said:
So the target market appears to be single, childless, affluent, hard of hearing midgets who are not nesh, will eat anything, love queing have few possessions and hardly any luggage and have little in the way of personal hygeine requirements.

Guess they need a sense of humour too.

Surely, not a big market Merlin?
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When you put it like that, they’d be better suited as a Peasants village recreation at Warwick :D
 
I stayed at a Travelodge last weekend and they provided a breakfast box containing cereal, milk, orange juice and a muffin. Why don't they provide these to guests staying in the pods? There's nothing to heat up, just keep them chilled and then hand them out to guests in the morning. They could also provide tea and coffee making facilities in the tipi, then like magic there's no queues for breakfast anymore.
 
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