The Toilet Topic

[tech]

Okay, we're only a little over a week from this topic becoming front and centre again, so for a bit of a diversion away from discussions on water pressure and the pitfalls of mistaking a Dyson Airblade for a windy urinal, let's have a go at something we've not discussed on TTT before.

Lost and/or hidden toilets. Yes, we know all about the abandoned Swiss Cottage block, but...

• The First Aid building next to the Skyride station houses a toilet block, it seems like it used to be guest-facing but is now gated off - was this ever accessible?
• Mutiny Bay Courtyard has got a second toilet block hidden away next to the existing - again, "staff toilets" these days but I believe these used to be guest accessible.
• The ruins have still got a working toilet (for staff only)
• Wobble World used to have male and female toilets, these survived and were functional during its run as House of Monsters, but I'm going to guess they were removed when Gangsta Granny was installed

Any more hidden away, either within attractions (do the Dungeons or Curse have any?) or elsewhere around the park?

 

[Bowser]

do the Dungeons or Curse have any?

There are toilets right next to The Curse shop at the exit, we use them usually as tend to be quiet but don’t think they’re hidden per se.

 

[AT86]

The First Aid building next to the Skyride station houses a toilet block, it seems like it used to be guest-facing but is now gated off - was this ever accessible?

These are the same as the ones that are accessible from the Towers St Restaurant / ‘Teachers Lounge’ I believe?

 

[tech]

These are the same as the ones that are accessible from the Towers St Restaurant / ‘Teachers Lounge’ I believe?

Quite possibly! They were in remarkably good condition on my last visit which is what made me certain that they were guest-facing at one point. It'd make sense if they're still used by visitors to the Teachers Lounge.

 

[Matt.GC]

Quite possibly! They were in remarkably good condition on my last visit which is what made me certain that they were guest-facing at one point. It'd make sense if they're still used by visitors to the Teachers Lounge.

They were, very regularly. I wasn't aware at all of some of the interesting ones you've mentioned above, but I'm surprised you weren't aware of these until recently.

They were in use again when Towers Street bar and grill was briefly used again a few years ago. They were freshly painted for that reason I believe, as you could still actually smell the fresh paint in there.

Prior to that, they were used as the toilets for TS Bar and Grill throughout it's existence. From one end they were accessed from the restaurant, and I'm pretty sure I've accessed them from the other end from the First Aid centre.

They have a very 1970's Little Chef feel to them.

 

[tech]

They were, very regularly. I wasn't aware at all of some of the interesting ones you've mentioned above, but I'm surprised you weren't aware of these until recently.

(....)

They have a very 1970's Little Chef feel to them.

I've been aware of their existence for a long while (and have frequented them as staff) but hadn't visited at a time when TS Bar & Grill was operating, so couldn't quite see how they'd be in guest use behind a big gate.

And yes.....they definitely do. All they're missing really are some posters advertising an Olympic Breakfast

 

[jibbsie]

and I'm pretty sure I've accessed them from the other end from the First Aid centre.

I think I have used these toilets during the fireworks (I think they closed most of the park and probably opened them up to deal with the increased toilet usage)

 

[Matt.GC]

This may be one to pick @Squiggs encyclopaedic brain about, but when do some of the toilets date back to?

Towers Street was built in the 80's, but why do I have the feeling that the Restaurant, and indeed these toilets, predate that? I'm probably wrong, but the rest of the park toilets seem newer.

The X Sector, Fountain Square, and Gloomy Wood toilets have an almost identical design, so I assume they were all built around the same time? I can understand the the location and design of the Springfield Centre ones as that's quite a distance away from the entrance and going into an area. Fountain Square toilets would have been slap bang in the middle of the busiest part of the park at the time, between Festival Park and Talbot Street.

But the current day Gloomy Wood ones would have been pretty much in the middle of nowhere back then? They would have been near the end of the park railway, but not anything else? There would have been no Thunder Valley, no Gloomy Wood, no Katanga Canyon, and the rapids would have been accessed from modern day Mutiny Bay.

It seems like all these toilet blocks were built for future proofing as they're all double ended and very high capacity. But it would have been odd to have built a large block in the 1980's in the middle of nowhere, not far away at all from SkyRide ones, presumably built at a similar time when the cable car was replaced. Did that pathway between GW and FV even exist back then?

I was still a kid when Gloomy Wood and Thunder Valley were built, so I can't recall what that area of the park was like beforehand (only vague memories of the railway itself) as most of our time in the 80's would have been spent in around the towers and lawns in Aqua Land, Talbot Street, Festival Park, and Springfield Centre.

 

[Squiggs]

This may be one to pick @Squiggs encyclopaedic brain about, but when do some of the toilets date back to?

Towers Street was built in the 80's, but why do I have the feeling that the Restaurant, and indeed these toilets, predate that? I'm probably wrong, but the rest of the park toilets seem newer.

The X Sector, Fountain Square, and Gloomy Wood toilets have an almost identical design, so I assume they were all built around the same time? I can understand the the location and design of the Springfield Centre ones as that's quite a distance away from the entrance and going into an area. Fountain Square toilets would have been slap bang in the middle of the busiest part of the park at the time, between Festival Park and Talbot Street.

But the current day Gloomy Wood ones would have been pretty much in the middle of nowhere back then? They would have been near the end of the park railway, but not anything else? There would have been no Thunder Valley, no Gloomy Wood, no Katanga Canyon, and the rapids would have been accessed from modern day Mutiny Bay.

It seems like all these toilet blocks were built for future proofing as they're all double ended and very high capacity. But it would have been odd to have built a large block in the 1980's in the middle of nowhere, not far away at all from SkyRide ones, presumably built at a similar time when the cable car was replaced. Did that pathway between GW and FV even exist back then?

I was still a kid when Gloomy Wood and Thunder Valley were built, so I can't recall what that area of the park was like beforehand (only vague memories of the railway itself) as most of our time in the 80's would have been spent in around the towers and lawns in Aqua Land, Talbot Street, Festival Park, and Springfield Centre.

You know what... I don't think I've ever actually looked at The Toilet Topic before. But you've summoned me, so here we are.

I think you're pretty much on the money with most of this. The double ended toilets all seem to be from Tussauds early days. X Sector is from 1991, with Gloomy Wood, Fountain Square and Mutiny Bay all added in 1992.

The Towers Street toilets are a bit older. The ones by the turnstiles actually predate Towers Street and were added a year earlier in 1985, when the entrance was relocated. I'm guessing the loos behind the restaurant were added with Towers Street, but are only listed on the park map as publicly accessible in 1987, when the Skyride and First aid centre were added.

Interestingly, it also doesn't look like the toilets under the Skyride Drive Station existed until the area became Forbidden Valley in 1994, presumably to serve the additional crowds for the new coaster.

Lost and/or hidden toilets. Yes, we know all about the abandoned Swiss Cottage block, but...

• The First Aid building next to the Skyride station houses a toilet block, it seems like it used to be guest-facing but is now gated off - was this ever accessible?
• Mutiny Bay Courtyard has got a second toilet block hidden away next to the existing - again, "staff toilets" these days but I believe these used to be guest accessible.
• The ruins have still got a working toilet (for staff only)
• Wobble World used to have male and female toilets, these survived and were functional during its run as House of Monsters, but I'm going to guess they were removed when Gangsta Granny was installed

Any more hidden away, either within attractions (do the Dungeons or Curse have any?) or elsewhere around the park?

I suspect there's more than one in the Towers, there's definitely one in the corner by Altonville Mine Tours' exit, but would also assume there's some in the old Chaplains flat, next to Hex's main entrance too.

I'd also assume there are some hidden away in X-Cite, given that it used to be a restaurant.

Don't quote me on it, but I think there's possibly two full ex-guest toilet blocks backstage too - one on the path from the 4D Cinema to the flag tower, and another on the path from Spinball to the goalstriker, where the entrance to Zombies/Carnival or Screams/Scarytales used to be.

There might also be others in the Gardens, both the Orangery and Conservatory used to have toilet blocks in them. I have a feeling the conservatory block was striped out, but there's definitely potential that the Orangery could still have facilities in it, given that was its last use.

 

[tech]

I suspect there's more than one in the Towers, there's definitely one in the corner by Altonville Mine Tours' exit, but would also assume there's some in the old Chaplains flat, next to Hex's main entrance too.

I'd also assume there are some hidden away in X-Cite, given that it used to be a restaurant.

Don't quote me on it, but I think there's possibly two full ex-guest toilet blocks backstage too - one on the path from the 4D Cinema to the flag tower, and another on the path from Spinball to the goalstriker, where the entrance to Zombies/Carnival or Screams/Scarytales used to be.

There might also be others in the Gardens, both the Orangery and Conservatory used to have toilet blocks in them. I have a feeling the conservatory block was striped out, but there's definitely potential that the Orangery could still have facilities in it, given that was its last use.

Yes, the one in the Towers I was referring to is indeed at the AMT exit. I'm guessing there must be some up in the vicinity of the Chaplains flat - I never made it up there (do you know what it's even used for?? I always see the lights left on and filing cabinets in the window..)

I can confirm the existence of the old block on the Goalstriker path, it makes the Swiss Cottage ones look like luxury though. There's a portacabin next door with facilities for staff because the original block is inaccessible. Or at least was the last time I was working down that way. Old maps show a block on the opposite side of the path too - possibly now part of the Hospitality Tent area unless that has separate provisions?

There may be a block behind the 4D cinema, I honestly can't remember and MMM/Scenic take up so much of that area that I didn't tend to go poking around unless they had something for me ready to collect

 

[RIPCorky]

The Orangery ones are gone I believe, it was used as a store for garden equipment most recently?

 

[Matt.GC]

So these toilets in the Towers by Mine Tours. Are we talking temporary chemical ones, portacabin style, septic tanks, or full on plumbed in to water mains and sewer full fat full sugar versions?

I don't know how you'd go about installing permanent toilets in an old listed building? I also imagine them being creepy with big black iron cisterns and chains?

 

[Squiggs]

Yes, the one in the Towers I was referring to is indeed at the AMT exit. I'm guessing there must be some up in the vicinity of the Chaplains flat - I never made it up there (do you know what it's even used for?? I always see the lights left on and filing cabinets in the window..)

I want to say... wardrobe? It was certainly where wardrobe was at one point, you used to be able to see all the old parade costumes in there, though that was maybe 15 years ago. I think one of the recording studios is in there too, which I would presume was the one used more recently.

And just for a... treat?(!?) Lord only knows why, but for some reason we have a picture of the toilet by the exit to Altonville Mine Tours. Funnily enough, I've never found a reason to use it on the site before now, so... enjoy.

Luxury, I tell thee.

 

[Squiggs]

So these toilets in the Towers by Mine Tours. Are we talking temporary chemical ones, portacabin style, septic tanks, or full on plumbed in to water mains and sewer full fat full sugar versions?

I don't know how you'd go about installing permanent toilets in an old listed building? I also imagine them being creepy with big black iron cisterns and chains?

The Towers are a weird old place. Not always quite so ruined as you might expect.

 

[tech]

So these toilets in the Towers by Mine Tours. Are we talking temporary chemical ones, portacabin style, septic tanks, or full on plumbed in to water mains and sewer full fat full sugar versions?

I don't know how you'd go about installing permanent toilets in an old listed building? I also imagine them being creepy with big black iron cisterns and chains?

Squiggs beat me to it with an actual picture before I could respond, but it's my (very) rough understanding that the toilet, office areas and recording studio were added sometime in the late 70s early 80s? Around the time that the big concrete floors were added, and back when past owners may not have been quite so...ahem...respectful of the rules regarding construction within listed buildings.

 

[Matt.GC]

And just for a... treat?(!?) Lord only knows why, but for some reason we have a picture of the toilet by the exit to Altonville Mine Tours. Funnily enough, I've never found a reason to use it on the site before now, so... enjoy.

Luxury, I tell thee.

Dear lord that looks absolutely terrifying! For someone with a toilet phobia (no, seriously, it's an irrational phobia since I was a kid), the only thing that could add more fuel to the nightmares would be a pull chain and some tiles.

Mine Tours just got a lot more terrifying for me. Although I'm sure they don't actually direct the maze anywhere near it.

 

[Squiggs]

Dear lord that looks absolutely terrifying! For someone with a toilet phobia (no, seriously, it's an irrational phobia since I was a kid), the only thing that could add more fuel to the nightmares would be a pull chain and some tiles.

Mine Tours just got a lot more terrifying for me. Although I'm sure they don't actually direct the maze anywhere near it.

I believe selected guests get a swirly...

But no, this is on the floor above.

In fact, allow me to continue the purge of random images that sit on my hard drive with nowhere to go... until now.

Here's the toilet block behind the Goal Striker, complete with a chicken from Old MacDonald's Farm(?) for some reason:

 

[Matt.GC]

I can't even see inside them, but I just know they're creepy. I presume these would predate the permanent ones by X-sector then?

And regarding the famous portacabin bogs in the woods near (ish) the Swiss Cottage, do we even know the history of them? They clearly predate the theme park days, and they're in a rather odd location. They're not near anything and the Swiss Cottage had its own toilets. It doesn't look they're just dumped there either, as there's some paving in front of them.

 

[BarryZola]

Can only assume that they may have been toilets for use when walking that side of the gardens, and Towers not wanting everyone traipsing into the Swiss Cottage restaurant past diners. Or something like that?

 

[delta79]

26 pages of this. This thread is flushed with success