The Toilet Topic

[MaxPower]

Well, this season had gone down the toilet pretty quickly that's for sure...

I actually find this stuff really quite interesting, I love all the old abandoned artifacts that are knocking about in theme parks.

 

[Squiggs]

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?

Looking at the maps, it looks like those were from the 80s. Though, they operated alongside the current X-Sector block for a couple of season before that path was closed off. The X Sector ones actually replaced a block that was demolished to make way for the building that is now Just Chicken (which originally opened as a shop called Just Imagine).

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.

Not at this point pretending to have any actually knowledge (most of the info I've dropped tonight has come simply from looking at the park maps from the time), but by the looks of it there were toilets out on that location on all the maps from the second world war onwards. So I'm guessing they were either installed by the Bagshaws after the war, or for some reason they were from the war years, when the park was an Officer Training Camp.

 

[Matt.GC]

Looking at the maps, it looks like those were from the 80s. Though, they operated alongside the current X-Sector block for a couple of season before that path was closed off. The X Sector ones actually replaced a block that was demolished to make way for the building that is now Just Chicken (which originally opened as a shop called Just Imagine).

Not at this point pretending to have any actually knowledge (most of the info I've dropped tonight has come simply from looking at the park maps from the time), but by the looks of it there were toilets out on that location on all the maps from the second world war onwards. So I'm guessing they were either installed by the Bagshaws after the war, or for some reason they were from the war years, when the park was an Officer Training Camp.

See I've learnt something new there (well I always do with you!). Earlier you mentioned that X-Sell was a restaurant, but for some reason I was under the impression that the Springfield Restaurant was actually in current day Just Chicken. But then I suppose it couldn't be because the Bobsled ran on the site Just Chicken is built on didn't it? So the toilets must have been somewhere near that? Still seems quite close to the Goal Striker ones though.

From looking at that block in the woods, I wouldn't say they are any older than 1960's, so possibly they are second generation. Very interesting that they've been listed there since the war! I didn't know maps existed dating back to the war years? So quite likely something to do, as @BarryZola suggested, with visitors to to the gardens I would imagine. Makes sense.

Are you sure from the maps the double ended toilets are Tussauds era? I get my years mixed up, but I thought I remembered using the Fountain Square ones when Coaster Corner was still open, which would date them before Gloomy Wood. I thought the Gloomy Wood ones predated Haunted House, because if you look at the block on the HH side, the entrance to the ladies has a blocked off side by the pillar. They look like they were designed identical to the X-sector ones, where you can access from either side of the pillar, but this was blocked off for the HH house building, where I believe it now looks like a fire escape route.

 

[Burner]

So the toilets must have been somewhere near that?

There are toilets in the back out X-Cite, in the corridor through the double doors to your right as you exit the photos of Oblivion. They're left over from the old restaurant, as they some advertisement for burgers on the door.

They definitely haven't been used since the 1980s, the last time I saw them though.

 

[WillPS]

There are toilets in the back out X-Cite, in the corridor through the double doors to your right as you exit the photos of Oblivion. They're left over from the old restaurant, as they some advertisement for burgers on the door.

They definitely been used since the 1980s, the last time I saw them though.

That's interesting. Can you see the burger advertisement from the public areas then?

 

[Mi-Nigle]

Reading the last few pages, I have to assume my unexpected genuine interest in the detailed history of Alton Towers’ toilet locations and usage is purely because it’s at Alton Towers... and not a sign of some sudden, general passion for all things toilet.

 

[DiogoJ42]

Reading the last few pages, I have to assume my unexpected genuine interest in the detailed history of Alton Towers’ toilet locations and usage is purely because it’s at Alton Towers... and not a sign of some sudden, general passion for all things toilet.

There's a geek for everything. I once found a whole site dedicated to different types of toilets around the world.

 

[MaxPower]

I think you may have found a different kind of site there @DiogoJ42....

 

[Matt.GC]

There's a geek for everything. I once found a whole site dedicated to different types of toilets around the world.

Oh do share (as long as it's clean!).

 

[DiogoJ42]

Oh do share (as long as it's clean!).

Oh how I wish I could find it again, I've searched many a time!

Closest I've found is this, but it's not the in-depth site I remember.

The Traveler’s Guide to Toilets Around the World

You might consider yourself a true traveler — always eager to try new experiences, sample local food, and immerse yourself in the local culture. But how about trying the local toilets? This i…

ummigoeswhere.com

 

[John]

Way back in the history of TS, a user called DiogoJ42 once linked to https://toilet-guru.com/ (found in the favourite weird websites thread buried deep in the tavern)

Whether that site would be interested in helping bring this thread back on topic by chronicling the abandoned toilets of AT is another matter.

 

[Themeparksandy1981]

Is the portal cabin toilets still there in the gardens?

 

[DiogoJ42]

Is the portal cabin toilets still there in the gardens?

..... Where you do what you must because you can....?

 

[BarryZola]

..... Where you do what you must because you can....?

No, it's where you walk out of the toilet time-portal and you're walking around the park in 1979 where you bump into John Broome and he invites you to walk around the park with him. He spends the whole day enthusiastically showing you where he wants to build a load of fun rides. In-between that you both randomly walk around the whole of the ruins (where possible) and share a few bevvies. As the sun sets as you look down across the lawn and the lake, you bid him farewell, wishing him the best of luck. But you laugh inside knowing that what he's just proposed is nothing more than a pipe-dream. Then you go home.

 

[DiogoJ42]

No, it's where you walk out of the toilet time-portal and you're walking around the park in 1979 where you bump into John Broome and he invites you to walk around the park with him. He spends the whole day enthusiastically showing you where he wants to build a load of fun rides. In-between that you both randomly walk around the whole of the ruins (where possible) and share a few bevvies. As the sun sets as you look down across the lawn and the lake, you bid him farewell, wishing him the best of luck. But you laugh inside knowing that what he's just proposed is nothing more than a pipe-dream. Then you go home.

Sounds great! Where do I sign up?

 

[chilli2]

Theres another toilet block by the corporate hospitality suite/tent ( that has housed the daz games panic) consists of a small male/female block, been a while since I was in there.
They were/are a bit of a nuisance for cleaning teeth in as there was only luke warm water and no cold water. male block consisted of two cubicles at the end a couple of urinals a couple of sinks and a hand dryer in a Portakabin size building length on
Only used them when I used to visit as a Scout leader with a group of Scouts camping overnight on the lawns by the lake, even though it was a little further to walk the ones by the main entrance turnstiles were better for having a quick wash/shave/clean teeth in the morning after camping overnight on the lawns

 

[Burner]

Theres another toilet block by the corporate hospitality suite/tent ( that has housed the daz games panic) consists of a small male/female block.

I remember puking in there after having one too many at a departmental staff party in the hospitality suite a few years ago.

Ah good memories.

 

[Ash]

I remember puking in there after having one too many at a departmental staff party in the hospitality suite a few years ago.

Ah good memories.

I’ll be in there over fireworks.

Good to know

 

[rob666]

And a happy World Toilet Day to one and all.
Always scatalogically entertained, I'm just glad I remembered the date this year.
Bit nippy in my outside bog at the moment, must go and light the frost candles.
Quite a shrine...
And appropriate, this years world toilet day theme...
Toilets are a place for peace.

Coincidentally, it is also International Men's Day as well.

Poop poop.

 

[blackholes crow]

I'd like them to be lightly themed to the area they're in.

Forbidden Kazis, with hazard stripes and tentacles.

Gloomy Kermits, dark and haunted with spectres in the mirrors.

Mutiny Bogs, "Tharr shee blows" and "pieces of eight" when you flush.

Toilet Sector, with bunches of faux Smiler CCTV cameras above the urinals and 'Don't Look Down' arrows pointing down towards the toilet bowls in the cubicles.

This needs to be done like yesterday