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Towers Loving Care

WillPS said:
What on earth is that wild estimate based upon I wonder.
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A nationwide poll.

"Earlier this month, we conducted a nationwide poll which shows that families..."
from https://www.altontowers.com/useful-info/blog/the-power-of-the-towers-our-campaign-for-2019/

They probably asked something like "how much did you spend on leisure activities in 2018?" then next question "How much do you plan to spend on leisure activities in 2019?"
Ask 1000 people in an online survey and then work out the averages.
Yes a poll may not be accurate, but it will give facts based on the questions asked, so it is not a "wild estimate"
 
jon81uk said:
A nationwide poll.

"Earlier this month, we conducted a nationwide poll which shows that families..."
from https://www.altontowers.com/useful-info/blog/the-power-of-the-towers-our-campaign-for-2019/

They probably asked something like "how much did you spend on leisure activities in 2018?" then next question "How much do you plan to spend on leisure activities in 2019?"
Ask 1000 people in an online survey and then work out the averages.
Yes a poll may not be accurate, but it will give facts based on the questions asked, so it is not a "wild estimate"
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Apologies, I didn't see the context. It's essentially marketing guff with a rubbish survey as evidence, standard.

My reading was that Crabbe was making a statement which would be of interest to investors.
 
Back to TLC... the problem is, it was always going to come across as a marketing tool, even if that wasn't the intention. Maybe if the park had been keeping on top of things it would've been treated with less cynicism.

The concept behind TLC was laudable and is to be encouraged, and I do appreciate the efforts being made to improve things, especially by certain people at the resort who work within difficult budgets, timescales and resource constraints to make these things happen. However perhaps sharing the updates on the standard social media platforms might've made it look less "forced".
 
Just a quick question , is the sub terra building completely gutted because of scarefest? Like has the drop towers been completely removed?
 
RoyJess said:
Looked like everything was still in place when I did the scaremaze
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Yeah, all still there.

I suppose there’s a chance it will be removed for the Dungeons? Although there’s no mention even if a drop tower ride in the description of the dungeons

I just don’t get it, there’s a decent ride there somewhere if mistakes were learnt from and a bit more effort put into getting it right. Even if they disagree with that, a retheme maybe? Or just get rid of it all together and use it for something.
 
They won’t spend the money of removing the failed towers from one building to another building for the dungeons.

I imagine the scwremaze will just stay in sub terra ready to reopen again in October.


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Using TLC as a marketing tool seems backwards. Minor improvements and fix up jobs appeal only to enthusiasts, who are going to visit anyway.

Nobody outside the enthusiast community is aware they added benches and painted toadstools. In fact, all the general public saw was closed ride signs.

It was a nesessary maintenance program which was shared as there is a group of people interested. I really hope it continues as there is so much more that could be done.
 
Lurker said:
Nobody outside the enthusiast community is aware they added benches and painted toadstools.
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No, visitors notice when things AREN'T painted well and look incredibly run down...

The whole point of having a decent presentation to the park is that it ISN'T noticeable... No-one will notice freshly painted things bar enthusiasts, but that is the entire point and reason it should be done...
 
Lurker said:
Minor improvements and fix up jobs appeal only to enthusiasts, who are going to visit anyway.
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It was to appeal to enthusiasts (who make up a large amount of people after all, a vocal minority), but not to get them through the door, more to passify complaints that the park didn't care.

It was used in some cases as a promotional tool to cover up why some big attractions had been closed and promotion of minimal maintenance as a special "programme" dedicated to improving Towers. Maintenance doesnt need a logo and a Facebook page.

The actual work that went under the TLC banner was done with good intentions (considering the limitations available) and really has improved the guest experience in places, like the Nemesis monster no longer looking like a slagheap. Stuff like calling Duel's bad new lighting "specialist UV" was misleading though, or when facades in Cloud Cuckoo Land were cheaply painted up much plainer than they had been before.

Meanwhile, Merlin holding the park's purse strings still don't give a flying fish about this kind of thing and will still deny the park any real budget to do these things professionally.

So the main problem still exists, but I have lots of respect for people who at least tried to fight for budget to fix the pretty awful state of some attractions. People were right to call out how "TLC" misrepresented park maintenance though.
 
I don't disagree that it absolutely should be done, infact if it is being done I'd love if they kept the pictures coming. They really should continue year on year to fix and maintain the park, which in many areas still looks rotten.

My point was more that it's not a marketing campaign designed to bring people into the park. It was wrong of them to use it as an excuse to close rides.

I can't complain about the only maintenance work done to the parks theming and effects in years.

Could more be done - for sure! Would I criticise them just because someone posted the changes for enthusiasts to see - no.
 
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Yeah I agree with your post.
Lurker said:
I can't complain about the only maintenance work done to the parks theming and effects in years.
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But bear in mind in 2012 Duel was relit (much better) and had effects fixed then, was in a much better state than today. Relit and cleaned in 2010 too, also very badly around 2015-16. Only this latest one was put on such a pedestal, though still not as good as 6 years ago.

Oblivion's track repaint in 2013 is another one, which was posted about online (which is fine) but not made out to be part of some 'programme'.
Towers Street has seen several rounds of paint too not too long ago. Oblivion's buildings were cladded to cover up the deteriorating finish. Again not the best solution, but no differnt to the Cloud Cuckoo land buildings getting new render with no 3D detail that TLC promoted.

I'm sure there's much more Ive either forgotten or didn't notice, but we all would have noticed had the maintenance not been done as Benzin says.

I really dont see any difference in the frequency of scenic/FX maintenance around the park since TLC was introduced. The Nemesis one stands out to me because how it was done really professionally. But the rest are what the park has always been doing (ie not on any ideal budget), now under a new slogan.

It's becoming common now for parks to show behind the scenes stuff on their social media. It's all promotion and a way of increasing fan loyalty. It's interesting to fans but if it goes too far then it will defeat the point of a theme park – would be like showing everyone how a special effect is done without them seeing the show first!
 
Does Merlin Backstage now supersede Towers Loving Care in many ways, at least from the social media side? The recent post about the Wicker Man winter checks is perhaps something we would've seen on the TLC page before.
 
To be honest. I think the backstage brand is more suited for general fan to look. And for maintainace stuff like this is what we do to the rides during winter closure.

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