Matt N
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Shambhala (PortAventura Park)
Hi guys. Not too long ago, we entered a new decade; the 2020s! Because of this fact, I've seen all sorts of YouTube videos and articles online about what the next decade might hold for various different theme parks, so I thought; what do you guys think that the next decade might hold at Alton Towers?
There are various things to discuss, but I think that on the whole, the next decade will be a really great one! Merlin re-entering private hands could potentially make things very interesting, and the park really seems to be on the up at the moment after a hard few years following the Smiler accident in 2015.
My first prediction is that I think SW9 will be some form of water ride that will open in 2022, probably a water coaster. A real e-ticket water ride seems to be the key gap in Alton Towers' lineup that is on a lot of people's minds at the moment, and something like a water coaster would also be an additional attraction for that mid-range family market (i.e. the "too small for The Smiler, too big for CBeebies" market). As for location, I think that either Forbidden Valley or the Rita site could be a potential location, although I could also see the site of the current Dungeons building working if the Dungeons are a temporary attraction like some are implying.
My prediction of SW9 being a water coaster leads me on to my next prediction; controversially, I think that Congo River Rapids will either be removed or majorly overhauled within the next decade. It's still a fun water ride, but it really seems to have lost some of its mojo ever since the removal of the waterfalls and the other water effects, not to mention the fact that rapids rides in general seem to be becoming more unpopular within UK theme parks. So, my personal prediction is that if SW9 turns out to be a water coaster somewhere within the park, then I think that SW10 could potentially be an Intamin Blitz Coaster (or any form of modern launch coaster) in Katanga Canyon on the site of the rapids. As much as everyone's saying that a multi-launch should replace Rita, the rapids sits on a huge plot of land that provides far more scope for a thrill ride, in my opinion, and if SW9 in 2022 was to be a major water ride, then it would kind of give them an excuse to remove the rapids. Also, I can imagine a launch coaster interacting with Runaway Mine Train like Congo River Rapids does now would be pretty amazing!
Moving away from the SWs, I personally think that we will see the gradual replacement and replenishment of areas of the park that were removed and/or had their lineups reduced during the low attendance period post-Smiler. We're already starting to see this now (Wicker Man, The World of David Walliams, Alton Towers Dungeon), and I think that we will see other areas of the park receive some new attractions and get some love. For example, I could see some new flat rides going in on areas like the Ripsaw site and the Submission site, and I could see something being done with the Mutiny Bay courtyard (maybe a new show?). So far, Alton Towers has done a great job in giving these areas their momentum back, so I think it will continue into the 2020s!
Furthermore, I definitely see another expansion of CBeebies Land on the horizon, as well as an expansion or two to The World of David Walliams. I personally think that Spinball Whizzer will get removed and the remaining remnants of Adventure Land will be done away with entirely in favour of a CBeebies Land expansion; I don't know what it would entail, but I definitely think CBeebies will encompass that area within the next decade. I think it would strengthen the area even more for the young families, and I think there's something strangely satisfying about the thought of CBeebies taking up that entire bottom left part of the park! As for the expansion to TWODW, I think that we could see a couple more rides added into the remaining blank areas as well as Driving School encompassed into the area.
So, those are some of my personal predictions for the 2020s at Alton Towers! Whether these come true or not, I don't know; I'm sure nobody predicted the 2010s would turn out how they did! What do you guys think will come to Alton Towers in the 2020s?
There are various things to discuss, but I think that on the whole, the next decade will be a really great one! Merlin re-entering private hands could potentially make things very interesting, and the park really seems to be on the up at the moment after a hard few years following the Smiler accident in 2015.
My first prediction is that I think SW9 will be some form of water ride that will open in 2022, probably a water coaster. A real e-ticket water ride seems to be the key gap in Alton Towers' lineup that is on a lot of people's minds at the moment, and something like a water coaster would also be an additional attraction for that mid-range family market (i.e. the "too small for The Smiler, too big for CBeebies" market). As for location, I think that either Forbidden Valley or the Rita site could be a potential location, although I could also see the site of the current Dungeons building working if the Dungeons are a temporary attraction like some are implying.
My prediction of SW9 being a water coaster leads me on to my next prediction; controversially, I think that Congo River Rapids will either be removed or majorly overhauled within the next decade. It's still a fun water ride, but it really seems to have lost some of its mojo ever since the removal of the waterfalls and the other water effects, not to mention the fact that rapids rides in general seem to be becoming more unpopular within UK theme parks. So, my personal prediction is that if SW9 turns out to be a water coaster somewhere within the park, then I think that SW10 could potentially be an Intamin Blitz Coaster (or any form of modern launch coaster) in Katanga Canyon on the site of the rapids. As much as everyone's saying that a multi-launch should replace Rita, the rapids sits on a huge plot of land that provides far more scope for a thrill ride, in my opinion, and if SW9 in 2022 was to be a major water ride, then it would kind of give them an excuse to remove the rapids. Also, I can imagine a launch coaster interacting with Runaway Mine Train like Congo River Rapids does now would be pretty amazing!
Moving away from the SWs, I personally think that we will see the gradual replacement and replenishment of areas of the park that were removed and/or had their lineups reduced during the low attendance period post-Smiler. We're already starting to see this now (Wicker Man, The World of David Walliams, Alton Towers Dungeon), and I think that we will see other areas of the park receive some new attractions and get some love. For example, I could see some new flat rides going in on areas like the Ripsaw site and the Submission site, and I could see something being done with the Mutiny Bay courtyard (maybe a new show?). So far, Alton Towers has done a great job in giving these areas their momentum back, so I think it will continue into the 2020s!
Furthermore, I definitely see another expansion of CBeebies Land on the horizon, as well as an expansion or two to The World of David Walliams. I personally think that Spinball Whizzer will get removed and the remaining remnants of Adventure Land will be done away with entirely in favour of a CBeebies Land expansion; I don't know what it would entail, but I definitely think CBeebies will encompass that area within the next decade. I think it would strengthen the area even more for the young families, and I think there's something strangely satisfying about the thought of CBeebies taking up that entire bottom left part of the park! As for the expansion to TWODW, I think that we could see a couple more rides added into the remaining blank areas as well as Driving School encompassed into the area.
So, those are some of my personal predictions for the 2020s at Alton Towers! Whether these come true or not, I don't know; I'm sure nobody predicted the 2010s would turn out how they did! What do you guys think will come to Alton Towers in the 2020s?