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What year has Alton been at its best
This thread meant to be opposite of the worst era to what is the best year of TowersSurely this question should go in the other inane "which season" thread?
Which ‘worst’ era of Alton Towers do you think is better than the other?
Ok who’s **** is worse, Merlin’s or DIC’s?towersstreet.com
Why do we have two of these? Does title of this thread hurt anybody else's eyes and head?
Only 100 more days of closed season left.
DistortAMG
TS Member
Personally, a few years after the end of the Persons Tussauds era, just before the changes at the top caused noticeable changes on the ground. So 2002 / 2003 ish.
The park had a large entertainment line up including shows in the big top, and Cred Street, the big selection of rides gave the park a large capacity and they ran well. Park hours were 5PM minimum, routinely 7 to 8PM in the summer. F&B was decent and well priced with high street fast food vendors on site. Fast track actually served to alleviate queues for guests and was free. It wasn't there as a money making exercise but to improve guest experience.
Overall the park accepted a much larger influx of visitors than it did now, but the park did not feel as busy. The whole operation from hotels to theme park ran like a well oiled machine and it was well priced with great customer service and you felt like you actually got your moneys worth.
Objectively speaking, not subjectively speaking, the park has not offered such a great overall product since those days. It has come close but it has not quite hit the same high notes.
The park had a large entertainment line up including shows in the big top, and Cred Street, the big selection of rides gave the park a large capacity and they ran well. Park hours were 5PM minimum, routinely 7 to 8PM in the summer. F&B was decent and well priced with high street fast food vendors on site. Fast track actually served to alleviate queues for guests and was free. It wasn't there as a money making exercise but to improve guest experience.
Overall the park accepted a much larger influx of visitors than it did now, but the park did not feel as busy. The whole operation from hotels to theme park ran like a well oiled machine and it was well priced with great customer service and you felt like you actually got your moneys worth.
Objectively speaking, not subjectively speaking, the park has not offered such a great overall product since those days. It has come close but it has not quite hit the same high notes.
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Secret Weapon
TS Member
I first visited Alton Towers in 1994 (when Nemesis opened), and I didn't go again until 2001 - mainly due to the heavy queues (I much preferred Drayton Manor, and even Safari Park, back then). I sadly never got to ride Thunder Looper for this reason, but at least I eventually got to ride Corkscrew and The Black Hole (in later years) before they both closed!
There were also no single-rider queues back then, and so - even though AT hit its record attendance in 1994 - I personally don't remember 1994 as being all that great of a year (I may be alone in that thinking, though).
There were also no single-rider queues back then, and so - even though AT hit its record attendance in 1994 - I personally don't remember 1994 as being all that great of a year (I may be alone in that thinking, though).
MellowPasta
TS Member
1999/2000. Memories of Ug Land before it was turned into a joyless concoction of scaffolding and mold.
Bowser
TS Member
If you don’t love Alton at its worst you don’t deserve it at its best.
I couldn’t name a specific year but the mid to late 90s hold the fondest memories. Felt like the park were pioneers of the industry and almost every year brought growth and something new. A park on the rise with high quality rides and theming.
I couldn’t name a specific year but the mid to late 90s hold the fondest memories. Felt like the park were pioneers of the industry and almost every year brought growth and something new. A park on the rise with high quality rides and theming.
Secret Weapon
TS Member
I think that's fair. I personally preferred Drayton Manor during the 1990s, but I remember there being a feeling at the time that Alton Towers was the major league that everybody else was struggling to compete with (e.g. American Adventure).
The only other parks that felt as big / bigger were the American parks, such as Disney World.
I remember Air launching in 2002 (although I didn't ride it until 2004), but I don't remember Colossus launching in the same year at all (I don't think Thorpe Park landed on my radar until Nemesis Inferno launched the following year).
Was there a sense from enthusiasts in 2002 that Thorpe Park might eventually overtake Alton Towers in terms of investment and ride quality ?
jon81uk
TS Member
I didn't really think Thorpe would overtake overall, but really felt like Tussauds were investing heavily in thrill rides there, between Colossus, Nemesis Inferno and the five or so flat rides they added in the early 2000s. It was definitely an exciting time for thrill rides and I would say Thorpe did overtake Alton in terms of quantity of thrill rides, but maybe not on quality.