Alton Tower's unfortunate decline in 2024

Alton Towers has been having multiple issues in the 2024 season which is heavily impacting the guest experience and overall operations of the park with multiple ride closures a day due to poor reliability.
#altontowers #ukthemeparks #rollercoasters #thorpepark

[@TedShatner10]

I get the impression Alton Towers is in awkward transition this past couple of years (they revamped Nemesis and the ghost train also building other rides, old and new). And most of the problems this year and in recent years is a sudden culmination of 15-ish years of stagnation and lack of coherent investment in the park (with obvious staffing issues since Covid).

[@Dispatch_Jack]

@TedShatner10 in regards to the staffing issue, apparently they have more than enough staff it's just they are cutting employees hours have the minimum amount of people working

[@DigiAlf47]

I have a ride acces pass and it was ok but on the smiler whet they were doing was single rider then fast pass then manque then fast pass then 1 group from accespass

[@bowydcoasting]

i think because it is the off season, they're cutting operational costs so they have enough budget for something like project horizon or one of the events like scarefest

[@Dispatch_Jack]

From what I'm hearing in the industry, project horizon isn't happening for awhile with merlin prioritizing those parks near London because of universal. This explains why all of a sudden chessington is getting an indoor coaster very similar to horizons plans. It's been rumoured its been moved to chessington.

[@CoasterChroniclesUK]

​@@Dispatch_Jackthe plans haven't been sent to chessington I think beacuse they wouldn't have right planning permission and Enthusiasts would of noticed similarity between the plans

[@calamitycoasters2591]

Alton towers is my home park and its sad to see the decline of the park. I think steadily since 2018 the park has got worse year on year. I visited 36 times in the 2023 season but only 23 times so far this year despite living 5 minutes away. I can honestly say the park is just bad now. Reliability, food options, the terrible new rap system. ride re-imaginings instead of anything new of note in the past 6 years, rides closed all season, maintainance closures mid-year and so much more. I honestly think this park is going the way of pleasure beach.

[@Dispatch_Jack]

It's such a shame the park has so much potential and it's used it brilliantly before but now the park is cutting things it deems unnecessary without understanding how much of an impact it can have on guests. I never hope for the downful on parks so it's just so sad to see this happening and as you say it it slipping down to pleasure beach level which is something I never thought I would see from the UKs largest theme park.

[@calamitycoasters2591]

@@Dispatch_Jack it's honestly to the point now where I think thorpe park is miles ahead which 5 years ago I would have said towers is easily clear and parks like paultons are catching up and fast. with the introduction of universal to the UK soon does tower's future just look more and more bleak as new competitors take money away from Merlin? I hope not but it's a slippery slope for towers

[@Dispatch_Jack]

@@calamitycoasters2591 Thorpe park is definitely the Uk's best theme park now. Especially after this year, of course you've got hyperia but the sparkle project just shows the love the park has for its rides and appearance unlike towers. The operations have been incredible too along with reliability. Paultons is definitely on its way up and with vikings it could be the 2nd best as unlike towers the themeing isn't just one big piece such as the smiler or galactica instead the entier land is incredible.

[@calamitycoasters2591]

@@Dispatch_Jack Thats one of the things i dont get people say that rides like the smiler are some of the best theming in the country but i think its pretty crap its litterally just the marmaliser slapped onto dirty concrete with a generic station

[@Dispatch_Jack]

@calamitycoasters2591 nemesis is pretty much the only fully themed coaster with the queue, ride and area having themeing the rest are just bland.

[@pingofthething5446]

We went the other week on a sunday and every coaster was open all day... we even had slight rain for an hour and they still didnt close... the skyride was closed but that didnt matter as it was a direct trip for me and my family for the coasters 😂 awesome day

[@iitzfizz]

I totally agree, Towers used to be such a nice park but recently it's looking run down and they have a distinct lack of flat rides after removing so many and not replacing them (I know project ocean is coming but the issue is bigger than one flat ride, but at least it's a step in the right direction). The skyride has been out of service for 2 seasons now and Towers ain't exactly a small park, walking 15 mins to get to an area to find a ride is closed is frustrating to say the least. They really need to sort their selves out. Went to Thorpe Park a couple of weeks ago and that was much better. Towers used to have that magical feel to it but it just feels dead in the past idk 5 years or so. I really wish I lived closer to Thorpe Park but it's over a 4 hour drive from me whereas Towers is only 90 mins. Also they got rid of all the decent food places and replaced them with Aramark joints with poor food at exorbitant prices. Idk why they have chose to do this when there are still chains like Burger King at Thorpe Park.

[@CoasterTime704]

To be honest it makes sense why it would decline. Imagine your the head of Merlin entertainments, which park would you rather invest in? The three big London parks or the lonely park in the middle of the British countryside where you can’t build as many things due to complaints from locals?

[@CoasterTime704]

(By the three big London parks I meant Chessington, Thorpe and Legoland)

[@zjweele13]

I've been to thorpe park this week. It wasn't any better there. Hyperia, closed. Saw, closed. Swarm and Nemesis, closed for a large portion of the day. Walking dead closed a few times. Operations were slow: 3 minute dispatches. And the hotdog restaurant was out ofhotdogs by 15:30

[@Yonel6969]

But even after hyperia. Alton Towers is still their most visited theme park. It always has been. So that still doesnt make much sense imo

[@Sfw85]

And if Universal goes ahead then Thorpe park will be blown away, making Alton Towers a more unique offering

[@K3MPS1]

I mean as shit as it is to say the reason whyy its went downhill is due to low attendance and blowing the budget on nenesis and mr tumble.

[@PaultonsParkUnderated]

Paulton's Update? ( I like Paulton's park.... just a little bit.... :) )

[@Dispatch_Jack]

@PaultonsParkUnderated paultons park update will hopefully be coming on Thursday. Would have uploaded more but the last few weeks nothing has really happened👍

[@PaultonsParkUnderated]

@@Dispatch_Jack okay 👌