Archive for Thoughts & Ideas
October 4, 2008 at 6:22 pm · Filed under Thoughts & Ideas
Sentiment - a thought, view, or attitude, especially one based mainly on emotion instead of reason.
This has no place at Alton Towers in my opinion and the recent news that Corkscrew is to be removed from the park after 28 years of magnificent service just shows that park management don’t believe it has either.
It is indeed sad to think such an iconic structure is to leave the park after what seems an eternity - afterall, the ride has been standing on a lot longer than most park fans have been alive! I admire Alton Towers for the decision that must have been a tough one with the ride’s history and all that goes with it. But to stay on top of your game you have to move on and give the public new and improved rides or else you end up going backwards. You can never stand still in the theme park industry and you can’t let something like sentiment get in the way. We all have to say goodbye to things we cherish and love one day.
I can’t say I’m Corkscrew’s biggest fan in all honesty, I’m not too sentimental about it all really and the sheer state of it at the moment totally warrants its removal. The ride has become rough with age and fell down the pecking order as new thrill machines were introduced to the park. Corkscrew barely had a queue over 20 minutes on most days in recent seasons - a stark contrast compared to the 5 hour queues back in 1980.
The decision to remove it has hardly came as a shock to the system either. Rumours of the ride’s removal have been rife for well over a year now and following the closures of other iconic rides such as Black Hole and Swan Boats, you knew Alton Towers had it in the them to call it a day on such classic attractions should the day arrive.
I’m pleased that the park are holding a special event to see the old girl off though, it’s only fitting to allow people to say thanks to ride that has given so many people, over 45 million infact, some fantastic memories over the years but it’s time for it to vacate the park and allow a new ride to take its place. People will find it difficult and slightly odd to visit Alton Towers without Corkscew standing strong as per usual but I’m sure Alton Towers have something up their sleeve that will leave us standing in awe and thus making Corkscrew’s removal all the more important. However, it would be nice to see Alton Towers implement the two corkscew inversions somewhere in the resort - perhaps just as theming near the entrance or even over Rita’s launchway?
I certainly won’t miss Corkscrew because in all fairness it really isn’t an all exciting ride, but I will certainly miss the whining of the lift chain motor as I walk across the valley gardens.
So thanks for your service old girl, but it’s time for you to go up to the theme park in the sky.
September 7, 2008 at 2:52 pm · Filed under Thoughts & Ideas
If you’ve been looking up Alton Towers this season you’ll have no doubt come across their recent batch of quirky promotional material, one of their many discount vouchers and the infamous word of “fantabulous”. Everywhere you read, look and search you’ll more than likely come across this word which is causing more than just a stir within enthusiast communities.
First and foremost, where does this word originate from? It most certainly isn’t a recognised word in the english dictionary nor is it something you’ll hear in some parts of the country (accents). “Fantabulous” has came from the whacky world of Alton Towers, a description of themselves as both fantastic and fabulous. Clever huh? What a wonderful and quirky word, right? Well not quite according to the masses.
At first people actually quite liked the word “fantabulous” as it was different and sounded rather magical - that was up until Merlin pressed the overkill button and used it at any given opportunity and thus the magic seemed to fade. The people who orginally liked it are ironically now finding it quite irritating, a bit like Rihanna and her song ‘Umbrella’ I suppose. There are a few who still find it fun though and are rather annoyingly using it in their own forum contributions and the like which really doesn’t help the situation.
I kind of stand in the middle on this one. As a word I really like it, why not describe an amazing theme park with something out of the ordinary? Afterall, it is things that are different that have made Alton Towers the magical place it is today. But then again, seeing the word over and over again is a bit too cheesy and a bit, “Yeah, we get the point now shut up, we know this attraction is a piece of crap, don’t make it sound like it is something it’s clearly not”.
For example, The Dung Heap. The name is as good as any description in my opinion as it quite literally is a big pile of dung. Is it a fantabulous attraction? Clearly not. How about The Towers themselves? Recent signs state the “fantabulous” Towers ruins are closed for Scarefest preparations. Now, let’s get one thing straight shall we? The ruins at Alton Towers are not, nor ever have been, “fantabulous”. They are awesome, breathtaking, awe-inspiring, beautiful, overwhelming, stately, magical, dumbfounding, astonishing…almost any descriptive word other than “fantabulous”. There are times when the use of the word is called upon, and there others when it quite clearly ought to be left alone.
So, what do you think? Fantabulous - love it or loathe it?
Please leave your comments and have a fantabulous day (excuse the pun).
August 31, 2008 at 1:53 pm · Filed under Thoughts & Ideas
Towers Times Forum member, LiamSAFC, recently asked the question - what do you think was Alton Towers’ biggest mistake?
What immediately springs to mind for many park enthusiasts is the removal of Black Hole, the addition of Spinball Whizzer or the re-theme of Haunted House to Duel. I thought quite differently.
I honestly think the lure of the corporate and resort aspect of the theme park industry lead to the loss of the old Alton Towers magic and thus became Alton’s biggest mistake in another sense of the word.
Before things such as conferences, spas and what not, Alton’s sole priority was the theme park. They took every opportunity to theme rides in each and every corner and left no stone unturned in their quest to create one of the world’s best theme parks. It was their only child and they made sure it was spoilt rotten!
For the past few years, particularly during the Tussaud’s era, this looks to have been lost and Alton Towers have pushed and pushed the resort side of the business and kind of left the theme park to run itself - that once spoilt rotten child is now grown up and can live on its own. The days of parenting are over. From around 2003 onwards they have kind of taken their foot of gas by believing that side of the business is done and dusted and just needs “something new” to keep it ticking over. The public will visit Alton Towers regardless of what Merlin do or don’t do. Alton Towers is Alton Towers - the public’s number 1 theme park. Sure we’ve seen good attractions added to the park such as Mutiny Bay and Rita: Queen of Speed, yet neither of which hold the same x-factor that the likes of Nemesis and Oblivion do. That’s what made the park special, their knack of going one step further than you thought possible. That very same step is no longer taken today.
Now it is time nurse their new child and its friends - people with money in abundance who are willing to pay the going rate of a magical overnight stay at the resort or looking to make use of the conference centre, spa or any other luxury of life available at Alton Towers Resort. The day visitors to the theme park have their treat, it’s now time to pamper the upper class.
I can hardly blame Alton Towers though. I’m sure all these corporate events and the like are highly lucrative. I know Drayton Manor’s corporate events equivalates to 30% of their annual turnover!
It’s just a shame that the magic which made Alton Towers what it is is no longer produced in the same fashion due to a change in priorities. Would we still love and admire Alton Towers in the same way we do today if all the attractions built in the 90’s were stripped of their theming and magic? You’d have to think about it!
What do you think Alton Tower’s biggest mistake was? Please leave your comments.
