Alton Towers Discussion Thread

[verticalzero]

Some "new" pictures of what's left inside the "Black Hole" tent at AT

 

http://ridemad.com/inside-alton-towers-black-hole-tent

[Purplepills]

I'm surprised just how much stuff was left in the tent when the photo's were taken, I thought they had cut it all up and scrapped it a long time ago after seeing several of the track sections outside of the tent.

 

I do miss the black hole, it was the last coaster I remember having a fear of riding for the first time, back when I must have been about 12 or so. This was mainly since I heard people saying it was really frightening. Then as soon as I had ridden it once I loved it, and it was one of my favourite rides at AT. I also remember once getting the last ride of the day with just me at the front and a friend at the back, and the ops turning ALL of the effects off so it was actually pitch black, which made for a great ride.

[sarahf31]

It is really sad to see these pictures this was such a great ride. I think unless you rode it you couldn't know what a wicked ride it was not easy to explain what fun it was we'd get off and run straight round and queue up to ride it again!! The theming was great but i suppose it would seem a bit dated these days! They don't seem in any great hurry to get it all cleared out though.

[Purplepills]

^No they don't seem to be in a hurry to clear it out. I would've thought they may have cleared it all out a while ago, but then I guess it makes good storage for some of it. If they still have the trains now someone may want to buy them at some point. If and when they decide to do something with the tent then they will worry about it then, and I really hope they put another decent ride in there at some point in the not too distant future.

[MG]

I never got to ride this Schwartzkopf classic. I still wish I had

My UK indoor coaster count stands at one, courtesy of the amazing X:\NWO

Still, it may be a good sign that they are keeping hold of the track and trains. It may be that they sell it, but could it be located to somewhere else in the park? They could turn it into an outdoor coaster. Just my crazy coaster infested mind trying to express subconscious ideas on my exterior being

[handy-andy]

Alton Towers Theme Park in the UK have decided to ban adults from using their PDA's while in the park so they can have more fun with their kids. It is a temporary rule for this weeks half term break but if it goes well could become permanent. To top it all off if you are seen using a PDA at the park it confiscated by special wardens (fake police). I don't know what you guys think but in my opinion this is mad, they can't take your PDA from you, the park is embarrassing it's self!

[Marcus Sheen]

It's a marketing stunt and it's working because people are talking about it.

[ginzo]

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080527-theme-park-pda-ban-says-time-and-a-place-for-everything.html

 

UK theme park bans PDAs, mandates family fun time

 

By David Chartier | Published: May 27, 2008 - 10:10AM CT

 

Alton Towers Resort, an amusement park in the UK, is trying out a ban on PDAs this week. The experiment could become a permanent policy if things go well, becoming part of a social movement designed to draw lines of proper gadget usage in public sands.

 

With a squad of "PDA police" roaming the park, any adults caught using a qualifying device will be directed to one of five "PDA Drop Off Zones" at which they can "safely" leave their PDAs for the day. The experiment's declaration at Alton Towers' site is low on details as to what measures will be taken to ensure the devices wouldn't be tampered with (it also specifically uses the term "PDA," though we're fairly certain it's just an umbrella term for other devices like smartphones, BlackBerrys, etc.). There's also no word on what repercussions, if any, adults will face if they refuse to make the trip to a PDA Drop Off Zone.

 

"What we have here is the ultimate short break location where every member of the family can unwind and have fun," explains Russell Barnes, divisional director for the Alton Towers Resort. "We feel it's so important for parents and kids to focus on nothing more than having the best possible time, we are prepared to take drastic action to ensure that parents really leave their work behind!"

 

Barnes has a point—amusement parks are one of those places the entire family goes to get away from everyday life, and it's always a little sad to see a hyperconnected mom or dad who can't put down the phone or e-mail for a family trip.

 

There seems to be a new interest in some parts of the world to set a few boundaries around how and where technology is used in public. Movie theaters in the US, for example, have kept up with the times by displaying pre-film warnings about silencing phones and conversations. Some carriers like AT&T have begun sponsoring new "silence your phone" promos with high production values. One such spot involves Martin Scorsese and seems more like a preview than a PSA about staying silent during the feature. AT&T is of course getting prime advertising space just before the movie starts, but there's something to be said for a wireless carrier telling an audience containing at least some of its customers to put its products away and shut up for the next two or three hours.

 

Similar restrictions have already popped up in gyms, swimming pools, and even courthouses, trying to stop the surge of tiny cameras in both highly private (changing rooms) and uniquely public (county courts) spaces.

 

We won't be surprised to hear that some of Alton Towers Resort's workaholic visitors are less than thrilled about being escorted to a PDA Drop Off Point this week by a pimpled youth in a felt hat, but if the experiment proves to be an overall success, look for more establishments in the UK and (hopefully) even the US to erect more barriers on mobile phone and gadget usage in the name of enjoying where and who you're with.

 

There's a reason they call 'em "crackberries". I dunno what to think about this one. On one hand I can see AT's point, but on the other it's awfully boring standing in line and frankly why not be productive during what is otherwise a complete and total waste of time.

[gisco]

I understand where they are coming from. They want you to be enjoying your family and to be enjoying the park. I never thought this was a big problem. If someone wants to ignore the people he is with, that's his choice.

The ban should be on talking on them. That is what I find most annoying. Standing by someone that is talking away on there phone while standing in line.

Like everyone else, when your in the queue, what else is there to do if your alone? Checking out TPR can pass the hour wait quickly.

[coasterbill]

That's completely idiotic.

If anything it will lead to people spending less time with the kids since a lot of people need to check emails for work. Before they could still go to the park and have fun with the family 95% of the day, but now I guess they have to stay home or find an alternate form of entertainment.

[ginzo]

I understand where they are coming from. They want you to be enjoying your family and to be enjoying the park. I never thought this was a big problem. If someone wants to ignore the people he is with, that's his choice.

The ban should be on talking on them. That is what I find most annoying. Standing by someone that is talking away on there phone while standing in line.

Like everyone else, when your in the queue, what else is there to do if your alone? Checking out TPR can pass the hour wait quickly.

 

Yeah, although I sort of agree with the spirit of the rule, it's not like this policy is going to turn a distant work-a-holic into super dad. Parks should be glad that people have found a way to make waiting in line more tolerable.

[handy-andy]

The ban should be on talking on them. That is what I find most annoying. Standing by someone that is talking away on there phone while standing in line.

 

I get where your coming from there butsometimes people need to get in contact with each other if they loose someone or are organising to meet up, or even talking about a way in which they can have more 'fun'. People still need to use phones if they are in a theme park. Also thanks to 'ginzo' for adding more to this thread!

[gisco]

The ban should be on talking on them. That is what I find most annoying. Standing by someone that is talking away on there phone while standing in line.

 

I get where your coming from there butsometimes people need to get in contact with each other if they loose someone or are organising to meet up, or even talking about a way in which they can have more 'fun'. People still need to use phones if they are in a theme park. Also thanks to 'ginzo' for adding more to this thread!

 

Agreed. If your party splits up it is a great way to get back together. I usually use texting. It is easier if there is a lot of noise or your on a ride.

But I find it more pleasant not to listen to someone talking about everything under the sun while I'm waiting in line. Listening to half a conversation is annoying.

[okinawaboy11]

Oh I love this idea!

 

I remember back when I went to theme parks with my parents, Tokyo Disney to be more specific, my dad wouldn't put down his god damn Blackberry (Crackberry as we like to call them, you also might be wondering why he had a Blackberry in Japan? It was government issued, it had international roaming). Anywho, I think this is great, my dad spent this money to go into the park, and all he did was text and type away on his PDA.

 

I've since been going with friends and left dad behind because thats all he does.

 

So kudos to Alton Towers.

[handy-andy]

Agreed. If your party splits up it is a great way to get back together. I usually use texting. It is easier if there is a lot of noise or your on a ride.But I find it more pleasant not to listen to someone talking about everything under the sun while I'm waiting in line. Listening to half a conversation is annoying.

 

I have to agree with you there I hate listening to loud people having pointless conversations and its made worse when they have to speak over the coasters but a PDA can be used for both calling and texting so if you simply want to text someone simply about a place to meet and you want to do it at Alton Towers you have a problem.

 

coasterbill I also completly agree with you, this could stop people from going to the park.

[gnewton34]

I thought they had banned "public displays of affection."

[YoshiFan]

What about adults at the park without kids, why shouldn't they be allowed to use them? I disagree with the whole policy.

[Footballteen58]

....The Ropers complained to much about all the button pressing noises.

[RIP Psyclone]

I thought they had banned "public displays of affection."

 

I was all for banning that as well!

[jamesdillaman]

Look at all the publicity they're getting for free....

How much would it have cost them to get their park talked about in every major news source around?

 

This is a marketing tactic. A Guerrilla Markiting Strategy, and it seems to be working for them.

That's all I'm saying.

 

-James Dillaamn

[Chrissie]

^ Haha, Yeah I agree.

 

Even if this a serious move, they can't take your stuff away from you if you don't want to. You'd be pretty annoyed if there was an emergency and you missed it because of some silly park rule. There is no way of really enforcing it.

[kelly06]

Another silly, 'zany' publicity stunt by Alton Towers. But I guess its free publicity, but surely 'cloud seeding', and the 'baby coaster' were 'zany' enough.

[handy-andy]

Sure its good publicity but it could stop people going to the park if they want to use a PDA, very clever idea though espicaly if they get rid of the rule because that will make even more free publicity.

[Shockwave]

It's a clever way to get people's attention more focused on the park when they are there, rather than communicating with things outside it. And it's definetly worked as a publicity stunt, because otherwise this topic wouldn't be here and I wouldn't be writing this.

 

It would be nice to hear from those people who have actually got families as well.

[robbalvey]

Do they forget that people also use their mobile deviced to text with other people who may be IN the park?

 

"Hey where are you guys? Want to meet at Nemesis?"

 

Seriously, Elissa and I use our mobile devices all the time while in parks, but it's to communicate with each other.

 

I could give two shits about my work when I'm at a park...although technically quite a bit of my work IS parks, but that's a whole other argument!

 

--Robb