Alton Towers Discussion Thread

[JayTricky]

Reading back through the last few pages does make me cringe a bit. I mean it's hard to get hyped for this when I see thread after thread of 'better' coasters being built worldwide. But, I will reserve my judgement until riding.

 

I mean, this is my home park and I've been twice in the last 3 years. That's how un-enthusiastic I am about the place at the moment, which backs up what people were saying on previous pages. Smiler was exciting when it came out but I have no desire to go back and ride it again.

 

The one thing I'll give to Alton is that they haven't used any 'Worlds First' marketing or ridiculous TH13TEEN completely over the top embarrassing marketing ploys. If this coaster turns out to be a good, fun, family coaster then I am completely fine with that. Just market it as one! (as that is what it 'looks' like it will be). It seems in days past, Alton have desperately tried to grab worldwide attention for rides that were unworthy of it - desperately looking to create the next Nemesis legacy.

[DILinator]

Not an AT fanboy, and I've never been actually, but I still think this coaster looks pretty fun! Maybe I'm missing something, but I'm not sure why all the negativity about it... *shrugging smiley that doesn't exist* I'll say this, even though I like Log Flumes better than most (not coasterbill obviously! ), I'd rather have this than a Log Flume at my local park! Especially since AT doesn't have anything else like it. I look forward to riding it, whenever I finally make it across the pond!

[Garet]

Every time I see news on this rollercoaster it just reminds me that the huge cross valley wooden roller coaster with an almost 200ft drop through trees never happened.

[Canobie Coaster]

15 million pounds doesn’t get you much these days I guess. That’s almost $20 million dollars for a junior woodie...

 

This is the part that baffles me most. I keep thinking there has to be something special to this, so unless they plan on enclosing the thing at the end, I am struggling to see where the cost is. Mystic Timbers by comparison cost $15 million.

[1aflack]

Not sure whether Mustic timbers is on a flat site but there is a hell of a lot of ground works on a site like this, don't also forget they had to remove the old log flume as well.

[JayTricky]

15 million pounds doesn’t get you much these days I guess. That’s almost $20 million dollars for a junior woodie...

 

This is the part that baffles me most. I keep thinking there has to be something special to this, so unless they plan on enclosing the thing at the end, I am struggling to see where the cost is. Mystic Timbers by comparison cost $15 million.

 

The excavation/groundwork possibly? Even the huge Wicker Man structure wouldn't make much of a dent into a 15m budget surely?

 

They've just started to implement rock work around the structure. Same people that worked on Taron. Maybe it's that, coupled with some elaborate pre-show that might explain the price.

[robbalvey]

Not an AT fanboy, and I've never been actually, but I still think this coaster looks pretty fun! Maybe I'm missing something, but I'm not sure why all the negativity about it...

Maybe if you read the last few pages? The whole point was how the Alton Towers fanboys have been hyping this up to be something special (launched lift hill, some sort of secret element, the whole 'washing machine' mentality all over again, etc...) but really this just looks like your average sized GCI woodie with nothing special at all.

 

And you're right, if this turns out to be a fun family coaster, there is nothing wrong with that. The negativity wasn't really towards the ride itself, but all the fanboys making it out to be something more than it is.

[Moley]

The negativity wasn't really towards the ride itself, but all the fanboys making it out to be something more than it is.

Because we saw a unusual design for a lift hill, the ride's budget and the park's use of new 'coaster tech' and wondered if it could be something different? Don't see anyone claiming they know of any secret element, especially given the park's use of 'groundbreaking development' and 'world class experience' rather than the 'world first' or 'record breaking' mottos of recent additions. If speculation is frowned upon then god help the people discussing what Epcot's Guardians of the Galaxy coaster could be.

[michaellynn4]

The negativity wasn't really towards the ride itself, but all the fanboys making it out to be something more than it is.

Because we saw a unusual design for a lift hill, the ride's budget and the park's use of new 'coaster tech' and wondered if it could be something different? Don't see anyone claiming they know of any secret element, especially given the park's use of 'groundbreaking development' and 'world class experience' rather than the 'world first' or 'record breaking' mottos of recent additions. If speculation is frowned upon then god help the people discussing what Epcot's Guardians of the Galaxy coaster could be.

 

You have to keep in mind that it's not just about the speculation over this particular coaster. It's about the speculation over this coaster being the continuation of a long trend of each new AT addition being wildly hyped up and overblown, then failing to deliver upon said expectations. Here are some examples:

 

Rita: Advertised as the ""Fastest Roller Coaster Yet", a whole whopping 61.1mph in 2005.

Thirteen: Already covered ad nauseum by Robb. "Scariest Coaster Yet!" Yeaaaa, not really.

Smiler: "Most Inversions, Yay!!" Yes, but the layout is really just two 7-loop coasters fused together. Not as impressive as if it was one full circuit.

 

The rest of us are all burnt out on these "over-promise / under-deliver" situations. Each of the coasters above are widely considered to be "good, fun" coasters, but nothing near the hyped up versions some AT fanboys want us to believe they are. History is repeating itself yet again.

[PKI Jizzman]

15 million pounds doesn’t get you much these days I guess. That’s almost $20 million dollars for a junior woodie...

 

This is the part that baffles me most. I keep thinking there has to be something special to this, so unless they plan on enclosing the thing at the end, I am struggling to see where the cost is. Mystic Timbers by comparison cost $15 million.

 

Probably all of the terrain re-working. They are using the term 'ground breaking' literally and spending money on pushing dirt

 

Remember Cards Against Humanity's Holiday Hole? That was immensely fun to watch! Sit back, relax, and watch them dig that holiday hole!!

 

[youtu_be]

[/youtu_be]

[Moley]

You have to keep in mind that it's not just about the speculation over this particular coaster. It's about the speculation over this coaster being the continuation of a long trend of each new AT addition being wildly hyped up and overblown, then failing to deliver upon said expectations. Here are some examples:

 

Rita: Advertised as the ""Fastest Roller Coaster Yet", a whole whopping 61.1mph in 2005.

Thirteen: Already covered ad nauseum by Robb. "Scariest Coaster Yet!" Yeaaaa, not really.

Smiler: "Most Inversions, Yay!!" Yes, but the layout is really just two 7-loop coasters fused together. Not as impressive as if it was one full circuit.

 

The rest of us are all burnt out on these "over-promise / under-deliver" situations. Each of the coasters above are widely considered to be "good, fun" coasters, but nothing near the hyped up versions some AT fanboys want us to believe they are. History is repeating itself yet again.

The only use of 'Fastest Roller Coaster Yet' I could find regarding Rita is a clickbait headline to one newspaper article - in which the headline is explained to be incorrect, going so far as naming the coaster that was currently faster and another still under construction that was going to be faster than both of them. Not sure how your Smiler example proves your point regarding a ride being overblown at the advertising stage, giving that your complaints seem to be with the layout. So this 'long trend' is really just one example nearly 8 years ago - which, as I'm assuming I'm the obnoxious fanboy here, not even I try to defend.

 

The only two slogans that have been used so far with this ride are 'Groundbreaking Development' and 'World Class Experience'. By all means have complaints about those, but I'm not seeing how they fit in with this long trend narrative at this point in time.

[robbalvey]

^ Please stop talking. Seriously. I have no patience for this bullshit.

[DILinator]

Not an AT fanboy, and I've never been actually, but I still think this coaster looks pretty fun! Maybe I'm missing something, but I'm not sure why all the negativity about it...

Maybe if you read the last few pages? The whole point was how the Alton Towers fanboys have been hyping this up to be something special (launched lift hill, some sort of secret element, the whole 'washing machine' mentality all over again, etc...) but really this just looks like your average sized GCI woodie with nothing special at all.

 

And you're right, if this turns out to be a fun family coaster, there is nothing wrong with that. The negativity wasn't really towards the ride itself, but all the fanboys making it out to be something more than it is.

 

Yeah, I hear you... I don't really frequent any other sites, where said fanboys may lurk in larger numbers, but I see some of what you're talking about now. And I do recall there being talk about this having a launched lift hill back in the beginning. I guess my main point was just that I think the ride looks fun (I love Mystic Timbers, for comparison), and I'd take it over a Log Flume, even though I like Log Flumes a lot too! But yes, perhaps I spoke out of turn, given the back and forth with the fanboys over this, so I shall slink back into the shadows, and just wait for my chance to check out AT's good, but overrated collection of coasters myself!

[Philrad71]

The negativity wasn't really towards the ride itself, but all the fanboys making it out to be something more than it is.

Because we saw a unusual design for a lift hill, the ride's budget and the park's use of new 'coaster tech' and wondered if it could be something different? Don't see anyone claiming they know of any secret element, especially given the park's use of 'groundbreaking development' and 'world class experience' rather than the 'world first' or 'record breaking' mottos of recent additions. If speculation is frowned upon then god help the people discussing what Epcot's Guardians of the Galaxy coaster could be.

 

You have to keep in mind that it's not just about the speculation over this particular coaster. It's about the speculation over this coaster being the continuation of a long trend of each new AT addition being wildly hyped up and overblown, then failing to deliver upon said expectations. Here are some examples:

 

Rita: Advertised as the ""Fastest Roller Coaster Yet", a whole whopping 61.1mph in 2005.

Thirteen: Already covered ad nauseum by Robb. "Scariest Coaster Yet!" Yeaaaa, not really.

Smiler: "Most Inversions, Yay!!" Yes, but the layout is really just two 7-loop coasters fused together. Not as impressive as if it was one full circuit.

 

The rest of us are all burnt out on these "over-promise / under-deliver" situations. Each of the coasters above are widely considered to be "good, fun" coasters, but nothing near the hyped up versions some AT fanboys want us to believe they are. History is repeating itself yet again.

 

Well said!

[AidanCKY]

I'm in the group of people very tired of the over-hype. Every new ride is marketed with something over the top and I just cringe reading the articles about it.

 

Meanwhile Merlin are removing rides wherever they can get away with it along with inflating prices. Paying more for less.

 

I'd also say the increased attendance posted about earlier is probably related to the park using The Sun etc to offer free tickets more than ever.

 

I left Thorpe Park feeling disappointed last month, and i'm sure I will after I go to Towers next month too.

[Rollercoaster Rider]

I'm in the group of people very tired of the over-hype. Every new ride is marketed with something over the top and I just cringe reading the articles about it.

 

Meanwhile Merlin are removing rides wherever they can get away with it along with inflating prices. Paying more for less.

 

I'd also say the increased attendance posted about earlier is probably related to the park using The Sun etc to offer free tickets more than ever.

 

I left Thorpe Park feeling disappointed last month, and i'm sure I will after I go to Towers next month too.

 

 

Alton is much better than Thorpe, And I speak as someone who went to both a Week ago.

Tip: Nemesis Magnets are only at the store by Nemesis, Don't make the mistake I made by not getting them there.

[ElectricUncleSam]

Two weeks, no comments. Any updates on Alton? New promo stuff, new teasers, an announcement about an announcement? Anything?

[AidanCKY]

Alton is much better than Thorpe, And I speak as someone who went to both a Week ago.

Tip: Nemesis Magnets are only at the store by Nemesis, Don't make the mistake I made by not getting them there.

 

Oh yeah, for sure. I'm in the UK and have been to both a lot. Alton is a beautiful park with nice scenery, compared to Thorpe which is chav-central.

 

I didn't bother going to Alton Towers this year in the end, went to Blackpool Pleasure Beach instead. Will go to Alton next year when SW8 opens.

[Rollercoaster Rider]

Alton is much better than Thorpe, And I speak as someone who went to both a Week ago.

Tip: Nemesis Magnets are only at the store by Nemesis, Don't make the mistake I made by not getting them there.

 

Oh yeah, for sure. I'm in the UK and have been to both a lot. Alton is a beautiful park with nice scenery, compared to Thorpe which is chav-central.

 

I didn't bother going to Alton Towers this year in the end, went to Blackpool Pleasure Beach instead. Will go to Alton next year when SW8 opens.

 

 

Blackpool would be perfect if they added 4-5 more bathrooms in the park. And Soft Straps on Infusion

Thorpe would be better with new trains on Colossus and Designated Smoking Sections

[jynx242]

What exactly do you mean by Chav-Central? What's a chav? It sounds like, through context, that you are talking about american "white trash" or "ghetto" people. Is that it?

[Dombot]

Two weeks, no comments. Any updates on Alton? New promo stuff, new teasers, an announcement about an announcement? Anything?

Still waiting here.

[ElectricUncleSam]

What exactly do you mean by Chav-Central? What's a chav? It sounds like, through context, that you are talking about american "white trash" or "ghetto" people. Is that it?

Basically, if a bit closer to ghetto than white trash. Specifically, it's those kids who wear designer (or fake designer) label stuff, act loud as hell and obnoxious, usually fake or shallow. Think "Pretty Fly (For A White Guy".

[JordyC]

UNITE WITH THE CHOSEN ONES

 

 

The translation:

"Pay Homage and Unite"

[JordyC]

Alton Towers just posted an awesome time lapse video of the construction of SW8 on their YT channel.

 

[thedazza]

Alton Towers have finally confirmed what we have known for quite some time.

Edited January 8, 2018 by thedazza