Alton Towers pic and video TR. 22/09/05

[tinhead]

We had our annual trip to Alton Towers on thursday just gone and what an improvement on last year. The park has been revamped very well and still has a smell of fresh paint on some rides. The park wasn't too busy as it was a school day, but good weather meant it wasn't empty and by looking at the ride waiting times you could see which way most people were going.

So of course we went the opposite way, which turned out in our favour as we didn't queue more than 15 minutes for any of the main rides, so we had plenty of time to re ride all day.

 

1)Runaway Mine Train.

 

This ride was about as good as last year, a bit bumpy and for some reason the tunnel was a lot darker, still 3 laps around the track was still good fun.

 

2) Nemesis.

 

Boy was this ride running well and it looked great, this was the best I have ever seen Nemesis run. It was lightning fast and so smooth, maybe it was the warm weather but it was flying that day.

 

3) Air.

 

Air is still a crowd puller but it is a lot slower than the other rides now at Alton and for the first time ever didn't break down while we were there. It's sort of turning into the ride the thirty somethings can take the parents on with them.

 

4) Rita.

 

I was looking forward to getting this credit as it wasn't ready when we were at the park last year. The cars and the track look really good and the launch from the station wasn't bad either, after the launch you hit a nice high G turn and ride up and over a twist airtime hill which had amazing airtime, the rest of the ride was not as intense as the first couple of hundred metres but still very pacey. Overall Rita isn't that bad and is a really good addition to Altons coaster collection.

 

5) Corkscrew.

 

If you like your bones shaken and not stirred this is the ride for you. Corkscrew is getting old now and not getting any better. plus it looks out of place with Rita built around it. I can see this one going in the near future.

 

6) Bench the ride.

 

Alton has installed a few wooden versions of this ride and we were able to get video footage of it in action, this ride was very popular in Alton. Check out the video for the footage.

 

7) Oblivion.

 

The ride that looks a lot scarier than it is and for a few seconds it is very intense, but is as short as wee man. Still I like it and always like a re ride on it.

 

8 ) Spinball Whizzer.

 

I think this one is far better than Chessintons version it's more mouse style and much more intense. with nice high banking curves and good tight helix turns it really throws you around. One of the best features of this ride is watching peoples faces as they see the pillars wobbling when the cars move around the track.

 

9) The Beastie kiddie coaster.

 

JUST COS IM A CREDIT WHORE.

 

Alton Towers is still number one here in the UK and with this revamp it's going to be hard for the others to catch up.

 

ALTON TOWERS 2005 VIDEO

Spinball Whizzer. Spins like a food blender.

Them bones be a shakin..

Rita. good ride crap name

Oblivion. DONTLOOKDOWN "wonder where i heard that before".

Need a rest ride Air.

Nemesis. The best B & M in the UK.

Edited September 24, 2005 by tinhead

[tngdiablo]

Awesome video, loving the music and the editing. Bench: The Ride was great, that one woman didn't know what was going on. "I didn't even s*** myself." Seems like you shot the same part of Spinball multiple times though, it got a little repetitive but other than that I have no complaints. Thumbs up from me.

[Stitch]

You just made me want to go to Alton Towers even more ... thanks a lot

[CoasterCrazy]

Awesome TR! 8)

 

After watching the video, I'm looking forward to the UK trip even more!

[Nrthwnd]

Fun TR. Thanks for the tour. And I am definitely looking forward to that amazing complex attraction --- Bench: The Ride. Noticed quite a lineup for that, hmm? Good fun. I also wish we had soundtracks along with some of these coaster rides. Like Disney does with a few of theirs? Makes a somewhat bumpy ride a bit more....funky? Maybe not, lol. Thanks again for sharing your great day there.

[PhishyBrewer]

AWESOME VIDEO! as always.

 

But who ever was wearing the Yankee hat, tell them it's got to go

[Ed]

Great video!

 

It makes Rita look better than it is... It make such a change to have the waterfalls working on Nemesis again.

[memphish]

Is anyone else having problems getting the video?

[tinhead]

Glad you all like the TR and video

 

memphish Try right clicking and set target as to download it is quite a big file.

[tinhead]

Here is a short POV of Oblivion, bit shakey through the tunnel but ok on the rest of the ride.

Oblivion POV

[Chrissie]

Lol, Wkd video!

 

Welsh People Rock! I Love ur Accent!

[Fry]

I'm glad you had a good day there, my trip yesterday was awful, nine rides all day...

 

Also loved the video, great editing in that.

[tinhead]

 

But who ever was wearing the Yankee hat, tell them it's got to go

 

So you ain't a Yankee fan then fishy:P

[msep003]

i went to Alton Towers on Saturday and RITA was CLosed for most of the time of the day and it opened an hour before the park close .

 

 

this week end was packed at Alton towers .

[Inferno Insane]

Great Video, Looks you all had fun. Never thought about Bench: The Ride would be at Alton. Great Idea

 

P.s Nice POV of Oblivion, shame about a bit shakey thou and No one said Hello To The Nasty Ropers!

[tinhead]

Great Video, Looks you all had fun. Never thought about Bench: The Ride would be at Alton. Great Idea

:

 

Bench was situated just infront of the towers inbetween the exit of HEX and X sector and it was a real classic wooden version none of this iron and wood hybred version you see these days

[mark.w]

I have had a nice stay at AT in May. Rita is a good coaster with the best launch in Europe so far but Nemesis is still better. The layout is way to short and airtime is affected by OTSRs.

 

Nice pictures by the way. I haven't seen a video though but I presume it is great as well.

[verticalzero]

Great Video of AT at its best. Shame the Q's can get so long

[SteveC]

great video - good soundtrack -and I thought it was good editing too. I haven't been to AT for 10 years but I'm going on 8 October. Wey hey - so many new credits to pick up. I really like the look of Spinball.

 

Rita (Queen of dull?) seems to be getting quite a bad press generally, but I don't care. I love Stormrunner, Xcelerator, and in third place TTD - and I am now so pre-psyched to be underwhelmed that I think I'll enjoy her all the more for that. 8)

 

SteveC