Anyway, I have been there loads of times over the past 18 months and never had any problems. But I am a little disappointed with this visit; firstly, our first go on Oblivion, the shuttle after us had some muppet using his camera phone... so we sat in the shuttle waiting to get off for over 30 minutes whilst someone went up to take it off him.
Over the tannoy comes the warnings... "anyone found using a camera on rides will delay the ride for everyone". Erm how about they are just ejected from the park, without refund, as soon as they come off the ride? Why should people who have paid good money suffer delays because of these muppets?
Second problem was ASBO case chavs and Alton's reluctance to do anything about it. Was waiting at the Skyride entrance in the forbidden valley, with numerous other guests. All of a sudden approx 15 scum (only word for them) came up on the bridge and were arsing about, pushing the queue and squashing people. Every one of them had bottles in their hands and to be quite frank, were "pi$$ed". They were pushing and "touching" other guests, and just causing problems in general, as well as being abusive and shouting. The woman in the Skyride would not let anyone off the bridge because she was scared of them (understandable) so she called security.
Whilst waiting for security, one of the nobs thought it appropriate to throw a bottle at people walking under the bridge (not people they knew, just random families etc). Fair enough, at this point one or two of them realised their behaviour had gone too far, and were telling them to pack it in etc, but wtf, the security eventually arrive, two old men, and ask them if anyone had any bottles. They all lied and then the security found all the bottles and took them. The Skyride operator told security she didnt want them on the ride, so security told them to leave the bridge area and that was it!
What the hell? I thought Alton was trying to create a family atmosphere now? So its acceptable for groups of yobs to turn up, get pi$$ed, terrorise other guests and staff, throw glass bottles off bridges at innocent passers-by, and nothing happens to them? If Alton think that sort of crap is going to attract families they have another thing coming! As for security taking about 20 minutes to arrive, that was also pathetic.
Personally, I believe they should not sell alcohol on a family park, where they are trying to attract more and more families with younger children, and where is the responisbility of the licensees. More to the point, why do Alton feel this kind of behaviour is acceptable on the park?
Ill be going back for my birthday and Scarefest the same as last year, but ill be venturing elsewhere during the summer im afraid.
madness.
