The Beastie's Last Season!

Thu Aug 05, 2010 7:25 pm

No, I didn't think that it had been confirmed, I've not found anything real evidence to show that it is going.

If, however, it is going I, for one, will be sad.

It was my first ever coaster and now, twenty odd years later, it's one of my kids' favourite rides at Alton.

In terms of a replacement kiddie coaster, instead of squeezing one into the tiny footprint of the Beastie, I think a junior suspended coaster from CCL down into Coaster Corner, themed around a flight with Snorlix would be brilliant.

Thu Aug 05, 2010 9:18 pm

If it gets replaced, it would stupid to relocate it anywhere in the park. Ok, some kids and their parents may not be happy it is no longer at the park but only because they may be worried nothing else of a similar scale will replace it, and if it does they really wouldn't care if it goes.

I'm certain its time is limited along with the rest of Adventure Land, but I have a feeling it won't get replaced until Sega's contract with the park run out and they can relocate/retheme or remove Sonic Spinball/Spinball Whizzer somewhere else and then re-do the entire area - logically to fit with neighbouring Storybook Land (although they may retheme that too and come up with a totally new concept).

Then this would allow for a new and better coaster but still aiming for the audience the Beastie did. It would be silly to remove the ride now, replace it with a new kiddie coaster themed similarly to Sonic (bright and garish colours obviously) when we know that Sonic is not going to stick around on a permanent basis and the park would have to retheme the new kiddie coaster again when Sonic departs the area.

Basically, IMO The Beastie will stick around as long as Sonic does.

JoshM · Fri Aug 06, 2010 3:04 pm

If this rumour is true. On the last week of the season I will be riding it all day. Just like I did with the corkscrew on its last week.

Fri Aug 06, 2010 3:51 pm

They should hold a special 'Goodbye Beastie' event if this is officially confirmed.

AstroDan · Fri Aug 06, 2010 4:09 pm

I doubt there'll be any major send off, although lest not forget that this ride opened in 1984 and is very old indeed. For me, it is the only original coaster still operating that was running when I first visited the park in 1990 when I rode it many times.

I remember when it was in Thunder/Forbidden Valley too.

Sad times - but it's been said for ages that it's well past it. Even Drayton Manor outdid Alton on this one replacing theirs with Troublesome Trucks.

Fri Aug 06, 2010 4:20 pm

[quote=""JoshMillwardTV""]On the last week of the season I will be riding it all day. Just like I did with the corkscrew on its last week.[/quote]
Well you'll get very bored. But have fun with that. You can find me at Nemesis.

Anyway if this is true then I will miss the Beastie slightly, especially epic laterals on the last turn. For an off-the-shelf travelling kiddy coaster, I really think the Super Dragons are better than the Wacky Worms and the Go Gators. So the best of the worst I suppose. Well done to Pinfari for that.

[Archive] · Fri Aug 06, 2010 5:43 pm

[s:3faimkny]If they do hold a Goodbye Beastie event, I hope they let us take it in turns to hit it with a sledghammer! :P[/s:3faimkny]
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Whenever I look at the Beastie I feel like I have left Alton Towers and entered a surreal world of averageness. How anybody can be so sentimental about it, I don't really understand...

Isn't it just... a tad rubbish? 8-[

Fri Aug 06, 2010 5:45 pm

[quote=""electricBlll""][s:3elfflr4]If they do hold a Goodbye Beastie event, I hope they let us take it in turns to hit it with a sledghammer! :P[/s:3elfflr4]
__________________________________

Whenever I look at the Beastie I feel like I have left Alton Towers and entered a surreal world of averageness. How anybody can be so sentimental about it, I don't really understand...

Isn't it just... a tad rubbish? 8-[ [/quote]

My kids wouldn't agree with you. They'll be really sad. Unless, that is, we get a decent replacement kiddie coaster, because otherwise kids have to be 1.2 metres tall before they can ride any ROLLER coasters.

Fri Aug 06, 2010 7:42 pm

Even if it is hideous, old, themeless, and takes precious space something much better could occupy, I feel it may as well stay there until Sonic Spinball leaves, as they then have the whole area to play with. The bigger the area they have to play with is, the more impact Alton can make with a new development. It makes more sense than adding a filler attraction when the Beastie leaves, or worse leaving it empty and not replacing it, because people do still ride it!

towers freak · Fri Aug 06, 2010 8:41 pm

Its strange to think I was to scared to go on a Pinfari Super Dragon when I was younger and now I ride Nemesis without thinking twice about it. Its about time that The Beastie was replaced with something more superior weather it's leaving the park this season or not. It's really dated now even though it is a fun ride for the kiddies.

Sat Aug 07, 2010 7:37 pm

Thats a shame for Alton, its been here for nearly 20 years. What will the new kids ride be like in the future, possibly some ride where everyone can ride.

---- Post Info Added ----

So when do you think the Beastie's going to be removed?

Sat Aug 07, 2010 9:34 pm

[quote=""AltonTowersNerd""]its been here for nearly 20 years[/quote]

It arrived in 1983 so it's currently in its 28th season.

It will be sad to see it go but that sort of ride really has no place at a park like Alton Towers. Hopefully they will replace it with a new, custom designed roller coaster so Towers will have eight completely unique coasters.
It wouldn't surprise me to see it reappear at a minor theme park somewhere in the UK one day, like the Mini Apple now at Great Yarmouth.

Blaze · Sat Aug 07, 2010 9:40 pm

Rita ain't unique, I'm afraid, it's off the shelf and there is a clone in Germany called Desert Race, where they modified the last s-hill and changed the ending because they didn't have to build over another ride, so the break run was curved and it has a better turnaround.

For a kiddie ride, I don't care about it being bespoke, or even uncommon, I've made it clear how much I love Troublesome Trucks, and if a YoungStar isn't too big, that would be great aswell. A bespoke, unique ride would be great, but I'm not fussed. Reliabilty and simplicity is what is really needed in this part of the market, which is why Beastie is so successful.

And if it makes it to next season, it will have been there longer than Corkie was, which is some achievement