Waterpark: General Discussion 2012

oldgitBEN · Thu Jan 19, 2012 10:45 pm

I would hope new bigger lockers have been installed as a family of 4 cannot simply use 1 locker at present, we always need 2.
So the waterpark will make £2 from every family and £1 from every single guest or couple - I bet they havent got bigger lockers!

Next time I stay in the hotel, I shall simply leave my stuff in my room and take a hotel towel. Dont like me walking around half naked in your hotel? MEH.

Dormiens-Dave · Thu Jan 19, 2012 10:47 pm

The only way this will work is you purchase a token at the entrance and get a refund when you return it, like waterworld at FestivalPark.

Thu Jan 19, 2012 11:11 pm

I'm guessing it'll be a PIN system. When you put your coins in, you set a 4 digit PIN. You can then re-enter the PIN as often as you like until you end the session and get your 1 pound back. It's reasonably common. It also eliminates the lost key/token problem.

Thu Jan 19, 2012 11:40 pm

oldgitBEN wrote: Next time I stay in the hotel, I shall simply leave my stuff in my room and take a hotel towel. Dont like me walking around half naked in your hotel? MEH.

On the contrary! I think you wandering around the hotel half-naked would give it an air of casual European sexiness and sophistication Ben. :P

oldgitBEN · Thu Jan 19, 2012 11:50 pm

Im so booking ATH to extend the walk, via the atrium, sky walk, into the conference centre to see whats occuring, over the waterpark bridge, via the Splash reception, Margs, Shambos, then the waterpark.

In my speedos only.

Fri Jan 20, 2012 12:08 am

Hey guys, just to let you know:

The lockers are the same as they have always been but have had new locks fitted. With these locks (as is explained on many many signs around the place so people will understand the new system) you insert your first pound coin, then second, shut the door turn your key and go for a swim, when it comes to lunch you go back put your key in and press one button, this releases your deposit but not the coin that youpay with. Put the deposit back in turn your key and you are good to go. At the end of the day you press the other button which drops the coin you pay with into the kitty and you are good to go.

Also in place is a new queue system for the master blaster.
New signage explaining the rules for slides
Expected is new signage for flash floods
Expected reconditioning of the bridge
Expected renovation of quenchers including the queue system there.

The tipping bucket has had a well deserved make over
The showers have been tiled to replace the flaking blue paint
New flooring in lagoona bay
New flooring in little leak
New flooring in calypso creek
Replaced blue matting on wacky waterworks
Repaint of the structure
Master blaster has had new jets and jet covers.

And a massive deep clean.

They have been rather busy over there, I'm looking forward to a nice refreshed waterpark to visit and a great season!

Stay cool,
A friend.

Fri Jan 20, 2012 12:59 am

I don't think routine maintanence and cleaning warrants a price hike, especially as they've added nothing since 2003.

chip wrote:Also in place is a new queue system for the master blaster.

What does this mean, could you go into detail? What on earth is a "new queue system"?

Cheese · Fri Jan 20, 2012 1:00 am

As much as I like certain aspects of the waterpark and enjoy the occasional visit, I thought it was something of a ripoff last year. Now on top of what seems like a lot of money to pay to stand around waiting for three low-throughput waterslides or get spashed by little sods paddling in the heated pools, they're charging for lockers too? Ingenious.

Fri Jan 20, 2012 1:07 am

Sam wrote: I don't think routine maintanence and cleaning warrants a price hike, especially as they've added nothing since 2003.

chip wrote:Also in place is a new queue system for the master blaster.
What does this mean, could you go into detail? What on earth is a "new queue system"?

The idea is to make the splash downs into a sort of one way system if I understood my source correctly. Master blaster queue will start from the down ramp off the bridge, then queue along the previous queue for single ringers make a hard right around the column and open up into a single and double ring line in what used to be the double ringers queue.

This will hopefully open up the splash downs as they can get quite crowded at times.

Fri Jan 20, 2012 8:45 am

chip wrote:The tipping bucket has had a well deserved make over

That sounds good. I've only ever seen it in the state it's in now and it looks like a lot of the former theme has just been ripped off.

Fri Jan 20, 2012 1:20 pm

chip wrote:The lockers are the same as they have always been but have had new locks fitted. With these locks (as is explained on many many signs around the place so people will understand the new system) you insert your first pound coin, then second, shut the door turn your key and go for a swim, when it comes to lunch you go back put your key in and press one button, this releases your deposit but not the coin that youpay with. Put the deposit back in turn your key and you are good to go. At the end of the day you press the other button which drops the coin you pay with into the kitty and you are good to go.

So what stops the 'other button' from never being pressed? Or can you only return to your locker once or something?

Fri Jan 20, 2012 3:18 pm

All of those changes sound very good and hopefully will improve the Waterpark! The only thing i'm wondering about is that the tiles around the showers fit in with the 'cave' theming supposed to just looking like any other swimming pool etc.

And I just don't get it with the lockers? Why go to so much trouble to get £1 out of everyone? It shouldn't be done in the first place but as it has, wouldn't it just be easier to up the entrance price?

Looking forward to my next visit to see the changes - will take some photo's if no one gets them first!

Fri Jan 20, 2012 3:23 pm

siralgenon wrote: All of those changes sound very good and hopefully will improve the Waterpark! The only thing i'm wondering about is that the tiles around the showers fit in with the 'cave' theming supposed to just looking like any other swimming pool etc.

And I just don't get it with the lockers? Why go to so much trouble to get £1 out of everyone? It shouldn't be done in the first place but as it has, wouldn't it just be easier to up the entrance price?

Looking forward to my next visit to see the changes - will take some photo's if no one gets them first!

Just about everyone who uses Cariba Creek rents a locker and therefore this creates the potential to increase revenue by quite a lot.

Fri Jan 20, 2012 3:37 pm

CoasterCrazyChris wrote:
siralgenon wrote: All of those changes sound very good and hopefully will improve the Waterpark! The only thing i'm wondering about is that the tiles around the showers fit in with the 'cave' theming supposed to just looking like any other swimming pool etc.

And I just don't get it with the lockers? Why go to so much trouble to get £1 out of everyone? It shouldn't be done in the first place but as it has, wouldn't it just be easier to up the entrance price?

Looking forward to my next visit to see the changes - will take some photo's if no one gets them first!
Just about everyone who uses Cariba Creek rents a locker and therefore this creates the potential to increase revenue by quite a lot.

Just about everyone who uses Cariba Creek pays the admission price so a £1 increase on that has the potential to equally increase revenue a lot too.

Don't see why the locker price makes it better for them than just raising admission by a quid.

Fri Jan 20, 2012 3:59 pm

mrbrightside wrote:
CoasterCrazyChris wrote:
siralgenon wrote: All of those changes sound very good and hopefully will improve the Waterpark! The only thing i'm wondering about is that the tiles around the showers fit in with the 'cave' theming supposed to just looking like any other swimming pool etc.

And I just don't get it with the lockers? Why go to so much trouble to get £1 out of everyone? It shouldn't be done in the first place but as it has, wouldn't it just be easier to up the entrance price?

Looking forward to my next visit to see the changes - will take some photo's if no one gets them first!
Just about everyone who uses Cariba Creek rents a locker and therefore this creates the potential to increase revenue by quite a lot.
Just about everyone who uses Cariba Creek pays the admission price so a £1 increase on that has the potential to equally increase revenue a lot too.

Don't see why the locker price makes it better for them than just raising admission by a quid.

That's what I meant - Who the hell comes up with these ideas?

Fri Jan 20, 2012 4:03 pm

chip wrote: Also in place is a new queue system for the master blaster.
New signage explaining the rules for slides
Expected is new signage for flash floods
Expected reconditioning of the bridge
Expected renovation of quenchers including the queue system there.

The tipping bucket has had a well deserved make over
The showers have been tiled to replace the flaking blue paint
New flooring in lagoona bay
New flooring in little leak
New flooring in calypso creek
Replaced blue matting on wacky waterworks
Repaint of the structure
Master blaster has had new jets and jet covers.

What's calypso creek by the way? Never heard of that?

Fri Jan 20, 2012 4:30 pm

Calypso Creek is the lazy river and seating area near the steps

Fri Jan 20, 2012 4:40 pm

.Adam wrote: Calypso Creek is the lazy river and seating area near the steps

Ah right thanks

Always thought it was just called the Lazy River :P

Going a bit off subject but there is a 20% off Alton Towers Waterpark Annual Pass's this weekend!

http://www.altontowers.com/Alton_Towers ... #Waterpark

djtruefitt · Fri Jan 20, 2012 6:19 pm

I can see why Alton have done this, £1 extra per locker will give them a nice bit of extra cash in the bank for them, without putting a rise on the enterance price! However its a bit of a con, I know lots of pools in the past used to charge you for a locker, but it was usually 20p or something. And recently most pools just give you the money back. but £1 is a proper rip off, especially when you have paid £15 (which I think is overly priced anyway) to get in already.

I think the people who will be annoyed more is water park annual pass holders, if you visit a few times a week you will end up paying a massive amount for it. I suppose if you are staying at the hotel you can just take the bare minimum to the pool and just leave it in a locker and hope no one steals it.

Sat Jan 21, 2012 4:16 pm

Completely unacceptable. I can't remember the last time I used a pool anywhere that charged for lockers, must have been back in the early 90's or late 80's. Its not like its an optional extra is it, you can't really avoid it. The £15 they charge for the waterpark is a total ripoff to start with, I think closer to £10 is more acceptable and it must include the use of a locker.

Got no issue with leaving a pound deposit as long as you get it back.

I can't believe people keep going back to it tbh, nearly 10 years on and not a thing has changed about the place except shorter opening hours.