Help us help the park: Merlin - Their Response:

[towers freak]

[quote=""Stelios7""]Was this directly written by Nick, or was it wrote down by a secretary or something? at first site is a basic spelling error, otherwise a ok response! 



Good explanation for Fanta and no new attraction, the future looks bright! [/quote]
And hopefuly not orange ! :P

[mezza]

Really, really great reply, and has really cheered me up.

For those not fully convinced: it's worth re-emphasising that this is the man right at the top who has taken time to write, and to really put things in context about the varying fortunes of the park, and his credentials.

Also, bear in mind that, particularly with the Fanta issue, he has to be careful with his words. As he points out, a contract has been signed with them, and they are a major partner of the park, not just for ride sponsorship, but as a provider of soft drinks. There is a lot of money resting o n the relationship with Coca-Cola. So, in that context, Varney is more frank than I would possibly imagine someone in his position being: Basically: 'it's not good enough, we'll try to get out of it, and it won't happen again'. Even the fact that he took the trouble to have a look for himself speaks volumes. Honestly, that's absolutely the best response we could hope for.

It really would be great to know what's in that missing line, but it hints at what we already knew: that they had plans for 2011 that fell through for reasons beyond their control. But there is also the suggestion that they are making up for it with something a bit more special next year. And further suggestion that 2013 will be a very big year!

Really, really pleased.

Thank you to the TTF team for getting the petition together, ensuring that it was of high quality, and ensuring that it made its way to the very top! It really really made a difference!

[siralgenon]

I think that's a great response from Mr.Varney and it shows they do care very much about the resort although it sometimes may be hidden. It's also great to see that they are looking into the Fanta sponsorship and 'maybe' are re-thinking the idea between the contrast of the two themes.

Merlin and Alton Towers Resort know how much we love the park and want it to expand and develop to be the best it can be! So hopefully they will take our views in to consideration in the future!

Thanks again to Nick for a great response to our letter. Couldn't be happier with the reply!

So, role on 2o12!

[Crofty]

I'm very happy and proud that we managed to get a response at all from Nick Varney. I and I think the rest of the team didn't expect one, we were hoping that including Nick would spur on a response from Towers so it's great to receive this reply.
If you think back at how great Alton was around the time that Nivk Varney was in his early positions then I think it's fair to say that he must have a genuine passion for the park and Theme Parks in general which is pleasing to know.
The fact that he checked out the sponsorship of Oblivion himself and doesn't entirely agree with is demonstrates the fact that he does know what he's talking about even if it doesn't always come across in the projects that are created by Merlin.

I'm hopeful that the rest of the Fanta branding will be removed soon, I'm happy for Fanta to sponsor another attraction, it just needs to be suitably executed.
With regard to Up-selling and other smaller failings, hope we can get some dialogue with the park along the lines of the Customer Council of 2006 which brought some great changes to the park.

Very Happy indeed, Thank you everyone for their efforts with the petition.

[euan.monk.]

I'm so glad that Merlin actually read things that we post on these forms. I'm so glad that he actually took his time to send towers times a letter about it. But I also think that most of it was just about there past and everything they have do good and nothing that have done bad on such as putting Rita In a ridiculous position. I'm glad that Merlin also think that the fanta theming doesnt fit oblivion and that they are looking in to changing it (even though it probably won't be completely vanished). (and that they should of thought about the area instead of the money invoveld in the first place). I also love that they hinted that they are doing something big for 2012 and something even bigger and better for 2013.
Thanks Merlin Entertainments/Alton Towers

[Sam]

I'm quite happy with this reply. I also didn't expect Nick Varney to reply, after the recent legal debacle, in fact I didn't even expect Alton Towers to reply.

I think it's interesting how Merlin seem fascinated by the idea of making the park a national park, rather than a regional park, it's mentioned several times. I think to be a national park though, they need better transport infrastructure. If you're travelling home to London or Scotland, you don't wanna be waiting two hours to get out the car park. I also think they need cheaper accommodation on-site.

I think the next few years will see a big improvement at the park, but not because of us. It's not because of our petition, or because of some altruistic desire within Merlin to create a great theme park. I have no idea why people think that the executives at Merlin have an interest in creating a great theme park like the EP and Efteling bosses do. No they don't. They have an interest in making as much money as they possibly can. Sometimes a by-product of this is creating a great theme park.

Merlin would be happy to carry on coasting the way Tussauds did last decade, just using the park as a cash cow. The problem is, since Thomas Land, Drayton Manor have begun to offer serious competition, according to Colin Bryan their visitor numbers doubled after Thomas Land. Alton Towers now actually face serious competition for the first time in a while. It's this that will drive an improvement in the park, a realisation that the park needs to be better to keep on making money. Please don't think Nick Varney has some sort of altruistic life dream to create a great theme park. Not that there's anything wrong with that at all, competition is healthy. I'll leave you with this quote from AT's FB page this morning:

[quote=""Suzanne Roberts""]Went to Alton Towers with my niece and nephew on june 18th. Could not believe how expensive the park has become. It will be a long time till we go again i am sorry to say!
about an hour ago · Unlike · 12 people[/quote]

[HAJiME]

I actually really enjoyed reading that. What a lovely, understanding and sensitive reply from Nick.

[Tom G]

A pleasurable read as always Sam :mrgreen:

There does seem to be quite a lot of neivety over his response really. You shouldn't just judge people on words. Look at his record and what has been quoted as saying.

He firmly believes in mass marketing and the rolling out of just a few branded attractions in mass. He is not into making individual parks magical in a unique way. Next year you can expect:

The renaming of the Skyride to The Alton Towers Eye.
The Alton Towers Dungeon.
Madame Tussauds Alton Towers.

Slightly tongue in cheek, but you get the idea

[Pennywise]

[quote=""Tom G""]
The renaming of the Skyride to The Alton Towers Eye.
[/quote]

The Skyride is a big wheel?

[Tom G]

No, and neither is a window at the top of Blackpool Tower or an observation tower planned for Weymouth, which Merlin both intend to call Eyes.

[HAJiME]

I've actually been thinking a Dungeons style attraction at Alton would be a good idea since Merlin took over, but in the last couple I've changed my mind. Basically for the same reasons you've expressed... It draws too much attention away from a place's own... umph. It's traditional theme park logic though, removal of context and site.

I wouldn't worry too much, Candy Holland (creative director) is strong willed and firm about her wants over at the studios. She may not have the control of Nick, but I think she'll do a good job of persuading him out of certain creative and marketing ideas if she disagrees. The term at studios is strong and, I hope, will only get stronger.

[ritajunkie]

I don't get how you don't like the fantastic branding . Fanta has Orange as their mascot colours and coca cola has Red. I'm confused

[Tom G]

Shut up and renew your annual pass :P

[Khanage]

After reading Nick Varney's letter with regards to the petition and letter sent from TT I must say that I am very pleased with his response and it has instilled some confidence in the park that with me was waning a bit since Th13teen. I will let time decide if what Mr Varney says about new attraction is true and hope that next year we are pleasantly surprised.

[Craig]

Merlin have kindly sent me a re-printed letter with the missing lines included, I've edited the first post and put the missing lines in green

[Tom G]

^ Much clearer, cheers.

[gt1234]

Credit to Merlin and Nick Varney in particular - fantastic to see a big company engaging in a dialogue with some of its best customers.

[DiogoJ42]

That near as damn it confirms the Shrek theory then. :-k

[Sam]

Nice to see that the cancelled attraction this year means more money spent on next year's addition, though we'll never have a way of proving to what extent that's true. I heard Wardley said something similar about this cancellation meaning he has money to play with next year.

I don't think "a bit more special" could refer to a DF flat, however good, or moving Ripsaw, or even some kind of 4D cinema. I think the special description could only refer to a new ride in the Black Hole tent or a really decent Flume pirate retheme.

[James]

Very kind of Merlin to resend the letter with the missing lines. So it seems that the Shrek/Dreamworks rumours could have indeed been true. I'll be looking forward to seeing what they create next year. So by the looks of it the 4D Cinema plans (assuming they were the 2011 plan) have now been dropped/shelved and that we will be getting something "a bit more special" which will most likely be something such as a Flume retheme, a new show/attraction in the ice tent or a new ride in the Black Hole tent.