Alton Towers Resort Future Discussion

[xEmmax]

I think getting some affordable accomodation would be great!


When staying with a group of friends, my night at Splash landings is only costing me about £15 more than the travelodge I'm staying in the night before, but for a family staying for a night or it can be very costly to stay onsite.

Log cabins, with self catering facilities will really widen the resorts appeal. For families these are great, many parents don't relish the thought of being trapped in one room with their little darlings for the duration of their stay!

The landscape around the alton towers resort is perfect for log cabins, and they could give it a bit of a 'center parcs' feel with maybe cycling/walking routes, perhaps a few basic sports facilities. A little supermarket for the lodges.
They could expand the resort so much more this way, really make it in to more of a holiday than a 'short break', I think log cabins certainly would give the more scope to cheaply expand the resort than another more luxurious hotel.

In a similar vein to Center Parcs, they could also very the type of log cabins from the basic to the executive to appeal to all types.

[oldgitBEN]

and as if by magic heres some rough plans Ive made! With capacity for about 200 guests in 7 individual cabin groups, indicated by the coloured squares.
Each group of cabins would be different allowing for some 6 people cabins and some having more facilities (ie a hot-tub in the garden!) or just a basic 3 bed cabin.

Its quite centre parks with a car park at the start then having to check in to a central hub style building then walking to your designated cabin, imagine how exciting it would be to arrive leave the car and walk through trees to get to your cabin - quite magical me thinks.

The central hub would be themed like a rocky mountain resort with a double height reception area with big open log fire smack in the centre, exposed timber and then stone brick-work to really emphasise the 'outdoors indoors' idea.
It would have a little shop for all the essentials and also a rustic themed bar on the second floor giving amazing views out onto the cabins.

Its only a concept but its one thats quite achievable I recon. (well in theory anyway).


--

The sad practicality is will the council ever allow Alton to offer cheap accomodation?
The hotels were granted as they offer a different kind of place to stay which no other local B&B/Hotel does so they werent stepping on any toes, but this could cause massive problems.

[Alton Buzz]

In trying to encourage families to stay for longer, there is a need to provide further accommodation of some kind.

Now, this could be a reference to self-catering or may simply mean they want more people to stay in the hotels. Although, at present I don't there's enough to do to stay for more than one night. If they go for log-cabins or something similar I would like to see a ''club building'' with food shop, help desk and other facilities, along with more activities onsite.

[PeteB]

All of this is absolutely fantastic news!

Sorry to all of those who are crying out for cheaper accommodation at Alton Towers but basically you have had it from the horses mouth that both hotels are doing well all year round. There's no way they're gonna provide a "cheaper" alternative. It doesn't make any business sense as it seems the majority of people are happy to pay Alton's current prices. Plus the cheaper stuff really would be stepping on the toes of local hotels, so it'll never happen!

What worries me most is when they say they're moving away from the teenage market, thats fair enough but will it mean a lack of seriously thrilling rides? I hope not.

[AstroDan]

I don't think it will. What I assume, is that the "family market" just means more of a focus on all types of guests. To be honest, this is what Disneyland, Phantasialand, Europa-Park, PortAventura etc. have always focussed on. And, to be fair, Alton Towers have... but for some reason they never really admitted it. There were family years, kiddie years and thrill years through the 1990's at Alton Towers. However, it's the marketing that has changed to suit families now - rather than the rides themselves.

[Maelstrom]

I can see another hotel esp if looking at opperating throughout the winter. As above they have always added family rides and in the 90's was as many but it was the way park was marketed. If you look what was added between 1992-2000 and 2001 to 1999 there has been a similar mix of rides for the whole family (although some of you may say that Nemesis and Oblivion are more thrill than Air & Rita, but these two rides are aimed at the same audience and rank very hogh in guest surveys)

1992-2000
RMT, Haunted House, Astra Dancer, Nemesis, Energizer (marked as thrill but really was a family ride), Doodle doo Derby and Tractor ride Squiel Nutty, Ripsaw, Oblivion, UG Land, Hex, Out of Control, Toyland Tous, frog hopper

2001-1999

Submission, Air, Duel, Berry Bish Bash, Spinball, Rita, CATCF, Dung Heap, Battle Galleons, Cred street and Merry England rethemes, the flume re theme, Heave Ho,

[Joe Koopa]

[quote=""Altonator""]Maybe Alton Towers decided they liked my idea

name='Altonator' date='Apr 21 2007, 10:31 PM']
In the next few years I think Alton Towers should build a 3rd hotel on the land to the left of the Alton Towers Hotel (behind the spa building) and theme it all on Alton Towers Rides and attractions past and present even the bedrooms perhaps 1st floor childrens rides 2nd floor family rides and 3rd floor coasters and thrill rides and also open a musem next to the 3rd hotel which explains the history of the park and tells you about old rides using pics videos etc.
They should also build a new water ride on the car park near Air (a family ride is needed here) and the new water ride and Air could extend the oasis of calm and the water ride could go right across the car park to Cariba Creek (outside area) and back to air see dark blue on plan or they could build the smaller scale ride which is light blue on the plan.
The parking spaces which are lost could be replaced by extending the car park in front of the new hotel.
see the plan below.
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/29479646@N00/467529849/" target="_blank]http://www.flickr.com/photos/29479646@N00/467529849/[/url]

What do you think?[/quote]

I would seriously love a theme-park themed hotel, with each room taking on a ride, and what not. Would be great, but quite expensive with new attractions and old attractions it could be quite hard having to re-theme rooms.

[James]

I think the way to go would be Log Cabins, it offers more for different types of guests and brings in different kind of people. It works at places like Europa Park so Alton shouldn't differ, all they would need is the little Alton magic touch and we would have another great style of accommodation at Alton.

With Log Cabins and a entertainments complex Alton would be shaping up really well to become the 'world class resort' it aims to be. Alton is great for the local economy and the local village benefits a lot from Alton.

Although I'm sure the locals will have there pitch forks at the ready if Alton decide to build more accommodation.

[rightbackgranty]

I would love to see some Log Cabin accomodation at the Alton Towers resort. They can be cheap, look nice and are easy to construct. I cant see Alton B&B owners being too happy about bottom rate accomodation, but it would be good for a lot of families that would like to stay overnight at the resort, but cannot currently afford to.

Self catering would also be an option - it can encourage families to stay for longer, as they're not oblidged to spend a large amount in the Hotels current restaraunts, which are very pricey for a family of four wanting a cheap domestic break.

Great news in my opinion.

[LiamSAFC]

Log Cabins SCREAM Towers to me. Theming them accordingly, they'd fit right into the area and I for one would love to see them at Alton, it would be a great opportunity to integrate them into the countryside. Would certainly add to the whole notion of 'escaping' to Alton Towers.

Good old fashioned traditional Log huts would accommodate the countryside beautifully in my eyes, but I would like to see them a bit away from the hotels, and a bit isolated away from them. I don't see any point putting them close to the hotels and IMO would look so much better in a secluded place, possibly with transport links (such as shuttles or Monorail extension) if Alton need to improvise on space.

[Dormiens-Dave]

TBH i think they need to add more things to do outside of the themepark before adding a new hotel, the space could instead be used as a sort of disney downtown esque area with lots of activities to make people want to stay longer.

Then add some new wings to the existing hotels to increase available accomodation.

[CoasterCrazyChris]

Log cabins at AT would not be cheap - in fact they might even be more expensive than a hotel room; and unless they build enough there will be a case of an unbalanced demand to availability ratio.

[Mankey]

The log cabins would only have bunk beds in... at least thats what europa did...

There were 4 rooms per cabin, each room sleeps 6 (3 bunks) Toilets and showers were like what they are at camping, which is a seperate building.

Cheap cheap cheap! €60 for 3 nights! Bargain!

[neontrix]

I HATE the idea of log cabins. A hotel would be mutch better.

That way you could have a restaurant, evening entertainment, and i personally love the idea of 3 hotels joined togther, you could have an amazing runaround!

But log cabins for me are a Big NO NO!

[Corkscrewed]

[quote=""neontrix""]I HATE the idea of log cabins. A hotel would be mutch better. [/quote]
Why? They're just as good as any hotel rooms, if not better. I kinda like the idea of having a whole building to myself rather than being in a big old hotel.

That way you could have a restaurant, evening entertainment, and i personally love the idea of 3 hotels joined togther, you could have an amazing runaround!

With Log Cabins you could have A Restaurant/entertainment complex, with the cabins centered around it. You could do much more in there than if you tried to fit that sort of thing into a hotel. I really like the idea of log cabins =D

[Johno]

New Hotel = Safari Theme.

Almost a certain.

[And.]

[quote=""Johno""]New Hotel = Safari Theme.

Almost a certain.[/quote]

Based on what? The thoughts in your head?

I would have thought a Casino theme was more likely than a Safari theme - especially given the rumours a while back.

Anyway - who wants a hotel based on a Mac web browser?! (jokes!)

[CoasterCrazyChris]

[quote=""Mankey""]The log cabins would only have bunk beds in... at least thats what europa did...

There were 4 rooms per cabin, each room sleeps 6 (3 bunks) Toilets and showers were like what they are at camping, which is a seperate building.

Cheap cheap cheap! €60 for 3 nights! Bargain![/quote]

I'm not particularly for the idea of log cabins, but if they're like this i'm a definate NO.
I mean, 1 room for 6 people with bunk beds! Sounds like camping....
...toilets and showers in a separte block....

[davidaiow]

Where is your sense of adventure guys?!

Cabins and Camping is awesome. A right British Safari. Brilliant. Come-on Alton, pull it out of the bag!

[CoasterCrazyChris]

^I know but AT is the premium, and arguably the best attraction in the UK. Its not supposed to be something you do every weekend or even every month. Whilst i'm in favour of something a bit more affordable than whats currently on offer, I think camping and bog standard cabins which are very basic is slightly below what you expect at AT. Ok, log cabins might not be so bad, IF done to a high standard, you know living space, and toilet and shower....
...with a hub of entertainment with restaurants and bars and what not.
Not basic huts with a seperate shower block, I mean it would be embarrassing for AT image lets be honest.