Is the Magic Back?

[stu1980]

I have been thinking about asking this question for sometime and im going to do it.

The question is Do you think the magic is back at Alton Towers or not and why.

Im just wondering what people will say - dont want this to be a place for blame or anything just a question.

[Chris-TT]

In my opinion it's different for everyone. I love the idea of parks such as EP where the Mack family are true enthusiasts, they add to pretty much all the attractions every year to enhance the guest experience rather than simply get more money for a venture capalist company.

Alton Towers is owned by Merlin who are part of the Black Stone group. It's all about maximising profits. For myself i'm a little torn as a company run like this can never really bring back the magic through unnecessary enhancements, but if the staff truly love the place they can make a massive difference and give the guest a "magical" experience.

[bensaund]

For me there is a level of magic in the air and it starts as soon as you get on the monorail.

The monorail is your first ride of the day and the music/audio introduces you to the park and gives you updates of what is happening and what to see.

Then you get to the main gates which still look well maintained.

Towers Street, the view, the music all work for me. The Box office looks very good, the only thing in towers street which does not work is the way the shops are laid out, from the outside it looks like all the individual shops are closed, like most UK high streets, but in reality there is a busy shop behind it.

Each area has its themed music and identify, in many cases you know where you are by the music.

Alton may not have the biggest and fastest rides, but the selection of rides it has works very well and the theme and layout works for me.

Yes there are many areas to improve, but overall Alton ticks all the boxes for me, I would give it 9 out of 10. It would get 10 our of 10 if they upped the theming a little and improved the ride/park maintenance. But when I compare it to Thorpe, I would give Thorpe 4 out of 10, due to poor maintenance, lack of theme (chart music blasting out), constant ride breakdowns and the fact the place needs a good lick of paint. To add one train operation way too often and the feeling that Thorpe just create queues so they can sell more fast track tickets.

So for me the Magic is there, it just needs a little fine tuning. An improvement would be actors in the Th13teen queue for Scarefest and a choice of green lights not white bright flood lights in the dark forest. The fact the maintenance staff were still hanging up temporary lighting during Scarefest and when we got out the monorail, there were no lights outside the golf leading up to the main car park was a little dangerous.

[amy0192]

Never left for me. Probably because I'm young and haven't experienced the park the same way you guys have, so I don't have much to compare it too. I still feel like it's a very magical place, though, from the very start of the day.

[The Moon]

The magic has returned in a different way, for me. American park style. BGA, IOA etc, all big look at me customer service, banners, the viral marketing, everything screams big. I like that, I like the American big magic.

[JaykeAT]

As I never experienced "the original magic" I can't comment but even after a good 20/30 trips over the past 2 years I still get that warm fuzzy feeling when I walk into Towers ST.

[tallicay2k]

The magic has always been there for me..I love the place....BUT.....I do miss the old Tower street music which i have on my IPOD and still play frequently play

[oliviamae]

I tend to go about once a month (maybe more) during season and I really don't think the magic ever left, though of course it's subjective. Towers Street is always a little bit like Christmas morning for me.

[cybermen39]

The Magic returns a little for Halloween but as for all year round no. Don't get me wrong we still enjoy it'but Towers street used to be amazing The Jazz Band ' Characters all over 'even greeting as you got on the Monorail at the car park end sitting with you if you were lucky. Street theatre all day. You didn't have to look for it it was all over all day' 20 minutes on 20 minutes off. And Characters that meant something to Alton all with back storys.If you do some thing do it right not half cock effort. But like i said we still enjoy it just wish they would bring it back. Entertainment management used to say to entertainment staff make sure the guests believe in the magic and forget there's an outside world. And you need more than rides to do that.

[MattsDesigns]

I don't know but the only thing I can say is I felt it today and a few times lately. I wasn't in the park - just sat at home and you do something like coming on here, or listening to some Merlin music and you feel the magic. It's a spirit I guess and you go to the park in spirit.

[Rita 2005]

Magic from The TT Archives!

[Thriller]

Just come back from a 2 day visit at Alton. First day was on Sunday 28th during Scarefest. The place was busy, but void of any atmosphere and definately no magic in sight. I could not understand what was going on. It was not Alton Towers at all!

Monday 29th was a totally different affair. There was a buzz and excitement in the air and a sense of magic was lingering around towers street....having said that, it was still not as prominent as it could be by a long stretch. It made the start to the day a much better, more uplifting feel though and they should really concentrate on this much more.

Half a queue line was open through Duels grave yard. Why not keep this open all year round? It adds to the ride, even when there isn't much of a queue there is still things to read and look at through this 'forgotten' part of the park.

Old Nemmy was very rough last going off on the Monday on row 7....Living up to her beastly name, she is either showing her age, or needs a good service. Never know her fling you into the corners and inversion quite so much.

Loved the LED and Moving Head lighting on Monday too, helped with the 'magic' a little. Although they could have utilised them much more in my opinion.

SW7 'graffitti' was 'everywhere'. Just hope the ride lives up to what we expect from an SW!!!!

Come on Merlin, wave your wand make 2013 more magical!!!

[quackers]

The last time Alton Towers felt magical to me was back when Henry Hound was alive. Even if he returned the place is so over commercialised now, ie things like fast track tickets (even alton towers definition of que jumping is pushing in front of others in the que! (its just ok as long as you pay, hey Merlin?)). or fact the log flume is sponsered by that soap company. It just feels like everywhere possable they are trying to squeeze every penny you earn. The carparks use to be free, now they are £6, you use to be able to get half price entry in the afternoons. I understand they are there to make money, but bleeding me dry of money at every chance possable does not make my day feel magical.......

The more greedy they become the less magical they feel.

[Stelios7]

If overcongested sluggish queuelines and upsellers around every corner isn't magical then I don't know what is.

[LPAJ13]

I think there is one "magic" that hasn't come back and that is the "New ride" adverts between 7 pm and 8 pm on a Friday night the day before the park opens for the new season. The days of the Nemesis, Oblivion and Air adverts have gone for me. That was all part of the magic for me. For me, it went to scrape the bottom of the barrel with the original Rita advert. It started to come back for Thirteen, the 10 second trailers the the main advert but that was up to 2 weeks before it opened which kinda left people thinking in the general public that the park was going to open the following day. I really hope for SW7 that the advert is first on the night before the park opens with all the old magic back.

[bensaund]

Down south we got the Alton Adverts, but I have not seen them for a good 10 years and even Thorpe's Swarm advert is so short, you don't really take in what it is.

[Delta79]

I think the magic is hiding with the entertainment team. well it the only place i see it. with Sir Edward England and his pirate mates. and the extra bits like the clown escape during scarefest.

so I would say the entertainment team are the only custodians of the magic left on the park.