Alton Towers: 10 Year Plan Revealed!

[sykesie-92]

Whether you are a local resident, avid theme park go-er or just a little curious, Alton Towers will welcome everyone as they give the public a rare glimpse into the future of the resort this weekend.

Over the past year or so, the resort management team and Merlin Entertainments have been putting together a massive £multi-million longer term plan - the first time that they have been able to do so for many years.

There are set to be new rides and accommodation along with heritage and infrastructure, which will presumably all be kicked off with the Secret Weapon Six rollercoaster project for 2010. Ian Crabbe, director at the resort, had the following to say:

"We very much hope that our local community will be pleased by our confidence in the future of the resort, and interested in our broad development strategy, particularly in the current economic environment.

"However, this exhibition is open to everybody who has an interest in the resort, not just residents of Alton and Farley.

"Our economic impact spreads throughout the Staffordshire Moorlands and the West Midlands and a stable future for us represents good news for the many businesses that also rely on us."

If you would like to go and see the blueprint for Alton Towers over the next decade, you can visit the Emperor Suite at the Alton Towers Hotel on Friday 26th June from 12:00noon to 9:00pm or on Saturday 27th June from 10:00am to 4:00pm.
Added detail (To be taken with a pinch of salt.
Wooden roller coaster, possibly sited in Ug Land
Secret Weapon 6
Two new hotels (one similar to the existing hotels, the other a series of chalets/log cabins)
A large extension to the waterpark, Cariba Creek
Park entrance to be relocated closer to the hotels
Several new smaller rides
Enterprise to finally leave the park

Some im sceptical of, some im deeply hoping is true; Well will see tomorrow I suppose:up:

[gavt1976]

It would be good if we could get to see the blueprints on here so then we all know what is happening and i am glad that the enterprise is going, but i am also looking forward to see what new flats they are getting because someone did tell that they where planning to get a screaming swing ride for the park.

[03gibbss]

I'd like to see a wooden coaster definately! :up: I think the entrance is good where it is though! The flat rides could be good, not too bothered about the hotels, they're too expensive anyway imo.

[sykesie-92]

Aye, I think there is no chance the entrance things true, the entrance with the two towers is nice and the monorails there, but mainly, tower street and the fact you get amazing views of the actual Towers means this is probably inaccurate.
The flats and the Hotel look likely.
And I so hope there's truth to the woodie, if anythings true, please may it be that!

[03gibbss]

Ye although theres been talk of a woodie for a while before.

[gavt1976]

I would be happy if they did get a woodie for the park because i think it needs one.

[sykesie-92]

The plans for the woodie that got withdrawn where astonishing, featuring drops of close to 200ft!
The good thing about if alton towers where to get a woodie, it would probably be an Intamin, the pre-fabs are quieter I believe?

[willo22sly]

Pah. Log cabins? Give me a break.

As much as I want to believe that, I simply can't.

=[

[AtomiCart]

I've never been to Alton Towers. :(

Sounds great, though. :up:

[Gluesniffa]

Well pre fabs are quieter in the sense that there is usually no chain, and it doesn't have an over the top rackity sound to it. However when it goes over the air time hills, it makes a loud sound. Balder had to get noise barrier walls pretty recently, I can only assume thats what its for.

As for Alton, its one of the parks on my list I have to visit before I die. So creative, and everything.

[Cyberleader]

Woodie plz.

[wackyworld]

I would love the woodie , but don't want enterprise to go , it was one of my childhood favourites.

As for the enterance , i think that they won't move it ; it would cost too much , and the hotels , i think that maybe they would build one , but not two.

An extension to the waterpark would be good , and also i like the idea of a few new flat rides.

I also heard of them building a smaller coaster in the tent of Black Hole , though i doubt the information was correct.

[sykesie-92]

Link to what was said. (http://www.towersalmanac.com/features/index.php?id=69)
Vague, nothing specific ride related other than there will be a number attractions added.
There was some highlighted area's and by looks of it some concepts, il be back with more information if there is any.
ADDED;
--Apparently Spinballs moving
--Looks like an medium to large scale attraction added each year.
--The extra accommodation apparently Log cabins (yes will, Log cabins!)
--Hotel with with entertainments complex.
--Hotel Extension and refurbishment of the Alton Towers hotel. With a shift to cater a more 'high value' market to support the parks growing conference and events business.

The plan is very much the parks vision and general ideas, possibly seeking feedback asking what people think obviously and whether the support the ideas

[jackalope11]

wait,
so is the woodie sw6?
or are they getting a woodie AND a sw6?

[Cyberleader]

And.

[sykesie-92]

^^And.. its just a rumour for now

More finer detail


On the subject of Spinball, I talked to a member of management there and he said they are thinking of either relocating it in park or selling it. However, he said it was unlikely it would move to another Merlin park. He didn't seem very happy with the ride when talking about it, almost like it was a burden.
The main point of interest in the exhibition was a map of Alton, with their ideas penciled in over the top. They made a big fuss about an "activated link" between the hotels and Air, and I asked a someone who was floating around and they said they wanted to create "continuity" between the park and the resort area. Along this link was designated an "entertainment area", presumably a Universal CityWalk style thing.
The camp ground accommodation is planned for where one of the overflow car parks is now. It would be linked to the current hotel area by another area designated a "entertainment area". The campground accommodation potential area looked pretty big.
They are considering an extension to ATH, which was clearly marked. It would be another wing that went on the lawn next to the lake with the stepping stones, adjacent to the woodland walk.
It looked from the plans like they are planning TWO new hotels on the Field of 1001 Screams area. Two clearly separate blocks of colour their designated "possible accommodation".
I asked about the entrance. The man from management said they were undecided whether to just scrap the Towers Street entrance all together. On the map, Towers Street and Old McDonalds Farm were labeled as two of the areas for a "possible retheme".
The Flume retheme wasn't labeled as clearly as that. Just the area where the Flume is was marked as one of the areas for a "possible retheme" http://forum.towerstimes.co.uk/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif. Other areas that came under this category included CCL, Ugland, Towers Street, Old Mcdonalds Farm, Storybook Land and Forbidden Valley.
A board told us that when developing the plan the management had considered four options. These were "No Investment", "Small Investment", "Medium Investment" and "High Investment". The one the plan is based on is "Medium Investment". That was very interesting I think.
Sites for potential new rollercoasters: around the back of CCL, Ugland where SW6 is (not sure if this is meant to actually BE SW6 or a third coaster...) and Forbidden Valley, round the back of this "activated link" area but on the side of the valley. Basically the exact route of the woodland walk was designated. I guess the CCL ride would be a kiddie coaster, would work well there in the old coaster corner. I'm at a total loss as to the FV one, seems a very bizarre place to put a new coaster...
Attendance is at it's highest since 1994. Another very minor point. They made a LOT of fuss about their commitment to heritage and ecology. Pumping a lot of money into that it seems, or it seems like it to keep the residents happy. The few other people we saw in their were residents, it's obviously geared towards them.
As Rob said, four "new or rethemed" attractions in the next 5 years. But only 6 in the next 10 http://forum.towerstimes.co.uk/images/smilies/icon_confused.gif Maybe all the resort stuff above like the new hotels and "activated link" will be the main investment in the latter 5 years?

[randomperpie]

Sounds like a good 10 year plan.

If I ever get out to that part of the world, I'd love to go to Alton Towers...

[wackyworld]

Ah , so they could be moving spinball into the tent , because i heard that they were getting one built in there , and what you've just said is that Spinball will be moved , so it kinda fits ??
But that's only if it doesn't get moved to a different park.

[sykesie-92]

Yh that Sanbrooke started that rumour.. he also said that Sw6 as B&M ;)
Think its too big for the tent, probably move to coaster corner but apparently they spoke of if it as like a burden on the park, tbh it is a poor ride so i could seeing being sold?

[gavt1976]

I have just come of the phone speaking to my friend and he told me that the park is planning on having a screaming swing ride for the park like they have at thorpe park.

[sykesie-92]

^ sounds interesting