ALTON TOWERS REVEALS ITS REOPENING RESTRICTIONS

BY GABRIELLE

Alton Towers has published details of how it is preparing for reopening its doors to visitors. The popular Staffordshire-based theme park has released the steps it will take to help ensure a safe environment for staff and guests when it reopens.

The steps include limiting the initial number of visitors entering the park daily, as well as restricting the numbers on individual attractions and facilities. An online booking system will be in place, where guests can book their visit in advance to guarantee entry to the park.

Temperature checks will be carried out on all employees and guests arriving at the park. Individuals with a high temperature will not be allowed to enter the site. Visitors and employees will be asked to monitor their own health and avoid visiting Alton Towers if they feel unwell or have a cough.

Jonathan Ellis, the Health and Safety director at Alton Towers Resort, commented on the health and safety restrictions being put in place: “Like many other businesses, we chose to support the Government efforts to reduce the transmission of Covid-19 by closing the Resort ahead of the lockdown.

“We have now been closed for more than 10 weeks except for a very small team who have continued to perform essential work and care for the animals we have on site.

“As the situation improves and Government advice changes, we hope to be able to confirm our reopening date soon, and there is much we are already doing to prepare for that day.

“For a few weeks now, the management team at Alton Towers has been reviewing our entire operation and planning the changes we need to make so that when we do reopen we can do so in a way that keeps our guests and our employees safe, and ensures that we can deliver a great day out,” Ellis continued.

An official reopening date for Alton Towers has yet to be confirmed.

ALTON TOWERS TOGETHER LAUNCHED

BY GABRIELLE


Anew social campaign known as ‘Alton Towers Together’ has been launched. The initiative is designed to bring the fun of Alton Towers into homes in Britain during lockdown.

The campaign shares behind-the-scenes content of Alton Towers’ operations, as well as learning resources and family activities and challenges. The ‘Thrilliant Fun’ feature involves participants creating their perfect virtual Alton Towers theme park, featuring their favourite rides and attractions from the past, present and future.

By using the #AltonTowersTogether hashtag on social media, fans of the Staffordshire theme park can stay up to date on the latest announcements, news releases, and more.

Fans can also keep on top of the Alton Towers Blog written by the team at the resort and featuring some guest bloggers. The regularly updated blog provides information and tips about the resort and explores its 40-year history.

Alton Towers is also encouraging people to participate in the ‘Towers Challenge’ and build the resort’s iconic towers out of household items.

MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS CLOSES UK THEME PARKS AND ATTRACTIONS

BY GABRIELLE

In response to the COVID0-19 pandemic, Merlin Entertainments is closing its theme parks and attractions in the UK for a temporary period.

The sites suspending operations include Legoland Windsor, Thorpe Park, Alton Towers and Chessington World of Adventures.

Legoland Windsor was closed on March 20 but the Legoland Windsor Resort Hotel will remain open for now.

The opening of Alton Towers, due on March 20, has been postponed until further notice.

In a statement, Merlin Entertainments said: While we have been looking forward to welcoming visitors this weekend, we believe that this decision is the right thing to protect the health and wellbeing of our employees and guests. Alton Towers Resort will remain closed until further notice.”

Chessington World of Adventure Resort closed on March 21. The resort announced: “We believe that this is the right decision to protect the health and wellbeing of our guests and staff.”

This season’s opening of Thorpe Park has also been postponed from March 21.

AROMAPRIME LAUNCH THEME PARK FAN COLLECTION

BY GABRIELLE

Theme park scent-creation specialists AromaPrime are launching a new collection of themed scents that customers can buy to recreate the special smells and pongs they associate with their favourite theme park experiences.

It is known that our smell receptors are connected to the part of our brains that process emotions, trigger memories and influence behaviours, with theme parks long employing special scents at their attractions to enhance the guest experience. Now theme park fans will be able to purchase a collection of these scents to reminisce and relive their fun in the comfort of their own homes.

The Theme Park Fan Collection will launch with scents used by the famous Thorpe Park Resort in Surrey, England. The initial collection includes the exact same smells the park employs to enhance the visitor experience within their Creek Freak Massacre scare maze, the Platform 15 scary train ride, the Containment escape room and the Fright Nights cinema.

Other scents from theme parks all around the world will be released in new collections soon. There will also be a mini-dispenser available for purchase alongside the scent collections.

As well as Thorpe Park, AromaPrime has previously been commissioned to create scents for the likes of Alton Towers, Sea Life aquariums, Bobbejaanland in Belgium, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Madame Tussauds and even the Natural History Museum in London.

They will also make available certain smells that used to enhance guest experiences in theme parks that have long since closed, so fans can relive memories of the fun and frolics they experienced twenty years ago!

ALTON TOWERS COMMENCES 40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS WITH OPENING OF GANGSTA GRANNY: THE RIDE

BY GABRIELLE

2020 is the 40th birthday of Alton Towers and to celebrate, the much-loved theme park has announced a series of special events. The 40th anniversary party commences with the opening of Gangsta Granny: The Ride.

The innovative 4D ride experience is centred on David Walliams’ children’s book ‘Gangsta Granny.’ The attraction features 3D projection mapping, state-of-the-art special effects, and animation inspired by the work of British children’s books illustrator, Tony Ross.

Gangsta Granny: The Ride is part of The World of David Walliams, a new zone at Alton Towers, featuring a number of rides and attractions, including Raj’s Bouncy Bottom Burp, Raj’s Shop and the Royal Carousel.

Gangsta Granny: The Ride is scheduled to open at The World of David Walliams on March 21, 2020.

The May half-term will see a Gangsta Granny-themed ‘Half Term Heist’ take place at the theme park, where visitors can take part in different challenges, activities and competitions.

NEW GANGSTA GRANNY 4D RIDE COMING TO ALTON TOWERS

 BY GABRIELLE

The World of David Walliams attraction at Alton Towers is set to introduce a brand new ride based on one of the popular comedian’s most famous children’s books, Gangsta Granny.

Gangsta Granny: The Ride will be a fun 4D experience for all the family to enjoy and will be themed around the Walliams-penned novel about a boy who discovers his beloved grandmother is secretly an international jewel thief.

“I’m absolutely thrilled that Gangsta Granny is becoming a ride at Alton Towers,” said Walliams. “I’ve worked really closely with the team at Alton Towers to make sure the ride is just as funny and exciting as the book. I think children and their parents, and even their grandparents, are going to love it.”

The Gangsta Granny ride will see guests joining the story’s main characters on their quest to steal the Crown Jewels, including a virtual tour of the 140 royal ceremonial objects which represent over 800 years of the British monarchy. The ride will include scenes travelling through the streets of London and even a smelly visit to the sewers!

Expect the very latest developments in special effects, 3D projection-mapping and animation, all based on the work of the original novel’s renowned illustrator, Tony Ross, who is also known for his Little Princess books and the artwork of the Horrid Henry series.

Alton Towers also plan to add four new Gangsta Granny-themed bedrooms to their on-site hotel. There will also a celebratory ‘Grannies Go Free’ pass available throughout the remainder of 2020.

ALTON TOWERS TO BRING DAVID WALLIAMS’ BOOKS TO LIFE WITH NEW ATTRACTION

BY GABRIELLE

Alton Towers is to launch a new attraction based on the much-loved children’s books by David Walliams.

Partnering with the best-selling author, Alton Tower’s is already working on The World of David Walliams attraction, which is located near the park’s Cloud Cuckoo Land.

The David Walliams’ zone is to comprise of a “ground-breaking” attraction centred on the author’s popular characters.

Speaking about the Alton Towers project, Walliams said: “It’s a huge thrill for some of my favourite characters to be getting their own attractions at Alton Towers.

“I can’t wait to experience them for myself, and from all the work that has gone in I think people are going to love it. All will be revealed next year,” Walliams added.

James Walker, marketing director, said the theme park is: “Delighted to be able to announce our partnership with David Walliams on what promises to be a hugely exciting addition to Alton Towers Resort in 2020.

“David’s books have really captured the imagination of Britain’s children and their families. So, it’s a huge honour to be working with David on this fabulous collaboration for 2020, the year in which we celebrate our 40th birthday as the nation’s favourite theme parks,” continued Walker.

The World of David Walliams is due to open in spring 2020.

PAULTONS PARK NAMED NUMBER ONE UK THEME PARK BY TRIPADVISOR

BY GABRIELLE

Paultons Park in Romsey, Hampshire, has been named the UK’s best theme park. The accolade is based on reviews left by visitors on TripAdvisor, which were collated for the Travellers’ Choice Amusement & Waterparks 2019 list.

TripAdvisor looked at the number of reviews left for the UK’s different theme parks and waterparks, as well as the ratings given to each resort.

The poll also looked at the best waterparks and theme parks worldwide.

Hot on Paulton Park’s heels was the Milky Way Adventure Park in Devon, which features both indoor and outdoor attractions. Blackpool Pleasure Beach got the third spot, followed by Clifton Park in Rotherham.

Sundown Adventureland in Retford is the fifth best theme park in the UK according to TripAdvisor reviews, followed by Adventure Island in Southend-on-Sea.

Exeter’s Crealy Family Theme Park came in seventh place, Brighton Palace Pier won eight spot, followed by Harbour Park in Littlehampton in ninth.

Alton Towers was listed as the tenth most popular theme park in the UK based on TripAdvisor reviews.

Around the world, Universal’s Islands of Adventure in Orlando was voted as the best theme park around the world by travellers.