london attraction news 2012
Radio 1 get the key to Alton Towers
Posted by at 6:33 pm, February 22nd 2012.
Today Radio 1 were given the key to ALton Towers. Although the park is shut for the winter a selection of rides were open for Chris and the team. The reason for this visit was that today is Chris moyles's birthday and as treat the team were offered this very special birthday treat.
X:/ No Way Out Retheme
at 8:28 pm, February 20th 2012.
X:/NWO is currently undergoing a retheme/revamp and is currently closed. Part of the retheme/revamp was completed during the closed season and includes the following added features:
*New lighting.
*Installation of TV Monitors throughout the queue lines.
*New soundtrack.
*New Paint work.
*Updated and clean up of queueline themeing.
The second Part of the retheme/revamp will include the a new storyline which the ride hasn't seen before and some changes will take place to the ride itself but the trains WILL be still going backwards.
Posted by at 1:31 pm, February 6th 2012.
Chester Zoo are please to announce the launch of our news Text service. To get the latest news direct your mobile phone, Text TTNEWS to 89892
Each text costs a maximum of 25p and all profits from this service go to the upkeep and development of this site.
To unsubscribe from this service simply text STOP TTNEWS to 89892
FUN IN THE SUN FOR CHESSINGTON'S SEALIONS
at 8:18 pm, January 29th 2012.
FUN IN THE SUN FOR CHESSINGTON'S SEALIONS
Two of Chessington Zoo's Californian sealions are heading for warmer climates as they travel to Spain to retire in the sun this week. The discerning ladies Pebbles, 22 and Ursa, 15 will be moved to Mundomar Marine and Exotic Animal Park in Benidorm, where they will become part of a new breeding group.
Pebbles and Ursa have lived in Chessington Zoo for many years, and have jointly bred nearly 20 pups with the notorious and well-known Boris - affectionately known as 'Bonking Boris' in the local area. The retirement of the two ladies also signifies the retirement of Boris, who will remain at Chessington where he continues to be very popular with visitors.
"At the age of 27 - which is more like nearly 100 in human years - Boris is ready to put his flippers up," says Will Elgar, Head of Presentations in Chessington Zoo. "The departure of Pebbles and Ursa means that we can now also focus on developing a bigger and more exciting sealion show for our guests."
Pebbles will be travelling to Spain by plane on the 30 January, and Ursa will follow in a few weeks. Animal Trainer Gary Jones will join her on her journey to ensure she settles in well in her new home.
The retirement coincides with the arrival of a new young male sealion called Hogan, who comes to Chessington from Belfast Zoo. Together with Harley, Ocean and last year's pups Boston and Dante he will entertain the crowds at Chessington in a brand new splash-tastic sealion show.
"We are very excited about welcoming Hogan to our group," says Will Elgar. "Having such a young and dynamic group of sealions means we can train some amazing new behaviours that will entertain both the sealions and our visitors. It also means we can offer some fun behind-the-scenes packages where guests can actually meet our sealions and learn more about how and why they are trained."
Chessington Zoo will be open daily from 10am to 3pm between 10-25 February for a very special Springtime in the Zoo event. Tickets cost £6 adults and £5 for children (under 12).
For more information about Chessington's Animal Experiences, including Discover Sealions, Adopt an Animal and Zoo Keeper for a Day packages, or to pre-book for Springtime in the Zoo, visit www.chessington.com
And don't forget…
The main theme park re-opens on Saturday 24th March, with its unique blend of thrilling rides, exciting animal encounters and live shows. See you then!
TV Show - Most Haunted at Alton Towers
Posted by at 11:46 pm, January 25th 2012.
The episode of Most Haunted filmed at Alton Towers during the summer last year, is scheduled to be on Tuesday the 30th of January 2015 at 9:00pm.
Tune into LivingTV to see Yvette Fielding and the team investigate ghostly sightings at Alton Towers.
After the hour-long programme on Living TV catch Most Haunted Extra at 10:00pm, a behind-the-scenes look at the show.
No re-theme for the Runaway Mine Train
Posted by at 6:41 pm, January 11th 2012.
Alton Towers have now stated that the rumoured re-theme of Runaway Mine Train will not go ahead.
Alton Towers have now confirmed that the re-theme will not go ahead. A spokesperson for the park has made the following comment: "The Runaway Mine Train will be fully refurbished, but not re-themed. It's a family favourite already so there was no reason to change it."
SPRINGTIME IN CHESSINGTON ZOO
Posted by at 7:44 pm, January 10th 2012.
Lovable lambs, playful piglets, charming calves and three mischievous tiger cubs will all take centre stage as Chessington Zoo opens for a very special Springtime in the Zoo event this February Half Term. Guests of all ages will have a chance to meet the newest and cutest additions to the Chessington family between 10-25 February, when the park will open between 10am and 3pm daily.
Chessington Zoo is more interactive than ever in 2012. Guests can see lions and tigers roar in the Trail of the Kings and go wild in the Monkey & Bird Garden and Creature Features. They can take a seat and watch the splash-tastic sea lion show, watch the three tiger cubs play and see penguins potter, monkeys chatter and spiders scurry as they make their way through the grounds.
Daily meet n'greets with skunks, ferrets, snakes, snails and a barn owl create an informative and entertaining display in the Discovery Centre, and with spectacular feeding times for the big cats, monkeys and birds, Chessington Zoo is a place of wonder for explorers of all ages.
Chessington Zoo will be open daily from 10am to 3pm between 10-25 February. Tickets cost £6 adults and £5 for children (under 12). For more information or to pre-book, visit www.chessington.com
And don't forget…
The main theme park re-opens on Saturday 24th March, with its unique blend of thrilling rides, exciting animal encounters and live shows. See you then!
Notes to Picture Editors:
· High Resolution images of Chessington World of Adventures & Zoo are available for the media to download free of charge from www.chessington.com/press
Notes to Editors:
· Chessington World of Adventures & Zoo is part of The Tussauds Group, one of the world's leading leisure and entertainment companies. Tussauds attracts over 14 million customers every year to its famous brands in the UK, which includes Madame Tussauds, Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, Warwick Castle, BA London Eye and Chessington World of Adventures. For further information on The Tussauds Group please visit: www.tussauds.com
· Chessington World of Adventures & Zoo is open between 24 March to 31 October 2012. Certain Chessington Zoo days apply. Visit www.chessington.com for more information.
· Family Ticket for the theme park (2 adults and 2 children under 12) only £59 when booking in advance. (On-the-Gate rate is £69 for a Family Ticket.)
· Advance Booking rates: £22 adults, £15 children (under 12). On-the-Gate rates: £29 adults, £16 children (under 12).
· Height restrictions may apply on certain rides.
Express passes and special offers are available online when booking in advance on www.chessington.com
Banish the January Blues
Posted by at 7:44 pm, January 10th 2012.
Many Britons feel the effect of January gloom as they begin the New Year. After the celebrations of the festive season, many people feel low when going back to work or school.
But if you begin the year with a spurt of adrenaline in a far-flung location, more likely than not you'll feel refreshed and motivated enough to continue the good work throughout the year – as well as feel mentally rejuvenated.
Take a ride on Stealth; Europe's tallest and fastest launch rollercoaster, which reaches speeds of 80 mph, along with Colossus; the world's first and only ten looping rollercoaster.
For 2012, make it your resolution to take advantage of a January sale, and visit Thorpe Park which re-opens for Half Term on the 10th February.
With prices from just £15* it's enough to place a smile on anyone's face!
Need something a little less frantic? Chessington World of Adventures will celebrate Springtime in the Zoo!
Between 10th – 25th February 2012, Chessington Zoo will show off a number of new additions including calves, lambs, piglets and chicks, so head on down for animal adventures to remember.
Chessington Zoo is also open for weekends during February and March. Visit www.chessington.com to plan your trip.
We look forward to seeing you soon,
The Thorpe Park Team
Alton Towers - New Attractions For 2012
Posted by at 12:12 am, January 6th 2012.
We now have a pretty good idea of what Alton Towers have planned for next season, and can reveal some new information.
This weeks staff newsletter has revealed that there will be five new additions to the park next season, they are as follows:
The first new addition to be confirmed is the Adventure Golf Course, which recently had its planning application granted as reported here. You can view the plans for this attraction here.
The second new attraction, which we also already knew about, will be the Hogs Head Restaurant which again has had planning permission granted recently (see here). You can find plans of the new restaurant here and here.
The third new attraction, which has only recently come to light, will be a new children's playground named "The Dung Heap". It will be an adventure playground for younger children themed around the peculiarly British, and eternally fascinating, topic of 'dung'. It is expected that this new attraction will be placed in the middle of Riverbank Eye Spy.
Another new attraction previously unheard of will be the Haunted Walkway, named "Haunted Hollow". This walkway will takes guest through a spooky short-cut through the haunted woods. We expect the pathway to be in Gloomy Wood, possibly where the old Haunted House queue line stands.
Finally, there will be another new restaurant, which will be a refurbishment of Nemesis Nosh. Although unconfirmed, we have heard rumours that the new outlet will be a Harry Ramsden's Chip Shop.
As always, we'll keep you up to date with the latest information on these new attractions.
Source Towers Nerd
Food Outlets Told to Improve Standards
Posted by at 12:01 am, January 6th 2012.
Food Hygiene inspectors have ordered Alton Towers food outlets to address some concerning issues.
A number of food outlets found at Alton Towers have been criticised in a report by the district councils food hygiene experts. The outlets concerned are the KFC in Katanga Canyon, McDonald's in Merrie England and the staff restaurant in Magic HQ.
Both KFC and McDonalds are run independently as franchises, and were highlighted to have poor cleaning standards. KFC in particular was found to have damaged ceilings, work surfaces, skirting board and carpets and also the amount of food hygiene awareness amongst staff was described as 'poor'. KFC was shut down at the end of the 2010 season due to these issues, a spokesperson for a KFC has made the following comment, "As with all other outlets at Alton Towers, KFC Katanga is currently closed for the winter season. The recommendations of the council have been taken on board and we are confident that the store will meet our strict company hygiene standard when it re-opens in the spring."
McDonald's have also released a statement regarding their take-away outlet highlighted in the report, "Hygiene and food safety is an utmost priority at McDonald's and we have stringent and established hygiene and food safety procedures in place in every restaurant. Naturally then we are disappointed on the rare occasion when a restaurant does not meet the high standards we set ourselves and take immediate action."
Although no Tussauds outlets were highlighted in the report, the park has made the following statement, "Alton Towers takes the health, safety and welfare of its visitors and staff very seriously and we do not compromise on anything that could affect this. With respect to the food units on site which are operated directly by Alton Towers, while there is nothing in the most recent report to cause any concern, there are a few very minor areas in which we can improve, and action has already been taken to ensure that we do so before we re-open next March. In addition, we are of course disappointed that one of the independently operated franchise units has had issues highlighted, and we will be discussing these with the appropriate senior management."
Also commenting on the staff restaurant mentioned in the report, "With regards to the Alton Towers restaurant specifically, all recommendations identified by the environmental health officer have been implemented and we will continue to take on board recommendations put forward from the council."
Finally, the council have made the following statement regarding the matter, "Officers will be monitoring the situation closely in the coming months and have the power to take enforcement action if necessary."
Source Towers Nerd
Forum login problems
at 9:56 pm, January 4th 2012.
The forum login problems are now sorted.
Thanks for waiting
Sorry again
Forum login problems
at 8:07 pm, January 4th 2012.
Please note that we are aware of several problems with members trying to login and join the forums. We are sorry for the problems and are working as fast as possible to correct the problem and will inform you of when everything is up and running as normal.
Thanks for your understanding.
Sorry again and we will resolve the problem as soon as possible.
Balloon Fiesta at Alton Towers
at 5:54 pm, December 30th 2010.
Go-Ballooning plan to hold a hot air balloon fiesta at Alton Towers in 2012, offering amazing views across the park.
The company started advertising gift vouchers for the event on eBay, with starting bids of £200. The listing states that the event will take place on 26th-28th May 2015 and offer spectacular views of rides such as Nemesis, Air and Oblivion.
The included in the voucher is:
- Entrance to the park for the person flying.
- A full days hospitality for your family in the balloon zone (4 persons max).
- A balloon flight either am or pm.
- A champagne toast to celebrate your flight.
For more information you can call 07922360209 or visit www.Go-Ballooning.co.uk.
No Re-Theme for Runaway Mine Train at Alton Towers
at 10:58 am, December 8th 2010.
It is rumoured that the re-theme of the Runaway Mine Train will not now happen for 2012.
It was thought that the Runaway Mine Train may receivce a re-theme for the 2015 season but this will now not happen and the only part of the ride that will see any attention will be the trains.
Possiblere-theme ideas were a karaoke style theme utilising the Sony Playstation's 'Sing Star' software.
Alton Towers Runaway mine train confirmed to re-open in 2012
at 6:54 pm, December 5th 2010.
It has been confirmed that the Runaway mine train at Alton Towers will re-open in 2015 but it is still to be decided if the ride will receive a retheme. An Alton Towers spokesperson said, "We are still planning to re-open the Runaway Mine Train. There is some debate about whether or not we change the theme of the ride, but this is yet to be resolved".
Stay tuned for more information.
Alton Towers Day-trippers Fined for Leaving Dog in Car
at 10:11 pm, November 29th 2010.
Alton Day-trippers Fined for Leaving Dog in Car
A Couple have been fined for leaving their dog in their car whilst enjoying a day out at Alton Towers during the summer.
Pleading guilty to leaving the dog in circumstances likely to cause unnecessary suffering, the couple from Glasgow were fined £100 each and ordered to pay costs of £375.
The family of four drove down to Alton Towers on July 22nd, arriving at 11am. The dog was left in the car with two water bowls and one of the windows barely opened. Alton Towers staff were alerted to the situation when they heard the yelps from the distressed dog. The RSPCA were promptly called and an inspector arrived at 2pm finding the dog in clear distress. The temperature had risen to 107.4 degrees Fahrenheit and there was barely any water remaining in the bowls. After contacting the police and informing them of their plan to free the dog, the inspector smashed the front passenger window with a crowbar and freed the dog.
The couple insist that they had intended on returning to the car at 2.30pm, but were delayed and didn't come back until 3.00pm. The couple who have owned two dogs previously are said to normally be responsible pet owners, and nothing like this will happen again.
(Source Towers Nerd)
Local Band Film Video at Alton Towers
at 10:05 pm, November 29th 2010.
The Unknown make their music video debut at Alton Towers.
Young rockers The Unknown, impressed audiences at the Staffordshire Rocks competition earlier this year and have now been selected to feature on a new BBC programme, 'Take A Bow'.
The group of five 12-13 year olds have created a name for themselves by performing covers of classic rock songs from Guns N' Roses and other artists. They have also written their first song, titled 'Chains'.
The video shot at the park will feature on the BBC show which is due to appear on our screens in February.
(Source Towers Nerd)
Alton Towers Tea - £10m Tetley Tea Promotion
at 10:03 pm, November 29th 2010.
A £10m Alton Towers give-away is set for 2015 on packs of Tetley Tea.
In efforts to re-vamp it's decaffeinated tea range, Tetley are re-launching it with a prize giveaway totaling £10m. The prizes include 3,000 free adult tickets to the park and other money-off vouchers for park entry.
The deal has been agreed with the Tussauds Group, with Tetley being the 'Official tea of the Tussauds Group', which gives Tetley exclusive pouring rights in all it's attractions!
The re-vamp is an attempt to convince the British public that it tastes just as good as their normal tea. Tetley's previous attempt at promoting the de-caff version resulted in a ban of the adverts as they made claims that drinking it was good for you, a statement that couldn't be supported by satisfactory evidence.
The promotion is set to launch next year, in time for the new season.
(Source Towers Nerd)
Thorpe Farm and Canada Creek Railway not to return in 2012
at 6:32 pm, November 11th 2010.
It is thought that both Thorpe Farm and Canada Creek Railway will not return to Thorpe Park in 2012. The Canada Creek Railway is most likely to be removed during the closed season and sold. The animals from the farm are likely to be moved over to Chessington Zoo.
Many people will miss the Farm and the Railway but the reason for removing these 2 attractions is to create more space for the new rollercoaster for 2009 with the entrance being where the Canada Creek Railway station is currently now.
1 Comments | Make a comment
Alton Towers Wooden Coaster Official Statement
at 1:40 pm, October 26th 2010.
Alton Towers have made an official statement regarding the Wooden Rollercoaster which is said to be proposed for 2008.
Today Andy Hine, chairman of the Rollercoaster Club of Great Brittan, posted an update on the Wooden Rollercoaster situation. He revealed that an official release had been made by the park in a post he made this morning on the Crazy Gangs Rollercoasters & RCCGB Message Board.
The release reads:
We are pleased to confirm that we are currently working towards a planning application for a medium sized, family orientated, wooden rollercoaster, potentially for the 2008 season.
However, we are still in the early stages of this process with much work to do to ensure that the plan is appropriate to the site and deliverable to our guests. The scale of the planned ride is much smaller than that debated in 2002/2003, and it will sit on the area formerly occupied by The Beast and The Mouse. If it goes ahead, it will provide a valuable additional experience that will further enhance Alton Towers' reputation as the home of original and unique attractions.
Andy added: "So please do not hype this up. We do not want to be responsible for the application being turned down because the council and locals think that it will be something bigger than it is. I will keep you updated on developments as and when."
So it now looks pretty certain that plans will soon be submitted for a small/medium sized woodie in what used to be Coaster Corner.
Alton Towers Increase Entry Prices
at 1:36 pm, October 26th 2010.
Alton Towers ticket prices have risen once again, with an adult entry to the park costing £32.
For the third time in two seasons, Alton Towers have risen their ticket prices. This time entry to the park has been upped by £2.50 for adults and £3 for children. The rise comes just before the Electric Towers event takes place, which is usually the busiest time of the year for the park, attracting thousands of visitors.
The new prices are as follows:
Adult: £32
Child: £22
Whether this will be a permanent change is not yet known, although these prices are currently being charged. If the prices do remain the same, it will be interesting to see whether they will be justified by changes made to the park next season.
Adventure Golf Planning Application for Alton Towers
at 5:50 pm, October 24th 2010.
Alton Towers have submitted another planning application, and this time its for an Adventure Golf course.
This is the third planning application with the latest submission being "Construction of an adventure golf attraction, associated landscaping and replacement parking". The application was received by the Staffordshire Moorlands planning office on 9th October and is now up for consideration along with the Hogs Head Restaurant and Hotel Extension plans.
Rita & RMT & Skyride closed until further notice
at 11:27 pm, October 22nd 2010.
With the 2010 fireworks spectacular coming soon, Electric Towers, three of Alton Towers' key attractions are closed - including 2005's Rita - Queen of Speed, plus the Skyride and Runaway Mine Train - which has been unavailable since an accident closed the ride on 20th July.
The Runaway Mine Train may get a makeover before it reopens in 2012.
at 10:21 pm, October 22nd 2010.
It's been rumoured that the Runaway Mine Train, which has been closed for the past few months following a crash which injured several people, will be upgraded during the closed season.
Possible changes might involve speakers on the train itself, as seen on Rock N' Rollercoaster at Disney Studios in Paris.
More thrill rides to come for Chessington
at 9:03 pm, October 22nd 2010.
We have been informed that it is a possiblity that more thrill rides will be heading to chessington. The thrill rides will be on a much smaller scale to what thorpe park have more in the lines of Zodiac.
Personaly think this is great news as it will give older members of the family more rides and enjoy the park more.
Discuss this and more on the forum
Hotel Extension Planning Application
Posted by at 7:25 pm, October 18th 2010.
Alton Towers have submitted plans for an extension of the original hotel, creating 36 brand new suites.
The planning application, which was officially submitted to the Moorlands District Council on 8th September 2010, proposes an extension resulting in a new southern wing of the Alton Towers Hotel, providing 36 brand new suites. It also covers the extension of an existing hotel car park to provide 74 new spaces, corresponding to the maximum use of the possible extension.
The project would see Alton Towers invest £9 million and is set to have a total floor area of 4,488 metres squared. The extension would be connected to the existing hotel via bedroom corridors and an extension of the spa building.
Hogs Head Restaurant Planning Application
at 7:24 pm, October 18th 2010.
Alton Towers have submitted plans for a new restaurant to be erected where the Hogs Head tent currently lies, adjacent to Ug Land.
The planning application, which was officially submitted to the Moorlands District Council on 15th September 2010, proposes a brand new restaurant with both indoor and outdoor seating.
Wooden Coaster Plans for 2008 Announced
at 6:31 pm, October 10th 2010.
Alton Towers have revealed information about a wooden rollercoaster planned for 2008 during the Rollercoaster Club of Great Britain's annual trip to Alton Towers.
Andy Hine, the chairman of the Rollercoaster Club of Great Britain, has revealed information which the park has provided to him following their annual trip to the park. His post was made on the "Crazy Gangs Rollercoasters & RCCGB Message Board" and can be found at http://www.crazy-gangs-rollercoasters.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2701
Andy Hine said:
"In a world exclusive to the RCCGB, Alton Towers announced serious plans for a Megafobia style woodie to coincide with the Clubs 20th Anniversary in 2008. The park will be need our help with the planning application so watch this space for details."
This is great news if all goes ahead and will be a real benefir to the park.
World's Biggest Ghost Hunt at Alton Towers
Posted by at 11:48 am, October 8th 2010.
Fright Nights are hoping to break the Guinness World Records by staging the World's Biggest Ghost Hunt on 31 October from 7:00pm - 12:00am. The ghost hunt, which is to be held at the Alton Towers gothic ruins, allegedly haunted by 15 different ghosts, is expected to attract more than 2,200 people.
Based on calculations from the experts at Fright Nights, they are confident they can beat the previous world record set in Scotland and bring the title back to England. In accordance with the rules set by the Guinness World Records, Fright Nights will conduct an in-depth scientific ghost hunting experiment which all attendees will be requested to take part in and record their experiences. The experiment will be conducted and adjudicated by Derby University's Para-psychological unit.
The previous attempt at beating the ghost hunting world record was set by psychologist Richard Wiseman. In 2001, Wiseman led an experiment to test the reactions of more than 250 volunteers who were exposed to haunted locations in Edinburgh. As well as recording the reactions and feelings of the volunteers, a variety of sensors were deployed which included a magnetometer, thermal imager, air temperature, movement sensors and a light meter, as well as photographic and video cameras. It was Wiseman's investigation that set the rules for all future attempts at beating the Guinness World Records.
Fright Nights will be using similar ghost hunting equipment as used in Wiseman's investigation. The Hex ride, will be cordoned off for the experiment, however in order to increase the chance of experiencing the paranormal, the public will be allowed to explore the haunted Gothic ruins at their own leisure. In various rooms some of the UK's top mediums and clairvoyants will hold mini-ghost vigils enabling those that attend to learn psychic skills.
Fright Nights will be sending over 20 mediums and clairvoyants to take part in the experiment whilst a number of celebrity TV mediums will also be in attendance. Part of the activities will include a large Psychic Fair which has attracted some of the best paranormal related stalls in the UK.
Fright Nights are no strangers in organising ghost hunts. In 2004 they organised the first "Worlds Biggest Ghost Hunt" which was televised in the States and on Living TV which was watched by more than 4 million viewers in the UK alone. For the last 7 years, the company has been arranging ghost themed events which are held regularly at haunted venues across the UK including the ruins at Alton Towers and at the famously haunted Warwick Castle.
For details visit: http://www.frightnights.co.uk
Please note: No rides will be open, this is a ghost hunt only.
Source TowersAlmanac.com
Alton Towers Courtyard Tavern Gets New Licence
Posted by at 3:00 pm, October 6th 2010.
A new licence has been granted for the Courtyard Tavern at Alton Towers which will allow recorded/ live music & dancing.
Alton Towers theme park has been given the go-ahead to use a courtyard tavern at the complex for the playing of recorded and live music and dancing.The park was granted permission to vary its premises licence for the Courtyard Tavern, despite opposition from Farley Parish Council.
The village authority lodged a protest with Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, claiming it would lead to increased disturbance in the area.
But Andrew Woolley, from Alton Towers, told members of the district council's licensing sub-committee the site "lent itself" to small-scale events for a maximum of 200 people.
He said walls around the site blocked noise, and that the number of events to be staged would be minimal.
He said they had been granted licences in the past, and he was not aware of any complaints.
Source: The Sentinel & Towers Nerd
Alton Towers Fire!
at 10:53 am, September 18th 2010.
Alton Towers Fire!
Fire hits theme park's building
A road sweeper fire that spread to a nearby building at Alton Towers theme park has been put out by fireFighters.
Crews were called to the park in Alton, Staffordshire, at about 0523 BST on Saturday to reports of a fire at the Merry Mayhem building.
The fire was put out 40 minutes later and is not believed to have caused serious damage to the building.
"There was a lot of smoke rather than any sort of massive fire damage," said a Staffordshire fire spokesman.
The last of the four fire engines sent to the scene left at 0837 BST, he said.
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/staff...351598.stm
Thorpe park Hotel
at 7:49 pm, September 14th 2010.
Plannng permission has been submitted and the plans can be found on the new forum (http://www.TussaudTimes.co.uk/Forums)
Tussaud Times launches forum
at 7:48 pm, September 14th 2010.
Tussaud Times are proud to launch the NEW Tussaud Times Forum.
After testing a few forums out we have found one that we are happy with and have been working on this for the past month.
As a member of Tussaud Times you have automaticly been registered on the forum and your user details are below.
What we would like is every member to post 1 new topic and at least 1 new post, this will really help us and get the forum started. We are currently working on a few new features that will make this forum very different to others already out there.
Thanks for your support & Hope to see you on the forum.
Rob (TT Webmaster)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
YOUR USER NAME: This is your Tussaud Times sign in name.
PASSWORD: Sent via email (This password is only active for 14 days also please change this to one that you will remember)
Please fill in your details in your user control panel
ALTON TOWERS - RIDE OPERATIONAL CHANGES
at 12:12 pm, September 10th 2010.
ALTON TOWERS - RIDE OPERATIONAL CHANGES
Operational changes are now in place for the rest of the 2010 season. They are as follows:
Skyride and Monorail - CLOSED during weekdays until 20th October.
Flume and Rapids - Opening at 12 noon during weekdays until 20th October.
Air, Nemesis, Rita and Oblivion - Operating at reduced capacity between 9am - 11am and 3:30pm until ride close on weekdays until 20th October.
Submission, Enterprise and Corkscrew - Opening at 12 noon on weekdays during September and October.
Bob the builder shows and Cred Street Playground - Duel operation until end of season.
Hex - Closing 1 Hour before normal ride close during September and October.
1 Comments | Make a comment
Alton Towers plan something BIG for 2008
at 12:04 pm, September 10th 2010.
Alton Towers plan something BIG for 2008
Although there will be no big attraction added for 2015 there will be in 2008.
Planning permission will shortly be submitted for the new attraction which will be a rollercoaster of some sort. There has been a lot of disscussion that this could be 1 of 2 ideas.
1 - A wooden Rollercoaster or 2 - A water rollercoaster.
Whatever this the attraction is it will be big and is planed to open in 2008.
Alton Towers Runaway mine train Closed until next season
at 2:05 pm, September 8th 2010.
The Runaway mine train at Alton Towers will now be closed until next season due to damage done to the track and trains in the crash which happen this year.
Alton Towers Head of Technical Services, Terry Dunn, said: "Obviously, health and safety is our most important consideration, and there is still a lot of work to be done to the track following the unfortunate incident earlier this year.
"In addition, we have sent the carriages back to the manufacturer in Germany for a complete refurbishment, which is a time consuming process. We don't want to rush anything, so have decided to delay the re-opening until next season."
Oh well at least it looks like the ride will get some attention and be back better then ever naxt year.
ALTON TOWERS - RUNAWAY MINE TRAIN REOPENING DATE!
at 1:15 pm, September 6th 2010.
The Runaway Mine Train which was involved in an incident earlier in the season will reopen shortly.
The ride has undergone safety checks and maintenance and Alton Towers aim to have the ride running and open for the 4th of October.
Thorpe Park - Stealth Seat Auction
at 1:10 pm, September 6th 2010.
Thorpe Park have announced that the Stealth auction which recently happened on ebay has raised a fantastic £2,259.03 for the NSPCC.
The auction winners names have now been put on the back of Stealths seats.
Thorpe Park Spreads a Little Magic!
at 1:08 pm, September 5th 2010.
SUNDAY 17th SEPTEMBER 2010
***EVENT ALERT***
Thorpe Park Spreads a Little Magic!
Sunday 17 September 2010 is Magic for Kids Day at Thorpe Park as the attraction turns green to raise funds and promote awareness of the NSPCC.
£1 from the price of each (paid for) ticket on the day will be donated to the NSPCC in addition to a fabulous raffle and on site collections to raise necessary funds.
The NSPCC is the nominated charity for The Tussauds Group (TTG), and so far the Group has contributed over £125,000 in cash and an equivalent amount in 'benefits-in-kind' to assist the campaigns and programmes of the NSPCC. The Magic For Kids Day runs across all TTG attractions with fun activities taking place at Chessington World of Adventures, Alton Towers, Madame Tussauds London and Warwick Castle throughout September.
The NSPCC hopes to raise £30,000 from the days, which will go towards its FULL STOP Campaign to end cruelty to children.
Luisa Levoir, Corporate Account Manager NSPCC, said: "We hope that everyone enjoys a fun day out at Thorpe Park on Sunday 17th September. The NSPCC depends on public support for 84 per cent of its income so 'Magic for Kids' day will make a huge difference."
Hostage Situation at Alton Towers! - Towers Nerd Hoax
at 1:03 pm, September 5th 2010.
Some of you may have been sent this email to a link on Towers Nerd
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TowersNerd.com
A new news item has been posted on Towers Nerd.
Hostage Situation at Alton Towers!
Members of the public have been forced at gun-point to remain in the Towers by an unknown terrorist group.
To view the entire article, please click here.
Email Sent: Tue, 05 Sep 2010 04:34:34 -0700
© TowersNerd.com 2010. All Rights Reserved. TOS
You have received this email because you are subscribed to the Towers Nerd news system.
To unsubscribe, please email us.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
But do not worry as it looks like it was a hoax email, so should be ignored. If you click the link you will get a page which says that the news item has been moved or deleate.
Thorpe Park Fright Nights - New maze for Fright Nights 2010
at 8:57 pm, September 3rd 2010.
New for 2010 is 7. The seven deadly sins will be an interactive maze that will leave you disorientated and running for your life according to a recent news letter.
More Information to come nearer the time.
Future Plans For Alton Towers (Source Towers Nerd)
Posted by at 1:16 pm, September 3rd 2010.
Future Plans For The Park - 02/09/11
We can reveal lots of information regarding the intentions for the 2015 and 2008 seasons. Is the future of the theme park really as bad as we thought?
There have been plenty of discussions regarding the future of the park, mainly focused around the lack of areas to develop due to the ongoing planning permission difficulties. However, it seems that the future of the park may not be all that gloomy, with something "Major and Exciting" in the pipeline.
Next season will see no new attractions, instead several things will be focused on. For starters, Towers Street is set to receive a small make over to make it look fresher than ever before. This will be accompanied by new signage around park, making sure that everything is up to date and regular. The park is also looking in to getting a new logo developed and are in discussions with designers at present.
The gardens will also receive something new and different, in an attempt to get guests to admire the beauty that first brought tourists to the area. Park entertainment is something else which has been discussed and mostly criticized amongst enthusiasts. With the loss of the Ice Show family entertainment has really lacked and this reflected in our recent poll. However, next year the park are hoping to employ more entertainers to be around park as well as installing new queue line entertainment, such as the push button games found in the Spinball Whizzer queue.
Rumours about Corkscrews departure can be ruled out as the park have no intentions of removing the attraction in the near future. In fact, they are currently looking into possibly changing the rides trains to offer more comfortable restraints. Ripsaw has also had many problems of late, sparking discussions about its removal. Once again this can be ruled out as the park have found a way of building replacement gearboxes on site, avoiding having to have the parts shipped in from Germany.
As well as the gardens receiving attention next year, the Towers will also be focused on. The park hope to utilise the banqueting hall and surrounding areas, making them suitable for corporate events and wedding receptions. Incidentally, Most Haunted will be filming in three different rooms of the Towers shortly, despite reports that the hit TV series weren't interested in filming at Alton Towers.
Next season may also not look too bad Halloween wise. Enthusiasts have been hoping to see the return of the Terror of the Towers for a long time now, and were probably closer than they thought to witnessing a comeback! Terror Nights were all planned out for October, including activities in the gardens and the Towers. All the posters and flyers were ordered and everything was ready to go. Unfortunately the park bosses wanted 75,000 guests to make their way through the gates over a three night period. Halloween simply couldn't achieve this, and running them both so close together was seen as a bad move. Therefore fireworks were given the go ahead and Electric Towers was born. The plans, ideas and artwork are all waiting though, maybe next year?
The most exciting news is defiantly regarding the 2008 season, with something "Major and Exciting" set to appear. Planning applications for the development are set to be put forward this month and with Coaster Corner not being ruled out of a redevelopment who knows what may happen. The park have also revealed that although previous planning permission for a wooden rollercoaster has been rejected, they have plans for various other areas in the park. Could this exciting development involve a woodie? Or are we just getting carried away now.
The bottom line is that something is coming in the 2008 season, something described as "Major and Exciting", and we should find exactly what they have planed some time this month. We are also told that they have several options if planning was to be rejected.
One final thing is that the park plan on having no Winter Weekends this year. Some rides, particularly Spinball Whizzer, really suffered from the winter openings last year whilst Rita was experiencing problems. The park are working all of the time to improve their maintenance and are heading towards a target of 365 opening to fit in with their resort image.
(Source Towers Nerd)
ALTON TOWERS HOTEL HALLOWEEN
Posted by at 1:14 pm, September 3rd 2010.
ALTON TOWERS HOTEL HALLOWEEN
Alton Towers are inviting you to get away with the kids this half term - there's something for all the family to make Halloween as scary as you dare! between the 13th and 29th October the Alton Towers Hotel will be transformed into a Halloween Spooktacular.
You can only experience this Halloween event if you stay at one of the two hotels, Splash Landings or the Alton Towers Hotel, As opposed to the old in-park Halloween Event.
For the bigger kids, they've got plenty of spooky tricks up our sleeve, all designed to make Halloween a little bit creepier - and a lot more fun!
* Don your scariest fancy dress to trick or treat around the hotels.
* Be scared witless on a ghost hunt in the Alton Towers Hotel grounds!
* Don't get lost in the Haunted Hotel Maze! And beware the later you visit the more it will chill you to the bones!
For younger ones, Halloween at the Alton Towers Hotels is more about sweet dreams than about nightmares at bedtime.
* Put on your fancy dress and gather round for a spooky bedtime story with Pirate Bill
* Make friends with Baby Bear and Hippo
* Splash out in our tropical waterpark
So Halloween isn't cancelled afterall, instead a smaller event is taking place at the Hotels. Keep checking back on Towerstimes for more information and event coverage later in the season!
(source Towers Times)
ALTON TOWERS ROALD DAHL DAY - SEPT 16TH 2010
at 1:13 pm, September 3rd 2010.
ALTON TOWERS ROALD DAHL DAY - SEPT 16TH 2010
September 16th 2010 sees the latest Alton Towers promotional offer - in celebration of 'Roald Dahl Day', which falls three days earlier on September 13th.
Seeing as Roald Dahl's favourite colour was yellow, the first 500 visitors to Alton Towers who are dressed completely in yellow will get in for free.
Alton Towers' new for 2010 attraction 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The Ride'is a 'fantastical, multi-sensory £8 million indoor ride which takes families on an unforgettable adventure into the heart of the wondrous world of Willy Wonka and his great Chocolate Factory.
The ride, which takes its inspiration from Roald Dahl's book and Quentin Blake's unique illustrations, is a feat of technological inventiveness and wizardry, worthy of Mr Wonka himself. Using ground-breaking special effects on a scale never seen before at a theme park, this is the only place in the world where everyone can experience Charlie Bucket's amazing journey; where guests will feel, smell and see what happened to Charlie and his spoilt companions – Augustus Gloop, Veruca Salt, Violet Beauregarde, and Mike Teavee!'
September 13th 2010 would have been Roald Dahl's 90th birthday and a number of events are planned to coincide with this anniversary, details of which can be found on the Roald Dahl Day website.
(soure Towers Times)
Member of a hen party found dead at Alton Towers hotel
at 11:29 am, September 1st 2010.
A member of a hen party has been found dead in her hotel room at Alton Towers.
The 29 year-old woman from West Yorkshire was discovered by friends this morning at the Alton Towers Hotel, according to reports.
She was pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene. Police were then called to investigate the sudden death.
Staffordshire Police said the death was not being treated as suspicious, and a report was being prepared for the coroner.
An Alton Towers spokeswoman said: "Paramedics responded immediately but unfortunately were unable to do anything.
"Naturally our thoughts at this time are with her family and friends."
(Source BBC News)
Alton Towers Runaway Mine Train To Re-Open This Season
at 11:27 am, September 1st 2010.
Alton Towers and their Mechanical Engineering Manager have stated that the Runaway Mine Train which was involved in an accident on the 20th of July will definitely be re-opening this season. The accident was caused by the failure of a component in the trains coupling mechanism.
Confirmation of the re-opening was received on August 26th, although the outcome of the HSE investigation into the July accident has yet to be released.
Grayham Barnes, a Health and Safety Executive Inspector, provided us with the following statement after his initial investigation on July 21st.
"A component in the coupling mechanism at the front of the train failed, leading the train operator to hit the emergency stop button. A gap developed between the front and rear of the train, the rear of the train came to a gradual stop in the tunnel, the front carriages continued up a slight incline and rolled back into the rear of the train at a relatively slow speed."
He also commented, "All fairground and theme park rides are subject to annual Safety Inspections and an appropriate certificate was issued to Alton Towers, and their records were up to date and no fault was found with the daily inspections."
As part of his initial finds he has made recommendations for the future operation of this ride to ensure that this incident could not reoccur. The findings were referred back to the manufacturer, Mack Rides, to issue a techinical bulletin to other operators of this ride.
It is believed that the train is currently with the manufacturer.
(Source Towers Times)
Were Back?
Posted by at 5:50 pm, August 30th 2010.
Well were back from all 3 theme parks and will tell you all about it very shortly. In the mean time you may have noticed a few new additions to the site including the auction and forum. More information to come shortly just watch this space.
Thanks
FEEL THE FORCE AT CHESSINGTON THIS HALLOWEEN
at 1:27 pm, August 16th 2010.
16 August 2010
FEEL THE FORCE AT CHESSINGTON THIS HALLOWEEN
In a galaxy far, far away, Jedi Knights arrive at
Chessington World of Adventures between 6-31 October 2010* Travel to Chessington easily by road, rail and bus
A new world dawns this Halloween as Chessington World of Adventures team up with Lucasfilm Ltd. for a Star Wars-tastic event between 6 and 31 October 2010*. Feel the Force with a Jedi Training Academy, live-action stage show, stormtroopers on patrol and the chance to 'ride in the dark' with late opening hours as Chessington is transformed into a galactic fantasy world… far, far away.
Topping the bill is the UK's first all interactive Jedi Training Academy - a masterclass where Jedi apprentices are instructed in the art of the Jedi Knights, learning some lightening lightsaber moves and how to defend themselves against the dark side.
Guests of all ages are entertained by a live-action show on the Market Square stage, where Darth Vader, Jedi Knights and stormtroopers show off their skills in a dramatic rendition of good versus evil.
The Force will be strong all around Chessington this Halloween, with stormtroopers welcoming guests and patrolling the grounds, staff showing off with lightsabers and meet n'greet and picture opportunities with key Star Wars characters including Darth Vader, various Jedi Knights, R2-D2 and even a Jedi starfighter! Even the Dragon's Tale Theatre is going to the dark side, with a specially adapted puppet show featuring Chessington's resident dragons Spike and Cinders acting out their favourite characters.
And there is much more as the park is transformed once again this Halloween with the usual tricks and treats in Beanoland, and a daily fancy dress competition where kids are encouraged to come dressed as their favourite Halloween or Star Wars characters.
Between 21 and 31 October, Chessington World of Adventures will be open until 8pm, so come Feel the Force and ride in the dark with your favourite Star Wars characters!
Ticket Options at Madame Tussauds London
Tussaud Times New Look - Final site update
Posted by at 10:12 pm, August 13th 2010.
Thats it COMPLETE! The new software is loaded and the finished look is finished. As you can see ive been working non stop over the last few weeks trying to get the site to look its best. Although some content needs to be added and changed most of the hard work is complete.
You may have also noticed that we have added a forum to the site. This is currently a trial and if all goes well it will be here to stay, so please sign up. The more members the better the forum will be.
Well thanks to every who has stuck with us over the last couple of weeks and thanks for your support.
Thorpe Park - Be part of The Lightbox's Guinness record breaking attempt
at 7:31 pm, August 11th 2010.
Lend us a hand and make your mark on the future of creativity in the region, and help break a Guinness world record.
That's the call from The Lightbox, the new £7million museum and gallery project for Surrey, that wants the whole community to contribute to its massive attempt to set a new Guinness World Record for the longest line of handprints.
The Make Your Mark campaign was launched in May 2010 and is a year long attempt to break the world record which stands at a staggering 119, 537 hands long and is held in Germany. The target the team has set is 140,000 and they are already one per cent of the way there!
But they need your help. Anyone of any age is needed to make a print using paints and marker pens to either paint on or draw round and decorate one hand print and sign the work of art which is made on a special toughened piece of paper.
The prints will be stitched together to form a long strip which organisers plan to wrap around the building like a giant ribbon for the opening in a year's time. Then it will be put on display, so you could find your creation in the most exciting regional gallery before you know it.
It will be a busy year for the Lightbox teams who will be travelling around the county visiting sports clubs, cinemas, theatres, schools, colleges, day centres, fairs and shows telling people about The Lightbox, and all it will be able to offer the whole community across the region. We are at Thorpe Park on August 6 from 10–6, just inside the entrance in the Dome, so be sure to find us there.
/2
If your club wants a visit, if you are organising an event in Surrey or Berkshire that The Lightbox can attend to collect handprints, or you are keen to lend a hand as a volunteer in the year long project, get in touch with Stephanie at The Lightbox on 01483 725517 or stephanie.renouf@thelightbox.org.uk
The Lightbox is designed by Marks Barfield Architects, creators of The London Eye and covers a 2000sqm site in Woking town centre.
The contemporary rectangular design is constructed of wood, glass, silver and gold metal tiles and has a stunning 34m light installation running one side of the building.
It will house national and international blockbuster exhibitions, the best in visual arts from contemporary paintings to internationally important photographic works and contain a history gallery that brings Woking's colourful and important past to life through interactive displays.
The state of the art education room will be packed with the latest technology and there will be a canalside café as well as extensive facilities for groups and people with disabilities.
Thorpe Park - Summer Festival, Let the games begin
at 7:29 pm, August 11th 2010.
SATURDAY 12th AUGUST – FRIDAY 25th AUGUST
***SUMMER FESTIVAL ALERT***
Let the Games begin!
The Sprite Urban Games is back with a 'Summer Sessions' twist at Thorpe Park in Surrey this August after its successful freestyle festival on Clapham Common in July. Taking up residence at Thorpe Park from Saturday 12th August to Friday 25th August, this fourteen day action sports fest brings together the UK's finest, all performing to the backbeats of the hottest urban and rock music around.
The Sprite Summer Sessions will not only showcase some of the UK's best in skate, BMX and B-Boy action but the public will be able to join workshops on BMX and Skateboarding taught by the professionals.
The festival promises to be this summers most exciting event at Thorpe Park, with a one off street course, tailor-made for skate and BMX. Expect awesome demos and a thrilling selection of gravity defying stunts on bespoke courses, designed by BMX legend Shaun Scarfe.
The UK's top skate and BMX stars including Robin Fenlon, Dan Cates, Mark Nicolson, James Hitchcock and more, will be on park to wow the crowds and teach those in the crowds lucky enough to get into a workshop.
If Urban Games is not your thing though and the skills of our professional skaters don't take your breath away, then Stealth, the fastest ride in Europe will. With a super acceleration of 0-80mph in 2.3 seconds - that's faster than a racing car – and the fourth steepest drop in the world, it's guaranteed to get you screaming.
Stealth is just one of an 'unholy trinity' of rides at Thorpe Park joining Colossus – the world's first ten looping roller coaster twist - and Nemesis Inferno, which takes the body through an unbelievable experience of 4.5 G-force.
Thorpe Park Hotel
at 7:24 pm, August 11th 2010.
Most people are now aware that Thorpe park are planning to build a hotel in the within the next few years. Below is an artists impression of what the hotel will look like that is planned to be bulit on the old concrete plant. The hotel will include 250 rooms, a health spar and restraunt.
The hotel is due to open in 2009.
[IMG]http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g58/spikescot2005/Thorpeparkhotel.jpg[/IMG]
3 Theme Parks - 6 Days
at 6:58 pm, August 11th 2010.
Well for the first time i will be visiting all 3 theme parks in 1 week. This is bound to be a mad 1 with a few beers and a laugh on the way.
Setting off on Tuesday 22nd of August from Glasgow, i will be making my way down to Essex by train (6.45 hours) to meet up with a mate who will be joining me. On the 23rd our first theme park will be in my opinion the best, Thorpe park. Driving from e=Essex to Stains via car (1 hour drive) we are aiming to get there for opening and spending the whole day there until close (10pm) and then heading back to essex.
The 24th we hit our next theme park, Chessington world of adventures. having not been there for over 3 years this is one im am really looking forward too and im sure i won't be disappointed.
Heading back to Essex Friday the 25th see's a break with the theme parks until sunday where we will make our way to Skegness to meet up with another mate ready to hit Alton Towers on the Monday.
After an exhausting day it's back to Essex and ready to head back home to Glasgow on the Tuesday.
Well thats the plan anyway and watch this space as to how we got on.
1 Comments | Make a comment
Tussaud Time New Look & Site Changes
at 6:41 pm, August 11th 2010.
You may have noticed (how could you miss it) that we have a new look and a few site changes. The reason for the new look is due to a software update which will enable us to do alot more with and on the site. Please stick with us while we transfer the site but most of it is now complete.
Also you will have noticed that this is now a members only site. During the past 2 weeks we trialed the features section as a members only area, which from your responce seemed popular so thanks to all of you that made comments.
So whats new:
A New look - Freash brighter colours and a improved layout.
A new shout box including smileys
New picture gallerys
New way we inform you of news - Including your comments
RSS Feed - Get the latest direct to your computer
New email news letter - By being a member you will receive this.
If you have any surgestions then please get in contact.
Thanks for your support