Altontowers.com, The Alton Towers Resort Website, was last night re-launched with an all new look in preparation for the 2015 season.
The new design uses a wide screen look with a heavy focus on graphics and images. Users can navigate each page using either shortcuts at the top of the page for each main section, or a smaller side bar to quickly move to sub-section on the page they are currently browsing. The resort’s social media channels are now integrated into the front page, with posts from both Twitter and Instagram featuring prominently. This latest site design will be familiar to users of the resort’s recent CBeebies minisite, as well as users of Thorpe Park Resort’s website which received a similar re-design earlier in 2014.
As well as introducing the new design, the new website has also revealed some of the first key details for the 2015 season:
Opening Times
Opening times for the 2015 season have been released for the first time. Following a similar patter to previous years, the park first opens in 2015 on Saturday 14th February for the half term event with opening hours of 10am – 4pm until Sunday 22nd February. The main 2015 season begins on Saturday 21st March with opening hours varying from 10am-5pm to 10am – 6pm. Most Saturdays from April see a 6pm close, with the majority of Sundays closing at 5:30pm. Scarefest once again sees opening hours of 10am-9pm between 17th October and 1st November with the same hours for the end of season fireworks spectacular from 6th-8th November.
Ticket Prices
The 2015 season is set to see another rise in ticket prices. An on the day adult ticket is set to rise to £49.20 compared to £48 at the start of 2014. A child’s ticket (under 12) will now cost £43.20, a rise of £2.40 on the 2014 price. Family tickets have also increased with it now costing £42.60pp.
Fastrack packages have also been increased in price and slightly re-structured for the new season. The most significant change is to the Fastrack Silver package which has now been re-named to ‘The Big Six’ and includes The Smiler for the first time.
| Fastrack Package | Rides Included | 2014 Price | 2015 Price |
| Young Explorer | Rapids, Runaway Mine Train, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory | £6 | £7 |
| Adventurer | Flume, Sonic Spinball, Runaway Mine Train, TH13TEEN | £12 | £13 |
| Scream | Nemesis, Air, Nemesis Sub-Terra | £12 | £12 |
| Adrenaline | Oblivion,Rita & TH13TEEN | £12 | £14 |
| The Big Six (Silver) | Oblivion, Nemesis, Air, Rita, TH13TEEN, The Smiler | £22 | £35 |
| Gold | One fastrack on: The Smiler, Air, Nemesis, Nemesis Sub-Terra, Rita, Oblivion, TH13TEEN plus other rides offering the Fastrack facility. | £52 | £55 |
| Platinum | Unlimited fastrack on: The Smiler, Air, Nemesis, Nemesis Sub-Terra, Rita, Oblivion, TH13TEEN plus other rides offering the Fastrack facility. | £92 | £95 |
As well as fastrack, the website also suggests a re-launch of the VIP packages introduced earlier this year promising more information closer to the start of the main season.
The Enchanted Village
Further details about the new accommodation for 2015 have been released with new features being introduced in the Short Breaks section of the new site.
The Glowing Mushroom Trail will offer guests the chance to try and spot ‘the little fable folk and their fairy helpers’. As darkness falls on the resort a giant oak tree will be lit up with hundreds of twinkling fairy lights creating a magical fairytale atmosphere. The Crooked Spoon Restaurant promises a ‘delicious yet unusual menu’ for breakfast and dinner, and promises a high level of theming with hints of animated paintings where diners can try to spot ‘mischievous little folk’, alongside live entertainment in the evenings. Younger guests will be able to keep themselves occupied in the children’s play area which will feature a range of quirky equipment to fit in with the fairytale village theme.
A selection of new concept images have also been released for the Treehouses showcasing what guests can expect when they come to stay.
What do you think to Alton Towers Resorts new website design? Make sure you discuss your thoughts over on the Attraction Source Forum. Keep an eye on TowersTimes as we continue to bring you all the latest news and developments.
