Survey

[Dr.gumbo]

To quote the park's Facebook account:

Right then guys, we're asking for your help in providing us with a bit of feedback on how best to move the park forwards.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/P59XT9L

I definitely advise a quick look at least.

[Nathan]

I recommend that nobody votes for the suspended coaster.

[Dr.gumbo]

I went for standard looping coaster, though I would have been fine with any of them really.

[LWE]

I'm guessing that by suspended coaster they actually mean one of those Vekoma things, not an actual inverted coaster. I went for it anyway haha.

Quite interesting to see a survey such as that, gives a good idea what the park is looking into for next season. Hopefully the park will get a looping coaster though.

[Nathan]

Well this is my take on it. Copied from my response on their Facebook page.

Asking guests to cough up an extra £3 or so for an attraction they've been enjoying for free for the past 20 years is not the impression you want to be giving off. What happened to Yorkshire's best VALUE day out? It's your own motto, stand by it.

Rip them out and stick something there which can actually shift queues - a looping coaster, the one thing your park lacks. Give it to your guests and they'll soon get over Go Karts departure as I recognise that they are a popular attraction.

In the meantime, while you're doing up the area, tear down Riviera and build a proper restaurant that actually looks inviting. Sort out a deal for Whirlwind or similar, theme Wild River Rapids, reinvigorate your game stalls by bringing in HB Leisure (who drove up revenue by 355% in one year at Thorpe Park) and 2011 will be a season of real progress for the park.

Separate charge attractions is not the way forward and will undo all the work you've done this season to give Lightwater Valley a real positive vibe. Find additional revenue streams from elsewhere; i.e. Merchandise.

[LWVEmployee]

Well this is my take on it. Copied from my response on their Facebook page.

Asking guests to cough up an extra £3 or so for an attraction they've been enjoying for free for the past 20 years is not the impression you want to be giving off. What happened to Yorkshire's best VALUE day out? It's your own motto, stand by it.

Rip them out and stick something there which can actually shift queues - a looping coaster, the one thing your park lacks. Give it to your guests and they'll soon get over Go Karts departure as I recognise that they are a popular attraction.

In the meantime, while you're doing up the area, tear down Riviera and build a proper restaurant that actually looks inviting. Sort out a deal for Whirlwind or similar, theme Wild River Rapids, reinvigorate your game stalls by bringing in HB Leisure (who drove up revenue by 355% in one year at Thorpe Park) and 2011 will be a season of real progress for the park.

Separate charge attractions is not the way forward and will undo all the work you've done this season to give Lightwater Valley a real positive vibe. Find additional revenue streams from elsewhere; i.e. Merchandise.

All fair comments, but keep this in mind...

It's just market research, and it's to take into account for next year. Not defending the park, but rather than jumping on the over critical band wagon, why don't you give your views on what they are asking?

It will never just be as simple as going out and doing all your suggestions that you make. There is the bare essential logistics, funding, staffing, outsourcing etc. I recommend you be realistic rather than constantly taking an over critical, over bearing and slightly deluded approach to your feedback (above all else criticism I would say). They do one thing major, and suddenly you expect more? But without giving them chance to even make the plans for next year? Nathan time and time again we have had this conversation that it can't just "happen" and needs the justification and appropriate funding, logistics etc. Yet all you think is profit margins and turnover... they all need to be in place before improvements can take place, and any plans are subject to change on a year's performance. Rather than publicly aggrieving anyone (Lightwater or not for that matter) why not take the facts into consideration rather than your opinions.

While your opinions and ideas are great, and some could quite easily work, it isn't as easy as you may or may not think it is. You're going full barrels on a place that has quite evidently warmed to your feedback... and why? You have had the appropriate forums to get it all accross yet you would still throw that publicly on Facebook? It seems quite childish and above all else irresponsible.

[Nathan]

The survey asked for an opinion on a potential charge for Go Karts as well as suggesting a new food outlet was up for consideration. Nobody is criticising the park at all, nor am I saying this is the way forward. They are, as you correctly identified, simply suggestions.

I'm actually disappointed that you thought I was publicly caning them.

[Tom]

I've voted for the suspended looping coaster. They are big crowd pullers and are popular with everyone apart from enthusiasts! It would be the best investment for the park, but not the most enjoyable ride for us!

[Nathan]

Aargh, people are falling for this.

It says suspended coaster, not looping. Take note.

[Tom]

That's probably just the lack of technical knowledge of whoever devised that survey. Are there any suspended coasters that DON'T go upside down?