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Theme Park Opening Times 2015

Sorry for late reply folks - it happened on a few occasions (count on two hands though) over their summer holiday. Ask the staff if you wish for clarification. Though, the park was very quiet on these days.. I still don't agree with it.

One midnight opening does not mean the park is amazing at opening hours however ;)
 
The best system for guests (maybe not staff) is the one EP use. They never make a decision on closing times before hand (except their midnight opening day) and decide when to close on the day once they know how many guests are in.
 
The best system for guests (maybe not staff) is the one EP use. They never make a decision on closing times before hand (except their midnight opening day) and decide when to close on the day once they know how many guests are in.
But isn't it always at least a 6PM opening there?
 
But isn't it always at least a 6PM opening there?

Yes. In main season 6pm is the standard closing time and they extend accordingly based on several factors including how busy it is and the weather! I believe if it's a nice day they may add on an extra 30 minutes.

:)
 
Yes. In main season 6pm is the standard closing time and they extend accordingly based on several factors including how busy it is and the weather! I believe if it's a nice day they may add on an extra 30 minutes.

:)

I love that!

Roland has created some kind of utopia....

"Ahhh, vot a beautiful day, give our guests ze extra 30 minutes! SCHNELL!"

Also, to be fair, even I know the planning for staff at towers with transport must be an absolute nightmare. Hence I stick with the open later, MARKET well, people will come and stay.

Do some special food offers, bit of ents, etc etc.

Oh who am I kidding. This is Merlin.
 
I can understand an extra 30 minutes/1 hour with EP with regards to staff members, it's just when they open until 8:30/9:00PM that I would be a bit peeved off if I was working there!

Although when they do open MUCH later, I would assume that they already know the park will be VERY busy that day, so staff would be warned in advance.
 
The thing is, as much as it might seem that way - it's all part of the contract and it's all in the print.

Europa-Park do give staff an indication in any case - for example, in August it's generally not going to close before 7.30pm (because they put on a show at that time), the last week of the season it's unlikely to close before 8.00pm, and Saturday/Sunday/special holidays obviously it's likely to be later.

It's not a complete unknown science, and in winter season it's pretty much certain what time the park will close.

:)
 
Yeah in a situation like that you as staff would no doubt know what the chances are of staying behind, it's part of that kind of job, and I can only imagine (rightly or wrongly) that they'd be respectful to the staff in ensuring they knew that. Also, the kind of age/circumstances in a job like that, overtime is often welcomed anyway. Get some more moolar in the bank! Buy more beer :D

I wouldn't be quite so certain that would be the case at Towers.

I never quite get the impression they're that organised.
 
The age range of staff at Europa-Park is far greater than Alton Towers.

Many staff work there for a long, long time - they're not all 16-25 year olds out of school/college.

:)
 
The age range of staff at Europa-Park is far greater than Alton Towers.

Many staff work there for a long, long time - they're not all 16-25 year olds out of school/college.

:)

That speaks volumes. Much like being a "bar man" in Ireland was a profession, over here, it was a crappy college job.
 
Not to mention the fact that a great deal of their staff live in the accommodation behind Arthur or in Rust itself!

Who knows, if the hotels aren't full maybe Merlin could offer staff a room if they close late and staff are stranded?
 
But isn't it always at least a 6PM opening there?

Yes. In main season 6pm is the standard closing time and they extend accordingly based on several factors including how busy it is and the weather! I believe if it's a nice day they may add on an extra 30 minutes.

:)

I believe the minimum is actually 5.30pm, but i think i remember Dan telling me it only closed that early about 5 times in the season.
 
Do you have any evidence for this? As that's very poor.

Speaking as a staff member from last season, the park did close at 6pm on a handful of days advertised as 8pm closes. This was mostly due to appalling weather conditions and there weren't any occasions I was aware of whereby guests weren't invited to keep their wristbands on and return the next day for free.
 
I believe the minimum is actually 5.30pm, but i think i remember Dan telling me it only closed that early about 5 times in the season.
EP website states summer season hours are 9am-6pm daily (for 2015 anyway)! Then they obviously extend on that.

:)
 
Indeed. Europa-Park have had a standard 9-6 day for a long time now, certainly the whole time I have been going to the park.
 
Speaking as a staff member from last season, the park did close at 6pm on a handful of days advertised as 8pm closes. This was mostly due to appalling weather conditions and there weren't any occasions I was aware of whereby guests weren't invited to keep their wristbands on and return the next day for free.

And usually when the weather is bad in Blackpool, it really means it lol!
 
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