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Time for All Inclusive?

GaryH

TS Member
I was thinking that with the release of the prices for the treetops adventure at £25 a ticket, not that I have kids, but as AT is marketed as a family resort, I cant see many families paying out £100 for two adults and two kids to do the course, especially after paying to stay in the hotel, food and drink, themepark and waterpark tickets!

This then got me thinking that I bet, with everything, a stay for 2 nights as a family of 4 would'nt now be off a grand in cost. So I then costed it up, and I was right....

Fri 14th August for 2 nights
2 Adults, 2 Children (aged 5 and 6)

ATH
Hotel : £579.00
Theme Park tickets for the 2 days : £120.00
Waterpark tickets (1 child free per adult) : £24.00
Treetops adventure for 4 people : £80.00 (showing as £20 ea if booked with hotel)
Golf 18 holes : £20.00
Total: £823.00

Add:
Food for the two days for everyone £150.00
Drinks for the two days £70.00
Ride photos : £20.00

Total : £1,063.00 ( add £140 more if you want fastpass for the big 6) ( £1,203)


Do the same for :
Splash landings @ £410.00 for hotel, total cost £894.00 (£1,034 with fp)

Enchanted Lodge @ £490.00 , total cost £974.00 (£1,114 with fp)

Treehouse @ £1,775 , total cost £2,259 (£2,399 with fp)


Seriously, I don't know how families can afford to stay in the resort anymore with these prices! I certainly don't think the place is worth that sort of money.

So, heres a thought - maybe its time the resort did an "All Inclusive price" when booking a hotel package, where thempark tickets, waterpark, golf, treetops, food and drink etc is all included in the one price..... people can wear barcoded arm bands like when staying on an all inclusive holiday and eat/drink anywhere in the resort, gain entry to the theme park as often as they want, waterpark etc during their stay.


Thoughts?
 
Whilst I wholeheartedly believe that this is a great idea and would be a really handy option for a lot of people, you can guarantee that M£rlin would charge a premium for the convenience and it would end up just being massively expensive. They certainly wouldn't offer everything you list for less than £1000, which is obviously a huge psychological barrier for most. I think it would just encourage them to invent more "VIP" options related to the "experience" to try and flog it.
 
Don't forget if staying at the hotel kids go half price at Extraordinary Golf!
Also a Friday / Saturday night in August is one of the most expensive times to book at the hotels.
It is a good thing that they are offering 20% off Treetop quest to hotel guests though.

However on the subject of all-inclusive, I don't see it happening with a wristband Benidorm style with all-you can drink included etc.
But I am surprised they aren't already offering half board, similar to Disneyland Paris (http://www.disneylandparis.co.uk/guest-services/meal-plans/). Similar to how ATs online booking offers you the park ticket options, they could offer the option to pre-book Flambo's or the Secret Garden and save a small amount. At Disneyland Paris the half board gets you a buffet meal (usually €28.99) and an afternoon cake/coffee for £22, so you basically get the afternoon treat free. AT could offer Flambo's for £20 including soft drinks free and then give a voucher for coffee & a donut so you make a small saving.

They already offer all day dining in the theme park (https://www.altontowers.com/info-help/food-drink/all-day-dining) but it is awful value. For £30 you would have to have three full meals in the park really to save cash. Chessington offer a pre-booked meal deal (http://www.chessington.com/explore/food-and-drink/food-and-drink-offers.aspx) which is much better value, you can get pizza/pasta for only £6 if pre-booked.

Park tickets are already discounted for hotel guests at £30 for 2 days (usually £42.90 for adults booked online), although waterpark isn't a great deal with the kids go free. I think offering discounted tickets rather an all-inclusive is better as you can pick and choose what you want, but you still save compared to staying elsewhere.


So basically I would just add the option when booking of pre-booking meals. Maybe Flambo's or 3 courses at Secret Garden with soft drink for £19. And Pizza/Pasta Towers St or Woodcutters for £8 inc soft drink. This would give a 10-20% saving compared to buying on the day and they could give a free refillable drink or donut as well if booking.
 
Bloody hell Alton is ridiculous.

Were going to DLP in Easter Holidays, 3 adults 1 child, in Cheyenne*, park tickets and half board**. 4 nights but with 5 days park and food vouchers. Roughly £800. I realise disney doesnt have a waterpark but it does have a 2nd park and things to do in the nighttime.

Really Alton. Really? £1000 for 2 nights - laughable.

--

* - we could have booked a nicer hotel but with a boy and girl we had to book a hotel with bunk beds.
** - the half board is breakfast buffet, and we can use our meal offer for a buffet or value at any venue and pay any extra.
 
Wow that is a good price for DLP. Their hotels seem to be getting cheaper recently.

I thought Alton Towers hotels were getting cheaper, but I think actually their pricing has just got more seasonal, so weekdays in Term time are pretty cheap but Saturday nights in school holidays are very expensive.
 
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I thought Alton Towers hotels were getting cheaper, but I think actually their pricing has just got more seasonal, so weekdays in Term time are pretty cheap but Saturday nights in school holidays are very expensive.

I actually think the prices of the hotels in particular has gone up considerably this year. Especially ATH which is a shame.
 
I think DLP got in trouble last year as they were charging significantly more for those purchasing in £s compared to those buying packages in €s, which might explain the better value.
 
I actually think the prices of the hotels in particular has gone up considerably this year. Especially ATH which is a shame.

Yes, I think 10 years ago they were charging about the same for Splash and ATH, but recently they realised the ATH rooms are bigger and nicer and they can charge a premium. With the addition of the lodges as the Middle tier, they have pushed ATH further up to premium pricing. But some of the rooms still need refurbs!
 
It's no secret they wanted to tier their accommodation this season. With Tree Houses at the top and Splash at the bottom. The truely baffling thing is instead of dropping Splash prices they have just increased everything else.

I get twitchy about comparing UK hotels with Europe (even Disney) as the UK hotel market is much more expensive but the prices are just getting stupid now.
 
I agree they need to do an all inclusive package - I feel the thirst for packages would be far greater if they did a "xyz for £x per person" during offpeak. Peak may have to be different, as they love their supply and demand model (naturally, we're in the UK), but for offpeak it'll certainly make huge inroads into their market, and will probably increase spend per guest anyway, from making the hotels seem great value.

Phantasialand do it, Disney do it, package holidays do it..

Maybe one day. Hopefully one day.
 
Seriously? We got 1 night holiday inn (That was quite nice) in stoke and 2 days in the park for £125. I think they do it all year too. Really good deal on the short breaks site.
 
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