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The Merlin VIP Annual Pass

ihaveaspergers said:
They asked nicely and ride hosts throght it would be ok, I dont see how the blame lyes with VIPs.

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If the VIP's had a modicum of consideration for other people in the queue, they wouldn't have taken up a full train. The fact that not one of the 26 decided that it was unfair on others really does tell you a lot about this group.
 
Rick said:
Is there a consensus as to why?

I think the key drawback with the product is its key benefit - the fast track. If you drop that sort of money on a pass you must feel obliged to use it which must end up taking the shine off the visits at some point.

For all the complaints about queues, I think they do help you prevent burnout. Going to a park in the chain every weekend would be my kind of hell, fast track or no fast track.
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Basically a combination of cutbacks, horrific handling of fastrack and merging of rap and fastrack which causes issues for both groups

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BarryZola said:
If the VIP's had a modicum of consideration for other people in the queue, they wouldn't have taken up a full train. The fact that not one of the 26 decided that it was unfair on others really does tell you a lot about this group.
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Not really, it says VIPs trust ride hosts to do there jobs properly.

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Or maybe the hosts are so used to getting abuse when VIP’s don’t get their way with little back up or support from management and security they just decided to let them all on to save an incident from occurring that would have delayed operations even further.

I have experience of the appalling way some VIP holders treat staff members, shouting swearing and waving lanyards in their faces to justify why they should be able to do what they like. These staff are on minimum wage and are often young with little experience of these confrontations. Merlin should be much better at training and supporting employees to tackle issues like this. Then again, we know it won’t happen.
 
There has always been people that pay their way to a better experience than the average person, just because it makes them feel good. Merlin has targeted these people with the VIP pass, but that's not to say everyone who has one thinks in this way.

This isn't a new thing. Hence why people who perceive their (probably leased/on loan) car to be superior to others often drive like idiots.

I just ignore anyone who acts like they're above anyone, because ultimately they're simply not satisfied with life.
 
Tom said:
There has always been people that pay their way to a better experience than the average person, just because it makes them feel good. Merlin has targeted these people with the VIP pass, but that's not to say everyone who has one thinks in this way.
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When explaining the VIP pass and general Fastrack to friends/family (non-enthusiasts), most have said that it's just life, people with more money paying for a better experience, it happens everywhere. However, I'd argue that this is different to most places.

Take a west-end theatre for example. Those with more money will pay for the seats near the front of the stage, in the dress circle and royal boxes, whereas the cheaper seats are those further back, behind pillars, up in the Gods, etc. With Fastrack being that it actually increases the wait time for the standby queue, rather than just decreasing the wait time for those who can afford it, this would be akin to paying for a more expensive seat in a theatre, which completely blocks the view of someone who has paid slightly less, rather than their view being only being slightly worsened by the structure or architecture of the theatre itself.

If you know what I mean...
 
Tom said:
I just ignore anyone who acts like they're above anyone, because ultimately they're simply not satisfied with life.
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Yes. And not to get too existential about this, as I'm sure it provides comfort to some people in the enthusiast community, but the idea of somebody choosing to sport a VIP lanyard and shirt to demonstrate their paid-for queue jumping ability, fills me with a very specific kind of melancholy on their behalf.
 
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Burbs said:
When explaining the VIP pass and general Fastrack to friends/family (non-enthusiasts), most have said that it's just life, people with more money paying for a better experience, it happens everywhere. However, I'd argue that this is different to most places.

Take a west-end theatre for example. Those with more money will pay for the seats near the front of the stage, in the dress circle and royal boxes, whereas the cheaper seats are those further back, behind pillars, up in the Gods, etc. With Fastrack being that it actually increases the wait time for the standby queue, rather than just decreasing the wait time for those who can afford it, this would be akin to paying for a more expensive seat in a theatre, which completely blocks the view of someone who has paid slightly less, rather than their view being only being slightly worsened by the structure or architecture of the theatre itself.

If you know what I mean...
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I do know what you mean. However, it is similar to private healthcare in the sense that that hinders quality and improvement in the National Health Service.

There will be an ever-increasing squeeze on the park and milking of revenue until the day it closes, or is bought by a the right type of private company. I believe that many of us knew this once Merlin became publicly-owned. This year's VIP will be next years' something else.
 
Wait so just to clarify... there are people who own Merlin VIP branded polo shirts?!

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RicketyCricket said:
Wait so just to clarify... there are people who own Merlin VIP branded polo shirts?!

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There are also Merlin VIP fleeces, hoodies, baseball caps, scarves and I've seen one wearing jeans with VIP across the ass in sequins, although the Jeans weren't Merlin branded.

Bet they couldn't believe their luck when they saw those hanging up in Zara.

The real question is, who will be the first to get a Merlin VIP tattoo?
 
Out of interest, is any of this branded merch official? If not, I can see Merlin slapping them with a cease and desist.
EDIT: Did you see that? Question answered by a mysterious ninja!
 
The regular MAP group has the same clothing, in fact I think they were first with their personalised lanyards and pin badges.
 
It's the guests wearing lanyards with a million pop/pin badges plastered all over them (pretty much suffocating their neck) that crack me up. They may think they look brilliant and all important but sorry everyone thinks you look like a tit.

When it comes to the name of the pass, it's true that you will never alter the attitude of current VIP pass holders, although I think it would help iron out the attitude of certain pass holders and enable staff to act in a more stern manner without receiving the whole 'LOOK AT THIS PASS, WHAT DOES IT SAY, V.I.P!'. If I wasn't aware of the Merlin products I would honestly believe the VIP pass is something given/awarded, not bought for online. I imagine staff feel hugely intimidated when they come across the more aggressive pass holders because of the name of the pass. It implies entitlement, which it does/should not entitle the holder to whatever they desire.

If the pass was named something like 'Platinum Pass', I'm sure many of the issues mentioned over these 14 pages wouldn't be so recurrent with this pass. The fact it is called 'VIP' is the problem, it has created a horrible group of people and ruined it for the minority of pass holders who are very friendly and don't act in such a self righteous way.
 
I was at Madame Tussaud’s yesterday and while waiting some VIP turned up, they were rushed in and taken aside and then escorted upstairs to the lift and then the host announced over the radio that there were 5 VIP’s in the building.

That sort of thing must go to some holders heads but then again this is Merlin treating them like a VIP...
 
ringo said:
I was at Madame Tussaud’s yesterday and while waiting some VIP turned up, they were rushed in and taken aside and then escorted upstairs to the lift and then the host announced over the radio that there were 5 VIP’s in the building.

That sort of thing must go to some holders heads but then again this is Merlin treating them like a VIP...
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Does the VIP pass entitle you to special treatment by the staff (I mean, above fasttrack tickets, skipping queues etc)?

Nowhere on the VIP website does it mention being allowed to treat staff/be treated by staff differently?

With regards to entitlement, any pass that lets you skip queues or attend exclusive events will give its users a sense of entitlement, no matter the name! There will always be the annoying guests, like those that boast about "skipping queues" with a RAP.
 
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speedy said:
Nowhere on the Mer

Does the VIP pass entitle you to special treatment by the staff (I mean, above fasttrack tickets, skipping queues etc)?

Nowhere on the VIP website does it mention being allowed to treat staff/be treated by staff differently?

With regards to entitlement, any pass that lets you skip queues or attend exclusive events will give its users a sense of entitlement, no matter the name! There will always be the annoying guests, like those that boast about "skipping queues" with a RAP.
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Merlin say in a few places that VIPs may occasionally be offered extra perks.

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