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Blackpool Pleasure Beach: General Discussion

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I love the place and go most weeks off peak, and Sundays in the peak.
But, because it is a family concern, there is the matter of "Do it our way or get stuffed." style of organisation and management.
They will not open late..."We have your money...now go home please, we would like our tea"...is not always best business practice.
I get great value from my pass, get on well with (nearly) all the staff, but avoid peak times at all costs...quality of experience nose dives!
The park lost literally millions with daily opening in low season over the last few years, there was no logical economic reason to do so, so it either comes down to the influence of outsiders... (council?), or weird management.

And Matt, as you get your leg pulled for eternal unconditional optimism, others get theirs pulled for constant negativity and nit picking. It takes all sorts, we cant all be self centred happy clappers with a part time job.
Sadly.
 
The pleasure beach is not what it used to be, but I still had a fantastic couple of days there last September. My visit was a better experience than what I got at Alton Towers last season and that is saying something. However I've visited off peak season/day, I can't say what it would be like there on a busy weekend/school holiday
 
Matt N said:
I personally loved BPB when I visited for the first time in August; what is it that you guys don't like about it?

I personally found the park to have a really nice vibe and very efficient operations, along with very friendly staff and great rides! Some of the rides were a little... rough around the edges, shall we say, but if you ask me, there is a lot to do at BPB that everyone can enjoy!

I also loved how crammed in everything in the park is; it was quite a sight looking up and seeing 4 different rides interacting with one another!
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Pleasure Beach is an incredible park and one that I absolutely love, having visited since 2004 I have many fond memories of the place and the vibrant atmosphere it used to have.

It isn't (for me anyway) a case of "not liking" the park, it's more that I've seen how good it can be and the current state of the park is saddening. Customer service has plummeted, opening times were already nowhere near what they used to be in 2018, former world-beating dark rides are left to crumble and one of the best coasters in the world has gone.

The park has potential to be one of the best in Europe with such a unique range of rides, but the attitude of those in charge stinks.
 
The earlier closes are not that much of a change from last year really, it is still open till 7pm during the main summer school holidays, and i think it was mostly 5 and 6 pm closes last season up to the end of July.

The biggest change is the 6pm closes during October half term but I am guessing this is a reaction to last season when they obviously didn't get the foot fall they were expecting. I think this is partly due to half term week being staggered across different regions so not everyone is off at the same time.

It would be great to see pleasure beach regularly open till 9 and 10pm but I think we just have to accept that the management don't want to do it and would rather open earlier and close earlier.

There are many areas where PB could potentially change things round to see if it generates more income but they are not willing to take the risk which is a shame.

It's still the best park in the country for me though and the only one I am prepared to visit on a regular basis, despite its faults.

Is it February yet?

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I generally agree with a lot of the sentiments here. The operation of the park does reflect a certain attitude which the park seems to hold towards it customers. I’m not saying they hold customers in contempt, but you do sometimes get the feeling that they find us an inconvenience at times.

There are things which irk me, such as the reduction in opening times, the seeming disregard for loyal custom, the destruction of certain pieces of history, the inconsistency in service and policies... and the list goes on.

Having said that, I can’t say that the park is terrible. In fact quite the reverse. Yes, there are elements that are ”not as good as the old days”, however park presentation and attractions are excellent (at least most of the time). Even customer service is okay. These are elements which have improved relatively recently.

The park is also far better than Merlin’s current offer. Indeed most of the problems I’ve mentioned above are endemic in Merlin’s RTPs. My days out at Pleasure Beach have always been more enjoyable than the likes of Alton over the last few years.

It’s easy to stray into hyperbole as a reaction to what are some disappointing decisions. However, for me, and despite the obvious problems, BPB offer an excellent day out. Far more so than most, if not all, other UK parks.
 
Yeah it's far from being faultless but it's my favourite park in the UK overall now. Towers has a better line up of coasters than BP do but that's about it really.
 
venny said:
Having said that, I can’t say that the park is terrible. In fact quite the reverse. Yes, there are elements that are ”not as good as the old days”, however park presentation and attractions are excellent (at least most of the time). Even customer service is okay. These are elements which have improved relatively recently.
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I wouldn't tend to agree that park presentation has improved. Whilst some areas have been modernised, a number of the themed sections of the park have declined in standard, including the condition of dark ride interiors but also much of the park's exterior decor. There have been some improvements such as the restoration of Avalanche's station exterior, but also a lot of stuff has been left to rot a bit.

River Caves for example;

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Also if you didn't know BPB, you wouldn't believe that this photo was taken from inside an amusement park;

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Customer service was, from my experience, very hit-and-miss in 2018. Staff are generally very friendly and helpful, but the overall attitude of the organisation wasn't great IMO (closing earlier than advertised, not processing season pass wristbands at the information desk, closing the east entrance at the end of the day forcing you to walk round the perimeter to get to your car in their car park, The Big One opening at 12 noon on the busiest day of the year running one train and regularly opening hours late throughout the year are just a few examples).

I had some good days at the park towards the beginning of the year, April and May in particular, but on my visits in September and October the operations were diabolical. Combined with a lot of the recognisable staff not being there towards the end of the season, it makes me wonder if there's stuff going on behind the scenes.
 
The staff are very friendly and chatty on the whole but if anything goes wrong, and on my trip it went very wrong, it turns out that Customer Service is pretty much useless. Then trying to speak to anyone after the fact was nearly impossible.

The park has so much potential, ICON is amazing and is probably in my top 3 in the UK. Some of the woodies are great and The Rev is still so intense. The park is in a prime location too. It could be the UKs answer to Liseberg or Grun Lund. Opening late into the evening with concerts and outdoor movie screenings, like a bigger version of Dreamland Margate. They don't seem to want to do that for whatever reason.

Even with my bad experience, now that I've ridden ICON a few times I just have no desire to go back really. Been there, done that.

(short version of how my visit went bad: my rucksack got stolen from the ICON baggage racks when I was riding. Phone, wallet and train tickets were all in there. Travelling by myself on a day trip from London. Customer Service didn't want to know or help me until I had a mental breakdown. Such fun.)
 
Somebody else on the same train quickly...and sadly.
There are still scum out there who prey on trippers sadly.
Especially in Blackpool.
Bag contents identified in the park, then casually trailed.
Then leave the park straight after binning the bag within the park.
Even seen it on thirteen, big paddy over a bag that had been handed out wrongly, I can only imagine a confusion between a 19 and 61 I presume...baggage staff took hell for it though.
 
streetmagix said:
short version of how my visit went bad: my rucksack got stolen from the ICON baggage racks when I was riding. Phone, wallet and train tickets were all in there. Travelling by myself on a day trip from London. Customer Service didn't want to know or help me until I had a mental breakdown. Such fun.
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I would like to think that customer services were understanding and professional, but (and I say this with the greatest of respect) I am not sure what you expect them to do for you. You left the items unattended and therefore at your own risk, and on this occasion someone stole it. There is nothing the park can do.

Items go missing from these baggage racks all the time and I would recommend that you never leave anything in them that you care about.
 
45 days to go !!! (well 46 for me as I will be there on the Sunday)

Will be interesting to see how the season pans out after what can only have been a disappointing one for the park last year. Hope they can turn things around this year. The extra midweek closures should give them time to keep the park in good working order.
 
I'm baffled at how somebody could take a bag that wasn't theirs on Ikon

You put them directly at the side of your seat don't you....and it opens after the train before the one your on leaveso_O
 
I think it was someone from the previous train in a melee of boarding and unboarding. And yes, I'm aware it was my own fault for living my valuables in the luggage racks but I'd also had a vape thing fly next to my head whilst queuing.

I asked customer service for some assistance in getting home, they just kept repeating 'we'll call you if we find it'. Well that's great but how do I get home without phone, wallet or train tickets. 'We'll call you if we find something'. Over and over. Anyway, here is not the place to moan about it, live lesson learnt etc.

I really do wish BPB the best, despite my issues. I probably will return someday but even before this happened I was kinda done with the park. So much wasted potential at that place.
 
I don't want to sound harsh, but you leave any valuables in the bagging holds at your own risk, the pleasure beach are not responsible for any loss or to help you if anything go missing. There is no way that I would ever leave my wallet, tickets, phone, camera, keys etc... in a bagging hold. I always wear an item of clothing with some good zip compartment or two in. Alternatively use a locker. Even then I would be wary about leaving my valuables in them.
 
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You should know by now that when riding a rollercoaster at high speed you get perfectly good clear photos taken, but yet when it comes to CCTV you never get a clear photo of someone standing still a few feet away
 
Lockers get broken into at theme parks too.
I tend to do parks with one car key, twenty pound note and with my black strap on.
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.
.
Don't want my glasses falling off do I.
 
Zip pockets and refillable water bottle are the norm for me, no need for anything else :)

Especially with so many parks charging for lockers now.
 
No one from the previous train should've been anywhere near the baggage hold by the time your train unloaded, the platform has to be clear for your train to roll in. The thief also had to go down the exit walkway and up the stairs which is quite a way - not exactly a quick getaway?
 
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