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Stargazing Pods

jon81uk said:
Yet Disney allow you to roast marshmallows on the campfire every evening at most of their hotels.
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Merlin need to learn how to do proper risk assessments and be less scared of litigation.
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If the likes of Disney can allow toasting of marshmallows over an open flame (and look at the picture - the wall round the fire is not exactly high) them Merlin can at least do this. I can assure you that there will be plenty of notices round the fires at DIsney warning you they're hot - as the US Citizens are very litigious in general. If there was not a sign warning you not to do something - then do it & call your lawyer to sue when you get seriously injured / narrowly cheat death. Most of the Darwin Award nominees tend to come from the USA... and there is only one country where I have seen "Do Not Eat" printed on a tin of shoe polish!

As to H&S / ride crashes - Disney's record is not perfect - just do some research via Google. Do remember to put it into context though that Disney operate 4 theme parks, 2 water parks & 30 hotels in Florida alone. Their theme parks are open year-round, the waterparks each have a few weeks off in the low-season for annual rehab. The hotels are all so big that most operate year-round, but just close off buildings / sections to allow maintenance or rehab work to take place.

These Stargazing Sheds & the associated lack of facilities in both the Stargazing Shed Village & the nearby AT Hotels is going to turn into a right TTF. (Not an abbreviation for another forum - more a Typical Towers Farce). They deserve all the poor reviews they will get on TripAdvisor.
 
There's a Disney Cast member in the picture (in the yellow top).

This whole project just looks so naff.
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Where is the Brown/dusty Forrest style pathways - It's just bog standard 'Family day' Tarmac. It hasn't even got any edging! Whats with the lamppost? Would it hurt to have some custom pathway lighting? And the electricity box? it looks like a back alley in Milton Keynes.
 
Let's review the Merlin checklist:
  • Create at least "100 new keys" ✓
  • Low CAPEX ✓
  • Low OPEX ✓
  • No health and safety risks ✓
  • A marketing gimmick ✓
It's therefore a resounding success in the boardroom.
 
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These really do look awful. And if this thread were in the Tavern, I’d be able to say what I really wanted about this shower of excrement.
 
I don’t understand why they didn’t put a retractable glass roof on these things. On a hot summers night, would have been far more of an experience rather than a budget hotel with high prices. That way it wouldn’t get too hot, you are covered if it rains and is actually Stargazing.


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I still think pods is a decent idea, but the way in which the overall site has been executed is dreadful. No escapism whatsoever, so generic and not even an attempt to disguise ugly lamp posts or electricity boxes.

As @Croftybaby said, surely it would not have been expensive to install smaller lamps along the paths, would have looked so much better.
 
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To be fair, these pods have never really claimed to be a fully-themed experience like the other resort hotels. They are also substantially cheaper than the other hotels, so some sacrifices probably need to be made. Remember, "minimalistic theming" is even used as a selling point of the accommodation! ;)

For what they are, I personally think they look nice. You'd be surprised how many people like this sort of camping-style holiday, even though it doesn't really appeal to me, so I can see this accommodation being quite popular during the summer months, personally. The pods look clean and modern, and the park clearly have intentions for the area to look even better as it ages, as the trees they've planted will probably make the area feel quite secluded and tranquil in years to come, which should be nice, in my opinion.

Out of interest, does anyone know how much these are costing Merlin? Considering ATH apparently cost £20m and SLH including the waterpark apparently cost £40m, I'd personally guess around £10m for these when you factor in things like marketing, construction, labour costs, the cost of water, gas and electricity hookups etc.
 
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I must say I'm surprised they're costing that little; Merlin will certainly generate quick profits from these, which will probably mean additional investment into the theme park! And that's always a good thing, in my eyes!
 
This project is a farce. The price per night is a rip off. £166.50 for 4 in August!

You can easily buy one for your own garden for under £4,000. With the number ATR are installing (102) this comes to £408,000 at the very most - but clearly, ATR will receive sizeable discounts due to the number they are buying.

Even with electrical, water and other works, plus the communal toilets - if this is costing even half what some people are implying, I would be surprised.

It is pratically the cheapest conceivable way that Ian Crabbe and Nick Varney can force more accommodation into the resort. With no new bars or restaurants as part of it, it's literally complete crap.

I was somewhat mixed about it when it was announced, but now we've seen the dire pricing - I am totally against it.
 
AT86 said:
Apparently the pods are £4K each. So £400k for the lot. Based on that there is no way this project is costing them anywhere near £10million.
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All 102 pods alone cost £902,700. But when you factor in construction costs, facilities, tipi, planting etc it's definitely a 7 figure budget.

Oh and I made a few calculations on the costs/profit of the Stargazing Pods on a 90% guest occupancy. (Arguably the most interesting thing I've seen about these pods).
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*Please don't take this as fact this is only an estimate, once everything is accounted for these numbers are probably way off.
 
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