2026: General Discussion

[Skyscraper]

My guess is that ERT is going to be school holidays only or similar. I think they did summer-only ERT last year?

They did indeed. They scrapped season-long ERT ages ago, I think.

 

[Matt N]

That’s a shame.

I really enjoyed having ERT over the summer last year, so I was hoping it might be expanded for the whole season this year!

 

[jon81uk]

That’s a shame.

I really enjoyed having ERT over the summer last year, so I was hoping it might be expanded for the whole season this year!

Well we don't know yet what will be offered for 2026. I was just speculating that it will be the same as last year. It might be different for 2026.

 

[Skyscraper]

Just seen this comment on TS's latest Facebook post (RAP changes)...

If that is true and becomes reality, then I won't know what to say.

 

[Alix]

Apologies if this has already been asked, I have searched here and on the Merlin pass site but can't find an answer. How much is an exclusion day ticket, specifically Towers fireworks? I'm thinking about downgrading one of our passes to an Essential as I think we could cover it through my platinum bring a friend for free most of the time (e.g. Scarefest on a Saturday), the only fly in the ointment would be fireworks, but if that's only £25/day it's still worthwhile. Can't find anything anywhere! TIA

 

[Steve74]

Apologies if this has already been asked, I have searched here and on the Merlin pass site but can't find an answer. How much is an exclusion day ticket, specifically Towers fireworks? I'm thinking about downgrading one of our passes to an Essential as I think we could cover it through my platinum bring a friend for free most of the time (e.g. Scarefest on a Saturday), the only fly in the ointment would be fireworks, but if that's only £25/day it's still worthwhile. Can't find anything anywhere! TIA

It's £20 per exclusion day and at the moment, it does include fireworks but when I tried to book fireworks, my pass was invalid but I could book other exclusion days

From: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Z19RSE04spCz_DlmQIWfwljXgYcEPZYZ/view?usp=sharing

Merlin Annual Pass Restriction Day Tickets

Enjoy exclusive discounts, special offers and more with a great value Merlin Annual Pass! Buy yours today.

www.merlinannualpass.co.uk

 

[Bert2theSpark]

Just seen this comment on TS's latest Facebook post (RAP changes)...

If that is true and becomes reality, then I won't know what to say.

Saw this posted by Kip Hakes yesterday on Facebook, so that’ll possibly be the source of where they found this information. As I understand the BBC have previously been against FastTrack offerings in CBeebies Land, they have previously loosened restrictions on selling stuff like Coca-Cola in the area (although it can’t be advertised, hence the SmartWater vending machines) but that’s not something that would actively damage the CBeebies brand.

None of the queue lines in CBeebies would be able to integrate FastTrack, as they are low throughput rides and would undoubtedly have an impact on already long wait times in the area. Mutiny Bay and Walliams have similar scale rides and don’t have or need FastTrack so it would be weird to add it for CBeebies Land only.

It’s possible that this has gotten mixed up with the Nimbus stuff and people have perceived payment for new RAP cards.

The BBC is a public service that actively promotes access regardless of how much people pay, so introducing FastTrack would be philosophically opposed to the wider BBC brand and ethos. So I really hope this doesn’t hold any credibility as a rumour.

 

[Alix]

It's £20 per exclusion day and at the moment, it does include fireworks but when I tried to book fireworks, my pass was invalid but I could book other exclusion days

From: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Z19RSE04spCz_DlmQIWfwljXgYcEPZYZ/view?usp=sharing

Merlin Annual Pass Restriction Day Tickets

Enjoy exclusive discounts, special offers and more with a great value Merlin Annual Pass! Buy yours today.

www.merlinannualpass.co.uk

Thanks for that!
Did it give you any idea why you were invalid? Eg does your current pass expire before the date perhaps? My name will be mud if I mess this up

 

[Steve74]

Thanks for that!
Did it give you any idea why you were invalid? Eg does your current pass expire before the date perhaps? My name will be mud if I mess this up

No just said the pass entered was invalid. I've got the monthly Premium pass. They fact that I could book other dates led me to think its just because it's so far off in the season the system isn't set up properly yet for those dates. I wouldn't worry too much about booking the fireworks now, I book mine usually mid-September.

 

[AltonLover123]

Saw this posted by Kip Hakes yesterday on Facebook, so that’ll possibly be the source of where they found this information. As I understand the BBC have previously been against FastTrack offerings in CBeebies Land, they have previously loosened restrictions on selling stuff like Coca-Cola in the area (although it can’t be advertised, hence the SmartWater vending machines) but that’s not something that would actively damage the CBeebies brand.

None of the queue lines in CBeebies would be able to integrate FastTrack, as they are low throughput rides and would undoubtedly have an impact on already long wait times in the area. Mutiny Bay and Walliams have similar scale rides and don’t have or need FastTrack so it would be weird to add it for CBeebies Land only.

It’s possible that this has gotten mixed up with the Nimbus stuff and people have perceived payment for new RAP cards.

The BBC is a public service that actively promotes access regardless of how much people pay, so introducing FastTrack would be philosophically opposed to the wider BBC brand and ethos. So I really hope this doesn’t hold any credibility as a rumour.

Perhaps it’s just for Bluey? They could have baked a fastrack queue in the plans should they be given the go ahead.

 

[NuttySquirrel]

Thanks for that!
Did it give you any idea why you were invalid? Eg does your current pass expire before the date perhaps? My name will be mud if I mess this up

I think Fireworks has a separate exclusion ticket which is at least £25, you can only book this via a specific link for fireworks weekend which I think explains why it didn't show up for @Steve74. It's pretty confusing trying to book for exclusion dates, they're almost deliberately hidden away in the small print.

I have no idea how it works now with the new tiers but it used to be the case that Silver and Gold passholders could pay the upcharge for Fireworks, but if you had the basic blue pass (I forget what it was called) you would have to just buy a full price ticket. That might be the case with the Essential pass or that might have now become the equivalent of Silver.

Might be worth a question to customer support if you want to be sure. Though I'm not confident they'd actually give you the right answer!

 

[Steve74]

I think Fireworks has a separate exclusion ticket which is at least £25, you can only book this via a specific link for fireworks weekend which I think explains why it didn't show up for @Steve74. It's pretty confusing trying to book for exclusion dates, they're almost deliberately hidden away in the small print.

Yeah I think you are right, I did find it odd that at the moment it's £20 for this year when for the last 2 or 3 years its been £25. I think I did use that link I posted earlier to book my fireworks tickets last year but I think it worked then because by September when I booked, the separate ticket had been added and this page just linked through to it. As I said in a previous post, it's not worth worrying about until at least mid to late-summer, unless any different info is released in the meantime.