Queue Times Discussion 2026

[Slackjawedyokel]

You say that - but I wonder how much they actually made from park entrance fees. Not a lot of guess.

Yes that’s absolutely fair but for me it does mean that Merlin parks probably aren’t for me and I probably won’t bother to visit again. I would like to visit a park, pay a realistic entrance fee and have a reasonable expectation of a good experience. Merlin’s gone for an alternative twin-track approach where you pay a smaller entrance charge (sometimes very small if you have an annual pass or collect a twofor etc) and it’s a bit of a lottery whether you have a decent day out or have to come back multiple times to get the full experience OR you open your wallet, shake it and probably have a pretty good day out, bypassing the families in the regular queues. If not too many of the attractions you want to go on are shut.

Nope- I’d rather go further afield to places where the entrance fee’s higher but reliability and ride ops mean you’re almost certain to have a decent experience.

 

[Bowser]

Yes that’s absolutely fair but for me it does mean that Merlin parks probably aren’t for me and I probably won’t bother to visit again. I would like to visit a park, pay a realistic entrance fee and have a reasonable expectation of a good experience. Merlin’s gone for an alternative twin-track approach where you pay a smaller entrance charge (sometimes very small if you have an annual pass or collect a twofor etc) and it’s a bit of a lottery whether you have a decent day out or have to come back multiple times to get the full experience OR you open your wallet, shake it and probably have a pretty good day out, bypassing the families in the regular queues. If not too many of the attractions you want to go on are shut.

Nope- I’d rather go further afield to places where the entrance fee’s higher but reliability and ride ops mean you’re almost certain to have a decent experience.

Nailed it.

It’s frustrating to be trapped on this island where this is the dominant theme park model whilst much of Europe is spoilt for choice with what you describe.

 

[Jb85]

Yes that’s absolutely fair but for me it does mean that Merlin parks probably aren’t for me and I probably won’t bother to visit again. I would like to visit a park, pay a realistic entrance fee and have a reasonable expectation of a good experience. Merlin’s gone for an alternative twin-track approach where you pay a smaller entrance charge (sometimes very small if you have an annual pass or collect a twofor etc) and it’s a bit of a lottery whether you have a decent day out or have to come back multiple times to get the full experience OR you open your wallet, shake it and probably have a pretty good day out, bypassing the families in the regular queues. If not too many of the attractions you want to go on are shut.

Nope- I’d rather go further afield to places where the entrance fee’s higher but reliability and ride ops mean you’re almost certain to have a decent experience.

Can’t say I disagree with a word you say to be honest.
For me the Merlin parks aren’t worth bothering with anymore. I got now mainly for nostalgia…… to ride the coasters (as let’s face it everything else has gone)

It’s not the same …. But equally the other parks aren’t really a competition

 

[rob666]

Not everything has gone.
Even though the actual planting has been neglected, the gardens themselves remain magnificent.

Just a shame hardly anyone sees them, or plays on the stepping stones.

 

[Benzin]

Not everything has gone.
Even though the actual planting has been neglected, the gardens themselves remain magnificent.

Just a shame hardly anyone sees them, or plays on the stepping stones.

Is there a RAP queue for the stepping stones?


The lack of supporting capacity in the park is more telling every week. Be interesting to see what the Trip Advisor reviews end up like.

Hoping next week is dead given they're doing 4pm closes.

 

[rob666]

Is there a RAP queue for the stepping stones?


The lack of supporting capacity in the park is more telling every week. Be interesting to see what the Trip Advisor reviews end up like.

Hoping next week is dead given they're doing 4pm closes.

Amusingly, I have never, ever, had to queue.
Only fallen in once, and had to wait for a young couple coming the other way once.
Favourite part of the "always walk on" day.
Like the Pagoda Footbath.