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What is the best value park you've been to?

TheMan

TheMan

TS Member
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NemiLerVion
OK, this is going in the AT topic, because of course AT will be the benchmark. Near as 50 quid entry flat fee. Let's base it on that please. (Though some discussions are welcome with vouchers etc).

The Universal Studios thread made me wonder, it's quite expensive for two parks, particularly clever financially by US if you take the Potter train which means you need to use both on one day (which, I do think is a bit naughty) - 2 adults and a couple of kids would mean an eye watering $532...(£315)

However, it's only $758 (£449) for four days and TWO parks (which averages at £28 per day, per person - almost as cheap as Towers with their BOGOF vouchers...), which given the attractions on offer is exceptional. I am sure there are offers around as well.

Towers for a family of 4 for one day using online offers (same as I am doing with US) is £124 for ONE park.

Now before Merlin start wetting themselves thinking they're cheap, in case you're reading this, comparing you to Universal is like trying to sell soda streamed grape juice for the same price as vintage champagne, so don't even go there.

So the question is, to you, what is the best value theme park?
(And as I say, I expect Towers to be used by most as the yard stick hence it's in this thread for now).
 
Erm...I have never paid that much for universal and I get two week tickets! I generally around £500 for two weeks at all Disney parks, universal and Busch/seaworld!
 
Oakwood, Lightwater Valley and Drayton Manor seemed very good value for me. The best value is probably oakwood though for me it's alton thorpe and chessie now I have a pass for the first time. ;D
 
Pixie-Ro said:
Oops, sorry for double posting, just realised you were talking about a family ticket. Ignore me!
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;D Seeing as you double posted in my topic you could leave me an answer Pixie!! :twirly:

nemesis1994 said:
Oakwood, Lightwater Valley and Drayton Manor seemed very good value for me. The best value is probably oakwood though for me it's alton thorpe and chessie now I have a pass for the first time. ;D
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The pass is not bad value, no where near what it was, but many parks offer passes so I want to steer away from those. DMP is my closest park and I haven't been there for a good few years, way before G farce opened. I still have to visit the other two especially LWV!
 
Lightwater valley's are brilliant little park with good rides, the flats are the same as thorpe but are amazing on a good day, if you do go don't go on the ultimate more than3 times if you don't like pain and are quite tall.you can get everything done by2:30 then get loads of rerides. It can get repetitive and tiresome after 2 or 3 rides on all rides you want to go on,oakwood is the same. Lightwater also has the old space boat from Alton now called the black pearl. It looks amazing after 31years. It's a must visit if your less than 1 and a half hours ago
 
In the UK I think BPB deserves a mention, it's one of our top parks and yet you can get tickets online for under £20, even their on-the-day price of around £30 isn't that expensive considering the attraction line-up.
 
John said:
In the UK I think BPB deserves a mention, it's one of our top parks and yet you can get tickets online for under £20, even their on-the-day price of around £30 isn't that expensive considering the attraction line-up.
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Absolutely. I was going to say Sandcastle too, most fun I've had at a UK park (of any kind) in a long time.
 
Bear said:
John said:
In the UK I think BPB deserves a mention, it's one of our top parks and yet you can get tickets online for under £20, even their on-the-day price of around £30 isn't that expensive considering the attraction line-up.
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Absolutely. I was going to say Sandcastle too, most fun I've had at a UK park (of any kind) in a long time.
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Never tried Sandcastle, but have to agree with BPB entirely.
 
BPB can depend on the staff there, some really influence your day and some put a downer on it so I think it depends on the staff there as I saw some confusion on the big one where A man and his young son got on and some chavs that were behind started shouting at the staff and swearing, but instead of calmly calling security they started shouting at the people on the train and made them get off and go to the back of the queue. Luckily the queue was empty but they told them to get off and the chats were allowed to take there place and when it set off the chavs started swearing at the dad and the son. I didn't see the ride ops name as they switched around although at the end of the day we complained and they said they would try to sort it and find out which staff member let the chavs on and said that they found who it was and they got a disciplinary warning and if they did anything wrong again they would be sacked which was nice and reassuring to hear that they cared about customers. It was really unpleasant to experience and puts a downer on people's day.
 
nemesis1994 said:
Oakwood, Lightwater Valley and Drayton Manor seemed very good value for me. The best value is probably oakwood though for me it's alton thorpe and chessie now I have a pass for the first time. ;D
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Oakwood is cheap admittedly, but I wouldn't say it's good value. The ratio of pounds spent on entry fee to decent rides is far worse than the likes of AT or Thorpe. I guess that ratio improves for a 10 year old kid who has lower standards and is immune to how naff it is.

I haven't been to a large amount of parks in the UK but I'd say Thorpe is the best value I've experienced. It's small, yet densely packed with quality rides.

Outside of the UK, I'd have to say Cedar Point. Hands down. Nothing comes close for me.
 
As most of the discussion is about other parks, I think this belong in here rather than AT General :)
 
Although Oakwood is cheap, I wouldn't say it's particularly outstanding value for money. If you visit on an off peak day you will have literally done everything in two hours and have to put up with rides on rotation. If you visit on a busy day you'll have to endure the long queues due to rides being so low capacity but still wont really have enough to properly fill a day.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach and Europa Park are actually really good value for money. Both are below the average Merlin entrance fee and both offer more rides, attractions and general activities to keep guests occupied all day regardless of how busy they are.
 
I paid $58 us for 2 days entry into Cedar Point in 2011. Worked out at about £40. I would have paid that for 1 day.

Comparing to AT that's about £60 using gate price + next day bounce back. £35 each for 2 people for 2 days using 2 for 1 + bounce back.

Email just arrived for BPB wristbands for £17. So 2 days for £34.
 
I can't remember exactly how much it cost but when I went to BGW back in 2011 it was good value. They did (and still do I think) summer Fun Cards which cost the price of a single days entry yet are valid for the whole summer. BGW's behind the scenes tours are also ridicuously good value for money.

:)
 
Having just got back from Europa I can definitely vouch for there value for money. While the initial ticket price is high you get exactly what you've paid for (and then some). The merchandise is good quality but it was the food that I felt offered the best value. For the same price that we bought a second rate McDonald's style meal at Disney (Paris) we had a full meal delivered by roller coaster in EP's Food loop. Total bill came to just over £10, less than I quite often spend on the high-street.

Of course the danger was we ended up spending a lot more than at Disney because it was so reasonably priced :p
 
Tim said:
Of course the danger was we ended up spending a lot more than at Disney because it was so reasonably priced :p
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This is the point I make about Merlin, they don't get this idea! They aren't a Disney or Universal so people will not spend for the sake of spending as they may do there. When you hike prices too high, people guard their money. I used to spend freely at Towers and buy souvenirs every visit regardless of how many times I went! Now though, I am loathe to buy anything, take my own food, and spend very carefully in park. When you include the poor levels of service particularly in the likes of Dragon Bar at times now, and reduced offerings - it's obvious they are penny wise, pound foolish.

You get people happy, they SPEND MORE, and they still leave happy.
 
If you know the right people - I'll say my 4 day trip to Disneyland in CA, Knottsberry Farm and Universal comes to mind...

However - I'll say Disneyland Paris is very good value for money. For £54 you can get a one day one park ticket, and for £62 you get a one day/two park ticket.

Alton Towers and Thorpe are £48...
 
TheMan said:
This is the point I make about Merlin, they don't get this idea! They aren't a Disney or Universal so people will not spend for the sake of spending as they may do there. When you hike prices too high, people guard their money. I used to spend freely at Towers and buy souvenirs every visit regardless of how many times I went! Now though, I am loathe to buy anything, take my own food, and spend very carefully in park. When you include the poor levels of service particularly in the likes of Dragon Bar at times now, and reduced offerings - it's obvious they are penny wise, pound foolish.

You get people happy, they SPEND MORE, and they still leave happy.
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This, this and this again! Happy guests will always spend more money. My spending at Towers over the last couple of years has reduced significantly. I also used to buy some new merch on almost every visit, especially if there was something new. I would also end up buying ORPs on a very regular basis. As it stands now I have not bought an ORP at Towers in over a year and my spending on merch is much more limited, I think I've only bought one new item so far this season.

Meanwhile at EP money leaves my wallet like there is no tomorrow!

:)
 
Rob said:
Meanwhile at EP money leaves my wallet like there is no tomorrow!

:)
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Haha! I can imagine!

Exactly the same though Rob, I have so many ORPs mugs the usual stuff, never walked out without spending in Towers Trading until a couple of years ago - now I hardly ever even wander in.

EP scares me, I know I could blow a fortune in that place on merch IF I eventually get there. Money would become lighter than air with Euros seemingly floating out of my pockets and into tills all across park - thankfully they seem very polite there so I'm sure they'd compensate me with wares for my troubles!
 
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