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Blackpool Pleasure Beach: General Discussion
- Thread starter John
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Spin-Ride-Lover
TS Member
If the park had no money left they would't have built icon at all, You don't spend 16. somthing milltion on the coaster if you can't afford it.
As for the gray paint, might be undercoat.
They have closed in the past during low season on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, the only logical reason I can think of for opening on days when staff outnumber punters is that it was a condition imposed by the council when bail out loans have been offered in the past.
Even though I love such days on the park...What an afternoon we had yesterday...I always wonder what such days are costing us in future rides.
I also wonder if they will do south park opening through the winter...has been done before in the past.
Even though I love such days on the park...What an afternoon we had yesterday...I always wonder what such days are costing us in future rides.
I also wonder if they will do south park opening through the winter...has been done before in the past.
venny
TS Member
I’m sorry but I cannot agree that the way they should address their issues is by just shutting rides. If you follow that logic, why not close even more rides, save a bit more money?
I agree it’s not RCT, it’s REAL people paying REAL money being met with rides that are REALLY shut.
To be clear, I appreciate BPB are a business. They have to make money. But the fact they have to make money is not, in itself, an excuse to close rides at a whim. Why, if I happen to visit on a quiet day when the park is ‘not making money’, should I personally suffer. I’ve still paid my entry fee, I’ve just got unlucky and visited on a quiet day. It’s not my issue the park has opened on a quiet day, gladly taken my REAL money and intentionally not opened a swathe of rides. I’m being punished and losing out on my money, because the park itself isn’t having a good day? That’s not acceptable.
There is a way to handle it. Close on days if you’re not making money. If they open and take my money, I’m entitled to feel shortchanged.
It seems as though the continuing shoddy service of the UK industry is slowly making people accept a poorer product and service.
I’m off to play RCT.
Dave
TS Founding Member
If the guests are not coming through the door then it is a problem and as already said pleasure beach doesn’t have a billion pound organisation behind them like Towers do.
I still think parks should have more closed days rather than the sort of ride closures and late openings both Blackpool and Towers are doing at the moment. If people have paid to get in they should get the full product, if you have days that can’t generate enough income to open the park then don’t open.
I still think parks should have more closed days rather than the sort of ride closures and late openings both Blackpool and Towers are doing at the moment. If people have paid to get in they should get the full product, if you have days that can’t generate enough income to open the park then don’t open.
I am glad the Beach chose to open yesterday with a few ride closures, it did not spoil my day out...I would have liked to have ridden the train and dipper, but still had a great afternoon out, with good company, weather, beer and ice cream.
I didn't see one family group with young children, there was one school group on the park, as far as kids go, that was it.
All the other punters were teenagers and young couples...and the odd coaster geek...think we might of spotted you Grand Nash...were you wearing mainly black by any chance...you were identified as a probable geek if it was you!
Anyone who has decided not to visit this week due to a few ride closures...more fool you, these are the best of days to be visiting, bright sun, no kids, no queues at all, nothing to grumble about, unless of course you like grumbling.
I didn't see one family group with young children, there was one school group on the park, as far as kids go, that was it.
All the other punters were teenagers and young couples...and the odd coaster geek...think we might of spotted you Grand Nash...were you wearing mainly black by any chance...you were identified as a probable geek if it was you!
Anyone who has decided not to visit this week due to a few ride closures...more fool you, these are the best of days to be visiting, bright sun, no kids, no queues at all, nothing to grumble about, unless of course you like grumbling.
Dave
TS Founding Member
I don’t think the issue is people deciding not to go, really it’s the same principle as you buying a 100g bag of crisps and only getting 80g. You pay on faith that you get the full product.
Now if they want to bring in cheaper off-peak pricing and advertise that some rides will be closed then I have no issue with that.
Rick
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Crux
I see the opposite side to all your points and will respond in turn...
I don't buy your suggestion that they should open all their rides so @venny gets to go on & Big Dipper and Bikini Bottom if that causes untold stress to the balance sheet of what is a family business, who are investing heavily in their product after a decade or more of real change and adjustment. If by annoying a few people in the short term, it allows them to come out of it the other side, I'm ok with that.
I put it to you there is a balance to strike whereby they can close a subset of their portfolio without it being too damaging to the visit of REAL people paying REAL money to go on REAL rides etc. If they don't like it, they can go to Alton where rides are guaranteed to be closed all season, hidden behind fences. Or go to Thorpe and chances are half the main rides will be closed anyway.
I don't buy your suggestion that they should open all their rides so @venny gets to go on & Big Dipper and Bikini Bottom if that causes untold stress to the balance sheet of what is a family business, who are investing heavily in their product after a decade or more of real change and adjustment. If by annoying a few people in the short term, it allows them to come out of it the other side, I'm ok with that.
It is an excuse. They can operate what they want, when they want and frequently do. The park has closed numerous rides over the seasons and left plenty more to rot in full view of paying punters. This isn't anything new. Rollercoaster sat idle for I don't know how long 10 - 12 years ago, Gold Mine too. You're not being punished, at all. Rides close for a whole host of reasons, whether they be staff related, money related or due to maintenance. Pleasure Beach close rides when the wind blows too - stuff happens. They got pages of whinging about the opening hours because they didn't tell people, now they're telling folk exactly what the deal is and that's still not ok?
You are entitled to feel shortchanged - do it, feel like that but don't keep spending your money with them. Doing both is nonsensical. Plus, Merlin did exactly what you suggested and got crucified in the process. Only after a couple of seasons is it close to be accepted that the parks aren't open every day. Pleasure Beach have reversed that decision for reasons that I don't think have been made public, however people have surmised why.
It seems to me that this community is unaware (or uninterested) in the fact that the parks are really struggling to make things work, despite heavy investment in new rides, the industry is in a lull with increasing cost pressures in a number of areas, specifically with wages. The product has to change to reflect the numbers.
Build a new coaster for six grand and employ a mechanic for £80 a month whilst you're at it
Grand_Nash
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Nemesis
I was in my trusty green Taron t shirt, dark shorts and black trainers so maybe! Took a few pictures of icon!
I must agree Park was dead over the 2 days and literally you could walk into a seat in big one as and when you wanted to do
Staff though very friendly and interacted with my baby son, lots of smiles for a future coaster geek hopefully!
ScottPBE
TS Member
Cost cutting? Is that really a fair assessment?
Big Dipper - Structural and cosmetic work is being done to it near Icon, it also has had heavy machinery working next to it whilst the land for the new hotel car park is flattened out.
Grand Prix - Work men using it from time to time for access to Icon's site (mainly the queuing system).
PB Express - Train is being used to move 'themed set pieces' about the Icon site, also, work men are using the track for access when the train isn't being used to move stuff.
Bikini Bottom Bus Tour, World Voyage, Alpine Ralley, Thompson Carousel and Gallopers mostly appeal to families with small children, did we forget it's not school holidays, so families with small children may not always be able to visit?
I was at Pleasure Beach today, I'd have closed the place at 4pm, it was dead.
If the closure's at Pleasure Beach aren't directly concerning you, do you need to complain about it? Genuine question, because if I am working and I see those rides closed on a day I am working or occupied elsewhere, then I am not going to be fussed about the closures. I can honestly only assume that the heavy complaining is coming from people planning to visit Pleasure Beach on every single day the closures are in place and I can only assume you'll really miss the Bikini Bottom Bus Tour, World Voyage, Alpine Ralley, Thompson Carousel and Gallopers, right?
MakoMania
TS Member
The 3 year old in our group will, term time doesn't affect you if you are too young for school.
We were supposed to be going on Monday, we'll wait until the summer now when everything is open.
I might pop down on my own still for a ride or two, but the park have just lost 4 other customers on Monday despite my best efforts
On the bright side, it's still a much better day out than Towers!
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Dipper_Dave
TS Member
If there is one thing that grinds my gears, it is comments along the lines of "Why do they bother opening midweek?" Whilst I appreciate that they are not coining it in midweek in term time, people need to appreciate that not everyone wants to, or is even able to, visit on a weekend easily. Those of you at school, college etc, can probably do virtually any weekend you like. Not all of us can visit on a weekend at the drop of a hat. I work 5 Saturdays out of 6 and have other commitments on Sundays. One day some of you whippersnapper theme park goons will have jobs, wives/husbands, and children, and will realise that work, and life, gets in the way of your funfair visits. Then, you will go when it is convenient, and learn to enjoy whichever rides are open and not worry about those that aren't, and just enjoy the day for what it is. So you are told upon entry that Rev & Steeple are closing at 4. . . Ride them before that time then! Its not rocket science. On the day, as per @rob666's posts, there were riderless Steeple horses going round and a half empty Rev train. We were too busy enjoying ourselves to count rides or complain about things, but anyone who wanted to could have really hammered the rides on a stunning, blazing hot day on Thursday.
Great post. I admit I was a tad disappointed upon hearing Big Dipper & PBE were shut, but later on I realised that this was Icon related so happily accepted it and simply enjoyed the rides that were open. The downside of an awesome, tightly packed park like BPB, is that the proximity of the rides to one another (which is one of the reasons many of us love the park), will inevitably result in the occasional ride closure for people's safety. It would be a different matter if after Icon is in full swing, a set of rides were closed midweek for 2 months (as said a few pages back by @Rob, I would also argue that Big Dipper is one of the park's more popular rides), but we must hope that this will not be the case. Also I personally will not be losing any sleep over the Nick Land kiddy rides, but echo @shakey's sentiment about the possibility of them giving reduced entry for very small children who are left with very few rides whilst a chunk of NL is closed on a given day. Also, a middle aged man going on a ride named Bikini Bottom Bus Tour without kiddies in tow, should probably be arrested anyway !
Rick
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Crux
I agree with a lot of what @Dipper_Dave said, the only objection I would make is:
That's true of any business. My local is licensed until 3am but it closes at midnight, there simply isn't the demand for them to open until three. If they stay open those three extra hours they lose money, so they don't do it.
Whilst I agree with you to a degree, with the park not being a public service, it has to operate when it makes sense to operate. If there isn't sufficient demand to open during the week, I don't think they owe the weekend workers a visit at the cost of their own prosperity, or indeed, sustainability.
That's true of any business. My local is licensed until 3am but it closes at midnight, there simply isn't the demand for them to open until three. If they stay open those three extra hours they lose money, so they don't do it.
Dipper_Dave
TS Member
I understand what you mean. Us midweek visitor's don't have a divine right to be able to visit theme parks Monday to Friday, I am not saying that the park owe us anything, but we simply enjoy the privilege of being able to attend when its quiet. For some of us, if the parks DID close midweek in term time, we wouldn't bother with a season pass. We'd probably attend once or twice a year, using Clubcard vouchers, and the park would lose the revenue they get from us in food, drink, merch, etc. Midweek closures would also make the weekends torture, effectively forcing people to buy Speedypasses. Even closing one midweek day a week though, for them to save costs, would surely be the thin end of the wedge, before you know it they'd be closing Tues, Weds & Thurs every week. May it never happen!
Coaster
TS Member
Whilst I'm sure it's brilliant for those who can visit midweek to take advantage of there being no queues, if the park is operating at a loss then I can't understand the business sense behind opening then. Of course, they could strike a happy medium and close one or two days midweek, like Alton does at present - that way people can still visit midweek, but the park have saved hours which can then be used where it makes business sense during busier times.
In relation to yourself @Dipper_Dave being happy with the ride closures and other aspects, I would suggest it's a bit different for season pass holders as opposed to guests who pay specifically for the day in question, which may be their only visit in a year, etc.
In relation to yourself @Dipper_Dave being happy with the ride closures and other aspects, I would suggest it's a bit different for season pass holders as opposed to guests who pay specifically for the day in question, which may be their only visit in a year, etc.
Katy
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Batman Gotham City Escape
This would also (in theory) make the remaining 3 week days busier (as they've compressed 300 people x 5 days into fewer days) therefore they'd be losing less money on each of the days (whilst still being quiet enough to get on everything)
And not forgetting a busier park means increase in Speedy pass which is pure profit for them.
Mixed thoughts on the situation but if money is that tight then perhaps they shouldn’t rush to open in February, a month later like other UK parks would save a fortune plus less complaints of why things aren’t open / full capacity.
Dipper_Dave
TS Member
Agree with this. Personally I don’t really bother with the Wow weekends. I’ve attended during said dates on one occasion only in the last few years. I would rather wait for better weather, and let the rides warm up a bit. It wouldn’t bother me at all for them to drop Feb and even maybe March weekend opening.
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