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2021: General Discussion
- Thread starter Skyscraper
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AT86
TS Member
Since when did they park people in car park F, the Splash Landings overflow car park? I drove into there today (via the hotel entrance) and it caused chaos as they were running the "normal" cars into there from the other end
I have been directed to park there at Fireworks before now. Guess they were busy today? The parking they have lost over the past 10yrs may come back to bite them when capacity restrictions are gone.
CrashCoaster
TS Member
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- Shambhala
Weren't they supposed to be converting one of the fields into another car park?
CrashCoaster
TS Member
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- Shambhala
If the Galactica car park ever gets used for a new area/SW, then they certainly would need it. I imagine it will still go ahead, but possibly not for a year or two.
jon81uk
TS Member
In theory they should look at doing it this winter ready for 2022 if visits continue being slightly increased due to covid as it then puts the park in a good place for the future.
Matt N
TS Member
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- Mako (SeaWorld Orlando)
Out of interest, now it’s been said that the remaining COVID rules are all but 100% on track to be lifted from 19th July, has the park said anything regarding the pre-booking policy or reduced capacity going? Will they be going back to having their full capacity of 28,000?
If they do, I’d imagine they could well have one of their most successful summers ever ahead of them…
If they do, I’d imagine they could well have one of their most successful summers ever ahead of them…
AT86
TS Member
Yes I think the reduced capacity over the past year has meant the car parks can cope with demand as they are for now. But with that coming to an end soon I imagine they will be back to not having enough space on busy days.
jon81uk
TS Member
The park can't cope unless the recruitment issue is sorted.
I think they are barely coping right now?
If they let too many more guests in then there might not be enough food service capacity unless even more food vans are added.
I expect even if the capacity is increased pre-booking is going to stay for most of this season. Maybe if guest numbers do seem low they will allow passholders in without bookings for September before Scarefest starts.
From what I understand pre covid, Merlin wanted to make all attractions pre-booking. Now covid hit, they have an excuse to justify the pre-booking and I feel that it is here to stay for good.
Do they still charge a fee for pre-booking and I wonder if they will continue to limit pass holders entry spaces in favour of on the gate tickets guests?
Personally, I find the pre-booking a pain in the backside and I preferred it when you could just decide to visit an attraction on a whim
Do they still charge a fee for pre-booking and I wonder if they will continue to limit pass holders entry spaces in favour of on the gate tickets guests?
Personally, I find the pre-booking a pain in the backside and I preferred it when you could just decide to visit an attraction on a whim
tayspru
TS Member
I personally find it staggering that in such a remote area for such a large resort there isn’t any on site accommodation for seasonal staff. They would have no problem employing people of college / Uni age to come work fixed term for the summer if lodging was thrown into the mix.
jon81uk
TS Member
They have never charged a fee for booking at Alton Towers just a different price, lower than the gate price.
I don’t mind booking at all really but then all our recent Towers trips have been fireworks when booking has been needed for years.
but we went to Colchester Zoo yesterday where booking is mandatory for day tickets (but annual passes can just turn up now). I booked at 9am for a 10.30 arrival with no hassle. Didn’t really change the spontaneity of going.
A few years ago, Towers had an exclusive agreement with a company who had converted a couple of disused mills in Leek into staff accommodation. It was pretty much along the lines of "Halls of Residence" style flats in the mills, but served it's purpose and was relatively cheap. Staff transport ran from practically outside the mills to Towers. I've no idea why this business relationship ended - seemed like a win-win to me.
As to having on-site staff accommodation, there is no way Towers would want this. What else is there to do on-site / in the immediate vicinity for off-duty staff? Nothing. The last thing Towers want if off-duty staff staying on-site [possibly consuming alcohol] and causing trouble. Far better to keep them off-site where there are things to do out of on-site guests eyes - so the on-site guests can be fleeced as good as possible in the hotel bars & restaurants.
AstroDan
TS Team
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- Steel Vengeance, Cedar Point
RE: Park Capacity.
I think we will still see a limited capacity, including pre-booking, extended over the summer.
Admission fees and annual passes are currently more expensive than they have been, and to my knowledge, guest experience is a priority (hence hours etc.) - so I think we'll be seeing pre-booking remaining for a little while yet - but certainly not forever.
I think we will still see a limited capacity, including pre-booking, extended over the summer.
Admission fees and annual passes are currently more expensive than they have been, and to my knowledge, guest experience is a priority (hence hours etc.) - so I think we'll be seeing pre-booking remaining for a little while yet - but certainly not forever.
????
Same difference, from what I'm aware, Merlin charge a booking fee of around £1 per booking. May not sound much, but all adds up when you are visiting a Merlin attraction weekly or more.
Do you have time slots to get into Alton Towers?
For the more popular events like the fireworks, I fully understand and don't mind it either. But for general visits like to our local Sealife or zoo, it's just another thing to organise on top of a whole list of things to remember to do for going out. With our British weather being so unpredictable, we don't always decide if we are going out until last minute.
Do you live near Colchester (or Essex) or did you have to travel far?
We have been pass holders for Colchester Zoo for many years, but haven't been since the pandemic. But we are hoping to renew our passes again in the Autumn once the restrictions have lifted and the busy holiday season has passed.
Yes, pass holders can just turn up, but they are currently operating a one in, one out policy, so there is no guarantee that you will gain entry.
AT86
TS Member
Are you referring to charging Merlin pass holders £1 to prebook? If so that was removed in September 2020, it’s free to reserve a slot now.
Yes
Thanks for your reply. As a MAP holder, I've not visited a Merlin Attraction since the end of 2019 season, so I'm very much out of touch with everything and we are planning to restart visiting them again starting with our local Sealife centre next week.
What are the availability like for pre-booking and are there still spaces available last minute on weekdays?
Rick
TS Member
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- Crux
Pretty good from what I saw last week, you just had to keep checking. Not sure that will persist into the silly season.
jon81uk
TS Member
????
Same difference, from what I'm aware, Merlin charge a booking fee of around £1 per booking. May not sound much, but all adds up when you are visiting a Merlin attraction weekly or more.
Do you have time slots to get into Alton Towers?
For the more popular events like the fireworks, I fully understand and don't mind it either. But for general visits like to our local Sealife or zoo, it's just another thing to organise on top of a whole list of things to remember to do for going out. With our British weather being so unpredictable, we don't always decide if we are going out until last minute.
Do you live near Colchester (or Essex) or did you have to travel far?
We have been pass holders for Colchester Zoo for many years, but haven't been since the pandemic. But we are hoping to renew our passes again in the Autumn once the restrictions have lifted and the busy holiday season has passed.
Yes, pass holders can just turn up, but they are currently operating a one in, one out policy, so there is no guarantee that you will gain entry.
aha when you said Merlin charge £1 fee I assumed you meant to book day tickets, not for passholders. They removed the pass holder fee September 2020 and in 2021 they added a system to only allow a limited number of pre-books per passholder instead.
For day tickets there is no booking fee (unlike many other places).
Yes I’m in western Essex so about an hour to Colchester zoo, but as I said I was able to book same morning so was less hassle even compared to having to walk up to a ticket booth would have been normally. Booked that morning and just showed tickets on my phone at the turnstiles.
It was moderately busy with school trips and parents with pushchairs but no time slot was sold out so I’m almost certain no passholders would have had to wait, although of course it was a Monday. If it was busy enough that it became one in one out I don’t think it would be all that enjoyable anyway!
evilcod
TS Member
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- Pirates of the Caribbean - Paris
My understanding is it stopped due to the company which owned/ran the mills going into administration. They were are great asset though, unlikely I would have worked there if the mills didn't exist.
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