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2017: General Discussion

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Had a lovely day at towers today. Great meal in the rollercoaster restraunt too!

I went on Rita for my first time today and I found it very rough, was sat on the newly painted train about third row on the left. Are there any better seats that aren't as rough or is it the same everywhere? :)
 
It'll be even worse value for money next year....Pay admission then wait the whole 6 hours the parks open for in the queue for SW8.

I'd wait till 2019.
 
Rita isn't rough, well it wasn't when I did front row on opening day. Maybe you need to brace more with your hands if you haven't got neck muscles to prevent the small amount of head banging? It does rattle a bit, but it is an Intamin of that era. See also Colossus.
 
It's not rough in the way a Vekoma Mk1200 ride is rough - it just has that typical Intamin vibration, which is almost worse depending on your height and where you sit within the seat.

There is a reason why Intamin developed the soft strap harness and why parks are retrofitting them to their existing rides.
 
I don't think it would get the hate if they just made it a platinum pass of unlimited entry and unlimited fast track. But as they offered some small one off other perks the "VIP"s now expect those perks all the time. The pass includes unlimited fast track, just because you got on via the exit once doesn't mean it should be expected every time.
 
Dave said:
Ahh the VIP MAP, a product universally hated by everyone who works at a merlin attraction
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As much as I agree with your point, isn't that a little short sighted from the staff? It contributes to their wages and profitability of the group...

As a shareholder (minuscule, don't get me wrong) I'm loving all these people buying into the whole VIP thing, whether it be passes, fireworks or hospitality events.

Maybe Merlin should look at JLP for inspiration - make everyone a partner and therefore business focused. When will employees realise the better job they do, the better the business does thus the more opportunity they will have to earn performance based bonus', profit share and further benefit packages.

Maybe its the fact that most staff are temporary but jeez, with that attitude towards your customers ("universally hated by everyone") it's hardly a surprise that the park is suffering in terms of numbers, profitability (cuts) and guest satisfaction.
 
smudge said:
It contributes to their wages and profitability of the group...
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I'm not convinced the VIP pass is even that profitable. VIP is £725, premium is £219. So for £500 the VIP pass gets unlimited fast track that is normally £95 a visit, VIP passholders will make more than five visits. The pass includes free drink refills, so the parks don't get money from passholders for drinks. Food is discounted (I assume the usual 20%?) so profits are lower.
Overall I think yes as fast track doesn't really cost them anything to offer they are making £500+ more per pass sold, but the amount they are making from the guests in the park is probably less than a premium passholder spends.
 
jon81uk said:
I'm not convinced the VIP pass is even that profitable. VIP is £725, premium is £219. So for £500 the VIP pass gets unlimited fast track that is normally £95 a visit, VIP passholders will make more than five visits. The pass includes free drink refills, so the parks don't get money from passholders for drinks. Food is discounted (I assume the usual 20%?) so profits are lower.
Overall I think yes as fast track doesn't really cost them anything to offer they are making £500+ more per pass sold, but the amount they are making from the guests in the park is probably less than a premium passholder spends.
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Could it be Merlin expect VIP passholders to make a load more visits thrus making their money back on food and merchandise even with the 20 percent discount?
 
jon81uk said:
I'm not convinced the VIP pass is even that profitable. VIP is £725, premium is £219. So for £500 the VIP pass gets unlimited fast track that is normally £95 a visit, VIP passholders will make more than five visits. The pass includes free drink refills, so the parks don't get money from passholders for drinks. Food is discounted (I assume the usual 20%?) so profits are lower.
Overall I think yes as fast track doesn't really cost them anything to offer they are making £500+ more per pass sold, but the amount they are making from the guests in the park is probably less than a premium passholder spends.
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I understand your reasoning however, simply put, the VIP pass would not exist if it was not profitable.

There would have been countless case studies into the spending habits and trends of pass holders. There's no doubt the holder is getting better value for money the more they visit, but do you know anyone that doesn't spend a penny whilst on park - especially people willing to fork out £700 on a pass? Hotel stays, drinks, food - its all extra revenue from these pass-holders.

With regards to them getting less revenue from the VIP pass than the Premium pass is nonsensical. The majority of premium pass holders do not buy fastrack. I'm sure i have seen this confirmed somewhere but I can t find it right now. The fastrack perk is where the most 'value' comes form with the VIP pass, but like you say, that is no additional cost the the park. It also encourages more visits, which of course increases revenue.
 
To their credit, there's a decent level of perks included in the VIP pass now - from getting a personal greeting at every attraction, to things like being escorted through the London Eye.

It is surely not sustainable at the current price. As I mentioned before, if it were me I would change the pass eligibility to be free to people who spend ~£2000 a year at Merlin properties (or something like that).

Mods - maybe it's worth moving these posts into a separate MAP thread?
 
Jordan said:
To their credit, there's a decent level of perks included in the VIP pass now - from getting a personal greeting at every attraction, to things like being escorted through the London Eye.

It is surely not sustainable at the current price. As I mentioned before, if it were me I would change the pass eligibility to be free to people who spend ~£2000 a year at Merlin properties (or something like that).

Mods - maybe it's worth moving these posts into a separate MAP thread?
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And of course there are all the unofficial perks VIPs get that are only known to passholders :)
 
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