• ℹ️ Heads up...

    This is a popular topic that is fast moving Guest - before posting, please ensure that you check out the first post in the topic for a quick reminder of guidelines, and importantly a summary of the known facts and information so far. Thanks.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach: 2021 Discussion

Status
This topic has been locked. No further replies can be posted.
Over the years there’s been lots of healthy (well usually healthy) rivalry between BPB fans and Alton Towers fans.

Up until a few years ago I was strongly on the BPB side of fandom, strongly preferring BPB to Alton. Back then I wouldn’t have even thought twice when asked which of the two parks I prefer.

Sadly in recent years my confidence in BPB has really dropped for a whole variety of reasons. Balance that with the fact that Alton Towers have made significant improvements over recent years, and I’m sad to say that in 2021, for the first time, I’d now say that I rate Alton as the best (or at least my favourite) U.K. park.

Why am I posting this? Because I was wondering if anyone else has similar feeling towards BPB? The recent poor operations, guest experience, ride removals and general lower quality of experience at BPB have seen my faith in the place really tested these past few years. And 2021 has really been the year that’s changed things for me the most.
 
@Enter Valhalla Apologies if I’m misinterpreting something blatantly obvious, but are you saying that Alton has now overtaken BPB for you?

I’m a little confused, as you’ve said that Alton is your favourite in one post and BPB is your favourite in another…
 
Its been mentioned before but BPB used to do really well on operations when it was pay per ride, the more guests a ride got the more money they made.
But its been a decline ever since pay one price(wristbands) was the main sales instead of ticket sheets.
 
I really don’t think that the wristbands are the reason at all, well not for me anyway.

My first ever BPB visit was in 2012 when the entry charge had already been in place for years.

It’s only in the past few years that my faith in the place has been really tested.
 
Played out at the Beach for fifty years now.
Every year they find new and interesting ways to naff me off.
Operations were much, much better under pay per ride.
You had the Mouse, Reel and Funhouse, and the only big queue was the "New Big Ride"...the Log Flume in my day.
 
Have always been in the camp that thinks I don't need to pick so I don't.

Depends what I am wanting as much as anything. One has always been 25 minutes from home, that I often work down the road from. The other has been a day out / short break that I visit less often but enjoy equally.
 
Rick said:
Have always been in the camp that thinks I don't need to pick so I don't.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah, I totally agree with this. You shouldn’t feel like you have to “pick a side” and I’m never keen on how some people treat theme parks almost like football teams, showing unconditional support to their “side”

Maybe I worded my initial post badly (and I’ve no idea why it posted twice) but what I meant is that, this year, for the first time in 10 years, I can confidently say that I prefer Alton Towers to BPB. This may not matter to some, but I’m really sad that my opinion of BPB has slipped so much in recent years that I’ve been able to say this with such conviction. I used to rate BPB miles ahead of Alton, now my opinion of the place is so much lower than it was only a few years ago.
 
I've always love both Alton and Blackpool, but for different reasons.

Blackpool for me is about the lights (illumination season), the pleasure beach and the midway attractions at the tower and around.

The pleasure beach had some of the best old fashion and novelty rides, many of which have sadly been removed over the past 30 years. I go mainly for the woodies, dark rides and the Valhalla

Alton on the other hand have the best steel coasters and I love the setting in the natural beauty of the grounds.

It's very hard to compare the two, one is a theme park and the other is a pleasure beach. Both parks are great for different reasons. I visit Alton (pre-pandemic) monthly during the open season, where as I visited Blackpool every other year, which gives you the idea which one of the two that I prefer.

I try not to spend my time or energy on comparing what is the best ride/themepark. Each park will have it good and bad points. I rather just go somewhere and make the most of my time there. Just enjoy the moment of your visit, hence why you won't see me with my head tucked into my phone.

You won't see me getting involved much on here or any where else with regards to what is the best ride/themepark (or any other them park rivalry). I enjoy going to a park that have rides regardless.

The pandemic has change our experience of a day out. Things will feel different for many months to come, maybe for good
 
I agree with not comparing - both different experiences.

I’m curious, what was the reasoning behind a ‘pay one price’ system? Surely opening the park up would increase attendance and spending.

I think this seriously impacted the quality of the park - lack of investment and cutbacks. I’ve visited since 2008 and it has been inconsistent - there has been some improvements but some parts of the park are very tired unfortunately.
 
Raza said:
I’m curious, what was the reasoning behind a ‘pay one price’ system? Surely opening the park up would increase attendance and spending.
Click to expand...

Officially it was to control who was coming in to the park and make it safer for families, school trips and the like.

Like all these things, one way or another it came down to getting more money out of people visiting. Better to have 1000 people on park paying £25ish a pop average than have 2000 paying a tenner.
 
Are there any good offers for the park at the moment for tickets? Did have a quick look at a date in September, which was coming up £5 more than towers. Don't think this is usually the case, so does seem odd
 
TPC said:
Are there any good offers for the park at the moment for tickets? Did have a quick look at a date in September, which was coming up £5 more than towers. Don't think this is usually the case, so does seem odd
Click to expand...
Blackpool don’t really do offers.
 
Status
This topic has been locked. No further replies can be posted.
Top