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Blackpool Pleasure Beach: General Discussion
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D4n
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Zadra
I'm personally a big advocate of leaving lots of extra time prior to arrival when visiting Blackpool. Maybe even depart 2 and a half hours in advance, I would advise, so long as you're 'morning people' so to speak.
One of the major positives of the park's location is the Velvet Coaster is right next door and you can treat yourselves to a cooked breakfast and a pint / refillable hot drink if you find you're too early. And if traffic is bad you'll still arrive in plenty of time.
One of the major positives of the park's location is the Velvet Coaster is right next door and you can treat yourselves to a cooked breakfast and a pint / refillable hot drink if you find you're too early. And if traffic is bad you'll still arrive in plenty of time.
Matt N
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Shambhala (PortAventura Park)
venny
TS Member
In mid summer it’s unlikely they’ll move closing times earlier, unless it is deathly quiet. I suspect with Icon open it won’t be, unless there’s a tsunami forecast.
Given you are traveling, an often overlooked place for breakfast is the Arena Cafe inside Pleasure Beach. They serve breakfast in a nice quiet atmosphere and it’s cheap, cheaper than Wetherspoons. It means your parents could have a leisurely breakfast whilst you rush the rides. Everyone’s a winner!
Rick
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Crux
@Matt N Wholly concur with @ringo. The best thing about staying in Ambleside is you'll be travelling in the opposite direction in the morning and the evening to what all the daytrippers will be doing.
The attendance fluctuates day by day at the park, it's bizarre. You'll have a great day whatever happens. If it is busy in the days and weeks in the run-up to your visit (check the boards and by all means ask here), perhaps begin a "If this is going to be only trip to the park for a long while, perhaps we should look at Speedy Pass" conversation.
The attendance fluctuates day by day at the park, it's bizarre. You'll have a great day whatever happens. If it is busy in the days and weeks in the run-up to your visit (check the boards and by all means ask here), perhaps begin a "If this is going to be only trip to the park for a long while, perhaps we should look at Speedy Pass" conversation.
Coaster
TS Member
I'd suggest getting there earlier than 10 to make sure you're through the wristband queue and outside the park entrance in advance of the park opening to get the most out of the day. With it being in the summer, I'd allow 30/45 minutes (potentially longer) for this.
Always worth getting in a queue just before park close as well IMO, but I'd allow 10 minutes as PB have been known to close queues early on some occasions.
Matt N
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Shambhala (PortAventura Park)
Thanks for all the advice, guys! I just spoke to my Mum, and she suggested that we could check the weather forecast a few days before setting off, decide a day to go to BPB and print our wristbands off the website; can we do this without having to get into the wristband queue? I also thought we could go on a weekday, as it would in theory be quieter than a weekend, despite it being the summer holidays; would it be any quieter? Sorry to keep asking questions and clogging up the thread, it's just that I want to be as clued up as I can be before going. I'm sure we will have a fantastic day at BPB, and I really hope it surprises the rest of my family; they all seem genuinely scared about going to BPB!
Katy
TS Member
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- Wildfire (Kolmården)
You need to book a certain number of days in advance to get the wristbands in advance, and they have to be posted out - you can't print them as they're on a special kind of paper/sticker combination
Katy
TS Member
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- Wildfire (Kolmården)
You can still book the day before to get a cheaper rate than just turning up but you'd then have to go to the ticket centre with your booking reference (off the email they send) to get the wristbands.
Thrillomatic
TS Member
Matt, do you know why your parents are scared? I imagine I'm much the same age as them and honestly it's my favourite theme park in the UK. I love the way the park is tiny (by AT standards) and so easy to get around. There is a huge variety of rides to suit all tastes. I've never felt threatened or scared at the Pleasure Beach and we do the 10 - 10 days so it is pitch black by the time we leave. Whereas I have felt a bit uncomfortable around the stags and hens when I've been out at night further up towards the Tower. Let us know their concern(s) and we will try to allay them!
Which manufacturer though?
Let’s gat a price and start a fund campaign lol
Matt N
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Shambhala (PortAventura Park)
I think a lot of it is based on what people have said to them and from when my Mum visited in 1997. My Dad has been told by multiple people that everywhere around the Pleasure Beach is "rough" and most of my extended family seem to shudder in horror at the thought of us even setting foot in Blackpool. I'm not scared, though. I think Blackpool looks like a lovely town with some real charming areas, and a particularly charming amusement park in the middle!
Katy
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Wildfire (Kolmården)
The area immediately surrounding BPB is a mixture of poor and well off depending on what direction you go, but I wouldn't say it was rough at all. The park itself is a lot cleaner/better in terms of who is in there since they introduced the entry fee and gated it too.
Thrillomatic
TS Member
I agree with @Katy ... I get the pearl clutching from my colleagues every year when I say I'm going to BPB. They continued to be amazed that I return to work in one piece. It really isn't as rough as people think. Honestly, I've witnessed far more scary/aggressive behaviour at both AT and TP than I've ever done at BPB. And, yes, as I say, I find the main strip by the Tower a bit intimidating late at night but it's easy to avoid that if drinking copiously isn't your thing. And I do like to remind my Strictly-mad colleagues that I'm the only one who's ever actually been to the Tower Ballroom! Afternoon Tea was fantastic. I also really enjoyed the circus at the Tower. As a family we also enjoyed the Sandcastle Waterpark opposite BPB, again there's something for everyone there.
I must have been the only person who didn't get mugged/beaten up/robbed or made to feel any intimidation during the free entry days. Everyone keeps saying how dangerous it was and how much safer it is now, I have only ever witnessed one major kick off at BPB and that was sorted out very swiftly by the security staff.
Oh, it was also after the entry fee was introduced.
Oh, it was also after the entry fee was introduced.
Plastic Person
TS Member
There was definitely a rougher element to the park in the free entry era, although even towards the end of that, you had to go through heavier security than most parks. I think the issue was largely loitering kids during the school holidays and after lesson time, rather than anything more nefarious. On the other hand, the park has been around long enough to have seen it all...
As for 2018, there is some pretty stifling poverty around the Pleasure Beach, but the park itself is perfectly safe and largely well-presented. I'm sure you'll make it back to the South in one piece, @Matt N
As for 2018, there is some pretty stifling poverty around the Pleasure Beach, but the park itself is perfectly safe and largely well-presented. I'm sure you'll make it back to the South in one piece, @Matt N
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