Joshysqaushy
TS Member
I’m thinking of going to PB sometime next week. Does anyone know what day would be best to go on in the week for shorter queues?
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Blackpool Pleasure Beach: General Discussion
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Unicorns_are_lovely
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- nemesis
It's school trip season so i wouldn't think you'd get a 'better' day at the moment ... stick a pin in the calendar (or go on Sunday and take a chance on it being quieter!)
Dipper_Dave
TS Member
Am I right in presuming that season pass holders can indeed still get their wristband from the info desk instead of joining a large ticket centre queue? It seems to have been the case for the last couple of seasons. As far as I'm aware, its one of the Platinum Pass benefits.
On recent consecutive visits, on the first one I was turned away from the quiet info desk by a staff member and told to join the main ticket office queue, (even though I showed the season pass card) which put 20 mins onto my already short visit, when she could have handed me a wristband in seconds. On the next visit I did manage to get my wristband from the info desk even though they were pretty busy with school trips, sorting voucher complications out etc. Just had to wait for a couple of dozen kiddy wristbands to be put on first.
Surely it can't be that hard to make sure that all staff know that season pass holders can get a wristband from the info desk? I know season pass benefits have caused confusion going back a few seasons now, but on the plus side, staff seem to at least know about the 10% merch discount (excluding Icon stuff) this season.
All the staff do know that season pass holders can use the info desk, but if management pull the member of staff from that desk...
The east entrance has been closed on at least three days recently, once for the Rangers celebration, one for an Arena performance, the third time it was just locked up.
This is the exclusive entrance for season pass holders...that isn't, as everyone can get in that way, and sometimes it is closed without explanation.
What I did was go to one of the redcoat ambassadors, by the ark, explain that both info desk and east gate were closed without good reason, and politely but bluntly requested to be escorted through the turnstiles to the guest services office to get my wristband there, as a promised facility had been denied, twice.
Twice I have been apologised to, an admission made that entry had been poorly managed, and then walked into the park and escorted to the tills inside the speedypass office.
Considering the new ride, having the info desk closed most days by late morning this year has been a bit crap.
And Jamie, you forgot about the scratched handrails and dusty mirrors on Icon.
The east entrance has been closed on at least three days recently, once for the Rangers celebration, one for an Arena performance, the third time it was just locked up.
This is the exclusive entrance for season pass holders...that isn't, as everyone can get in that way, and sometimes it is closed without explanation.
What I did was go to one of the redcoat ambassadors, by the ark, explain that both info desk and east gate were closed without good reason, and politely but bluntly requested to be escorted through the turnstiles to the guest services office to get my wristband there, as a promised facility had been denied, twice.
Twice I have been apologised to, an admission made that entry had been poorly managed, and then walked into the park and escorted to the tills inside the speedypass office.
Considering the new ride, having the info desk closed most days by late morning this year has been a bit crap.
And Jamie, you forgot about the scratched handrails and dusty mirrors on Icon.
Poopoohead
TS Member
Been pleasure beach way more ham any Merlin parks this year, gotta admit the ridiculous increase in parking did annoy me! But obviously people are willing to pay as the car parks were full with queues for a space the other weekend
The whole thing about the park closing would be made a lot simpler if they would go back to a system they used around 2003-4 when they published a calendar with all the dates in coloured squares with times for each colour. They gave them selves a reasonable time gave that allowed for a certain amount of wiggle room too.
Red = 10am/10.30am - 5/6pm
Green = 11am - 5/6pm
Blue = 10/10.30am - 8/10pm
You get the picture. I don't think any park on the scale of BPB (or Alton) should be closing before 5pm and even that should be days where literally a few hundred people are about.
Until another launch site is found for the fireworks that can't happen, for obvious reasons. What I would like to see happen is maybe have 5-6 fireworks nights and 5-6 late night rider events where the focus is on the rides, all open till the end. I can certainly see the attraction of the fireworks, but it does seriously disrupt things, especially when we are now in a position where it's down to the Nash, Streak and Iceblast to carry every thrill seeker between them for the final hour.
A bizarre situation I have never been able to understand.
Parking I blame Alton for. They started the whole thing of charging £15 to be right outside the entrance, I'm not saying it's correct to follow suit, but the car parks being so full suggest people are willing to pay it. That may or may not leave a nasty taste in some people's mouth, it would mine, but I opt for the free parking, literally at the other side of the wall. It takes me about 60 seconds longer to walk to the park and back to the car, a detour I can live with to save £15.
While the wristband price has jumped, I think BPB have sold themselves short for many years here. I remember when BPB had some financial services in to advise on the direction to take the park, they were told wristbands were too good value for money, and advised to increase the price, or cut the offering. Unfortunately they cut the offerings, which was about the time we lost the Black Hole, AstroSwirl and Turtle Chase. Had they chosen to increase the bands back then, I think we would be at the same price we are at now, we would have had the £6 jump about 12 years earlier though.
I am not getting into the Mouse, I have said all I have to say on that subject.
They do let themselves down in a few silly places, that goes without saying, but they always have done. Even in the 90''s when it was all bright lights and 2am closes, getting an answer at guest services was like getting blood out of a stone.
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Spin-Ride-Lover
TS Member
The sooner PB find another launch site the better!
Would the casino building roof be possible?
I would't mind the the fireworks if they did't disrupt things so much.
Yes.....so long as you don't want to use the North car park, Osborne Rd, the seafront and possibly the tram track, or any of the venues within the casino, I can see no issue with that.
Danny
TS Contributor
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Mandy has revealed the name of the new hotel on Twitter as the Boulevard Hotel.
Www.boulevardhotel.co.uk
Www.boulevardhotel.co.uk
They used to do fireworks off the casino roof, before they put the searchlights on there.
I think they used to just close the car park for 20 minutes while they let them off.
Good old h&s of the past.
Oh...just had another old age flashback...all those dangerous fireworks you could get...flying spinning helicopters, Olympic torches you could hold, and flip flaps, repeat jumping chinese crackers that would blast through a crowd.
Those were the days.
I still have the scars.
I think they used to just close the car park for 20 minutes while they let them off.
Good old h&s of the past.
Oh...just had another old age flashback...all those dangerous fireworks you could get...flying spinning helicopters, Olympic torches you could hold, and flip flaps, repeat jumping chinese crackers that would blast through a crowd.
Those were the days.
I still have the scars.
Rob
TS Team
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Who needs vowels anyway?
Seems it’s not just the vowels that r missing if this is meant to be read as Boulevard.
Rick
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Not if you use the universally accepted shortform of Boulevard, I guess.
Danscott22
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I'm going to BPB on Friday 20th for the first time in what must be 10/11 years, the website states 6pm is the earliest closing time. Can someone clarify whether this just means all rides close at 6, or if some are open later? I assume someone might have the answer I'm looking for.
MakoMania
TS Member
All rides close at 6pmI'm going to BPB on Friday 20th for the first time in what must be 10/11 years, the website states 6pm is the earliest closing time. Can someone clarify whether this just means all rides close at 6, or if some are open later? I assume someone might have the answer I'm looking for.
shakey
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I doubt even BPB will have the answer you are looking for !I'm going to BPB on Friday 20th for the first time in what must be 10/11 years, the website states 6pm is the earliest closing time. Can someone clarify whether this just means all rides close at 6, or if some are open later? I assume someone might have the answer I'm looking for.
Judging by other days this season "Earliest ride close at 6pm" means rides will definitely not close any earlier than 4pm !! Although they are unlikely to close before 6pm and may stay open till 7pm if the park is busy.
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Danscott22
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Thanks guys good to know, hope it's not overly busy, looking forward to Icon, and there are quite a lot of rides I've never been on as I wasn't that into them on my last visit so hoping to come away with a good impression!
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