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Christmas/Winter 2025

GooseOnTheLoose said:
I hear that there are high level discussions between Merlin Magic Making and @Ash, about the rights for "A Very Merry Hexmas", which is the primary cause for the delay in rolling this seasonal theme out.
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Who had holly hollow on their bingo card for this year!

Sad to say, it seems as though the inconsistent Christmas offering has come back to bite them (or it’s a bit early) and the place looks very quiet from the bits I’ve seen.

A bizarre comparison but Churnet Valley Railways Polar Express are doing a sold out roaring trade, and are also not the easiest place to get too not far away so makes me wonder which bit of the sell Alton are missing.
 
What are the chances of splash landings waterpark releasing general sale tickets over xmas? I remember one year a couple of years ago they released some general sale tickets, although they haven't for the past few years. I know the waterpark is generally kept to exclusively for hotel guests at this time of year, but wondered if anyone had heard any rumors or anything?
 
What they’ve got, with the decorations, the show, and the dark rides seems pretty good, but there just isn’t anywhere near enough to do and enjoy to tempt anyone other than locals, or Towers super-fans.
 
Mick said:
What they’ve got, with the decorations, the show, and the dark rides seems pretty good, but there just isn’t anywhere near enough to do and enjoy to tempt anyone other than locals, or Towers super-fans.
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They need World of David Walliams open and Wickerman to more justify it perhaps
 
As has quite rightly been pointed out.

The event has gone backwards and become inconsistent in terms of its offering.

Towers street entertainment gone
Food stalls gone
Light walk gone
Christmas market gone
Longer opening hours gone

Yet down the road at Trentham Gardens there is a fantastic light walk, small selection of kiddie rides and lots of picture opportunities some food stalls and other things nearby (food, shops, garden centre etc)

All for a similar price and with less hassle for travel.

They’ve got caught between mish mash rock and hard place between an offering for day guests and hotel only and ended up with a farce. It’s too much for a hotel guest but nowhere near enough worthwhile for a day guest.

As I’ve said before, that location, the existing facilities, the towers should be roaring success at Christmas. See Warwick castle. But they somehow manage to trip over themselves.

They don’t know what they’re doing.
 
Mick said:
What they’ve got, with the decorations, the show, and the dark rides seems pretty good, but there just isn’t anywhere near enough to do and enjoy to tempt anyone other than locals, or Towers super-fans.
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There’s far better options for locals, North Staffordshire is very well served. Just not by Merlin

Trentham Gardens light show has stepped up massively this year
Drayton Manor, far more on offer
Churnet Valley Railway - Polar Express draws hundreds of thousands over Xmas
Winter Wonderland in Hanley, if that’s your thing.
National Arboretum Illuminated
Shugborough Light Trail
World of Wedgwood at Christmas
Middleport Pottery
 
...so we can agree that there is masses of local competition for festive events, but there are only two operators locally doing theme parks.
So simply stick to what you do best?
Merlin peak profit is now scarefest, without a doubt...why put in all that extra effort when the cash cow is fully milked a couple of months earlier?
No need for a big quick change for Christmas.
Run a seasonal theme park, because there is a great deal less competition for the theme park than for festive events.

And Polar Express...hundreds of thousands a year???
Do they have that capacity?
Source required.

And, of course, whipping required for the double post.
 
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rob666 said:
...so we can agree that there is masses of local competition for festive events, but there are only two operators locally doing theme parks.
So simply stick to what you do best?
Merlin peak profit is now scarefest, without a doubt...why put in all that extra effort when the cash cow is fully milked a couple of months earlier?
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Exactly.

If Trentam Gardens offer a fantastic light walk then why try and compete with it.
AT tried a few other ideas coming out of the pandemic but it didn't work for them, so stick to what you do well, theme park rides, shows and Santa.
 
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