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Drayton Manor Park

GooseOnTheLoose said:
Interesting possible wiggle room in there:

I'm aware that we are already in the next financial year, to which this document refers, but theoretically it gives them until the end of March 2025 to "launch" it.
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I may be wrong but Dayton’s financial year runs 1st October until 30th September. The current financial year started on 1st October 2023 and ends 30th sept 2024.
 
Apparently leisure and hospitality is down around 11% this year in general (said some bloke on the radio the other day). Noticed you've been getting sent offers to visit and stay places lately? Drayton will probably not have a very good year. Maybe the new ride will bring a little bit more in but don't forget they've had to spend a lot of money on that. Screw them though. They reduced the price of the annual pass the month after I bought mine and wouldn't even refund me the difference. I hope they burn in hell, LOL.
 
Maelstrom said:
I may be wrong but Dayton’s financial year runs 1st October until 30th September. The current financial year started on 1st October 2023 and ends 30th sept 2024.
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You are most certainly right there!

And this folks is why you mustn't skim the document quickly and presume all the info.

Now watch me twist it. They don't refer to the launch as happening within THEIR financial year, just within THE financial year... Yeah my reasoning is looking shaky at best to me too. Still, worth a try!
 
Themeparksandy1981 said:
Drayton Manors account for the 2023 season is available to view

DRAYTON MANOR RESORT LIMITED filing history - Find and update company information - GOV.UK

DRAYTON MANOR RESORT LIMITED - Free company information from Companies House including registered office address, filing history, accounts, annual return, officers, charges, business activity
find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk
They still made a profit but much less than they made in 2022.
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Really interesting read that.

So - new hardware cost £4m. Not a bad deal on what they put in.

Quite interesting that costs remains broadly like for like. The drop in profit seems solely down to turnover - I expect that to change this year.

What’s quite clear is that the park can clearly afford to invest now…..so I’d expect to see a fair few new rides over the coming years.
 
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The big difference which is helping profitability now vs pre looping group is they don’t have the huge amounts interest and repayments on the large amount of debt they built up. It’s vicious circle as they borrowed money to grow the business, some of that investment didn’t pay off, the repayments and interest just eat away any profits and therefore don’t have money to invest further and then start to see guest numbers drop, cutbacks etc which again impacts guest experience and repeat visits.

Under the previous owners without the debt they had built up and repayments/interest on that debt it was a profitable business. Shows how some wrong decisions/investment (plus some factors outside of their control) can result in what happened.
 
BarryZola said:
Apparently leisure and hospitality is down around 11% this year in general (said some bloke on the radio the other day). Noticed you've been getting sent offers to visit and stay places lately? Drayton will probably not have a very good year. Maybe the new ride will bring a little bit more in but don't forget they've had to spend a lot of money on that. Screw them though. They reduced the price of the annual pass the month after I bought mine and wouldn't even refund me the difference. I hope they burn in hell, LOL.
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I heard that too, think it was mainly attributed to the bad weather which is understandable. It’s mid June and I’ve been out in my winter coat this week!
 
Relife said:
That's not great, I may have to email the park as I won't be impressed if we drive 2 hours for The Wave to be closed. I trust it's been down all week
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You will, unfortunately, get the standard "We can't confirm, or guarantee, which rides will be operational on which day" stock answer. I got the same when wanting to book for Shockwave's Last Stand last season.
 
GooseOnTheLoose said:
You will, unfortunately, get the standard "We can't confirm, or guarantee, which rides will be operational on which day" stock answer. I got the same when wanting to book for Shockwave's Last Stand last season.
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Has it been open at all this week? It seems pretty ridiculous given we are heading into peak season
 
Relife said:
Has it been open at all this week? It seems pretty ridiculous given we are heading into peak season
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I agree and unfortunately don't know. I felt the same at the end of last season given that I wanted to book specifically to lap Shockwave all day and, of course, the event was supposed to be its last hurrah. It's frustrating.
 
Relife said:
That's not great, I may have to email the park as I won't be impressed if we drive 2 hours for The Wave to be closed. I trust it's been down all week
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On my visit on Wednesday Wave was closed then. Fingers crossed it will be back open in time for your visit.
 
Themeparksandy1981 said:
The new coaster is looking good
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But when though, that’s the big question. Have the park made any official statement yet on any kind of window they are looking at to open this coaster? Seeing as we are halfway through June now you’d think that if they were intending on opening for the summer holidays (which start in about four weeks time) that they’d be revealing a name and expected date of opening very soon. Otherwise it’s a little concerning that they haven’t revealed these details yet.
 
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Shaggy_Dog_ said:
But when though, that’s the big question. Have the park made any official statement yet on any kind of window they are looking at to open this coaster? Seeing as we are halfway through June now you’d think that if they were intending on opening for the summer holidays (which start in about four weeks time) you’d think that they’d want to be revealing a name and expected date of opening if so. Otherwise that’s a little concerning.
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July 19ish opening, i'll stake my reputation on it!
 
Shaggy_Dog_ said:
But when though, that’s the big question. Have the park made any official statement yet on any kind of window they are looking at to open this coaster? Seeing as we are halfway through June now you’d think that if they were intending on opening for the summer holidays (which start in about four weeks time) you’d think that they’d want to be revealing a name and expected date of opening if so. Otherwise that’s a little concerning.
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from the pictures it was hard to show but they currently installing scenes inside the launch building. They currently laying cables which look like it’s for speakers and I’m sure they will have themed lighting installed. I think most of the work will be finished by the end of the month then testing can fully begin.
 
dazza4783 said:
Will be interesting to see how long Accelerator lasts at the park, given that the new coaster does pretty much what Accelerator does (forwards and backwards) plus a bit more.
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I’d agree with this. I’ve always thought it’s a bit of a meh ride.
I guess it’s good for the age range it’s aimed at, but certainly looks like it’ll be obsolete soon.
 
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