Drayton Manor Park

[GooseOnTheLoose]

Capital Expenditure for new ride investment isn't accounted against profits in a single year. It'll be in the form of a loan, or a lease agreement, which means that the park can pay it off (and account for it) over multiple years, not having much (if any) impact on actual year on year pre-tax profit. In the P&L statement, any repayments for 2025 will fall as part of "administrative expenses". Drayton Manor Park and Zoo's capital expenditure, for their accounting year 2024, was £5.4 million.

Drayton Manor Park and Zoo state that:

our customers were still feeling the effect of the high cost of living. The weather continued to be another challenge to the business with summer 2024 being the coolest since 2015 and any heatwaves were short-lived. The summer was largely overcast, wet and cool.

They also cite high energy costs as having a detrimental impact on profits, though less unexpected than the previous year.

It's indicative that the park experienced a dip in visitor numbers and visitor additional spend.

Selling discounted Gold Passes a few weeks ago would not directly impact, or boost, Drayton Manor Park and Zoo's annual profits, considering that their accounting year closed on 30 September 2024.

Overall the company (excluding Looping Group) is actually in a very solid financial state. The auditors cited no material uncertainties which would cast doubt on Drayton Manor Park and Zoo to trade for 12 more months. (Which is standard fare for most Annual Reports).

 

[owenstreet7]

I would imagine Gold Rush opening late in the year was probably the problem. As great as new rides are they also create low visit days in the run up as guests will refrain from visiting. If I remember correctly Drayton Manor had to be aggressive on pricing early in the season to try and encourage visits before Gold Rush and the Wave opened probably hurting profits.

I'm going to agree on that one, the biggest problem of early season would've been the delay of opening of both Wave and Gold Rush.

If one or ideally both had opened in the season, more people would've come rather than delayed visiting until both rides are open.

I can't help think that if Gold Rush had been more like Juvelen than the final product, it may have attracted more visitors including thrillseekers and families. Gold Rush needed to be more thrilling and distinguishable from Accelerator and it seems they've gone with a slightly bigger launched and themed Accelerator.

With the family aspect, I'd say firstly it is older children who are going from Accelerator to Wave which Alton Towers caters slightly better for with Wickerman, Thirteen and Spinball however at the same time, you can ride Wave when you can ride those rides so it's swings and roundabouts really (Towers needs a first inversion coaster but that's a different matter). I'm hoping the one big thing on their radar as part of the next big area is a family thrill coaster (maybe 1.1 or 1.2m) that is right in the middle of Wave and Gold Rush.

 

[GooseOnTheLoose]

I'm going to agree on that one, the biggest problem of early season would've been the delay of opening of both Wave and Gold Rush.

If one or ideally both had opened in the season, more people would've come rather than delayed visiting until both rides are open.

This accounting period does not accurately reflect the entire season, with it finishing on September 30th. Gold Rush was open for a total of 66 days during the 2024 accounting period.

This period does include the Shockwave's Last Stand event, and the largest Halloween event which this iteration of Drayton Manor Park and Zoo had undertaken (including an overhaul of The Haunting back to its 1997 version).

The period in discussion is 1st October 2023 - 30th December 2024.

 

[owenstreet7]

This accounting period does not accurately reflect the entire season, with it finishing on September 30th. Gold Rush was open for a total of 66 days during the 2024 accounting period.

This period does include the Shockwave's Last Stand event, and the largest Halloween event which this iteration of Drayton Manor Park and Zoo had undertaken (including an overhaul of The Haunting back to its 1997 version).

The period in discussion is 1st October 2023 - 30th December 2024.

That makes 100% sense - with Gold Rush only open effectively 2 months during this period which it had downtime for multiple days in August. I don't remember how long it was for but it did seem to be a while.

The Shockwave event was very quiet from what I remember and everything was practically walk on that day even Shockwave. I was expecting it to be busier although it was during the Towers Fireworks so think that factored into it too. There was also uncertainty on whether Shockwave will be up because of extended downtime in the days upcoming to it with the train getting stuck on the lift.

I can imagine that the delays with Wave and Gold Rush is why Drayton did a come today and come back later deal. I can't 100% recall whether that was discounted or free but I think it's discounted.

 

[MrTowers]

I'm going to agree on that one, the biggest problem of early season would've been the delay of opening of both Wave and Gold Rush.

If one or ideally both had opened in the season, more people would've come rather than delayed visiting until both rides are open.

I can't help think that if Gold Rush had been more like Juvelen than the final product, it may have attracted more visitors including thrillseekers and families. Gold Rush needed to be more thrilling and distinguishable from Accelerator and it seems they've gone with a slightly bigger launched and themed Accelerator.

With the family aspect, I'd say firstly it is older children who are going from Accelerator to Wave which Alton Towers caters slightly better for with Wickerman, Thirteen and Spinball however at the same time, you can ride Wave when you can ride those rides so it's swings and roundabouts really (Towers needs a first inversion coaster but that's a different matter). I'm hoping the one big thing on their radar as part of the next big area is a family thrill coaster (maybe 1.1 or 1.2m) that is right in the middle of Wave and Gold Rush.

I feel like an indoor thrill coaster would be good for drayton possibly utilising some of the zoo space next to the toilet block and opposite the old excalibar ride i think it was called on the lake. This could form a new themed area if they put something on the lake. This could reduce the zoo space and help them concentrate on a smaller better looking zoo. I also like the idea that the rides and animals integrate together like they do at chessington rather than the zoo being completely separated.

Another area the park lacks is a "my first coaster" at 0.9m as all coasters start at 1m apart from the wave. I do think troublesome trucks is a great ride but there will be parents wanting to take younger children on a coaster judging by how popular the likes of octonaughts and the duplo coaster are at alton and legoland.

 

[Alphe86]

Drayton are currently weather-proofing the overflow carpark by Vikings (red) - there’s rumour that it’s to enable a future development at the back of Vikings - rerouting the road and using the current disabled parking that’s located there.

Heard it said in a few places now - only rumour but a definite development opportunity.
That long rumoured but never delivered GCI family woody added to Vikings?

 

[Matt N]

Drayton are currently weather-proofing the overflow carpark by Vikings (red) - there’s rumour that it’s to enable a future development at the back of Vikings - rerouting the road and using the current disabled parking that’s located there.

Heard it said in a few places now - only rumour but a definite development opportunity.
That long rumoured but never delivered GCI family woody added to Vikings?

A GCI woodie would definitely be plausible, in my view, given that both Isla Magica and Mer de Sable elsewhere in the Looping Group are currently in the process of building GCI woodies. I also think one would fit like a glove and be an excellently fun family thrill coaster for Drayton!

 

[MrTowers]

Drayton are currently weather-proofing the overflow carpark by Vikings (red) - there’s rumour that it’s to enable a future development at the back of Vikings - rerouting the road and using the current disabled parking that’s located there.

Heard it said in a few places now - only rumour but a definite development opportunity.
That long rumoured but never delivered GCI family woody added to Vikings?

I did always wonder if the road could be re-routed to extend vikings. Out of interest does this overflow car park get used often. Drayton seems to need a more permanent car park as none of them are great with the main car park patched together looking like they've concreted a few bits as and when they can afford to.

With the main entrance being nothing to shout about, could this potentially be used as a new main entrance and the car parks switched round in the future?

Whilst I would love a GCI family woody I'm guessing a lot of that would depend on how successful gold Rush has been or will be for the park. Without a big return they will be reluctant for any further large investments.

 

[Alphe86]

This carpark is pretty much only used in peak school season (coaches!) and the few fireworks they ran

 

[Squiggs]

That was the car park they were using when I was there last year on just a regular weekday, outside of school season.

Seemed to be using it for all parking that day. If I recall correctly, the gate by Thomas Land was closed, with the Viking gates being used as the main entrance.

 

[Themeparksandy1981]

Well for just a Thomas land event the main car park was packed again

I been told this season will be just a park improvement project and the rest of the budget going on the zoo and the secret 2026 project.
With the Zoo I been told the farm end will be a paid zoo experience


With the meerkats moving to this area


There’s quite a bit of work going on in this area



The meerkats former home is also getting something new


Remember last week I took a picture of the former Jungle cruise theming it looks a lot Worst from the other side of the lake

 

[Enter Valhalla]

That was the car park they were using when I was there last year on just a regular weekday, outside of school season.

Seemed to be using it for all parking that day. If I recall correctly, the gate by CBeebies was closed, with the Viking gates being used as the main entrance.

You mean Thomas Land right?

 

[AltonLover123]

That was the car park they were using when I was there last year on just a regular weekday, outside of school season.

Seemed to be using it for all parking that day. If I recall correctly, the gate by CBeebies was closed, with the Viking gates being used as the main entrance.

Yep. I visited in September (host told us there were only 350 booked in) We parked there and used the entrance/exit at the back of Viking’s

 

[Squiggs]

You mean Thomas Land right?

I do... mislabelling Children's' lands is a real peril of the job. That, and accidentally calling Wicker Man, Wodan at every opportunity.