I think it's the right route to go down if it's part of a wider strategy to wean them off of fake discounts (like pretending you're getting a buy one get one free on a £68 ticket that nobody buys). Or all the other dodgy stuff that plagued the Varney era. There's something far more honest about choosing a date, and deciding whether it's worth it or not on face value.
They'll strive to extract a target value per head from guests one way or the other. Currently that involves the Safestyle UK type smokes and mirrors perception of value. Dirt cheap passes (the model of which is so flawed, they keep bolting on forever changing T&C's, exclusions, benefits, and pricing structures). Cereal boxes. "News" Paper codes. Big new centerpiece orientated rides projected onto the palace of Westminster and spray painted onto sheep, that gives you the impression that the whole resort is like that.
When in reality, you get there and you quickly realise that the park is not open long enough in relation to the queue lengths, so they shake you down for fast track. Or that they've replaced an included attraction for an upcharge one (that even pass holders have to pay extra for). Or that, because you didn't pay the premium parking charge, you now have to walk to and from your car along an extremely boring, long and hilly pathway because that monorail you remembered from years ago is no longer fit for purpose and lacks investment. The tacky primary coloured building façades that you swear didn't look that bad years ago. That walk down the hill in X Sector to find that 50% of the area's attraction line up has been removed. When you fancy a burger, and realise it's £14 and is worse than Pedigree Chum in a bread roll. Didn't there used to be a check-in desk with cool themed steps up to it for the kids where these screens are now? I swear there used to be a Spa around here somewhere?
I fully accept that to make any assertion that it's anything other than a good old fashioned cash grab at this early stage would be incredibly naive though. For all we know, the current state of affairs could be as good as it gets, only with price rises subliminally snuck in for good measure.
Value for money is extremely subjective. So is what one considers an enjoyable experience. Personally, I'd say around £40 for a good 12 rides and 8 hours on park would be worth it if I could get some edible quick service food for a tenner, less the tenner if I can't. As things currently stand on an off peak 10-4 day, no entertainment, no food, wham bang thank you mam running around whoring coasters and nothing else? Maybe £25? 10-17 Saturday with 70-100 min queues? £10 for a stroll around the gardens.
What would I consider good value? Well I don't think it's totally fair to compare Alton to the likes of Europa and Phantasialand because they're clearly in different leagues of quality, and I've never expected that of Towers. I'd expect more of a level like Alton Manor, Forbidden Valley 1997 - whenever the red waterfalls went level of quality throughout most of the park (not all, parks are never really finished). But 1998-2004 levels of quality (proportional to the time period of course, I'm not saying whack a 44 year old Vekoma Corkscrew with Bayern Curve back in or put a big blue tent over the Smiler) on a good 7-10 hour day depending on crowds? A good 5 or six additional attractions (maybe an indoor coaster, themed flats and family dark ride with a retheme of Walliams)? A Sky Ride? A decent monorail? I'd pay £60+ for it probably.
