Dave said:
I don't think anyone has actually said they agree with the high price.
I get the feeling my points are being misconstrued as saying the price is appropriate because of the BOGOF's. I think it is over priced but when you compare the AT prices to other day visitor attractions it's not that different.
That's not to say that the price is right, its more saying that the main-stream UK visitor attraction prices across the country are way too high.
I think if you where to keep the BOGOF system in place (and i understand why they like it) a more suitable price would be around £35. This should include strong discounts for family tickets.
As for the hotels they are in every way-shape and form stupidly expensive for what you get, as is food and drink across the resort (with a few exceptions).
I think basing getting value for money in purely monetary terms whittled down to costs per hour and then comparing this with the cost per hour of other leisure activities (which may or may not be a like for like comparison), is maybe why your points maybe misconstrued somewhat, especially when comparing 1/2 entry in to Alton Towers to a full priced cinema ticket?
Getting value for money is much much more than simply cost per hour. This is one factor, but one of many others. Visiting a Theme Park for example other factors will include numbers of rides ridden, length of time queueing, over atmosphere, feeling of escapism amongst many others. Value for money at the cinema (whether paying full price or making use of a 1/2 price offer such as 2 for 1 Wednesdays), will include whether you found the film enjoyable, overall comfort, waiting time to purchase a ticket etc.
Also the headline price to enter Towers could make people think twice about planning a trip. That is the first price they see when looking around for deals. Whilst there are offers aplenty, how many people will be put off by that on the day price before even bothering to research for better deals? Is the lure of BOGOF vouchers to entice the masses more than enough to compensate for those who simply see the headline rate and decide against visiting? I would imagine so yes, otherwise they wouldn't do it the way they do now, but telling someone how much a full priced ticket is is never easy
.
Also, the comment about the latest price rise being less than inflation. Yes, maybe, but the fact that prices risen at the start of the season has been conveniently brushed under the carpet. And who is to say there will not be another rise before end of season?
These small increases here and there are pretty much stealth increases. Added a pound here, 60p there, maybe another 50p later on for good measure and these little rises more or less go unseen by the vast majority. This is similar to what oil companies do; Add a penny on to a litre of petrol every 5 days or so, by the end of the month prices are 5 or 6p higher than at the start and you've barely noticed because its been a penny at a time. Before we know it, a full price ticket will be £50. (I predict by start of 2015 season based on a £1 rise at start of next season plus a small increase mid season, or at the very earliest, near the end of next season if there is another price rise the season.