Legoland Windsor

[Dave]

Entertainment across the other parks also cut. I wouldn’t hold my breath at it returning at all

Thorpe and Chessington doesn’t have a strong brand identity with shows etc. I wouldn’t extrapolate those decisions into Lego just yet. I’m not saying it won’t happen as nothing Merlin does would surprise me but Lego parks have different management.

 

[Alphe86]

Was referring to Merlin as a whole - it’s a pretty much worldwide thing.
I hope I’m wrong.

 

[jon81uk]

Thorpe and Chessington doesn’t have a strong brand identity with shows etc. I wouldn’t extrapolate those decisions into Lego just yet. I’m not saying it won’t happen as nothing Merlin does would surprise me but Lego parks have different management.

Chessington does have a strong amount of shows with the Mane stage and have has many different stage shows over the last 5-10 years with many of them using IP characters.

 

[Dave]

Chessington does have a strong amount of shows with the Mane stage and have has many different stage shows over the last 5-10 years with many of them using IP characters.

There is a difference between having shows and having a strong brand identity with theme park shows.

 

[jon81uk]

There is a difference between having shows and having a strong brand identity with theme park shows.

I don't think Legoland has any stronger brand identity with shows that Chessington?

The stunt show is a strong part of the line-up at Legoland Windsor and repeat visitors know to expect it, but I'd expect some form of live entertainment at Chessington too. I don't immediantly think of "Legoland - home of the water stunt show" its "Legoland with miniland and the dragon coaster". So if it does get removed its a major part of the experience gone, but not something I would say someone who has never visited before would be aware of.

 

[TPick]

Regarding the pirate show and puppet show, check Alice Mills (who I believe plays Georgie in the pirate show) on TikTok - she isn't holding back.


From: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNeoPjgue/

 

[Bert2theSpark]

Regarding the pirate show and puppet show, check Alice Mills (who I believe plays Georgie in the pirate show) on TikTok - she isn't holding back.

I don’t use TikTok, can someone embed the video on here?

 

[TPick]

I don’t use TikTok, can someone embed the video on here?

Edited post to include video, think it worked.

 

[Bowser]

This does have the potential to escalate into quite a negative PR story for Merlin. Even if they are simply outsourcing the positions as i suspect, the way they're going about it is not going to endear them to anyone.

 

[Funcone]

It’s a story that will resonate with a lot of people. Even if people haven’t got experience with being laid off from a 6 year job via a generic email, I’m sure many people will have experienced this type of employer. Whether it’s going half way across the country for a job interview and never hearing back, or turning up for work and being told you’re not needed and you’re being sent home without any pay, and realising the manager decided the day before and didn’t ever bother to text you. You don’t have to be Karl Marx to feel it’s a poor way to treat people.

 

[Bert2theSpark]

This really is becoming Merlin’s Kingda Ka moment, isn’t it?

 

[Squiggs]

I think the TUPE laws would preclude these shows being outsourced. If the shows were continuing, the TUPE laws would require that the existing staff were transferred as part of the outsourcing (as happened with food and beverage)

The way it's being discussed and if they are laying off contracted staff, which does sound like is what is happening, then that means the service is no longer going to be offered.

 

[GooseOnTheLoose]

I think the TUPE laws would preclude these shows being outsourced. If the shows were continuing, the TUPE laws would require that the existing staff were transferred as part of the outsourcing (as happened with food and beverage)

The way it's being discussed and if they are laying off contracted staff, which does sound like is what is happening, then that means the service is no longer going to be offered.

Were the performers Merlin employees, or were they freelancers contracted to Merlin for the show, and free to undertake other work outside that contract? I would presume that the performers were contacted freelancers, which would exempt TUPE.

 

[AT86]

Given the amount of people that the pirate shows would soak up and how ingrained it is in the visitor psyche as an expected attraction since the 90’s - this decision is likely to come back to bite them on the arse on a few different fronts.

 

[Islander]

Were the performers Merlin employees, or were they freelancers contracted to Merlin for the show, and free to undertake other work outside that contract? I would presume that the performers were contacted freelancers, which would exempt TUPE.

In the case of Legoland, I believe they were contracted by Merlin rather than freelance.

 

[Skyscraper]

Given the amount of people that the pirate shows would soak up and how ingrained it is in the visitor psyche as an expected attraction since the 90’s - this decision is likely to come back to bite them on the arse on a few different fronts.

Yep I don't even want to think about the impact this will have on the queues

 

[GooseOnTheLoose]

In the case of Legoland, I believe they were contracted by Merlin rather than freelance.

Contracted and freelance are roughly equatable to the same thing, or do you mean employed?

I would be quite surprised if Alice Mills were an employee, because her video is almost certainly grounds for instant dismissal for misconduct, which would mean she'd lose her redundancy entitlements.

 

[Matt Creek]

Very disappointing news (assuming this is true) and truly an end of an era. Not just for the Pirate Stunt Show, but iconic Legoland shows overall. Which were a big part of the park’s offering since 1996. Nearly 30 years!

I strongly remember countless carnatoons of the stunts show over the years. Jack Stone, Johnny Thunder and various pirate ones. The puppet show closure too will also be a loss, especially for a park where entertainment feels highly Important.

Assuming they are things of the past, I guess this season’s offering will be just the cinema shows and the odd meet and greet here and there.

It’s disappointing to see your childhood park get chiselled away by corporate cuts, whether it’s F&B, theming attractions and even things like the fireworks. They mysteriously finished several years ago without any real notice.

 

[will6789]

Contracted and freelance are roughly equatable to the same thing, or do you mean employed?

I would be quite surprised if Alice Mills were an employee, because her video is almost certainly grounds for instant dismissal for misconduct, which would mean she'd lose her redundancy entitlements.

I believe most of Merlin's seasonal staff are on fixed-term employment contracts, so they are employed by Merlin (not independent contractors/freelancers) but only for the duration of the season.

Assuming that applies to Alice, she wouldn't be under their employment currently but this is probably the time of year that Merlin would normally have started signing new contracts to re-hire people for the new season. So in this case the email that former staff have received isn't terminating their contract, its just informing them that a new contract won't be forthcoming.

 

[KolonelKlink]

I would be quite surprised if Alice Mills were an employee, because her video is almost certainly grounds for instant dismissal for misconduct, which would mean she'd lose her redundancy entitlements.

And if she is indeed freelance, prospective future employers may be put off hiring someone who could be perceived as a loose cannon.

It’s sad and I understand her frustration but taking down Merlin on your social media account and moaning about their “shitty hotdogs” is not a smart career move.

As for the cuts, if Merlin’s going to keep taking the axe to things, what’s next? More staggered openings? More upcharges for things that are currently included in admission?