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Major Operational Changes for 2018
- Thread starter Rob
- Start date
Totally agree which is why I can’t understand they’d come out with this 10am everything open guff.
Ahh but one train is to save the planet
will never forget them trotting that line out as an excuseI doubt that's true.
Merlin have been in an engineering shortage (of both disciplines) for a few years now. There is no way they would make engineering staff redundant - they can't recruit enough as it is!
If anything, the cuts will be to Rides management, HR, Finance, Marketing, PR, Uniform dept, etc. which are back of house.
Im sure I saw it reported here in the Thorpe thread, or Facebook MAP group, either way if true it was the second time Thorpe laid off a load of engineering staff in three years as they made a load of guys redundant around 2016.
Crawleyboy01
TS Member
Without doubt it's the worst run park Merlin manage and it' not the staff at Thorpes fault it' the penny pinching in HQ. Yes Alton has had a hard time of it. Yes there down major rides/attractions the last few years BUT at least when you go to Alton you kinda knew what was open and what wasn't and you could make a informed choice. Thorpe was and is a lottery its like someone high in Merlin told then to just run everything till it broke! And that's what has been happening. A massive lack of investment to maintennce of rides yet a massive waste of investments on new rides like dbgt. And this "all rides open from 10" is just a gimmick. There's no way they can make it happen. Thorpe reminds me of my dad' old escort. Yes it used to start. But getting you to where you want to go was a gamble....a day out in Thorpe is a gamble. Yes the rides are there but are they working
Matt.GC
TS Member
The best petition anyone can sign is the clicking of the 'confirm' button on the Paultons, DM, BPPB et al websites when booking tickets to visit and not doing a single bit of business with Merlin Entertainments.
That way your are decreasing attendance/spend at Merlin parks but increasing it of the other parks. That will send a clear message that the theme park market is outperforming their own estate and ruin their excuses to shareholders by proving a point.
Calling a corporation a "Nasty Pasty, meany weany" as if it's the school bully who's just taken your dinner money will do nothing other than give the minimum wage customer service assistant in Poole another copy and paste email to write.
It will be interesting to see how many posters who are willing to shout this from the rooftops now will be posting visit experiences from various Merlin parks later in the season....
That way your are decreasing attendance/spend at Merlin parks but increasing it of the other parks. That will send a clear message that the theme park market is outperforming their own estate and ruin their excuses to shareholders by proving a point.
Calling a corporation a "Nasty Pasty, meany weany" as if it's the school bully who's just taken your dinner money will do nothing other than give the minimum wage customer service assistant in Poole another copy and paste email to write.
It will be interesting to see how many posters who are willing to shout this from the rooftops now will be posting visit experiences from various Merlin parks later in the season....
Crawleyboy01
TS Member
My passes expire June. I will use them at my local attractions as normal but this year instead of 3 expensive trips to AT and 5 expensive renewals in June I'll be taking the kids to Peppa pig world and a stay at DLP.
themeparkfan
TS Member
My tip is hammer them wherever you can just don't spend anything while you visit. So it's a free day out as you have already bought them.
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That's what we'll be doing until June too. Hotdogs in flasks for food and cheap room at Travellodge instead of Burger Kitchen and ATH and as many afternoon trips to Thorpe as we can stand.
Crawleyboy01
TS Member
Meet you at Thorpe lol do the new restrictions include current standard passes? Like the late night openings and not being able to use the park in holidays etc
jmc
TS Member
Even with 2017’s staggered openings and lack of rides I was bored, majority of the morning was spent waiting for rides to open if you were at X-Sector/DF end. It’s astonishing several headline attractions will be open 4 HOURS some days. Who the hell wants to spend a third of their £55 “day” out waiting for rides to open?
The reality is Alton in its current state can not call itself a resort destination.
I have two free tickets to be used up. I will get my use out of them for Wickerman and not spend a penny on park. I think that is me done for a good while.
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The reality is Alton in its current state can not call itself a resort destination.
I have two free tickets to be used up. I will get my use out of them for Wickerman and not spend a penny on park. I think that is me done for a good while.
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Dar
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Taron
I mentioned this in the shoutbox, but I wonder how much the average punter could cost Merlin if they bought a season pass, went everyday it was valid, and didn't spend anything on park? Bonus points if there's a group doing it so they only pay one parking charge
Dave
TS Founding Member
Your count into the park will be seen as a plus and any lack of spend will be absorbed by the rest of the guests so it will have minimal impact.
I’m enough of a geek to go to try Wicker Man but if nothing changes that is me done with the place for the rest of the season.
I’m enough of a geek to go to try Wicker Man but if nothing changes that is me done with the place for the rest of the season.
Wonderbolt
TS Member
So yeah, a major area is closed till 12, god help the lines on Spinball, wicker, smiler and Rita in the morning. They probably hate the fact that nemisis was walk on in the morning the last few seasons.
The late nights are only in July and August aren't they (same for standard pass blackouts).
Well they have over 50 spellbinding rides and attractions across the resort so it’ll be fine I’m sure
Well they have over 50 spellbinding rides and attractions across the resort so it’ll be fine I’m sure
Yeah, I think I'll lose my street cred if I was seen in Cebeebies land
Going back to the hotels for a moment - i've just booked some stays in a different hotel (completely un-related to Alton) and they have a "rate calendar" where you can see the price, per night for any given day. I thought something like this could really help Alton , as :
1. It allows people on a budget to see the cheaper dates, and perhaps book them whereas they may have booked a local Travel Lodge instead, thus bring people into the hotels.
2. Can result in "spur of the moment" bookings, thus filling the hotels and the park on days which may be traditionally quiet if the price is cheap.
3. Lower the impression that the hotels are too expensive which is held not just by us, but also the General Public. Yes, the hotels are expensive, but the hotel I just booked is also expensive, 5 star, but if you look at the rate calendar, you can locate very good value for money dates where it is cheaper to stay over. This gives people the feeling that it is possible to afford a stay here, if you are able to adjust your dates.
4. Speeds up the process of looking to book a short break as it removes the need to keep changing the booking details all the time when changing your dates etc to find decent packages.
1. It allows people on a budget to see the cheaper dates, and perhaps book them whereas they may have booked a local Travel Lodge instead, thus bring people into the hotels.
2. Can result in "spur of the moment" bookings, thus filling the hotels and the park on days which may be traditionally quiet if the price is cheap.
3. Lower the impression that the hotels are too expensive which is held not just by us, but also the General Public. Yes, the hotels are expensive, but the hotel I just booked is also expensive, 5 star, but if you look at the rate calendar, you can locate very good value for money dates where it is cheaper to stay over. This gives people the feeling that it is possible to afford a stay here, if you are able to adjust your dates.
4. Speeds up the process of looking to book a short break as it removes the need to keep changing the booking details all the time when changing your dates etc to find decent packages.