Merlin Entertainments: General Discussion

[Mattie boy]

Surely that should mean fast tracks shouldn't be allowed full stop if a queue exceeds 90 minutes as well.

Hmm. Good point

 

[venny]

It’s a beautiful metaphor for the wider state of Merlin that within a few weeks of introducing a perk they’ve now backtracked.

But even in backtracking they’ve still managed to fudge it.

How is anyone supposed to know whether they can or cannot use their fastrack if it “may not be available”?

Is it entirely dependent upon whoever you ask that day?

And who do you ask?

Do you have to walk all the way to the attraction to ask whoever it is you might need to ask?

Will there even be someone to ask if they’ve removed the entrance hosts?

Do you take the risk of walking from Nemesis to Smiler if the queue is less than 90 minutes, but might jump up before you get there?

And how on earth does all of that uncertainty of whether you can utilise a perk that you paid for “give you the best possible experience”?

Laughable.

 

[Benjsh]

Just tell them all these changes are causing you stress and anxiety......that will really confuse them.

 

[Hid]

Do you guys see Merlin staying as is till the end of the year or do you think the company will split apart

 

[Squiggs]

Do you guys see Merlin staying as is till the end of the year or do you think the company will split apart

That's not really an either or situation. But of those options, Merlin will stay 'as is', though will possibly continue cutting itself to oblivion - I think there's certainly potential for further outsourcing.

 

[Martin]

Can't use the queue-skip pass if there's a queue now, another heater from the Merlin galaxy brain

 

[Bowser]

absolutely diabolical policy. I'm not a merlin passholder nor have I ever been but applying this limitation to your most loyal customer base whilst having so much reliance on their loyalty is insane - and opening the statement with "to help give you the best possible experience"... What are we doing man

At least they have clearly notified users by means of… an Instagram story

 

[GooseOnTheLoose]

absolutely diabolical policy. I'm not a merlin passholder nor have I ever been but applying this limitation to your most loyal customer base whilst having so much reliance on their loyalty is insane - and opening the statement with "to help give you the best possible experience"... What are we doing man

Most loyal is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. Paying for the most expensive package once, vs paying for the cheapest package year after year, doesn't make you the most loyal customer.

The perk is relatively new and was offered fairly last minute before the season started. There are very few people who will have purchased a pass solely for the reason of having a one shot free Fastrack ticket. The system clearly had some quirks which are being addressed, this makes it better for everyone... not just the ones who fork out £299 upfront.

 

[venny]

I agree most loyal is not analogous to being a pass holder of any sort.

However, I’m not sure anyone bought the pass solely for the Fastrack. It’s just a factor in your purchasing decision. Much like the promise of other perks to be added.

Getting rid of the perk would make it better for other people who didn’t have the perk. Getting rid of Fastrack would make it better for everyone who didn’t have Fastrack.

None of that is any comfort to the people who’ve had a perk rescinded.

None of that excuses the shoddy way this has been handled.

 

[Dave]

I agree most loyal is not analogous to being a pass holder of any sort.

However, I’m not sure anyone bought the pass solely for the Fastrack. It’s just a factor in your purchasing decision. Much like the promise of other perks to be added.

Getting rid of the perk would make it better for other people who didn’t have the perk. Getting rid of Fastrack would make it better for everyone who didn’t have Fastrack.

None of that is any comfort to the people who’ve had a perk rescinded.

None of that excuses the shoddy way this has been handled.

I think barely anyone bought the pass for the fast track which is why it’s baffling they added it when it causes operational problems and reduces income…

When I bought annual passes (I don’t anymore), it was because I wanted to visit a lot. So the free parking was key, the 20% discount was good. But why would I crave fast track when it I went so often?

 

[AT86]

This episode seems to show a lack of operational knowledge in the Merlin business which is baffling since they have been running theme parks for over 20 years.

Offering a non-time restricted fastrack perk to a non-defined number of guests in any given park on any given day had headache written all over it from day one. How no one flagged this as it went through the various internal steps from idea to reality is crazy.

I wonder if the recent restructure has led to a considerable loss of employees with experience and knowledge of the day to day running of parks.

 

[JAperson]

I wonder if the recent restructure has led to a considerable loss of employees with experience and knowledge of the day to day running of parks.

Or maybe it's hiring a new global head of FasTracks who doesn't have operational knowledge of each park.

 

[Hid]

This episode seems to show a lack of operational knowledge in the Merlin business which is baffling since they have been running theme parks for over 20 years

The Merlin today ia not the same Merlin, 20 years having multiple staff restructures and the fact has had multiple versions whether a public entity to being majority owned by Lego

 

[Islander]

This episode seems to show a lack of operational knowledge in the Merlin business which is baffling since they have been running theme parks for over 20 years.

…

I wonder if the recent restructure has led to a considerable loss of employees with experience and knowledge of the day to day running of parks.

I think you’ve answered your own question beautifully there

 

[Ash]

absolutely diabolical policy. I'm not a merlin passholder nor have I ever been but applying this limitation to your most loyal customer base whilst having so much reliance on their loyalty is insane - and opening the statement with "to help give you the best possible experience"... What are we doing man

Please use this free queue skip bonus, but only while the queues are the quietest…

Please visit our premium parks (second to Disney) for as many times as you want in a year for £99…

Get a free pass with a hotel stay

Please pay more for our food. But it’s worse…

Please pay to go on rides and visit attractions that were previously free.


…They are moronic.

They’ve devalued their own product so much, and do things which make so little sense to the customer, they fully deserve everything that’s coming their way.

 

[Ash]

This episode seems to show a lack of operational knowledge in the Merlin business which is baffling since they have been running theme parks for over 20 years.

Offering a non-time restricted fastrack perk to a non-defined number of guests in any given park on any given day had headache written all over it from day one. How no one flagged this as it went through the various internal steps from idea to reality is crazy.

I wonder if the recent restructure has led to a considerable loss of employees with experience and knowledge of the day to day running of parks.

Double post. Punish me.

Really? You’re surprised at this?

From the people who bought you

Unnecessary queues in the plaza.

Buses for monorails.

Getting families with wheelchairs walking into traffic, in the dark whilst walking past poorly installed signs mocking the distance they’re walking.

Plastic security tents.

Tiny number of attractions for visitors of a certain height.

Waving at people whilst they have a terrible experience less than a hundred feet away.

I’ve been saying it for a while.


They

Don’t

Know

What

Running

A

Successful

Theme

Park

Looks

Like