Mattie boy
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Yeah its been updated now, at the time of my original post it didnt have essentials on the wording
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Merlin Entertainments: General Discussion
Bowser
TS Member
All passes except platinum are excluded on the 7,8 & 9th of November 2025
Annual Pass Restriction Dates | Merlin Annual Pass
Find out the restriction dates for your Annual Pass or Membership tier here.www.merlinannualpass.co.uk
Specific calendar for gold pass https://www.merlinannualpass.co.uk/media/pxknsn1z/gold-pass-restriction-dates-2025.pdf
Also (edit to add) now spotted the text for purchase of the gold pass states "Only excludes Alton Towers Ultimate Fireworks Spectacular dates". So its the opposite to what you thought, the only exclusion for gold is fireworks dates. So Platinum is just paying £60 for fireworks, which seems ludicrous unless you visit multiple fireworks dates, might as well get gold and pay £40 just for one day of fireworks.
You'd also benefit from the additional exclusion dates in 2026 if you bought a Platinum pass now instead of Gold, which whilst not announced typically include Easter and Bank holidays.
jon81uk
TS Member
Gold is being advertised as 361 days entry, so I take that to mean the only exclusion dates will be the fireworks.
GooseOnTheLoose
TS Member
The Annual Pass website explicitly states that the Gold pass has 361 days of access. The only three dates which are excluded are explicitly stated as Fireworks at Alton Towers.
Bowser
TS Member
Ah i see! That does seem very silly then, we never visit AT for Fireworks so will downgrade this year if that's definitely the case. Odd!
The 2026 calendars don't seem to be available yet so i'm wondering if it's an error (much like the 2026 RAP slot release). Otherwise the implication is that MAP users overwhelmingly visit AT multiple days for fireworks?
Bowser
TS Member
If I wanted to buy a pass now I’d like to know what I’m getting.
BarryZola
TS Member
Basically any kind of day when the kids are off school you're looking at having to usually book at least weeks and sometimes months ahead to get a RAP pass. It's only going to get worse as well with more and more people getting diagnosed with things that are on the list of qualifying afflictions. Up to you whether that's tolerable or not at the end of the day.
GooseOnTheLoose
TS Member
The website already explicitly states that it offers 361 days of access and that Fireworks dates at Alton Towers are the only blackout dates which are applicable, as I highlighted in my post above.
There is a detailed exclusions date calendar, with exclusion dates added for 2026, available here:
Annual Pass Restriction Dates | Merlin Annual Pass
Find out the restriction dates for your Annual Pass or Membership tier here.
www.merlinannualpass.co.uk
You will notice that the only dates which are excluded for Gold pass holders in 2026 are for Fireworks in November, as explained.
The Annual Pass website explicitly states that the Gold pass has 361 days of access. The only three dates which are excluded are explicitly stated as Fireworks at Alton Towers.
jon81uk
TS Member
The restriction dates are listed for the essential pass. The gold pass only has three dates it is excluded, the fireworks ones.
I expect there will be a lot of platinum users moving down to gold who don't go for fireworks as the only other difference is the Freestyle cup and the bring a friend vouchers.
BarryZola
TS Member
It looks like they're starting to try to find other little perks for Platinum though, like the entry access through the Galactica gate at Towers. I'd be surprised if they don't reveal some extra perks soon to keep people buying the highest tier pass.
Like imagine free access to Behind the Scenes Tours or Unlimited Fastrack at all parks
GooseOnTheLoose
TS Member
Benzin
TS Member
Everytime they've tried to add free Fastrack as a perk to MAP holders it has been an unmitigated disaster.
First time was 2009. Last hour of summer at Chessie you got free Fastrack. 5pm rolls around and without fail ended with a full queue and moaning MAP holders.
Sod that idea.
First time was 2009. Last hour of summer at Chessie you got free Fastrack. 5pm rolls around and without fail ended with a full queue and moaning MAP holders.
Sod that idea.
jon81uk
TS Member
Given the difference between gold and platinum passes is only £60, there is no way they would give away unlimited fasttrack which is normally £135 per visit. Similarly behind the scenes tours are about £50/60 on their own.
The old VIP annual pass which had unlimited fast track was about £1000 a year and still sold out, but it caused issues with those people being too entitled and just riding one ride non-stop all day via the fast track queue then expecting special treatment as they are a "VIP".