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Park Hours: Updates and Discussion

Couldn't agree more with the above. I went to Mardi Gras twice last year and both were brilliant days (aided by glorious weather I might add). Food Street was great last year with some really tasty and different food options, there was lots of entertainment and the atmosphere for the end of day parade was something we are not used to in UK theme parks. A real sense of event!

It is so disappointing that Bianca and her team have decided to get rid of the event rather than expending on it; especially when they had already invested in many props and costumes etc.

And events do encourage people to stay longer, as they might take an hour or so out of their day to experience the event. So you can therefore have longer hours.
 
Rob said:
Couldn't agree more with the above. I went to Mardi Gras twice last year and both were brilliant days (aided by glorious weather I might add). Food Street was great last year with some really tasty and different food options, there was lots of entertainment and the atmosphere for the end of day parade was something we are not used to in UK theme parks. A real sense of event!

It is so disappointing that Bianca and her team have decided to get rid of the event rather than expending on it; especially when they had already invested in many props and costumes etc.

And events do encourage people to stay longer, as they might take an hour or so out of their day to experience the event. So you can therefore have longer hours.
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100% agree. But have they binned it off totally, or just for this year because of CBeebies celebration? I'm hoping the latter. As you say it does seem bizarre to have axed it when it was clearly popular, growing year on year and got people into the park at the time of year when it is traditionally quiet. And of course it meant there was an event pre-summer meaning every event isn't just in the autumn.
 
Mardi Gras was always my favourite event out of any of them, in part because the May time is generally always a really nice time of the year to visit and the VIBES are always so positive for it. CBeebies looked like a great event this year and a lot of effort went in for what was originally a one week event (now returning) but it’s not really for everyone.
 
I can see next year having both Mardi Gras and CBeebies event pre summer, Oktoberfest, Scarefest and Fireworks post summer. Makes sense that they took out Mardi Gras to trial CBeebies, but now both are clearly successful both can stay.
 
Well I think we’re seeing today why they chose to reduce the hours. It’s admittedly much quieter than I was expecting
 
jon81uk said:
Spotted on TS Twitter

From: https://x.com/towersstreet/status/1812074382207943084?s=46


I’m guessing this current run of colder than expected summer weather is really affecting attendance hence July hours getting shorter
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It's colder than average for the time of year, but really this summer has not been anything like as awful as some previous years - when every weekend has been a washout.

I'd be looking at the high prices compounded by the poor reviews of ride availability and F&B as the main culprits for low bookings, personally.

Also the early weeks of the summer holidays tend to have lower attendance than later in the summer as a lot of families go abroad soon after the schools break up. There is also the small matter of Euro 2024 acting as a distraction for some potential visitors.
 
Attendance is down, let's cut the hours...
Why is attendance down? Maybe because the hours are already crap and you can't be trusted not to make them worse after I book.

And so this stupidity continues, and is why I don't commit to a visit from down south.
 
...and just perhaps, all those families with members with limited mobility are saying..."Stuff that, we suffered with no Skyride last year...not doing that again!"
And going to places with reasonable access instead.
 
pluk said:
Attendance is down, let's cut the hours...
Why is attendance down? Maybe because the hours are already crap and you can't be trusted not to make them worse after I book.

And so this stupidity continues, and is why I don't commit to a visit from down south.
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I think this is an aspect of the discussion that some who are more local don't understand. When you're planning a trip from far away, you need some sort of certainty. Variable hours based on predicted attendance is just good business sense, extensions when they're a little bit busier than expected or had some downtime, also fine. But last year, the closing time was different when we left at 6:15 to what it was when we pulled into the car park at 9:00.

Poor hours and uncertainty around them puts people off from going, and so the cycle continues.
 
They have the data that people leave/don't spend after a certain time. People particularly don't want to buy food at 3-5pm for the most part. The food price hikes aren't going to be helping either. Their only alternative would be to try for 8pm or later closes, but there simply isn't the accommodation on site to make it a likely success, nor the eating options.
 
NuttySquirrel said:
I'd be looking at the high prices compounded by the poor reviews of ride availability and F&B as the main culprits for low bookings, personally
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Also all the Kellogg’s 2for1 expired in June so maybe the absence of 2for1 makes the park feel more expensive? Even if with the on the gate price at £66 a 2for1 makes it £33 which is only £6 less than most of the days in late July.

I think food is poor and overpriced, but other than reviews of the hotel restaurants do you think the average visitor knows the Burger Kitchen prices are so high before they arrive?
 
Tom said:
They have the data that people leave/don't spend after a certain time. People particularly don't want to buy food at 3-5pm for the most part. The food price hikes aren't going to be helping either. Their only alternative would be to try for 8pm or later closes, but there simply isn't the accommodation on site to make it a likely success, nor the eating options.
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They had that data before they set the opening hours that they’ve now cut though.

I wonder whether one of the “exciting developments” they sold to a load of YouTubers last night was culling yet more of the opening hours…,
 
If you're a 'cazzy viz', there aren't many reasons to want to go to Towers this year anyway. Nemesis returning is great and all, but you've likely been on it before it closed. 3 attractions that were there last year, now gone, which a single building site in the middle of Forbidden Valley won't make up for. Signs detailing well intended refurbishment works are no substitutes for Skyride and Hex. Less events. Shorter park hours. No Spa. If you've had a bad experience with poor quality food and hotels in the past 2 years, you're likely to stay away. Someone you know might have been and told you all about the downtime and queues.

Whatever their long-term intentions for the place are, that's hardly an appealing set of circumstances to want to visit. Not as bad as last season now that Nemesis is back (although at the moment it isn't), but it's still looking like another dud of year. 9-5 summer hours? No thanks. I hope something can be salvaged at Oktoberfest and Scarefest.
 
venny said:
They had that data before they set the opening hours that they’ve now cut though.

I wonder whether one of the “exciting developments” they sold to a load of YouTubers last night was culling yet more of the opening hours…,
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Yeah, my point was more about why we do not have European-level hours. Shaving the odd hour here and there is nothing new, but it does represent a reminder of stagnated strategy for the park.
 
I'd have thought tomorrow will have been cut so staff can get home to watch the euro's final...i'd say that people will be leaving the park earlier for that same reason

Not good for me though as we're staying sunday night and won't be arriving till 430-5 as at bear gryll's during the day so was hoping for an hour or so getting repeat rides on nemesis :weary:
 
Steve74 said:
What was that event/press release? Not seen anything on YouTube today
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It was the first “creatorcon” event where the management invited selected content creators to come along have exclusive chats and raise some money for MMW… they weren’t allowed to film or photograph other than the obligatory selfie with Bianca.
 
ringo said:
It was the first “creatorcon” event where the management invited selected content creators to come along have exclusive chats and raise some money for MMW… they weren’t allowed to film or photograph other than the obligatory selfie with Bianca.
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Is that not the opposite of content creating?
 
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