Paultons Park: General Discussion

[jon81uk]

Correct me if I am wrong (probably am) but I always thought Merlin just wanted to get as many people in to the Park as possible (hence the 2 for 1's etc everywhere). Once the Park was packed, they then could make a killing on fast tracks etc. Human nature probably makes it an easy sell as:
1) people think they need it to do everything
2) they got a discount to get in so feel it is ok.

It definitely looks like they are trimming back on them and probably can as the demand for staycations is sky high.

That was the thinking before the pandemic. But then last year they didn’t sell fastrack and park numbers were capped. If the park is selling out there is no need to discount.
Weekend demand continues to be high this year, as you say many people are doing Staycations. This is also why the only annual pass available for Merlin is the weekday only pass, they don’t need to lower prices to get people in at weekends right now.

Also if Blackpool and Paulton can sell at full price there is no reason Alton Towers should be charging less.
And there is a value perception issue, if you are pricing the park at £52 just so the half price is the right price, then guests expect a product worth £52.

 

[Benzin]

Storm Chaser probably has a higher capacity than 90% of rides at Chessie these days.

 

[Matt N]

The park is a bit geographically imbalanced now. Peppa Pig is undoubtedly still the big draw for a high proportion of visitors, and having the big new area right next to that does concentrate a lot of guests to one area of the park. There's not so much to draw visitors over to the Cobra side, it can feel a bit dead over there.

Maybe something quite attention-grabbing on that end of the park would work well as the next major investment?

I’m not sure what, admittedly, but there’s certainly no shortage of space in that bit of the park; Cobra has huge swathes of green space directly next to it that almost scream “future expansion plot” to me, and I reckon they could possibly get away with removing that set of go-karts within that area (it was shut on my visit and looked pretty deserted).

 

[JAperson]

Maybe something quite attention-grabbing on that end of the park would work well as the next major investment?

I’m not sure what, admittedly, but there’s certainly no shortage of space in that bit of the park; Cobra has huge swathes of green space directly next to it that almost scream “future expansion plot” to me, and I reckon they could possibly get away with removing that set of go-karts within that area (it was shut on my visit and looked pretty deserted).

Even though I haven't been to Paultons yet I really am excitied to see what they do next. I'm not sure a removal of the go karts is likely thought. Surely they could just theme them up. Do they charge extra for the go-karts if they do there is no way they would just get rid of them?
Even without removing the go-karts there is still plenty of space to expand in that area. I think we'll see something major there, with retheme of the existing rides, in the next 5 years and it'll probably be even better themed than Tornado Springs.

 

[Matt N]

Even though I haven't been to Paultons yet I really am excitied to see what they do next. I'm not sure a removal of the go karts is likely thought. Surely they could just theme them up. Do they charge extra for the go-karts if they do there is no way they would just get rid of them?
Even without removing the go-karts there is still plenty of space to expand in that area. I think we'll see something major there, with retheme of the existing rides, in the next 5 years and it'll probably be even better themed than Tornado Springs.

If it’s anything at all to go by, they didn’t look to be making any money from those go-karts the day I visited… besides, Paultons doesn’t strike me as the type of park to preserve upcharge go-karts if there was the potential for something stronger to replace them.

That area is massive, though. Personally, I reckon it could fit another coaster and a more major non-coaster (dark or water ride) too, if Paultons’ budget could stretch that far.

If a coaster was pursued; from a personal perspective, I’d quite like to see them plump for something a touch more thrilling than anything in their current lineup if Cyclonator ultimately proves successful, as a way to appeal to a broader demographic and make sure there is truly something for everyone, but I don’t think they necessarily need to, as they’re doing a fine job of appealing to the family market.

I’m not suggesting they go and build a massive hyper coaster or anything, but I reckon Paultons could do a brilliant job of a moderately sized thrill coaster myself, and I’d love to see what they’d pull off!

 

[JAperson]

If it’s anything at all to go by, they didn’t look to be making any money from those go-karts the day I visited… besides, Paultons doesn’t strike me as the type of park to preserve upcharge go-karts if there was the potential for something stronger to replace them.

That area is massive, though. Personally, I reckon it could fit another coaster and a more major non-coaster (dark or water ride) too, if Paultons’ budget could stretch that far.

If a coaster was pursued; from a personal perspective, I’d quite like to see them plump for something a touch more thrilling than anything in their current lineup if Cyclonator ultimately proves successful, as a way to appeal to a broader demographic and make sure there is truly something for everyone, but I don’t think they necessarily need to, as they’re doing a fine job of appealing to the family market.

I’m not suggesting they go and build a massive hyper coaster or anything, but I reckon Paultons could do a brilliant job of a moderately sized thrill coaster myself, and I’d love to see what they’d pull off!

I'd personally really like to see a gravity group duelling Woodie. One side can be more thrilling while the other can be a bit less thrilling.

 

[Matt.GC]

So what we've concluded is, Paultons have an upfront and clear pricing strategy, post their opening hours way in advance (not great hours to be honest but no brand damaging 4pm's at least), undersell themselves and over deliver when you get there.

Merlin parks have a fake and complicated pricing strategy that fleeces you with extra charges, don't let you know their opening hours sometimes until the day you visit, oversell themselves and then under deliver when you get there?

Paultons online day tickets are more expensive than Thorpe, Chessington and Blackpool (all of which are inferior days out to Paultons for young families in my opinion). But no nonsense car parking charge and no awful fast track. Paultons also sells out every day at the moment so I wouldn't look into the queue lengths for their higher throughput attractions as a sign of them not doing well. It may partially be a sign that they haven't got the mix right with the Peppa heavy marketing, but they're clearly running at some sort of capacity whatever number that may be.

 

[Benjsh]

Paultons was utterly fabulous when we visited earlier this year for our first and only ever visit. Couldn't fault them on anything.

Actually had to pinch myself I was in a UK park at one moment when I had a conversation with a middle aged female employee there who wouldn't have been out of place working for Disney with her level of service.

The rest of the UK are not even in the same stratosphere as Paultons. Some just have deeper pockets sadly.

 

[Thameslink Rail]

Paultons do run 10:30-4:30s but only on very quiet days where there are no queues outside PPW. I managed to get on about 30 rides without any problems.

 

[jon81uk]

Paultons online day tickets are more expensive than Thorpe, Chessington and Blackpool

Paulton is cheaper at weekends as they aren’t doing peak / off-peak pricing.
Merlin parks are £39 and Blackpool is £38/40 on peak days, Paulton is £37.75 everyday.
Only weekdays are more than the £34 Merlin parks are for online bookings.

 

[Spark]

Defo the next major area that needs addressing is the log flume area, that would be ripe for a nice themed water ride

 

[Themeparksandy1981]

I think the biggest problem with Paultons is location now it’s got no completion nearby but unless you live on the south coast you not gonna travel roughly 5 hr round trip in a day so you got to book a hotel/park ticket package. In July/Aug unless you stayed at a hotel 40/50 miles away prices were roughly between £350 and £400 for 2 day park tickets, overnight stay with breakfast. I booked for next Tuesday and as some schools go back next week I managed to get a nights stay with breakfast and 2 day park tickets for £277 and the hotel 6 miles away for 2 adults, 9 year old and a 2 year old. I also booked into a room only deal for £51 within 5 miles of the park for the night before. So far spend £327 and on top of that got to buy petrol £50 roughly then got to have dinner on the Monday night £40-50 with drinks then Breakfast Tuesday morning, Eat in the park £40-£50 then buy lunch and drinks £20. Following breakfast included but will have dinner or lunch in the park before driving home £40-£50. So your looking to be spending between £500 to £600 for a family of 4.

 

[Spark]

We found that it works out about this price, the 2 days on park are really helpful though and its a nice area of the UK to be in too. Hopefully traffic isnt to bad pal

 

[Benjsh]

We stayed in a luxury static home about 20 mins away on a gorgeous site for the week and just went to Paultons for the day. Luckily my son's school holidays in May are always different to the standard week off so we got a real bargain. We got the Static home for £500 for the full week and it was 950 the week after.

 

[Matt.GC]

As the crow flies, I don't live very far away from Paultons. But the roads there aren't very good at all unless travelling down the M3 from the South East. Takes me over 2 hours down A and B roads, some of them of poor quality or congested across the medips, through Shelton Mallet and through Salisbury. I can get to Alton in around 2:40, Thorpe and Chessington just over 2 and LLW in around 1:45. All of them are farther away mileage wise.

It's a pain to get to from the north or west. It is however in an excellent catchment area for Southampton, Bournemouth and Portsmouth and is easily reachable from London and the Home Counties. As long as it continues to outclass Merlin's southeast parks with its new additions, that's a large population base to tap into if they can lure people away from the parks on their doorsteps. Also the beautiful New Forest with all its annual holiday makers is just down the road. Weymouth is also about 60 miles away.

Speaking of Merlin, with Poole only round the corner, I wonder how often they pop in to have a butchers?

 

[Enter Valhalla]

I’ve heard that the bosses of Paultons and Chessington regularly visit each other’s parks for a nosey. I guess they’re each other’s closest competitors.

Paultons is great and the level of service is a pleasant change from certain other U.K. parks. However I wouldn’t class Paultons as the utopia that some people claim it to be. It does still have some operational issues, like most parks do.

Don’t get me wrong. It’s a good park. But a lot of enthusiasts really over emphasise the park’s areas of quality.

 

[IanB]

We had another brilliant day at Paultons yesterday.

Park close was advertised at 5.30, but extend to 6pm for all rides, and the big rides extended to 6.30pm.

It was good to see Storm Chaser have a 20 minute queue for most the day, its a great ride, and packs a punch at the back.

1m and above price structure works, as the three big new coasters all have a 1m height limit, there is plenty they can do on top of that as well. I don't mind paying full price for Daisy when she does not have to spend all day waiting for Annabelle to go on a rides. Even with the 50% discount at Towers or Chessington, I dont feel I get value for money. The only thing I don't think is value for money at Paultons is the Photo Pass, but that is probably a Picsolve thing rather than Paultons?

Daisy did brilliantly going on Storm Chaser, Velociraptor and The Flight of the Pterosaur. One was scary, and two were great, but cant figure out which one was the scary one She got quite excited on Pterosaur when she spotted Boulder Dash, she really loves this ride, so cant wait to introduce her to Crazy Taxi at Europa Park next year.

For accommodation, we normally book the Premier Inn next to Paultons Park (Southampton West) and it works out roughly £100 for two nights in a family room with two adults and two children, but this time we stopped at a local camp site which was only £20ish a night. We also tend to tag something else on to the holiday, so normally go and visit Bournemouth.

Annabelle and Daisy both cant wait to go back for Halloween now, Daisy has already decided she wants to dress as a witch as that is Peppa's favourite Halloween costume.

 

[pluk]

but this time we stopped at a local camp site which was only £20ish a night.

Would you mind telling me the campsite? We're considering doing the same thing in a couple of weeks as a bit of an adventure tacked on to the end of a week elsewhere.

 

[IanB]

Would you mind telling me the campsite? We're considering doing the same thing in a couple of weeks as a bit of an adventure tacked on to the end of a week elsewhere.

This is the camp site we stopped at: https://www.longmeadowcampsite.com/ £21 off peak, £31 peak.

Decent toilets, and hot showers. Big pitches and plenty of space between everyone. Also they have a pizza van cooking fresh pizzas, which meant we did not have to worry about cooking food when we got back on Thursday night.

Why do Paulton's not keep the main restaurant open at the end of the day? We would of stayed for food before leaving for the day if it had been an option.

 

[pluk]

This is the camp site we stopped at: https://www.longmeadowcampsite.com/ £21 off peak, £31 peak.

Decent toilets, and hot showers. Big pitches and plenty of space between everyone. Also they have a pizza van cooking fresh pizzas, which meant we did not have to worry about cooking food when we got back on Thursday night.

Excellent, thanks for that.

Why do Paulton's not keep the main restaurant open at the end of the day? We would of stayed for food before leaving for the day if it had been an option.

Crazy, isn't it? Easy money you'd think. It seems the way all our parks are. I went to Chessington at the start of summer and as we were leaving a couple of minutes before closing they were just pulling the shutters down on the doughnut and drinks place at the exit. Mental!