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PortAventura: General Discussion

I still find myself baffled by 365 opening. Efteling do it - and I don't *really* get it. Disney I feel is a little different in Paris because, well, it's Disney - but otherwise, European parks... I see little point.

With UK parks, say, I would get opening from February Half Term through to the end of the Christmas holidays the following year. But January? Early February? Really? People tend to have a drop in disposable income around then. The weather is poorer. Yes - I know Spain it's still "alright" but you know...

And I know, for example EP, say that having time with the park closed and entirely without guests is the best way to be able to maintain, develop and do big work around the park.

Interesting to see how it plays out at PA.
 
Year-round opening is however, common practice for pretty much all parks in Asia, regardless of the climate of the countries which the parks are in.
 
Enter Valhalla said:
Year-round opening is however, common practice for pretty much all parks in Asia, regardless of the climate of the countries which the parks are in.
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Yes - but Asia is not Europe. And Europe is not Asia. So, I dunno. PA could surely make use of the time when the park is closed to do lots of widespread work around the park - rather than the situation which now must develop that, when visiting between the months of November and April - guests will get a slimmed down offering, be in full view of closed attractions and/or maintenance etc.

I just don't really get it (same goes for Efteling) - Toverland is a little different because they can operate their indoor halls in winter, with outdoor areas shut and it is a totally different market.
 
siralgenon said:
It was announced on PortAventura's official fan pages late last year. It appears that the park will still be closed on odd weekdays throughout November, January and February but it will still be open every week and not close after January as there will be a new Winter event running until February and then Easter will begin. From what others have said the calendar will be updated again closer to the Parks opening.
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Thanks for clarifying this! Did you manage to find that August hotels and tickets package which is more expensive at PA than DLP that you mentioned in both the posts below?

siralgenon said:
As I've just said, it's not any cheaper, when I looked for August, it's cheaper to stay in the equivalent hotel at Disneyland Paris than it is to stay at PortAventura.

It doesn't bother me if people don't like PortAventura but if people are going to argue a case at least check it's accurate before ranting about it?
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siralgenon said:
Whenever I've gone to Disneyland I've never had to add tickets on? They've always been included.

**EDIT**

I've just looked on Disneyland's website, it says "Every package includes Park Tickets and Hotel. Transport options are available."

So the price is like for like.
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I highly doubt that PA will go through with year round opening even if they are currently planning to.

Anyone who’s walked along Salou seafront in the winter will know what a ghost town it is.
 
Sam said:
Not childish at all - if there's a two night deal for two adults at DLP in August (including park entry!) for under £294 I'd love to book it. Can you post a link Ryan?
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1) I never said it was for two nights under £294 I said PortAventura was more expensive than Disneyland.
2) And ofcourse, the websites are disneylandparis.com and portaventuraworld.com

:)
 
I've looked on 5 separate weekends in 2020 and at no point is PA even close to DLPs rates.

DLP is really pricey by comparison.

PA is good value for families. Certainly not overpricing itself as I'm inferring from you, Siralgenon?

Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk
 
Enter Valhalla said:
I highly doubt that PA will go through with year round opening even if they are currently planning to.

Anyone who’s walked along Salou seafront in the winter will know what a ghost town it is.
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The Spanish/Catalans will keep it profitable over the winter months I think.
 
Adam H said:
The Spanish/Catalans will keep it profitable over the winter months I think.
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I hope so (if it actually does happen, I’ve yet to see any evidence at all of PA starting year round openings). It would be great if it did happen. As I’ve mentioned multiple times before, parks in Asia open year round as standard and they manage to make it work. I’ve always wondered how it works over there but not in Europe.
 
It *can* work anywhere in theory. But...

Some parks here don't do it because by opening year round it affects the guest experience too much with rides/areas being closed *and* parks can't just get on with whatever work is required because they have to be on the look out for guests. In addition, weather in winter is far more unpredictable - I know Alton Towers simply won't take the risk with February now. Look at DMP last week! The entire event a write off. Think of the losses!

For me, closing for 2 months a year looks like common sense to ensure tip-top operation for the rest of the year.
 
Enter Valhalla said:
Well perhaps if you’d actually mentioned PA in the original post rather than bashing other park operators, your post might have actually made a bit more sense. This is a PA thread and you didn’t mention PA once. Just saying. :p:)
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This is the PA article. I thought it was pretty self explanatory.

Anyway point still stands. i quite like the place but realise others don't. Hopefully my 4th visit there this year will be as good as my previous 3.
 
Shows - Spring 2020 27/03-19/06
PortAventura fansites have revealed some of the shows and entertainment opening with the Resort this month...

PortAventura Park
Mediterrania
  • NEW 25th Anniversary Parade
  • NEW VERSION Bienvenidos a PortAventura l Welcome to PortAventura
  • NEW Easter Celebration
Polynesia
  • Aves del Paraiso l Birds of Paradise
  • Paraeos en Bora Bora l Paradise in Bora Bora
  • [REC] Experience (Opening for the full season)
  • NEW VERSION Aloha Tahiti
SesamoAventura
  • Let's Dance
  • Abby Star Studio
  • NEW Easter Celebration
China
  • NEW Around The World
  • NEW Shrek y la Aldea Encantada l Shrek and the Enchanted Village
Mexico
  • Las Aventuras de Tadeo Jones l The Adventures of Tadeo Jones
  • Rituales Mexicanos l Mexican Rituales
Far West
  • NEW Magic Can Can
  • NEW VERSION Bang Bang West
  • West Show
  • La Casa de Woody l Woody's House
Ferrari Land Park
  • NEW RED: BMX Stunt Show
  • NEW Pin Up en Ferrari Land
  • Acrobatic Show
  • Rondo Veneziano
  • Folklore Italiano
  • Ancient Rome
New entertainment to be added as the season progresses - Schedule updates to Summer Season on 19/06.
 
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Radek Jones I’m guessing is a cheap rip-off of Indiana?

Also, Shrek in China?

Sadly entertainment at PA (something they used to excel in) does seem to have gone downhill in places, particularly when it comes to disregard for surrounding areas. Dinosaurs in Polynesia and bright silver robots in Mexico for example.
 
Enter Valhalla said:
Radek Jones I’m guessing is a cheap rip-off of Indiana?

Also, Shrek in China?

Sadly entertainment at PA (something they used to excel in) does seem to have gone downhill in places, particularly when it comes to disregard for surrounding areas. Dinosaurs in Polynesia and bright silver robots in Mexico for example.
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Tadeo Jones and Mommia were new PortAventura characters who debuted a few years ago. They have two films (which are very funny) which came out in the cinema at the same time, you can meet Tadeo and Mommia around the Park (mainly in Mexico) and they have two shows and their own store.

Shrek used to be at PortAventura when it used to be owned by Universal. Shrek, Fiona and Donkey had meet and greets over Christmas and then for the 2020 season there is the new 'Shrek and the Enchanted Village' musical in Temple Magic Jing-Chou, previously home to Bubblebou.

I think the quality of entertainment at PA is still to a very high standard although I have to agree I wish they'd keep it more thematically correct.

A new musical 'Around the World' has replaced the general music themed shows in Gran Teatre Imperial this year though so hopefully we're starting to claw back a bit. I would like to see a bit more of a variety in shows, preferably to the line-up back when the park opened, a shake up of existing shows. Although the majority have a 'new version' each year I'd like to see a completely new show in most theatres.
 
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