If they didn't have parking charges no one would bother buying a Premium Merlin Pass. Otherwise, everyone would just go Standard. Not sure if that adds anything at all to the debate, but just an observation.
I think what annoys me the most is that it was never intended/marketed to subsidise park entry.
It was pitched and sold to the public as a way of helping the local community and thempark users access the park on a new relief road.
Merlin and Alton have basically ****ed on the local community and their neighbours. (Although Alton would not **** on you as that would be an upsell).
The park has dire public transport options. The monorail is also very poor these days and lacks any sort of proper investment. So next time Merlin or alton want the community's support I hope they say no.
Please stop letting them off the hook with "thorpe does this, blackpool does this" etc. They said it was for a relief and that was a lie. TLC - lies (toadstool etc), Parking - lies, world firsts - lies, 50 rides and attractions - lies - Alton Towers where the lies never end!
Im sorry to be so negative but when is our theme park industry going to collapse? I hope soon. It really needs a reset.
I am sure there are great people within the theme park industry. But alton is rotten to the core.
I'm sorry but I think that last sentence is totally uncalled for and to be honest an insult to the staff of Towers. I know a few members of staff there (not management) and I can assure you they are not rotten to the core and they love the place and the job they do. Yes, ok some Towers management and/or Merlin management may - in your opinion be rotten to the core as you put it - but don't paint everyone with the same brush. There are some superb members of staff at Towers, including the people I know, who would go out of their way to help visitors and make sure they have a great day.I am sure there are great people within the theme park industry. But alton is rotten to the core.
I'm sorry but I think that last sentence is totally uncalled for and to be honest an insult to the staff of Towers. I know a few members of staff there (not management) and I can assure you they are not rotten to the core and they love the place and the job they do. Yes, ok some Towers management and/or Merlin management may - in your opinion be rotten to the core as you put it - but don't paint everyone with the same brush. There are some superb members of staff at Towers, including the people I know, who would go out of their way to help visitors and make sure they have a great day.
Call me a fanboy if you like, but I love Towers and yes of course the place has it's faults as does every theme park on the planet but I don't think the place deserves the constant bashing it seems to get on this and other forums especially when sometimes it is uncalled for and unnecessary.
Perhaps if the parking fee was used to subside regular bus services then it wouldn't be as controversial.
I'd suggest they improve the failing/ugly/uncomfortable transport links between the car park and park entrance too.Perhaps if the parking fee was used to subside regular bus services then it wouldn't be as controversial.
Totaly agree. It would have a better environmental impact, possibly encourage more visitors and help with the heavy traffic. I have no problem with them taking a % of the parking. But i would want a sizable chunk invested in the community that supports the towers.
Perhaps if the parking fee was used to subside regular bus services then it wouldn't be as controversial.
We need to get people out their cars for the sake of traffic and the environment. Parking charges plus compelling public transport options should help achieve this.Why should car drivers partially subsidize people on public transport though? If my parking fee goes towards running a bus service that drops people off at the plaza, I at least want a free tuk-tuk ride from the car park to the plaza. Monorail is often a waste of time. For arguments sake.
This.Currently Alton Towers doesn't provide good value for its parking charge regardless of where that money actually goes.
Ive been going to the park for decades and its never been this bad. Its not worthy of the title 'Theme Park'. Yes like i said there are great people about but its deep within the park where its so rotten. And yes i understand building a relief road is not easy. But if it failed thr money should have gone to the community to provide other solutions.
Yikes you suffer from a serious case of hyperbole.
1) A lot of the parks senior team are very aware of the issues they have. I know for certain there is very little enthusiasm for Dungeons or the Alton Towers Pig Farm sleeping experience. Both where pushed by Merlin as is the budget. Merlin also instigated the redundancies that culled a lot of management who knew what they where doing from an operational perspective.
2) You can get rid of parking charges and all they will do is absorb the lost revenue into other streams. Pretty much every park in the world charges parking, it’s become something guests expect so why would they take that income and force up prices in other areas?
3) I agree Towers is about as bad as it’s ever been (and I have been visiting since the late 80’s) but you need to visit more parks if you think it’s not worthy of the “theme park” title. There is some absolute dross out there.
4) Relief Road will never happen because it would have to go over JCB land, the Bamfords won’t sell and the Tory local council is not going to place compulsory purchase orders on a major Tory donor.