Thorpe Park: General Discussion

[John]

Re: Thorpe Park

You can cover the window with a circular panel:

These rooms are the larger (luxury?) rooms. The standard rooms squeeze 3 bedrooms into each shipping container, whereas only 2 of the larger rooms fit in each. I'm not sure how much more expensive they are though.

 

[Sammy]

Re: Thorpe Park

Moments later, she banged her head on the ceiling and the entire 'hotel' came crashing down on itself

On a more serious note though, I have to say, the rooms don't look too bad at all, in terms of design that is! However, they are far far too small for the price that you pay for them, and the outside of the building is still VILE!

 

[josht]

Re: Thorpe Park

You can cover the window with a circular panel:

These rooms are the larger (luxury?) rooms. The standard rooms squeeze 3 bedrooms into each shipping container, whereas only 2 of the larger rooms fit in each. I'm not sure how much more expensive they are though.

They acutel look really nice inside considering they are SHIPPING CONTAINERS !!!!

 

[John]

Re: Thorpe Park

The room interiors look pretty good, which ultimately is far more important than how it looks from the outside. However even the larger rooms look pretty cramped - I'm still not convinced there's really enough space for 4 people's bags, and I still claim that if it's been raining you'll have absolutely nowhere to dry your wet things.

 

[Dave]

Re: Thorpe Park

Really have tried to see past the shipping container and make a judgement beyond the obvious but nope... sorry... these are DIRE.

At a festival then fine, but this has to have the award for worst theme-park hotel ever.

 

[Rob]

Re: Thorpe Park

Is it just me, or is there no ladder to get onto the top bunk?

 

[TheMan]

Re: Thorpe Park

Ok, where to start lol.

Firstly, the next picture along is actually her head sticking out of the roof.

Secondly - for some reason, this is "padded cell" theme... think of it along the lines of The Sanctuary for the boss.

Thirdly - Graffiti will be fun in these rooms, and they look as well made as a house of cards.

Fourthly - They are still an absolute abomination to Theme Parks.

Fithfhtyly - Eugh, I CBA. This list could go on as long as the SW7 thread.

Nothing against the idea as a ready built hotel for festivals/F1 etc - the idea of these things, is they are portable, quick to erect (ahem), and dismantle and move. NOT for a hotel at the "Nations Thrill Capital".

MERLIN - hang your heads in shame. You do not deserve to run a Theme Park if you believe this to be acceptable.

Show me one other park in the world, that has this absolute turd on site, at their supposed flagship thrill park?

No excuses, absolute abomination.

P45 for whoevers idea this was

 

[Dar]

Re: Thorpe Park

Still a big LOL, NOPE from me too.

TheMan, I think the padding is for sound insulation. Those containers are mighty echo-y!

I think these would be more understandable if they were a budget option for people that make a snap decision to stay at the end of their day and can't be bothered to drive home. If they were priced at maybe £50-£80 a night, walk up, then I would be more forgiving. But to be pre-planned night stay at a price to rival ATH is still laughable.

Oh, the '70s called, they want their formica back.

 

[DiogoJ42]

Re: Thorpe Park

The worst part is, that being made from steel boxes, we can't even burn them down :'(

 

[TheMan]

Re: Thorpe Park

Oh, the '70s called, they want their formica back.

Hahahahaha!!

I note you are continuing to dish out the class lines Dar ;D

Sound insulation though pmsl??! OH dear.

You know when you switch the lights off in that place, and there is say four of you, all you will hear is...

"Dude"
"What"
"Don't put your foot there man"
"F off, don't stick your arse in my face then"
"That isn't my arse"
"Ewww who dropped that?"
"No one, it's the stench of cheapness and <censored> ideas"
"Ow, that was my eye"
"er... soz, was thinking about that bird I met earlier"

Sorry, I can't translate it into Chavglish.

(Edited slightly as I forgot this wasn't in The Tavern - where quite frankly, talk of these "Hotels" should be!)

 

[Laura]

Re: Thorpe Park

I think these things look terrifying.

Cramped, full of the clientèle we have come to expect at Thorpe (can you imagine the vandalism, the smell, and the noise?) and overpriced. 'Within screaming distance' = clever way of saying noisy?

I honestly wouldn't feel safe here.

Thankfully my family live 40 mins from Thorpe so it's not a huge problem to crash there for the night, but even if that wasn't an option I would stay elsewhere. This really seems pandering to the sort of guest I'd want to avoid.

 

[RustyRider]

Re: Thorpe Park

There'll be no graffiti in the hotel TheMan...and if there is, the people responsible will be charge for the damages accordingly. It may look like a prison block but at the end of the day it's still a hotel. So there won't be any tally charts on the wall, any "soap dropping" in the shower or shanking happening any time soon.

EDIT:

I think these things look terrifying.

Cramped, full of the clientèle we have come to expect at Thorpe (can you imagine the vandalism, the smell, and the noise?) and overpriced. 'Within screaming distance' = clever way of saying noisy?

I honestly wouldn't feel safe here.

Thankfully my family live 40 mins from Thorpe so it's not a huge problem to crash there for the night, but even if that wasn't an option I would stay elsewhere. This really seems pandering to the sort of guest I'd want to avoid.

I'm looking to book a room here in September time...am I the sort of person you'd want to avoid? Eurgh I hate this attitude towards Thorpe parks 'clientele'! We all go there, does that make us chavs or less reputable people?

 

[Ryan]

Re: Thorpe Park

So I stayed at the Crashpad last night - summary verdict? Bloody brilliant idea and very well executed!


Firstly, Check-in is easy and friendly, and you are taken to your room personally. The room is small of course, but as long as there is enough room to move about I don't see the issue! There is lots of storage space under the beds and there are drawers and clothes hangers.


There's a locker, loads of plug sockets, very good air-con/heating, very nice free toiletries, free bottled water, loads of music channels on the TV - in terms of quality there is everything you'd need.


Sound doesn't travel at all, my group had two rooms next to each other and we tried our hardest to communicate through them - we couldn't hear a thing!


As far as I could see, all rooms are the same, and every room is one of three within one container. We were all comfortable, felt safe, warm and to be fair the room did everything we wanted it to.


However - as a lot of people have tried to point out, the main reason for these rooms is not to sit around staring at the walls, but to actually go on park and to the dome!


Access to the park and dome is obviously really simple. We had dinner and drinks at Bar 360 and as always it was quick and delicious, with huge portions. From 7pm onwards we had the club night in the dome, all of the walls had been curtained up and the lighting, smoke and sound system was all top notch. The music was perfect, and we had an incredible night.


After dancing all night a nice air-conned room with comfy beds was just the ticket.


The breakfast in the morning was basic (Continental) but again did the job.


The Crashpad is a very well executed accommodation option - I personally wouldn't mind if they were to stay with a little more dressing on the outside.

 

[Laura]

Re: Thorpe Park

That's a rather aggressive response...I regularly visit Thorpe Park too so it would be a bit hypocritical of me if I was tarnishing everyone with the same brush!

You have unpleasant patrons everywhere but I can't help but notice over the years that the worst offenders in Merlin's parks are at Thorpe. I think the way it has been marketed caters to rowdy teens and the literal shipping container theme does not lend itself to a relaxed hotel stay. Of course, it's been marketed that way because that's what it is.

I am not a rowdy teen, (nor am I a rowdy adult), and in addition I find factors such as privacy, space, noise insulation and security very important if I stay away from home. Therefore I don't find it an appealing prospect.

I have no doubt you could stay here without being the young, loud type of person you regularly encounter at Thorpe and have a wonderful stay, as the poster above me has done.

But personally, and big emphasis on the personal part here, I find the whole concept unpleasant.

If Thorpe was entirely frequented by yobs we wouldn't be on this forum having a proper conversation about it, and if it was 'that bad' I wouldn't still be going. But ten times out of ten, I will be blinded by someone's bling, be subject to foul language, have to listen to someone's mobile phone blaring out 'grime', and come home stinking of tobacco and/or cannabis.

I do none of those things and I seriously doubt many on this forum do either, and that's just it - wouldn't it be nice if we could all be so courteous? That's why I have a whinge about the people you find at Thorpe. I've (luckily) never had those kinds of experiences at Alton.

With all that said I am sorry if it appears I've made some nasty sweeping generalisation, especially as I only joined the forum today. I was under the impression Thorpe was 'known' for having a lot of 'chavs' who frequent and their marketing (giant wacky heads, people having sex in a bush on the map, etc) seemed to encourage these young rowdy groups of which I am not part of.

 

[RustyRider]

Re: Thorpe Park

Alton can be just as bad too...I went on "travellers day" a couple of years ago...what a hideous experience that was I can say!!

Sorry for coming across aggressive towards you... I'm normally quite patient on here but it was one post too many saying the same things about Thorpe day in day out! To take it out on you, a new member was wrong... Accept my apology

P.s welcome to the forums!! (We're a friendly bunch, honestly)

 

[Laura]

Re: Thorpe Park

To be honest it is better than being ignored and meant I had to sit down and actually describe my experience rather than jumping on the 'don't take valuables to Thorpe' bandwagon and assuming everyone knew what I was on about. At least my post was read and had a (unintended) reaction.

 

[andyramone]

Re: Thorpe Park

http://www.rollercoasterphilosophy.com/2010/thorpe-park/

The opening paragraph of this park review of Thorpe Park I think sums up my sentiment about it:

However I will testify from my own experiences, if anyone thinks that Thorpe Park’s population is ‘scary’ beyond being simply stupid-as-nails, they’ve obviously never been to the Six Flags parks in New Jersey, Los Angeles, Chicago or D.C. back when the old management’s idea of smart marketing was to give every local youth a season pass for $25. The chaviest thing I witnessed at Thorpe was on the prelift of Nemesis Inferno where some kid was waiting next to the netting to shower everyone with silly string. The rest of the park populace was mostly middle class types muttering ‘chavs’ under their breath.

The whole attitude towards 'Chavs' in general is horrible in this country. It's just another class divide in disguise. People love getting on their high horse in this country and looking down at lower classes. Chav is a horribly derogatory term thrown at anyone who doesn't fit into what middle class people expect young people to act like.

Really, if you go to somewhere like Thorpe Park expecting to be surrounded by 'Chavs' or 'Thugs' or 'Youths' then that's all you'll see. But really, if you just go and ignore it, and just enjoy the day without worrying about the other people visiting, it's no problem at all really.

Everyone is dying to jump all over this Crash Pad idea, but for their target market (and really, who can blame them building anything that appeals to their target market, no matter how much you don't like those people) it's ideal. They may be cramped and a little on the ugly side, but really, they appear to do the job at a relatively cheap price, and create a 'festival' atmosphere that is exactly what will appeal to 18-25 year olds. Were you really expecting them to build a family style 4* hotel?

 

[James]

Re: Thorpe Park

I understood Laura's point - and I agree with it too!

Not ALL guests at Thorpe are 'chavs', however the majority, or at least the evident majority are quite unpleasant. That's mainly due to the location though, it's in easy reach of young teens, many of which seem to cause (sometimes unintentional) unpleasant behaviour which can affect other guests' day/stay.

All theme parks in the UK get bunch of 'yobs' now and again, even Alton Towers gets it! But out of the Merlin chain at least, Thorpe has the most of teens that fall into these groups.

 

[HaydenCR]

Re: Thorpe Park

I've also seen a lot of this "Thorpe park are marketing to chavs" business going around. But each time I've been I have not had any problems with other guests. Everyone keeps to themselves, and behave in a mature independent manor. Dare I say it, but I have had more unpleasant experiences in Chessington or the Sonic Spinball area at Alton Towers, where there are immature, selfish 12 year olds trying to shove past you in the queue, and stroke their big "egos" . Thorpe Park is marketed to 14-25 year old teenagers in London, and I can't for the life of me call all the teenagers I know in London (including me) as chavs.

 

[Laura]

Re: Thorpe Park

I know your post isn't directly solely at me, Andy, but I have to defend myself here in that I am not actually criticising Thorpe Park. I am a big fan and will continue to visit many times a year, the only thing I really detest about them is the giant head characters!

Of course they will build to their target market and I was actually very impressed that they've gone with themes and IPs that will not 'suffer' too badly from queue-line boredom such as graffiti or damage. At Alton I find it much more distressing when I see such things.

I am in the minority in that I'm very reserved and not a 'going out' person. Going to a theme park is literally one of the most 'exciting' things I do. I find yobbish behaviour very alarming and that is a reflection of my upbringing, lifestyle, and mental appraisal of the situation.
I do wish people would be better behaved and take better care of the parks.
At the same time, they are still paying their way and their entrance/pass fees are going towards maintenance of the park - which has become a lot more visible in recent years (in my eyes).

So, in essence, all I'm saying is (albeit in a potentially offensive way) I'm not the target market - I don't find this appealing.

I have even said I would find somewhere else to stay if an overnight stay was required. Of course I don't expect them to build a family hotel.

But I don't think it is wrong to wish for people to behave more considerately on park and I don't think it is wrong to come to an online community and express this desire - and this definitely isn't limited just to Thorpe! I have plenty of inflammatory generalisations I can apply to every topic in this forum.