d.m.k

Thanks @ben199 and @Coaster for supporting the points I raised in my post. 
 
@Glitch, I feel if you re-read my post, you would understand my gripes are nothing to do with the attendance levels at all. In fact, it's great to see so many people out and about after what has been a disaster of a year. Of the 4 points I made, I believe 3 - with the exception of Point 1 on reliability - are simple operational issues which could be addressed. 
 
The point you made on the RAP is interesting though. On my recent visit, I had never seen so many guests with them!! Has this been a growing issue over a long time or quickly come about? Almost all rides with Fastrack had an equally long RAP queue. 

Having been a merlin pass holder for a number of years I have to say it's about time the management at Thorpe Park got their **** together!Visited 14/6/21 and the number of breakdowns of rides was a joke! STEALTH on and off all day same with SWARM and SAW with Samurai not rumning at all.I dont think I've ever been when there hasn't been at least 1 breakdown;usually Colossus which is a disgrace given the money people pay!

Thanks @ben199 and @Coaster for supporting the points I raised in my post. 
 
@Glitch, I feel if you re-read my post, you would understand my gripes are nothing to do with the attendance levels at all. In fact, it's great to see so many people out and about after what has been a disaster of a year. Of the 4 points I made, I believe 3 - with the exception of Point 1 on reliability - are simple operational issues which could be addressed. 
 
The point you made on the RAP is interesting though. On my recent visit, I had never seen so many guests with them!! Has this been a growing issue over a long time or quickly come about? Almost all rides with Fastrack had an equally long RAP queue. 

I think you've missed the point of the post, which highlights a major issue that UK parks simply cannot cope when they are busy.
 
Of course people expect the parks to be busy during half term, but operations need to be swift and the park should be running to maximum to reduce waiting times as much as possible, but that just doesn't happen.
 
It's very much a case of it being how the park is running, rather than how busy it is, that causes the most issues IMO.

Not once did D.M.K mention crowds or the park being busy as a source of disappointment. All the issues raised were operational and customer services ones completely in the parks control.

The 2021 season so far has been an absolute shambles and it's evident from the comments on social platforms. Seems both Chessington and the Towers are suffering with similar problems. 
 
We recently visited TP and I got our money back after a terrible day - although it was evident that Guest Services were suffering. 
 
This is solely based on opinion but I found the main issues were:
Multiple rides down all-day and at least one major attraction "delayed" at any one time. The amount of "technical difficulties" they have with rides at Merlin parks has become evident in recent years.  Pre-COVID attendance levels but with COVID protocols still in place. The protocol of wiping down the rides every 30mins - 1hr is ridiculous. The staff were half-heartedly spraying the rides, most the time missing seats while chatting away, using the time as an break. Witnessed this multiple times throughout the day.  Upselling of Fastrack was intense. Staff obviously tasked with hard-selling Fastrack. At the start of the day, staff were repeatedly mentioning they were expecting 90min+ queues.  General operations were really hit-and-miss. There just doesn't seem to be the desire from staff to get throughput up.  Really hoping things improve but we've decided to stay away from the parks for the remainder of the season. 

What a very silly post.
Yes, have you? There are many ways to run a business and turn a profit. Merlin is currently owned by three parent companies, two of which are private equity venture capitalists and the other is an investment company which mostly owns Lego. The problem with this sort of funding is the investors want returns and they want them now, they get this by screwing as much profit from the business as possible (which they pay to themselves and remove from the company) without losing cash to investment.
An alternative way is to make a huge investment in something amazing and appreciate it will take a decade to pay for itself. The investors don't intend to be involved in 10 years time so don't care about and are reluctant to pay for something with that mindset.
What do you expect people to say about it? People have made very valid points about alternative and equivalent options and the associated costs which would seem to be a sensible thing to do, rather than just ranting and having no real opinion of their own. Why do you think the price is reasonable? Do you even think it is reasonable? Will you pay it? You haven't actually bothered saying.
The reason being they want to make money, which is fine. The point is, if they can not provide the service at a reasonable price people will be willing to pay then they shouldn't be installing the things. If people will actually pay these prices then good on them, but the general thought here is people won't, because the alternatives are better. Surely as enthusiasts all people here want is the best for the parks, for them to be successful and profitable so they can continue and improve? To see them making an investment that appears to be so flawed at these prices is frustrating. I don't see that anyone has suggested they have decided upon these prices to piss us off?
Just wow.
This is the one that really chaffed my pickles. What now? People have provided well thought out and reasoned opinions on this, whereas you have ranted without any opinion or reasoning. Your initial post came directly after a decent post from a member who has returned after a few months not being here. Reading your response I could expect him not to bother being here again, that's the sort of thing that could stop this being a discussion forum.
As I don't know who you are, it wouldn't have mattered in the slightest if you posted under another name, it would still have been a very silly post.

It is a discussion forum, if people want to comment on the pricing then they are allowed to.

Having a look at the booking system, pricing up a few random dates across the year, I am actually disgusted at the price they think they can charge. I honestly hope, that with time, these prices decrease. In my opinion, however, this will not happen.
It may be on the outskirts of London but this place is a temporary hotel. I have experienced Snoozebox customer service before, be prepared for Holiday Inn style, but the staff are just younger and less inclined to help. There is no contest here, the Tower's hotels offer MUCH better value for money!
I think it's a massive shame that they have embarrassed themselves, equal to Storm Surge standards

Having a look at the booking system, pricing up a few random dates across the year, I am actually disgusted at the price they think they can charge. I honestly hope, that with time, these prices decrease. In my opinion, however, this will not happen.
It may be on the outskirts of London but this place is a temporary hotel. I have experienced Snoozebox customer service before, be prepared for Holiday Inn style, but the staff are just younger and less inclined to help. There is no contest here, the Tower's hotels offer MUCH better value for money!
I think it's a massive shame that they have embarrassed themselves, equal to Storm Surge standards

I totally agree with you. I understand that Thorpe do have a hard decision to make and I don't have a solution myself, but then I haven't been running a theme park for years on end. The situation has been brought about because of stupid behaviour by a vast minority, and in the interests of health and safety, Thorpe think this a good idea - but they are wrong.
Age discrimination IMO is just as bad as any other. If members of a certain religion had been the cause of accidents on the ride - we wouldn't be expecting signs outside stating 'No groups of Christians without a Muslim present' or visa versa. They need to understand that in today's society, discrimination of any kind is unacceptable.
From my own experience, I went to Thorpe on Easter Sunday. The restriction was in place and travellers in their large family groups, of course were allowed to ride. The result; boats full of people standing, attempting to splash other boats, rocking the boats, screaming obscenities at the top of their lungs etc. I saw the same groups leaving at closing time, not removed from the park after those actions - Thorpe need to sort it out.

The bass tone at the end of all promotional videos for The Swarm is amazing - sent a shiver down my spine the first time I heard it.Anyone else thinking (like Inferno) that the bass would work well as part of the despatch music? If they're thinking of having LCD screens in the station, I could just imagine the 'War Is Coming' video with the bass tone being the despatch sequence, here's hoping!

Managed to get it

Managed to get it

Managed to get it

Managed to get it

Managed to get it