Benin

I never said it wasn't bad value, the AP has ALWAYS been good value, regardless of the price increases that have occurred...HOWEVER, what I have a problem is that in order to get the full amount of perks now I have to part with even more money to Merlin... That's just not on... Especially when they're bombarding normal pass holders with restrictions in order to make the more expensive one more attractive... A simple ruse that I just don't approve of because of how poorly those tickets sold last year...

But Mark also said... So I don't get your point about that... Yes it might be worth me getting the Premium Pass, but why should I just so I can get rid of restrictions? Merlin have handled this really badly by leaving it a day before coming out with something, as due to the nature of Facebook, the reputation was tarnished within minutes of the discovery...As I said, it didn't sell last year, Merlin are trying to make up the numbers but the way they have done so has disillusioned many of their AP holders both enthusiast and non-enthusiast alike... What with holidays abroad being relatively cheap now (especially to Europe), annoying your more loyal customers is not a great business plan...

This is the point...Make something that wasn't selling more marketable... Simple business plan...Best way to do it? No...

So basically..."Last year our Premium Pass thing wasn't selling well, so we're gonna make it seem a better option by putting down the price and taking away perks on the standard..."

But... You can't even drive? Damn right Mark... As I said earlier, having the restrictions on the London attractions isn't AS bad, it's not great, but a lot more understandable considering the nature of them... Same goes for the Blackpool attractions at October Half Term (and the various other restrictive dates)...What's annoying me is people saying "If you have a pass from this year why are you moaning?", that's just a stupid thing to say because of the principles... Why should we continue losing perks in place of restrictions? It's getting sillier and sillier and it's possible that as the Premium Pass was an absolute failure (If I recall correctly I saw less than 10 in one summer at the Eye) sales wise they're wanting people to buy it instead, but doing it this way is completely the wrong way about it... If the Premium Pass was 150 quid I think many would consider it value for money... But they won't lower the price of it that much... Can't see it at all...

In case anyone wants to know where people discovered the issue... Same can be said of Chessie's Grass Car Park... Where I've only had the misfortune of parking once... You thought Thorpe's was confusing...

So therefore you cannot comment, though Dan has already gone through why the car parking charge is stupid... It would've costed me over 30 quid just for this season if each car park was at a fiver... That's shocking considering I've already parted with a fair chunk of cash to the company (and have done for... god... nearly 10 years now)...Charging for parking can easily prevent extra guests who are doing a 'quick stop' at the park as well... Indeed, it is entirely likely that I, whilst travelling down from Stafford going around the M25 may be tempted by an hour or two at Thorpe or Chessie on a rather empty Friday... But would I want to do this if I was charged a fiver to leave? Unlikely as I'd prefer to make a day out of it (or get home and seek alternative transport)... Hardly anyone is commenting on Blackpool restrictions because they aren't are stupid as the car park ones and are essentially the same as current restrictions already existing... Currently all I use are food and merch discounts... Nothing else... This is because like many others I haven't the time or money required to go off to foreign parks... Especially when I have ones here where I can get in for free... So what do these international discounts do for me? Not that much...Passholder days... They got mixed reactions this year... But again, I might not be able (or wanting) to go to these...And the attractions are not available ALL the time... There are several pre-existing restrictions (London Summer anyone), which was poorly advertised and resulted in many unhappy customers... Same for Fright Nights... Yes, because I so want my Travis Parkins discount kept on there instead of free parking... I swear those non-Merlin offers are stupid as hell... I read through a leaflet of them at the Eye in the summer... They were so uninteresting and pointless... I don't know anyone who uses their AP for anything but Merlin related times...Why the days of unlimited entry at all attractions cannot come back I don't know...

If they did that, I would definitely not bother with it anymore...Not being able to do a birthday trip to Chessie? Sod off Merlin...

The week you can't do Blackpool is half term week... So it kinda follows patterns that are pre-existing... Lego... Is a silly idea, because of the nature of it being a theme park... It gets uber busy during summer, and only allowing AP holders in after 2 is incredibly random... It's like they're trying to do the whole London attraction 3pm thing they used to have (which worked better due to the nature of London and the fact the places were usually a lot deader after this time till closing), but not realising that it could easily make people not even bother...At least Chessie is easy for me to get to... Thorpe is however expensive to travel to via public transport and Alton is just bloody annoying to travel via public transport...About 30 quid it would've cost me this year with car related times, glad I make Chessie my most visited park...They will lose stuff over this unless they can sweeten the deal excessively...

Maintenance nightmare... Apparently...Expect a new fountain to be announced soon...

Dunno where exactly to put this, but this needs a topic due to how important this is to some on here (I.e. Marc )...LINK Outrage has followed on the MAP Facebook page, but they have retorted that free parking will last until you get your 2011 Pass (Which for me is October, SWISH!)...But regardless, silly Merlin is SILLY...

Bullet were FAB!I was just happy with Your Betrayal opening, but also confused as to the lack of new album title track and tour name of Fever... As well as the fan-girl bait of either Hearts Burst Into Fire (Which I wanted) or Forever and Always (Which I didn't want)...Oh well, I have a sore throat and neck, that must mean it was epic... Tears Don't Fall <3<3

Big ride is Space Invader 2 or Magic Mountain?They are getting a disko of some form I'm sure... And a few other new family rides as well as repainting the two woodies in that area... Blackpool people reckon it's a total retheme/removal of theming... And will just be the Big One... Or BO for short...

As per Mark, putting a smile as my voice...Top marks...

OH NOES! BUCCANEER HAS BEEN TAKEN DOWNS!!! IT MUST BE LEAVING AND IT'LL BE LIKE RODEO ALL OVER AGAIN!!!!!111It's sitting elsewhere in the park atm... Major maintenance times obviously...And Toytown got cancelled a while back... Hence why no-one's been continuing on that front...

Bullet for my Valentine tonight <3<3<3<3<3<3Gonna be awesome...

Try again, Tripsdrill has the original bathtime themed log flume attraction... Including animatronic half naked ladies... And personally I'm not bored with pirate themes... Towers were clever with it as an addition as it didn't require too much work (with the pre-existing buildings already being piratey), pirates regaining popularity due to the films, and it actually looking pretty decent and revamping a rather dull area by giving it a much more obvious identity...Pirate themes are also very simple for guests to understand, as they are very general knowledge... That's why lots of parks have them... Nice, simple and can be very effective if done well...Replacing Flume does provide an interesting choice for Towers, removal could involve a good old arguement with the council, whilst revamping would be the cheapest idea, but not provide anything truly exciting and new... Plus they will need to consider throughputs as Peter said, it's one of the highest in the park...A conundrum...

Flume needs... Something desperately... It's extremely hard to theme the entire layout with only the tunnels and queue providing any form of chance for theming to occur...I'm not sure if it should be replaced or not... Certainly about one of the few big layout rides at Towers that would be relatively simple (in comparison to others) to remove and hence replace...But as to the original question, removal of branding is currently the most we can hope for, unless they decide to throw some money at it since they lost Shrek...

So people can freeze whilst 5 rides are open?I think it's in the park's best interests not to attempt it unless they KNOW they can get as many rides as possible operating at opening throughout the day...

That would be... interesting... But whether or not RMC were planning it is arguable... It that same alternative universe Tussauds' additions to Chessie and Alton would have been of the same quality since they didn't have to think about Thorpe...

Blackpool are redoing the Big One... Losing the Pepsi sponsorship and redoing the entrance as well...Pictured above is the new look trains...Sea-side silliness for the win!

They're fun? Missed that email

I suggest those who took the glasses from the 4D show give a pound back to Merlin since that's how much they cost to make...

Did they answer your post on fb? I'm... Unsure about this tbh... I can't say that going to the hotel restaurant will be the first thing that comes to mind for people leaving the park... Looks decent enough as it is if a bit... Bland...Would love it to be a restaurant on park though... Especially given how significantly the on-park food has improved over this year...

Wait... When did that happen?