planenut Posted October 20, 2017 Report Share Posted October 20, 2017 Any extra payment is annoying but if one only pops into TP for a few hours, which I know quite a few people do, they have to now pay the extra for FN days. TP/Merlin have increased the "event" days and reduced the open days in between this year and especially in the last month. This is really annoying as if one only wants to ride, it costs £15 a day extra. I doubt I am the only one who is annoyed by this. I do know one person who went there every day, but never rode anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GetEchoes Posted October 20, 2017 Report Share Posted October 20, 2017 I’m assuming you mean with a standard pass? Premium has fright night included and I believe the only extra charges at Thorpe are for the ministry of sound nights. I can understand event charging - fright nights cost more due to the number of actors and they are a business which needs to be sustainable. That is why premium passes cost more - as you get more included. If you don’t want to do fright nights then the standard pass costs you less. If you want to go all the time then the premium covers you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuntman707 Posted November 5, 2017 Report Share Posted November 5, 2017 That’s why the standard pass is cheaper than the premium. If you want to visit the London attractions over the summer and visit Fright Nights without the extra costs, you should get a premium pass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshC. Posted November 5, 2017 Report Share Posted November 5, 2017 It does leave Thorpe Park Annual Passholders stuck though - there is no Standard / Premium option (anymore? There might have been a couple of years back, but definitely isn't now). The TPAP has the same exclusions as a Standard Merlin AP. It's a bit poor really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coaster Posted November 5, 2017 Report Share Posted November 5, 2017 I remember when an annual pass meant an "annual" pass, there was no standard or premium, simply that an annual pass got you into the parks... annually! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark9 Posted November 5, 2017 Report Share Posted November 5, 2017 28 minutes ago, Coaster said: I remember when an annual pass meant an "annual" pass, there was no standard or premium, simply that an annual pass got you into the parks... annually! 2003 is nearly 15 years ago now, thats the last time the annual pass was a proper annual pass without tiers or visit limits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coaster Posted November 5, 2017 Report Share Posted November 5, 2017 3 minutes ago, Mark9 said: 2003 is nearly 15 years ago now, thats the last time the annual pass was a proper annual pass without tiers or visit limits. I could visit Fright Nights in 2008 without paying £5, and the standard/premium thing was brought in around 2010/11 if I recall correctly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshC. Posted November 5, 2017 Report Share Posted November 5, 2017 Though not to excuse Thorpe / Merlin, plenty of theme parks across the world that offer Annual Passes have exclusion dates / charge extra for special events, and have a tiered system. It's fast becoming common in the industry. These things are more noticeable within Merlin though, because: 1) There's a lot AP holders out there, creating a need for upcharging in some cases. 2) They have more explicit special events days (firework shows are a big deal for example, whereas other parks have fireworks more as standard). 3) The low cost of a Standard MAP. They ARE cheap, when you take into the fact you can access 30 something attractions for free, you get excellent value for money if you use it correctly. The upcharges help make the money to keep the price low. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuntman707 Posted November 5, 2017 Report Share Posted November 5, 2017 In regards to the Thorpe Park Annual Pass, they are really cheap, practically the price of a day ticket when they’re on sale. So IMO, there is no dilemma. If you want all access all the time, pay more for a Merlin Premium Pass. They always have a new year and summer sale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt 236 Posted November 6, 2017 Report Share Posted November 6, 2017 People also forget that companies like Disney and Universal also have different pass tier levels with blackout dates and events not included or requiring a small fee. The American parks may have as many as five pass tiers. The other thing about upcharges is it limits the amount of people visiting too as otherwise Thorpe would reach capacity every night, which is somewhere around 17K (based on a full lineup). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Hutson Posted November 6, 2017 Report Share Posted November 6, 2017 Merlin offer a way better deal than the Disney annual passes. We're very lucky to get the 20% discount on everything (alcohol, food, gifts) and everyone in the party can gain from it if only one person in the group has the pass. Over at Disney only the pass holder is allowed to make use of the 10% (or sometimes 5%) discount. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benin Posted November 7, 2017 Report Share Posted November 7, 2017 Does a MAP give you a free mocktail though? CHECK... MATE... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
planenut Posted November 7, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2017 Having considered the replies I should add now, that yes, I do have the TP pass , which allows access to TP and no other location or event, I understand that. There are conditions which basically, as with all passes, means that the issuing company can move the goal posts when they like, TP have done that as I stated at the start of this. Obviously there is no set date of limited access when one purchases the pass, and for those who state the obvious, yes I could have got another type of pass. I paid a low sum for what is described as an Annual Pass but once purchesed became a limited pass and an extra day was not the £15 as I stated but £20. In it's original form, the TP pass suited me, I don't purchase food or drink when I'm there, it's very different when one is not with other people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenVig Posted November 8, 2017 Report Share Posted November 8, 2017 On 07/11/2017 at 12:07 PM, Benin said: Does a MAP give you a free mocktail though? CHECK... MATE... Whos drinking a mocktail full stop, thats just laughable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benin Posted November 8, 2017 Report Share Posted November 8, 2017 I know, shocking to be able to visit a park you don't have to be drunk to enjoy... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenVig Posted November 9, 2017 Report Share Posted November 9, 2017 17 hours ago, Benin said: I know, shocking to be able to visit a park you don't have to be drunk to enjoy... Dont have to be drunk, but either drink a cocktail or dont. F*cking mocktail lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted November 9, 2017 Report Share Posted November 9, 2017 3 minutes ago, StevenVig said: Dont have to be drunk, but either drink a cocktail or dont. F*cking mocktail lol StevenVig, Matt 236, Whatever and 2 others 1 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benin Posted November 9, 2017 Report Share Posted November 9, 2017 17 minutes ago, StevenVig said: Dont have to be drunk, but either drink a cocktail or dont. F*cking mocktail lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.