Blackpool Pleasure Beach prices

[gavt1976]

I have got some news to tell you all about the theme park and how much they are now charging to get into the park this winter.

http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpoolnews/Shock-at-Blackpool-fun-park.4549028.jp?CommentPage=1&CommentPageLength=10#comments

Please read and tell us what you think.

[Westcot]

£20 = $27... right?

So, what's the big deal? They've got 12 roller coasters and tons of rides there. Am I missing something? :weird:

[gavt1976]

Yes you are missing something because next year they are charging £5 to walk-in and £32 for a Unlimited Ride Wristband aswell.

[thetrooper]

Why yes you are Mr Westcot.

You can usually pay just for entry for a low price and pay for each ride individually but for October the price is lowered but everyone has to pay that...even if you're not going on rides and you can't pay the low price.

Not a shock though...I knew this already.

[gavt1976]

The fact is that most people over the age of thirty are in the park to give their kids a fun day out. They are not going to ride many of the attractions and are just going to be standing around all day watching. They are not going to pay £20, but they might pay £5 to get in. What is happening here is that the £20 flat charge is turning the parents away with their obviously dissappointed kids - they won't be back in a hurry.

I just don't understand the thinking behind this. Alton Towers gets away with it becasue it is a specific attraction in the middle of nowhere that has fabulous grounds and facilities. The Pleasure Beach is an amusement park. Why they haven't gone for early introduction of the £5 non rider charge and done a £20 wristband promotion is beyond me - they would be packing them in!

[thetrooper]

It's because the Blackpool illuminations are on around this time of year so they can make way more money because there are far more people around.

People will pay to go in I'm sure...there's nothing else to do in Blackpool anymore.

[Westcot]

Oh, I see. I forgot that parks like that usually charge for individual rides, and not just one entry price. My bad, disregard my first post. :)

[zackness5]

ok....so there charging flat admission. tons of parks that run on this system are succesfull and dont lose buisness because of it. and blackpools a great park. im sure it will do fine

[KingVeveraine]

£20 = $27... right?

So, what's the big deal? They've got 12 roller coasters and tons of rides there. Am I missing something? :weird:

No, it's $35. I saw this coming for a while, people were just going in and making it more crowded when it didn't need to be. And it's a park which has little path space.

[gavt1976]

I think that the park should be kept FREE, and the security should be keeping the park clear of trouble makers / drunks, and any charge would not deter pick pockets, as they would just snatch another bag or wallet.

What will they be charging over the winter, when half the park is closed for maintenance!...Watch this space.

Not only is the Pleasure Beach now getting a very bad name but Blackpool as a whole will pay the price for this move.

[zackness5]

I think that the park should be kept FREE, and the security should be keeping the park clear of trouble makers / drunks, and any charge would not deter pick pockets, as they would just snatch another bag or wallet.

What will they be charging over the winter, when half the park is closed for maintenance!...Watch this space.

Not only is the Pleasure Beach now getting a very bad name but Blackpool as a whole will pay the price for this move.


ok....you said your opinion 5 times already....you dont like the move. you dont need to speak for everyone else..some people actually think this is a good move...so stop wining...its getting annoying

[thetrooper]

Drayton Manor charged to just walk around and then charged for each ride before they made it an Alton Towers type system.

Blackpool has gotten too big to allow people in for free just to doss and go on one ride maybe. Fantasy Island in Skegness is a similar situation but it's fair enough when it becomes a proper theme park rather than a boardwalk kind of park.

[zackness5]

Drayton Manor charged to just walk around and then charged for each ride before they made it an Alton Towers type system.

Blackpool has gotten too big to allow people in for free just to doss and go on one ride maybe. Fantasy Island in Skegness is a similar situation but it's fair enough when it becomes a proper theme park rather than a boardwalk kind of park.

exactly. think of it as a park moving on to the next level;)

[gavt1976]

Do people think that the park will get better or worse in the coming years.

[zackness5]

better

[thetrooper]

Worse...Blackpool is a ****hole.

The pleasure beach is all it's got going for it and there's far better parks in the UK.

[gavt1976]

Worse...Blackpool is a ****hole.

The pleasure beach is all it's got going for it and there's far better parks in the UK.

I think you are right about that because i don't think the park will be at it's best again and they are far more better parks in the uk that we can all go too.

[Cyberleader]

Actually, I'd say £20 was closer to $40...

[SnooSnoo]

Typically, British Pounds are half the price as the American Dollar.

So, Cyberleader is correct. :P

[David Ellis]

With currency rates as they are, I think $35 is about right.

I personally think the change in charging structure is bad for the park. Pleasure Beach has always prided itself as being the UK's number 1 free to enter attraction. Family customers to the park, which must make up a reasonable share of patrons, would typically involve riding children and non-riding or occasionally-riding parents / grandparents. If everyone had to pay £20 just to get in, these families will simply do something else with their money.

I really think the park might suffer as a result, as it will put off the family visitors who have been the mainstay of the park for over 100 years. I am not confident the teenage thrill-riders alone will be enough to sustain the park's activities unless they decide to downsize operations or focus on the show elements at the detriment of the popular (and historically significant) rides and coasters.

I hope I am wrong though. Only time will tell.

David.

[KingVeveraine]

Typically, British Pounds are half the price as the American Dollar.

So, Cyberleader is correct. :P

I checked the currency exchange and currency converters and it is exactly $35.461 :P

Anyway, I'm a little confused as to the system. So during October it is £20 compulsory fee to get in with unlimited riding, then in 2009 you can get the £% freedom pass that lets you walk round the park, go on the monorail and train and that is it, or get a wristband? It keeps Chav's out, less crowds but they will need a big new (good) attraction to keep people coming.

[Harpo]

This discussion reminds me a bit of the early 1970's.

Cedar Point had just changed to a pay-one-price model. Disney, meanwhile, still had their tickets system. It is my understanding that Disney was watching Cedar Point very carefully, fully expecting that the POP model would result in Cedar Point going belly-up.

When Disney saw Cedar Point prosper under the POP model, doing better than at any other time in their 100+ year history, then Disney decided to also give that model a try.

Of course, if the general culture surrounding the park does not accept POP, that'll be a problem -- the culture of the area does need to be taken into consideration. I think it is probably something that is worthwhile for BPB to try provided they keep their options open. There are some parks that have POP, but also have a significantly lower rides-not-included rate, which might be worth BPB's consideration.