Pleasure beach had over 50% attendance on 4 months this year, Alton Towers only went over 50% on 3 months of this year. (Even with Nemesis Reborn) Alton towers highest average queue time is 71 minutes, Blackpool is 39 minutes. There is no evidence Blackpool is struggling, that narrative only exists on the internet amongst die hard enthusiasts who like winding up Amanda Thompson. Also they wouldn't be putting in two new rides and repairing Ice Blast if they was struggling. Blackpool doesn't need saving.
Great points! I will say this though, in the UK we are suffering from an aging fleet of older rides that use older technologies which all will need updating soon. A prime example is Alton Towers and Nemesis Reborn, it needed a modernisation, but what will happen to the rest of the coasters at the park? Spinball is nearing the end of its worthy service life but yet they still updated the control system on it. Galactica being the first of its kind is in no good state and again, will need updating. Same goes for oblivion, soon enough rita as well. Thorpe and Chessington are suffering in the same way with an aging fleet. Merlin do not add rides often enough to allow them to remove the old ones or refurbish them. Blackpool unfortunately is in the same exact position except worsened by the fact that they do not have a franchise behind them to help with the backlog of aging rides and attractions. It may not be struggling financially at the moment. But it will catch up to them
I remember as a teenager is the 1980's - you could walk around the park and choose a ride or two each night for a full week and have a much better time, plus my mum would never go on most of the bigger rides so paying for a wristband to go on just the monorail and the Pleasure Beach Express isn't value for money. Bring back pay per ride and ticket books and let people walk around the park for free, because most of those did go in the amusement arcades and/or purchased food & drinks which surely put money in the coffers. By all means wristbands giving unlimited rides are a good idea, but stopping people being able to just visit and have a ride or more in the evenings after a good day on the beach and after dinner in your hotel has just prevented the park being as busy as it was
I've lived in Blackpool since the early 70's. in my opinion it all started to go downhill when they started charging for entry. During the 70's and 80's it was free to walk in and that's how it should have stayed.
We do a lot of theme parks and if BPB wants charge a premium price, it needs to be run like a premium park. - don't have staggered opening times for rides on weekends - don't require guests to scan their tickets on entry to each ride... We've paid for entry to the park - allow guests to bring in their own food such as sandwiches (although props for having a burger king on site at least... Merlin could learn here) - better integrate the hotels with the park. Why prevent hotel guests from using the hotel exit... It makes it easy for guests to leave the area and not spend more money in the hotels - have a sensible annual pass price... Making the pass more expensive than a Merlin annual pass is weird - don't insist guests can only have paid photos of characters and don't actively prevent guests taking their own photos. - provide a better family offering. Theres very little for kids below 1.2m and the ticket price for little ones is horrendous value for money. Our youngest has outgrown all the nickelodeon rides and until he is 1.2m and can go on a decent number of coasters, we won't be going back.
We went last Sunday and to say we were disappointed was an understatement. Loads of rides were closed, Avalanche only had one train running even though the queues were the longest for that rides and the general maintenance of the rides is very very poor. We normally go every year but can honestly say i don’t think we will back anytime soon. I was going to put a complaint in but thought there would be no point as their reply wouldn’t be to my satisfaction.
Operations at the park are so unreliable! It makes a visit to the park such a big risk as you have no idea what will actually be open! Thanks for watching!
Personally, I think what’s going to happen is, Amanda is going to end up giving/letting someone else in the family run in the park side of things, and that will be a thing that turns all around.
The maintenance is not up to standard they have had a problem with icon where they bypassed the safety system which is the block zones which is exactly the same thing that caused the smiler to crash at Alton towers because they over rode the computer system and caused it to crash, also I have seen photos of the big one with bolts missing from the restraint and it actually came up part way though the ride which is super dangerous thankfully there is a secondary seat belt but still the park is dangerous and run down and also too expensive nowadays also the ride reliability isn’t great right now to say the least also needs to bring the walk around pass back even if it was a small fee of like £5 or something because £50 on the day is really steep, also the park is having a bit of an identity crisis trying to brand themselves as a resort even tho two hotels and a couple shows is not a resort they would have to do a few more things in my opinion to be a resort like sort out some of the infrastructure like a separate entrance for hotel guests and some night time entertainment for hotels for example also they are trying to distance themselves from including Blackpool in the name even though that is where they are located the park is simply being neglected and are driving people away
the maintenance issues scared me - as I saw about that Big One incident the day after I visited. Not sure how much of it to believe. But if they are struggling for cash, then the lack of maintenance will really hurt the park a lot if they ever do have a serious incident due to this in the future.
The whole ticket purchase is a joke, having to put a picture why why , then having to scan it every ride why , it's obvious that if you got a ticket to enter then its obvious you going on the rides, there's no discount for people who just want to walk in the park anymore so why have to scam every ride , it's a traditional park run in old traditional ways and they won't change stuck with old outdated ways so stubborn to change
I have no idea how well it is doing, only the owners know that.... But as a guy that loves coasters Having like a 24 year gap between major new coasters meant I've had no reason to visit for a long time. They need to keep making new investments and they've just not done that. When Alton Towers got Nemesis, Oblivion and Air, I was always at that park and then after Air they didn't nothing of any worth until The Smiler and Then Wickerman.... But again with Towers we're back to waiting for a new coaster again. UK parks are so disappointing and what's even more bizarre is the last good dark rides we got were Terror Tomb and Alton Manor in the early 90s. Then they ruined them with the shooting nonsense :/ I find myself going abroad all the time now as other countries have lots of investment, meanwhile our government seems to just want to make it difficult for businesses to run.
It doesn’t need a walk around pass . No other similar amusement park does this . On the day prices are to get you do it advance . It’s deliberate and to assist the business . Their model is just fine
Problem is your suggestions all cost money. If they're struggling that much even things like extending opening hours will cost too much in power and wages. Doomed unless someone with deep pockets buys it. What's Space Karen(Elon Musk) up to now? 😂
I think what Blackpool needs is a new Pleasure Beech owner
Pleasure beach had over 50% attendance on 4 months this year, Alton Towers only went over 50% on 3 months of this year. (Even with Nemesis Reborn) Alton towers highest average queue time is 71 minutes, Blackpool is 39 minutes. There is no evidence Blackpool is struggling, that narrative only exists on the internet amongst die hard enthusiasts who like winding up Amanda Thompson. Also they wouldn't be putting in two new rides and repairing Ice Blast if they was struggling. Blackpool doesn't need saving.
Well said.
It does need saving
I thought similar . It’s still pretty good
Great points! I will say this though, in the UK we are suffering from an aging fleet of older rides that use older technologies which all will need updating soon. A prime example is Alton Towers and Nemesis Reborn, it needed a modernisation, but what will happen to the rest of the coasters at the park? Spinball is nearing the end of its worthy service life but yet they still updated the control system on it. Galactica being the first of its kind is in no good state and again, will need updating. Same goes for oblivion, soon enough rita as well. Thorpe and Chessington are suffering in the same way with an aging fleet. Merlin do not add rides often enough to allow them to remove the old ones or refurbish them.
Blackpool unfortunately is in the same exact position except worsened by the fact that they do not have a franchise behind them to help with the backlog of aging rides and attractions. It may not be struggling financially at the moment. But it will catch up to them
Someone doesn’t understand economics of scale.
I remember as a teenager is the 1980's - you could walk around the park and choose a ride or two each night for a full week and have a much better time, plus my mum would never go on most of the bigger rides so paying for a wristband to go on just the monorail and the Pleasure Beach Express isn't value for money.
Bring back pay per ride and ticket books and let people walk around the park for free, because most of those did go in the amusement arcades and/or purchased food & drinks which surely put money in the coffers.
By all means wristbands giving unlimited rides are a good idea, but stopping people being able to just visit and have a ride or more in the evenings after a good day on the beach and after dinner in your hotel has just prevented the park being as busy as it was
I've lived in Blackpool since the early 70's. in my opinion it all started to go downhill when they started charging for entry. During the 70's and 80's it was free to walk in and that's how it should have stayed.
Charging for entry certainly seems to put many people off visiting!
£50 on the day is rediclous
It is very expensive!
cheap compared to disneyland paris or phantsialand
@@johnyseimah229 They are far superior places though not riddled with drug addicts outside trying to scam/pickpocket you etc.
Buy online £38
yes it's quite ridiculous
We do a lot of theme parks and if BPB wants charge a premium price, it needs to be run like a premium park.
- don't have staggered opening times for rides on weekends
- don't require guests to scan their tickets on entry to each ride... We've paid for entry to the park
- allow guests to bring in their own food such as sandwiches (although props for having a burger king on site at least... Merlin could learn here)
- better integrate the hotels with the park. Why prevent hotel guests from using the hotel exit... It makes it easy for guests to leave the area and not spend more money in the hotels
- have a sensible annual pass price... Making the pass more expensive than a Merlin annual pass is weird
- don't insist guests can only have paid photos of characters and don't actively prevent guests taking their own photos.
- provide a better family offering. Theres very little for kids below 1.2m and the ticket price for little ones is horrendous value for money. Our youngest has outgrown all the nickelodeon rides and until he is 1.2m and can go on a decent number of coasters, we won't be going back.
Completely agree with all of this! The park does so many unnecessary things that ruin guests experience! Thanks for watching & the great comment!
We went last Sunday and to say we were disappointed was an understatement. Loads of rides were closed, Avalanche only had one train running even though the queues were the longest for that rides and the general maintenance of the rides is very very poor. We normally go every year but can honestly say i don’t think we will back anytime soon. I was going to put a complaint in but thought there would be no point as their reply wouldn’t be to my satisfaction.
Operations at the park are so unreliable! It makes a visit to the park such a big risk as you have no idea what will actually be open! Thanks for watching!
I loved Noah’s Ark as a child and Steeplechase is my favourite ride of all time
Noah’s Ark was amazing! I love steeple chase too! It’s such a unique ride! 🐎
Oh no love a bit of pleasure beach . If Amanda sorts out rides and payment and even season tickets instead of building a new hotel
Yeah, those would be some great improvements! Thanks for watching!
They need to turn into a broad walk park. So simple.
I agree, it would help the park so much!
I fell out with PB when they gutted the old log flume in the esrly 00s
It’s sad to see how many attractions have been lost over the years!
Personally, I think what’s going to happen is, Amanda is going to end up giving/letting someone else in the family run in the park side of things, and that will be a thing that turns all around.
New management may be just the thing the park needs!
Great points.
Thank you!
The maintenance is not up to standard they have had a problem with icon where they bypassed the safety system which is the block zones which is exactly the same thing that caused the smiler to crash at Alton towers because they over rode the computer system and caused it to crash, also I have seen photos of the big one with bolts missing from the restraint and it actually came up part way though the ride which is super dangerous thankfully there is a secondary seat belt but still the park is dangerous and run down and also too expensive nowadays also the ride reliability isn’t great right now to say the least also needs to bring the walk around pass back even if it was a small fee of like £5 or something because £50 on the day is really steep, also the park is having a bit of an identity crisis trying to brand themselves as a resort even tho two hotels and a couple shows is not a resort they would have to do a few more things in my opinion to be a resort like sort out some of the infrastructure like a separate entrance for hotel guests and some night time entertainment for hotels for example also they are trying to distance themselves from including Blackpool in the name even though that is where they are located the park is simply being neglected and are driving people away
Totally agree! Thanks for watching & for the great comment!
the maintenance issues scared me - as I saw about that Big One incident the day after I visited. Not sure how much of it to believe. But if they are struggling for cash, then the lack of maintenance will really hurt the park a lot if they ever do have a serious incident due to this in the future.
It's looking tired and needs a hell of a lot of Cash injection.
Absolutely, some serious maintenance is needed!
Stop charging to walk round
It would certainly help!
that caused far too many issues. having the park be paid entry helps avoid that
Close it down then and use the area for something else. 😂
youre completely right
Thank you!
The whole ticket purchase is a joke, having to put a picture why why , then having to scan it every ride why , it's obvious that if you got a ticket to enter then its obvious you going on the rides, there's no discount for people who just want to walk in the park anymore so why have to scam every ride , it's a traditional park run in old traditional ways and they won't change stuck with old outdated ways so stubborn to change
The current ticket system really does need changing! More options and an easier purchasing system would really help the park!
😄😄 waiting for you buy PB now
I can only dream 😂😂
I have no idea how well it is doing, only the owners know that.... But as a guy that loves coasters Having like a 24 year gap between major new coasters meant I've had no reason to visit for a long time. They need to keep making new investments and they've just not done that. When Alton Towers got Nemesis, Oblivion and Air, I was always at that park and then after Air they didn't nothing of any worth until The Smiler and Then Wickerman.... But again with Towers we're back to waiting for a new coaster again. UK parks are so disappointing and what's even more bizarre is the last good dark rides we got were Terror Tomb and Alton Manor in the early 90s. Then they ruined them with the shooting nonsense :/ I find myself going abroad all the time now as other countries have lots of investment, meanwhile our government seems to just want to make it difficult for businesses to run.
I completely agree, the UK theme parks in general are not up to the standards of many European and American parks! Thanks for watching and commenting!
It doesn’t need a walk around pass . No other similar amusement park does this .
On the day prices are to get you do it advance . It’s deliberate and to assist the business .
Their model is just fine
actually quite a few parks in Europe do walk around passes. Liseberg one of Europe’s top amusement parks has a walk around pass
Problem is your suggestions all cost money. If they're struggling that much even things like extending opening hours will cost too much in power and wages.
Doomed unless someone with deep pockets buys it.
What's Space Karen(Elon Musk) up to now? 😂
Level all of the surrounding area, Blackpool is thee biggest toilet in the north of England, then and only then would this hell hole be worth a visit.