The express parking is now £16 too.Sorry if this has already been discussed elsewhere. I looked, but couldn't find a mention of it.
The annual car park price hike. 2011 edition.
-
UnleashedLlama
- Member
- Posts: 113
- Joined: Thu Jun 19, 2008 1:17 pm
- Location: Derby
I'm glad I'm now an Alton Towers Premium Pass holder, having visited today and seen that the standard parking price is now £6. The express parking is now £16 too.
Sorry if this has already been discussed elsewhere. I looked, but couldn't find a mention of it.
The express parking is now £16 too.Sorry if this has already been discussed elsewhere. I looked, but couldn't find a mention of it.
New for 2011]
-
CoasterCrazyChris
- Member
- Posts: 2758
- Joined: Sun Jul 20, 2008 8:31 pm
- Location: Bristol
Piss take, 'nuff said.
Well almost. :P
Everybody knows they are money grabbing, but its fine because the park will just see less sales of food, beverages and souvenirs.
Well almost. :P
Everybody knows they are money grabbing, but its fine because the park will just see less sales of food, beverages and souvenirs.
-
Themeparksandy1981
- Member
- Posts: 1560
- Joined: Thu Oct 08, 2009 3:34 pm
- Location: Midlands
- Contact:
I was shocked at this as well. I can also see ticket prices hitting the £40 mark by the end of the season. But the point is even if it was £10 per car families and friends will still pay it.
-
oldgitBEN
jebus christ! Thats awful.
Isnt it time people just started parking on the roads around alton? Until it becomes such an issue that Alton are forced to lower the price?
Isnt it time people just started parking on the roads around alton? Until it becomes such an issue that Alton are forced to lower the price?
-
MPDarby
- Member
- Posts: 139
- Joined: Fri Feb 02, 2007 1:00 pm
- Location: Birmingham
Families & friends will still pay it because they've no choice! If you visit AT for the day there is no other choice but to pay this charge as it's the only way of accessing the park, no parking options outside of the resort is available.
I think this is a very bad move from Merlin. With the cost of petrol so high at the moment (not counting the 1p deduction we've just seen
) coupled with this charge, people will seriously consider not re-visiting the park again. Plus a massive rise in gate prices and food and drink. Merlin/AT have proved they are all about making money this year over anything else.
I think this is a very bad move from Merlin. With the cost of petrol so high at the moment (not counting the 1p deduction we've just seen
) coupled with this charge, people will seriously consider not re-visiting the park again. Plus a massive rise in gate prices and food and drink. Merlin/AT have proved they are all about making money this year over anything else.Thanks for riding the Runaway Minetrain, we hope you enjoyed your trip. Choo! Choo!
-
oldgitBEN
there are several roads around alton which *could* be parked on, there are no yellow lines prohibiting this.
While the lanes are small and would get busy rather quickly and upset locals, it would make a rather vocal statement.
While the lanes are small and would get busy rather quickly and upset locals, it would make a rather vocal statement.
-
MPDarby
- Member
- Posts: 139
- Joined: Fri Feb 02, 2007 1:00 pm
- Location: Birmingham
[quote=""oldgitBEN""] there are several roads around alton which *could* be parked on, there are no yellow lines prohibiting this.
While the lanes are small and would get busy rather quickly and upset locals, it would make a rather vocal statement. [/quote]
This is indeed true but as a car owner I wouldn't want to leave my car parked on the side of a small road risking scratches and upsetting the locals. Plus, do we really need to wind some of the locals up anymore?
While the lanes are small and would get busy rather quickly and upset locals, it would make a rather vocal statement. [/quote]
This is indeed true but as a car owner I wouldn't want to leave my car parked on the side of a small road risking scratches and upsetting the locals. Plus, do we really need to wind some of the locals up anymore?
Thanks for riding the Runaway Minetrain, we hope you enjoyed your trip. Choo! Choo!
-
UnleashedLlama
- Member
- Posts: 113
- Joined: Thu Jun 19, 2008 1:17 pm
- Location: Derby
[quote=""MPDarby""][quote=""oldgitBEN""] there are several roads around alton which *could* be parked on, there are no yellow lines prohibiting this.
While the lanes are small and would get busy rather quickly and upset locals, it would make a rather vocal statement. [/quote]
This is indeed true but as a car owner I wouldn't want to leave my car parked on the side of a small road risking scratches and upsetting the locals. Plus, do we really need to wind some of the locals up anymore?[/quote]
However, wouldn't this give the locals a reason to be wound up with the car park charges? It could apply some pressure to Merlin to do something to stop guests parking on the roads. Something like removing, or at least reducing, car park charges.
While the lanes are small and would get busy rather quickly and upset locals, it would make a rather vocal statement. [/quote]
This is indeed true but as a car owner I wouldn't want to leave my car parked on the side of a small road risking scratches and upsetting the locals. Plus, do we really need to wind some of the locals up anymore?[/quote]
However, wouldn't this give the locals a reason to be wound up with the car park charges? It could apply some pressure to Merlin to do something to stop guests parking on the roads. Something like removing, or at least reducing, car park charges.
New for 2011]
-
Sam
- Member
- Posts: 4869
- Joined: Mon May 05, 2008 7:18 pm
- Location: People's Socialist Republic of Sheffield
- Contact:
[quote=""oldgitBEN""] there are several roads around alton which *could* be parked on, there are no yellow lines prohibiting this.
While the lanes are small and would get busy rather quickly and upset locals, it would make a rather vocal statement. [/quote]
I believe Thorpe didn't have a car park charge up until recently due to a deal with the local council to prevent Staines residential areas being filled with theme park cars.
While the lanes are small and would get busy rather quickly and upset locals, it would make a rather vocal statement. [/quote]
I believe Thorpe didn't have a car park charge up until recently due to a deal with the local council to prevent Staines residential areas being filled with theme park cars.
-
Themeparksandy1981
- Member
- Posts: 1560
- Joined: Thu Oct 08, 2009 3:34 pm
- Location: Midlands
- Contact:
Also would you like to walk up a road without any pavement.
-
James
- Member
- Posts: 2740
- Joined: Thu Jan 22, 2009 4:43 pm
- Location: Newport, Wales
- Contact:
I agree with that parking in the surrounding areas could make a strong point, but realistically you would need a high volume of guests to do this for any point to be made.
Alton only get away with it because guests have no choice, I wouldn't leave my car in the small roads around Alton, it's easier to just pay the £6 where I know that my car will be safe and at a lower risk of getting damaged.
The prices are getting ridiculous now. Lets assume that you're a family of four with two young children and paying the full prices.
2 x Adult theme park tickets: £79.20
2 x Children theme park tickets: £61.20
Car parking: £6
Total: £146.40
In this case a family of four is eligible for the family ticket which is £127.20 so the total would be £133.20
Now that's £133.20 for a family of four with 2 kids just getting into the park. That is a insane amount of money. Luckily due to the high number of offers around visits are cheaper but when you take in the cost of food and possibly merchandise it adds up to a hell of a lot of money spent just for a day out.
Somethings got to give and Alton/Merlin may be coming towards the limit of raising the prices.
Alton only get away with it because guests have no choice, I wouldn't leave my car in the small roads around Alton, it's easier to just pay the £6 where I know that my car will be safe and at a lower risk of getting damaged.
The prices are getting ridiculous now. Lets assume that you're a family of four with two young children and paying the full prices.
2 x Adult theme park tickets: £79.20
2 x Children theme park tickets: £61.20
Car parking: £6
Total: £146.40
In this case a family of four is eligible for the family ticket which is £127.20 so the total would be £133.20
Now that's £133.20 for a family of four with 2 kids just getting into the park. That is a insane amount of money. Luckily due to the high number of offers around visits are cheaper but when you take in the cost of food and possibly merchandise it adds up to a hell of a lot of money spent just for a day out.
Somethings got to give and Alton/Merlin may be coming towards the limit of raising the prices.
-
Wes
- Member
- Posts: 5257
- Joined: Mon Apr 04, 2005 8:03 pm
- Location: Cornwall
- Contact:
Who is up for buying a field next to the Entrance and charging £2 per a car?
-
Vik
- Member
- Posts: 2978
- Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 10:37 pm
- Location: Ellesmere Port
- Contact:
[quote=""Themeparksandy1981""]I was shocked at this as well. I can also see ticket prices hitting the £40 mark by the end of the season. But the point is even if it was £10 per car families and friends will still pay it.[/quote]
Did I see it right, walk up price is now £41.50?
And putting up parking charges? Am I right in thinking that during the Annual Pass parking charges issue, they stated that parking charges would not be increasing?
Did I see it right, walk up price is now £41.50?
And putting up parking charges? Am I right in thinking that during the Annual Pass parking charges issue, they stated that parking charges would not be increasing?
Sent from my ZX81 via Time Travel
-
Blaze
To interupt the hystria, it's ONE POUND. Not £100. It's 20%. Put it that way, it's a lot. But it's only £1. Calm down, dearies.
Does £1 make that much difference? Really? Don't like it, don't pay it.
I'd be up for buying a field and charging £2, but they'd probably find a way to get it closed. It's not fair that they can put prices up, and they probably will charge £10 in a few years, but there isn't much of an option. I just hope one day, people get fed up and stop going, but as long as gate fiqures continue increasing, they can do it all they want. It's not fair, but anyone would do the same in their situation. That's business.
Does £1 make that much difference? Really? Don't like it, don't pay it.
I'd be up for buying a field and charging £2, but they'd probably find a way to get it closed. It's not fair that they can put prices up, and they probably will charge £10 in a few years, but there isn't much of an option. I just hope one day, people get fed up and stop going, but as long as gate fiqures continue increasing, they can do it all they want. It's not fair, but anyone would do the same in their situation. That's business.
-
James
- Member
- Posts: 2740
- Joined: Thu Jan 22, 2009 4:43 pm
- Location: Newport, Wales
- Contact:
The on the day price is £39.60
Or £33 + VAT at £6.60 equaling £39.60, you know, 'cos that's how they advertise prices these days.
Or £33 + VAT at £6.60 equaling £39.60, you know, 'cos that's how they advertise prices these days.
-
CoasterCrazyChris
- Member
- Posts: 2758
- Joined: Sun Jul 20, 2008 8:31 pm
- Location: Bristol
Times like these you wish the place was still owned by John Broome and co.
-
James
- Member
- Posts: 2740
- Joined: Thu Jan 22, 2009 4:43 pm
- Location: Newport, Wales
- Contact:
[quote=""Blaze""]To interupt the hystria, it's ONE POUND. Not £100. It's 20%. Put it that way, it's a lot. But it's only £1. Calm down, dearies.
Does £1 make that much difference? Really? Don't like it, don't pay it.[/quote]
It's not so much the raise in price by £1, more of that it all adds up. Everything has gone up in price. Parking by £1, on-the-gate tickets by £1.60 - merchandise, food and beverage have all gone up in price to. As we know everything is going up in price due to VAT and Alton is not the only place, but it will get to the point one year where it is too much and people will loose the appeal of these days out.
Obviously it's up to the person whether they are willing to pay the price or not. If not then they simply should not bother visiting in the first place, but for people like me who enjoy visiting Alton yearly it'll be sad when it gets to the point where I can't simply afford visiting Alton, I've just scrapped visiting this year but future years of theme park visits look unlikely, as my mum put it: "Everything's going up in price but the wages aren't", people(families especially) will have to make cuts and I can see theme parks being the one pleasure in life that people will simply give up on.
Does £1 make that much difference? Really? Don't like it, don't pay it.[/quote]
It's not so much the raise in price by £1, more of that it all adds up. Everything has gone up in price. Parking by £1, on-the-gate tickets by £1.60 - merchandise, food and beverage have all gone up in price to. As we know everything is going up in price due to VAT and Alton is not the only place, but it will get to the point one year where it is too much and people will loose the appeal of these days out.
Obviously it's up to the person whether they are willing to pay the price or not. If not then they simply should not bother visiting in the first place, but for people like me who enjoy visiting Alton yearly it'll be sad when it gets to the point where I can't simply afford visiting Alton, I've just scrapped visiting this year but future years of theme park visits look unlikely, as my mum put it: "Everything's going up in price but the wages aren't", people(families especially) will have to make cuts and I can see theme parks being the one pleasure in life that people will simply give up on.
-
Tom G
- Member
- Posts: 1642
- Joined: Thu Jun 10, 2010 1:09 pm
The 'don't like don't pay' response doesn't wash with me.
This is so aggravating because Merlin bitch about VAT and take the "unprecedented step of displaying our prices with and without VAT" and other such silly statements.
They've increased car parking by 20% at a time when fuel is spiralling out of control. Owning a car is expensive enough, chewing up up to a quarter of some people's income.
Their food prices have gone up around twice as much as the VAT increase has this year, and may I remind you there is nothing major new at the park this season.
This is so aggravating because Merlin bitch about VAT and take the "unprecedented step of displaying our prices with and without VAT" and other such silly statements.
They've increased car parking by 20% at a time when fuel is spiralling out of control. Owning a car is expensive enough, chewing up up to a quarter of some people's income.
Their food prices have gone up around twice as much as the VAT increase has this year, and may I remind you there is nothing major new at the park this season.