Drayton Manor

[ImURNemesis]

It looks like Drayton are clearing the area next to the Buffalo coaster. Knowing that the 2014 coaster will be situated in this area, could we be seeing preparation work already?



There were several diggers at one point.

I was under the impression that that area was out of bounds to build on.

[Don't_Look_Down]

Squiggles - They did remove the tent and tidy up the area before. All that was left was the old pitch mark.

ImURNemesis - Drayton did submit planning applications to build on this area, so who knows? The new coaster is supposedly going to sit near the Buffalo and "interact with the lake". This could very well be the planned location.

[Themeparksandy1981]

I put theses plans on the Drayton Manor future topic but I thought I show you on here as well.

http://www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/downloads ... r_Park.pdf

[ImURNemesis]

ImURNemesis - Drayton did submit planning applications to build on this area, so who knows? The new coaster is supposedly going to sit near the Buffalo and "interact with the lake". This could very well be the planned location.

Sounds interesting! Please be a Mack Launch! I can just picture it hugging the lake.

Themeparksandy1981- Thanks for them plans!!

[-Prometheus-]

ImURNemesis - Drayton did submit planning applications to build on this area, so who knows? The new coaster is supposedly going to sit near the Buffalo and "interact with the lake". This could very well be the planned location.

Sounds interesting! Please be a Mack Launch! I can just picture it hugging the lake.

Themeparksandy1981- Thanks for them plans!!

Funnily enough wasn't the rumour a few years back that the park were watching Blue Fire with great interest?  It wouldn't suprise me if they went for one.

[Don't_Look_Down]

Sounds interesting! I've heard they were thinking about booster bike coasters at one point, too.

[Sam]

Given their current financial problems, I would imagine a MACK launch would be far too much for them. Remember, their last three coasters were cheap jobs from Vekoma, Gerstlauer and Maurer.

Mack Launches are premium products!

[BigAl]

Mack Launches are premium products!

Something which they are desperately in need of! :/

[Themeparksandy1981]

The only problem is Drayton Manor spend around 3 to 5 million on big projects and 1 million on small projects. If they spent anymore I doubt you will see them built any more attractions for Many years to pay the debts off. But I do like the fact that they may not have any new rides this year but they started to really clean the park up and improve the areas. You know someone start on the Alton Towers topics about a water show with Fountains on the lake well this could work better at Drayton Manor as the lake is in the middle of the park and most guests would stop to watch it.

[Stelios7]

Mad Monday should of been done on a Bank Holiday, not a obscure Monday here, some schools may be off but I don't think this marketing ploy will work.

But one question... why yellow?

[owenjones92]

Mad Monday has been running for the last 3 weeks with the previous two colours being red and blue with yellow this week making up the colours of there logo

Sent from my HTC EVO 3D X515m using Tapatalk 2

[thefatone]

Mad Monday should of been done on a Bank Holiday, not a obscure Monday here, some schools may be off but I don't think this marketing ploy will work.

The marketing ploy is to get guests in on days which are quiet - on days which otherwise they would usually be closed (closed on mondays a couple of years back).

It worked. It'd be stupid for them to do it on peak days, and it's not intended for that either.

[Themeparksandy1981]

Don’t let the rain get in the way of you having fun at Drayton Manor!

If it rains for more than an hour on the day of your visit we guarantee that you can come back again for FREE at a later date! (See terms and conditions below)

Terms and Conditions

 · This exclusive voucher will only be offered to guests who have pre-booked their admission tickets via Drayton Manor’s website, Call Centre or Hotel.
 
· Visitors will receive one return voucher when the ADVANCED purchase ticket from the original visit is presented to Guest Services.
 
· A return visit will only be offered if it rains heavily continuously for a minimum of one hour. This will be determined by the Park and its Management team only. Their decision is final.
 
· Guests will be entitled to re-visit the park on any day between Tuesday 4th September and Friday 26th October 2012.
 
· Only one voucher per person.
 
· No cash refund or alternative is available. This voucher has no cash value and the sale of this voucher is prohibited.
 
· This voucher cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or promotion including tickets purchased from any third party as well as our Annual /Season passes, schools, groups and any PAS day events.
 
· Drayton Manor Theme Park reserves the right to amend or change the terms and conditions of this promotion at any time, for any reason, and without notice.

[Pennywise]

The terms & conditions more or less prevent any return from being whatsoever likely in a way which really is quite shameful. How often does it rain continuously for one hour? Not only this, but the offer of a return ticket only includes the off-peak dates towards the end of the season.

If Drayton Manor ran that offer correctly, it would be a credit to the park, as it is it's a desperately misleading marketing ploy.

[Bote]

At the end of the day it's marketing and publicity, pure and simple. Sure, it's a fun and quirky idea, and they will no doubt honor it if the situation ever arises, but at least it's a good, clean, family friendly marketing stunt. No prostitutes or Speedos here :P

Plus, while we're on the subject of T&Cs have you looked at any of the Merlin ones they've used in the past? I particularly liked the one about being able to refuse entry to MAP and Annual Pass holders (Premium or Standard) on any day they see fit, without prior notice or consent :P

We live in a world powered by small print these days it seems.

But I digress. At the end of the day it's a bit of fun on Drayton's part

[Pennywise]

Plus, while we're on the subject of T&Cs have you looked at any of the Merlin ones they've used in the past? I particularly liked the one about being able to refuse entry to MAP and Annual Pass holders (Premium or Standard) on any day they see fit, without prior notice or consent :P

True, in general, although Chessington are running the exact same offer. In contrast they're offering a free return ticket if the total amount of rainfall for the day is in excess of one hour, as opposed to one consecutive hour.

Considering that Drayton have clearly copied Chessington (who also ran an identical offer last year) on this, I assumed they'd have the decency to live up to the same T&Cs.

[Bote]

The main difference being that Chessington is ran by a worldwide entertainments provider (Second only to Disney I'll have you know ) and while they do undoubtedly receive a meager budget it is almost certain to be more than that of Drayton Manor.

Also, I'm pretty sure I've heard of other parks who have a similar offer, so the suggestion Drayton copied Chessington is a little pointless if Chessington copied it from someone else first, really.

Like I said, it's all just a bit of marketing fun. In all seriousness how many people do you expect to seriously claim the offer? Once they're in the park I doubt it's anything they are likely to remember, or care about, be it Drayton or Chessington.

[Themeparksandy1981]

Thorpe park did this years ago. We went to the park and it rained all day and it was heavy rain by the time 4pm came we had enough. We got to the park entrance and they were giving out free return vouchers. I been to Alton where it rained most of the day so they gave everyone free parking but didn't tell anyone at the parking pay booths. They just left the barriers up so non annual pass holders brought a ticket anyway. Not sure if they could use the ticket on a another date?

[thefatone]

Seems silly to have that clause in it, that it rains continuously for an hour (it says heavily as well - it rarely, if ever, rains heavily for an entire hour).

Surely it'd be better for them to loosen up the terms, make people aware, get people using it, and filling the park better off-peak? Secondary spending, better reputation and all that?

[Don't_Look_Down]

Good to know

Drayton Manor Theme Park offers ‘rainy day guarantee’

Drayton Manor is promising to give visitors, who have pre-booked tickets via its website, call centre or hotel, free passes if it rains continuously for a minimum of one hour during their time at the park.

In order to claim the return voucher, guests must present their original advanced purchased ticket to the Guest Services department in the park. Visitors will then be able to return on any date between Tuesday 4th September and Friday 26th October for free.

Colin Bryan, Drayton Manor Theme Park’s managing director, said: “It would be amazing to experience beautiful, sunny weather every day during the summer, but we have to be realistic. There will be days when it will be wet and miserable, which may prevent guests from fully enjoying their day out at the park.

“This initiative means that if their visit is spoilt by the weather they have the opportunity to return for free on another day, when hopefully the weather will be better.”

They're certainly trying to attract business this year.