The Merlin Annual Pass

General theme park and attraction industry chat, along with the world of theme park gaming.
Post Reply
User avatar
Sam
Member
Member
Posts: 4869
Joined: Mon May 05, 2008 7:18 pm
Location: People's Socialist Republic of Sheffield
Contact:

Can I propose we all refuse to buy a Premium Annual Pass? I don't know how many people were planning to but on principle I think TowersTimes should take an editorial stance against this and express their objections. I call for a boycot of the Premium pass. Anyone with me?
User avatar
Coke
Member
Member
Posts: 824
Joined: Wed Dec 26, 2007 5:16 pm
Location: UK

^^
With you if it costs more than £150. Which is likely. :x
Image

Are you thirsty?
Dean

[quote=""Sam!""]Can I propose we all refuse to buy a Premium Annual Pass? I don't know how many people were planning to but on principle I think TowersTimes should take an editorial stance against this and express their objections. I call for a boycot of the Premium pass. Anyone with me?[/quote]

Think about this, if the only changes are the restrictions below to the Standard Pass, I don't think any one on TTF will need a Premium Pass.

If benefits become different on each pass then the situation will change, and people may need to opt for the Premium Pass. Until the pass is launched we won't know!
12.1 NO entry into Madame Tussauds (London), The London Eye, SEA LIFE London Aquarium and London Dungeon during the whole of August;
12.2 NO entry into Thorpe Park on Fright Night dates;
12.3 NO entry to the London Eye on 14 February, 30 October and 31 October; and
12.4 NO entry to the London Dungeon on 30 October and 31 October
Last edited by Dean on Fri Jan 01, 2010 5:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Coke
Member
Member
Posts: 824
Joined: Wed Dec 26, 2007 5:16 pm
Location: UK

I wish they'd just hurry up with it!

--POST INFO ADDED--
Just been on the phone to Merlin Annual Pass and the man thought Merlin Premium Annual Pass launches on 10th or 11th January and it costs in the region of £180 and he has a meeting about it soon.
Image

Are you thirsty?
User avatar
Andyc Nemesis
Member
Member
Posts: 96
Joined: Wed Nov 09, 2005 12:30 pm
Location: MK

For me, the Annual Pass will do, i am not bothered about Thorpe on Fright night, i avoid Thorpe at that time of year. Also, those dates for the Sea life etc are not a problem either, i will most likely be working or avoiding those places as it is too busy.

I agree though with Sam! we should all not get the Premium Pass rubbish
User avatar
John
Member
Member
Posts: 3313
Joined: Tue Nov 15, 2005 8:30 pm

I'm not bothering with the premium pass either.

I'm a bit annoyed about fright nights, even though I only really go for the night riding rather than the event itself. However, now that thorpe have scrapped FN on the quieter days I probably wouldn't have bothered going anyway. The other restrictions aren't such an issue for me (I live a long way from london, so I'm not bothered about the august blackout), and everything else is pretty much the same as before.

Still, I think its pretty strange that they're doing offers on the standard pass just before launching the premium one, you'd think they'd want some idea of how many people were buying the new one before messing with the prices.
User avatar
walker1104
New Member
New Member
Posts: 43
Joined: Sun Nov 18, 2007 2:11 pm

Just a quick question. If I buy a merlin annual pass online, will I be able to pick it up from Alton Towers during february half term? Or will I have to wait until the season starts on March 20th?
Image
User avatar
Vik
Member
Member
Posts: 2978
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 10:37 pm
Location: Ellesmere Port
Contact:

The AP office was open last Feb 1/2 term, I would imagine it should be the same this year as well, so you should be fine in picking it up then.

There are quite a few of us who have passes expire in February. :D
Sent from my ZX81 via Time Travel

Image
User avatar
themealgang
Member
Member
Posts: 702
Joined: Fri Nov 27, 2009 2:24 pm

I have got a Merlin Annual Pass and to be honest, the Fright Night restriction at Thorpe Park does not really bother me. On "normal" days of the season, the park can't get their queues below and hour so all I would be doing at FN is standing in queues- not fun when you have just come for the rides at night.

One thing that does puzzle and anger me is the restriction to the London Dungeon ect in August. One of the only times I would visit LOndon is the summer and now I have been told I can't visit the best attractions on my ticket?! [-X
Image

Uploaded with ImageShack.us
User avatar
walker1104
New Member
New Member
Posts: 43
Joined: Sun Nov 18, 2007 2:11 pm

Sorry, I’m being a pain here. But I’m confused about the annual pass.

If I buy one online, will I have to pay entry to the park for that day? Or can you get your pass before you go through the gates into the park itself?

Thanks a lot in advance :D
Image
User avatar
CJH
Member
Member
Posts: 455
Joined: Tue May 05, 2009 1:08 am
Location: Manchester

No usually if you buy online they give you a ticket that you can take into the park, and you then use to get your annual pass. Thorpe you just go to the ticket office (annual pass).

What I don't understand is:
I have a pass that runs out in September, what I don't get is; will I have to have my pass re-printed as a standard pass, so that it includes Legoland Discovery etc?
Image
Chris 21 Manchester
Dean

[quote=""CJH""]What I don't understand is:
I have a pass that runs out in September, what I don't get is; will I have to have my pass re-printed as a standard pass, so that it includes Legoland Discovery etc?[/quote]

I don't think you have to get it re-printed, it will be included from September when you renew your current pass.

Current passes may automaticly include the Legoland Discovery centre, you may need to check this if you plan on visiting.
User avatar
CJH
Member
Member
Posts: 455
Joined: Tue May 05, 2009 1:08 am
Location: Manchester

What I don't get then is that if that is the case, then why should I have these restrictions on my pass, as they wasn't there before hand.
Image
Chris 21 Manchester
Dean

That's something i'm unsure of, people who bought there pass before November 2009 would not have known about the new Fright Night restriction.

Most attraction websites were updated to state this, but some sites were missed.

So i've got no idea what they will do in this instance. :?
User avatar
Coke
Member
Member
Posts: 824
Joined: Wed Dec 26, 2007 5:16 pm
Location: UK

I believe when you buy an Annual Pass you accept to the T&C's at the time of buying. For example if you purchased before October 2009 you should be allowed in at Fright Nights and you could go to the London Eye on Valentines Day. Unless they get you to sign a piece of paper or contract stating the new T&Cs the must honour the T&Cs at the time when the pass was purchased. The contract ends when you renew your annual pass and then you have to agree to the current T&Cs at the time you renew.
Image

Are you thirsty?
User avatar
Vik
Member
Member
Posts: 2978
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 10:37 pm
Location: Ellesmere Port
Contact:

But they can also change the terms and conditions at any time. By purchasing the AP, this is one of the conditions you agree to. So any modifications made to T&C's, or restrictions added/removed after you have purchased the pass should be valid.

One difference to this can be seen when the Merlin Pass replaced the Tussauds pass. Those with the old Tussauds pass could not gain entry to the new Merlin attractions, unless they either upgraded to the new Merlin pass, or waited until their current pass expired. So Tussauds pass holders, whilst bound by the T&C's of the Merlin Pass, couldn't access certain attractions.
Sent from my ZX81 via Time Travel

Image
User avatar
Nathan
Member
Member
Posts: 1372
Joined: Sun Oct 30, 2005 5:18 pm
Location: Sunderland
Contact:

Hey guys, could really do with some help here - first time pass buyer!

I notice Annual Passes have been reduced to £75 online and I was planning on buying one this year - so now couldn't be a better time!

What I would like to know, is that does the pass start from the day of order or the day of collection? Just that I probably won't be able to collect until next month during Alton's half-term event and therefore pretty much wasting a month. Although for saving £75, I suppose that's a sacrifice worth making! Just would like to know.

I also notice you can buy a pass, or a gift voucher. Which would you recommend? As I imagine a gift voucher will start on the day you hand it over, rather than day of purchase?

Thanks. :)
User avatar
Vik
Member
Member
Posts: 2978
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 10:37 pm
Location: Ellesmere Port
Contact:

I noted it does state that the Merlin pass in valid for 12 months from date of issue. So by rights it should go from when you collect it and not when you order it. Though I beleive people have had issues in the past with them being back dated to when it was purchased. It may be worth printing off the T&Cs incase of any such issues.

Also an AP purchased with a gift voucher would start from the day you hand the gift voucher over rather than from when the voucher was purchased.

As my pass runs out next month, I'm likely to go with one of these options currently available, and pick up/exhange next month, rather than pay the renewal price.
Sent from my ZX81 via Time Travel

Image
User avatar
Nathan
Member
Member
Posts: 1372
Joined: Sun Oct 30, 2005 5:18 pm
Location: Sunderland
Contact:

Thanks Vik! :)

I think I may go with the gift voucher just incase I don't happen to pick it up until SW6 opening and avoid running the risk of having problems with the issue date of buying a pass direct!
Dean

[quote=""Nathan""]Thanks Vik! :)

I think I may go with the gift voucher just incase I don't happen to pick it up until SW6 opening and avoid running the risk of having problems with the issue date of buying a pass direct!
[/quote]

Gift Vouchers are £120, you should be fine buying one for £75 in the sale, and then redeming your pass in March.

Your pass shouldn't start till it's printed, at your collecting attraction...
Post Reply