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Its official, annual pass holders are going to have to pay a fee to get into Fright Nights....From an annual pass email....

Make sure you don't get left in the dark... Due to Fright Nights extreme popularity, tickets are strictly advance book only!
Keep checking merlinannualpass.co.uk for Annual Pass Holder ticket release dates*.
*Pre-booking fee applies, keep checking the website for more details.

Also on this same email....

Please Note - Entry to Madame Tussauds London for Merlin Annual Pass Holders is strictly after 3pm only during August

London Attractions Exclusions
In order to ensure the best possible guest experience and to abide with Health & Safety restrictions, entrance into The London Eye, Madame Tussauds London, London Dungeon & SEA LIFE London Aquarium is restricted to after 3pm for Merlin Annual Pass Holders throughout the whole of August.
Sorry for any inconvenience caused.

So essentially that is saying, we want to get people through the door who will pay money to get in, so annual pass holders are only allowed in when it gets quieter..
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Magic · Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 8:28 pm Post subject:

Didn't they do this last year. I think the tickets were free but an advanced booking fee had to be paid. So you could take a risk and just turn up, but if it's really busy you won't get in unless you've bought an advanced ticket.
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David Ellis · Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 1:12 am Post subject:

I think this is a bit naughty...you have effectively paid in full for the season,. so you shouldn't have to accept being treated second to those who pay on the day. As for claiming it is for Health & Safety reasons...
Damn cheeky, if you ask me!
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bluea61 · Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 11:29 am Post subject:

I'm getting a bit fed up with the Annual Pass system now, it seems more and more restrictions keep getting added. I'm sure the Madam Tussuads thing was in place last year though, but still is very unfair.

The cost is a lot higher this year, and you get less parks than in previous years. Come on Merlin, give us something better for our money.
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stealth fan · Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 8:55 pm Post subject:

bluea61 · Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 11:19 am Post subject:

Dr Cat · Kiddie Poster Joined: 09 Jan 2009 Posts: 24

What i don't get is is that you go onto the Merlin card website, where it tells you that you need to book inadvance for the various fright nights. You use the links provided, which take you to the parks websites, which also tell you that you need to book in advance, even if you hold an annual pass, but you can do it for £2. but then you follow all the other links and there aren't any options to buy the advances passes online (unless you want a full price ticket - no thanks). So is the only way to phone up the park directly?
Sorry if this is an obvoiusly question, but i'm new to the Merlin system and am already finding it rather annoying. Had to pay full price whe i went to Gardaland in july - ouch! Why are the EU parks not included in the deal? Sad

chewie · Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2009 11:09 pm Post subject:

Personally, i think Merlin could run the UK parks they have into the ground. As Steve Burns said on Facebook (RE: Thorpe Park) they just want to get as many people as they can into their parks, and are not particularly bothered what kind of day we have.

I can see why he says this this after a recent trip to Heide Park this year, it was just a terrible experience and not a great park, and to boot, Colossos was down, at the height of the season too...Whats that all about??

At least they could do is give the people who bought their annual passes a FULL season to use it.
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Steven Burns · Strata Poster Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 1777

Andy Write said it best yesterday at Alton Towers. "We don`t hate Thorpe Park we have just all fallen out with it".
The place used to get me excited but now it just makes me mad. I fell like its run by chavez for Chavez. Hey, go look at the merchandise on sale in the shops, no ride t-shirts, just chavs wear and clothing.

After speaking to a few people, we think its because the staff are all young and don`t really portray the feeling of wanting to be there. Where as in the USA parks its adults and older people and they have more respect and make the day nicer. Merline is a glorified Supermarket employer.
Then they over kill on attendance. To many bogof deals and over sale of the annual pass. I know they need the money and i`m happy they are getting it but they over pack the parks and don`t do anything for you once your in the place. Except put you through the tedious queuing process, while they try and extort you for your money while you are trapped there. Selling you drinks and things. Then a chave ruins it at the ride a few hours later as they load you, if it hasn't broken down 25 times before you get there.
They know what time the park is going to open, they take your money and let you in and then tell you most of the rides are not yet in operation. Not even tested. Its just no fun anymore. Still love the rides but the atmosphere and magic is dead.

Halloween is always a fight at the best of times. The park hits capacity and it ruins the whole day. Unless you pay even more for a fast pass. They love it, more money for them as they mis-manage the Que system and rides.

I must say i did Alton Towers yesterday and had a great day on the rides and in the park. No moans at all from Alton.
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bluea61 · Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 11:21 am Post subject:

STEALTHYBUTBAD · Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 11:52 am Post subject:

I agree , the Fast pass thing certainly takes the mickey to be honest and i also think it should be scrapped as i was at Thorpe park yesterday and in the queue for some of the rides and the queue would move quite nicely but was made even longer by people with fast passes ( i call these Queue jumpers) being let in. Fast pass maybe a "good" idea but its not really. As for the charging people with annual passes and not letting them in till later in the day i think that thats disgusting if im honest Evil or Very Mad

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Magic · Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 12:33 pm Post subject:

I was at Merlins, Legoland in Billund last Friday. They have such an issue with UK Merlin pass holders trying to use their passes that they have print outs from the website proving that non of the European parks are included. The guy at customer services agreed it wasn't fair.

If you buy a Merlin pass at Legoland Billund you get unlimited access to Legoland Billund and 1 admission to all the other parks, including Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, Legoland Windsor etc. etc. and the price was roughly £60.

So if you can get 1 entry to UK parks with a European Pass, why can't you get 1 entry to European Parks with a UK Pass?

Over all we were impressed with Legoland Billund. Prices were Scandanavian high, but on a par with outside the parks. Portion sizes were good. The ice creams were massive for £2.20 and the best we had in Denmark. Also the fast pass system was free to use, with no restriction on the number of tickets you could have at once.
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chewie · Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 8:46 pm Post subject:

smiler · Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 8:57 pm Post subject:

Little up date on there site still guessing its like last year get there first thing.

Due to the extreme popularity of this event, Fright Nights is STRICTLY ADVANCE BOOK ONLY. There will be no admittance to the Park without a valid pre-booked ticket. Make sure you buy your tickets early online to avoid disappointment!

If you are an Annual Pass holder, guarantee your entry by booking in advance from just £2 per person!
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STEALTHYBUTBAD · Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 9:21 am Post subject:

I went to Thorpe's fright nights the year before last and i got a ticket off of their website. When i got to the park on the day i got to where they check the tickets and they saw my annual pass and said i didnt need the ticket as they were letting annual pass holders in as normal and they said i could use the ticket for the fireworks nights !. Last year i went and didnt get a ticket and they let me in as normal with my pass - sounds like a rip off plan against annual pass holders to me.
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smiler · Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 10:24 pm Post subject:

A email from the park this morning what a joke.

Due to the extreme popularity of this event, Fright Nights is STRICTLY ADVANCE BOOK ONLY. Annual Passholders will not be admitted to the Park without a valid pre-booked ticket. Make sure you buy your tickets early online to avoid disappointment!

As an Annual Pass holder, you can take advantage of our special early booking offer - pre-book your entry ticket online for just £2 before 31st August 2009.

O and no fireworks either been cancalled. Getting worse now this park Alton all the way
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smiler · Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 10:23 pm Post subject:

Just got back from thorpe and it is 100% true that you do have to book for the fright nights. This is due to the park filling up so quick and people complaing that they cant get in so this way they have a good idea on how many people are coming etc.

Also Saw the ride comes alive is just them putting a actor (The one that was there on opeing day) back there for it thats it so big push there Laughing

What a joke
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bluea61 · Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 11:30 am Post subject:

I will be giving Fright Nights a miss this year then. I think if they want you to advance book it should be free for season pass holders. Its not really a whole season for free otherwise!

It is actually in the Terms as wellthat they can charge:

"An Annual Pass is not valid for any Merlin Entertainments Group concerts or themed special events held at any Attraction. An additional charge will apply for these events."
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smiler · Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 9:22 pm Post subject:

I said to them that its in the terms and conditons etc but how come Alton do it, Legoland and other attractions dont do it just thorpe, I no its always a full house but is that week nights to when kids are at schools etc to if not then ill be going in the school week when its quite and they know that there not gonna get a full house etc.
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Photos updated (14/12/09) Winter wounderland and the O2 fair

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STEALTHYBUTBAD · Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 4:49 pm Post subject:

I Think ill be giving it a miss too this year ! Only went last year to see the circus of horrors who to me are the main atttraction of Fright nights and from what ive heard they're not gonna be there this year.
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WildMouse · Junior Poster Joined: 02 Oct 2007 Posts: 75

You heard right. Circus of Horror's won't be returning to Thorpe for Fright Nights. You can catch them on tour though. They will be in Blackpool over the Halloween period.
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Death · Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 1:18 pm Post subject:

Just had a quick skim-read of this thread as I don't have much forum time left, but taking the above as gospel (After all, it doesn't seem beyond "reasonable" in a corporate sense) I have to say that I'm majorly [Extreme obscenities censored by OP] with the Anal Pass sceme after finding this out. Evil or Very Mad

As some of ye know; I bought my first Annual Pass in about five years at the start of this season, intending to use it on fortnightly trips to TP and CWoA, plus a few off-trips to AT and other attractions. However due to circumstances beyond my control (Keeping an eye on friends in need, mainly) I've only been able to use the pass three times thus far this season. Sad

Now as it is, I was already pretty [peeved] off by the fact that I'd had to pay the full £150,- for my AP despite having a Tesco Clubcard, as the [Dummkopfen] at Tesco wouldn't allow me to purchase Clubcard vouchers to save money for some reason...And it would take me about 20 years of shopping to get the £40,- in vouchers needed for an AP.
However, as far as I was concerned - And entitled to believe, given the previous usage that I've had under the AP scheme - My AP was valid for every normal day that the parks/attractions were open for business...With the sole exception being for special events, those being where/when the park had been hired out privateley for a corporate event. Exclamation

As far as I'm concerned - Given that Fright Nights have always been a standard part of the admission price and available at no extra charge to AP holders in the past - Fright Nights do not fit the necessary criterion to be classified as such special events...And although I have no objection to AP holders being asked to book FREE "Save my place" tickets to allow the park to control and moderate the number of people visiting the park for capacity and safety reasons, personally I will NOT accept being charged any extra for attending the Fright Night fortnight (I was planning on doing a full seven consecutive days at TP) as I have long been planning to. Evil or Very Mad

I don't know if we have any Legal Eagles around the forum, but if we do could they possibly take a brief look at any relevant legislation that may apply in this case? I'm beginning to think that Merlin Entertainment's action of charging AP holders extra to attend a normal business day may well constitute a breach of contract... Evil or Very Mad

Farewell... Twisted Evil

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smiler · Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 4:14 pm Post subject:

If you are registered to the annual pass website then you should of got a email saying bout fright night. They are saying now that annual pass holders can get in for free up to the 23rd ONLY and then during the hlaf term time it will be a charge and that there not even opening the kiosk to. Hope thats a bit better so a mid week trip for this then.
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Coaster Toaster · Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 4:20 pm Post subject:

Free mid meek trip sounds good to me what day
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smiler · Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 7:03 pm Post subject:

Was thinking tuesday the 13th or something of October.
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Photos updated (14/12/09) Winter wounderland and the O2 fair

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stevencaine · Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 8:21 pm Post subject:

Ok sounds good to me Wink

Geek · Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 3:46 pm Post subject:

After reading this thread, I'm not entirely convinced that the merlin annual pass is such a good thing after all, what do you reckon, should I buy one or not?? Shocked

stevencaine · Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 3:53 pm Post subject:

The answer too that is a definate YES you will get your moneys worth out of it Wink

krusty_the_clown · Site Admin Joined: 22 Sep 2007 Posts: 317

I have to admit, Im really not bothered about not being able to get in on the busy half term week as you can never get on anything, the fact that we can get in free earlier on is fine with me, and Death Legal eagle or not the T&C clearly states that special events are excluded and they would easily be able to argue that it is a special event. Also the T&C of any product like the Annual pass will have words to the effect of 'we reserve the right to alter the terms and conditions with out notice'

I still think it works out good value (just) but like others Im unhappy that the price has jumped from about £80 about 3 years ago to £150 now, Ok so we now get the dungeons and Legoland but weve lost all the European parks!

Geek · Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 4:01 pm Post subject:

I was just looking on the site to buy the pass and the annoying thing is that I have to collect it from a park! Not got the time to attend anyparks between now and loopy due to an annoying exam!! grrr! Oh well, Think i'll go for it and see if it's worth it! cheers!

smiler · Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 4:44 pm Post subject:

Last year I did a list on how much I saved by useing one and saved over £1,200 so yeah worth getting one Laughing

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Photos updated (14/12/09) Winter wounderland and the O2 fair

Flicr photos update (14/12/09)
Video update (03/11/09)

bluea61 · Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 11:30 am Post subject:

Rich is doing his sales pitch again! I wouldn't believe everything he says, he told me he was going for a curry with Roy Walker Laughing

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butler · Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 6:28 am Post subject:

He told me he was going to Paris with Melanie Sykes.
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Death · Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 10:32 am Post subject:

Might explain why I saw him amongst the cast of a certain West End musical a short while ago... Wink

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smiler · Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2009 3:22 pm Post subject: