| Archive for RCCGB FORUM Message Board for Members of the Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain to discuss club events and all things theme park related. |
| smiler |
Merlins annual pass 2008Well this is it the new price and the new merlin card. Not a bad price I think for all the attractions.http://www.annual-pass.com/holding_page.asp |
||||||
| Big Stevie B |
Does this mean we lose our existing membership discounts? Nice! lol | ||||||
| Coaster Toaster |
That was my 1st thought as well steve | ||||||
| Magic |
£110??? OUCH!!!!!!
Yes considering all the parks it doesn't sound so bad but that is a heck of a lot of money. You can get a Six Flags Season pass for half that price, and I bet Cedar Fair pass is cheaper too. Doubt I'll be renewing at that rate. Considering you can get half price tickets to most of the parks that's a lot of visits before it pays for itself and as Alton Towers is the only park making any significant investment this year I doubt I'll be visiting the parks that often. Fortunately I only renewed in mid September so it'll see me through this season any how. Think I will be renewing my Six Flags season pass though. |
||||||
| stealth fan |
Exactly what I thought 
|
||||||
| bluea61 |
Its a lot less than I thought for a whole group pass. We were thinking more in the range of 150+. Still expensive though, shame they don't do a Tussuads Parks only pass or some sort of mix and match. | ||||||
| Auntie Murial |
I was thinking of a pick and mix scheme, where you can choose the attractions you would like and then they could have a scale of prices depending on what is chosen. | ||||||
| Coaster Toaster |
To be honest i quite like having them all on one rather than pick and mix because we are all more likely to go diffrent places for meet ups.
eg brighton when we went this year it was a total wash out so could have gone to the sea life centre. Same as southend as rest from the park go to the sea life centre And the london meet ups peolpe have done and spent going to the dungens this year as well as the eye and tussaurds. |
||||||
| Magic |
Don't get me wrong I do think it's a great idea having a pass for all the aprks. But it's just so damn expensive and I'm not convinced Id' get my money's worth out of it. I think it's probably now out of the reach of a lot of people. | ||||||
| Coaster Police |
But will Tesco Clubcard vouchers still be valid for these? That's the question.... | ||||||
| Magic |
If they are I bet they'll be a lot more expensive. Likewise with Nectar points I bet they sky rocket. | ||||||
| coastergraham |
It makes me think about renewing my pass again even with Tesco vouchers, which will surely go up.
I have no interest in going to Sea life or Legoland yet I am paying to do so with this pass. |
||||||
| coaster-andy |
I am glad that I got my tescos voucher just in December before prices went up. I must say I am glad also that parks have finaly gone back to age limit not hight as I would say that it is a huge jump just to get Thomas a pass. On the flipside I will now do Legoland which I thought was a little to hig for what it was.
It includes alot of places but you ould have to all of them to make money up on it I am not sure if they have maybe shot themselfs in the foot with this price hike this year. Time will tell. |
||||||
| bluea61 |
I didn't realise the passes were a height limit thing instead of age. I think it makes sense to have height limit though, becuase if you are over a certain height you can enjoy all of the attractions what ever your age, were as say if you are a small adult then you may be too small to ride everything and still be paying full whack. Interesting. | ||||||
| coaster-andy |
The hieght restriction was on most of tussauds parks not the passes. Sorry for confusion.It would be a different subject but I am not going there other than to say I am pleased that it is now age 4 or above. |
||||||
| simon08 |
I emailed merlin the other day about the price, for renewals its £86, also the pass is for UK attractions only not the entire attractions merlin own | ||||||
| smiler |
Yes its £110 but just think its only a £15 rise from last year for those extra parks £15 thats it. We only got it cheaper last year cause you get it at renewal price so for some people its great value for money I think. Yes it will be a shame if they do get rid of the discounts at the parks but I shouldnt think they will tho. | ||||||
| nemesis scribe |
Sooooooo, am i right in understanding its £86 to renew then??
Also, does it get you entry into Heide Park and Port Aventura??? AD 
|
||||||
| smiler |
Taken of the south parks website:
Someone on TTF has emailed Merlin and they replied with a couple of interesting points. 1. The 20% off food and merchandise for AP holders will remain. 2. The internation parks (Heide Park, Gardaland and Port Aventura) are no longer on the pass. 3. A new AP site with more detailed information will be launched soon. |
||||||
| simon08 |
this was the reply I got
Thank you for your email regarding the Annual Pass. The new Merlin Annual Pass is only valid for our UK attractions. The discount price for renewal for individual is £86.00. |
||||||
| simon08 |
emailed merlin again today, I wanted to clarify a few things, if you have a tussauds pass then it will include legoland and the sea life centres and all other uk owned merlin attractions, but you need to have it reprinted when you got to alton towers or thorpe etc. if you have a tussauds group annual pass. | ||||||
| bluea61 |
I have to say its not that great if they have removed all the International Parks aswell. To be able to use it at Port Aventura was one of the main reasons for buying last year.
If you are an existing pass holder then the new site says that you will not get access to Legoland and Sealife etc: "EXISTING TUSSAUDS ANNUAL PASS HOLDERS - your pass is still valid at Alton Towers Resort, THORPE PARK, Chessington World of Adventures & Zoo, Madame Tussauds, London Eye, Warwick Castle. Please note that upon your next visit to one of these attractions you will need to get your card re-printed, this is due to a new Annual Pass system, so please make your way to the relevant Annual Pass office. Existing Tussuads Annual Pass cards are not valid for entry at LEGOLAND© Windsor, SEA LIFE, Dungeons and Sanctuaries. Upgrades to all attractions are not available." www.annual-pass.com |
||||||
| simon08 |
Perhaps once the card is reprinted then it will include legoland etc,
I asked this in the email when I visit say alton towers to have my pass reprinted, will it include legoland and the sea life centres, or are they only included when you get a merlin annual pass? the reply was It will be the new Merlin Annual Pass unless you specifically have the Alton towers pass only - for more details please telephone admissions at Alton towers 01538 703344 |
||||||
| nemesis scribe |
Thars a real shame that they have made the pass UK parks only!!
I was in two minds whether to re-new, but will probably do so anyway, even if its just for convenience. Sea Life Centre and Legoland, meh!!!! At least i can get some extra ticks at legoland 
AD 
|
||||||
| coaster-andy |
Adam you are so close to Sea Life center are you sure you will not be popping over to see the fishes with your new season pass. 
|
||||||
| nemesis scribe |
Hahaha!!! Do i get a 'tick' if a see a shark!!! Noooooo hehe. Never understood how they can have a 'sea' life centre in a location that is the furthest point form the sea in any direction - Birmingham!! It is next to a canal though, so perhaps some sticklebacks or something???? 
I may go . . . one bored sunday afternoon . . . . maybe . . . AD
|
||||||
| smiler |
Mate if you free on the 13th of march then were down there gonna give it a go for the afternoon before a gig we going to up there. Theres a good mirror maze in there and a big shark but like you said no ticks. Theres a lift that takes you down the floors which you got to do but thats it
|
||||||
| nemesis scribe |
A Lift???? Yeeeee - ahhhh!!! Count me in!!!!!! Can we get ice - cream??????? Pleeeeeeease . . . .
|
||||||
| smiler |
According to some forums and people whos been emailing merlin if you have a pass that runs out say in august 2008 the next time you go to a merlin attraction you must get it reprinted, you must do this as the entrance gates etc to the attractions have been updated and go live on 9th of feb. But despite you still have the new merlin pass and it runs out in august you still cant visit the new attraction ie legoland etc till you get the renewal one in August.
So me and Jess are going on the 10th of feb are passes run out then to. Were getting are new passes printed and ares will include the whole of the merlin attractions as are old pass has run out. Dans pass runs out later in the year but he must still get his pass reprinted so he can get in on this day but he wont be able to get into legoland etc till his date is due even tho hes still got the new lookig pass. Hope that sounds better. Will let you no more information after next week. |
||||||
| simon08 |
my pass runs out in may 2008, but from the emails I got from merlin once its reprinted then it will be the merlin annual pass that will included legoland and the sea life centres. I suppose we wont know until we have them reprinted then try the new pass at legoland or sealife centres. | ||||||
| simon08 |
any new passes wont include their european attractions, the merlin annual pass is for uk attractions only |
||||||
| Magic |
Mine doesn't run out till October, since they have all my contact details on file I assume they are going to contact me to a) advise me I need to get a new pass and b) advise me that I can no longer use it at all the parks that I paid for the pass to use at ie. all the European parks.
Point b) is my biggest issue in that I bought and paid for a pass to use at several European parks this year and now it would appear I can't and they even have the cheek to not allow me to use it at all their UK parks that effectively replace the European ones. So with Port Aventura, Europa Park, Parc Asterix, Gardaland and Heide removed from the pass that reflects a massive reduction in usability of the pass. I can't help but feel that existing pass holders should either get a partial refund or be allowed to use it at all the UK parks. |
||||||
| bluea61 |
It does seem a bit of a swiz, but I'm sure in the T&C's they say they can remove any or all of an attraction from the pass. I guess we never really believed they would remove lots of attractions. | ||||||
| c anderson |
The price they are charging for the pass it should include ALL the parks they own.
Colin |
||||||
| bluea61 |
I agree, I wonder it there is an extra pass that gives everthing.
If all were included they would be: The Dungeons, Earth Explorer, Legoland, Madame Tussuads, Sealife Centre, Alton Towers, London Eye, Chessington, Gardaland, Heide Park, Warwick Castle, Thorpe Park and the Sanctuaries. It still wouldn't include PortAventura and Parc Asterix. A shame as they are two of the more impressive parks. |
||||||
| stealth fan |
Ok, now i'm confused. I'm at Thorpe on the 17th, so do I have to get mine printed to the new version when i go, and then renew when it runs out? Mine runs out 24th march. | ||||||
| smiler |
Yes you got to get it reprinted as the gates on the main entrance will go live on the 9th of feb and will only except the new merlin cards and then you must renew it as normal on the 24th of march. When we go on saturday to Alton were get some answers then for you. |
||||||
| stealth fan |
Ok, thanks Smiler, my head is clear now
|
||||||
| Bunnie |
I picked up a Tesco clubcard points book today and for those getting a pass with clubcard vouchers it says you need £27.50 worth of them. | ||||||
| stealth fan |
Me and Mum have decided we are not going to renew this year after all. | ||||||
| Regatta |
Of course, there`s the chance we will change our minds. We still have a month to think about it. Still, with no new rides this year - and no SRQ on Nemesis Inferno . . . . I have to agree that if the European parks are not included it`s a bit of a let down. (I`m also really miffed that we didn`t get to Port Aventura last year now!!!) One thing though - if the annual passes are going up that much (for new, not renewal) then what the heck are the gate prices going to be??? 
|
||||||
| Coaster Police |
I am also thinking that it's unlikely i'll renew. No new rides, and a load of froth like the sealife centre. Sure, Legoland is a bonus as they have coasters, but are ALL the legolands valid??
I am annoyed about the losing the foreign parks. That said, my old card doesn't burst until 21st April, and i've found a £19 return flight from Bournemouth to Barcelona on Ryanair, so could always do a desparate leap and get Port Aventura in on the old card. (Unless they've stopped the affiliation already??) |
||||||
| coaster-andy |
My wife (Clare) had a good talk with staff at Thorpe Park about this pass as a lot of the information is so confusing on Merlin's board. To change your card to a Merlin one, which you have to, is going to cost you another £15 for a card with Legoland, swap a card for free will not include Legoland. Disabled is also losing out and are coned a bit to. I am disabled and on old system I can get a carers pass which is great but oh no on Merlin as I have a Tesco's Voucher I am told I have to buy my carer a pass as well. This is not anywhere in the terms or conditions so I am going to argue it out only because now Thomas is over 1 m he needs his own card as well. I am sitting on fence at the mo on whether I will renew or not as I am getting a little sick of this new company who everyone/some said will be great for a lot of the parks. I wanted to do European parks as well not just UK. If no one nows European parks is not included anymore, So Gardaland, Heidi Park, are not on there. | ||||||
| smiler |
Did people get the merlin card to say bout them well we did the morning we got to Alton bit late there Merlin. Well all I can say is if you wanna new your pass is good luck they got to do the whole lot address names date of birth the lot. Took just over a hour at Alton towers to get are and god know what Thorpes gonna be like next week on opening weekend. | ||||||
| bluea61 |
According to the AP site if you have a Tussuads annual pass that is still valid it CANNOT be used at the international parks any longer. As much of a swiz as that is, it is in the T&C's that they can do it. So No Heide, PortAventura etc. | ||||||
| simon08 |
just been looking at the T&Cs, even when you get your old pass reprinted it doesnt include legoland, sealife centers etc. It will include them when you renew your pass at £86. Thats different to what they said in the emails I received. It should include all the attractions they own. |
||||||
| coaster-andy |
Just a correction I asked this question. Your renewal will not include legoland unless you pay merlin £15 extra for that to be added to the card. |
||||||
| Coaster Police |
Yeah, i was looking at this last night. It's all a bit confusing. I am correct in thinking that it is NOT MANDATORY to have your card re-printed? It says on the AP site the following... "Yes. Your pass is still valid to the relevant expiry date. Please not that you will not be able to renew this pass, but don’t worry, you will be offered the renewal rate for the NEW Merlin Annual Pass if you wish to carry on your membership." So the £15 upgrade people have been doing add's what? Legoland and the other Merlin attractions for the duration of their current season pass? My card expires on 21st April. I plan to go to Thorpe a couple of times between now and then. So I don't need to upgrade and spend £15 to do this, but i won't get SeaLife/Legoland etc? In which case I don't care.... But come April 21st, I the statement above seems to indicate that i can upgrade to the new Merlin card for the discounted renewal (£86) within a month of my card expiring? And it's a hell of a Swizz if International Parks are now not valid full stop. When I last renewed my card, technically, I paid for them, so under the terms of the current contract I have within my 1 year annual pass I paid for, i should be entitled to International attractions up to the expiry date, or be able to claim a refund for the months they have not been valid (honoured) for. Sounds like a load of froth to me 
Oh well.... |
||||||
| coaster-andy |
I seem to think that Merlins AP is a bit of a pain imho.There site is now confusing the parks information is confusing. On what Clare was told you have no chose to renew if you want to a Merlin Pass as Tussauds passes will not be valid even if you don't need a renewal until middle of 2008 or a week in you need to have a merlin card.
I will probably renew but only because I have children and they enjoy a day out at the theme parks. We will await to see what this doe's to Merlin Group we will see some lo cost coaster at Alton next and a lot of people saying how great this take over was, I don't see it myself yet. |
||||||
| simon08 |
it will only include legoland if you renew at £86 the £15 upgrade is if you have a tesco voucher, taken from the site Can I exchange this voucher for a NEW Merlin Annual Pass? Yes you can, when you visit one of our attractions, for a £15 upgrade fee we will issue you with a New Merlin Annual Pass. |
||||||
| nemesis scribe |
Blimey, its all a bit confusing isnt it??????
I was going to re-new, but dont know if i will bother now tbh. It sounds like us UK theme park loving folk are being ripped off yet again. Plus the parks dont have anything of great importance to warrant me wanting to visit on a number of occasions. Ohhhhh nearly forget about the euro fighter . . .whatever!!! No european parks, booooooo. Why not just leave them on?? People still spend money while in the parks so they are not losing out. Greeeeeedy methinks . . .
Cant believe the almighty confusion and shambles that happened at AT the weekend. I didnt go but have heard all the bad stories. I'm guessing TP will be nitemare this weekend too. Think i will put my £85 renewal money to do some weekend theme park tripping in Europe instead. AD
P.s. Does this mean no London Eye aswell????? |
||||||
| Bunnie |
I think the London Eye is still on the cards, I vaguely remember seeing the logo on the cards that smiler and co had.
I just checked the Tesco clubcard book I had and it shows the new style pass in there and the London Eye logo is on it. |
||||||
| Coaster Police |
Woohoo! Then arrange a car of 4 people, and come on the Coaster Police Holland trip 2008 LOL
|
||||||
| coaster-andy |
I am getting more confused. I was told that if it has Tussauds on Tescos Voucher it is £15 but like mine has Merlin it is free. I think the old saying goe's if it is not broken don't fix it. It was not broken so Merlin should have left alone and just stuck legoland on that card. |
||||||
| bluea61 |
Sadly they can remove the parks without offering any sort of refund. See http://www.annual-pass.com/faq/annual_pass_terms_conditions.asp?css=1. Look at points 5 and 17 these were also on the Tussuads card. I can kinda see why PortAventura has been taken off as the deal must have gone back to when Tussuads had a controlling interest in PA which must have ended when they were sold. Still doens't explain the rest of the parks in the group. |
||||||
| nemesis scribe |
I have now made a decision and i'm not going to re-new.
Merlin: greedy pig,porky pig, greedy greedy porky pig . . .
|
||||||
| Magic |
If anyone really feels unhappy about the new pass system and the dramatic reduction in parks for existing holders then this site might be of interest.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/consumer/tv_...adio/watchdog/contact_index.shtml |
||||||
| Bunnie |
I'll bet good money that people have already complained after the errors made at Alton Towers regarding the passes on Saturday. |
||||||
| Magic |
And if they haven't then by the sounds of the horror stories they really should. | ||||||
| bluea61 |
Interesting update, according to someone on the phone if you have a valid tussuads pass you can use it for international parks until it runs out. Plus Thorpe will still have the gate system for it until June. | ||||||
| smiler |
Well after visting London yesterday they are haveing problems there to. At both madame tussauds and the London eye there scanners cant scan the cards it was just holding up the que so they dont even bother scanning them. Not sure bout the dungeons as Jess chickened out again. Good news bout the London eye tho if your planning to go there with the new pass you head straight for the que and dont have to get a ticket anymore no pre booking now.
|
||||||
| krusty_the_clown |
Phil and I went to thorpe today. got in with our old passes with out a word being said about getting new ones. Ours were scanned and accepted with no problems | ||||||
| coaster-andy |
Well I am going to Warwick Castle to renew my pass. I have a lot of info downloaded and highlighted. So lets see how I get on there3. I tend to go there because it is quite and they don't mess about arguing over the pass.
So I will post here if I have fun with this pass. |
||||||
| smiler |
The old passes only work on the hand held scanners not the turnstyles as at Alton and Thorpe now you can go through the turn styles etc without going through the gate if you wish as at Thorpe sometimes its quicker with the other guess then the annual pass gate. |
||||||
| ccp |
The old passes only work on the hand held scanners not the turnstyles as at Alton and Thorpe now you can go through the turn styles etc without going through the gate if you wish as at Thorpe sometimes its quicker with the other guess then the annual pass gate.[/quote]
I updated mine last sat at thorpe, was a massive queue, so done it at end of day when no queue
i got exactly the same card pass again with little merlin logo on plus the small pics, logo's on front showing you what attractions you can get into. so no legoland,dungeons,sealife,sea life sanctuaries for me
but can still use card for the international parks untill card expires
so Portaventura,Heide Park,and International Madame Tussauds attractions
i'm sure like me most got the merlin season pass flyer through the post asking you to update annual pass,i found it most strange when getting my new pass that they did not have my address details etc! although they managed to send me flyer! apparently they had deleted all info after flyers were sent out 
chris |
||||||
| coaster-andy |
Well I found that getting my pass today at Thorpe to be not that bad. A couple of problems like the printer breaking down and the fact I had to pay £15 quid for pass as I had old Tescos voucher. But I cannot grumble as I got Clare's pass for free as she is my carer and they are not ment to do them on Tescos vouchers.
I think once all problems ironed out it should be fine. But they are still doing Tussauds passes as well so they are still valid if this is the case. |
||||||
| bb0118 |
Ive got a Nectar voucher for the new pass... however on the voucher it says Tussauds. Will be going to get the pass on the 20th at Thorpe. I really hope it dont cause a problem
|
||||||
| bluea61 |
I pretty sure there is no probs with this. I think you get the usual Tussuads yellow card but with a merlin logo on it. I think they offer you the chance to pay £15 to upgrade to a full Merlin pass, ie Legoland, Sea Life etc. | ||||||
| bb0118 |
I'm very glad you replied to this.. as I decided to do some investigating. Naughty Nectar sent me out the OLD voucher for the NEW pass. The voucher I had ordered was the new Merlin one with Legoland, Sealife etc all in. Spoken to Merlin who said if I handed in the voucher I would need to pay for the upgrade
Have now moaned to Nectar to ask what are they going to do about it as I plan to use it on the 20th.. awaiting a call back from them as I post this. Nectar do know about the problem now as im the 2nd person to have called them today about this. Not a happy bunny. Edit: Just called back... Nectar are going to contact Merlin tomorrow to find out what they can do |
||||||
| bb0118 |
Just had a response from Nectar who are going to send me a New voucher for the Merlin Pass 1st Class tomorrow.
There better not be any Royal Mail strikes lined up lol 
|
||||||
| amigasat |
If you have a yellow annual pass that's valid then it's still valid in the European parks up until expiry. This is the response I got from Merlin :-
The Merlin Annual Pass details all the information regarding European Parks on the website, for ease I note below the information. Is my Annual Pass valid in the International Attractions? The New Merlin Annual Pass is valid at UK attractions only. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- With regard to Port Aventura - the yellow annual pass is valid for entry until your pass expiry date. I've been told it's the same for the other European Parks. Dave |
||||||
| bb0118 |
Well finally this morning, the RIGHT Voucher came.. so hopefully no troubles on Thurs |