I for one think that some people are getting their knickers in a twist over a measly £2 (or £5 before the end of September) and it isn't just on this forum either.
And therefore 100% agree with what Mark said.
Yes this is Thorpe Park, and people don't like Thorpe and are bound to make a fuss over a couple of quid. Though I'm not a huge fan of Thorpe, I do think this is a fantastic idea.
I've been to two Fright Nights events and my response to it as always been that it is far too busy. I and many others don't want to queue for 3 hours for Inferno (although it was mighty fun) and 2 hours for Colossus. And quite frankly I don't want to queue those length of times do the mazes.
I like the fact that Thorpe are actually trying to do something to curb the numbers of people in the park making it far more enjoyable for the people that are actually in the park. And I also like it that they are listening to people and care about the way that customers see the park. I think after the amount of people that wrote to them after opening day and from previous Fright Nights it has made them aware of ways they need to improve their service and I'm all for it.
By not selling tickets on the gate and making AP holders pay extra it should in theory reduce the numbers.
(Whether it actually works remains to be seen)
On the subject of opening day, when I learnt that people were cheating the Annual Pass system to get some free tickets to flog on eBay I was quite disgusted. And likewise with people that kept diving back into the queue to get more passes and more tickets. Stupid and unfair on the park that are trying to do something to compensate the guests and make it work for everyone.
Another point that I really think needs echoing again is that you comply to the Terms and Conditions of owning an Annual Pass, and I quote from the website:
7: 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
I recall seeing that exact T&C since I've had it and have always considered that the parks may charge for such events and therefore glad they have finally done something about it.
One last point I wish to make is all those that are considering boycotting GF because of £2!
Like Mark said, lots of people buy sweets for this Live and will happily stuff their faces with them. I'd like to echo what he said about them and that I'm sure people eat more than £2 worth of them or use more than £2 worth of them in case of glowsticks and stuff like that from last year.
Those that are considering 'boycotting' GF for the sake of £2 need to think several things over.
I'll admit now that I don't like GF and this has nothing to do with the organisation of it (which I think is amazing considering the sheer size of it) the only reason I don't like it is because of the busyness of the parks and again echos my point of agreeing with the additional charge for AP holders that it should help to make the GF day at Thorpe better for everyone.
While there is a chance of me not being able to go to GF this year, it as absolutely nothing to do with the additional charge. And everything to do with college.
With the chance I have of making it, I said way before they introduced the compulsory charge, that I would buy a guaranteed entrance ticket to make sure I could get in as if I do go, I may not make it there till the early afternoon.
[/end rant]
