Menu
What's new
By:
Filters

Merlin Pass 50% off sale.

^ I've read about the new restrictions, too.

From the Merlin Annual Pass website:
13. Restrictions and certain additional fees apply to the Standard Merlin Annual Pass only including, but
not being limited to the following:
- 13.1 NO entry into Madame Tussauds (London), the London Eye, SEA LIFE London Aquarium and London
Dungeon during the whole of August;
- 13.2 NO entry to the London Eye on 14 February, 27 July to 31 July and 29 October to 31 October;
- 13.3 NO entry to the London Dungeon from 29 October to 31 October;
- 13.4 secondary attractions at Warwick Castle including, but not limited to, the Castle Dungeon and Merlin
the Dragon Tower will be subject to additional charges;
- 13.5 an event booking fee will apply to Fright Nights and other special events at THORPE PARK regardless of the time of entry or departure; and
- 13.6 parking fees at the Attractions.
For the avoidance of doubt, the restrictions and additional fees set out in this clause 13 do not apply to the Premium Merlin Annual Pass.
Click to expand...
 
To be fair it's a decent offer for people who have been thinking of getting a pass for a while.

If you've already got a pass, then you'll still be paying the same renewal rates when your pass expires; let's face it, most people's passes will be up for renewal at the start of the season.

So yeah, call me cynical, but this is a blatant attempt at getting more people signed up for the annual pass while pretty much shafting existing pass holders.

I'll be honest, when I saw the offer I was briefly tempted to get one, as I'm sure many other people will be. However, even at £78, which is a really decent price, I still wouldn't use it enough next year to really get my money's worth. I don't/won't do multiple trips to the same park for the sake of it, nor will I force myself to go to a bunch of identical Sea Life Centres to squeeze "value" out of it.

Plus you have to buy them in person? **** that. I'm not making the trip to the Trafford Centre (stick another £20 in travel right there) just to get one of these.

So yeah. Good on Merlin for getting their claws into more people for their annual pass scheme (who will no doubt be upsold the "premium" version once they get to the counter to buy them), but still not for me thanks.
 
I feel sorry for the people that got a pass for Xmas lol.

It's strange they are only doing offers on the standard pass this year and not the premium one.
 
^You can "upgrade" in the same way though.

I can bet you that the reason that you have to buy them in person is so that they can try and upsell the premium pass for "only £35 more" once you're there and getting your cash out of your wallet.
 
gavin said:
Plus you have to buy them in person? **** that. I'm not making the trip to the Trafford Centre (stick another £20 in travel right there) just to get one of these.
Click to expand...
* Round of applause for Merlin *

I was just going to let my pass lapse, and spend less time at the UK Merlin attractions this year. This is a damn good deal and nearly made me change my mind... until you factor in that I'd have to trek all the way down to York for my closest Merlin attraction (or waste half a day going over to the Trafford Centre next time I'm in Manchester). It's just not worth it.

Now if the deal had been available online... THEN we'd be talking.

I guess this just goes to show how the theme parks just keep on getting sidelined in favour of all the other family attractions Merlin keep adding to the pass and use as an excuse to keep jacking the price up.
 
Won't make any difference to me I always use my Tesco vouchers, and Tesco had a sale on at the beginning of December to exchange vouchers at last years price's, £42 of vouchers instead of £50. I will upgrade to Premuim as I go a lot because I get a lift from Leigh, so make it still worth while for me....
 
Hmm bit from the fb page is very interesting:
How do I know if I qualify for the family rate?
You simply need to have between 3 and 5 people who would like to purchase a Merlin Annual Pass. In 2011 a maxmium of 2 guests over the age of 12 per family pass applied. However for Passes purchased from the 26th December 2011 onwards a maxmium of 3 guests over the age of 12 per family pass will apply. This will mean 3 guests who are all, for example, 21 years old, will be able to purchase a family of 3 pass and take advantage of the family rate.
Click to expand...
So does this mean that any 3-5 people can get together and be called a family?
If so, anyone wanna be my long lost auntie/uncle?!
 
If you're a regular visitor this is a fantastic deal regardless of the restrictions. Don't be a tight-arse and snap this **** up!
 
Merlin have now confirmed the deadline for the half price offer is the 31st of January.

I'm off to the Trafford Centre today to get one, it's a bit of a pain in the arse compared to last year but I reckon i'll still make a saving with it.
 
I might actually visit the Trafford Centre and buy one.. or wait until payday on the 24th. Either way for the first time in a LONG time i'm going to get a pass. I see myself actually visiting a Merlin attraction* this year..

*in the UK.
 
I picked mine up at Warwick Castle last weekend and succumbed (as Gavin knew I would) to upgrading to the Premium pass. I think it was £104 in total. My pass had expired and I wasn't planning on renewing it, but things change. My new car is about a third of the cost to run as my old one. So it makes a run down to Thorpe £20-£25 instead of the £60 it would have cost in the old beast. That makes a big difference on deciding whether a MAP is worth it or not. I can afford more trips out now to the Merlin attractions, so the pass suddenly becomes valuable again.

So I guess I'll be down to see what The Swarm is all about after all :lol:
 
Free parking at all parks, bigger discounts and no date restrictions.

You think 5 odd visits to Alton or Thorpe pays for that upgrade.
 
Yep, that's the badger Marc :)

We'll easily do five visits somewhere, so it makes sense for at least one (preferably me as the driver) of us to have the Premium pass, but other than parking there's no real benefit for us so we'll only be getting plain old passes for everyone else.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top