This is probably a commercial decision on the basis that parks are quiet in the week and could attract non passholders who aren't at school. They know the park will be busier at the weekends and in school holidays. The only thing is the demographic target audience is families who will be at school. However the park will be open till 7 and therefore some may come later in the day after school and work. It could work for families who want a cheap day out until they realise the price of the parking if they drive.
2025: General Discussion
- Thread starter Elise
- Start date
U watching it live?Its time for the Themepark awards!
So far, Drayton have a silver and gold award - Gold in accessibility for the Thomas Land quiet mornings
Silver also obtained just now for the 75th fireworks!
Good luck with the rest of the awards Drayton!
Elise
Administrator
I was yeah
Didn’t think we did that good for a year that not much opened or happened in the uk park industry.
Well, as events go this was the most NONE event I've ever seen!
It was just a normal term time Friday and the place was full of school kids running around the place, most of whom were unaccompanied.
I got there early. I was the third person in the queue. They opened the gate at 10am, then scanned us in and gave us a wristband, then made us wait 10 minutes. When we were allowed in I went over to the info board and took a picture.
NOT 7pm.
Spent the first half an hour in Vikings, went on the rides, then around 11am I noticed a MASSIVE Queue outside. That's when I knew something was amiss.
Yep, you've guessed it - there were hundreds of school kids waiting to get in. I was under the impression that school groups were not booked in on events days? I was clearly wrong!
I went on Malestrom and it was full of kids who decided to scream the moment the ride started. They didn't stop screaming until the ride stopped. Most of these kids were under 12 and there were no adults with them.
By this point I went to guest services to ask a few questions. First was when do you close today. Their reply was select rides are open until 7pm. She said that they would update the info board later. My next question was is the bar or the pizza place open? No was the answer. It was almost lunch time by this point so I made my way out the park. As I was leaving I asked the peeps at the Vikings entrance where the nearest pub was, cos by this point I needed a drink!! They mentioned that the hotel has a bar - I asked if my 20% discount worked at the hotel bar, but neither knew. They then asked someone else, who after checking, couldn't confirm, he said it's either 10 or 20. I also asked when do the school kids leave - the answer was between half 2 and 3. (that was the only correct information they gave)
At this point I opted to just leave and walk up to Fazeley and buy some food and drink there. (chips from the chippy, and 2 cans of cider from tesco!) So on my day out to Drayton I find myself sat on a bench supping cans of cider like a vagrant! - gawd knows what the locals thought of me! On a plus note I did see something cool.
I also popped in to Fazeley Inn and had a quick pint in there. It was a Bingo afternoon. £40 for a full house - I'm tempted to go back!!
Anyways, I walked back to the park and decided to pop into the hotel to ask about the 20% discount. The guy at the desk didn't know, he went out back to check and finally confirmed that the gold pass 20 percent discount is valid at the bar.
I then had a slow walk back to the park via the hotel grounds and noticed that the info boards were still saying 5pm closing. So by this point, having expecting 4 hours of ride time, I only had 2.
All the rides by this point were walk on. Some were walk on and stay on! I went on Air Race and had the entire ride to myself! Obviously ended the day with several rides on the wave and went on the last 2 rides of the day on gold rush
So that was my day.
Dissapointed at the early close, which was obviously decided before they even opened.(see the first picture) Why can't they be upfront about the closing times? As I mentioned earlier guest services told me that they WERE open until 7, yet they closed early.
I'm gonna try again next friday- maybe it was the short notice that caught everyone out and that was why the day didn't go as planned?
*crosses fingers that next time is better*
I do wonder if they will partly drain the lake at the start of October to install this water/light show?
Can’t believe it’s been just over 4 weeks since my last visit but gonna take my son today as it is dry.
Can’t believe it’s been just over 4 weeks since my last visit but gonna take my son today as it is dry.
Can’t believe how busy it was today
They did a bogof. That's probably why. I didn't go (went Friday) May I ask if any of the food and drink outlets were open? Was Castle Bar open?
It is the operations that are the problem.
One train on the wave, one on Gold rush - and reliability of rides in general and you get an unfortunate place. Add in too many Ride Access passes, return tickets and special offers and it all gets very messy.
Drayton need to focus on faster ops and ride availability before they focus on BOGOFs etc. You need to build confidence and return visits else you are just upsetting guests.
We popped in yesterday but it felt like a lot of people not having a great day.
They are long way from Paultons. Paultons limit pass holders by raising the price and are stricter on ride access availability etc. They also never discount day tickets.
One train on the wave, one on Gold rush - and reliability of rides in general and you get an unfortunate place. Add in too many Ride Access passes, return tickets and special offers and it all gets very messy.
Drayton need to focus on faster ops and ride availability before they focus on BOGOFs etc. You need to build confidence and return visits else you are just upsetting guests.
We popped in yesterday but it felt like a lot of people not having a great day.
They are long way from Paultons. Paultons limit pass holders by raising the price and are stricter on ride access availability etc. They also never discount day tickets.
It's not ops that is the problem but the procedure the manufacturers sets is the cause of a lot of problems. Where they did say Europa is the example of what ops should be which while doing safely also do things to speed the process up.
That is what they aspire to be like Paultons not that they are, Paultons didn't become great overnight it took a long time before it did.
I got on few rides yesterday mainly because of ops so mostly walled around the park. It is nice to see the park busy means more money coming in on secondary spend.
They have got more plans in the pipeline but currently ops is the main issue.
I would be cautious of messing with RAP we all saw how people reacted to Merlin when they did it as much as its a problem.
But the Merlin Rap changes have definitely improved the experience of park goers.
I spent a week in Europa a few weeks ago and was a fantastic experience. It shows what can be done if you invest in things properly.
I spent a week in Europa a few weeks ago and was a fantastic experience. It shows what can be done if you invest in things properly.
Keeping the Fish and Chip shop and Castle Bar closed on Friday's is a massive shot in the foot.
I understand why the dine in places are shut - they cost more to run, and need x amount of covers to cover the staff salaries.
The Chippy and Bar are kiosks, and cost much less to operate.
Running costs of Castle Bar; It's a one person operation, so it's £10-12 per hour - Staff salary. Energy costs are pennies per hour. They only have to sell 3-4 drinks per hour to make a profit. We've all seen the eyewatering prices - £8 per pint!! The Bar also serves soft drinks and hot drinks. It's impossible for that to lose money - yet it's always shut on weekdays. (and sometimes weekends too!)
Running costs of the chippy are slightly more. It would need 2 operatives on quiet days. Energy costs will depend on how much is fried. Modern friers are very energy efficient, so if they just fry to order then that would keeps costs down ie less wasted energy and less wasted food.
They're obviously winding the season down, with lots of peeps now entering for free or for next to free, so it seems odd to me that there's next to nowhere for anyone to spend any money in the park! Surely the whole point of these promos is to get people into the park, and get them to spend some money?
I had Money to spend, yet nowhere to spend it in my previous visits.....
I understand why the dine in places are shut - they cost more to run, and need x amount of covers to cover the staff salaries.
The Chippy and Bar are kiosks, and cost much less to operate.
Running costs of Castle Bar; It's a one person operation, so it's £10-12 per hour - Staff salary. Energy costs are pennies per hour. They only have to sell 3-4 drinks per hour to make a profit. We've all seen the eyewatering prices - £8 per pint!! The Bar also serves soft drinks and hot drinks. It's impossible for that to lose money - yet it's always shut on weekdays. (and sometimes weekends too!)
Running costs of the chippy are slightly more. It would need 2 operatives on quiet days. Energy costs will depend on how much is fried. Modern friers are very energy efficient, so if they just fry to order then that would keeps costs down ie less wasted energy and less wasted food.
They're obviously winding the season down, with lots of peeps now entering for free or for next to free, so it seems odd to me that there's next to nowhere for anyone to spend any money in the park! Surely the whole point of these promos is to get people into the park, and get them to spend some money?
I had Money to spend, yet nowhere to spend it in my previous visits.....
