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Original poster

Reduced price tickets at theme parks for non-participants

48 replies

DMCWelshcakes · 20/08/2020 13:24

I'm at a theme park with my family and for endless medical reasons I can't go on a single ride. I'm quite happy here on my blanket with Mumsnet and a book, looking after the backpacks while everyone else has fun on the rides. But it occurs to me that I'm not getting value for money on this deal.

Does anyone else think there should be a reduced price for people who can't go on any of the rides and are basically acting as luggage monitor for the day?

It could be administered with an indelible stamp on the hand to stop people sneaking onto stuff they shouldn't and just pretending to be a non-participant.

(Nobody feel sorry for me though - I've got a sneaky millionaires shortbread in my bag that I can eat all by myself and not have to share, as wells all this peace and quiet. Grin )

OP posts:
Tapiocaisbleurgh · 20/08/2020 13:25

Totally agree

ToelessPobble · 20/08/2020 13:26

I've always thought that, or a reduced price when you are taking little ones and won't get a chance to go near the big rides yet have to pay the same price.

BertieBotts · 20/08/2020 13:27

I suppose people would just abuse it and it would become hassle for the staff.

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SoupDragon · 20/08/2020 13:29

I agree.

I can't work out a foolproof method though - maybe tagging everyone? Green for participants, red for pack mules.

BrieAndChilli · 20/08/2020 13:33

The problem is say the capacity (for ease) is 100. At the moment wether or not you go on all the rides etc 100 people pay the full amount. If they let some people who didn’t go on rides pay half. Then they would only have probably 60 people paying full price. They wouldn’t be earning enough to run. It’s a business decision. They know that people will come and pay full price. If less people went then they would probably do something regarding the pricing.
We only go to theme parks when we can get money off via vouchers etc!!

bathorshower · 20/08/2020 13:43

You could do it with wrist bands - plenty of places we go require you to wear one anyway, and if everyone has one, with the colour indicating what type of ticket they have then it would be hard to circumvent.

TorysSuckRevokeArticle50 · 20/08/2020 13:45

They used to do that at some parks by issuing different coloured bands and offering the option to pay as you go on any rides, so for example

£25 all access
£10 park access, pay as you go rides

Nosebogey · 20/08/2020 13:48

I suppose they see it as paying for entry not paying for the rides. And it would get abused if they did it any other way unfortunately.

CamdenLurker · 20/08/2020 13:48

To oil Gardens in Copenhagen did something similar to this, you could pay to enter the gardens alone or pay a higher price to use the rides etc.

Works out pretty well if you know you won't be taking part in the theme park stuff but can still enjoy the grounds 😊

CamdenLurker · 20/08/2020 13:49

That's Tivoli Gardens not To Oil 🙄

Zaphodsotherhead · 20/08/2020 13:50

I used to take my children to FlamingoLand and pay an absolute fortune (I hate rides). I suggested on many an occasion that they do a 'two tier' entry system with different coloured wristbands, so that those who only wanted to visit the zoo could do so, or those who wanted to do all the rides could be accompanied by someone who didn't.

Happiest day of my life when eldest child passed her driving test and could take them all without me having to mortgage my soul just to walk round and pretend not to be terrified watching them on the big rides.

Mrsjayy · 20/08/2020 13:54

I'm disabled go on nothing but went with the family places like pleasure beach in Blackpool used to do the band system also I think Alton towers did a consession reduction,but I agree with you if you are not on anything and there to hold the jackets a reduced rate is sensible. Once the DC got to an age they could go on the same rides Dh just took them.

youngestisapsycho · 20/08/2020 13:57

Tivoli World in Spain do the same... small fee to get in... can pay for a wristband if want to go on all rides or you can buy separate tickets around the park for individual rides

Original poster
DMCWelshcakes · 20/08/2020 13:59

Hurrah! Not just me then.

I'm basically here for the fireworks display later. The rest of it is utterly pointless. I might have a snooze...

OP posts:
randomsabreuse · 20/08/2020 14:00

Bewdley Safari park had this system. Could buy different price tickets for different height kids...

nikkylou · 20/08/2020 14:09

It's probably really hard to police.

Wristbands or passes or the like aren't exactly the easy option. Those who that way inclined will swap them round the whole group. Theyll be the same people that pass them down the line so no-one has to queue for ages. Along with the 'I dare you to challenge me' face.

Stamps would rub off and I'm sure the more creative of people would manage to find a way around those awful strip wrist bands with the super glue strips that never line up and ALWAYS catch some hair and the plasticky coating which makes tearing the hand off easier than ripping them.

I suppose its probably easier to change your mind set. You haven't paid (e.g.) £40 to bag sit but you've paid £120 for the whole family (I've assumed 2 kids are 1/2 price). Take yourself out at its £40 per person...is it still worth it?

Original poster
DMCWelshcakes · 20/08/2020 14:23

Thing is that we're on holiday so me staying back at the hotel would be dull and antisocial.

And I am having a nice time with my book. And DH has been sent to bring me back an ice cream.

OP posts:
anguauberwaldironfoundersson · 20/08/2020 14:27

I agree. We're taking DD to Alton Towers in a few weeks for CBeebies world. I'm too fat to go on the big rides and DH is too old and scared... not that we would have attempted to jump on the Nemesis with DD in tow...

Luckily we've used Clubcard points so it's not breaking the bank but still, a two tiered system would be infinitely easier and cheaper

thecatsthecats · 20/08/2020 14:36

They could have a sort of sound proofed adult creche in the middle of the site with a wristband linked to your charges. So when they wanted you they had to buzz their wristband against a device that buzzed yours on your wrist.

Endless free soft drinks, quiet... I think I'd pay more for that than to go on the ride.

Zaphodsotherhead · 20/08/2020 14:40

@nikkylou

It's probably really hard to police.

Wristbands or passes or the like aren't exactly the easy option. Those who that way inclined will swap them round the whole group. Theyll be the same people that pass them down the line so no-one has to queue for ages. Along with the 'I dare you to challenge me' face.

Stamps would rub off and I'm sure the more creative of people would manage to find a way around those awful strip wrist bands with the super glue strips that never line up and ALWAYS catch some hair and the plasticky coating which makes tearing the hand off easier than ripping them.

I suppose its probably easier to change your mind set. You haven't paid (e.g.) £40 to bag sit but you've paid £120 for the whole family (I've assumed 2 kids are 1/2 price). Take yourself out at its £40 per person...is it still worth it?

It shouldn't be beyond the realms of possibility to put microchips in wrist bands (too tight to easily slip on and off) that are read by machines as you get onto a ride.

A flashing light would alert the ride operator to the fact that someone is slipping on with the wrong wristband.

Yes, people could probably swap wristbands, but if the things are put on by machine that fits them to your wrists, you have to cut them off and that's fairly obvious if they do spot checks as you get on the rides.

Marmite27 · 20/08/2020 14:40

@anguauberwaldironfoundersson

I agree. We're taking DD to Alton Towers in a few weeks for CBeebies world. I'm too fat to go on the big rides and DH is too old and scared... not that we would have attempted to jump on the Nemesis with DD in tow...

Luckily we've used Clubcard points so it's not breaking the bank but still, a two tiered system would be infinitely easier and cheaper

They have a system at Alton towers, where one of you goes on, and the other waits with kids, then swap over for the next ride. It’s got a fancy name but I can’t remember it.
Original poster
DMCWelshcakes · 20/08/2020 14:50

@thecatsthecats

That sounds blissful!

OP posts:
CoffeeRunner · 20/08/2020 14:54

They used to do this at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. A few £’s entrance fee with the option of buying a wristband if you wanted to go on all the rides.

It does make sense.

Questioningeverything · 20/08/2020 15:04

This annoys me too. I’m disabled so can’t go on rides. When I go with friends/ family I’m there to see my dc have a good time- but Christ is it expensive seeing them have fun when I have to pay full price ticket to just wave at them in the queue and eventually on the ride. They have to go on with someone else too.
Places like Southend have it right, you buy wristbands based on what you’ll go on. And apparently a young one gets an adult to accompany for free. You can go through without having the entry fee faff. Without question, I’m not going on a ride. Let me sit and stuff my face in peace

Floralnomad · 20/08/2020 15:09

I totally agree with you OP and it could be easily policed by using wrist bands for those who are going on rides .