Recent content by Robbie

I agree it's nuanced, and obviously they need to find a balance. But I also think 7pm is too early. I would open until 9pm and then guests are more likely to buy food and drink while in there. But it also needs commitment, so that people know it's open that late and can go after school or work...

Closing times in general are very annoying. It's not just Merlin, but UK parks seem to close at 6pm at best. I know there are staffing costs, but when many visitors will be aware of US and European parks staying open later it's just not good enough anymore.

Taking the piss now. It's like performance art or something.

Getting an e-mail with the subject "It's time - the moment you've all been waiting for..." which turns out be about the opening of this year's Hot Ice Show and not, say, any new ride or the re-opening of Grand National just about sums up all that's wrong with Blackpool Pleasure Beach lately.

Yeah, you’d imagine so…. it’s just this is Blackpool Council we’re talking about!

Seems more a case of Blackpool taking it back from Merlin, rather than being given up. I'd love to know what happened here - those attractions are in a much better state than when Merlin inherited them and I'm not really confident Blackpool Council will do as good a job running them.

A Wicked land would basically be The Wizard of Oz, which was first published 125 years ago and has never gone out of print. I think it's fair to say by now that it's quite popular.

I wonder if they could build it so the land around Hobbiton is just the local farmers fields. Not part of the theme park at all, but can seem it from certain viewpoints.

Attendance at most live events (eg theatre, concerts) has gone up since Covid so it seems theme parks are the same. People rediscovering a taste for 'real' experiences.

The issue really is not that BPB scrap old rides, but that they do so without warning. Having a 'last chance to ride...' period would be good business, as well as giving fans a chance to go on a favourite ride a final time.

Really enjoyed these rapids, even the fact they looked a bit out-of-place. One of the few rides at Legoland with a bit of an edge to it, and as such a good part of the park's all-round offer.

Pretty desperate stuff from the Pleasure Beach marketing team... https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/23730133.blackpool-pleasure-beach-guests-convinced-spotted-ed-sheeran/?ref=ebln&nid=780&u=66d21947c80394c8af98e8024a2e89e1&date=190823

Some footage of Blackpool Pleasure Beach in this BBC TV report from 1954:

Not sure where to put this, but here's Sooty and Sweep riding the Big Dipper at Blackpool...

Never seen it, but about 10 years ago I did visit the park with friends who weren't as interested in rides as I am so they went to watch the Ice show as it was included in the ticket and said it was OK, though largely empty.