Theme Park Rip-Offs

susancs

It does get very busy in the summer holidays at the theme parks especially if the weather forecast is good. It is better to go on school inset days or rainy days (especially as they currently have a guarantee that if it rains more than 30 mins on the day, you get a free return visit in September) to get on the most rides. I must admit I don't know how she managed to spend £120 though if she was not being generous as with BOGOF it would have been £37.20 for your daughter and grandaughter to get into the park, plus £1 for the locker. There is an all you can eat and drink pizza and pasta buffet that is £8.95 for adults and £5 for children at the park, plus a refillable drinks bottle is £7 so to get into the park, the locker and food and drink it would have cost £59.15.

Norfolk_Jim

I only go to these places during their quieter times and even then I'll try to get some vouchers to reduce the cost. I've not gone recently as I'm too fat to go on some of the rides now - just too embarrasing being asked to get off in front of a full ride as the harness wont shut. Still, think how much I'm saving.

balletshoes

I'm another one who won't do British theme parks in the school summer holidays, its just not worth it (even if you do get reduced park entrance).

We do Alton Towers on school inset days, and its great .

DorsetGirl_2

We do Chessington on school administration days and its ace, so is Paultons when the older kids are in school.

spadoosh

I tihnk theme parks are great value for money. I went to alton towers early may and spent

ticket : £21 (bogof)
lunch: £2.49 (burger king voucher)
parking between 4: £1.25 (cant do anything about that)
sweets n shiz: £3-4 (from tesco before i set off)

not sure wether to include petrol but im not gonna because its my fault i live so far away (2hrs) but i think it cost about £20 between 4

That was less than £30, got on most rides 3 times, even went on spinball whizzer (or whatever its called now) because we got bored of the main rides, longest queue, 20 mins... rita.

Choose a better time to go and plan ahead with spending

Sharon87

Never heard of a charge for keeping your bag at the side. Maybe they have optional lockers, but usually you leave your bag at the side on shelves. I've never paid to keep my bag there, unless they introduced it this year.

I find Chessington really good. I go to the Holiday Inn restaurant for food. £10 max for lunch in a restaurant with REALLY nice food. How much merchandise did you buy to spent £120!! You can at Thorpe Park (not sure about Chessington) you can get a refillable drink for £6 or so, and share it. Just need to present your receipt each time to refill.

But I always take a 500ml bottle with me and that lasts me all day.

Queue times are always long in the summer, best times are during the early part of the year on non school holidays. Even some weekends aren't busy that time of year.

I want to go back to Chessington this year, I enjoy it. Will be after the school holidays though!

plzhelpmesave!

i thinks its very earsy to spend loads unless you do plan very carefully! I am trying this holidays to set a budget for each family day out and will make sure I stick to it - use vouchers, codes, 342s, take snax with you, go early or late,stay over if its cheaper and turn it into a 'break'.

I have booked a £10 travelodge room for Sunday 4th sept and will go to AT on the sunday and monday with vouchers from kids school - £25 for adults for 2 days and £18 for kids....although have just realised that is over £100 on tickets !!!

Might be cheaper to lose the TL tenner!!

superflygal

2 Free tickets to Thorpe Park in the SUN today!! Token collect (7 needed)

SFG x

vikingaero

There's plenty of threads on MSE and other sites which give advice on visiting various theme parks.

Bag - try and take a smaller one - I have a slimline Pacsafe manbag that fits 2 x 500ml bottles as well as other stuff. Because it's slimline I don't get told to take it off.

Lunch - picnic to save costs. You can get a hand stamp/re-entry to collect the picnic from the car

And otherwise take your own snacks and sweets and ignore the tat from the gift shops.

dibuzz

My son went to Alton Towers in July with his school. Never having been before he was excited but when he got back he said they had only been on one ride because it was so packed. The queues for the rides were 5 hours long.
I did email Alton Towers to complain but they more or less said "tough"