Merlin Annual standard pass half price

ClaireB7

Decided to go down the "buy in person @ Chessington" route rather than phone the Gweek place. 1/2 hour drive, about 20 minutes to sort out 4 individual passes and then 1/2 hour back

The woman who dealt with us was very helpful; knew all the parking charges for the other sites (which helped us to upgrade one of the passes on the spot to a premium pass for another £35), mentioned that pre-booking may be required in some places this summer due to the Olumpics but nothing had been confirmed yet, she also said that for the London Eye - pass holders can just turn up and join the queue and they'll get on !!!

Oh - and it sound obvious now - but for free parking you only need a Premium pass in the car (and not the actual pass holder) as you just have to scan the pass to get out.

Thanks for all the help one and all - we've already get out first trip to London planned next Saturday (though might require a rethink if the earlier post about the Eye now being closed for a fortnight is correct ... you can't book online for next weekend but I can't see anywhere on the official site that says it's closed)

malteser

A huge thanks to the OP for posting this deal.

For anyone who is interested in picking up passes or rather vouchers from Chessington WOA - I got mine from the on site hotel reception at Chessington (Holiday Inn) I went this evening after 8pm and picked up 2 vouchers which means I have 10 months to redeem them for actual merlin passes. Lovely friendly staff too.
My first set of Merlin passes - I'm v happy

Possession

ClaireB7 wrote: »

she also said that for the London Eye - pass holders can just turn up and join the queue and they'll get on !!!

Oh - and it sound obvious now - but for free parking you only need a Premium pass in the car (and not the actual pass holder) as you just have to scan the pass to get out.

Thanks for all the help one and all - we've already get out first trip to London planned next Saturday (though might require a rethink if the earlier post about the Eye now being closed for a fortnight is correct ... you can't book online for next weekend but I can't see anywhere on the official site that says it's closed)

The problem with just turning up at the Eye and joining the queue is that it can be literally hours long, although not likely to be so bad in January. When you go, might be best to go early. Great fun though.

jules68

Just a quick question, our passes dont run out until about May. Can we still get the 50% off if we renew now ( can we tag time on so to speak)

CupraT

I phoned up the helpline, and after explaining I live at least 2hrs drive from my closest attraction that I still must go before the end of Jan. I don't fancy carting the kids to AT for nothing, so looks like Blackpool will have to be our "home" as we live in n.wales!
My birthday in feb half term and I was hoping to go and pick up from there then and go on the rides etc, now having to go b'pool I don't think my hubby will entertain the fact of going to another attraction within such a short space of time even knowing entry is free it will still cost fuel and stuff whilst there
I'm now confused and think I may pass and just don't plan so much for the yr, aim AT just once and then we save I suppose!

Possession

CupraT wrote: »

I phoned up the helpline, and after explaining I live at least 2hrs drive from my closest attraction that I still must go before the end of Jan. I don't fancy carting the kids to AT for nothing, so looks like Blackpool will have to be our "home" as we live in n.wales!
My birthday in feb half term and I was hoping to go and pick up from there then and go on the rides etc, now having to go b'pool I don't think my hubby will entertain the fact of going to another attraction within such a short space of time even knowing entry is free it will still cost fuel and stuff whilst there
I'm now confused and think I may pass and just don't plan so much for the yr, aim AT just once and then we save I suppose!

Phone up Gweek sealife (see earlier posts in the thread) and get them sent to you as vouchers. You can then redeem them at the first place you go to.

CupraT

Wow thanks so so much I phoned the lovely lady at 10am and wow they are being sent out
Words can't describe how excited I am right now! Thought for a min I wouldn't be able to go AT for my b'day that is now soooo on the agenda! It's being put into my organised mum diary as we speak

oakeyrose

CupraT wrote: »

Wow thanks so so much I phoned the lovely lady at 10am and wow they are being sent out
Words can't describe how excited I am right now! Thought for a min I wouldn't be able to go AT for my b'day that is now soooo on the agenda! It's being put into my organised mum diary as we speak

Glad to hear this arrangment is still working for people. The fact that the lovely lady at Gweek is still being 'lovely' suggests that they are still ok about doing this.

I did have visions of them being overwhelmed with people and that the seals would be neglected :eek: or something as they are only a small set up !. However I would think that they get some kind of 'cut' for issuing the merlin passes. Either way for those of you yet to get your card please be nice to them , think what they are saving you

AdamBrunt

jules68 wrote: »

Just a quick question, our passes dont run out until about May. Can we still get the 50% off if we renew now ( can we tag time on so to speak)

Not sure if they'll do it for passes that don't run out til May, but I certainly read somewhere that (a) you can get this offer if your current passes haven't run out yet and (b) the new passes will expire 12 months after the expiry date of your current ones. Hope that makes sense.

We got to thinking about the whole "get vouchers which can you can redeem later" and realised that, other than the travel costs of getting to a park when you wouldn't normally go you're not actually saving anything; regardless of when the pass starts it will always include "Jan - Mar" when the theme parks aren't open (the pass is either 'less useful' at the start of it's life or the end)

CheeseCake_2

georgiac wrote: »

Bought mine today.

Our current ones don't expire until April so the new ones start from then.

Expiry date April 2013.

Mine will expire in April too, how can I renew them now and pay £78 and their T&C state you must have 28 days or less left in your existing ones? Please help