Looking at comments on facebook, and thinking of something like legoland's park map which has the actual park map on the outside, the key to the rides, there height limits and any restrictions on the rides, it is very informative and shows all the rides.
-- Edited by Matt on Monday 25th of March 2013 06:26:54 PM
The huge batch of comments about entry by height are bang on. Of course you should be charged depending on your height, because that determins what you can or can't do....
Also the maps at PWH have never had much info on them. The classic 'cartoon' map from the mid 90s onwards didn't even show the location of the toilets. If a new park map IS on the way it needs to include info on rides and amenities.
Oh the entry by height comments are doing the rounds on Alton Towers' (and other theme park) FB pages too...
Alton's 'adult' price is 12+ - it's apparently proven that the vast majority of 10 year olds are 1.4m+ and virtually all 12+ year olds are 1.4m+ so if they charged by height they would actually be charging people more than they do now - and I assume similar is true of PWH if they went back to height prices. What is PWHs 'adult' age anyway? If PWH were quick off the mark here they could put spin onto this and run a deal whereby "If you turn up and can prove your child is over the and is below then we will charge you the child price.
Otherwise why should people not be classed as adults if they can do all the same things?
I think the main issue is that they charge 4yr olds the same as 10/11 (maybe older) year olds. Cant remember the exact cut offs but you get the idea. Like you say many 10yr olds are already on Wipeout so surely a 4/5 yr old should not be charged the same entry price.
I suppose... but then they at least let those under 1m in for free still - so you can be within the child age bracket but still get in the park for free...
My opinion has always been that prices based on height made the most sense, but it seems like more parks are doing it based on age.
I think the park could more easily deflect complaints if height was the deciding factor, as long as the heights had a clear correlation to the height limits on the bigger rides. Put simply, you have to pay more because you can do more. Plus, there can be no arguments at the ticket booth if you can simply measure the child. How can a staff member accurately differentiate between an 11 and 12 year old?
I take your point though Alex, but you could argue it the other way in that a shorter than average 12 year old would have to pay over the odds and not be able to go on much while their tall 11 year old friend gets in cheaply and can go on everything.
Age or height, the full price is charged to those who can ride everything anyway isn't it? So other than that it's pure perceptions really. I think people like height so much because PWH used to do it in its more popular years and we know people love to hark on about years gone by...
It would be an advantage as they would get cheaper rates but could ride everything. A fair system would be height based on rides you can ride but then comes the problem of unavailable rides and complaints that if they charge based on rides you can ride then having unavailable rides could cause issues.
The Facebook comments have already started with this one. With height it would cause issues with people on the very edge of the line. People could get in on maximum price and due to the fact that the human body gets a little shorter by the end of the day get refused rides. They should have three tiers.
Mini Thrill Seeker 3-11 Medium Thrill Seeker 12-15 Big thrill seeker 16 plus.
I think the words 'child' and 'adult' need to be removed from pricing.
I noticed that Flamingoland just have one price £30 for adults and children over the ago of 4. Cuts out any confusion, arguments etc. LWV on the other hand have a height system which is what PWH used to have I noticed looking back at the old websites.
