Great video... for me Merlin are one of the worst offenders when it comes to unnecessary expense. A lot of the offerings in Alton Towers seem to fall into the 'taking advantage' category, and on my last visit it crossed over the line from being frustrating to ruining my experience of the place. I also went to Gardaland (another Merlin park) last year and that was equally as bad, if not worse... especially as 10 miles down the road there was Movieland Park which was one of the most interesting theme parks I've been to and super reasonably priced all round. Merlin seem to care about profit, rather than being customer-focused and letting that drive loyalty and profit in the long term... it's why I prefer to venture into Europe these days rather than visit the parks at home :(
I have to agree with you there, I do feel like things are very overpriced compared to other parks, they don't need to charge as much as they do, especially for some of the food options. Can sometimes work out cheaper travelling to other parks in Europe over the UK parks! Would be great to see some price reductions in future, but with the way things are going I can imagine they'll only increase 😔 thanks for watching!
Don’t forget you can leave at the exit in forbidden valley near Galactica, so much closer to the car park. We always end our day there for that reason.
i've seen people take hot dogs in a thermo and a pack of buns with them for that reason. would probably be haf the orice of buying one for a full family 😅 (unsure if at have caught on yet but last time i went you were allowed to take food in)
When I went to Alton Towers during Scarefest, we brought a packed lunch for… well… lunch, and then ate at the Pizza and Pasta restaurant for dinner. I think that’s probably one of the best ways to do it. Oh, and we always bring some snacks (crisps, cookies, etc) rather than buying them. It can be very handy when I’m just sitting around on a bench in Forbidden Valley waiting for my dad, my sister and her friend to get off Nemesis (I’m not a huge thrill seeker).
@@attractionsbeyond exactly! So you're paying like an extra £3 or £4 for a piece of paper with a logo?!? Yes, you can love a coaster, but not that much.
i went to alton towers like 5 days ago! (it was super hot! we had to sit on the floor in the queue, and wasps were everywhere!) i had a really fun time, but i hit my head on the teacup ride, (forgot what its called haha!) i hit my head on the metal because we went too fast! i have a bruise near my head now. Also went on battle galleons for the first time! i got so wet even through the queue haha! Definable would’ve enjoyed it a bit more if it wasn’t too hot! have a good day! 👍🏻
We take spare clothes, spare socks, more snacks then a tuck shop and drinks to take. I don't think ive brought anything too major at a theme park. Find theme park merch over priced as are theme parks with a captive audience. Glad you can take stuff in
@@attractionsbeyond yes, went at the start if July, fir the first proper time ever, hoping hex will be open, and hope to get on nemesis for the first time( before it closes for a re-track
I’ve got a ride access pass and on the school trip in July basically our last trip in the school cuz we finished our GCSE’s and me and my friend passed everyone in our year cuz we were the only ones in our year and we both passed them so many times on oblivion and then managed to also end up on a ride with them but we kept laughing at the ppl in our year as we passed them
Lol don't avoid stuff if you like the look of it! Especially if you have enough cash.... Also, get a season pass, you'll get a discount on your food, merch, and even your car parking!
Some of the merch can be quite high priced, however some items are fairly reasonable especially with annual pass discount, also the quality of merch this year is much better than previous years!
I don't even pay for the parking. The only place where I buckle is with the Freestyle machines. I know they make an effort in ensuring the standard vending machines are out of action 90% of the time to drive up sales but I prefer having enough drink in queues to carrying enough for the day or having to find a working vending machine. Oh, and maybe the Jolly Ranchers. Only places that sell those where I live are smoke shops, which is fine because I partake, but markup is much higher.
bro im going to buy that platinum fast pass just to take the L on the people in the normal queue, and nobody can stop me 1:23 part pretty funny though also ima buy the fast pass anyway because i just saved up £380.64 just for the fast pass and it will be worth it since im going on opening weekend
Looking like it'll be very busy opening weekend, especially with the opening of The Curse at Alton Manor! 👻 So good idea to buy the fast pass! Will be there opening day too 😁🎢
@@Vzzbux Haha! That is quite a while ago! I wish it was still included, but I doubt it will ever be included again 😭 If anything, it'll just get more expensive!
Great video... for me Merlin are one of the worst offenders when it comes to unnecessary expense. A lot of the offerings in Alton Towers seem to fall into the 'taking advantage' category, and on my last visit it crossed over the line from being frustrating to ruining my experience of the place. I also went to Gardaland (another Merlin park) last year and that was equally as bad, if not worse... especially as 10 miles down the road there was Movieland Park which was one of the most interesting theme parks I've been to and super reasonably priced all round.
Merlin seem to care about profit, rather than being customer-focused and letting that drive loyalty and profit in the long term... it's why I prefer to venture into Europe these days rather than visit the parks at home :(
I have to agree with you there, I do feel like things are very overpriced compared to other parks, they don't need to charge as much as they do, especially for some of the food options. Can sometimes work out cheaper travelling to other parks in Europe over the UK parks! Would be great to see some price reductions in future, but with the way things are going I can imagine they'll only increase 😔 thanks for watching!
Don’t forget you can leave at the exit in forbidden valley near Galactica, so much closer to the car park. We always end our day there for that reason.
Great tip! A much easier and better way of leaving the park for sure!
Fun fact: those hotdogs at towers that you pay like £7 - the exact same hot dogs are in co-op for £2 😅😂😂 great video!!
😱 no way! That's so bad 😂 and thank you!!
They sell them at sports events too, for about £7!
i've seen people take hot dogs in a thermo and a pack of buns with them for that reason. would probably be haf the orice of buying one for a full family 😅 (unsure if at have caught on yet but last time i went you were allowed to take food in)
I fell into the hotdog trap. As I’d been waiting so long in the queue I just decided to pay the £7 🤣
When I went to Alton Towers during Scarefest, we brought a packed lunch for… well… lunch, and then ate at the Pizza and Pasta restaurant for dinner. I think that’s probably one of the best ways to do it.
Oh, and we always bring some snacks (crisps, cookies, etc) rather than buying them. It can be very handy when I’m just sitting around on a bench in Forbidden Valley waiting for my dad, my sister and her friend to get off Nemesis (I’m not a huge thrill seeker).
Great idea! Saves so much money bringing lunch, definitely bringing snacks too!
I’m going to try to talk my dad into bringing packed lunches sometimes, definitely for Scarefest and Fireworks.
£5 for a Dairy Milk bar?!? Yikes!! That's a "bring your own" item for sure! Great video too. Thanks!
It's the cover that makes it more
100%! The cover is cool, but the price sure isn't 😂 and thank you!
@@attractionsbeyond exactly! So you're paying like an extra £3 or £4 for a piece of paper with a logo?!? Yes, you can love a coaster, but not that much.
I got caught out buying a vampire dairy milk at chessington felt silly when realised it was just a sleeve xx
If it was the actual wrapping then I'd understand, but when it's just a sleeve I don't think it's worth it!
i went to alton towers like 5 days ago! (it was super hot! we had to sit on the floor in the queue, and wasps were everywhere!) i had a really fun time, but i hit my head on the teacup ride, (forgot what its called haha!) i hit my head on the metal because we went too fast! i have a bruise near my head now. Also went on battle galleons for the first time! i got so wet even through the queue haha! Definable would’ve enjoyed it a bit more if it wasn’t too hot! have a good day! 👍🏻
Awesome! Glad to hear you had a great time (apart from the bump on the head!), Battle Galleons sure is a soaker! 💧 Thanks for watching!
It was £7 for the poncho at the start of the year
You're joking?! 😱 That's super expensive!
Unfortunately not 😭
We take spare clothes, spare socks, more snacks then a tuck shop and drinks to take. I don't think ive brought anything too major at a theme park. Find theme park merch over priced as are theme parks with a captive audience. Glad you can take stuff in
I'm going in the first week of September, when mist people go back to work and school, probably Monday or Tuesday
Great timing! Should be fairly quiet for you so you can get on all the big coasters!
@@attractionsbeyond yes, went at the start if July, fir the first proper time ever, hoping hex will be open, and hope to get on nemesis for the first time( before it closes for a re-track
I’ve got a ride access pass and on the school trip in July basically our last trip in the school cuz we finished our GCSE’s and me and my friend passed everyone in our year cuz we were the only ones in our year and we both passed them so many times on oblivion and then managed to also end up on a ride with them but we kept laughing at the ppl in our year as we passed them
Nice thanks
I have the Merlin passes so I get Alton Towers almost every weekend
Is the first week after summer holidays busy or is it dead ???
I never que anyway. When I go we park in the car park right at the park entrance so never use the dumb monorail either.
In Oakwood a small pizza is £16
😱
@@attractionsbeyond but the rides are cool for people who like medium rides
Lol don't avoid stuff if you like the look of it!
Especially if you have enough cash....
Also, get a season pass, you'll get a discount on your food, merch, and even your car parking!
That chicken at 5:34 looks sooooo goood
It was really good! Only there for the Mardi Gras event earlier this year, hopefully it comes back for the next events!
What about the merch in the park? Would you not say that is something worth not buying due to high prices?
Some of the merch can be quite high priced, however some items are fairly reasonable especially with annual pass discount, also the quality of merch this year is much better than previous years!
With cost of Living everything gone right up in there there's McDonald's not far from park 16min drive.
£3 for jelly babies out of a vending machine at AT I was like screw that!
I went today
Awesome! Hope you had a great time! 🎢
My friends canvas bag got soaked and all her things were sopping wet 😳
On the rapids?! That's definitely a rare occurance! 😱
@@attractionsbeyond it was quite intense for the rapids 😆
I don't even pay for the parking. The only place where I buckle is with the Freestyle machines. I know they make an effort in ensuring the standard vending machines are out of action 90% of the time to drive up sales but I prefer having enough drink in queues to carrying enough for the day or having to find a working vending machine.
Oh, and maybe the Jolly Ranchers. Only places that sell those where I live are smoke shops, which is fine because I partake, but markup is much higher.
bro im going to buy that platinum fast pass just to take the L on the people in the normal queue, and nobody can stop me
1:23 part pretty funny though
also ima buy the fast pass anyway because i just saved up £380.64 just for the fast pass and it will be worth it since im going on opening weekend
Looking like it'll be very busy opening weekend, especially with the opening of The Curse at Alton Manor! 👻 So good idea to buy the fast pass! Will be there opening day too 😁🎢
i got soaked on the rapids multiple times
Park in the hotels car park, its free and nobody checks, plus a monorail and early access which again, nobody checks
Aramart now. Avoid ANY food
The food and drink prices have gone up a lot since this video and you don't get free water front the coca cola machines any more. 🃏🃏
😩😩😩
No 9.95 just for a hotdog and 17 for a meal
It's £9.5 just for hotdog not meal
This was filmed a few years ago... price drastically shot up over a couple of years watch theme parm worldwide food vlogs
I swear you didn't have to pay for parking in the Tussaud's days, or am I imagining that?
Hmm I'm not too sure! The price of parking has definitely gone up over the years though 😭
So, I've read that last time parking was included in ticket price was late 90s/early 00's 😒. I feel disappointed... and ancient 😂
@@Vzzbux Haha! That is quite a while ago! I wish it was still included, but I doubt it will ever be included again 😭 If anything, it'll just get more expensive!