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[2024 Event] Christmas Wonderland
- Thread starter Pete999films
- Start date
Themeparksandy1981
Member
On Tripadvisor the grotto been getting bad reviews like parents have been queuing with there kids to see Santa and staff forced them to go guest services to buy a ticket and they not happy that they paid £10 just for a hot chocolate and no free photo.
RustyShackleford
Member
Seeing that the park was open until 5 on Friday we dashed down after school. Everythign was walk on / stay on. But then everything at the top end of the park shut at 4 which was a shame as I was looking forward to a couple of night rides. .
Themeparksandy1981
Member
Can’t really see the point of the difference opening and closing times
Frontier Falls 11am to 4pm now I can understand with the queues sheriff, Accelerator and Blasting barrels had most of the day as it was a walk on. Gold Rush queue was near the Apocalypse tombstone all day but was only on 1 train with a 6pm close should have stayed open to 5pm.
Thomas land 10am to 5pm now with the age group that more likely a better timings.
11am to 6pm The carousel, Solar railway and Rusty and Dusty Hot chocolate factory was open to which was a bit pointless as soon as Thomas land closed and the entertainment finished guests started to go home.
Frontier Falls 11am to 4pm now I can understand with the queues sheriff, Accelerator and Blasting barrels had most of the day as it was a walk on. Gold Rush queue was near the Apocalypse tombstone all day but was only on 1 train with a 6pm close should have stayed open to 5pm.
Thomas land 10am to 5pm now with the age group that more likely a better timings.
11am to 6pm The carousel, Solar railway and Rusty and Dusty Hot chocolate factory was open to which was a bit pointless as soon as Thomas land closed and the entertainment finished guests started to go home.
RustyShackleford
Member
Totally with you here. It's just that if you advertise something you should follow through on it because folks make decisions based on what they are told.
Explaining to little kids too why what they thought was going to happen isn't, isn't a great experience.
Explaining to little kids too why what they thought was going to happen isn't, isn't a great experience.
Themeparksandy1981
Member
I think also the lack of Christmas entertainment outside of the grotto was also disappointing. Like the only totally live entertainment was the awful singers on the main stage. The Thomas land sets are years old and it’s only worth catching the last bit for the snow storm.
The other shows with Rory and Lory are pre recorded.
2019’ was the best I ever seen like it started by the stage that was by Adventure Cove. Rusty and Dusty would have a sing along with the crowd and Santa and his helper would arrive by train and we be introduced to a new bear which was given out as gifts in 2019
Anyway with jugglers and other entertainers in the crowd we made a slow walk to that other stage which was roughly where the pop up bar is now and we had a carol singalong with Rusty,Dusty, Sir Topham hat, entertainers and some elf’s. This ended in a snow storm and then we all made it over to the lake for a 5 min fireworks show which ended the day nicely.
If you go to 27 mins there’s some highlights of the show.
The other shows with Rory and Lory are pre recorded.
2019’ was the best I ever seen like it started by the stage that was by Adventure Cove. Rusty and Dusty would have a sing along with the crowd and Santa and his helper would arrive by train and we be introduced to a new bear which was given out as gifts in 2019
Anyway with jugglers and other entertainers in the crowd we made a slow walk to that other stage which was roughly where the pop up bar is now and we had a carol singalong with Rusty,Dusty, Sir Topham hat, entertainers and some elf’s. This ended in a snow storm and then we all made it over to the lake for a 5 min fireworks show which ended the day nicely.
manwithstick
Member
Went today - the park was busier than at any time pre-Christmas, but there were offers on. We visited with our pass a few times pre Christmas, and each time got sent 2 free tickets to return after Christmas (not needed as pass holders).
It was a cold day, so none of the 3 rollercoasters opened until about 3:30 and then all had big queues. Great to see it busy though as I remember the last time they opened after Christmas it was pretty dead and that’s why they didn’t do it last year.
Upon entering, they gave us a £5off if you spend £10 voucher - valid in the gift or sweet shop.
It was a cold day, so none of the 3 rollercoasters opened until about 3:30 and then all had big queues. Great to see it busy though as I remember the last time they opened after Christmas it was pretty dead and that’s why they didn’t do it last year.
Upon entering, they gave us a £5off if you spend £10 voucher - valid in the gift or sweet shop.
Ollie
Member
I was there last year after christmas and it was open. I don’t know if ur on abt the grotto or the park, but the grotto was closed
Stevie
Member
Likewise. My OH took our daughter and lots of extended family. She commented it was busy and atmosphere was good
alfie8
Member
After my first visit this month (during storm darragh) I was given free tickets due to the weather and after that I also got another 2 which I will be using to visit this coming Monday. It's really a good idea from the park because when people aren't paying for their visit they are more likely to spend money in shops and on food, often times spending more than a day ticket would be, therefore making it viable - if not more profitable! - for the park to give out free tickets.
Themeparksandy1981
Member
I wonder if the entertainment is different to what is shown before Christmas.
Thomas
Member
The entertainment in Thomas land is slightly different with 4 shows with the same first show but through the entire of the day with a few different songs. Also the hot chocolate is now a up- charge of £3.90 but is free if your staying in the hotel.
deathvalleydemon
Member
so the £5 off a £10 spend in the gift shop voucher I've seen people being given is pretty meaningless at this news... they've milked the cash cow good and proper this year...how can they get it so wrong after everything was so spot on last year?
Themeparksandy1981
Member
Well it would be as you paid for it as part of the Grotto ticket. I was gonna go but if the 3 coasters have been closed it’s not worth going.
I would imagine the 3 coasters would all be open today. The weather over the past few days has been cold, wet foggy. Presumably with the sun coming out today & quite mild temperatures, it should be a bit warmer
Pete999films
Member
We went to the event on Christmas eve and have to be honest noticed a significant downgrade from previous years.
The grotto experience in previous years had reindeer food, gingerbread decorating and Mrs Claus story telling. I would say the elf training was poor for an upcharge and the second part was not at all good. The Santa itself is always good. However the gifts were largely suitable for boys and babies/ pre-school. The woman said girl toys were ordered and were substituted for more boy toys. The removal of the free photo was a downgrade in my view.
The shows were quite good on the theatre and main stage. It would have been good to repeat Santa's sleighs.
The light trail on the train was quite basic and cheaply done. Last year light experience was far superior and worth the upcharge. I appreciate it had a few issues.
The hot chocolate experience was definitely an experience but not a good one. We missed any characters attending. I wouldn't criticise that but maybe they could have introduced more characters around the park.
Frontier falls. It was good to see this area open, but would have been better if it opened at 10 with the other rides on Christmas eve. The park closed at 4 so very short.
The decorations saw a lot of Christmas trees but they seemed to run out of snow and decorations. They put lights on the phone box that weren't working. A few decorations on these trees and even lights draped across in strings.
The tree that was by the gift shop made a good impact in the main entrance which means that the first appearance is a lot better.
We didn't do the marshmallows and very few were on Christmas eve. They are expensive and overall the food offering was as expected with the main restaurants being burger kitchen and safari. These were good, but the lack of Christmas cups was disappointing.
The people on the gate forgot to give us the hot chocolate token so had to ask for that.
Need to have a serious think as it is our Christmas eve tradition. It works well for us so is a cheap day out. I don't think it would be worth paying the full amount of £40 Approx each. We are passholders and it is local.
We have been to the looping group events only, so unfair to judge based on past experiences. I would looping is a large group with experience in a number of parks so hopefully they will improve the event next year.
The grotto experience in previous years had reindeer food, gingerbread decorating and Mrs Claus story telling. I would say the elf training was poor for an upcharge and the second part was not at all good. The Santa itself is always good. However the gifts were largely suitable for boys and babies/ pre-school. The woman said girl toys were ordered and were substituted for more boy toys. The removal of the free photo was a downgrade in my view.
The shows were quite good on the theatre and main stage. It would have been good to repeat Santa's sleighs.
The light trail on the train was quite basic and cheaply done. Last year light experience was far superior and worth the upcharge. I appreciate it had a few issues.
The hot chocolate experience was definitely an experience but not a good one. We missed any characters attending. I wouldn't criticise that but maybe they could have introduced more characters around the park.
Frontier falls. It was good to see this area open, but would have been better if it opened at 10 with the other rides on Christmas eve. The park closed at 4 so very short.
The decorations saw a lot of Christmas trees but they seemed to run out of snow and decorations. They put lights on the phone box that weren't working. A few decorations on these trees and even lights draped across in strings.
The tree that was by the gift shop made a good impact in the main entrance which means that the first appearance is a lot better.
We didn't do the marshmallows and very few were on Christmas eve. They are expensive and overall the food offering was as expected with the main restaurants being burger kitchen and safari. These were good, but the lack of Christmas cups was disappointing.
The people on the gate forgot to give us the hot chocolate token so had to ask for that.
Need to have a serious think as it is our Christmas eve tradition. It works well for us so is a cheap day out. I don't think it would be worth paying the full amount of £40 Approx each. We are passholders and it is local.
We have been to the looping group events only, so unfair to judge based on past experiences. I would looping is a large group with experience in a number of parks so hopefully they will improve the event next year.
Themeparksandy1981
Member
I been thinking with the light trail that was installed from the entrance down to the main stage. The supports are dug down and tarmac in so I wonder if the posts will stay up all year and have different flags installed during the season and for other events then bring the lights back for next Christmas.
We're here today for our traditional New Year's Eve visit & the place is rammed! We're talking main season busy (admittedly probably less people as 2 areas of the park aren't open). It's great to see & their use of all the free golden ticket returns seems to have really paid off. All kiosks have had queus all day & they must have made a killing today.
I understand the early close with it being New Year's Eve but 4pm does seem silly given how busy the park is.
Never seen the park so busy at Christmas which is brilliant for the park but annoying for our annual walk on rides day!
I understand the early close with it being New Year's Eve but 4pm does seem silly given how busy the park is.
Never seen the park so busy at Christmas which is brilliant for the park but annoying for our annual walk on rides day!
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