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2025 Events

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Themeparksandy1981

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Now we at the end of the 2024 season it hasn’t been the best for events but if the rumours are true and we not getting a new ride for 2025 they really need to review the events for next year.

Now I’m thinking for 2025

Feb half term could be a celebration for Thomas’s 80th birthday

Easter parks 75th celebration

May Day weekend Country and Western weekend with live music, line dancing and cowboys/girls

End of May Fiestival event again as that was good

July/August Summer nights with 8pm closures again and better entertainment offerings

September Vikings festival just needs more entertainment

October Bring back the scare mazes as it was very poor last year

Fireworks now they need to get them back to the levels of the Bryan’s as it’s get worst every time they put them on and the length needs to be 15-20 mins

Christmas now this is the best event of 2024 but really needs to look at the grotto offerings and the entertainment.
 
As much as I love the current events, I do think we are going to see some changes for 2025.

Im in agreement on a Frontier Falls inspired event 100%
I feel like the Halloween and Christmas events need revisiting again for 2025
I feel Vikings and Summer events will return - Really like Fiestaval!
Fireworks - I dont think the mid-year ones work at all...

Dinosaurs, may be off for 2025.
 
The Christmas 2024 event was beyond awful to be honest... I intend on posting my thoughts soon, I'm still lost for words just how poor I found it...
 
deathvalleydemon said:
The Christmas 2024 event was beyond awful to be honest... I intend on posting my thoughts soon, I'm still lost for words just how poor I found it...
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What would you change for the event in 2025?
I personally liked it but I don't have children and also have no previous reference as it was my first year visiting it.
 
Elise said:
As much as I love the current events, I do think we are going to see some changes for 2025.

Im in agreement on a Frontier Falls inspired event 100%
I feel like the Halloween and Christmas events need revisiting again for 2025
I feel Vikings and Summer events will return - Really like Fiestaval!
Fireworks - I dont think the mid-year ones work at all...

Dinosaurs, may be off for 2025.
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Re; dinosaurs.
Might be a typo but on the opening calendar for Feb half term it just says open, where as last time it said “Thomas land and zoo”

And if you look into March. There are dates which state “thomas land and zoo” so…
Could be opening everything for half term?
 
Elise said:
What would you change for the event in 2025?
I personally liked it but I don't have children and also have no previous reference as it was my first year visiting it.
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I just feel like everything was a step backwards from last years event.

I have to start with the wishmas express train. That will forever be one of the best things I've experienced at a theme park in my life. It gave the event the magic in its name but sadly for me the magic wasnt present this year, Infact I'd say the event this year must have been produced by Ebeneezer Scrooge himself..

Nobody wants to see illuminations during the day.

The grotto was brilliant, cannot fault the staff, they absolutely give it their all and should be commended for the brilliant work they do, and again, simply the best Santa I've ever seen.

But given the fact that last year the photo with santa was given to you free, I find it rather distasteful that you had to pay £12 for the photo this year. I asked if I could buy just a digital download and was told that the only way to get the download was to pay for the bundle that consisted of a small pic in a snowflake decoration, A block photo, and a print of the photo for £30. I asked if I was able to get other ride photos added to the card as we made our way round the park and was told no, if we want ride photos you have to pay seperately for them so that would be another £25.


Given the fact that adults now had to pay £10 each to enter the grotto with their children is just a cash grab and I find it a complete joke that they give you a hot chocolate and theres someone literally stood by the toppings with a card machine ready to charge you £2.50 for the toppings.

What I did enjoy was the firepit, that was a genius idea and we had fun toasting the marshmallows but £4.50 for 5? I paid it to get the sticks and then toasted the ones I took in my bag from home.

Wasnt impressed that there seemed to be an endless amount of staff on the santa photo station, and I get that cause its obviously going to be busy, but the amount of people trying to get the ride photos on gold rush and accelorator through the day (myself included) they could easily have popped a member of staff on them.

The hotel room was spotless, the hotel staff were brilliant and the food was incredible.

We've decided that unless there are drastic changes to the christmas event next year then this was sadly our last time attending because I don't like how they seem to have chosen to monetise everything.

I'm gutted to have written this because we absolutely love drayton manor.
 
Stevie said:
Re; dinosaurs.
Might be a typo but on the opening calendar for Feb half term it just says open, where as last time it said “Thomas land and zoo”

And if you look into March. There are dates which state “thomas land and zoo” so…
Could be opening everything for half term?
Click to expand...
More likely calendar for that time hasn't been decided yet / event not confirmed. This'll likely change as we get closer when the event calendar is revealed.
 
They must have read my post yesterday and look at the Feb half term event
IMG_5060.png
 
deathvalleydemon said:
I just feel like everything was a step backwards from last years event.

I have to start with the wishmas express train. That will forever be one of the best things I've experienced at a theme park in my life. It gave the event the magic in its name but sadly for me the magic wasnt present this year, Infact I'd say the event this year must have been produced by Ebeneezer Scrooge himself..

Nobody wants to see illuminations during the day.

The grotto was brilliant, cannot fault the staff, they absolutely give it their all and should be commended for the brilliant work they do, and again, simply the best Santa I've ever seen.

But given the fact that last year the photo with santa was given to you free, I find it rather distasteful that you had to pay £12 for the photo this year. I asked if I could buy just a digital download and was told that the only way to get the download was to pay for the bundle that consisted of a small pic in a snowflake decoration, A block photo, and a print of the photo for £30. I asked if I was able to get other ride photos added to the card as we made our way round the park and was told no, if we want ride photos you have to pay seperately for them so that would be another £25.


Given the fact that adults now had to pay £10 each to enter the grotto with their children is just a cash grab and I find it a complete joke that they give you a hot chocolate and theres someone literally stood by the toppings with a card machine ready to charge you £2.50 for the toppings.

What I did enjoy was the firepit, that was a genius idea and we had fun toasting the marshmallows but £4.50 for 5? I paid it to get the sticks and then toasted the ones I took in my bag from home.

Wasnt impressed that there seemed to be an endless amount of staff on the santa photo station, and I get that cause its obviously going to be busy, but the amount of people trying to get the ride photos on gold rush and accelorator through the day (myself included) they could easily have popped a member of staff on them.

The hotel room was spotless, the hotel staff were brilliant and the food was incredible.

We've decided that unless there are drastic changes to the christmas event next year then this was sadly our last time attending because I don't like how they seem to have chosen to monetise everything.

I'm gutted to have written this because we absolutely love drayton manor.
Click to expand...
Thanks for this posting. Hopefully the park will read it in the spirit it is intended. We are all friends of the park here and we don't get any joy in bashing them, we are just highlighting things which may improve the offering.

We attended because we have built a nice little collection of Santa photos over the years. Strangely little lad seemed more invested in the magic of Santa than on any previous visit...maybe we'll get another year or two!!

The Santa offering was the weakest of all the years I can remember. Fair play the staff gave it everything - both those performing and shepherding, just a shame those performing had such poor material to work with.

Totally get the points relating to the photos and add ons. Didn't really want a snowflake, 6 years ago I bought a fridge magnet from the greenscreen station aboive Winston, it was so small it could have been anyone. However getting the full package to enable the digital download is pricey, but its a bit of a stupid shot in the foot too. The ability to send photos on digitally is the best kind of advertising you can get, personal recommendation. And no platinum pass discount either.

Still it gave me no qualms about also taking my own marshmallows.

Some greater thoughts too should be given to the hot chocolate factory, like the gingerbread activity in previous years before it all seemed a bit of a mess from an organsiational point of view. The space it too cramped and the turn around times too slow. I dont know what the exhibition space is now housing but it may be an option in future years?

Was a bit meh about the Lory Christmas show. I know I'm not the target audience, but again the material was just a bit poor. Again can't fault the energy of those performing though. It must be exhausting.

There are plenty of places doing a Santa, lots of choice. Does Drayton put on something that is worth the premium pricing? Yes there is a ride offering, but folks may just think its more worthy keeping that money for a trip in the summer with a full slate of attractions.
 
That was my biggest letdown to the Christmas event Rusty and Dusty hot chocolate factory like it was nicely themed inside and with the sound effects did sound like a factory but why wasn’t Rusty and Dusty in there or at least 1 of them. At least last year with Mrs Claus gingerbread workshop Mrs Claus was there. Also there was a few kids in there who said they didn’t like Hot Chocolate but offered them a tea or coffee instead. My daughter had nothing as she don’t like hot drinks
 
Themeparksandy1981 said:
That was my biggest letdown to the Christmas event Rusty and Dusty hot chocolate factory like it was nicely themed inside and with the sound effects did sound like a factory but why wasn’t Rusty and Dusty in there or at least 1 of them. At least last year with Mrs Claus gingerbread workshop Mrs Claus was there. Also there was a few kids in there who said they didn’t like Hot Chocolate but offered them a tea or coffee instead. My daughter had nothing as she don’t like hot drinks
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I just think every single aspect of it was a massive step backwards on last year.

I also think there needs to be a few more rides outside of thomas land open...I had a 12 and 14 year old with me who do not care for Thomas Land at all and my 5 year old spent the day in bed in the hotel as he wasnt well after seeing santa so keeping them occupied for the day was a bit of a stretch, only so many times you can go on gold rush..
 
deathvalleydemon said:
I just think every single aspect of it was a massive step backwards on last year.

I also think there needs to be a few more rides outside of thomas land open...I had a 12 and 14 year old with me who do not care for Thomas Land at all and my 5 year old spent the day in bed in the hotel as he wasnt well after seeing santa so keeping them occupied for the day was a bit of a stretch, only so many times you can go on gold rush..
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That’s why I don’t understand like they call it a young family event but have the Blasting Barrels open 1.1m and the Bounty 1.2m
I know Adventure Cove hasn’t been open at all for the event but they could at least try to have Thor or Loki open as Hotel guests have to pass theses rides to enter the park.
 
Themeparksandy1981 said:
That’s why I don’t understand like they call it a young family event but have the Blasting Barrels open 1.1m and the Bounty 1.2m
I know Adventure Cove hasn’t been open at all for the event but they could at least try to have Thor or Loki open as Hotel guests have to pass theses rides to enter the park.
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what really annoyed me was how the kiosk for the ride photos was closed on gold rush but the ones the in thomas land and the grotto had a plethora of staff. The amount of people trying to look for their photo number through the gold rush shop window was unreal all through the day so I know I'm not the only one that would have been annoyed.

Talking of ride photos, does anyone know how you can buy a single photo using the pomvom service? when we went for the fireworks it was giving me the option to add a single photo to my basket but this time its only giving me the option to pay for all of them and I cant warrant paying £25 for one photograph.
 
As much as I agree with many of the points above, I think people need to understand that events at the park are still very much in an experimental phase. Looping haven't even owned Drayton for 5 years, and they still need time to think about what needs to be changed and altered to make events work as best as they can.

Another thing is that people seem to expect Alton Towers level of events, even though Merlin have owned Towers for 45 years and have certainly had time to figure out what works and what doesn't.

I'd say give it another 5 years (or hopefully less) for Looping to sort themselves out and then we can start to see some much better events.
 
Themeparksandy1981 said:
That was my biggest letdown to the Christmas event Rusty and Dusty hot chocolate factory like it was nicely themed inside and with the sound effects did sound like a factory but why wasn’t Rusty and Dusty in there or at least 1 of them. At least last year with Mrs Claus gingerbread workshop Mrs Claus was there. Also there was a few kids in there who said they didn’t like Hot Chocolate but offered them a tea or coffee instead. My daughter had nothing as she don’t like hot drinks
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I totally agree with this. The theming inside was amazing but I personally would have had a mini set up on each table (just like the previous year with the gingerbread). On our visit , whip cream was restricted so staff gave you this at the till point.

I think in regards to the staff , it depends on performance times. We visited last year and we did not get to experience mrs Claus herself in the kitchen. However as we was leaving the hot chocolate factory dusty was entering on the first occasion and then when we was leaving the park both rusty and dusty was heading back to the hot chocolate factory.

Also it may be staff training with the lack of variety of drinks for children who do not like hot drinks. My Son has Afrid and will not have anything with milk in it or what he believes to have milk in. When explaining he doesn’t like hot chocolate factory, they gave him a water and much to my disgust , he added the whip cream , marshmallows and sprinkles . Not only that he drank the whole thing.

For me the addition of the thousand Christmas trees was fantastic but we missed the character roaming experiences. Last year they had an adult and. A baby reindeer with photo op, but this year we felt there was no thought about that. I get the reasoning behind it as the park crammed in as many shows as humanly possible but it still would have been nice to have a Christmas themed photo op with different characters, not just those in Thomas land.

I’d be very interested to see what changes are made for 2025.
 
alfie8 said:
As much as I agree with many of the points above, I think people need to understand that events at the park are still very much in an experimental phase. Looping haven't even owned Drayton for 5 years, and they still need time to think about what needs to be changed and altered to make events work as best as they can.

Another thing is that people seem to expect Alton Towers level of events, even though Merlin have owned Towers for 45 years and have certainly had time to figure out what works and what doesn't.

I'd say give it another 5 years (or hopefully less) for Looping to sort themselves out and then we can start to see some much better events.
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I couldnt disagree more. I would hate Alton Towers level of events...

Alton Towers christmas event you cant even see santa unless you stay at the hotel. You cant watch any of the shows unless you stay at the hotel...

Alton halloween events, £45 per scare zone per person ontop of your ticket price of which there are multiple is an absolute scandal so no, I dont want DMR to be like AT at all. I love that DMR has its own ideas but I cannot say I agree that its still in an "experimental phase" after almost 5 years of ownership.
 
The above is more suited for the 2024/Christmas event thread :)

Remember, this is a thread for 2025 events ^^` let's try not to make it too clogged with 2024 stuff
 
I notice with the social media posts they going big for the parks 75th birthday.
With the park now closed to Thomas’s birthday celebration in Feb they will announce what’s new for 2025 over the next 4-6 weeks.
 
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