Queues, queues, queues (Thorpe Park)

Member Name: madSEM

Product:	Thorpe Park
Date:	30/10/09 (44 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Some good rides

Disadvantages: Expensive, big queues, don't seem to value customers, lack of character

Thorpe Park is a theme park in Surrey based between Staines and Chertsey. Most of the public transport links come in via Staines especially from London although unless you have a car the park is quite isolated and would need a train/bus combo to access.

The park itself contains some good rides, most notably Stealth, Saw, Colossus and Nemesis Inferno, the four big rollercoasters. However there are a number of things I didn't like about the park when I went to a recent Fright Night.

Firstly the admission charge, at £30 even with a five pounds off voucher it is too high. Part of the reason why it is too high is because when you get into the park itself you are then urged to part with your money for a variety of gifts, food and drink and even fast track passes (which effectively allow you to jump the queue). My main gripe is with the latter if you pay £30 to get in why should you then have to shell out £3 a ride or a ridiculous £60 for the whole day (ultimate fast track on to rides all day) just to get onto the ride quicker. Effectively it is saying that if you have more money or are willing to shell out you are suddenly more of a valued customer than those that have already paid to get in, I know this happens in a number of theme parks but I don't like the idea.

Anyway aside from my own gripe there, I found most of my experience of Thorpe Park was queueing, queueing, queueing and I came sick of it and left early with the only other alternatives to sit around there eating and drinking their over priced food and drink. I felt more like a sheep at times being sheparded around rather than a valued customer. Whilst I can't blame the staff, they were rushed off their feet and obviously on minimum wage, I think the park could be better run.

To echo a review on this I read a snippet of before I posted this, the park is indeed run down and in need of real cleaning/edecorating in places. Also there is a lack of character and theme to the park something you get at Disneyland especially. Overall despite some good rollercoasters, I came away disappointed and will certainly not be returning in a hurry.

Summary: Not as good as I was expecting- a let down