Was at Blackpool Pleasure Beach yesterday and today. My first theme park visit of the year and first coaster credits since Hyde Park Winter Wonderland since November.
The staff really did all they could from what I could see with regards to preparations and how things were run on the day. Some markers are done with stickers which may need to improve or replaced but there was a lot of logic in how things were done and I'm surprised the social distancing was actually possible in some queue lines. All staff seemed very friendly and not nervous at all. On a few queue lines the staff do want you to wear a mask when you enter but mostly it's just on the rides themselves and they indeed stay on fine even in heavy winds today.
Hand sanitisers everywhere. One way markers in shops and other areas. Lots of rides can operate without social distancing themselves (Icon and Avalanche) due to existing spaced out seating so the queue lines were moving pretty quickly also with the fewer punters in the park. Not sure the park is making much of a profit at this rate as there seems to be more staff than usual. Also BPB seemed a bit overly ambitious with offering 7pm closures today (Sunday) and this coming week. The bad weather meant that was quickly changed yesterday to 5pm closures instead. Some people pissed off which I can understand but the park needs to limit losses but also get back in the swing of things. There's no excuse not to get on enough rides between 10am and 5pm like how this weekend was though as long as you turn up early enough. Yesterday they still closed at 7pm and I saw people on the Big One WELL after that as I was already having a little walk on the beach with the tide being really far out. Hardly ever seen that when I've been before. The rides on the pier were operating as well from what I could see. Really good to see things slowly getting back to normal.
No Big One today as has been mentioned but was glad to get back on it a couple of times yesterday and was running particularly well, maybe due to the drizzle. Big Dipper and Streak running well too. Icon fine. I've probably been harsh on it at times. It's no Taron but it's still a decent coaster in most areas. Grand National back row utter dog ****. Like a horse galloping on a coaster track. Pretty horrible. Not sure what will be done with it in the next few years but it needs attention as it probably will just get worse (if that is possible).
I'd say 80-90% of guests were sticking to social distancing and mask wearing fine. A few inconsiderate guests (mostly young ones) maybe no looking at the markers on the floor, but I also saw a few who were smoking in the Big One queue line so what do you expect.
Overall a superb experience and another great visit to BPB this weekend.
Absolutely no big problems at all.
Top job from the park and staff. Will definitely be back on my own in the next couple of months and my girlfriend (who is not a big theme park fan) can't wait to get on the rides during November / December with illuminations and in the dark, so somewhat shows you this weekend's experience was probably quite positive for a normal visitor too rather than just for us hardcore fanatics.
Some of the very few questionable / offensive parts with regards to props/characters in River Caves and on the Train ride have been removed or altered btw, which is good.
The staff really did all they could from what I could see with regards to preparations and how things were run on the day. Some markers are done with stickers which may need to improve or replaced but there was a lot of logic in how things were done and I'm surprised the social distancing was actually possible in some queue lines. All staff seemed very friendly and not nervous at all. On a few queue lines the staff do want you to wear a mask when you enter but mostly it's just on the rides themselves and they indeed stay on fine even in heavy winds today.
Hand sanitisers everywhere. One way markers in shops and other areas. Lots of rides can operate without social distancing themselves (Icon and Avalanche) due to existing spaced out seating so the queue lines were moving pretty quickly also with the fewer punters in the park. Not sure the park is making much of a profit at this rate as there seems to be more staff than usual. Also BPB seemed a bit overly ambitious with offering 7pm closures today (Sunday) and this coming week. The bad weather meant that was quickly changed yesterday to 5pm closures instead. Some people pissed off which I can understand but the park needs to limit losses but also get back in the swing of things. There's no excuse not to get on enough rides between 10am and 5pm like how this weekend was though as long as you turn up early enough. Yesterday they still closed at 7pm and I saw people on the Big One WELL after that as I was already having a little walk on the beach with the tide being really far out. Hardly ever seen that when I've been before. The rides on the pier were operating as well from what I could see. Really good to see things slowly getting back to normal.
No Big One today as has been mentioned but was glad to get back on it a couple of times yesterday and was running particularly well, maybe due to the drizzle. Big Dipper and Streak running well too. Icon fine. I've probably been harsh on it at times. It's no Taron but it's still a decent coaster in most areas. Grand National back row utter dog ****. Like a horse galloping on a coaster track. Pretty horrible. Not sure what will be done with it in the next few years but it needs attention as it probably will just get worse (if that is possible).
I'd say 80-90% of guests were sticking to social distancing and mask wearing fine. A few inconsiderate guests (mostly young ones) maybe no looking at the markers on the floor, but I also saw a few who were smoking in the Big One queue line so what do you expect.
Overall a superb experience and another great visit to BPB this weekend.
Absolutely no big problems at all.
Top job from the park and staff. Will definitely be back on my own in the next couple of months and my girlfriend (who is not a big theme park fan) can't wait to get on the rides during November / December with illuminations and in the dark, so somewhat shows you this weekend's experience was probably quite positive for a normal visitor too rather than just for us hardcore fanatics.
Some of the very few questionable / offensive parts with regards to props/characters in River Caves and on the Train ride have been removed or altered btw, which is good.
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