If you send an email to merlin.annualpass@merlinentertainments.biz to  explain you were planning to purchase a half price Merlin Pass before the 31 January, they will send you a confirmation email allowing you still to make the purchase. It seems you must take this confirmation email with you to the selected Merlin Attraction to take advantage of this deal.

More details available at Merlin Pass Half Price Sale.

Whilst the Merlin Pass sale has officially ended early, there is still a way to pick up a half price pass before the 31 January!  More details available at Half Price Merlin Passes Still Available.

Half Price Merlin Pass Sale

Alternatively, if you can make it to Alton Towers Hotel this weekend, ( 28 &29 January between 2 & 8pm) you can pick up a half price Merlin Pass without requiring the confirmation email.

Alton Towers Waterpark Deals

If you are making your way up to Alton Towers for a half price Merlin Pass, then they may want to know that the waterpark is now back open after it’s annual clean.  There are plenty of Alton Waterpark Deals too.

Gulliver’s Theme Park Splash Zone 2 for 1 Voucher

If you want to get away from the bad weather, check out this 2 for 1 voucher only available this weekend at the Splash Zones at Gulliver’s Theme Parks at Milton Keynes & Warrington.  More details available at Splash Zone 2 for 1 Voucher.

Splash Zone Deals

Cadbury World 20% off Voucher

Another indoor attraction set in the Heart of England is Cadbury World and here’s a 20% off voucher that you can use…remember to pre-book with this one as it does get busy.  More details available at Cadbury World Vouchers.

Try Somewhere New; Stockport Air Raid Shelters

Why not try something new this weekend that again keeps you away from the elements.  Check out our review of Stockport Air Raid Shelters, located just 7 miles from Manchester City Centre.

London Midland Vouchers

London Midland vouchers are now available for discounted travel from 4 – 19 February including February half term.  Worth downloading your vouchers now as can be very popular especially during the school holidays.  More details available at London Midland Great Escape.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach Season Pass Deals

If you can make to a registration event at Blackpool Pleasure Beach on Saturday 28 January between 10 & 12 noon, then you can pick up a Diamond Pass for £20, (unlimited ENTRY to the park) or a Platinum pass, (unlimted use of the rides during the season) for £99.

Have a good one whatever you do,

Liz

Alton Towers opens for February Half Term from the 11-19 February 2012.  Whilst not all the rides will be running & opening times will be restricted to 10am-4pm, tickets are generally much cheaper to purchase plus queues can be down too!

Alton Towers at February Half Term

Although the New Alton Towers Rides for 2012 will not be available during February Half Term, the following rides will be open;

• Nemesis
• Air
• Oblivion
• Sonic Spinball
• The Blade
• Runaway Mine Train
• Hex
• Berry Bish Bash
• plus plenty of young children’s rides too.

Deals for Alton Towers at February Half Term 2012

Discounted tickets are available online from Alton Towers at £14.85 per adult, (aged 12 years and over) or £11.88 a child, (aged 4-11 years).  Remember there is also a Half Price Merlin Pass Sale running until 31 January that will gain you access to Alton Towers over February Half Term.

Alternatively, check out our Alton Towers Deals for 2012 for even more ways to reduce the cost of a day out to this popular Staffordshire Theme Park.

Beat the Queues at Alton Towers Theme Park

There is no Early Ride Time over February half term and neither Nemesis Sub Terra or Ice Age 4D will be available until the main season begins in March 2012.  However, we have a few great tips below to help you beat the queues at Alton Towers.

The Eden Project are offering free entry to volunteers & charity works this weekend, (20,21 & 22 January 2012).  Simply bring proof of employment, ID badge or letter of confirmation to enjoy a free day out at the Eden Project.

Eden Project Free Entry Offer

Warwick Castle for £13

Limited tickets are available for Warwick Castle at £13 per person if you book online in advance.  More details available at Warwick Castle £13 Deal.

Merlin Pass Half Price Offer

Pick up a half price Merlin Pass deal before this offer expires on 31 January 2011.  Individual Merlin Pass available for just £78 per person if you can visit selected Merlin attractions in person.  More details available at Merlin Pass Half Price Sale.

Trentham Gardens; £3 Entry

Trentham Gardens are currently offering discounted tickets this weekend to this popular Staffordshire attraction for just £3 per person.  More details available at Trentham Estate Deals.  For those in Staffordshire, you may also be interested in Blackbrook Zoo for £1.99 this weekend; simply turn up & pay on the door!

Half Price Legoland Pass Sale

Half Price Legoland Premium Annual Passes

Premium Legoland Annual Pass are currently available at half price and can be purchased online ore at the Legoland resort.  This pass includes unlimited entry during the Legoland season plus free parking and is available for £49.50 an adult & £37.50 a child, (3-15 years old). More details available at Legoland Premium Annual Pass Sale.

Vue Cinema; £1.25 per ticket

Vue cinemas offer mid morning family movies every weekend from just £1.25 per person.  Similiarly Cineworld offer £1 tickets for family movies on Saturday mornings at 68 of their cinemas across the country .  Simply check your local Vue or Cineworld cinema for details & listing times. More details available at Cinema Deals 2012.

Free Annual Pass Upgrades to Visitor Attractions

Here’s a chance to enjoy a day out and make savings all year!  Plenty of visitor attractions around the country offer free annual upgrades if you purchase your daily entrance ticket.  Attractions include the Eden Project, Blenheim Palace, Magna, National Space Centre & more.  More details available at Free Annual Upgrades for Visitor Attractions.

Have a good one,

Liz

New Ride at Alton Towers; Nemesis Sub Terra

New for Alton Towers 2012, this indoor thrill ride will be located within the Forbidden Valley close to Nemesis.  Incorporating a new underground basement area, the theming will be based around the creation of the original Nemesis ride.  Dubbed as a  ‘psychologically & physically thrilling’ drop ride experience, Nemesis Sub Terra is set to open in March 2012.

Nemesis at Alton Towers

Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs – 4D Experience

To be located in the Cloud Cuckoo Land Theatre, this movie uses 3D glasses and special effects to bring in that fourth dimension including icy blasts, snow & bubbles. Lots of fun for all the family and again plans to open at the end of March 2012.

Submission & Enterprise Closed for 2012

Due to the construction of SW7 for 2013, (see below), both Submission & Enterprise will be closed for the 2012 season.  We understand that both attractions will re-open for the 2013 season but does mean Oblivion will be a little lonely this season as the only ride running in X Sector for 2012!

Alton Towers Deals

SW7; New Coaster for 2013

Set to open Spring 2013, SW7 is dubbed to be the most expensive ride ever to be built at a cost of £20m.  This new coaster for Alton Towers is to be situated in X Sector on the site of the Black Hole.

The ride is to cover a total area of 1.5 acres and doesn’t look to replace any current rides located within X Sector at Alton Towers although Submission & Enterprise will be closed for the 2012 season, (see above).

SW7 will be manufactured by Gerstlauer, a specialist German Coaster Company, with a design that has a strong resemblance to existing Euro-Fighter coasters.  Gerstlauer also constructed Saw at Thorpe Park which remains one of the most popular coasters at the theme park based in Surrey.

The coaster is set to include 8 inversions, a dip below ground level and will rise to a height of 22.15 metres.  We’ll let you know as more details come in.

Alton Towers Deals

Of course if you are paying full price at Alton Towers, you are paying too much!  Worth checking out the Half Price Merlin Pass Sale that is currently running until 31 January 2012 or check out Current Alton Towers Deals for 2012 for plenty of options to reduce the cost of a day out at Alton Towers.

Alton Towers February Half Term 2012

If you can’t wait for the new season to begin, then remember Alton Towers opens a selection of rides for February Half Term running 11-19 February 2012, (the new rides aren’t due to open until March 2012).  With the park open from 10am-4pm, tickets are generally much cheaper and much quieter than busy peak times.

Liz

Trentham Gardens are currently offering discounted tickets this weekend to this popular Staffordshire attraction for just £3 per person.  More details available at Trentham Gardens Offers 2012 or Trentham Gardens Ice Skating Deals 2012.

Trentham Ice Skating Deals

Purchase a Half Price Merlin Pass

This Half Price Merlin Pass sale is only running until 31 January 2011.  You can pick up an individual Merlin Pass for just £78 per person, (standard price £156) but only of you can visit selected Merlin attractions in person. If you are considering picking one up from Alton Towers, check out opening times at Alton Towers & Half Price Merlin Pass Sale

£5 Eden Project Annual Pass for Locals

For local residents living in Cornwall & Devon, you can pick up an annual pass for the Eden Project for just £5 per person!  Simply visit up to 10 February 2012 with proof of primary residence in Devon/Cornwall & photo ID and you can visit all year for just £5.  There is also the option to extend this to a 2 year annual pass for an additional £5, (ie 2 years annual pass for just £10).

Eden Project

Vue Cinema; £1.25 per ticket

Vue cinemas offer mid morning family movies every weekend from just £1.25 per person.  Children must be 12 or under and accompanying adults can also gain entry for this discounted ticket price.  This weekend’s selection includes Mr Popper’s Penguins, The Smurfs & Happy Feet 2.  Simply check your local Vue cinema for details & listing times.  Plenty more Cinema Deals available too.

Blackbrook Zoo; £1.99 per ticket

Here’s a chance to visit Blackbrook Zoo for just £1.99 per person this January.  With standard gate prices normally running at £9.95 an adult, this is a great chance to pick up a deal and enjoy a day out on a budget.  Simply visit the ticket kiosk on the day of your visit to take advantage of this deal.

Have a good one!

Liz

Check out the Half Price Merlin Pass sale  that is currently running until 31 January 2012.  You can pick up an individual Merlin Pass for just £78 per person, (standard price £156) if you can visit selected Merlin attractions in person.  You can also take advantage of a half price Merlin Pass & upgrade to a Premium Merlin Pass if you pay an additional £35 per person in cash.

Merlin Pass Deals

Merlin Pass & Tesco Clubcard Vouchers

If you are a regular spender at Tesco, this can offer a great way to slash costs on a Merlin Pass.  You can pick up  a standard Merlin Annual Pass for just  £42.50 in vouchers & again,  you can upgrade to a Premium Merlin Pass for an extra £30 cash per person.

2 for 1 Vouchers at Merlin Attractions

Merlin Attractions including Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, Legoland & Sea Life Centres run a number of 2 for 1 vouchers throughout the season so if you are paying full price…you are paying too much!  It’s worth considering your family’s future plans & whether taking advantage of a couple of 2 for 1′s would suffice for the year.

London Eye; Up Close & Personal

The Merlin Pass Offer

A standard Merlin Pass offers entry to over 40 plus visitor attractions around the UK.  Whilst standard Merlin Passes no longer receive free parking and there are some restrictions on use, (see below), a Merlin Pass offers value for money if you intend to visit a number of attractions throughout the year.  Consider also some of the passholder perks associated with the standard Merlin Pass that includes;

• Up to 20% off food, drink & souvenirs
• Early Ride Time at Alton Towers
• Deals on photographic souvenirs
• 20% off Alton Towers Waterpark

Remember restrictions on use with a standard Merlin Pass will include;

• No access to London Eye, Madame Tussauds, London Dungeon & Sea Life London during August
• No access to the London Eye on 14 February, 29-31 October
• No access to Blackpool Tower 22-30 October
• Passholder fee for Fright Nights at Thorpe Park

However if you discount the August restrictions, (& I wouldn’t fancy visiting some of these London Merlin Attraction in peak summer time anyway), there is plenty of choice for all the family and can work out as great value for money.

Liz

There is currently a Half Price Merlin Pass Sale running on individual Merlin Passes available for just £78 per person, (standard price £156).

Merlin Pass Half Price Sale

If you considering purchasing a half price Merlin Pass at Alton Towers, take note that the resort will be open on 28 & 29 January 2012 between 2pm & 8pm.  Simply make your way to Alton Towers Hotel reception to purchase your half price Merlin Pass.

It would be worth noting the official information that has recently been released as set out below;

“Only one member of the party needs to be present, but you’d need to bring along photos of the other members in the party. If your pass expires in the next 8 weeks we can add the time onto your pass from the date of your old pas expiring. If you are planning to visit the [Alton Towers] Resort to buy an Annual Pass the best thing to do is email us in advance to confirm we’ll be open for sales at annual.pass@alton-towers.com”

Liz

More details have just been released regarding the new ride, commonly known as SW7, for Alton Towers.  Following planning proposals that have been submitted to Staffordshire Moorlands District Council by Alton Towers, we can now glean further information about the ride set to be in operation for Spring 2013.

Coasters Galore at Alton Towers for 2013

SW7, dubbed to be the most expensive ride ever to be built, is to be situated in X Sector on the site of the Black Hole that closed down in 2005.  Rumored to cost £20m, this would make SW7 the most expensive coaster after Thirteen that was built in 2010 at a cost of £15m.  The ride is to cover a total area of 1.5 acres and doesn’t look to replace any current rides located within X Sector at Alton Towers.

SW7 will be manufactured by Gerstlauer, a specialist German Coaster Company, with a design that has a strong resemblance to existing Euro-Fighter coasters.  Gerstlauer also constructed Saw at Thorpe Park which remains one of the most popular coasters at the theme park based in Surrey.

SW7 to be located close to Oblivion

For those that are hungry for more facts & figures, we understand that the  new SW7 design wil comprise of;

• A maximum height of 22.15 metres, (73 ft)
• 8 inversions
• A dip below ground level
• Will contain a verticle lift hill
• Plus a shop & ride photo booth, (you don’t say)
• Construction to start 2012

If you’re planning to visit Alton Towers or other Merlin Attractions this year, then check out the Half Price Merlin Pass Sale now on.  Why not keep up to date by Subscribing to Topdogdays & sign up for our email newsletter.

Liz

Whilst the Merlin Pass Sale has officially ended early, there is still a way to get hold of a half price Merlin Pass until 31 January 2012!

Simply send an email to merlin.annualpass@merlinentertainments.biz to  explain you were planning to purchase a half price Merlin Pass before the 31 January.  They, in turn, will send you a confirmation email allowing you to make the Merlin Pass purchase at the sale price of £78 for an individual Merlin Pass. It seems you must take this confirmation email with you to the selected Merlin Attraction to take advantage of this deal. 

Alternatively, if you can make it to Alton Towers Hotel this weekend, ( 28 &29 January between 2 & 8pm) you can pick up a half price Merlin Pass without requiring the confirmation email.

Merlin Pass Half Price Deal

This offers relates only to individual standard Merlin Passes at a discounted price of just  £78 per person, (standard price £156 per person).

To take advantage of this offer, you must purchase & collect your half price Merlin Pass in person from one of the following Merlin Attractions;

• Alton Towers Resort
• Blackpool Tower
• Legoland, Windsor, (selected dates)
• Chessington World of Adventures
• The London, York or Edinburgh Dungeon
• London Eye
• Legoland Discovery Centre Manchester
• Madame Tussauds London
• Madame Tussauds Blackpool
• SEA LIFE centres or Sanctuaries
• Warwick Castle

Unfortunately, you cannot purchase half price Merlin Passes at  Thorpe Park with this deal. Worth checking opening days & times at the Merlin Attraction of your choice before setting off & ensuring you have a confirmation email from Merlin, (see above).

Merlin Pass Half Price Deal

Are Premium Merlin Passes Half Price Too?

Only individual standard Merlin Passes are being offered at half price.  You can upgrade your standard Merlin Pass to a Premium Merlin Pass if you pay an additional £35 per person in cash.  So you could purchase a standard Merlin Pass in this half price sale and upgrade to a Premium Merlin Pass for a total cost of £113 per person, (£78 + £35).

Parking & Merlin Passes

It’s worth noting in the new terms & conditions for Merlin Passes it states that…’Parking is not included with the Standard Merlin Annual Pass, and is subject to availability for Premium Passholders.  Mmm, that’s news to me!

Are Family Merlin Passes Included in this Half Price Sale?

No, only individual Merlin Passes are included in this sale.  Renewals are also excluded from this deal.

Half Price Merlin Passes & Unexpired Time on Current Merlin Pass

There remains some confusion as to whether unexpired time on a current Merlin Pass can be transferred onto a new half price Merlin Pass purchased in this deal.  The official Alton Towers response is that if you have 8 weeks or less on your existing pass, this can be transferred onto your new pass.  However, we are hearing reports of others securing larger extensions to their passes or being issued with vouchers rather than passes that can be redeemed on your next visit, (thanks Steve).  Certainly worth shopping around.

More Information on the Half Price Merlin Pass Sale & Alton Towers

Here is an update from Alton Towers regarding purchasing your Merlin Passes from this popular setting….’The official line is that the Merlin Annual Pass sale that is currently running is a walk up only offer – its only available if you visit the attractions. Only one member of the party needs to be present, but you’d need to bring along photos of the other members in the party. If your pass expires in the next 8 weeks we can add the time onto your pass from the date of your old pass expiring. If you are planning to visit the Resort to buy an Annual Pass the best thing to do is email us in advance to confirm we’ll be open for sales – annual.pass@alton-towers.com’

Thorpe Park & Merlin Pass Deals

The Merlin Pass Offer

A standard Merlin Pass offers entry to over 40 plus visitor attractions around the UK including;

• Alton Towers, (including Early Ride Time)
• Thorpe Park
• Legoland, Windsor
• Chessington
• Legoland Discovery Centre
• London Eye
• Blackpool Towers & many more…

Whilst standard Merlin Passes no longer receive free parking and there are some restrictions on use, (see below), this half price Merlin Pass deal offers value for money if you intend to visit a number of Merlin Attractions throughout the year.  It is also worth taking into account some of the passholder perks associated with the standard Merlin Pass that includes;

• Up to 20% off food, drink & souvenirs
• Early Ride Time at Alton Towers
• Deals on photographic souvenirs
• 20% off Alton Towers Waterpark

Remember restrictions on use with a standard Merlin Pass will include;

• No access to London Eye, Madame Tussauds, London Dungeon & Sea Life London during August
• No access to Legoland, Windsor before 2pm during August
• No access to the London Eye on 14 February, 29-31 October
• No access to Blackpool Tower 22-30 October
• Passholder fee for Fright Nights at Thorpe Park

However if you discount the August restrictions, (& I wouldn’t fancy visiting some of these London Merlin Attraction in peak summer time anyway), there is plenty of choice for all the family and works out as great value for money.

How to Get the Most from your Half Price Merlin Pass

This Half Price Merlin Pass deal is particularly cost effective if you take steps to reduce your spending on each visit rather than see them as a free day out!  Simple steps such as taking a picnic, investing in a Photo Pass & following our Tips to Beat the Queues will save you plenty of money throughout the year!

For more ways to save money on a day out, Subscribe to Topdogdays & sign up for our newsletter.

Liz