For months we have known about the upcoming ENSO UpCharge for the brand new Mack spinning back-row addition to the existing ICON coaster and here’s why we feel it just won’t be a successful long-term implementation.
Right so for those who don’t know what to expect when ENSŌ is rolled out this spring here’s what we know so far:
ENSŌ will be available on one of ICON’s three trains. There will be an upcharge to ride ENSŌ, with two levels of access – Standard and VIP. Both will only be able to be booked via Blackpool Pleasure Beach’s app on the day of your visit.
STANDARD ENSŌ BOOKING £15
VIP ENSŌ BOOKING £25
Guests that already have a VIP Speedy Pass can get a VIP ENSŌ Booking for £15.
Bookings are only valid for one ride on ENSŌ. It is non-refundable and non-transferable. ENSŌ is subject to availability.
When purchasing a Standard ENSŌ ride, you will have the same wait time as the current queue but with one big advantage, you don’t have to stand in line!
When purchasing an ENSŌ VIP ride, your wait time is reduced by 90% of the normal queue time length.
While you are waiting for your ENSŌ ride you can visit other rides and attractions across the park.
After completing your booking, a timer will start to countdown and when the timer reaches zero, you can head straight to the ENSŌ entrance where you will scan a code with your phone to board ENSŌ.
So reading that at face value you can see why there has been uproar not just from enthusiasts but the general public.
You have to book your one ride on ENSŌ through an app where you choose between standard or VIP options.
Whilst you book this you can go about your day and do whatever you like as a digital countdown will count down an allocated amount of time until you can board.
Having a new ENSŌ entrance was something that just had to be done due to the fact that the main queue-line is too tight to navigate and having people shuffling through made, absolutely no sense.
This new ‘speedy pass’ style queue line will take you straight to the front and in a way that justifies some sort of cost but £15 for standard and £25 for VIP, absolutely not.
Entrance prices for Blackpool Pleasure Beach are rising all the time and with the incredible Blackpool Pleasure Beach Season Passes only being released in a limited quantity, quite a large number of people are going to be paying upwards of £38pp to get into the park.
Once they’re inside, do you really think they’re going to want to pay another £15 or £25 to board ENSO?
Even enthusiasts have taken to social media to complain about the extortionate price tag and for the most diehard of fans to complain about this shows you just how ludicrous this new pricing structure is.
With park investments in the Big One and Valhalla going above budget (delays and unforeseen circumstances have inevitably caused this) the park needs to recoup money and recoup it fast.
I can’t wrap my head around why the pricing structure is so high with fast passes at Alton Towers and other Merlin parks never go above £10 per ride.
£15 for a spinning seat addition is currently the most expensive single ride upcharge in the country (to my knowledge) let alone the £25 VIP upgrade. That’s Disney prices!
Whilst enthusiasts will be more than happy to ride it for the experience it won’t be an attraction that will be re-ridable unless you have a lot of disposable income.
For me, my Pleasure Beach season pass gives me great value for money over the course of a season so a £15 upcharge just isn’t an issue but only for the first (and last) ride. To keep paying it over and over is ridiculous to me and that’s as a season pass holder who essentially after the first 4 visits is getting all visits thereafter free of charge.
This certainly seems like a short term solution for Pleasure Beach to recoup some money and with rumours of ride manufacturers Mack having a share of the sales it makes even more sense to charge higher than normal prices from a business standpoint but it just isn’t sustainable or fair to the consumer.
What’s going to happen on quiet days when the main ICON train can’t even get filled? Will they close off the queue line for ENSŌ?
What’s going to happen if they can’t fill the backseat? Will they lock them back into position and allow people to ride the back-row normally without the upcharge? Would this damage the mechanism or is it common practice for the seats to do this?
There are many things that I don’t know but what I do know is that this upcharge won’t last very long. It’s impossible to see how people will get on board with this considering the current climate in which we live.
Prices are going up, the cost for families is rising all the time, these attractions aren’t cheap and to get inside a park and have to pay again is just something that I can’t see ever being successful.
A family of 4 wanting to go on ENSŌ will cost £60 minimum.
A family of 4 paying to get into the park will cost upwards of £100 already.
Value for money?
I think not.
I do look forward to experiencing ENSŌ just like many others but can you hand on heart say you’re going to pay the money visit after visit for some spinning seats?
It feels like a one-trick pony and at some point, the current system will be scrapped altogether and replaced with some sort of cost-effective alternative.
As such a huge fan of Blackpool Pleasure Beach, I always want to see them succeed in everything they do but I feel this particular decision will hurt the park.
It’s one thing wanting to recoup some financial losses, it’s another to almost punish (and out-price) a large percentage of your guests.
Something has to change.
It just has to.
