Blackpool Pleasure Beach Reopening: Our Experience
On Thursday 9th July, we visited Blackpool Pleasure Beach. This was their first week reopening since closing due to the coronavirus pandemic. Like everywhere, they have adapted their usual procedures to keep visitors safe under these new circumstances. Within this article, I will detail these safety precautions and give you my opinion on them.
Tickets and Entering the Park
Unlike many other parks worldwide, Blackpool Pleasure Beach is not checking guests’ temperatures as they enter the park. However, their website does suggest that they ‘may also ask that you have your temperature checked’. It is unclear whether this will become mandatory, however it appears to currently only be if a member of staff suspects guests are showing COVID-19 symptoms. All staff do have there temperature checked before the start of their day.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach is no longer using their wristband system. All guests must book a day slot before they visit and purchase an e-ticket if they are not season pass holders. Season pass holders must also reserve a day they wish to visit the park on.
Capacity is capped at a much lower number than normal to ensure social distancing is maintained all around the park.
Maps are in their usual place and guests are able to pick them up themselves. Hand sanitizer is located right next to them to use before and after you touch them. Guests were utilising this and keeping the maps all safe and sanitary.
New Safety Measures
There was sanitiser in many locations around the park. However, we did notice that it wasn’t placed near the exit of many rides. As it is on rides where guests come into contact with things the most, such as restraints and handrails, we believe that it is after such contact that hand sanitizer is most necessary. This is one of the few criticisms we have with the park’s new measures, although it is certainly something they can easily rectify.
Staff were all wearing masks and many were also wearing face shields. These shields were attached to the front of a cap, which looked far more comfortable than others we have seen at different parks.
Rides are deep cleaned regularly with a disinfectant hose. This causes a slight delay in wait times, adding about ten minutes to the queue. This is accounted for in the wait times posted outside the rides.
Social Distancing was enforced throughout, with 2m markers on the floor outside shops, dining locations and within ride lines. This was followed very well by guests and we never once saw people ignoring these rules.
Mobile ordering has been introduced to limit contact for those who choose to use this. Regular ordering is still operating alongside this. Contactless payment may be required at some locations.
Character meet and greets are still occurring, however must now be done at a 2m distance.
Safety on the Rides
Face masks must be worn on most attractions. This includes, Icon, The Big One, The Grand National, Steeplechase, Nickelodeon Streak, The Big Dipper, Red Arrows SkyForce, Infusion, Ice Blast, Avalanche, Revolution and The Grand National. The only attractions we rode that didn’t require masks was The River Caves, Ghost Train, Flying Machines, Derby Racer and Alice in Wonderland.
There is a dedicated plan for each ride, making sure that the 2m distance is maintained. For most attractions this meant only one party per carriage or row. On The Big One, The Grand National, Nickelodeon Streak, Revolution and the Big Dipper, only every other row is being loaded. Icon, Avalanche and Infusion are loading every row as they are already spaced out by 2m. This means these three coasters are loading extremely efficiently, giving them relatively short wait times.
Is it Safe and Worthwhile?
Blackpool Pleasure Beach is doing a brilliant job at keeping the park safe. The attractions are kept very clean, social distancing is maintained throughout and the staff are doing well to make sure measures are followed. We do recommend you bring your own hand sanitizer to use after going on rides, along with a face mask. The park is selling their own line of masks which make for a rather fun, unique souvenir.
What is open at the park is more than worthy of a visit. The only attractions not operating, due to an inability to maintain social distancing, are Impossible, Chinese Puzzle Maze, Thompson Carousel, Alpine Rally and the Dodgems. Compared to other parks, this is a very small collection of closed rides and certainly doesn’t include anything major.
The park is running the rides at an incredibly efficient rate. It was rather quiet when we visited and we were able to walk on Icon all day. This is something we have certainly never been able to do before.
We definitely recommend a trip to Blackpool Pleasure Beach if you want a fun, thrilling and most importantly, safe day out.