Dreamland confirms free park entry for 2019 after record-breaking Easter crowds

Free entry contributed to a record-breaking Easter opening at Dreamland Photo Frank Leppard

Dreamland has confirmed the park will stay free to enter for the 2019 season, ditching the previous £5 admission fee.

The amusement park trialled free entry when it reopened for the season on April 6 , which resulted in record-breaking crowds. Footfall soared by more than 380% with 105,433 visitors between April 6 and April 22, compared to 21,988 visitors during the 2018 Easter break. Visitor numbers peaked at 15,228 on Easter Sunday, with approximately 47,000 people over the long Easter weekend.

The park had a Camp Bestival ‘takeover’ and the return of the world’s biggest bouncy castle. The takeover was rounded off on Sunday with a Camp Bestival Party curated by ‘Family da Bank’ founder and DJ Rob da Bank and his family team, with a day of family friendly DJs, live music and workshops.

The admission fee was introduced last year with a £5 Day Dreamer ticket being redeemable against a single go on a ride of a visitor’s choice, or the daily Day Dreamer food and drink offer.

Photo Frank Leppard

Bosses reverted to free entry from April 6 and the offer was originally intended to end on May 24, but following careful assessment, the Dreamland team chose to extend the offer for the rest of the year.

This means guests pay per ride, buy discounted wristbands online or join as members.

CEO Eddie Kemsley said: “We’ve had a phenomenal opening season, with nearly five times the number of visitors we had last Easter. We expected an uplift in visitors when we changed to a free entry offer, but the boom in visitors in the past few days has been staggering.

“We are so grateful to all the local families, the holidaymakers and the day trippers who spent their Easter break with us and left such positive reviews.

“What better way to say thank you than by keeping the park free to enter for 2019, so they can all visit again and again?

Photo Frank Leppard

“The atmosphere in the park has been fantastic. Thousands of people from London and further afield have been enjoying the sun-soaked park alongside our Kent customers, and our team managed this surge in numbers smoothly and with a big smile on their faces.

“While our free to enter offer is certainly compelling, I think we’re seeing more and more people choosing to take a ‘staycation’ in the UK than travel abroad for the holidays.

“With the beautiful beach and the town’s galleries and quirky-cool shops on our doorstep, Margate is a magnet for people wanting a slice of seaside and culture without breaking the bank.”

Photo Frank Leppard

Dreamland is now open at weekends and bank holidays only, and will be open daily during school holidays. T

The park has 26 thrill and chill rides, as well as new food and drink stalls, Instagram trails and a programme of music and events throughout the spring and summer.

Visit www.dreamland.co.uk for more information.

1 Comment

  1. Only open at weekends and school holidays ?? Why ? I can’t think of any other fun park that is closed in the spring/summer/autumn most families with pre school kids go on holiday in school time as you don’t get ripped of in term time I guess dreamland doesn’t want young families etc.
    So are the staff only part time than , I couldn’t afford to work just two days a week !!

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