annual passes

S

stephend

Well-Known Member
I thought I would start this in the hope that someone can shine a light on the confusion. I have an annual pass at Twycross Zoo which I plan on using as much as possible. I had a list of other zoos on there I can visit free as well. Colchester, marwell, paignton,chester, edinburgh to name a few. This is great but I have also heard conflicting tales about people having problems using them at the other zoo's or only being allowed to use them once.
Just wondering if anyone else has had any problems or it's just second hand tales..:confused:
 
In the past year I have used my Chester pass at Bristol, Paignton, Edinburgh, Highland Wildlife Park and Twycross. In earlier years I have also used it at Marwell and Colchester. I have never had any problem at all: my reception at all these zoos has always been very friendly.

Alan
 
I have had no problems using them at Collections that are listed. However I did notice that on the renewal of my membership (Chester Zoo) it stated I would only be allowed entry once to the collections listed.
 
taun said:
I have had no problems using them at Collections that are listed. However I did notice that on the renewal of my membership (Chester Zoo) it stated I would only be allowed entry once to the collections listed.
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I noticed this too. I assume it is to do with bringing the money in during tough times. I don't think those zoos could afford to allow a huge number of members to enter as many times as they want for free.

I do wonder how they would 'police' the one entry rule though. Is there a record which is updated after being scanned upon entry?
 
CZJimmy said:
I noticed this too. I assume it is to do with bringing the money in during tough times. I don't think those zoos could afford to allow a huge number of members to enter as many times as they want for free.

I do wonder how they would 'police' the one entry rule though. Is there a record which is updated after being scanned upon entry?
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I do wonder whether they will beable to police it :confused: I wouldn't of thought many people used it to visit other collections thou (maybe some of use lot on here) but I couldn't see your average member traveling the length of the country to go to a different zoo.
 
CZJimmy said:
I noticed this too. I assume it is to do with bringing the money in during tough times. I don't think those zoos could afford to allow a huge number of members to enter as many times as they want for free.

I do wonder how they would 'police' the one entry rule though. Is there a record which is updated after being scanned upon entry?
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I didn't notice it - but I renew in August when my brain is switched to autopilot. I don't think this is unreasonable really. I would assume that it is down to the zoo which is giving the free entry, if they scan the membership card they can keep a record and charge for a second visit.

Alan
 
taun said:
I have had no problems using them at Collections that are listed. However I did notice that on the renewal of my membership (Chester Zoo) it stated I would only be allowed entry once to the collections listed.
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I am fairly certain the one annual visit refers to Woburn only . The letter from Chester suggests you also show their letter along with your membership card when visiting another collection . That makes sense .

The only problem I have encountered was at Dublin Zoo some years ago when the person on the gate denied all knowledge of free entry . I phoned Chester Zoo when I got back to report the problem , on my most recent visit to Dublin ( keep going back for the Guinness ) I got in free with no problem .
 
Bele said:
I am fairly certain the one annual visit refers to Woburn only . The letter from Chester suggests you also show their letter along with your membership card when visiting another collection . That makes sense .
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Just reread the letter, it does appear that only Woburn is limited to ONE free entry per year.
 
stephend said:
I thought I would start this in the hope that someone can shine a light on the confusion. I have an annual pass at Twycross Zoo which I plan on using as much as possible. I had a list of other zoos on there I can visit free as well. Colchester, marwell, paignton,chester, edinburgh to name a few. This is great but I have also heard conflicting tales about people having problems using them at the other zoo's or only being allowed to use them once.
Just wondering if anyone else has had any problems or it's just second hand tales..:confused:
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The problem is its A Twycross card the only collections i know that you can get into with it are Colchester,Chester,Marwell,Paignton,Edinburgh,Newquay and Living Coasts,and i think Belfast you used to be able to get into Dudley but the agreement got stopped because poeple realised it was cheaper to by a Twycross membership card to get free entry to the zoo on their doorstep.:mad:Thats one of the many reason why i`m seriously considering not renewing my Twycross membership and just sticking to Chester and ABWAK,although i may join Belfast to give them some extra money.;)
 
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Z magazine Summer 2008 page 24

We have received notification from Woburn Safari Park that their offer now only allows one free visit per year from members of other zoos. As this is a reciprocal arrangement we will of course apply the same criteria for Woburn Safari Park Members visiting Chester Zoo.

The membership renewal letter does have one annual visit printed in brackets after Woburn Safari Park, so it seems to apply only to that collection.

Bele the letter reads 'to receive your membership cards please bring this letter with you on your next visit to the Zoo and hand it in to the gate cashier on arrival' I don't think you need to show it at any other collection. I have never done so.

The only trouble I ever had was at London after they had pulled out of the reciprocal visit scheme. The lady at London's member's entrace told me I was no longer entitled to free admission and I said I did not know. She then asked me where I came from. I said Stoke-on-Trent and she said that's a long way, I'll let you in anyway.
 
bongorob said:
Z magazine Summer 2008 page 24

We have received notification from Woburn Safari Park that their offer now only allows one free visit per year from members of other zoos. As this is a reciprocal arrangement we will of course apply the same criteria for Woburn Safari Park Members visiting Chester Zoo.

The membership renewal letter does have one annual visit printed in brackets after Woburn Safari Park, so it seems to apply only to that collection.

Bele the letter reads 'to receive your membership cards please bring this letter with you on your next visit to the Zoo and hand it in to the gate cashier on arrival' I don't think you need to show it at any other collection. I have never done so.

The only trouble I ever had was at London after they had pulled out of the reciprocal visit scheme. The lady at London's member's entrace told me I was no longer entitled to free admission and I said I did not know. She then asked me where I came from. I said Stoke-on-Trent and she said that's a long way, I'll let you in anyway.
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Bongorob - Chester's letter also states - ' As a member you can enjoy free visits to the attractions listed below on production of this letter and your membership card . '

Living a long way from Chester and probably only visting the zoo once or twice a year , I have in the past asked them to send me a new membership card rather than collect one from the gate , my photo is already in their system .
 
The membership cards for Chester no longer have an expiry date on so you have to produce the letter as well as your card when visiting another collection to prove the expiry date of the membership.
 
thanks for all the replies it's okay if you can only get one visit per zoo anyway as I do not think I could fit in any more this year..thanks for all your help
 
mjmorg89 said:
The membership cards for Chester no longer have an expiry date on so you have to produce the letter as well as your card when visiting another collection to prove the expiry date of the membership.
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I gather they started this this year then? Becasue mine have allways had an expiry date on.
 
don't you think zoo's that make the one visit rule is a little short sighted. If you have just paid alot of money for a years pass to your favourite zoo the chances are you will not be in a hurry to go & pay full price to go to another zoo. even though it is free entry they will still get the money you spend inside.
 
My card has expires January 2010 on it.

Bele I missed that bit about taking the letter to another zoo. Sorry.
 
bongorob said:
My card has expires January 2010 on it.
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Maybe it's only just been changed in February then. I don't understand why it's been changed at all though. It can't be for the purpose of saving ink as my picture is now in colour on my new card as opposed to black and white on my previous one.

Not sure where else to post this and it's kind of linked but while in the shop at the zoo I saw a sign addressed to zoo members saying the discount (20%) is no longer offered on books and dvds. I myself only ever buy the books and dvds if anything so it's quite annoying. Anyone know why they would have stopped this?
 
mjmorg89 said:
Maybe it's only just been changed in February then. I don't understand why it's been changed at all though. It can't be for the purpose of saving ink as my picture is now in colour on my new card as opposed to black and white on my previous one.
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I have to pick my new card up soon, so I will look out for that. Does the later have an expiry date then? This has got rather confusing :confused:
 
taun said:
I have to pick my new card up soon, so I will look out for that. Does the later have an expiry date then? This has got rather confusing :confused:
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The card is the same as the old one only colour picture and no expiry date. The letter has an expiry date on next to the bar code and you have to produce this letter when using your card at any other zoo, but at chester only the card is needed.
 
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