Drayton Manor's free entry prank for April Fool's may be real after all
Theme park fans have been left baffled by Drayton Manor's April Fool's joke that claimed admission fees would be dropped this year – only for the resort to then reveal that the joke could actually be true.
April Fool's jokes have become a popular marketing tactic for companies in recent years to stir up a bit of recognition on 1 April, whether their claims are true or not.
This year, some of the most outrageous April Fool's 'offers' included Branston launching a new 'tin to tint' lip baked beans gloss and Terry's, best known for its iconic Chocolate Orange, revealing it is stepping into the dental industry with its own mint chocolate toothpaste.
Amusement parks also got a slice of the prankster action too. On April Fool's Day, Staffordshire-based Drayton Manor posted on its social media that its theme park would be free to enter.
The post read: 'Imagine not having to pay to get into Drayton Manor…'
'Oh wait, you don't!
'To celebrate our 75th birthday, we're scrapping our admission fees this year, so everyone can join in the fun!'
Yet two hours later after 12pm, when jokes are meant to end, the park then released a follow-up post to reveal that slashing their fees was an April Fool's joke, only to confuse theme park enthusiasts further.
'APRIL FOOLS! Or is it…,' the follow-up post started.
'But seriously… we ARE scrapping admission fees to celebrate our 75th anniversary!'
'The best part? All the details – including when you can jump in on this epic offer – are coming soon!
'Stay tuned, because 2025 is going to be one unforgettable year at Drayton Manor!'
In Drayton Manor's initial post, they carefully used the words 'this year' when announcing its free-to-enter scheme, but did not clarify if this meant just a select date or the entire season.
APRIL FOOLS! Or is it... 🤔But seriously… we ARE scrapping admission fees to celebrate our 75th anniversary! 🥳The best part? All the details—including when you can jump in on this epic offer—are coming soon! Stay tuned, it's going to be mega! 🎢✨#DraytonManor #75Years pic.twitter.com/qbXu0MEkqg
— Drayton Manor (@DraytonManor) April 1, 2025
A spokesperson for Drayton Manor clarified to The Independent: 'The park will be removing entry fees for a number of days to celebrate its 75th birthday.'
The park added that all the details will be revealed in the next couple of weeks.
Despite the April Fool's joke coming true for some to-be-announced dates scrapping entry fees, some park fans criticised the initial post amid cost-of-living concerns.
'If this is an April's fool joke it is a bit cruel… With the cost of living and bills going up again… Parents are feeling guilty they can't afford to take children on days out, They might see this and get excited/think yeah we can have a day out!' one social media user wrote.
'I'm all for a joke but maybe the timings are are bit wrong with the current situation.'
Another person wrote: 'Yeah have to say it looks like you're joking at the expense of people who'd really benefit from getting in free'.
While many other users were relieved to see that the free admission would become a reality for certain days, some were still concerned they could not grab the offer after already purchasing tickets for later in the year or spending hundreds on season passes.
Drayton Manor said it decided to tease this announcement by framing it as 'a playful April Fool's Day prank.'
'There will also be plenty more celebrations in store for visitors, including special events, experiences and exciting surprises, throughout the year to mark the major anniversary,' the spokesperson added.
Drayton Manor has already announced some of its 75th-anniversary celebrations, with this weekend kicking off with a 50s tribute act, rides opening late on 5 April, the first of its monthly fireworks, and an Easter egg hunt with a chance to win a Diamond Annual pass.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Terry Moran launches Substack to continue doing ‘important work' following ABC News ouster
A day after ABC News parted ways with longtime correspondent Terry Moran following his 'world-class hater' tweets about Donald Trump and Stephen Miller, Moran announced that he was joining the growing chorus of former TV anchors and hosts who have launched their own Substacks. 'For almost 28 years, I was a reporter and anchor for ABC News, and as you may have heard, I'm not there anymore,' he said in a video posted to social media and his own personal Substack account. In the post titled 'Independence Day,' the former Nightline anchor suggested that he would be going the independent route for the time being, following in the footsteps of other veteran broadcasters and reporters who have recently found themselves sidelined by mainstream news networks and legacy press outlets. 'I'm here, with you, on Substack, this amazing space. And I can't wait to get at it, to get at the important work that we all have to do in this time of such trouble for our country,' he stated. 'I'm gonna be reporting and interviewing and just sharing from you, and hoping to hear from you as well.' Moran did let his followers know that it could be a while before he actually starts producing content on a regular basis. 'So, it'll be a few days, maybe a little bit longer, got to get some stuff sorted out, but can't wait to see you,' he concluded. The now-former ABC News anchor and correspondent is adding his name to the expanding list of prominent names who have turned to Substack and similar subscriber-based platforms as television news networks and media conglomerates continue to slash costs amid dwindling ad revenues. Jim Acosta, the former CNN anchor who left the cable news giant earlier this year rather than accept a move to the dreaded midnight shift, encouraged Moran to follow in his footsteps and join Substack earlier this week. 'Come on in, Terry. The water is warm,' he told Vanity Fair. With other TV news vets such as Joy Reid, Don Lemon, Chuck Todd and Chris Matthews all creating their own online programs – not to mention one-time MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan starting up his own Substack-based media company Zeteo – Vanity Fair spoke to some who have recently taken the dive into independent journalism. 'My advice to Terry or any other legacy media person who goes independent is this: You have spent your whole life as a buyer. People came to you with information, job offers, etc. Now you are a seller,' former CNN analyst Chris Cillizza said, adding, 'My view is that as an independent news creator, you have to be in a lot of places at once.' Moran's Substack announcement also came shortly after anti-Trump digital media empire MeidasTouch – which just hired Katie Phang after MSNBC canceled her show – publicly pitched him to join the network. 'There's a seat at the table for you, Terry,' MeidasTouch founder Ben Meisalas declared in a video posted to social media. 'Help lead the next era of journalism—one that doesn't flinch when democracy is under threat.' The journey from broadcast television to Substacking has been quick for Moran, who was suspended by ABC News on Sunday after he sent out a late-night screed savaging Trump and his deputy chief of staff Miller. 'Miller is a man who is richly endowed with the capacity for hatred,' Moran wrote in the since-deleted tweet. 'He's a world-class hater. You can see this just by looking at him because you can see that his hatreds are his spiritual nourishment. He eats his hate.' He added: 'The thing about Stephen Miller is not that he is the brains behind Trumpism. It's not brains. It's bile.' With the administration demanding that the network take action against Moran and MAGA media calling for him to be fired, ABC News announced on Sunday morning that he was 'suspended pending further evaluation' as his post 'does not reflect the views of ABC News and violated our standards.' Moran, who had just sat down with Trump for a newsmaking and high-profile interview six weeks earlier, found himself fired two days later. Progressives and liberals savaged the move and accused the network of once again capitulating to the president, specifically noting that the network had paid Trump $15 million late last year to settle a defamation lawsuit involving anchor George Stephanopoulos. In the end, though, the decision to cut Moran may have had as much to do with economics as it did with criticism over his tweets, which also reportedly resonated within the halls of the ABC newsroom. 'The fact that Moran was at the end of a contract cycle — his deal was set to expire on Friday, according to a person briefed on the matter — made it easier for ABC to take swift action,' CNN chief media analyst Brian Stelter reported on Tuesday.

Miami Herald
25 minutes ago
- Miami Herald
Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi's move to the UK has been ‘difficult' amid renovation
Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi have had a few bumps in the road to deal with as they settle into their new life in England, but a source exclusively tells In Touch that they're committed to making the most of their adventure and not letting any setbacks get them down. 'They knew going into this that it wasn't going to be totally smooth sailing, it was always going to be a challenge,' the source says of the U.K. move. 'Taking on a big renovation in a foreign country is not easy. But they're both very skilled at renovation. It's one of their passions.' After decades of calling California home, Ellen, 67, and Portia, 52, quietly packed up in 2024 and moved more than 5,000 miles to a new 43-acre property nestled in Cotswolds, the heart of the British countryside about 90 minutes outside of London. The Cotswolds' celebrity residents include David and Victoria Beckham, Kate Moss and Simon Cowell. Ellen and Portia sold their Carpinteria, California, estate — which they purchased for $70 million in 2022 — to Singapore-based tycoon Robert Friedland for a whopping $96 million. Unfortunately, their new $15 million Cotswolds home was plagued with floods, resulting in expensive damage, and the couple has since moved to a new mansion which is about 30 minutes from their original property. The source says the couple — who have been married since 2008 — have 'navigated plenty of hiccups' in the past with other projects, adding, 'So they weren't all that thrown off by the stumbling blocks they've faced in the U.K.' 'It's been difficult at times because they do miss the comfort of things back in America, but more than anything they're pleased to be embracing this new start,' the insider explains. 'They're getting to know the people around them and loving the property and the area. They take long walks in the woods every day, build roaring fires at night, all that stuff that's so typical of the English countryside. Ultimately, it is proving to be a very good move for their souls and for their marriage.' The bumps in the road come after In Touch reported that the couple moved overseas in late 2024 because Ellen was 'just done' with the United States, while her wife was equally ready to 'turn the page' and begin a new chapter in their lives. Ellen had gone into isolation over the years following reports that she was mean to her staff on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. In light of the scandal, the former host chose to end her long-running talk show in May 2021 after 19 seasons. She opened up in a rare comment about being canceled during her Ellen's Last Stand … Up tour stop at Radio City Music Hall in New York City before her move in August 2024. During her set, Ellen recalled being dubbed the 'most hated person in America' after years of being the celebrity personality that fans 'most want to babysit' their children. She then recounted turning to professional help in light of the backlash and was advised to 'avoid all media.' After she seemed to hit rock bottom, Ellen recalled how she eventually regained the strength to 'heal' when she started writing jokes again. She then credited getting out of the 'bubble in Hollywood' for helping her realize the 'amount of support' she was still receiving from her loved ones. Copyright 2025 Us Weekly. All rights reserved.
Yahoo
38 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Meta Launches Lawsuit Against 'Nudify' AI Company Over Facebook, Instagram Ads
Meta on Thursday said it is taking legal action to a company using AI technology to create nonconsensual sexual images of people. Joy Timeline Limited, based in Hong Kong, has allegedly circumvented Meta's ad review process to advertise its "nudify" app CrushAI. A previous report from investigative tech outlet 404 Media estimated that 90% of CrushAI's traffic came from ads on Meta's services like Platforms (META) on Thursday announced a lawsuit against a Hong Kong-based company that has managed to work around the social media giant's advertising detection technology to promote AI-powered explicit apps. The Facebook and Instagram parent said it is suing Joy Timeline HK Limited, which owns a slate of apps called CrushAI, one of which allows users to take a picture of a person and use AI technology to make the image sexually explicit. The lawsuit was filed in Hong Kong, where Joy Timeline is based, Meta said. The company behind the so-called "nudify" app continued to circumvent Meta's ad review process after previous ads for the service had been removed from Meta's platforms, Meta said. Meta also said it was revamping its detection technology to catch more ads that may not feature explicit content like nudity in its ads but are still promoting a service that violates Meta's rules. The move comes after Meta received a letter from Illinois Senator Dick Durbin earlier this year, who asked Meta to answer for how it safeguards against these types of ads. The letter cited a report from the tech news outlet 404 Media, who found that an estimated 90% of traffic to CrushAI's apps were coming from ads it had placed on Meta's platforms. Joy Timeline did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The suit is the second against an AI company in as many days, coming a day after Disney (DIS) and Universal teamed up to sue AI image generation company Midjourney, alleging the company has made millions in revenue by violating the copyrights of their properties like "Star Wars" and Marvel Comics. Read the original article on Investopedia