Apple Land Station — Attraction in Thames Centre

Amazing upgrades. And due to that expect gouging prices. CHANGED 2 YEARS AGO Basically --- the off the cuff owner reply is new infrastructures equals a higher insurance for the entire property. They also have the whole we pay the people to work for us thing and I'm pretty sure they've been paying them the whole time . . .Right. Be prepared to pay to play or pick apples separately (in the same booth) but separately. APPLE PICKING: $18 for a 10 lb bag of apples and $32 for a 20 lb bag. Take it or leave it no negotiating on getting two bags . . . Of 10 ... And paying the price for the 20lb bag.

FROM owner replies to this cost - I understand. However it doesn't look like the train has been painted in the last 2 years . . . It's just based off what I saw today. . . ∆ "we changed all that almost 2 years ago; all the info is on our website." ∆ "There is no charge to go apple picking all you have to do is pay for the apples, and yes it's $18 for a 10lb bag ($1.80lb) that allows 4 people to ride the train and experience apple picking, that's basically $4.50 per person and you go home with an incredible experience and a bag of fresh picked apples. In our opinion, this is an incredible value." 💯💯✨ I'm totally understanding that the cost of running a farm growing apples running that train back and forth on gas because it definitely doesn't run off of the soap inside the driver area 😂 can someone please tell me what the green soap is for lol 😆 .....

• Everything has been structurally changed to look beautiful and inviting. But be prepared to pay separately to play and to pick. ∆ Adults and children are $12 to play. Better get your play shoes on adults .... And yes that includes the sunflowers the corn maze the sandhill the sand silo the trampoline pad the playgrounds and swing sets to name a few. And let's not forget about those animals . . . Explaining to my neurodivergent children, a playground afterwards would be able to provide them with just as much fun and less sand . . . It's a good compromise. And free. They were really rather upset. Noted reading: "nowhere else" (owner review response) allegedly has a play area that DOESN'T charge adults. . . (See the bottom of my review - for free adult admission and compared cost for kids TO PLAY year round).

💰💰We spent over $50 in the tent with decorations prior to picking apples .... I feel like there should be a coupon where if you spend a certain amount in that tent you should be able to play.... No??? 👎🏻

Apple Picking: An okay selection. I don't know if it will get better . . . I noted how they even have a sign now posting to cut down on sampling apples because that's how they make their income. • 60% of the apples I saw were on the ground, and rotting and they're concerned about people taste testing.... There must be some confusion. 🤨🤨🤨

411: The pumpkin patch has been flipped into a cornfield and everything is separated from one another. [See photo of fenced off section]

Lasting Impressions: It's tragic because our trip was cut in half and we had to choose apples or playground of sand .... And new structures ... Swings, bouncing pad, sand silo, Sand Hill, corn maze yada yada sunflowers zip line animals.... All $12/ person. Cool it's an attraction and a complete PASS or PACKAGE will make the stigma of this place better. I'm sorry people are cheap - we are far from being frugal.

Play Places - FREE ADULTS Bouncy/soft-play spots in London, ON Adventures on Wonderland Off The Wall Kids – Family Play Center Funvilla London FleetPlay Kids’ Play Centre (Fleetway) The Factory (100 Kellogg Lane)

I'll be nice and give you five star. Because after spending an arm and a leg we have lots of apples that are fresh off of a farm, and a beautiful front facade. I can't say anything is going to want to bring me back next year after almost coming here for 8 years . . . . So there's that. You won't miss us though lots of people love you. We like Mark - who drove the tractor. #greensoap ?? Oooo is it to refill the porta potties soap 🧼 .... Pulling at...

Very disappointed in this year's layout and business decisions. Been going to apple land station for 7+ years even becoming a regular in the year to just shop at the store. I see the business has replied to lots of these reviews with their own reasons which are understandable but in the end still leave the feeling of disappointment.

I work in marketing and understand some of these decisions but one part they missed was good communication and understanding their position in the market.

Pricing: Okay two types of pricing…okay this makes me think, are you trying to get data on the persona's coming so you steer the business to the most profitable customer, or is this an accounting situation to split the farm, store, and now station/park for taxes or even insurance? 🤔 either ways we all understand prices have gone up, we’re pretty much used to it but don't fool us or confuse us. The math aint mathing, you say now you don't have pay for apple picking if you don't want (then what am I doing here lol) or only pay to go the station/park but you're still charging ME when it should only be my kid. The idea not to charge “unnecessary charges” falls short when you're charging me to attend the kids area.

2.Layout: Biggest problem in my opinion. The “fencing off” like others have stated makes us feel like cattle. It's like opening 3 to 4 doors to get to where you want. “Oh hey you want to pick apples, go through this door, want your kids to play? Well walk around, go through this door, want to eat food well step pass the booths and go out, and want to go to the store to open this door. I get the idea of stopping theft but honestly theft can still happen and could even be stopped with other better solutions.

3.This is how others run their business: seriously number 1 rule be different! You're not them, so don't be like them. Find other ways, and don't be fooled by research and numbers. Take an economics course and learn about the buffet conundrum and the economic theory of adverse selection.

In general appleland station is an experience. Don't tell me it's cheaper. If I wanted to be cheap I'd go to the market and buy apples (instead of doing the work and dealing with bugs), and take those apples to the park with my kids. This business should look at the experience overall and make it one. Instead of splitting it up, it felt great to walk around the orchard, have the wife pick some apples, look at the animals and walk over to the playground to see our kids enjoy time with other kids. If you're going to change, communicate advantages accordingly to customers.

I write this review because I care.I'm proud the business is growing, and I want it to succeed and even expand. But this year it's been very disappointing, including the orchard. I went early this year and they're seemed to be more apples on the ground, more rotten ones on the trees, and when trying to get to the green ones by the sand hill of course they're blocked off. Again very disappointing. I believe in second chances I hope next...

I used to love going to Appleland, I’ve been going there every year since 6-7 years and then twice a year the last 3 years. I would come with my son and partner to pick apples and visit the animals/fun farm and the second time I would come with my friend to pick apples, pumpkins and take some nice pictures. Not sure what lead to the change in layout/rules but it honestly seems like a big hastle to go apple picking separately with a 3 year old and have no freedom of roaming the farm (since we were previously able to). We were unaware until we lined up and were told that we had to go line up again afterwards to pay for the fun farm. This really feels like it makes it more inconvenient and challenging for families who want to do both and the set up before was just so much more flexible and enjoyable. Not every child (depending on age) is going to like all the attractions, my son really wanted to see the animals and pick apples, and then it’s really not worth the money. Looking at a review from 8 months ago, you guys have doubled your admission price (during the week at least from 6 to 12$ per person) and I agree with the other reviews that this is more of a children’s place and other places with children’s attractions charge less for adults as they are mainly supervising. It’s sad to break this tradition since I’ve been taking pictures of my son every year here as well but its not affordable for every family to spend almost 100$ for admissions, apples and maybe a snack/drink while you’re there (and that’s JUST for two adults and a child!!!). We also wanted to make it a quick trip since we relied on the previous flexibility of the farm but that wasn’t possible with the lack of freedom between apple picking and farm. The farm now seems more attracting to just adults with children (if they can afford it), where before I would come with my friend to visit and take pictures. Now you can only see the nice(r) pumpkin patch if you pick apples but only see the sunflower field and other nice views/trees if you pay admission for the fun farm, which is silly in my opinion but just very sad to break this tradition. The one side of the animals enclosure is also blocked off now, I assume it’s to give the owners more privacy, but unfortunately you can’t see the goats and sheep as well anymore. But not sure why you invite people onto your farm if you’re just gonna block a bunch of stuff off that made it way more enjoyable in the previous years. Please consider going back to the previous layout. Being able to pick apples and roam around at the same time was really the main attraction of Appleland, now it seems strict and...