Alton Towers - Opinions please
07 August 2008, 01:15 PM
#1
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Alton Towers - Opinions please
Our daughter is currrently "up north" with my wifes folks and we are off this weekend to collect. They are only an hour or two away from Alton Towers so we were thinking of going Monday morning and staying overnight Monday night then off back to Wales Tuesday evening.
Haven't been for years and our daughter is 6. She won't be allowed on most of the coasters and I'll be going alone depending on the ques. What I was thinking was on Monday look round the theme park and Tuesday do the water park thingy. Anyone know what the water park is like? Is it indoors?
Anyone stayed onsite? Seems alot more expensive then getting tickets for two days and staying offsite.
Haven't been for years and our daughter is 6. She won't be allowed on most of the coasters and I'll be going alone depending on the ques. What I was thinking was on Monday look round the theme park and Tuesday do the water park thingy. Anyone know what the water park is like? Is it indoors?
Anyone stayed onsite? Seems alot more expensive then getting tickets for two days and staying offsite.
07 August 2008, 01:22 PM
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I live 20 mins from Alton Towers and only go when work pays for it
You're now into the Summer Holidays and will queue and queue and queue.... it's bad enough on a weekend in term time - the ONLY time it's bearable is mid-week in term time.
Frankly, I'm disillusioned with the place now. You pay WAY too much (but can save a fortune by pre-paying - PLEASE make sure you pre-pay if you go, you can get a two day pass jobbie), you queue forever for the good rides (even the good kids rides).
The only way you can get to the rides you want is to run like buggery as soon as you are released and get to THE ride you want to go on - there is a limited queue at this point but by 11 ish the place is heaving.
Oh, and Air keeps breaking down
If you want to go JUST for the gardens and the scenery - you can find quiet bits, but you can't half tell that it stopped being anything but a theme park years ago - all the quiet stuff is neglected
If she is 6 - she'll enjoy Gullivers Kingdom in Matlock Bath a lot more. It's good fun there and all the rides will be open for a 6 year old.
You can also go up the Heights of Abraham as well which is good fun - scary cable car ride for the kids! (even better on the way down
)
You're now into the Summer Holidays and will queue and queue and queue.... it's bad enough on a weekend in term time - the ONLY time it's bearable is mid-week in term time.
Frankly, I'm disillusioned with the place now. You pay WAY too much (but can save a fortune by pre-paying - PLEASE make sure you pre-pay if you go, you can get a two day pass jobbie), you queue forever for the good rides (even the good kids rides).
The only way you can get to the rides you want is to run like buggery as soon as you are released and get to THE ride you want to go on - there is a limited queue at this point but by 11 ish the place is heaving.
Oh, and Air keeps breaking down
If you want to go JUST for the gardens and the scenery - you can find quiet bits, but you can't half tell that it stopped being anything but a theme park years ago - all the quiet stuff is neglected
If she is 6 - she'll enjoy Gullivers Kingdom in Matlock Bath a lot more. It's good fun there and all the rides will be open for a 6 year old.
You can also go up the Heights of Abraham as well which is good fun - scary cable car ride for the kids! (even better on the way down
)
Last edited by Kieran_Burns; 07 August 2008 at 01:24 PM.
07 August 2008, 01:28 PM
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Late September during term time, the only time to go We went last year and only queued for a few minutes maximum for any of the rides. Ironically the longest queue was for the corkscrew but I think they were only running one set of carriages. Got several goes on Nemesis and walked straight on. Ended the day doing repeated goes on Rita, must have been round about ten times, would have had more goes but the missus had had enough.
And yeah Air broke down for most of the day though luckily we got a go in the morning. Awesome ride
We went last year and only queued for a few minutes maximum for any of the rides. Ironically the longest queue was for the corkscrew but I think they were only running one set of carriages. Got several goes on Nemesis and walked straight on. Ended the day doing repeated goes on Rita, must have been round about ten times, would have had more goes but the missus had had enough.And yeah Air broke down for most of the day though luckily we got a go in the morning. Awesome ride
07 August 2008, 02:02 PM
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It wouldn't be my choice to go during the holidays and to be honest at 6 its not fun being told you can't go on the awesome looking rides (I remember the feeling!)
Short Break, Self Catering, Family and Activity Holidays in Bluestone, West Wales, UK has opened about 20 minutes away and is a Centre Parcs clone. It will cost us £13 each for 3 hours and if its rubbish we can just go home.
Alton Towers is looking at £200 for the 3 of us.
Short Break, Self Catering, Family and Activity Holidays in Bluestone, West Wales, UK has opened about 20 minutes away and is a Centre Parcs clone. It will cost us £13 each for 3 hours and if its rubbish we can just go home.
Alton Towers is looking at £200 for the 3 of us.
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07 August 2008, 02:04 PM
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If you are going during the school holidays pay a few quid extra and get a fast track ticket. Makes the queues bearable. Was there last year and there was a three hour queue for Oblivion - the ride only last about 15 seconds. Only 10 minute queue with fast track tickets. I think they cost about a tenner for the big rides
07 August 2008, 02:16 PM
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What really hacks me off with AT is them charging to park your car. The only reason I'm there is go into the park and pay for entry, pay for food, pay for drinks, pay for... etc etc
And... breath!
And... breath!
07 August 2008, 02:21 PM
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They what?!?!? I haven't been there for 4 years, when did they start doing that?
07 August 2008, 02:31 PM
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****ing cheeky *******s. I'll bet its only a matter of time before the rest of the start doing it.
That really is unbeleiveble. The more I think about it the more incredulous I am.
You are parking in that car park explicitly for the reason of going into the park. I mean I don't get charged when I park in, say, Tescos.
That really is unbeleiveble. The more I think about it the more incredulous I am.
You are parking in that car park explicitly for the reason of going into the park. I mean I don't get charged when I park in, say, Tescos.
07 August 2008, 02:33 PM
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I tend to go to Thorpe Park (much closer to home), which is on a par with Alton Towers these day, and when I do, I go to the various money saving sites and invariably end up with a couple of buy one get one free vouchers.
07 August 2008, 02:40 PM
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It's like someone coming to visit me at home, and then me slapping them with a £5 fee for parking on my driveway.
07 August 2008, 02:43 PM
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BT RialtoPlus Ticketing System
you get an even bigger discount if you have £10 or more (£22.50 compared to on the day of £35 I think)
you get an even bigger discount if you have £10 or more (£22.50 compared to on the day of £35 I think)
07 August 2008, 02:48 PM
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I mailed them - Go this repsonse...
Good afternoon
Thank you for your email to me here in Guest Services. I can confirm that a nominal car parking charge of £4.00 per vehicle has been introduced. The charge applies to cars only – mini buses, coaches and disabled guests displaying the nationally recognised blue badge will not be charged.
It is not unusual for car parking to be charged at major tourist attractions. It is a minimal charge that will be ploughed back into the Park, improving the infrastructure and adding to improving the attractions on offer. There is also an environmental rationale – as part of our green transport policy we are trying to encourage more people to visit the park in groups. This does not necessarily mean public transport – many of our guests come on organized trips and this is an area that we are looking to expand, even if it is simply an increase in the number of minibuses or families sharing cars.
Thank you once again and I hope this has not deterred you from visiting us in the future.
Thank you for your email to me here in Guest Services. I can confirm that a nominal car parking charge of £4.00 per vehicle has been introduced. The charge applies to cars only – mini buses, coaches and disabled guests displaying the nationally recognised blue badge will not be charged.
It is not unusual for car parking to be charged at major tourist attractions. It is a minimal charge that will be ploughed back into the Park, improving the infrastructure and adding to improving the attractions on offer. There is also an environmental rationale – as part of our green transport policy we are trying to encourage more people to visit the park in groups. This does not necessarily mean public transport – many of our guests come on organized trips and this is an area that we are looking to expand, even if it is simply an increase in the number of minibuses or families sharing cars.
Thank you once again and I hope this has not deterred you from visiting us in the future.
07 August 2008, 04:11 PM
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Lol at their environmental policy for an excuse of ramping up their charges. Sounds like a press release from some gov't dep't.
I suppose they'll be charging band G cars more than much less polluting cars then?
I suppose they'll be charging band G cars more than much less polluting cars then?
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