Avoid Alton Towers at all costs

marshallka

suekjw wrote: »

My children are still too small to go on a lot of the rides, but I do like that they continually invest in rides suitable for all ages. Talking of which, if you can go with a child, visit the Berry Burst, it's wasted on kids!

I assume you mean Berry Bish bash??? We have been with little ones but not so little now. We do however still go on the smaller rides too and this year we did the Charlie and the CHocolate Factory tour (used to be toyland tours) and it was not as exciting without a little "tot" with us who's eyes light up at everything in there. Oh well, its still great and we still enjoy every minute of the towers. We only live 15 mins away and my son did a year working too. He said it can get boring sometimes but that was only after being there day in day out - I really cannot understand anyone going to a theme park if you do not enjoy the rides. Just my view. Glad you like it sue;).

Also my hubby did the electrics for Nemesis too.

Have you been splash landings too? Its really hot in there so not much good to watch but certainly worth a visit. Quite good for little ones.

suekjw

Berry Bish Bash - of course! We tend to name the rides ouselves lol! We live Stafford way and have passes so tend to go for just a morning over the weekends, as you can get in early, we reckon we do as many rides as the people who arrive the same time a we leave! Really like Splash Landings, but it's all about getting the timing right. In the winter it's too busy, as it's the only place to visit for the hotel guests!

moneypooh

We've always found Sept/Oct the best. We try to go when our children have an 'inset day' at school. We went to Drayton Manor last year and AT the year before and it was very very quiet. We went on most rides as often as we wanted. My son used Rita's single rider queue and was getting back on straight away
This year it's a toss up between AT and Thorpe Park, seeing the new ride is due next year @ AT we'll probably do Thorpe this year and AT next.

We try not to go near any theme park during June/July or August. OK the weather may be hit & miss in spring and autumn but we've had brilliant weather so far (lucky I guess).

madison-nyc

Me and my husband went a while ago and it was fab! we went mid week , interm time so I guess thats why it wasn't heaving. I had a voucher BOGOF on park entry and another for 50% off the splash landings hotel , so we had an overnight stay to make the most of it. The hotel was great , food in there was lovely. I think the longest queue was 15-20mins which wasn't bad at all.

marshallka

madison-nyc wrote: »

Me and my husband went a while ago and it was fab! we went mid week , interm time so I guess thats why it wasn't heaving. I had a voucher BOGOF on park entry and another for 50% off the splash landings hotel , so we had an overnight stay to make the most of it. The hotel was great , food in there was lovely. I think the longest queue was 15-20mins which wasn't bad at all.

Been some really good deals for the hotel just lately. We have not stayed there though but it does sound good. Glad you enjoyed it too. I can honestly not understand how you could not "enjoy" being there. Sometimes just watching people enjoying themselves can be enjoyable too.;):cool:

louise3965

We went Easter Saturday and it was brilliant. We got there really early and went on the big ones really quickly without queueing much but by half eleven things were slow. We loved it though, much better than our local Flamingoland and our other fave Terra Mitica

dipsy

sadiejp wrote: »

How have u avoided paying for parking??

parked in hotel parking and then told them we are going out for tea...... they never ask any questions.... if you come out of the hotel exit carpark....

now I feel a bit daft though as I didn't realise as an annual pass holder I got free parking anyway lol .....

happy1234

We went to Alton Towers yesterday for the first time and it was brilliant!! we couldnt really fault the place. Yes it cost 5 pound to park and the ques were big but it was the best theme park we have been to. I found it to be clean and had loads to see and do .We didnt go on many rides but didnt mind that as we went for the day out.Would defo reccommend. We had the vouchers form the Sun which made the day a bargain, Looking for more tickets now to go again

covlass

We are going next sunday and cant wait, we went last year in June on a saturday the weather was great but managed to do all the big main rides no problem.
I got some 2 for 1 vouchers going fre if anyone wants them but they cant be used in August

nickyhutch

We went today, courtesy of the Sun and had a good day, but one thing made it infuriating - queue jumping. A massive group of people (not kids, either) were climbing over the fence to Rita repeatedly, going on over and over again in the time we were queueing. I was fuming, because we'd paid £4 each (5 of us) for the fastrack tickets only for these idiots to jump in front of us. They were so blatant about it, even lifting each other over. The queue man challenged them but they just ignored him. Still fuming after lunch (a bloody good curry from Eastern Express), we went and made a polite complaint at customer services, and a very apologetic man gave us priority passes for 3 rides of our choice, so happy days.