Theme Park Tips

Bitsy_Beans

Thanks Trixie - planning on taking kids for DS's 5th birthday in September so some good tips

Trixie102

We stayed at the travel lodge. Sure the Holiday Inn is next to the train station (but may be wrong as a number of hotels nearby). Very big tesco on the main road (for the picnic supplies!!) also quite a few pubs and places to eat on the main road. We ended up getting a Subway meal and taking back to our room as was a very hot day and not very hungry. Was a Wetherspoons on main row of shops as well as some other popular resturants. Didn't seem to be that big a place really and hotel staff very helpful too.

givememoney

Went to Thorpe Park yesterday.

Luckily I paid very little for the tickets at £10 each.

I went years ago when my children were young and I remember a nice bright clean looking place.

Sadly not the same now. I believe they have spent the money on the big scary rides at the detriment of the rest of the place. The rest looked decidedly shabby.

I downloaded the map before we went but it is horrendus trying to work out what's what.

There is no sign posts anywhere showing you where certain things are and no staff just knocking about to help you, other than those on the rides.

We went with a couple of two year olds and there really wasn't much for them. Unfortunately the rides which were suitable didn't allow an adult on with them and although my grandson went on a couple, one of the rides when it stopped he managed to get out himself, so that was very worrying he may have tried to get out whilst it was moving if he hadn't liked it.

c.grex

melt71 wrote: »

Not sure if this has been said before but I thought I'd put my two penneth in! We've just been to Alton Towers and had a fantastic time but it was PACKED with coachloads of school kids despite the fact that it's the summer holidays. We made the mistake of joining the queue for Oblivion without realising that we were 2 hours from the ride!! you can't see the queue and it only tells you how far you have left when you get to about 35min away!

We went to the ticket booth and asked the guy which fast track tickets to buy - by this point some had already sold out but he advised us to get the family adventure one (log flume, runaway train etc) these were all brilliant family rides and we literally went to the front on the queue on each, saving at least an hour on both the water rides. The ticket cost £5 so great value for money and the runaway train was hilarious - one of the highlights of our day!

His tip is to save the main rides like Nemisis/Rita etc until late on - all the coaches start to leave by 3.30-4pm and it gets a lot quieter.
It worked. We got on everything that we wanted to get on.
Also, as long as you are in a queue before 6pm they will let you on the ride, even though the park 'closes at 6'.

We are going thursday to AT,

I am thinking of getting the 'Scream Fast Track' @ £9 for the 13yr olds.

Am I best to buy in advance or on the gate?
We are getting 5 adult tickets with a 50% discount. 3Xadults, 2X13yr olds, and one 5 yr old are going.

I seem to remember last time there was parking nearer the gate for £10??

just looking for any tips on our visit, best way to do things?

Jenny1977

Went to Crealy Great Adventure Park in Exeter last week. A great theme park for younger kids. We saved nearly £8 on a family of five by booking online. The tickets were valid for the rest of the year so if the weather had been bad we could have rescheduled no problem. We also made sure we got our wristbands before we left so we are able to visit again FREE for up to 7 days.

Jenny1977

Thought I'd share another money saving tip. Crealy have just emailed me with a new offer which is a ticket at £12.95 if you buy on the website that gives you entry to both parks. If you are driving down to Cornwall you can stop off at the Devon park on your way then your ticket is valid for the next 6 days at the Cornwall park. They are promoting by saying the worst of the traffic is over by late afternoon so you get there quicker as well. Might be useful for those of you heading that way.

skipinderjit

Chessington is best for the toddlers and younger kids. Thorpe Park caters more for teenagers and people, like me, who wish they were still a teenager.

Laiyeny_B

always avoid the kids hols for a better deal!

Poly,put_the_kettle_on

Jenny1977 wrote: »

Thought I'd share another money saving tip. Crealy have just emailed me with a new offer which is a ticket at £12.95 if you buy on the website that gives you entry to both parks. If you are driving down to Cornwall you can stop off at the Devon park on your way then your ticket is valid for the next 6 days at the Cornwall park. They are promoting by saying the worst of the traffic is over by late afternoon so you get there quicker as well. Might be useful for those of you heading that way.

But do they pay you well Jenny?

zyonchaos

Hey everyone, first off got our Drayton Manor trip booked for the end of October (me loves halloween and fireworks lol). If you have younger kids (I have a 5yr old and a 1yr old). I would suggest Drayton Manor and Legoland as being ideal, older kids take them to the bigger parks such as Alton/Chessington etc.

Food take your own, as it is expensive as anything inside the park but if you can get a refillable drink, get one especially on hot days they pay for themselves in the end. (Just dont get one each lol)

If your children wont behave threaten them with dragging them on the biggest scariest ride you can see, make sure they see it in operation for some strange reason they tend to calm down a bit after that lol.

Gave my lad a bit of pocket money for last years Drayton trip and he wanted to have a go on a couple of the fair games. (Throw the ball in the bucket) I told him not to waste his money as that was all he was getting, he had a go anyway and one a massive Thomas the Tank. So top tip, let the kids play the games they will win more than you lol.

These parks get busy, so dont go there and complain about the long queues as you have to go expecting them in the first place, trust me you will enjoy yourself more if you just get your head into gear and expect long waits for popular rides.

Enjoy yourself, when the park closes have a snack in the car and chat for a bit, before trying to leave at the same time as everyone else. One you wont get so exasperated stuck in the traffic and two you will save fuel (money saving tip there lol).

Will update after I have been with anything I forgot to add