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Thorpe Park or Alton Towers?

Im curious - which one do you think is the best?

Alton Towers used to to lead the way in the UK - but Thorpe Park has grown into such a theme park - i cant decide.

Any thoughts?

Comments

  • eezer
    eezer Posts: 348 Forumite
    I'd say Thorpe, but then we live much closer to AT so going to Thorpe is more of an experience. If you've got very young kids, there's not much at Thorpe for them, compared to AT. Thorpe is better as everything is much closer together so you don't waste as much time getting between the rides. It's also got Stealth which IMO is the best ride of the lot.
  • Depends where you live and what kinda rides you like and whos going with you.

    Some scary big rides at TP, really good for thrill seekers-teens upwards and not so much for non thrill seekers.
    Long, long queues as well, they keep packing them in until park full to bursting.

    AT some good rides something for everyone of all ages, if you dont like rides nice lake and gardens etc, not so long queues and doesnt feel like you are packed in.
    Some great rides here as well but not quite the scare as TP.
  • Alikay
    Alikay Posts: 5,147 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    DS2 and his girlfriend went to Alton Towers last week. Admittedly it was half-term, and they had the Halloween special event going on, but they spent most of the day in queues (3 hours for Smiler, the new one:eek:) and only got to go on 4 rides in total in the 8 or 9 hours they were there. They had 2-4-1 vouchers, but with car parking, it still came to about £52 between them before drinks/snacks, which was pretty poor value IMO.
  • susancs
    susancs Posts: 3,888 Forumite
    edited 3 November 2013 at 11:42AM
    I personally think that Thorpe Park is better for teenagers upwards and Alton Towers Park is more suitable for a wider range of ages. There is little to do at Thorpe Park for younger children. We have Merlin passes and Thorpe Park is the favourite theme park of my teenagers an all their friends.
  • Just to add TP are awful for rides breaking down, this has happened to many people I know after queueing for ages then cant get on the ride also Saw broke down when DD was on it, terrifing for her.
  • Sharon87
    Sharon87 Posts: 4,011 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Just to add TP are awful for rides breaking down, this has happened to many people I know after queueing for ages then cant get on the ride also Saw broke down when DD was on it, terrifing for her.

    Happens at Alton Towers too. I've had 2 experiences of rides breaking down at AT and only 1 at TP and I've been to TP many more times than AT. And the breaking down of Saw at Thorpe Park only added another 20/30 minutes queuing time, I had queued for about 50 minutes for it until it broke down. Whereas when I queued for Thirteen at AT it broke down at the beginning of the day and was broke down ALL day!

    I do love Thorpe Park best as everything's closer, but Alton Towers has some amazing rides too. Chessington is best for younger kids, Alton Towers is good for all ages and Thorpe Park best for teenagers
  • peachyprice
    peachyprice Posts: 22,346 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I guess it depends where you live, but for us living inside the M25, for the time, distance and money to get to AT we might as well go to DLP.
    Accept your past without regret, handle your present with confidence and face your future without fear
  • peachyprice
    peachyprice Posts: 22,346 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Just to add TP are awful for rides breaking down, this has happened to many people I know after queueing for ages then cant get on the ride also Saw broke down when DD was on it, terrifing for her.



    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-24794468 :eek:
    Accept your past without regret, handle your present with confidence and face your future without fear
  • My 10 year old prefered Alton Towers - but he went when the Smiler had been shut down in the summer and just opened. Thorpe park was good for thrills I feel.
  • Sharon87
    Sharon87 Posts: 4,011 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper

    I know. I did say Alton Towers was unreliable lol. Lucky no one was badly hurt
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