We had a fantastic day out at Alton Towers. The first thing we did on arrival was hire a locker for the day for just £3 which meant we didn’t need to carry all our money and lunch around with us.
As we walked around the park, we noticed how well set out it is. There are plenty of grassy areas and gardens which are perfect for a picnic. The park has a number of different areas each of which is themed in its own way.
The young children’s area, “Cloud Cuckoo Land”, is especially well themed. There are rides suitable for kids of all ages. One section of the park called “Storybook Land” is clearly aimed at families with very small children as parents could ride with babies on their laps. A fantastic idea! “Cloud Cuckoo Land” is aimed at slightly older children with rides like a merry-go-round and the “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” ride. This section also includes a café which is joined on to “Wobble World” - an indoor giant bouncy castle with ball pits and softplay areas. All the children were having a fantastic time and I was slightly disappointed that I was too big to play!! There are other rides suitable for children dotted around other sections of the park as well and there is a cable car which goes around the parks in case those little legs get tired!
As everyone knows, there are a lot of big roller coasters at Alton Towers such as “Rita – Queen of Speed”, “Oblivion” and “Nemesis”. These roller coasters are fantastic it has to be said but the queue time can be very long. We were there on a weekday, not during the school holidays, yet the queues for some of the biggest rides were over an hour long.
Priority PassIt’s worth noting that you can buy a Priority Pass when you enter the Park which means you get to skip most of the queue for lots of the rides. People who had priority passes were able to go on a lot more rides than everyone else. If you don’t want to pay the extra for a Priority Pass, there is an option to ride as a single rider. This means you join a separate queue which is much shorter but you won’t be able to ride next to friends or family unless you’re lucky and are called through together. If you have anyone in your party who screams as loudly as my sister Maddie, not sitting next to them is a definte bonus!
All around the park, there are electronic signs which are constantly updated telling you the queue times for most of the rides. These are extremely helpful as you can see which rides are best to go on next.
One of the reasons Alton Towers is one of the UK’s most popular theme parks is because it caters to all ages and has a good variety of rides ranging from traditional fairground rides to the big roller coasters and water rides.
There are a lot of staff around the park and all those we spoke to were helpful, smiley and friendly. The toilets dotted everywhere around the park were kept clean and well-stocked throughout the day and we didn’t seem to have to queue at any point for the toilets which was quite surprising! As expected, plentiful baby changing facilities are also available. Our whole party commented on how the whole park seemed tidy and well-kept and we were amazed that even at the end of the day there was barely any litter.
There are plenty of places to eat around the park but these are mostly fast food places such as Burger King and KFC. Obviously paying for food all day along with the ticket costs can add up to a very expensive day out for a family and so many people brought picnics and ate on the grass. It was a beautiful sunny day when we went and the picnic was all part of the fun! There is a great drink deal throughout the park. Basically, all you have to do is buy one of the Alton Towers drink bottles and you get get free refills all day from places all over the park. This means you really only need to buy one for the whole family for the whole day.
Alton Towers Theme ParkWe only visited the Theme Park but the Alton Towers resort includes a hotel, spa, Water Park and to our surprise a Sea Life centre. The car park is about a 10 minute walk from the entrance to the park and costs £5 a day although if you are willing to pay £10, there is another car park closer to the park.
We had a brilliant day and enjoyed all of the rides we went without exception. In the car on the way home, we were already planning our next trip which will almost definitely include the water Park!
Helena Carr, 2009
Helena 19 went with Maddie , Nick and Abby who ‘tried and tested’ virtually every ride between them in the Park!
Additional Information About ALTON TOWERS
Especially for younger guests, the Alton Towers Resort has a special treat this year with the opening of Cloud Cuckoo Land! This new area in the Theme Park makes dreams become reality and brings imagination to life! The new land, which comprises of a magnificent indoor play area and enchanting theatre includes:
 Wonderful World of Cloud Cuckoo Land - Join Lucy and Snorlix the Dragon as they dream their way into Cloud Cuckoo Land and discover that anything you imagine can come true! A whole host of wonderful characters are waiting to meet you in this enchanting musical show for the whole family to enjoy!
Wobble World - guaranteed to keep tiny tots busy for hours come rain or shine, Wobble World is an amazing combination of indoor soft play activities. The fun and excitement of Cloud Cuckoo Land has been extended into this amazing indoor play area
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The Ride™ - includes the Great Glass Elevator
Peugeot Driving School – the fun never stops as children learn to drive and earn their first driving licence
Twirling Toadstool - Glide through the air, as you take your seat on this giant toadstool swing attraction and enjoy the crazy views of Cloud Cuckoo Land.
Froghopper- hop up and down on this froggy-themed ride
Gallopers Carousel - this enchanting traditional carousel allows you to ride the colourful horses.
Prices and Info
• Hotel stays start from just £100 per room based on 4 sharing on a B&B basis when booked online
• Theme Park tickets available from £29 adults, £22 kids, £81 for family of 4 and £98 for a family of 5 when booked in advance online. Online bookers also benefit from Early Ride Time – granting you early access to a fantastic selection of attractions before the gates open to guests purchasing ‘on-the-day’ tickets.
• For the best resort deals or for more information, visit www.altontowers.com or call 0871 222 9901
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Legoland Break With Play and Stay
