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Original poster

Alton Towers - can kids wait to the side on the big rides?

159 replies

HappyBrite · 27/02/2025 09:29

We're going to Alton Towers this year. We have a 12 year old and a 9 year old.

The 9 year old is a daredevil but is just under the required 1.4m for the main thrill rides, the 12 year old is tall enough but is not a thrillseeker in the slightest.

In the past, DH and I have taken it in turns to go on the "big" rides but this means double the queuing which is often not feasible so I end up losing out and go off with the kids on the tamer ones.

Now the kids are a bit older I was wondering if they could queue with us and wait off to the side until we've been on the ride. Does anyone know if this is possible at Alton Towers?

DH has suggested we chain them up outside like a bike but I think that might be frowned upon.

OP posts:
LivingDeadGirlUK · 28/02/2025 07:46

HappyBrite · 27/02/2025 22:59

We'll make a judgement when we get there. We did Flamingo Land a few years ago when it was very quiet and we could walk straight on so one stayed with the kids while the other went on and vice versa. When we went to a theme park in Europe in the summer the queues were long so I took the kids on things and DH went on a couple of the rides himself, there wasn't enough time for me to do that.

This is what you need to do but your husband needs to come swap with you so you both get to go on a big ride instead of waltzing off for the rest of the day.

ItShouldntHappenToMeYet · 28/02/2025 07:43

Overthebow · 28/02/2025 07:39

What age do you think is ok? 25?

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It would depend on the child, obviously, but at least 14/15.
And putting a 12 yr old in charge of a 9 yr old is very unfair

66babe · 28/02/2025 07:41

This can't be real ?

Nameychangington · 28/02/2025 07:39

The parent swap is for when the kids want to go on the rides, not so the parents can go on without the kids!

This sounds like a shit day out for the kids, taking 9yo to stuff they want to do but aren't allowed to, and 12 year old to stuff they don't like.

Just go without the kids, what's in it for them queuing for hours so you and your partner can do rides without them?

Overthebow · 28/02/2025 07:39

ItShouldntHappenToMeYet · 28/02/2025 07:28

So 12 year olds aren't in danger from perverts in a crowded area where they can whisk a child off and no-one would notice..
Great parenting tips...

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What age do you think is ok? 25?

madamweb · 28/02/2025 07:39

My son thinks his dad is an absolute idiot and one of the reasons is because he keeps taking him to theme parks even though my son doesn't like or go on any of the rides.

Just pick an activity then can do

madamweb · 28/02/2025 07:37

Why not just go for a day trip with just your DH at some point?

Moonnstars · 28/02/2025 07:37

Do the children actually want to go to Alton Towers? For the cost of going these places if they aren't going to enjoy it and don't want to do the rides is there somewhere better you can take them that they will enjoy?

MsJinks · 28/02/2025 07:36

Take granny - who never thought it would happen in her younger years, but is no longer interested in big rides, and more than happy to take the kids around!
Previously, in similar circumstances rides have been divvied up as in one with child on one ride, other on next, or solo rides taken.
I'm wondering what the kids will enjoy - it's hugely disappointing not to get on an exciting ride (I can recall this still!) so I'd be looking at the best rides they can go on and hanging around there I think. Waiting is dire, unless you can go to an adjacent ride/attraction, which is a better use of time. Last time I went to Alton Towers I had to go on rides really as there were 3 kids - the waiting to actually go on was bad enough - and we got to go on just 6 rides all day.
You're probably much better taking leave in school time to go when you can get on all the rides you and partner enjoy much more easily and accepting you won't go on so many when treating the kids.
I get it's probably a bit annoying/disappointing but if you get your own day separately then it won't be so bad I think.
Personally I used to like flamingo land and twycross as having non ride stuff to occupy both me and kids outside the thrills - is Alton Towers with the kids a must?.

ZenNudist · 28/02/2025 07:34

I'm pretty sure 12yo can go round alton towers on their own. Ds has done this in groups with school scouts and when we went with friends. They are too big to whisk away, have phones, and are probably in a 2 hour queue for smiler most of the time.

I'd take the 9 yo on tame ride, dh would go on thrill ride with 12yo then swap

ItShouldntHappenToMeYet · 28/02/2025 07:28

LittleBearPad · 28/02/2025 07:22

A 12 year old isn’t a young child. I’m sort of with you on the 9 year old.

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So 12 year olds aren't in danger from perverts in a crowded area where they can whisk a child off and no-one would notice..
Great parenting tips...

Favouritefruits · 28/02/2025 07:28

What?! You are the parent, you go on the rides your children like! If you want to have a day of going on the big rides with your husband, you take a day off work and leave the kids

biscuitsandbooks · 28/02/2025 07:28

Sounds like a shit day out for your kids.

FiveTreeHill · 28/02/2025 07:23

They can just queue and walk off through the exit but queue times for alton towers can be hours and its cruel to make a child queue for a ride they can't even go on.

If the queue times are too long to make it feasible to queue twice, they are too long to make your DC stand it to not ride a ride.

LittleBearPad · 28/02/2025 07:22

ItShouldntHappenToMeYet · 28/02/2025 07:08

That's just dangerous advice. You'd allow two young children to wander around Alton Towers by themselves.???!!!
Christ on a unicycle.

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A 12 year old isn’t a young child. I’m sort of with you on the 9 year old.

Whaleandsnail6 · 28/02/2025 07:21

Doesn't sound like very much of a fun day out for the kids!

Some of the rides have queues of an hour or so...the kids wait in that queue but dont get the fun of the ride at the end?

I'd just tailor the day around the smaller rides and maybe you and dh take a turn on going off and doing one big ride each

ItShouldntHappenToMeYet · 28/02/2025 07:08

RawBloomers · 28/02/2025 04:12

At 12 and 9, if they get on, they can head off and do the rides they'd enjoy together while you and DH do some of the bigger rides.

But making them queue up for rides so you can go on them and they can't is kind of nasty.

That's just dangerous advice. You'd allow two young children to wander around Alton Towers by themselves.???!!!
Christ on a unicycle.

RawBloomers · 28/02/2025 04:12

At 12 and 9, if they get on, they can head off and do the rides they'd enjoy together while you and DH do some of the bigger rides.

But making them queue up for rides so you can go on them and they can't is kind of nasty.

5foot5 · 28/02/2025 00:05

I am a bit speechless here. You take your kids to a theme park but expect them to wait in a queue while you and your DH go on a ride without them. Right!

WonderingWanda · 27/02/2025 23:43

Can't they go and do something else rather than just wait?

FrangipaniBlue · 27/02/2025 23:40

HappyBrite · 27/02/2025 22:59

We'll make a judgement when we get there. We did Flamingo Land a few years ago when it was very quiet and we could walk straight on so one stayed with the kids while the other went on and vice versa. When we went to a theme park in Europe in the summer the queues were long so I took the kids on things and DH went on a couple of the rides himself, there wasn't enough time for me to do that.

Surely you take the kids on a tamer ride while DH does a thrill ride then you just swap? Ie he takes the kids on a different tamer ride while you do a thrill ride?

Original poster
HappyBrite · 27/02/2025 22:59

We'll make a judgement when we get there. We did Flamingo Land a few years ago when it was very quiet and we could walk straight on so one stayed with the kids while the other went on and vice versa. When we went to a theme park in Europe in the summer the queues were long so I took the kids on things and DH went on a couple of the rides himself, there wasn't enough time for me to do that.

OP posts:
Overthebow · 27/02/2025 22:42

That sounds completely miserable for you DCs. Don’t make them queue up for a ride they’re not going to go on. Let them go off by themselves or you and DH take it in turns to go with them or do a big ride. Or have the day for the DCs and do what they want and go back just you and DH another time.

Original poster
HappyBrite · 27/02/2025 22:40

TommyShelbysRazor · 27/02/2025 09:32

Alton Towers do Parent Q Share. Essentially you dont have to queue twice if the kids (under 12) are too young or small. You can pick up the pass at Admissions.

https://support.altontowers.com/hc/en-us/articles/360010808317-Do-you-offer-a-Parent-Queue-Share

Edited

Thank you! I have never heard of this.

OP posts:
boysmuminherts · 27/02/2025 10:53

Agree, go without your children if neither of them will go on the big rides. But of course they can queue with you and then just go through the ride to the exit and wait for you to come off.