Spent a fortune on Alton Towers and nearly everything was closed

I did end up going last week. Firstly I couldn't believe the price - £84 for the 2 of us and £15 for parking. I went last year and I'm sure I paid less than that for the parking.
We got there super early (8.45) and there were hoardes of people already waiting to get in, all with the same idea. We shot straight to the Bluey ride and managed to get on as soon as it opened at 10 as we were one of the first queuing for it, but the queues for the ride for rest of the day were minimum 1hr45, and it was stopping and starting from what we were told.

cbeebies land had atrocious queues as usual, Octonauts ride took an hour queuing and randomly stopped working for about 30 minutes.
We didn't go round the rest of the park as it was baking hot and little one had had enough by 3pm, but I do know from speaking to others that the big rides had been on and off all day, and that smiler didn't open until 4pm! Rita and Thirteen didn't open at all. Warm day, no weather issues. Massive queues at guest services as we were leaving.
I know people online are also kicking up a fuss that the water sprayer thing on Toxicator hasn't been working at all this season and now has a cover on it. In better news, Oblivion is back up and running

I had a similar issue once at Thorpe Park where 2 rides shut down while we were quite far into the long queue. I complained to guest services while there and they gave us some free fast track tickets.

I'm back from Alton Towers this week. Two of the rides broke down as we got to the front of the q and other rides were down at various points over the two days.
We had a couple of other issues too. Our hotel room still had the previous guests in it so we had to wait an hour while they sorted it out and found another room to put us in, we got a partial refund for that.

Hotel guests get early access via the Galactica end of the park, when we got there on our last day there was a massive q to get in, they only had one scanner available and the staff member said we would be quicker going through the regular entrance. We walked round there and it was packed out, but managed to get onto a shorter q at the far end of the entrance area. Our plan that day was to get into the Wickerman line early so we didn't lose too much time in the end.

We've done AT five times as a family and this was by far our worst experience there. We're off to Chessington and Thorpe Park in the summer so will be interesting to see how they compare!

Um, I think it might have changed a bit since then!

In fact I have only been once and that was in 1985 I think. In those days there was still a boating lake and a cable car and I seem to recall a model railway layout being advertised.

DH took DD a couple of times in the noughties and they enjoyed it but everything I read about it now sounds ghastly.

I’ve just watched another video on YouTube of people going to Alton Towers and it all being closed, it’s definitely a growing trend

Search : Coaster Crew Alton Towers Easter Shambles

Yeah, right.

you didn’t get the joke, nevermind.

It was also pointless because, for the 28262672nd time, the unplanned closures and later ride openings after lunch are frequent and done on a whim.

Then your comment was pointless.

I don’t know, I didn’t check.

Was it there several weeks beforehand when OP booked?

The information was on the website

Breach of contract? Whit? 🙄

We've only done Efteling in Europe but that was fantastic, loved the theming and it was the very definition of magical. We're off to Alton Towers tomorrow, disappointed the Runaway Mine Train will be shut, that's a family favourite with us (Choo Choooo!)

The water rides were open this time last year

The monorail is merely the way you get in the park- not a ride, although it s a nuisance when it’s not running.

I was there today - most rides open most the day (smiler and Rita a bit off and on) but queues were not too bad. Apart from the Bluey coaster, which was over an hour for the whole day 😆

So over 40 years ago? 😆

We had a similar experience back in the early 1980s. Back then getting money back was almost impossible. Never went back.

All open today no issues and day before

It wasn't 50% of the rides that were closed, just 1 ride and the monorail and cable car. The OP was being a bit disingenuous 🤣

I was small so I can't remember how a separate price worked. I do remember going with my grandparents and they just spent all day in the gardens.

Totally agree with this. Everything and everywhere you book is over commercialised, corporate and shit. Especially theme parks, gigs, etc. I’ve been so shocked at eg Eurostar prices for what has become a terrible service and the recent news about ticket prices for the World Cup this year.

I’ve got to the point where I only enjoy small independent local museums and free things.

OP Yanbu.

It's really common knowledge that the monorail (replacement bus available), Skyride, rapids and Runaway train are closed for maintenance and this is available to see on the website prior to visiting. Oblivion was down for a few days then reopened but presumably whatever they did was a short term fix if it's back down again.
When you say 50% of the tides were unavailable you are being pretty disengenuinous as there was decent ride availability.
Try being there when the weather system picks up a storm in a 50 mile radius, they close ALL outdoor rides which is hilarious, not.

Oh no! We are going on the 13th but one day water park too.
My daughters fav is the Smiler. She won't be happy if lots are closed. Ridiculous not getting ur money back