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Original poster

Going to Alton Towers as a chaperone .. help me woman up!!

95 replies

Annoy · 10/07/2021 08:33

I’m a teacher at a PRU and I have stupidly agree to take 4 boys to Alton Towers next week 🙈.... I know they’ll love it! They come from backgrounds/homes were they never get to really ‘play’

But I’m shitting myself 🤣🤣... They’ll want me to go on everything with them! They’ll love it if I do!

I have been on most of them before... Oblivion, Nemesis. The Smiler wasn’t open when I last went.... so was a long time ago!

I’m 37 now and worry that my body won’t cope! I’m fit though, will that make a difference?

Why oh why did I agree to this?!.... Any tips??

Thanks!

OP posts:
Chikapu · 10/07/2021 08:47

Do you enjoy rollercoasters? I don't see what being fit or not has to do with anything tbh, you either like them or you don't.

mdh2020 · 10/07/2021 08:49

I once went as the ‘female teacher’ to Alton Towers with a coach load of students. I hate all the rides and the group were told that I would be in the cafe all day if any assistance was required.

BeyondMyWits · 10/07/2021 08:50

Be the bag holder. Walk through the queue with them, then take the "chicken door" when they get in the ride vehicle. Someone needs to hold the bags/coats/phones...Blush (would be me!)

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BeyondMyWits · 10/07/2021 08:51

Depends on the level of chaperoning required..

Kanaloa · 10/07/2021 08:52

I couldn’t do this, I’d be terrified! If you have to can you just shut your eyes the whole time?

LittleBearPad · 10/07/2021 08:52

You’re 37, get a grip and woman up! You aren’t 70 with a dodgy hip.

Horizons83 · 10/07/2021 08:54

My dad is 73 with a heart condition and still goes on all the roller coasters! You will be fine.

inappropriateraspberry · 10/07/2021 08:54

Of course you can go on them if you want to! Why would you need to be fit? As long as you don't have heart problems I can't see why you couldn't.
Do you think you're old? You're 37! Not even middle aged. 🙄

ChocOrange1 · 10/07/2021 08:56

I’m 37 now and worry that my body won’t cope! I’m fit though, will that make a difference?
Are you joking?

rookiemere · 10/07/2021 09:02

I hate rides - tried them as a teen with my friend at Disneyland California, then again at Orlando. Your job is to look after them and you'll not be able to do that if you are sick after Smiler or whatever.

Surely they need someone to look after their belongings and make sure they are ok. I'd do some of the tamer rides - usually do the swirling water one ok you get wet but it's not as up and down - but bow out from anything you genuinely will hate. They may not all be as brave on the day either so you may have some non riding DCs to look after.

TakeMeToYourLiar · 10/07/2021 09:03

Umm you will be fine. Why wouldn't you? You don't need to be fit to go on a rollercoaster, just sufficiently not obese to fit in the restraints

Go and have fun

1fluffydoodle · 10/07/2021 09:05

Be warned the queues are awful , you'll need fastrack passes if you're trying to do multiple big rides with the boys

Original poster
Annoy · 10/07/2021 09:05

Well yeah, of course being fit makes a difference... I wouldn’t even consider it if I had a heart condition or an ongoing injury Hmm

I seemed to have rubbed people up the wrong way with a simple advice post.

There’ll be me and another teacher... 4 kids. The other teacher isn’t keen due to injury so she will be coat holder.

I’m just asking if anyone had any advice on overcoming fear?!

Anyway, thanks @Horizons83 that’s good to know 😀

@LittleBearPad you don’t need to be 70 to have a dodgy hip.

OP posts:
Caramellatteplease · 10/07/2021 09:07

I went to Thorpe at 39 after a 10 year break (several years where a whiplash injury making anything of the sort prohibitative). Ill admit I was a bit worried.

I had an absolute blast.

I kinda wish I'd taken I would have done better soon a busier day when there was a bit of a break between rides, the day we went there were no queues and we had got through something ridiculous like 8 rides before lunch. We gave up at 3 after a truly awesome day. I do wish I had taken a ibuprofen early on in the day and I'd have gone for longer.

Alton Towers the rollercoasters are generally a bit more comfortable and smoother

Babymamamama · 10/07/2021 09:10

My advice? Take a colleague? Don’t do the rides… wait at the exit of each one for them. They will love it and it will be such an experience for then you are doing an amazing thing taking them. You will end up holding all their coats, bags etc. You will sleep well once it’s over. Smile

EarringsandLipstick · 10/07/2021 09:11

I’m just asking if anyone had any advice on overcoming fear?!

I hate all these type of rides with a passion. So I couldn't, just couldn't, do it. (I used to mortify my small DC on little baby rides, as I would still lose my shit).

But regardless, I don't think you should have to 'overcome fear'. If you're happy to go on rides, that's cool. If you really are afraid, just don't.

I would have thought that at least one teacher going would have been someone who liked the rides though.

Bumpsadaisie · 10/07/2021 09:12

Sounds like it'll be a rollercoaster ride!

SleepingStandingUp · 10/07/2021 09:14

@annoy you'll be fine. You've been on most of them before, you're fit, worse case scenario is you scream like a baby but the kids will think it's brilliant you're going on and hysterical if you scream. Just laugh any feat off. You'll Def be the cool grown-up after this

Judd · 10/07/2021 09:14

I bet they'll love seeing your reactions on a ride! Perhaps agree to every other one so you've got time to recover? Or do a thrill ride and then a less adrenaline-charged one?
I hope you have a fantastic day and the weather is good xx

Original poster
Annoy · 10/07/2021 09:14

@1fluffydoodle

Be warned the queues are awful , you'll need fastrack passes if you're trying to do multiple big rides with the boys
Thanks... SEN so fast track anyway
OP posts:
inappropriateraspberry · 10/07/2021 09:15

You didn't mention fear in your OP, and said you'd been on them before! If you don't want to go on them, don't. They'll have a great time regardless.

cookiecreampie · 10/07/2021 09:16

You either like rides or you don't. If you don't like them, don't go on them. You can't just overcome fear because you feel you should and can't be expected to go along with something like this for a job.

Original poster
Annoy · 10/07/2021 09:16

@Caramellatteplease

I went to Thorpe at 39 after a 10 year break (several years where a whiplash injury making anything of the sort prohibitative). Ill admit I was a bit worried.

I had an absolute blast.

I kinda wish I'd taken I would have done better soon a busier day when there was a bit of a break between rides, the day we went there were no queues and we had got through something ridiculous like 8 rides before lunch. We gave up at 3 after a truly awesome day. I do wish I had taken a ibuprofen early on in the day and I'd have gone for longer.

Alton Towers the rollercoasters are generally a bit more comfortable and smoother

Thanks @Caramellatteplease this is good to hear... It’s not that my body ‘won’t’ cope it’s just a worry since I’ve not been on one simce my early 20s
OP posts:
ArchbishopOfBanterbury · 10/07/2021 09:16

How old are the boys? If they are over about 12, I'd send them by themselves I think.

LizziesTwin · 10/07/2021 09:17

As there are 4 of them you won’t need to go on any rides, they can ride in pairs. Perfect excuse!