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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:
GiantToadstool · 10/07/2021 09:32

Have they used the rap passes before? Quite a lot of rap passes require someone 14+ sat with them (my daughter's does!)

TakeMeToYourLiar · 10/07/2021 09:33

Ok if I'm the queue/ wait you are feeling a bit worried, breathe in through your nose for 4, out through the mouth for 6

Even with RAP there is quite a walk between rides at AT so you should get a bit of a breather in between

Have the boys researched which they really want to do and a route between them

irritableshark · 10/07/2021 09:33

I couldn't do it but if you've been ok on rides in the past you will be reet. Just get the first few out the way and you will get your teeth in.

My son has just been. He went on everything. He said that oblivion isn't as bad as it looks. Something about the speed and angles when you are on it, that takes away the scariness of it.

You sound lovely and am sure you will all have a blast. Try not to think about it between now and the day!

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vivariumvivariumsvivaria · 10/07/2021 09:33

Wow, Fluffy thanks for that info about the queues.

We're going next week and I assumed that because the English schools aren't on holiday yet that the queues would be fine!

I guess I'll buy the fast track!

I'm with you, OP, I'm taking my teen sons and while I loved rollercoasters at their age, I'm over it at 50. I'll go on a few, but I'm planning on spending a lot of time with a good book, waving as they zip past.

Have fun, even if vicariously thought kids who are having a blast.

MrsSkylerWhite · 10/07/2021 09:34

Btw, I think it’s great that you’re taking them: so many kids have had everything cancelled.

Plan a large 🍷 of wine that evening and focus on that every time you “scream if you wanna go faster” Grin

GiantToadstool · 10/07/2021 09:34

If you go on a busy day you are "times out" after each ride. So if a ride had an hour queue, although you get to go in the shorter rap queue, you them have to wait an hour before the next ride (fine if qalking about but worth being realistic about how many rides you will do if it is busy.)

Sorry if you know this!

GiantToadstool · 10/07/2021 09:36

Timed out!

Def great you're taking them. I took a group of 6th formers once to chesington and took the cafe option with my friend - but since having kids have bewn regular merlin passholders!

vivariumvivariumsvivaria · 10/07/2021 09:37

So, you'd be as well just in the ordinary queue, Giant toadstool?

Or are there things to do inbetween? Sorry, I'm being a bit thick and realising that AT has changed in the 30 years since I was there!

Preech · 10/07/2021 09:39

As far as getting over roller coaster nerves goes, the thing that did the trick for me as a teen was realising all of the rides are incredibly short. The crazier looking the ride, the shorter it is. Around 70 seconds of screaming, in my experience.

I also scream deliberately loud to let it all out. And focus on one stationary point in front of my face on the long climb upwards. If I see myself slowly going in an upward direction, that makes it worse.

I do have some hard "no" rides, even then. I won't do free fall, straight up and down type coasters. I'm sure your pupils/charges will accept it if you have a few hard no's. It might even give them some space to voice their hard no's without feeling lame.

AbsolutelyPatsy · 10/07/2021 09:41

if you really dont want to go, queue with them, meet them after the ride and scream with delight and fear, for the show!

Abraxan · 10/07/2021 09:41

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

I don't think 37y will make any difference!

I'm 48y with arthritis and still love a roller coaster. We have a week's holiday planned for a week of coasters and rides for later this year 🤞🏻
I get a bit of aches and pains after sometimes due to the arthritis but that eases with an extra tablet or two, and only if it's been a heavy day/few days.
I do get motion sickness these days though but that only really comes into play if we aren't having breaks between rides - so if we have an express pass to jump queues. A travel sickness pill in the morning sorts that though.

Horizons83 · 10/07/2021 09:42

@MrsSkylerWhite

Horizons83

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

Admire his spirit but there are signs all over the place saying people with heart conditions shouldn’t go on them 🥴

Maybe time to downgrade to Merry go rounds?

Oh yeah he knows this but is willing to take the chance! His heart is in decent shape, it is a ‘mechanical’ issue which has been treated.. better than many who have a heart issue that’s undiagnosed.

However, whenever we are in Disney World I get very worried as if anything does happen I’m pretty sure his travel insurance would be null and void 😕. US medical bills….. 😱

markmichelle · 10/07/2021 09:42

Wonder if the 37 year old body can take it?

It is like the first reactions to trains and travelling faster than 20mph. The human body will stop working!
LOL

careerchangeperhaps · 10/07/2021 09:45

@LittleBearPad

You’re 37, get a grip and woman up! You aren’t 70 with a dodgy hip.
I'm in my early 40s and waiting for a hip replacement. Think before you speak Smile
Yellowcrockpot · 10/07/2021 09:45

They really won't care if you don't go on the rides? As a kid I went many times with adults, we were happy to look like we were there without an adult (makes you feel all trusted and grown up)
If you don't baby them and go on the rides, I can't actually see them caring one bit.

Go on the rides you want to go on?

Dp and I went 2 years ago.. hes in his 50s and im in my 30s, you have nothing to worry about at 37?!?

My tip: download the app, it gives you all the ride que times in real time. You can plan your rides and get to your favourite ones depending on que times then.

Have fun.

GiantToadstool · 10/07/2021 09:48

@vivariumvivariumsvivaria the RAP pass is for people with additional needs/disabilities who cant3manage standingn a queue line

So for example someone who may need the loo urgently due to a condition or people with adhd/asd who struggle to tolerate queueuing.

It isn't a fasttrack but an alterative way to queue - so you have your ride, then are free to wonder around or have a rest before the next one.

To be honest we dont go from now to mid sept due to the queues.

LittleBearPad · 10/07/2021 09:48

About the self described ‘fit 37 year old’?

Imapotato · 10/07/2021 09:50

I went to Thorpe for for the first time since I was a teenager the other day with my teenagers. I’m 36 and I think I’ve rekindled my love of thrill seeing rides! It was great. We did Disney land a couple of years ago and loved the rides there, but the Thorpe park ones are epic!

If you’re scared just shut your eyes and scream. You’ll be fine.

careerchangeperhaps · 10/07/2021 09:50

@vivariumvivariumsvivaria

Wow, Fluffy thanks for that info about the queues.

We're going next week and I assumed that because the English schools aren't on holiday yet that the queues would be fine!

I guess I'll buy the fast track!

I'm with you, OP, I'm taking my teen sons and while I loved rollercoasters at their age, I'm over it at 50. I'll go on a few, but I'm planning on spending a lot of time with a good book, waving as they zip past.

Have fun, even if vicariously thought kids who are having a blast.

Scottish schools have broken up

Most independent English schools are finished

Some state schools (e.g Leicestershire) have finished

Lots of kids on holidays already Smile

Myshinynewname · 10/07/2021 09:51

Just be yourself and do what you feel comfortable with. It will allow them to be themselves too.

DadsTrilby · 10/07/2021 09:54

I’m late 40s and go on all the rides at AT, my body hasn’t given up on me yet!
Agree with the advice to go on a ‘gentler’ one first and build up. Thirteen or Wicker man would be good options to start. Galactica can be unnerving because of the ride position so I’d build up to that one. Smiler has been really busy recently, we queued for 2 hours to get on it and that bloody repetitive music really annoyed me! So try to do Smiler late in the day when the queue has hopefully died down. For the last 30 minutes most rides are walk on (no queue) so get the boys to think about which one they want to do again and target it for the last ride. If they say the park shuts at 5, you can be in the queue for a ride at 5 (they’ll stop anyone joining the queue from 5). Last time we went we did Nemesis 3 times and wicker man twice all in the last 30-40minutes as the queues had gone.

inappropriateraspberry · 10/07/2021 10:13

Is that your justification for your 1st twatty post?

Excuse me? I was just saying you were young enough to not be worried about 'fitness' for the rides!

vivariumvivariumsvivaria · 10/07/2021 10:18

Ah, thanks, Giant that makes sense. And Career so does that.

I thought we were being so smart going before the English schools were breaking up!

Doesn't matter, we'll have good time regardless. I'll get my boys to download the app and work out how to make it a most efficient day. And follow Dads advice!

timegoesbysoslowly · 10/07/2021 10:18

Just go for it, I was 45 before I went on a thrill ride, always did the tame rides. But met DP who loved them and we went to Alton Towers. He wanted my first rollercoaster to be Smiler! But it was shut that day so Oblivion it was! God wish Smiler had been open as Oblivion was brutal. We've been many times since and I've learned to love Oblivion and Smiler is my fav ride. Go for it I regret my years off only doing tame rides.

Original poster
Annoy · 10/07/2021 10:21

@GiantToadstool

If you go on a busy day you are "times out" after each ride. So if a ride had an hour queue, although you get to go in the shorter rap queue, you them have to wait an hour before the next ride (fine if qalking about but worth being realistic about how many rides you will do if it is busy.)

Sorry if you know this!

I didn’t know this... thanks
OP posts: