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Original poster

Drayton Manor of Flamingo Land

22 replies

Monkeybutt1 · 23/05/2022 10:01

We want to take my 9 year old DS to a theme park on the 6th June, and can't decide which one. He is really into rides and roller coasters but doesn't want to go back to Alton Towers until he is tall enough for Nemesis, Rita etc. He is currently 138cm. We can't decide whether to try Drayton Manor or Flamingo Land for a change which would you recommend?

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Original poster
Monkeybutt1 · 23/05/2022 10:03

Sorry that should be Drayton Manor or Flamingo Land!!!

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Floralnomad · 23/05/2022 10:13

Have you considered Blackpool pleasure beach as I think he would get on more thrill rides there .

Original poster
Monkeybutt1 · 23/05/2022 11:13

We had but we want to keep the travel time down, we are only 1h 20 from Flamingo land and Drayton but over 2h 30 from Blackpool. But I may have another look at it.

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Floralnomad · 23/05/2022 13:21

If you could go the night before you may get a deal at the Big Blue hotel . I’ve not been to the pleasure beach for a few years and even then it was a bit rough and ready but they do have rides that you won’t find anywhere else that are great fun .

bananaskinny · 23/05/2022 13:23

We were at DM last week with the toddlers. Lots of big kid rides with no queues- the kids got off the ride and then ran round to go on again. They seemed to love it- especially the log flume/water boat ride. Again no queues. I found the park clean, well taken care of and lots of places for food.

HermioneWeasley · 23/05/2022 13:24

Flamingo land is shit - half the rides were closed last year or opened late, and only one food outlet open. DM every time

Smartiepants79 · 23/05/2022 13:28

My 9 and 11 loved Drayton manor. Was a really positive experience all round!

Original poster
Monkeybutt1 · 23/05/2022 13:56

Thanks, thats great. We want to avoid staying over the night before as its Jubilee weekend. We just want a day out to take advantage of DS being of school when most are back. I think DM may be the winner. We took him on his 1st birthday to Thomas Land there so it will be interesting to go back almost 9 years later.

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Doofas · 23/05/2022 13:59

Have you considered Legoland? Lots of rides of varying sizes suitable for multiple ages. On-site hotels, which are expensive but I think staying at one gets you into the park early the next day.

Original poster
Monkeybutt1 · 23/05/2022 14:39

Doofas · 23/05/2022 13:59

Have you considered Legoland? Lots of rides of varying sizes suitable for multiple ages. On-site hotels, which are expensive but I think staying at one gets you into the park early the next day.

We have been before and we ae just looking for a quick day out. As the weekend before is the Jubilee we want to avoid having to stay over.

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Original poster
Monkeybutt1 · 23/05/2022 14:40

Smartiepants79 · 23/05/2022 13:28

My 9 and 11 loved Drayton manor. Was a really positive experience all round!

Thanks, I have just had a look and whilst its not loads of rollercoasters there are some awesome looking rides, I think it could be a winner. I am intrigued by the backwards log flume and accelerator looks fun.

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mummyh2016 · 23/05/2022 17:17

It may not be that quiet at DM, I live Staffordshire and my children are still off on the 6th June as a lot of schools are having inset days.

Original poster
Monkeybutt1 · 23/05/2022 17:23

mummyh2016 · 23/05/2022 17:17

It may not be that quiet at DM, I live Staffordshire and my children are still off on the 6th June as a lot of schools are having inset days.

I'm happy with some queues we thought it would be the case but as we usually have to go on a weekend or in the holidays we thought it would be the best chance for a quieter than normal day. Hopefully everyone will bugger off to Alton Towers 😂

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mummyh2016 · 23/05/2022 17:58

@Monkeybutt1 we have annual passes for DM and it's rarely busy on weekends anyway however the Viking area opens on Saturday (well it's supposed to, we were there 2 days ago and it only looks half finished) so it will probably pick up then.

SunflowerSmith · 23/05/2022 18:27

Our Staffordshire school also has the 6th as an inset day.
We used to have annual passes for DM as it's only 20 minutes away, the kids were younger and loved Thomas Land, there's not a great deal for older kids though, Shockwave and Accelerator are the only roller coasters that I would class as not for little kids.
Having said that my 9 year old would still enjoy the day there.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 23/05/2022 18:33

We like Drayton Manor - the rides don't aim to compete with Alton Towers etc, but the queues are not bad, especially towards the end the day. The food on sale is terrible, but there are plenty of places to eat food you bring along.

Original poster
Monkeybutt1 · 23/05/2022 18:38

Thanks everyone, I've shown DS the website and he wants to go. He knows for rollercoasters Alton Towers is the best but he's only 138cm and is fed up of going and not been able to go on them. He's excited to try the "fun rides" that are not roller coasters. It's a decent price too. We don't mind queuing, we've done 2 hours for Wicker man many times 😆

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mummyh2016 · 23/05/2022 19:06

TheYearOfSmallThings · 23/05/2022 18:33

We like Drayton Manor - the rides don't aim to compete with Alton Towers etc, but the queues are not bad, especially towards the end the day. The food on sale is terrible, but there are plenty of places to eat food you bring along.

This, definitely take a picnic. We made a mistake the first time we went and thought we'd eat at the park. We paid £35 for 3 burgers (1 was a child's), 2 chips, 1 x chicken nuggets, 1 x drink and some sauces Angry
I noticed the weekend they're now doing dirty fries, for a tiny box (like the size of McDonald's chips) and a dribble of sauce they're charging £7. It's extortionate,

TheYearOfSmallThings · 23/05/2022 19:56

It's extortionate

And don't forget to add, it smells bad, looks bad and tastes bad. You can buy a very nice picnic from the M&S up the road for a fraction of the price.

Doofas · 23/05/2022 22:11

Have you considered pleasurewood hills? Although it is s little further east than your original suggestions so might be too far away for you.

DisforDarkChocolate · 23/05/2022 22:14

I used to love Flamingo Land when the zoo felt separate to the rides. Now they are much more mixed it makes me uncomfortable.

Original poster
Monkeybutt1 · 23/05/2022 22:25

Doofas · 23/05/2022 22:11

Have you considered pleasurewood hills? Although it is s little further east than your original suggestions so might be too far away for you.

I did look, but it was 3 1/2 hours away so a bit too far.

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