Alton towers arrival time?

[NotmySundaybest]

What time would you arrive at Alton Towers?
Monorail & gates open at 9am, park actually opens at 10am. Was thinking should we get there first about 10:30 in the hope that cues have gone down or get there at 9am?
Anyone advise who have been recently? We'll be going CBeebies land too.

Get there before it opens. You can park nearer the front and by 10.30 it’ll be heaving and then it’s busy all day. Then head straight to the back end of the park and work your way back (most people go straight for the nearest rides to the entrance).

Get there before 8.30. From the very front gate to actually parking is 20 mins. From before the monorail opens the queue for it will be 40 mins. So you have to walk. Another 20 mins. Then there's the queue to buy tickets if you haven't and the bag search. Another 15 minutes. The back of the park will have shorter queues at the start of the day and it takes 15/20 mins to walk from the main gate to the back.

If you arrive at 10.30 you will be lucky to get on 4 rides all day.