Taking Young Children at Theme Parks

[M0naLisa]

Me and Dh are thinking of taking DS' aged 4 and 3 to Alton Towers in August for DS1s birthday (he isnt 5 till september but the week before his birthday we are getting the boys christened and also my voucher runs out end of september)

Have any of you taken your young children to theme parks (namely AT) and did you find there was alot for them to do?

Iv only ever been when i was tall enough to go on the main rides.

We took DC 5,4,4 and 3 to Chessington last month and it was great, but most of their rides are aimed at young kids. I think Alton Towers has mostly bigger rides.

I know my DS1 cant wait to go and i know they have storybook land and some new land too aimed at younger kids.

AT has limited smaller rides, and it is largely spread out. Not the best Theme Park to go to with small children. But they will have fun. And there's a sealife there which will interest them.

Hes been to flamingo Land and found that crap. He loves anything to do with rollercoasters and loves the advert. So decided to take them both to that one. He even sing the tune theme haha

AT rides tend to be bigger. Just got back from Drayton Manor (Tamworth)with my DS aged 4. They have Thomas the Tank Engine Land for little ones and he loves it. There are other rides for kids throughout the park. Food is very expensive but there are loads of picnic tables. They also have lockers you can rent ( if you don't have a buggy).

I take DS (just 4) to chessington loads. There's tons to do in a day- plenty of rides (scariest are Tomb Blaster, Hocus Pocus Hall & Runaway Train- and maybe 8 more good kids rides including BUBBLEWORKS which all little kids love )- a big soft play with a Nero coffee place outside it too where you can read paper and RELAX, aquarium, zoo bits. We always spend whole day there. If you go midweek you can do parent & toddler club (1 adult & 1 under 5 for £13.50) so thats £27 for the lot of you- bargain!

Alton towers has lots of big rides and not that many suitable for small children. When ours were younger we took them to lego land and Drayton Manor.

OP I hope your DS doesn't think he will be able to go on all the rollercoasters at Alton towers? I have not been but aren't there height restrictions on anything interesting?

Both Gullivers and Twin lakes are fab, as is Drayton Manor.

AT is a bit too spread out and there are not many younger childrens rides. August is going to be rammed too.

We've taken our children (5 and 2) twice and filled the day easily both times - they just love the atmosphere and the wonder of it and there are some lovely little rides for them too.

Your DS1 won't be able to go on the Roller coasters he had seen advertised on TV. There is a height limit.

We have similar aged children. We've been to legoland, Thomas land (Drayton Manor) and Alton Towers with them.

Legoland is, without doubt, your best option. Loads of rides, all aimed at that age group.
Drayton Manor good because of Thomas land.

Alton Towers OK but a little limited. We still filled the day though.

(PS Alton Towers splash landings is an indoor water park which is fabulous for this age. But a separate day out to alton towers with separate entry charges etc)

I just took DS 2.9 yesterday to Paultons Park which includes Peppa Pig World. Lots for little ones including rollercoasters and swinging pirate ships. We had the best day ever apparently he hasn't stopped talking about it at nursery.

Lego land or Chessington, definitely not Thorpe Park

If you go on alton towers website you can see the height limits for the ridewhich should give you an idea about how many rides will be suitable for them.

IMO although I haven't been for quite a few years there isn't much there for small children especially when you consider the entrance price.

Somewhere designed for younger children might be more appropriate.

Legoland is similar prices and has a rollercoaster, full sized pirate ship, waltzers, log flume, water rapids plus several other theme park style rides. Ds (6yo) is the kind of child who loves rollercoasters etc and he loved it as he could go on all of them.

We're hoping to go here in the summer www.woodlandspark.com/ in Deon which has been recommended to me by a lot of people - plus is about £55 for a family of 4 so cheaper than e.g legoland.

As long as you don't mind missing out on big rides yourself you'll have a good day - there are 2 biggish areas for litlle ones with little rides. Charlie and choc fact. Ride and rapids would also be ok I think- also the tower ruins and gardens are good for little ones- cable car too.. Go on a sunny day though. Massive queues for big rides won't affect you. Gullivers is good too though a little 'worn' - loads of rides for little children and barely a queue in sight.!