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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask for your tips and pointers for Alton Towers?

83 replies

Cblockbitch · 15/09/2018 11:13

Have just booked a one night stay for the scarefest! staying in the enchanted village. I.AM.SO.EXCITED However I am going with a 2 and a 5 year old so I am looking for some mumsnetters wisdom and tips to keep costs down and have a nice time! thank you all 😁

OP posts:
lifechangesforever · 15/09/2018 12:54

When I say Hex, I totally meant Duel.. brilliant ride.

Nicknacky · 15/09/2018 12:56

Charlie and the chocolate factory is shut now.

I don’t get the hatred for Alton Towers particularly if you are staying in the hotel, there is more to do than the rides. Crazy golf, the water park, play grounds etc .

Original poster
Cblockbitch · 15/09/2018 13:00

Yes we are hoping for it to be more relaxed over two days. not quite.so much pressure to get on everything in a short time frame.

OP posts:
Original poster
Cblockbitch · 15/09/2018 13:05

When we went for the day last october there was more than we could get to in a day. we felt very rushed. i am thinking sandwiches for lunch on the first day and a coolbox with more substantial picnic things in for tea in the evening. Then perhaps treat ourselves to lunch on the second day or take some cheese slices and bread with us. We have breakfast included so im going to try and stuff everyone at the hot breakfast buffet in the morning 😂

OP posts:
Hellohellohowareyou · 15/09/2018 13:06

Cblockbitch

It was lovely having 2 days there, the kids loved it and keep asking when we are going back!

RebelRogue · 15/09/2018 13:09

@Cblockbitch I think you can get food delivery too. There was a dad there with a few boxes of pizza and other things.

AuburnHoover · 15/09/2018 13:10

Fast passes are essential if you want to get on more than 3 rides a day. The queueing times at CBeebies Land are horrendous, usually about an hour for a 2 minute ‘ride’. We were able to bypass most queues because DP has a disability. There’s loads of walking and queueing and it’s very tiring and very expensive. The sea life centre in the pirate land bit was good. We also did rapids and duel which was good. But if we hadn’t been able to bypass the queues the day would have been a total waste of time and money. The grounds are nice and we had a picnic on the grass. That was probably the highlight. We won’t be going back until they are teenagers and then only with fast passes.
I preferred Lego land and Flamingo land. Hope you have a good time.

Original poster
Cblockbitch · 15/09/2018 13:10

Its me, DH and the kids. Im getting DH a scare maze ticket but im not sure I want one as it would mean going in on my own and im a bit of a wus! 😂 I think il just enjoy the family halloween vibe and let him go get his kicks separately! can you get children's fastpasses?

OP posts:
Hellohellohowareyou · 15/09/2018 13:10

You can probably book online now for breakfast, we did it in advance and was glad we did as a couple of days before I checked there were really rubbish times left

Hellohellohowareyou · 15/09/2018 13:13

Oooh that reminds me! Get a parent w share pass. Means one of you waits in the normal long queue, gets pass signed, goes on the ride then second parent can go on same ride after but use the fast track queue.

support.altontowers.com/hc/en-us/articles/115003463271-What-is-a-Parent-Queue-share-pass-

We got one for both days on the day we got there - just make sure they put the next days date on the second one

RebelRogue · 15/09/2018 13:18

If there's another adult definitely tag team. One can queue up with one child(the 5yo depending on height might be able to do a lot more rides) ,one with the other. Or you and the kids can watch the shows while DH does the scarier rides. We went in the summer holidays so it was packed,but between the 3 of us we managed to do all the rides bar one in 2 days. Some even more than once.

Original poster
Cblockbitch · 15/09/2018 13:21

@hello that's good! I didn't see that ticket on the website!

OP posts:
Hellohellohowareyou · 15/09/2018 13:28

You get it once in the park, they are free!

We got ours from the tills in the big shop on the left just as you get in the park opposite the little ponds with the spitting frogs

Boyskeepswinging · 15/09/2018 13:29

Many people dress up for Scarefest and some of the costumes/make up ARE very scary (actually very impressive, some of the horror make up jobs look 100% professional). Couple this with a very busy park and it can feel overwhelming for little ones, particularly once it starts to get dark. The atmospheric music around the park also adds to the scariness. It's great for older kids and adults but be prepared that your kids may find it all too much.

Hellohellohowareyou · 15/09/2018 13:29

It was great when we were there, DH waited about 20 mins for nemesis then I walked straight on after, didn’t wait at all! Same with galatica

Fishywishyhead · 15/09/2018 13:43

Utterly disagree with previous posters who are questioning the age suitability! Alton towers is amazing for little ones, CBeebies land alone is amazing. Queue times can be insane for the octonauts RollerCoaster so make sure you keep an eye on the app. It opens at 10 so if you get in the queue early you’ll be fine.

The food is average, the RollerCoaster restaurant is an experience! The crooked spoon restaurant is the best in my opinion but take your own picnic for the first day.

I take my three a lot as we have annual passes and they love it. They adore watching the big rides. I have to drag them away from oblivion!

TheFluffyHippo · 15/09/2018 14:20

I went to Scarefest a couple of years ago and after dark it does get very scary (but then I’m a wimp!) Spooky lights and music, fog machines, lots of people in costume. Since Alton Towers is so spread out with wooded areas, the atmosphere is really very creepy in some parts. There are areas where actors are dressed up and will jump out at you with prop chainsaws and things. These areas are clearly signposted with diversions to avoid, but you can still hear the screams as you walk past.

I’d imagine with a 5 and 2 year old you’ll be tucked up back in your room by the time this starts but it’s something to be aware of.

Boyskeepswinging · 15/09/2018 14:26

When I was last at Scarefest the screaming and chainsaws Hippo is describing started late afternoon (say from around 4pm) so easily time when little ones would still be in the park. The scary costumes and make up can be seen all day and some of that is pretty gruesome.

fixingabrokenhesrt · 15/09/2018 14:40

I adore Alton towers but I agree scarefest isn't the best time to go with young children, sorry!

Original poster
Cblockbitch · 15/09/2018 14:49

I am very amused by all the wimps saying not to take small children! its pretend! I'm not taking them through the scare maze! it's avertised as a family event!

OP posts:
Norma27 · 15/09/2018 14:57

Definitely not too young. My youngest has loved it there from 6 months old.
The show area has games and shows going on all day.
The lodges are amazing and each cluster of them has a playground thing to play in such as a seesaw, slide etc. Can go and play on all of them not just the one outside your lodge.

Norma27 · 15/09/2018 14:58

And we always go during scarefest. You can miss out the scary parts.

Boyskeepswinging · 15/09/2018 15:17

"Wimps" - really?? As I've said before the scary stuff isn't just in the scare mazes - it is everywhere. You can be happily bimbling along enjoying your overpriced hotdog when a zombie appears out of nowhere or someone screams in your kid's ears or someone with a severed arm jumps out at you. You've asked for advice, we've given it. I wish I'd known all this before I took my son - I had no idea how realistic some of the costumes are,

Allegorical · 15/09/2018 15:32

The food is beyond auwful and expensive. Take a picnic.
Get there for the first train that takes you to the park. We raced round as many cebeebies rides as we could as soon as we could get in. Cebeebies land opens earlier than the rest of the Park i think. Then one parent can run off to the main park and go on a few of ge grown up rides when the main park opens at 10am. At this point I took the kids to one of the shows/Charlie and Lola soft play/meet a character.
They don’t Advertise it much but parents can get fast passes to save them queuing twice for the adult rides. Not quite sure how it works. Make enquiries before you go in. I couldn’t take advantage of it as I was pregnant last time so couldn’t go on them anyway.
Picnic by the big lake is nice if it’s not raining.

Musicalstatues · 15/09/2018 15:41

Aww well mine are 6 and 3 and we go a few times a year and love it. We’ve also stayed in the enchanted village and it’s brilliant for them.
Book breakfast in the crooked spoon which is right in enchanted village - I think that’s included in your stay? It was in ours.
We usually have an evening meal at the rollercoaster restaurant - food is pretty standard but the kids LOVE watching it come down.
Definitely make the most of getting early on your second day. Make sure you plan for what’s available at that time, do it as fast as you can and then get straight to the next ride that opens at 10.
Outside of CBeebies land there is also loads of stuff they can go on. Driving school, frog hoppers, pirate ship, sea life centre bit. Definitely download the app, it has a really handy feature where it can list all the rides you want to do and tick them off as you go so you don’t miss anything.

Have fun!!