Alton Towers - can kids wait to the side on the big rides?

[HappyBrite]

We're going to Alton Towers this year. We have a 12 year old and a 9 year old.

The 9 year old is a daredevil but is just under the required 1.4m for the main thrill rides, the 12 year old is tall enough but is not a thrillseeker in the slightest.

In the past, DH and I have taken it in turns to go on the "big" rides but this means double the queuing which is often not feasible so I end up losing out and go off with the kids on the tamer ones.

Now the kids are a bit older I was wondering if they could queue with us and wait off to the side until we've been on the ride. Does anyone know if this is possible at Alton Towers?

DH has suggested we chain them up outside like a bike but I think that might be frowned upon.

what kind of emergency means they can’t be picked up? I wouldn’t want to be relying on public transport. At least come
up with credible arguments if you persist

Honestly scratching my head here to think “am I missing something”? You go by yourselves if you want to go on all the big rides, not expecting the kids to wait hours 🤪

Why would I be making it up? As I said, I used to lived near by. Lots of people I went to school with have worked at Alton Towers. In our teen years quite a few were probably the somewhat lackluster ride staff, though I'm sure they thought they were great! But some who didn't get into other lines of work kept going back and have done more on the hospitality and security side of things from time to time.

No one I knew of was working there in 2023 but that was the time someone assisted me when I dropped all my stuff. I'm not suggesting there always immediately available when ever something a bit annoying happens (I've dropped stuff at other times and not had anyone rush up to help), just illustrating that they must have some staff wandering round. Are you sure you'd notice them? They don't parade around like shopping centre security. They don't have the same need or desire to provide a visible deterrent the way a shopping centre does.

@PLHJ84 I don't know, one where your car breaks down and your kids have no other way of getting home? Hardly some extreme scenario 🙄

Never heard of taxis?

Doubt my husbands car and their parents cars would all breakdown at the same time. Same if i collapsed and couldn’t drive - it’s not likely we all would so we’ll happily continue to avoid buses and trains (worry free!) again mot much of a credible argument & how my kids get around is of no importance to the op! Of course she would have payment means on her & could look up the relevant information on her phone if the was absolutely forced to but she won’t be (i’ve managed fine not getting on public transport the past 25 years!)

Last line is a big contradiction to your other points about being there for childrens safety they would 100% always be the visible to everyone then. We went 2023 & 2024 & i’ve been way back pre kids and saw them at no time so like i said they must have all been off or in hiding those days! There are no security type staff like shopping centres & none just walking up to people to make sure they are safe or ok. I’m sure something happening a staffmember on a ride could radio or something but suggesting all these staff are about to make kids safe is a lie. Your own personal experience (& how do you know i don’t live near it or know peole there as anyone can claim anything) isn’t the be all & people certainly shouldn’t be leaving young kids to walk about in it alone (at least not before seeing the reality first themselves then making a judgement) so i’ll stand by nu thoughts of lazy and selfish parenting thanks

Good grief

Sounds like a shit day out for the kids. Queue for 30 minutes plus, now stand here kids, within touching distance of the ride, but no-no, you can't go on. Now wait for mum and dad.

Just wait a year until the 9yo is big enough. Or you and your DH go alone on a school day.

SnoopySantaPaws · Yesterday 16:40

Dramatic · Yesterday 11:04

My daughter went on a school trip to flamingo land last year, she was 11. They didn't go round with adults, they just went off on their own or in very small groups. 12 is absolutely fine to wander around a theme park
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You can't compare Alton Towers with flamingo land!!

You really can’t. Alton Towers is vast, with large areas of secluded woodland and gardens in the valley in the centre. We enjoy walking through the gardens or having lunch there but we barely see anyone else. Since the cable car closed, it’s even more secluded.

Worries about dodgy people aside, wouldn’t be hard for kids to become lost.