THORPE PARK Resort Happy Height Day reviewer thread. Non testers: tell us what makes the ultimate fun day out and you could win THORPE PARK Resort annual family passes worth £196 NOW CLOSED

[AngelieMumsnet]

This is a thread for the 50 Mumsnetters who attended the Happy Height Day at THORPE PARK Resort. Thanks for going, and we hope that you and your family had great day!

Here's what THORPE PARK Resort say: "We see so many excited kids every year who have just reached 1.4m and are now tall enough to have the ride of their lives. At THORPE PARK Resort we're championing this achievement with our Happy Height Day, and celebrating the moment these kids experience a whole new world of thrills!
Whilst we love seeing these kids giddy with excitement to ride on Stealth for the first time, with over 25 rides and attractions throughout the Park and with a new ANGRY BIRDS Land opening in May, there really is so much to keep the whole family entertained. And that includes those under 1.4m"

Below are some questions for you to answer, but do feel free to add any other comments you or your family may have.

Please remember to also write a review of your day on the MN review area here

• Who was in your group and how old are the children?
• Have you been to THORPE PARK Resort before, if so, when?
• What was your, and your family's, overall experience of Happy Height Day?
• What were your/your DCs highlights of the day?
• Which, if any, attractions/ rides would you most recommend to parents with children who have just reached 1.4m in height?
• Overall, would you recommend THORPE PARK Resort to your friends and family if it came up in conversation? If so, why? If not, why not?

Please also upload any photos of your family enjoying their day out THORPE PARK Resort to this thread. Please note photos may be used by THORPE PARK Resort on Facebook, their website and possibly on other marketing material.

For those of you who did not attend Happy Height Day, what makes the ultimate fun day out for you and your family? Everyone who adds a comment will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win THORPE PARK Resort ANNUAL PASSES for a family of four worth £196

Thanks and good luck,

MNHQ

Me too. I have some questions though.
Will the park be closed and emptied then re-admit us at 630?
Will it be limited numbers or busy
Will parking charges still apply?
Can we pay for an extra person or is it the original 4 only?
Thanks. :)

My very late review.... apologies.

It was simply the best day we had as a family for a long time. We all felt like VIP's from the moment we arrived. Yes there were a few niggles but this is expected when it's the first day of the season and everyone is trying to learn their roles.

There were four of us in my group. Mum, Dad, DS and DD. Despite DD measuring 1.4 at home, she didn't quite meet the height at the park? However, this did not detract from the day and, to be honest, she wouldn't have wanted to go on rides such as SAW. My DS on the other hand went on absolutely everything. Just shows you what a difference a 2 year age gap can do!

I had been to Thorpe Park previously when DC's were little. At the time I thought Chessington and Lego Land more appropriate. I think Thorpe Park is the still the 'thrill ride' park - perfect for their ages now 12 and 9. Let's see if Angry Birds addresses that balance.

The day was perfect. We got to go on everything thanks to the VIP Fast Pass. A few attendants tried to take these from us several times, believing them to be the standard Fast Passes but when we explained all was settled very quickly.

Some attendants were needed on rides such as X. Teenagers were sneaking in the exit and running to the start again. Knocking over whoever had just made their way out. Obviously on busy occasions I am sure attendants will be in force to prevent this.

All the food outlets were very clean. Staff seemed unsure of how to process orders but again I put this down to day one niggles. The food was very tasty and very reasonable priced.

The best bits... the rollercoasters and rides really are suitable for 'thrill' seekers. Chessington and Lego land cannot compete with these. In fact, apart from Alton Towers I doubt anywhere in the country could. On my previous visit to Thorpe Park I considered it a bit 'concrete' in that it was just concrete paths that led to the next ride. However, I can see this is being addressed with planting, etc.

My DS's highlight was the fact that he got on every single ride in the park (along with Dad!). My DD enjoyed herself immensely despite initially being disappointed that mummy's tape measure doesn't match Thorpe Parks. Actually height seemed inconsistent on all rides. I think it was dependent on the group level where folks could measure themselves. Perhaps tighten these up a little to avoid queuing and then being disappointed when the attendant with the measuring stick says no. All the 1.4m rides seems to have 'sinister' themes which would have put off DD even if she had been 1.4m tall. I guess that's a difficult call in 'thrill' seeker land. But would a 1.4m DD want to go on SAW? And actually would I want to explain to her what SAW was all about?

Overall we just had the BEST day. We were all exhausted on our journey home. The kids talked about it non-stop for the next few weeks so the Annual passes will come in really handy. My husband and I felt privileged to be picked. I would thoroughly recommend it. In fact, my husband is taking all his colleagues for a 'team bonding' day. What better recommendation than that! It really does have something to suit all ages.

Planning helps with stress levels and making sure you've packed everything you might need, not forgetting spare clothing for little ones. The types of resorts or venues that make it most enjoyable are the ones who have good clean facilities and reasonable prices (with no hidden extras)!

Looking forward to the angry birds day, can I sort the annual passes when we go because we didn't get time to do them last time!

The ultimate family day out would be, somewhere you can get to easily via public transport, as I don't drive. Somewhere that has a good choice of food at a reasonable price. Plenty of places to sit down and/or shelter should you need too. Things to keep kids of different ages entertained. Things to do for me the person who ends up stuck with the baby holding everyone's bags and coats.

The ultimate fun day out for us is anything that doesn't involve travelling too far - 2 hours really is the very limit in the day and we like it when it only takes us an hour to get there. There has to be lots to see and do but also lots to join in with and touch too. I have two boys and they are hands on and impatient so sometimes just seeing isn't enough they like to get involved and they don't like to wait too long to do it. Finally we like it when there is good food - its such a shame when you go somewhere and the place is amazing but the food is bad - it has to be good!

Non tester
My ideal day out is one where I'm not wandering around, looking for something to do. Anything that keeps 2 yr old Ds amused and put of mischief is a bonus!

Ultimate fun day out is something we can all get stuck in with. Outside in the open air with warm sunny weather. No long queues, good food and a happy atmosphere. Finally no motorway traffic jams!

Non tester
A fun day out for us is somewhere not too far away with lots of activities for children. My two love a play park as long as there is something high to climb on!!

Has anyone received any further details about Angry Birds on Tuesday? I received the initial email but nothing since.

Ooh it sounds good again. Can we get the fasttrack wristband earlier in the day or only at 4pm?

I got my email . Looks like a great event. Who's going?

Non tester.
Litter free, spacious environment.
Plenty of picnic area.
Plenty of free parking.
Good weather.
Attractions for all the ages.
Plenty of coffee stops.
No overpowering music.
Random characters or jugglers or suchlike.
Clean, modern toilets.
Some rides that scare, some that squirt a bit!

We have our email and information that we can phone Sophie when we arrive earlier than 4pm and she will bring our wrist bands down. My sister had kindly agreed to come with us as Dh has to work.

We'll be there again today. Weather not looking great but we shall still have fun! Two of my younger ones will be with my mum and at a multi sports day but bringing the baby. Elder two can't wait!

Who else will be there? I'm going early and we will be sorting our annual passes out first as we didn't get time last time.

Late question. We went to the happy height day back in April. We didn't get our passes that day and haven't been back yet to get them. We're planning to go next week. My question is...is it a normal Thorpe Park annual pass that starts from the day you pick it up or is it a pass for 2014? Hope that makes sense.

A non tester here, the ideal day out, not too expensive - not all families are two adults two children, reasonable food and or places to eat if you bring your own. We also have coeliac and diabetic children in the family so place that cater for them as well (my DNiece loved the gluten free pizza she had at Thorpe Park last week), things you can do regardless of the weather, and most important not too long queues.

Unfortunately after my DBIL's queuing experience at Thorpe Park last week we will not be taking our DC there. He stood in a queue for 90 minutes not moving as the fast track people were going on the ride going out the exit and going back to the entrance and going on the ride again, this meant that people from the main queue didn't move at all. He then had to leave his 11 year old DD in the queue with a stranger as he is a single parent and had left his 9 year old DD with my 9 year old DS going on a different ride and thought they would be worried. It took nearly another hour before his elder daughter got on the ride and met them at the exit, that is a queue of 2 1/2 hours for 1 ride........

Schilke - I think your pass begins from the day you pick it up. We ended up upgrading our thorpe park passes to Merlin passes for only £48 per person - they have been very well used over the summer!

Thanks xmasplanner. We picked them up yesterday. Dh and dd1 have gone back today! They didn't mention upgrading. Might be a thought. The only problem is ds2 would want one too and then it's £100+ To get a merlin pass for him!

Just to say we are still using our passes. We went to Thorpe Park again this week, not much open but The Swarm was, we spent most of our time on that. The queues were virtually non excistent, it was fantastic! Stealth was open, apart from when it was closed (does it break down every day, or only when we go?)
There was a show on called Brainiac, which I wasn't bothered about going, but it was actually the highlight of the day. It's from a TV show(Sky maybe?we haven't seen it) with 'scientist' doing loud exploding type experiments. Very very funny.

Thanks Thorpe, another happy family day out.