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

Non-tester, and very of your trip yesterday - sounds like you all had fun.

What makes a good/fun day out for the Family? Well, it's all about the DCs, really - if they are happy, it's a happy trip, and if they're not......Like may parents of children old enough to have an opinion, we end up sacrificing what we might like to do in favour of things that the DCs like (they are 14, 12 and 10). No more leisurely wanders around shops/galleries for us any more.

Of course, they love the obvious ones, like theme parks (we live near Chessington), but they are pre-programmed to say that museums/stately homes and the like are "boring". I have found that if I spring something on them (no chance to moan beforehand), they will often grudgingly admit afterwards that it was really rather good. Examples being the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth and the Black Country Museum, near Birmingham.

The most fun days are when we're all in a good mood, the weather is fine, traffic is light, crowds are few, and the attraction delivers what it promises. I don't ask for much.....

A few pics from the day

Also absolutely exhausted today! Dd fell asleep in around 30 seconds after climbing into my bed for a cuddle at about 7.30. Ds was asleep by nine and I zonked at half past.

I don't think you realise how much walking is being done

Ok, here goes...

• Who was in your group and how old are the children?

Me, DSis and DP, all adults plus DD aged 8 (and just the right height!)

• Have you been to THORPE PARK Resort before, if so, when?

DSis and I used to go when we were kids, the last time was probably 20 years ago, it is nothing like we remembered! It was DD and DP's first time.

• What was your, and your family's, overall experience of Happy Height Day?

We absolutely loved it. The queue jump pass was fantastic and meant we got to go on everything we wanted to. We got a warm welcome, with no waiting around, just straight into the park. DD loved her toy, the ponchos were great, and we are all thrilled with the annual passes - we can't wait to go back!

• What were your/your DCs highlights of the day?

DD wimped out a bit on the thrill rides - she almost went on Colossus but changed her mind. Her favourite ride was Detonator, she was really proud of herself for being brave enough to go on it and went on it 3 times. She also loved Logger's Leap and Storm Surge. Another favourite was Quantum which she went on about 6 times!

• Which, if any, attractions/ rides would you most recommend to parents with children who have just reached 1.4m in height?

The ones I mentioned above, Detonator, Logger's Leap, Storm Surge and Quantum. Possibly Colossus as well if they are braver than DD! Would definitely not recommend Saw or Swarm - I went on both and loved them but don't think they are suitable for children at all.

• 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?

I definitely would recommend it to those with children older than my DD, or for adults who like roller coasters but not to those with younger children as there isn't much for them to do. I think it's worth going to if you are a thrill seeker (I am!) but otherwise, if you prefer somewhere with family rides and rides for younger children then I think I'd be more inclined to recommend somewhere else like Chessington or Legoland.

Overall, we had a fantastic time, we took it in turns to go on the gentler rides with DD while the others went on the thrill rides. This was only really possible thanks to the fast track ticket. It meant we got the best of both worlds; we went on all of the family rides all together as well as getting to go on the big rides without DD. The staff were friendly and helpful, the park was laid out really well and there were plenty of facilities; lockers, toilets etc.

The only disappointment for me was the fact that Nemesis Inferno kept being closed down. I queued for it a couple of times only for it to close again. It was the main ride I was looking forward to, so that was a shame.

We also had to wait a long time for a table in the bar and grill at lunchtime, and then had to wait over half an hour for our food. To be fair though, we did go at the busiest time which was a bit silly of us. Next time I think we'd either eat early or just take a picnic.

• Who was in your group and how old are the children?

Me , DH, DS1 ( 18 today!), DD (15) and DS2 (11)

• Have you been to THORPE PARK Resort before, if so, when?

Probably about 5 years ago, so a lot has changed

• What was your, and your family's, overall experience of Happy Height Day?

It was fantastic to receive the angry bird and the fasttrack passes. DS2 was very excited as he has wanted to go on the big rides for a long time, and having the fasttrack passes made it a much better day for us all. He loved Nemesis and Colussus, however we would have gone on Colussus many more times but even with the passes the queue was such a long waiting time, so he only got to do that once. Nemesis fasttrack was brilliant, we walked straight on to the ride. Ds1, although now 18 and has been big enough for a long time, has never wanted to go on any of these rides before, but he actually tried Nemesis and did enjoy it. The water rides were great to experience as a family. It was good having the money to spend, we had hot dogs for lunch but the service took ages although the staff did keep apologising. There was hardly any vegetarian options in the park, so DS1 couldn't find anything he wanted and was starving by the end of the day. The smokers throughout the park were also something we didn't expect to see, they definitely didn't use the designated areas. Far too many stalls trying to get more money, and very highly priced for one go to win a toy.

• What were your/your DCs highlights of the day?

Going on Nemesis and Colussus, and Loggers Leap was great fr us all. The fast track passes were excellent, walking onto rides made the whole day more enjoyable. But we definitely won't be able to afford them when we go back, £75 is too much.

• Which, if any, attractions/ rides would you most recommend to parents with children who have just reached 1.4m in height?

Colussus and Nemesis, we weren't brave enough for Stealth

• Overall, would you recommend THORPE PARK Resort to your friends and family

Yes we would, however only for children over the 1.4 mark and who love thrill rides.

Non tester but a family day out for us is made great when needs of family are really thought about. Places to put buggies, lots of toilets which are clean and well maintained, a wide range of rides to keep everyone happy and a choice of places to eat which aren't too overpriced and places to eat picnics as well. These aren't the most exciting elements of the day but make things smoother so you can enjoy whatever else is on offer. Oh and it helps if staff actually like and relate to children helps as well

Finally in bed. Dd fell asleep while I was combing her hair through (nits ride at school) and I just took her up to bed where she promptly flaked out.
I hope I'm less tired tomorrow.

• Who was in your group and how old are the children?

Me , DH, DD1 (9 & just over 140), DD2 (5) and DS3 (5)

• Have you been to THORPE PARK Resort before, if so, when?

Never

• What was your, and your family's, overall experience of Happy Height Day?

Overall it was a great experience. The fastrack passes made a huge difference. DH said "Brilliant!". We would have loved some healthier food options, and simpler for the DCs as lots of the food we found had spicy sauces. Generally people were very kind and helpful who worked there. Unfortunately for DD1 the only big ride we did go on was Swarm (which was amazing), but having 2 smaller ones meant the 2 adults had to accompany them on lots of the family-friendly rides. We started to queue for Colossus, but even with the passes it was a long one, so we went to Saw instead. We got to within spitting distance of the cars when it broke down. We went on X, which was family-friendly, but DD3 was terrified and there was a 30 minute queue in the dark with pumping music. DH and I were reliving our misspent youth and dancing about, but that got stale after about 10 minutes! However DD2 liked it and DD! thought it was awesome! The ponchos proved very useful, not only for rides, but to cut the wind in the morning, which was bitter.

• What were your/your DCs highlights of the day?

DD1 & I loved Swarm, DD2 & 3 adored the Banana Boat, they found it hysterically funny for some reason! Just being outside and on an island was really beautiful. You're in this pretty intense environment with pumping music everywhere when you round a corner and are looking across calm waters with a swan staring at you. DH loved watching our children laugh - which they did a lot!

• Overall, would you recommend THORPE PARK Resort to your friends and family

Yes, but definitely more for families with older kids. It's a lot of stimulation for the younger ones.

Thank you so much, we can't wait to go back, but with an extra adult, if we can. And DD1 says thank you for the angry bird - she's only just realised it makes noises.

I went with the DCs aged 14, 9 and 6. DH couldn't come, so that worked well for the 4 passes.

We'd been before, about 5 years ago, for DS's birthday.

Best recommendation for the over 1.4 from us: Tidal Wave. DD1 chickened out of going on some of the rides and preferred the gentler Banana ride, teacups, merry-go-round. The youngest loved Zodiac (which her sister didn't try). The oldest loved Detonator.

The fasttrack passes were great, really made a difference to the day and my mood.

We went to bar 360 for lunch. Over an hour and a half is totally unacceptable. Luckily we didn't have to pay for it as we used the vouchers. The food was surprisingly good. I wouldn't go again as 1.5 hours just to get served is ridiculous. Staff were very busy, not their fault. Just not enough.

I agree that too many opportunities for additional spending with those chancey games and arcades.

The bag was a nice surprise. Angry bird has been named and will be taken in for show and tell. The ponchos proved useful for our favourite Tidal Wave.

I met 4 families, though much too briefly.

My DS was being difficult (teenager stuff) so I wasn't totally relaxed when I arrived but the day got better for all and we were happy by the time we left.

I'd definitely recommend the park to others. I'd say bring a picnic though. Not so much for the price, which was 'fair', but the speed of service.

Great day, thank you. I look forward to the next time.

Does anyone know when the May visit will be? That is our busiest month with birthdays, music festival and orchestra concerts I am so worried we won't be able to make it .

Donut, why not email them and ask? That way you can pencil it in and arrange the other stuff around it.

I'll do that Saturday. The other things are unfortunately VERY fixed already, so I will cross my fingers for the last weekend in May, as we could probably make that!

Who was in your group and how old are the children?

Me, STBex-H, DS2(14), 3 of DS2's friends (all 13). DS1 in Germany on a school trip and sad to miss out!

Have you been to THORPE PARK Resort before, if so, when?

Yes, but a while ago. I remember having to put napkins in DS2's shoes as he was a cm or so under the required height!

What was your, and your family's, overall experience of Happy Height
Day?

An absolutely fantastic day! The timing was fantastic as I was going to take DS2 and friends as his birthday treat.

What were your/your DCs highlights of the day?

The gold Priority Pass which allowed all 4 children unlimited Fast Track on all rides. STB-ex and I had to queue up for rides (it took us 45 mins to get onto Colossus, during which time the kids had ridden on 5 different things!)

Which, if any, attractions/ rides would you most recommend to parents with children who have just reached 1.4m in height?

I would probably recommend starting slowly (i.e. unless you have a real adrenalin junkie, Saw is probably not the best ride to start with)! Colossus is great - a real twisty, turny roller coaster and Stealth is a great introduction to a grown up ride (0-80mph in 2 seconds but quite a short ride).

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?

I would absolutely recommend Thorpe Park. Obviously it was a special day on Saturday with the priority passes and the 50 of park vouchers (plus a mostly sunny day!), but I really like the fact that you can get from one end of the park to the other fairly quickly but there are definitely enough rides to make it a thrilling day. I had really a minor gripe in that there seemed to less staff in some places (i.e. to get a coffee at one of the stands took forever as there was one person taking money and making hotdogs/drinks - although my grumpiness about this probably stemmed from the fact that I really needed coffee). We got the boys some lunch then went to the 360 bar and grill and had to wait an age to be served food (I felt I couldn't complain as the manager was running around like a blue-arsed fly and looked really stressed). The staff issue was also apparent later in the day when one guy behind the bar was mopping up but had to stop to serve customers, only for the waitress to slip up really badly on the wet floor and crack her head (paramedics had to be called).

Non tester here, would have loved to have taken mine, 10, 14 (with special needs) and 17. Have never been to Thorpe Park.

We love a day out, it always helps if there is the right mix of fun, food and ease of access (middle daughter has Down Syndromme).

Can sometimes be tricky to make it work for all of our children, but a day at a Theme park should be great, as there are rides that cater from little ones to the older ones. This means daughter with Ds can choose the less scary and the others can go on the more "thrilling rides".

Season tickets would be fabulous as sometimes a full day can be too much for our middle daughter, with a pass you could go more often, but be able to leave if daughter with Ds was having a bad day.

Forgot to say, if there is a chance of getting wet, it is great if there is somewhere to dry or ponchos to keep dry available.

donut .I asked while there no date yet as they need finish building so won't commit

Had to name change to an old name as can't seem to post otherwise!

• Who was in your group and how old are the children?

There were 4 in our group - DP, DS1 who is 12 and , DS 9 and me, DS1 is 1.5m and DS2 is just over 1.4m

• Have you been to THORPE PARK Resort before, if so, when?

I went to Thorpe park in about 1983 but no one else had been prior to Saturday, We've been to Legoland and Chessington a few times each.

• What was your, and your family's, overall experience of Happy Height Day?

Amazing! We were lucky enough to secure tickets very last minute on Friday- thank you! It took less time than I thought to get there, about 1 hour 25mins so not to far to travel for repeat trips which we have definitely had to promise!

The boys started the day being measured and DS2 was thrilled to find that he was over 1.4m as he is only just there. The welcome pack we thought was fab, the ponchos were a massive added bonus for the wet rides and we were asked by quite a few people where they could get them from so the park probably made some additional sales too!

The park pounds were appreciated, although most of the staff didn't seem to know what to do with them! We used them for Kebabs for lunch which were very tasty and also tea at the Calypso bar where the food was not so good at the end of the day - we did notice that a lot of food had run out, both at lunch time and where we had tea so there was not a lot to choose from. I think if we had not had the park pounds, we would take a packed lunch/tea with us. We did have enough left over for some pick and mix on the way home :)

Best of of all, were the fast track passes, I don't think we could have got half as much done without them. They wouldn't be in our budget normally so it was fab to have them for one day.

• What were your/your DCs highlights of the day?

Eldest loved the fast rides and can't wait until we go back, he wants to go back Wednesday as they are off for the teacher's strike but we may wait slightly longer! Youngest loved the water rides, the log flume and tidal wave and even liked the Banana ride as he felt confident to go on by himself.

• Which, if any, attractions/ rides would you most recommend to parents with children who have just reached 1.4m in height?

I think the tamest of all the faster rides was the Nemesis so would recommend starting with that one, Stealth probably next and would see how they get on with those.

• 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?

Would definitely recommend, it was such a good day out, we were really impressed with the park, Chessington seems to have got a bit tired recently and Thorpe Park for us was even closer. There was lots to do for both boys, the park was clean and there were constant litter patrols. I think that if you visit, to get the most out of the day, children do need to be over the 1.4m mark so that they are able to experience everything.

Thank you for a fab day out!

Who was in your Group?
Me, DH, DC1(10), DC2(6)

Have you been before?
No, it was all new for us.

Overall experience?
It was a great day out. Highlights were the fast access passes which made a huge difference.The children Loved all the water rides, our favourites were Loggers Leap and Tidal Wave. DC1 Also kept going back to quantum. DH did give up queuing for the Fasttrac Swarm queue as it was taking over half a hour.

The greeting staff were lovely and gave us the goody bag which was fab. The ponchos were really useful and the angry bird was a big hit with the DC. Much appreciated.

It was v generous to give vouchers for lunch, we had kebabs. The chips and sauces were very spicy, which was fine for us but DC2s mouth stung so much that couldn't eat them at all-perhaps call them spicy chips so people know what they are getting? We did try to eat at the 360 bar and grill but gave up as it took so long. The staff seemed really rushed off their feet.

DH felt that there needed to be a larger staff presence around the park - he wasn't happy to be hit on the head by a group of young teenagers throwing boiled sweets at strangers in the men's loos. The next time he went in he observed another group of (different) boys pushing and jostling strangers for a laugh. Odd behaviour, but no one around to stop them.

What rides would you recommend for children who have just reached 1.4m?
DC1 would definitely recommend Loggers Leap, Storm Surge, Quantum, and Nemesis.

Overall, would you recommend Thorpe Park to family and friends?
Yes, absolutely. I think that it is especially geared towards those with young teenagers and older.

Ohh and a big THANKYOU Mn and Thorpe Park from all of us!

Non tester.
Our ideal day out would be to somewhere which has plenty of places to eat at good prices, nice clean picnic areas, kid friendly obviously, fast friendly service, good transport links and clean toilets.

Done my review, posted on this thread, just may to arrange

Would any of the parents be interested in arranging an adults visit so those who like the adrenaline rides can get on, and we can all actually meet? Those I did bump into were lovely, I could do with a nice day out.

FanFuckingTastic I live really close to Thorpe so planning on going when the children are at school. My days off are wednesday and thursday (not all weeks though) happy to meet up so long as you like The Swarm

Just wanted to add that although the games cost extra, annual pass holders get a better deal- we had 4 balls for the price of 2 on the donut game, which is how DD got her donut!