Alton Towers - Thank you Mumsnet!

[roisin]

We just got back from our day at Alton Towers (tickets won on mumsnet). We all had a great day out. The boys can't wait to go again when they are "taller and braver"!

Tips for anyone going:

Do arrive early if you can - park opens at 9.30, most rides at 10.

Do study the map carefully in advance (you can view it online), and plan your day. I'd forgotten how huge it was, and we ended up doing a lot more walking than necessary! But be warned some rides don't start til 11 am. (Today this included the Corkscrew, the Flume, and the Canyon Rapids).

To avoid the crowds as we did, go on a day when the forecast is poor ... but it actually stays fine all day.

Thank you again mumsnet.

glad you enjoyed yourselves, and thanks for the advice. I will follow it when we go in August.

So how was it? Did you go on Oblivion?

Hope you got there and back safely and had a good time!

hi roisin, It was an experience! We didn't go on the big rides. My oldest is very afraid of rollercoasters and nothing would tempt him. Both ds's spent lots of time winging unfortunately and when they weren't doing that they were asking for food.

The rides were either too babyish or too frightening for them, and I could feel resentment welling up inside me. It took a lot of organising to get us there by coach and back in one day. We had to leave home at 3.30 am and arrived back at 11.30 pm. Luckily we all had lots of sleep on the coach each way.

When we got home, they couldn't wait to tell dh about their wonderful day out, so I guess they enjoyed it. I enjoyed seeing around Alton Towers itself - the Hex ride - so I had a good day. And the rain kept off.

Crikey - what a journey! Are they both still asleep in bed?!

I know what you mean about too old/too young. We will certainly aim for 'smaller' theme parks until they are considerably older and braver.

no, they have both just got up. Youngest ds has just sat on my knee saying 'I love alton towers but where was the pink castle?' he saw a TV ad where everything was spotlit.

So the day was a success from their point of view. I don't feel they were the right age group for the attractions, though.

OK for tiny children (with toytown and the tweenies stage) but so much not for older children. I was surprised and disapponted to find there was no adventure playground or indoor adventure park/ballpond for children to run off energy.

Still glad we went, thanks mumsnet!