Alton Towers and queues

[mariamagdalena]

We're planning to attempt a visit during the half term. It's quite possible it'll be just me juggling 3 kids (including ds age 7 adhd/?asd). Does anyone know how you go about asking for the priority wristbands?

Hi we went in the summer I just explained dd had asd and they gave us the bands but they did say next time they would need to see dLa or letter confirming problems . Have fun

didn't know you could show the dla letter - thanks for that

Agree just take DLA letter and you will get wristbands, you can also apply for free tickets from merlinsmagicwand.org/ they are a charity that does tickets for the merlin group, really easy on line form to fill in, we did it last year and got 4 free tickets a saving of over £100 and they were open ended so we could use them whenever we wanted.

Omg rosie thats brilliant!!

I would love to take DDs for the day but the queues are the only reason I havent. I know DD2 would not be able to tolerate it...ADHD & ASD. Bless her it would turn into ww3!

I'll have a look at that webby now! Bless you!

Pop down to Guest Services with any letter that states disability (DLA, paed, whatever) and ask for the access bands. Just to pre-warn though, at busy points like half term you may have to wait maybe 5 minutes at a ride if there's another guest with a disability on, but it's never been more than that when I've been with H.

Oh my gosh thats brill thanks!!

Do you know how many bands they provide, i.e, we will have 4 Dcs by the summer (one newborn so doesnt count & one 2yo, but will DH & I be able to take another adult family member for extra support? So there'll be 3 adults & 2 Dcs inc DD2 iyswim?

For each red band you can have 3 blue ones I think. But it's worth either checking online or ringing the resort because I'm not entirely sure how it works with children and toddlers etc. I've only been with adults so don't want to give the wrong advice :)

Ahh I see. Thank you!

I've just followed the fab link that rosie posted and filled out the online form!

I've never actually popped into the special needs forums before but recently DH and I realised just how much we need some extra support so will prob be hovering and posting when advice is needed.

HOW did we cope pre-internet?!

hope you have a good time, we found alton towers really good last year with our dd who has asd they were on the ball with wrist bands and got on the rides really quickly even got front row seats in the hi 5 show in the little theatre in cloud cookoo land.

Is Alton Towers as big say as Disneyland Paris? I am worried about DS walking far enough and he doesn't have a pushchair anymore - he is 5.

There is a map you can look atwww.altontowers.com/events-and-info/theme-park-maps to compare sizes if it helps?

There is a fair amount of walking but never been to DLP so can't say!

When we take DD we will have DD1 (13) DD2 (8-asd/adhd) DD3 (just 2) and a newborn baby so we will probably factor in plenty of sit downs!! There are plenty of places to take a seat for a few mins, or if not ring ahead and ask if they may be able to suggest anything?

ben they have those car/stroller things you can hire well they did when i last went HTH

aww rosie alton towers free tickets says closed for this yr now but ill apply anyway says have some for chessington still so still worth a go i guess

Hi guys thanks very much.

Half term tickets are discounted anyway cos only half the rides are open (ie the ones we'd skip anyway are closed so good value for us ). This Friday they are doing a facebook promotion day with free entry (check the alton towers website under offers). So anyone whose kids have a staff training day before half term break might get a free family outing!

Oh, and the low-velocity, safe rides that need an adult to supervise but don't accept

Thanks Betty. Maybe I can persaude OH after all then. He didn't want to go if DS couldn't/wouldn't walk!

Ben10isthespawnoftheDevil - Re your question about the walking at DLP and Alton Towers

Bad news: Yes Alton Towers is wider spread out than DLP. DLP basically works around a wheel hub design therefore everything is actually quite closely fitted together and there are short cuts everywhere. It is also mostly flat. Alton Towers you have to walk between lands and there are (lots) of ups and downs

BUT it depends what you are wanting to do from memory and I'm trying to check the maps if it's still the case, a lot of the child centric activities/rides are focussed on Cred street, mutiny bay and adventure land. so if you plan your visit to work round these lands in turn it shouldn't be quite so bad. The killer is getting to/from forbidden valley (nemisis/ air) to anywhere on foot, use the skyride!!!

DO NOT TRUST THE ALTON TOWERS MAPS - they give no idea of distance or layout

The google earth map gives you a much better idea -

maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Uttoxeter&aq=0&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=14.410453,43.286133&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Uttoxeter,+United+Kingdom&t=h&ll=52.987588,-1.892352&spn=0.007156,0.021136&z=16

FWIW also bear in mind that the Skyride is OFTEN out of order!

I've been 3 times in the last 2 years and each time I've been glad I wore trainers because Lunar is spot on, its not flat & the Skyride has been out of order! Its hard work! Personally I think all the well placed drink/ice cream kiosks on the steep hills are no coincidence! lol

Mmm, the more I hear about it, the more it isn't sounding for us. DH would be resistant to using a stroller even though at Disney there were much older children using them .