Theme park with big age difference kids

[Sportbilly]

I have boys of nearly 12 years old and 1 year old...the 12 year old loves theme parks (we have done Legoland and Drayton)...looking for somewhere where we can have an overnight stay and enjoy the park, and potentially somewhere with a pool too.

I guess a one year old is too small to do anything at any of the theme parks? Alton Towers seems the obvious choice but Poulton Park gets rave reviews...anybody have any personal experiences on these or perhaps Chessington or Flamingoland are good alternatives

Definitely not Thorpe Park, only thing under 90cm there is the beach

Depends if you and your 12 year-old are happy for them to queue and ride independently. I'd offer to take a 12 year-olds friend along with them. They have a separate day out and meet you at prearranged times. Chessington or Alton Towers would be best for that as both have rides for a 12 year old and a Sealife Centre.

Thorpe park is not for the feint-hearted - I like coasters, but they scare the life out of me and yea, nothing for the 1 year old.

Chessington has a good mix and also animals which your 1 year old may like. Alton Towers has an indoor water park - and lots of rides for both ages. But waterpark is unlikely to be open this year.

Alton Towers definitely. Lots of thrill rides for the 12 year old, plus CBeebies land for the little one.
There is also a water park at Alton Towers resort which would suit both of them

Aaron towers would be good at those ages BUT only if you are happy for the 12 year old to go round on his own. The queues are so long a lot of the time so the 1 year old would be stuck in the buggy for hours and if the 12 year old had to come round cebeebies for part of the time he might not have chance to do all the big rides he wants.

I think theme parks are better as a one on one activity. I take my elder two when the littlest one is with his dad. And we have days put when they are with their dad. Its nice for them to do something fo used on them sometimes.

Chessington with the split age. Although i actually think with that split you might be hard to beat Drayton manor for the 12 year old