Alton Towers

Withnail

Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
Went to Alton Towers this week.

About a month or so ago, i saw a red-top paper headline about the drastic fall in numbers visiting since the accident, and can report that this is most definitely the case -

*can't find the red-top, but here's a Mail link* http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...coasters-park-shuts-early-hardly-s-there.html

- it was really like ^that.

Obviously this is disastrous for Merlin, but it is an absolute boon for those who have learned to stop worrying and love the ride.

First two hours -
  • Rita* - queued for c.10 mins (* in b4 )
  • Air - would have got on the very next ride, alternative = the car after the car after that at the front - no brainer, c.10 mins, front row
  • Nemesis - slightly longer, was almost 20 mins but not quite
  • Blade (aka Pirate Ship) - just missed this one, got on next one, queue c. 5 mins
  • Runaway Mine Train - lovely chap made the ride go through a third time because the kids in front of us had been wanting to be at the front (staying in the hotel it was their third day) and this was the first time they had been right at the front
Last time i went to Alton Towers in August, which admittedly was some many moments ago - to put this into some sort of perspective - i queued for ONE HOUR to go on Air ONCE.

In time, people will also learn to stop worrying and love the bomb. If you love Alton Towers, but hate queuing for rides, my advice would be to go now.

tl;dr - GO TO ALTON TOWERS - THERE ARE NO QUEUES!
 
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Gramaisc

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
I went about twenty years ago - it was very slightly drizzly, so the queues were minimal. Longest was about ten minutes for Nemesis - twice. Went on everything except the Pirate Ship.

Scariest - by far! - was the Runaway Mine Train - there was something seriously misaligned at one point on the track - I had words about it, but they carried on with it and it doesn't seem to have fallen off, but it was very violent for what is supposed to be a 'mild' ride..

By far the best part of the day was a go on the rowing boats. There were some Iranian students there who were all having a go - two of them had absolutely no clue at all and just couldn't get it back to the shore - there was a huge cheering crowd egging them on by the end (which didn't really help them).

I would have paid them to re-enact it on a twice-daily basis. I would go again now, if I thought they would be there.
 
Laurie61

Laurie61

Well-Known Forumite
Last time I went was about 12 yrs ago, it was this time of year and packed with huge queues for rides. I remember doing Rita, Oblivion and rapids ride. I guess parents are wary and it's not cheap.
 
M

markpa12003

Well-Known Forumite
I like Alton Towers and have no hesitation in going there again. However, the last time I went to Alton Towers was about 8 or 9 years ago. The reason why I don't go to Alton Towers more often is because its very expensive and (usually) far too busy, therefore, you spend most of your time queuing. As such, I tend to go to other theme parks; Drayton Manor etc.

I hope in light of the falling numbers, Alton Towers reduces their prices.
 
Noah

Noah

Well-Known Forumite
Only time I've been to Alton Towers was in the winter when the rides weren't operating but you could walk round the gardens.
 
c0tt0nt0p

c0tt0nt0p

Well-Known Forumite
Our annual Merlin Pass that cost us about £45 each expired at the start of June and unless we can get an equally well priced deal we won't be forking out anytime soon.
 
S

sarsaparilla

Well-Known Forumite
Gramaisc said:
I went about twenty years ago - it was very slightly drizzly, so the queues were minimal. Longest was about ten minutes for Nemesis - twice. Went on everything except the Pirate Ship.

Scariest - by far! - was the Runaway Mine Train - there was something seriously misaligned at one point on the track - I had words about it, but they carried on with it and it doesn't seem to have fallen off, but it was very violent for what is supposed to be a 'mild' ride..

By far the best part of the day was a go on the rowing boats. There were some Iranian students there who were all having a go - two of them had absolutely no clue at all and just couldn't get it back to the shore - there was a huge cheering crowd egging them on by the end (which didn't really help them).

I would have paid them to re-enact it on a twice-daily basis. I would go again now, if I thought they would be there.
Click to expand...


I agree about the Runaway Mine Train - it's terrifying! I only went on it once and I was convinced it was going to come off the rails.
 
Carole

Carole

Well-Known Forumite
sarsaparilla said:
I agree about the Runaway Mine Train - it's terrifying! I only went on it once and I was convinced it was going to come off the rails.
Click to expand...

Its a bit like the Mad Mouse in Rhyl that I used to go on as a child (no idea if its still there).

I was convinced that the thing wouldn't turn the corner and would go flying off into space.:roll:
 
Alee

Alee

Well-Known Forumite
It got shut down . if i remember right, it came off the tracks a few times. fell into disrepair then the whole lot was knocked down.
I was never allowed on it as a child. I figured it was because my mum cared so much, now i figure its because she didn't want to spend money on me :facepalm: lol
 
Withnail

Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
Went today - got there just after ten.

In and up to 'Forbidden Valley'

Galactica - what was Air and is now not, and man is it not - queue 0 mins
Nemesis - queue for front row 2 mins
Nemesis - yes, again - queue 0 mins

Skyride (queue 10 mins waiting for it to open) to 'Dark Forest'

Thirteen - queue 15 mins
Rita - queue 20 mins

Walk to X-Sector

Smiler - queue 15 mins

Walk to Spinball

Spinball Whizzer - queue 20 mins - ride closes whilst still in queue - given priority pass as compensation - not massively fussed as pretty much lunchtime anyway

Most agreeable morning.
 
c0tt0nt0p

c0tt0nt0p

Well-Known Forumite
We have an annual pass with Merlin and have been a few times this year...disappointed at the way that they've closed some of the attractions for smaller kids down....certainly not the place it used to be.....
 
Lucy

Lucy

Well-Known Forumite
I went the week before last. It's so tired and they've really closed some of the good 'attractions'. Hex and Sub Terra were great, and so different from the normal rollercoaster type stuff. Saying that, we got on every ride we wanted to really easily.
 
Frontal

Frontal

Well-Known Forumite
Lucy said:
I went the week before last. It's so tired and they've really closed some of the good 'attractions'. Hex and Sub Terra were great, and so different from the normal rollercoaster type stuff. Saying that, we got on every ride we wanted to really easily.
Click to expand...

The problem is that they really havent maintained everything very well, and just tend to rehash old rides. It used to be a pretty cutting edge themepark but is slowly going the way of the "American Adventure" theme park.

I mean, I get that Hex is closed for a overhaul, but I remember when the queues used to be an hour+ for the big rides. It's clearly dying, and likely its reputation irrecoverable from the big crash the other year.

I anticipate it closing its doors in around 5 years time unless it get another big "worlds first/best/fastest" ride.
 
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