Not just for thrillseekers!! (Alton Towers (Staffordshire))

Member Name: lora44

Product:	Alton Towers (Staffordshire)
Date:	27/08/05 (3254 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A fab day out

Disadvantages: Expensive? Weather?

With Summer rapidly turning into Autumn and the summer holidays coming to an end, this doesn't seem like a very good time to be writing a review of a place that is the perfect day out for a family during the summer. But nevertheless I shall continue...

Alton Towers, for those of you who don't know, is one of the UK's leading theme parks. Situated in the heart of Staffordshire, in a small village called Alton, the theme park spans 500 acres of countryside, hosting a whole range of rides and attractions and making it the perfect place for a short break or a family day out.

GETTING THERE
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Since it's situated in quite a small village, it's not the easiest place to get to but it is well sign-posted for motorists, and if you're coming from the following motorways, these are the junctions you'll need to take:

Travelling North
M1 - Junction 23a
M6 - Junction 15

Travelling South
M1 - Junction 28
M6 - Junction 16

http://www.towerstimes.co.uk/parkinfo/howto.htm - this website offers two maps of the area along with a link to multimap.com where you can get driving directions if you need them.

If driving isn't an option (or you don't fancy paying the parking fees - more on those later) you could come down by train. You won't be able to get directly to the park by train. The best way is to get yourself to Uttoxeter train station. Here you can catch a bus which will take you to the park. You can buy a return ticket and the bus will bring you back here to catch your train home. However, this bus only runs once every hour and the journey lasts approximately 20 minutes so you will need to check times very carefully to make sure you don't miss your train.

http://tinyurl.com/9denv - that's a direct link to the website for the bus you'll need. Remember though that it's only the 32A that goes through Alton. You'll be dropped off literally a minute's walk from the park entrance, and you'll need to find your way back here at the end of the day to catch your bus home. Currently, the most a ticket will cost you is £3.30 for a return.

If you've come so far that it's easier to stay somewhere over night, of course Alton Towers does now have its own hotel and water theme park. You can find more information on this, and local B&Bs or self-catering accommodation on the Alton Towers website (www.alton-towers.com).

GETTING IN - THE DREADED ADMISSION PRICES
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Well we may as well get this over and done with. Yes, there's no denying that the admissions prices are extortionate. They seem to rise year on year, but you'll be pleased to hear that they have finally got rid of their peak/off peak tariff pricing system, whereby it cost you more to visit on certain days.

Right, are you sitting down?
If you're an adult (that means you're 12 or over - yup, crazy I know) you'll be expected to fork out £29.
And for all you aged between 4 and 11, well you're 'children' in the eyes of those ticket people and it'll cost you £21 to get in.
Children under 4 get free admission.
Disabled and senior visitors to the park face an admission fee of £14.50.
A family ticket, which allows entrance for 2 adults and 2 children costs the princely sum of £78, so you are making yourself there a saving of £22.

Off-putting as these prices might be, there are plenty of deals to be had if you look in the right places. Many companies run promotions and offer discounted ticket prices, so look out for things like that on food products, newspapers etc. You can get a special online price of £22 for an adult and £15 for a child by booking online. Also if you book a large group (10 or more people) in advance, you'll pay £15 per adult, £12.50 per child. For more information on this and on annual passes, which will get you into any of the Tussaud attractions (that means Thorpe Park as well) look on the Alton Towers website (www.alton-towers.com).

Car park charges are between £4-6. I've only been to Alton Towers by car once, and don't remember too much about the car park (although I do remember we didn't have to pay for the privilege of parking our car when we went). However, best to take a good look round and trying to remember vaguely where your car is. I don't remember how well it was marked (with colours, letters, number etc) to help you find your car, and even when it's well marked, once the place is full of cars it makes it that much harder to find. Also, when you leave, don't expect to be able to get out quickly - everyone's trying to go exactly the same way you are and it can be a bit of a nightmare. Even once you make it out of the park you've still got a few country roads which are going to get backed up with cars, so be patient.

PARK LAYOUT
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It's a large park, but it's not terribly hard to find your way around. Within the park are lots of signposts, and the park itself is split up into sections. So if you're a thrill-seeker, a trip to the X-Sector and Forbidden Valley is a must. The whole family will probably enjoy a visit to Katanga Canyon and Merrie England and the little 'uns would love a trip to Old MacDonald's Farmyard, Adventure Land and Cred Street.

Other places of interest include Ug Land, home of Rita (more on her later), The Gardens and Towers Street.

The monorail will take you from the park entrance to the hotel or to the car park, and there are sky rides within the park to take you from the Merrie England over to the Forbidden Valley and from there to Ug Land. The sky rides will facilitate wheelchairs and pushchairs.

I think the park is well set out and with a little help from a map (which can be found at information desks) you should be able to find your way around without too much trouble. There are large maps situated at various points around the park and should you get lost there are lots of fountains and other points which you could designate as a meeting place with friends/family. The Lost Child Centre can be found in Old MacDonalds Farmyard, in a building shaped like a windmill.

Almost every section (depending on the size of the section) has shops selling sweets, souvenirs, gifts and the like and there are plenty of food outlets catering for a range of tastes and requirements. Toilets can be found throughout the park and cater for disabled vistors.
There are also baby changing facilities and baby 'supplies' at various points around the park, all well sign-posted and clearly marked on maps. The same goes for security points, information desks, first-aid, telephones, cash points and electronic queue information.

RIDES
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Naturally, the first thing you think of is the rollercoasters and adrenalin-pumping rides that Alton Towers is so well-known for. And thrill-seekers won't be disappointed. But I think it's worth mentioning that even if huge plummeting drops and twist and turns aren't your thing, there's still plenty of fun to be had on the rides at Towers.

-- Thrill-seekers need only apply --
I know this is all just common sense but remember that all rides, but the following in particular, have height restrictions. This varies from ride to ride but in most cases you have to be 1.4m or taller. There are also girth restrictions and you should be possibly avoid these kinds of rides if yo have a heart condition or a pacemaker. There are signs up at the entrance to each ride stating all of the specific details for each ride. I'd recommend just watching the ride go round a couple of times and then making up your own mind if it's right for you because it's a bit of a shame to spend all the time queueing only to get to the front and decide you don't want to ride after all.

* Rita: Queen of Speed - You'll find Rita in Ug Land, the latest addition to the park as it was launched in March of this year. She's a rollercoaster that boasts being capable of going from 0-100kmph in just 2.5 seconds. I've experienced this ride first hand and can say it's definitely for the hardcore adrenalin junkies amongst you.

* Air - Ever wondered what it feels like to fly? Well now you can find out, at least that's the idea behind the rollercoaster Air, situated in the Forbidden Valley. Throughout the ride you're in a position much like Superman, suspended above the ground. It's the first rollercoaster of its kind and it's quite possibly my favourite ride at Alton Towers at present. At the entrance to the queue there's a seat like those used on the ride itself so you can check that it's comfortable for you.

* Nemesis - This is your 'ultimate thrill ride'. I think the reason that this ride was, and continues to be a huge success since its opening in 1994, is because it's so well themed. The ride is well-hidden in the Valley, you don't really get to see the ride in all its glory until you near the queues. Although the queues are thankfully much shorter than they were back then (due to the fasttrack) you still get the opportunity to see the ride go hurtling past you as you queue. The station is a monster and the ride twists and turns around this, all over a pool of red 'blood'. Dramatic music plays as you queue and it all builds up. This rollercoaster is an inverted rollercoaster, which apparently means that you board below the track and so your feet dangle). Still one of my firm favourites, and should be way up there on all your thrill-seeker's to-do lists.

* Oblivion - It's quite simple really - if you're afraid of heights, don't look down. Quite possibly one of the shortest rollercoaster rides you'll ever experience - only 160 seconds, but believe me - it's over in about 3. You've got a 60 foot climb, a turn, 3 seconds hanging off the edge before whoooooossssh. Yes, you really have just done a 200 foot vertical drop on a rollercoaster. Underground you go, and before you know it you're back out the other side and it's all over. I've been on this a good four or five times now but can't really bring myself to go on it anymore. It's good ride though and if you happen to stumble upon a short queue then I recommend it, unless of course you're petrified of heights, maybe not such a good idea then. You can also actually stand around the entrance to the tunnel and watch as friends/family plummet into Oblivion!

-- Fun for all the family --
While I've given you adrenaline junkies something to get started with, what about rides that are suitable for everyone to enjoy? There are plenty of those too!

* Duel - Perhaps better known to you as the Haunted House, but this time it's back with a vengeance. It's essentially the same ride, only this time each rider has a laser gun with which they can shoot targets with - and there's a little display which will tell you your score.

* Runaway Mine Train - a fairly tame rollercoaster so it's suitable for all the family (there's a height restriction of 1.1m (or 0.9m if accompanied by an adult). You get some really nice views from this ride, it goes over part of the same track as the river rapids so you can see people riding those below you.

For the really little ones, rides like * Squirrel Nutty and the * Tractor Ride will keep them amused, plus there's plenty to see and do in the Farmyard. Don't be fooled by the name though, there aren't any real animals in there. Still plenty to see and learn though.

-- Wet rides --
Yes, Alton Towers has those too, and there's something to cater for everyone.

* Ripsaw - If you still haven't got your fill of adrenalin-pumping rides try Ripsaw, with twists and turns, it'll actually hold you upside down before spraying you with water, be warned - you do stand a fairly good chance of getting soaked on this ride!!

* Flume - Good fun for all the family - I think it's 5 to a boat, sorry bath, and again - expect a good drenching!

* Congo River Rapids - A much slower, gentler wet ride. Sometimes you'll find you get really soaked on this, sometimes not so soaked. I think it depends a lot on where you sit. Another nice ride for all the family.

I've mentioned most of the major rides at Alton Towers, but I do want to leave a few things for you to discover for yourself - there's the fairly new ride Spinball Whizzer, where you can experience what it's like to be a human pinball. Each time you ride it'll be a slightly different experience. Then there's the Hex - do you want to learn more about the legend of the towers? This is the ride to go on!

OTHER WAYS OF ENTERTAINING YOURSELF
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* First off, you could go and take the little ones to see the Tweenies, up in Cred Street. I also think I'm right in saying that the Tweenies make an apperance over in Tower Street (near the entrance/exit) towards the end of the day in a carnival-style performance.

* Carnival - Oooh yes I am right, a quick look at the website shows that every day there are Magic Makers near the entrance to do tricks and entertain you and help you get the best out of your day at the Towers. Also, guess who's back - Henry Hound - the old mascot of Alton Towers!!

* Ice performances - if you head on over to an area which I think is called Storybook Land, very close to Old MacDonalds Farmyard and Adventure Land - well, sort of sandwiched in the middle, you'll find the Ice shows. These change from year to year - this year you can see the Circus of Illusions. They show at various times during the day - the entrance can be found through a gift shop, and there's a board outside stating the time of the next show. We went to the 3.30pm one and watched the show which lasted 30 minutes. It's a really nice way to spend half an hour if you're perhaps a little bored of rides and queues or you just fancy escaping the bad weather! Best place to check for more details on this is the website.

* Arcades - these can be found throughout the park, and have the same sorts of machines as you'd expect to find in any other arcade. You'll also find those grabber machines which let you win cuddly toys and other fairground-type games.

* Promotions and other entertainment - Alton Towers often hold seasonal events - there's Scooby Doo's Spooky Mystery Tour at the moment, which gives the kids the opportunity to meet Scooby himself and win prizes. There's also a Playstation® 2 Freedom Weekender coming up from the 1-4 September which looks like a lot of fun. For details on up-coming seasonal events check out the website.
As for promotions, well everytime I go to Alton Towers there seem to be people waiting as you leave to give you freebies. I got given a free sausage (yes, really), some free bottles of juice and yesterday when I went we were given free yoghurts and pro-biotic drinks from Müller.

* Terror of the Towers/Fireworks - Around October time they have halloween/bonfire night spectaculars. You visit the park during the day and at night watch a laser and firework display. I think the Terror of the Towers might be something a little bit different but having been to a Firework's display at the Towers I can say that it's well worth it! It was a very impressive display, though by the end of the night I was freezing!! These after-hours events are great fun, you even get the chance to ride some of the rides in the dark!!

* The Gardens - if the rides aren't for you, maybe you'd fancy a trip through the gardens. They've been open to the public since the 1860's and really are quite spectacular. Be warned though - you might get lost. I've seen some of the fabulous views of the gardens whilst riding over them in the sky ride from Ug Land to the Forbidden Valley and though I've never been tempted to have a wander round them myself, I can see the attraction. Check out some of the websites at the end of my review for photos!

REFUELLING
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Food and drink are by no means cheap in the park. That said, you'll find a fairly decent range. It's not all McDonalds and KFC, although of course they are available to you at various points all clearly marked on maps.

You'll find a sit-down McDonalds, along with a couple of stand-type McDonalds. If the weather is nice you can sit out in the sunshine and enjoy your food (just be wary of the wasps - they're eeeevil).

I've seen lots of places selling do-nuts and hot dogs and other kinds of fast food, I've even vending machines selling hot baguettes. There are self-service type tea/coffee machines in some of the shops and here you can stock up on crisps, sweets, pick & mix and the like.

If you fancy somewhere to sit down there are coffee shops, cafes and restaurants within the park too, and the kinds of food available range from Asian cuisine to BBQ.

The price of food is around what you'd expect, but be wary in places like McDonalds as they have a tendancy of deciding to 'upgrade' you to a larger sized meal. It's only around 30p extra but if you want to be doubly sure then make sure you tell them what size you want.

Drinks and sweets and so on are of course much more expensive than you would expect to pay elsewhere. A bottle of water will set you back £1 for example, and chocolate will cost around 50p. It can prove to be a very expensive day out. However you can, of course, take your own food with you - there is a picnic area and the grass by the lake is a nice place to sit if the weather is nice (just watch out for the geese - they too are eeeevil).

You can buy lots of souvenirs but again, don't expect bargain prices. There's everything from souvenir t-shirts, bags, hats, books, pens and lots more besides. Wigs, jokes, squidgy, gory toys that kids seem to love are all to be found too.

Lots of the rides have on-ride cameras and you can buy your photograph just as a normal photo, as a keyring, or as a magnet - they all cost £4.99 and you do get to see your photo displayed on a monitor before you decide to buy.

There's a collection service where you can buy things and come back to collect them later - a great idea if you ask me.

EXTRA INFORMATION
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I've already mentioned about the discount prices for disabled visitors - if you need more information there is a downloadable PDF file on the website for you to look at - it also says you can get discounts for up to two helpers too.
You will need a blue or orange badge as proof of your disablity, but as a disabled visitor you shouldn't need to queue for rides. The signs at the entrance should tell you where you need to go, but more often than not I believe you have to go to the exit where you'll board the ride.

Avoiding queues - well, most of the time, you're going to have to face facts - you can't. Queue-jumping is a huge no-no, that should go without saying. But, you can beat the queues.
1. Head for rides like Oblivion and Air early in the morning - the earlier the better as the queues are shorter then. If you're prepared to ride when it's raining you might find queues are shorter then - we've been able to virtually just walk straight onto Oblivion before when it was raining - yesterday there was a 10 minute queue in the morning when it was raining - when we came back in the sunshine later that afternoon the queue was now 30 minutes.

2. Fasttrack - I'm not 100% sure how this works, if you put your park ticket into this machine it will tell you what time to come back and then when you come back you just go straight on the ride. This only applies to certain rides and can only be done once (I think).

3. Shortcut passes - you have to pay for these, but you'll get one priority ride (ie. you don't have to queue) on Air, Oblivion, Flume and Nemesis. They cost £5 per person and you can only use them once on each of these rides. You'll need to book in advance as there are only limited numbers!
There's also a family orientated one which will get you priority rides on Runaway Mine Train, Duel, Flume and Corkscrew.

4. Keep an eye on electronic boards situated around the park as these update you on current queue times and save you wasting time trekking to one side of the park only to find a 45 minute queue, when you could have gone to the other side to a ride with only a 10 minute queue.

5. Try to eat before it gets busy. Most people are going to head for their lunch between 12-2. If you eat before or after this time then you may find some of the rides are quieter during this period.

WHAT TO BRING
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I thought I'd include this section as it's definitely worth thinking about in advance. When I last visited (yesterday) all I took was the following - money and some tissues (I have a cold). The reason for me travelling so lightly was so that I didn't have to take a bag. For the vast majority of the rides you won't be able to take your bag on with you. At the docking stations, where you board they often have lockers where you can keep your belongings whilst you're on the ride, though these are by no means secure.

There are lockers around the park which you can keep your belongings in temporarily for a cost of 20p.

The reason that I am so wary about taking a lot of things with me is that if I leave them at the docking station I risk having them stolen or damaged, and if I take them on the ride with me I risk losing them or having them damaged.

This brings me onto suitable clothing. I can't advise you strongly enough to check out the weather for the West Midlands before you come if possible because this should strongly influence what you wear. The amount of small children I saw walking around in the pouring rain in next to nothing never failed to shock me. I was wearing four layers and I was still cold!!

My first piece of advice would be, if it looks like rain don't wear denim. If you wear jeans and get wet on a wet ride and it's not sunny enough for you to dry out quickly you'll be very uncomfortable. When I went to the laser and fireworks display I learnt this lesson the hard way.

A thin, lightweight waterproof is a good idea if it's going to rain - you can buy...well I don't know what you'd call them, but waterproof garments from Alton Towers if you want to go on a wet ride and don't fancy getting wet or if it starts raining.

If you're fortunate enough to have a sunny day at Towers, don't forget the suncream - again, this can be purchased in some of the shops, but expect to pay over the odds for it.

Also, one final thing - do be careful about what you carry on your person. Things are liable to fall out of pockets on some rides, especially if you're going upside down - a guy sitting next to my friend on Rita managed to lose some money, which he wasn't too impressed about, and friends who work there have told me all sorts of stories of things they've found - there are some nets to catch things that fall on Rita and one friend told me someone lost an Afro comb!! On rides like Nemesis, where there is a pool of red blood-like liquid below, it'll be that much harder to retrieve lost items, and they only do this at the end of the day. Make sure you're wearing tight fitting shoes, or else remove them and you might want to remove glasses and hats and anything else that is liable to come off.

There is a lost and found centre at the Guest Services centre in Towers Street, near the entrance/exit.

CONCLUSION
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There really is so much more to be said about Alton Towers, but I hope just to give you a small taster with this review. There's plenty more rides to be experienced, and things like the seasonal events will change year in year out, so keep a look out on the websites. Rides will come and go - the favourite Black Hole is no longer there - so keep an eye out for information about new rides for 2006.

This season is reaching its end now - the park is open from March through to late October each year - this year it will close on the 30 October. The park opens daily at 9.30am with rides opening at 10am. The times at which rides close can vary - usually according to the time of year, starting at sort of 5pm onwards - but obviously things like technical problems or the weather can force rides to close early. You'll often find if a ride breaks down as you're about to get on you'll be a given a priority ticket so you can ride without queueing when it reopens.

I would thoroughly recommend a day out at Alton Towers, providing you plan what you want to do and have a little bit of luck weather- and queue-wise you should have an absolutely fabulous day out! As it happens, for the first half of the day yesterday it rained cats and dogs, finally clearing up in the afternoon but despite being a bit soggy I had a fabulous day! Flying on Air in the rain was quite an experience, but one I'd love to repeat again very soon!

www.alton-towers.com (this takes you to the resort website, giving you information on the park, hotel, water park and spa - click on the links at the top to take you specifically to the park page). There's also a map on the website which might help you plan out your day!

www.towerstimes.co.uk - this is an unofficial website which has loads and loads of information on the park, including detailed information with pictures of all the rides. This is well worth a look if you have never been, or even if you have and just want to know more about your favourite rides!

Thanks for reading!
lora44

Summary: A fab day out, even if huge rollercoasters aren't your thing!