Totally Addicted To A.T (Alton Towers (Staffordshire))

Member Name: mikesimcock

Product:	Alton Towers (Staffordshire)
Date:	14/04/02 (77 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Brilliant Rides, Not Too Expensive, Brillaint Staff

Disadvantages: Queues, Location

Alton Towers - Britains greatest theme park, a statement i couldnt agree more with! I have only been able to get to Alton Towers twice, but both times have been absolutely brilliant! The last time i went was May 4th 2001, and that what i will be writing about in this review!

Me, my mate, and my parents arrived at the park at about quarter to ten, and we got on the monorail at around 10 o'clock. The monorail basically consists of eight seats per carriage, and takes you from the car park, all through the areas of the park on the west side of the park, and then to the admission booths. The trip takes around 4 minutes, but there can be quite a large queue to get on the monorail around 10 o'clock. It is possible to walk to the park from the car park, but it is not a walk that i for one would like to make, as it is very long, and all through woodlands, with the risk of getting lost. You get off the monorail and walk up to the admission booths, prices range from £18.50 to £24 - depending on what day you go on. Maps are offered at the admission boothes so you dont get lost on your visit. As soon as you are admitted you find yourself in Towers Street, which basically consists of a Merchandise Collection Point (More on that later), Towers Trading, a VERY large shop which sells everything that is available in the park, toilets, a restaurant and a coffee shop.

We walked up Towers Street towards the Sky Ride (Cable cars which take you round the park) - and got on them. Some people say that the queues for the Sky Ride are usually very long, but when we went they were always walk-on. We boarded a Sky Ride car to take us to the Forbidden Valley, home of the infamous Nemesis ride (nowadays it has AIR in it, the latest rollercoaster to hit Alton Towers). The Sky Rides are a perfect oppourtunitie to plan your day at Alton Towers, so you can decide what you are going to ride and when. We got to the Forbidden Valley at around 10:15, and there were hardly any
queues for Nemesis at all, so we went straight to the front of the ride. Nemesis is the only Inverted Rollercoaster in the U.K, meaning that the cars dangle beneath the track, not on top of it. There is also nothing beneath your feet, so your legs are dangling aswell. The ride is said to be one of the most extreme in the world, but i personally find Oblivion more extreme. It is said also to be an extremely rough ride if you sit on the back rows, and some people have actually reported grey-outs on the back seats, so sitting there isnt for the faint of heart.

Another top ride in Forbidden Valley is Ripsaw, a top-spin ride which basically throws you about a bit, taking you upside down at times aswell, and then squirts water in your face. A very good ride on hot days.

When we had ridden Nemesis i might add, the queues were VERY long, which goes to show how quickly people flock to the ride.

When we had ridden these two, it was time for dinner, which we decided to eat at about 11 o'clock to avoid the rush for food between 12 and 2. We eat at the McDonalds in Forbidden Valley, which serves anything that a normal McDonalds does, at the same prices.

Once we had eaten, it was time to go and enjoy the less thrilling rides in Merry England, Katanga Kanyon and Gloomy Wood. We took the Sky Ride once again. We arrived in the same Sky Ride station as before, and walked into Merry England. There are lots of arcade machines and machines to win things, we had a quick go on these, and then headed for the haunted house. We got there and walked straight on it.

The queing area of the Haunted House is very good indeed, with various optical illusions to keep you occupied. The ride itself is ageing alot now, and none of it seems scary anymore. Once you have finished on this ride you are forced into 'Something Sinister' - the shop, which sells practical jokes and things like that - very good really!

We worked our way south,
towards Katanga Kanyon, to ride the Runaway Mine Train.

This ride is fairly new, newer than nemesis anyway, and it is a kind of rollercoaster, but a kids one really, because it doesnt go upside down or anything, jus has some good affects, like when you nearly crash into the rocks, and when you go under the tunnel that the rapids use. Overall, a good ride, but you wouldn't go out of your way to ride it again.

Next up was the Rapids, which usually has a large queue. This ride can be quite fun, or quite boring, depending on who you share a boat with. You usually get wet on this ride, through the waterfalls and things, so it is not advisable to take mobiles and things on uncovered. Bags should go under the legs!

Then came the Log Flume, which is usually VERY tedious now, because there isnt alot of themeing, and takes alot of time to ride. The highlight of the ride for me was definately the drop which is in the dark.

There isnt a whole lot else in these areas, except for the Tea Cups, which i havent been on!

It was nearing 12 o'clock, so we decided to meet up with my parents in the Coffee Shop on towers street. They reccomended we go on Hex, which we had heard was a bit drab. We walked to X-Sector from there.

As soon as you get near the X-Sector, you can both hear and see the Vertical Dive machine that is Oblivion, my personal favourite ride.

I had never ridden Oblivion before, because i had chickened out, but i told myself that i was going on it this time.

The ride took us around 45 minutes to queue for. The ride itself is basically a steep lift hill, a turn, onto some breaks, you hear the words 'Dont Look Down', and then you plummet into a hole, but the drop is vertical. An awesome ride indeed. As soon as you have got out of the ride, you are in the Oblivion shop, here i bought a Ride Photograph, which cost me £4.25. I had this sent to the collection service point, which means th
ey give you a receipt and you go and collect your things at the end! this service is free of charge. We then went to the Towers to ride Hex!

The majority of Hex can be summed up in one word - BORING! It is basically showing you video's about the history of Alton Towers. The only good bit is the end, where you are in a seat in a swinging ship style room, but its not you that spins round, its the room, which, strangely enough, creates fake G Forces, very disorientating.

We decided to walk to Ug Land to ride corkscrew, which is the oldest ride in Alton Towers, it has been there 22 years this year. The ride itself consists of a drop, a banked turn, two corscrews, another drop, then another banked turn. The ride WOULD be very good, if it wasnt for the uncomfortable restraints. They left me and my mate with very sore headaches.

It was almost time to leave the park, so we headed towards Towers Street to meet up with my Parents once more. I had to go into the collection point to pick up my ride photograph, which took them a good 5 minutes to find it! Then we headed back to the monorail towards the car, looking back on a brilliant day!

Overall, BRILLIANT!

Thanks for reading!

Mike Simcock!

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